КОМЕНТАРІ •

  • @Bookborn
    @Bookborn 20 днів тому +21

    Thanks for having me! This was fun ♥

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому +1

      @@Bookborn It was great to chat! And thanks for the recommendations!

  • @wbebbs
    @wbebbs 20 днів тому +6

    Smart move, J., having BB on your channel. She is a v sharp and insightful commentator.
    Well done.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      Thanks! Bookborn is great!

  • @bartsbookspace
    @bartsbookspace 20 днів тому +3

    A lot of great, feel good choices here!
    I 100% agree with Guards Guards, Project Hail Mary, and A Long Way!
    And I’ll offer that a somehow Murderbot makes me feel good as well.

  • @davidranderson1
    @davidranderson1 20 днів тому +3

    Douglas Adams is always a safe bet. If you've already read Hitchhiker's Guide, try Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. I ditto the Murderbot and Bobiverse books, and also suggest the Kaiju Preservation Society.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      Thanks for the recommendations!

  • @BookishChas
    @BookishChas 20 днів тому +2

    Some great recommendations here Jonathan! Sanderson does have some sci-fi books too. I love the Bobiverse. Book 5 comes out in September.

  • @grol094
    @grol094 17 днів тому

    Great fun summation of those by you two -- thanks

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 17 днів тому +1

      @@grol094 You’re welcome!

  • @Deosis
    @Deosis 20 днів тому +2

    Great idea for a vid! I thought the cozy literature subgenre came about as a counter culture to all the grim dark stuff out there.
    I read Chambers, also Legends and Lattes, and the Bobiverse. Will check some of the other out too!

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому +1

      Thanks! Hope you enjoy!

  • @larryladeroute971
    @larryladeroute971 20 днів тому +1

    Just read The Rolling Stones by Heinlein. I think it is a cozy scifi read. A vintage one as well which seems rare.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому

      @@larryladeroute971 Nice!

  • @beLIEver31415
    @beLIEver31415 19 днів тому

    I've read half of these recs and I am excited to read the other half now :D. I agree that To Be Taught if Fortunate was a very good novella and I have had A Long Way to an Angry Planet on my shelf for years now so I think it is about time I give it a go but so excited to pick up The Empress... and Guards Guards :D

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому

      @@beLIEver31415 Hope you enjoy!

  • @josiahsterling7308
    @josiahsterling7308 20 днів тому +1

    Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper is an adorable, feel good sci fi that feels very much like a million movies I grew up watching, except it was written in the 60's before all those movies. It holds up very well and was very inclusive for the time it was written.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@josiahsterling7308 Little Fuzzy sounds feel-good indeed haha

    • @josiahsterling7308
      @josiahsterling7308 20 днів тому

      @@WordsinTime i recommend the whole trilogy written by the original author. Would love to hear your thoughts if you ever pick it up.

  • @junegrainger8481
    @junegrainger8481 18 днів тому

    Great video. I have read Project Hail Mary and Guards, Guards. Both brilliant reads. I have to thank you for introducing me to Bob - on your recommendation I started reading We Are Legion and I can’t put the book down. Absolutely loving it. A fantasy book I read (it might be a Young adult book) which filled me with joy and a warm cosy feeling is The House on the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune. Another recommendation would be Mort by Terry Pratchett.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 17 днів тому

      @@junegrainger8481 That’s great to hear! I’m glad you’re enjoying it, and thanks for the recommendation!

  • @scifyry
    @scifyry 19 днів тому +1

    The Rise of Endymion (Dan Simmons) had an incredible, feel-good ending that I didn't see coming. It wrapped up the Hyperion Cantos quite nicely.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому

      @@scifyry I liked the ending too even though I predicted it.

  • @codyvanderzwaag8031
    @codyvanderzwaag8031 18 днів тому

    Project Hail Mary made me feel so good about the main character becoming someone who he could respect

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 18 днів тому

      @@codyvanderzwaag8031 Same!

  • @chrisduran
    @chrisduran 9 днів тому

    The Imperial Radch Series by Ann Leckie is so good and cozy, but with just enough exciting drama and storyline to not get you down.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 9 днів тому +1

      @@chrisduran I’ve only read the first book, I’m glad you enjoyed the series!

  • @mikesnyder1788
    @mikesnyder1788 20 днів тому

    Another enjoyable program, Jonathan! My number one Feel Good Sci Fi book by a wide, wide margin is Stanislaw Lem's "Star Diaries," a collection of short stories featuring an intergalactic space adventurer named Ijon Tichy. Imagine Tichy as Han Solo's goofy, clumsy little brother who finds himself thrown into some hilarious situations as he travels throughout the universe in search of adventure and the meaning of life. My favorite story finds Tichy on a planet in which the robots speak in Chaucerian English and features the best pick-up line I have ever encountered in my many years of reading. Lots of clever science! What a romp! What great fun!

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому +1

      @@mikesnyder1788 Thanks Mike! I have enjoyed the two Lem books I’ve read so I look forward to Star Diaries!

    • @mikesnyder1788
      @mikesnyder1788 19 днів тому

      @@WordsinTime Lem is unique in that he mixes science and humor while advancing his clever plots. And to think he wrote most of these stories while Poland was a satellite of the Soviet Union. Have a great weekend, Jonathan!

  • @colin1818
    @colin1818 20 днів тому +1

    I've read several of these.
    - Tress of the Emerald Sea was very....meh. It's fine. It just didn't feel special.
    - Project Hail Mary is legit. Loved it. Rocky ftw.
    - Discworld is always fun and Guards! Guards! is one of the better ones.
    - We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is hit or miss with a lot of people. But I loved it.
    But no Hitchhiker books? Almost feels like sacrilege.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому +1

      I really liked Hitchhiker’s and it’s very funny, but it’s actually kind of depressing. It didn’t make me feel that good haha

  • @Kim_Miller
    @Kim_Miller 20 днів тому

    A good subject for a video. I look for feel good cozy or comedic stuff following a heavy hitter. So I went looking through my Hardcover list.
    After getting through some Gene Wolfe (5 New Sun books and 5th Head of Cerberus) I picked up Bobiverse #1.
    And after Blindsight and Exhopraxia was Bobiverse #2.
    After Sun Eater #1 was Small Angry Planet and Project Hail Mary.
    Sun Eater #2 and then Vonnegut, Sirens of Titan
    Sun Eater #3 and novellas then Monk and Robot #1 and #2 and then How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, which I thought you might have had on this video.
    Sun Eater shorts #2 followed by Slaughterhouse 5 and Free Wrench by Joseph Lallo, cozy steampunk action in a steam powered blimp. (Spoiler: He's too nice to his characters.)
    Sun Eater #4 then A Closed and Common Orbit (Angry Planet#2) and Vonnegut again, Breakfast of Champions.
    Sun Eater #5 then John Dies at the End. Not really cozy but wacky insanity that morphs into blood and gore to save the universe. Think Sean of the Dead but he's been watching Tarantino.
    My reading list this year looks like a literary lasagne with layers of Ruocchio alternating with different milder sauces.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@Kim_Miller Hahaha a literary lasagne indeed!

  • @doctormorbuis
    @doctormorbuis 20 днів тому

    For science fiction, you could go with a couple of the late Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold (A Civil Campaign, Captain Vorpatril's Alliance). You could also go with Bujold for fantasy with her Penric and Desdemona novellas. Pratchett is a good choice.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      I’ve read Bujold book, I need to try more!

    • @Spriggana
      @Spriggana 18 днів тому

      @@WordsinTime I am a fan of Bujold in general, but except the new Penric novellas now and then lately I keep coming back to her Sharing Knife books. Which is a bit surprising for me, as at first I thought of them as fine, but I her other books are better.

  • @Yesica1993
    @Yesica1993 20 днів тому +3

    To each their own, but, "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet", made ME angry! I got to the end and... NOTHING HAD HAPPENED! I was still waiting for the plot to kick in!

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому +1

      @@Yesica1993 Haha I gave it a 6.5/10. I agree not much happens, but if someone is looking for a cozy read they might enjoy it.

    • @cynthiafialka
      @cynthiafialka 19 днів тому +1

      I DNF’d The Long Angry Way… I felt the same that nothing was happening. I wanted to like it so much. :(

    • @Yesica1993
      @Yesica1993 19 днів тому +1

      @@cynthiafialka Another one like this is, "The Night Circus." Beautiful language/descriptions, but I got to the last page and felt like I'd fallen of a cliff. I was still waiting for the story!

    • @cynthiafialka
      @cynthiafialka 19 днів тому

      @@Yesica1993 I had The Night Circus on my TBR at one point but took it off. Sounds like it was a good move on my part. 😂

  • @zachryder3150
    @zachryder3150 20 днів тому +4

    'Avengers Endgame' is the greatest crossov--

  • @Zivilin
    @Zivilin 20 днів тому

    First book that came to my mind with feel-good vibes was Treasure Island until i remembered the title specified scifi & fantasy. 😅 The adventure fiction genre don't get enough love on booktube! 😛
    Anyway here are a few others i found uplifting:
    - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
    - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
    - Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
    - The Hobbit
    - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому

      @@Zivilin Nice picks! I’ll have to look some of them up.

  • @ReinReads
    @ReinReads 20 днів тому +3

    Definitely try To Be Taught, If Fortunate. A bit more of a hard SciFi novella.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@ReinReads Thanks for the recommendation!

    • @DJYoue
      @DJYoue 19 днів тому

      I concur, I've read quite a lot of Chambers' books and this was my favourite by far!

  • @TheDMFW62
    @TheDMFW62 19 днів тому

    Interesting discussion. I've read a lot of Vonnegut and Pratchett and appreciate them both but I am struggling to make the connection, except that they could both be categorised as comic. They have a totally different feel though. Vonnegut has angry cynicism but Pratchett is much kinder and less bleak.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому +1

      @@TheDMFW62 Some Vonnegut books are quite angry, but I find at least something positive to take from most of them. Glad you enjoyed the discussion!

  • @MSE9107
    @MSE9107 20 днів тому +3

    Haven’t seen the video yet but I bet the Martian or project Hail Mary will be there

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@MSE9107 🫡

    • @richardbloemenkamp8532
      @richardbloemenkamp8532 20 днів тому

      Bookpilled has just given F-tear to project Hail Mary. Indeed it is a fun read and not for people that look for literature, complexity and profound philosophical ideas. Personally I enjoyed it.

    • @JeantheSecond-ip7qm
      @JeantheSecond-ip7qm 20 днів тому +1

      @@richardbloemenkamp8532That seems a bit much. It’s no Dune, as mentioned in the video, but F-tier?

    • @Greenslime300
      @Greenslime300 20 днів тому +1

      @@richardbloemenkamp8532 I love Bookpilled's reviews and somewhat encyclopedic knowledge of older scifi, but idk why he even bothered to pick up Project Hail Mary when all the hype is around is based around it being the kind of easy, fun, accessible scifi book that he knows he doesn't like. I think at some point you just have to realize you're not the target audience for a book

  • @juanreinbergcortes7893
    @juanreinbergcortes7893 12 днів тому

    Great! I think the Feel-good aspect is mostly personal... I feel great after reading Clarke and Asimov, an optimistic view on the future. Perfect for those times when you say let's read 6 Frank Herbert books about tyrants and their breeding plans for humanity 😅
    After Dune I need something uplifting!
    Bookborn is awesome, I just saw her videos on A Song of Ice and Fire, and suscribing!

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 12 днів тому +1

      @@juanreinbergcortes7893 Yes, some people might the tone of a book more uplifting than others. The Dune series can be heavy, I’m going to read God Emperor of Dune soon. And I’m glad you’re enjoying Bookborn’s channel!

  • @fiberofmybeing7869
    @fiberofmybeing7869 20 днів тому

    Regarding Becky Chambers, I also found myself not quite interested in A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. However, I am so glad I continued on with the series. The fourth book, The Galaxy and the Ground Within, is the most feel-good sci fi book I can think of. The books can also be read as stand-alones, so I highly recommend skipping to the fourth book if you are concerned about whether you will like the others.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@fiberofmybeing7869 Thanks for the info!

    • @Spriggana
      @Spriggana 18 днів тому

      And for people who prefer a bit more drama then just vibes the second book - "A Closed and Common Orbit" - could be the sweet spot.

  • @beLIEver31415
    @beLIEver31415 19 днів тому

    One of my favorite writers of all time is KVJ TOO!! New Sub for sure!!! :D

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому +1

      @@beLIEver31415 Awesome!

  • @fleabynight
    @fleabynight 20 днів тому

    Good call...I enjoyed the first Bob book in the "Bobaverse" as you call it :) but like you, I haven't got past the first one yet, but it was a ton of feel god fun. Mistborn by Sanderson disappointed me slightly, as I wasn't prepared for the young adult thing. It felt like a kids book. If I were you I would start with his SciFi, Skyward, Starsight & Cytonic. It's still very young adult but a good yarn, & even a little feel good.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@fleabynight Thanks for the info!

  • @billfreeman5914
    @billfreeman5914 19 днів тому

    Goodreads shows 5 Nghi Vo novellas released so far with another 3 apparently planned.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому

      @@billfreeman5914 Thanks for the info!

  • @ishaengineer8326
    @ishaengineer8326 15 днів тому

    We are bob (series) lives in my brain rent free. Absolute favourite!!

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 15 днів тому

      @@ishaengineer8326 I’m glad you enjoy it!

  • @madiantin
    @madiantin 20 днів тому +1

    What a cute puppy.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому +1

      Haha Charlie is the best! And thanks for the recommendations!

    • @Kim_Miller
      @Kim_Miller 20 днів тому

      That's an interesting response to We Are Legion We Are Bob. I'm Australian and loved the humour. The author is Canadian and Canada, Britain and Australia share a lot of crossover when it comes to humour. However, for two countries with a common border, the US and Canada have a very different sense of humour. I wonder how the Bobivese puns etc land in other countries, or if they even land at all. However, no matter where we're from, everyone loves puppies, especially Charlie.

    • @madiantin
      @madiantin 19 днів тому

      @@Kim_Miller It was my daughter (American) who recommended We Are Legion to me (English). She loved it. I was occasionally somewhat amused, but mostly bored and happy to reach the end of the book. I *loved* the beginning, was fascinated with the premise, and enjoyed reading him learn how to do things. When the clones came along I got bored. The ending helped me not hate the book too much...but overall it was a solid "Meh" for me.
      Hitchhikers, however....and Pratchet...absolutely brilliant. I love them so much. My (American) book group read hitchhikers once, and they didn't like it at all. Bizarre.

  • @TheRedPolyhedral
    @TheRedPolyhedral 17 днів тому

    I agree with Tress of the Emerald Sea, Project Hail Mary and A Long Way, but I haven't read the others. If you're thinking of reading Brandon Sanderson but also want sci-fi, why not read his Skyward series? Very good books, as you would expect from him.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 17 днів тому

      @@TheRedPolyhedral I’m glad you enjoyed those! I thought about trying Skyward. I don’t usually enjoy YA books, but I might try them anyway.

  • @ericmerrell8622
    @ericmerrell8622 16 днів тому

    I think Bookborn could potentially really enjoy Bobiverse. I'd love to hear her thoughts on it

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 16 днів тому

      @@ericmerrell8622 I hope she likes it if she tries it!

  • @dougsundseth6904
    @dougsundseth6904 19 днів тому

    Pandora's Planet, Christopher Anvil - The Earth has been invaded and the invaders must be resisted. Which doesn't sound feel-good, but it's funny, and in the end has a really interesting message.
    Quarter Share, Nathan Lowell - The protagonist's mother dies and he will be deported from the planet he is living on, because it's a corporate world and he doesn't have a job. Again, sounds terrible for feel-good. But this becomes a very strong found-family book, much of which is about doing well by doing good.
    Beware of Chicken, CasualFarmer - Funny, great characters, lots of heart.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому +1

      @@dougsundseth6904 Thanks for the recommendations! Beware of Chicken is a great title haha

  • @EduardoRodriguez-du2vd
    @EduardoRodriguez-du2vd 18 днів тому

    Thanks!

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 18 днів тому +1

      @@EduardoRodriguez-du2vd You’re welcome!

  • @Verlopil
    @Verlopil 19 днів тому

    I've read 5 of those. I didn't really like A Long Way... either, just because I thought the story was uninteresting. I did like her Moss and Robot books but read those more as meditations and they worked that way.
    One series that's overall quite positive but which has a lot of conflicts to overcome is the Liaden universe stories by Steve Miller (died March 2024, RIP) and Sharon Lee. There are about 20 books but not all from the same time period in the universe so they don't all have to be read in order. The main storyline does though, and is about half the books. It's about a family of traders and pilots that are kicked off their planet and have to start over, and have to fight a private agency determined to destroy them. Start with Agent of Change. There's also one storyline that's about emerging AI into the universe's culture that's pretty hard SF and is very interesting.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 19 днів тому

      @@Verlopil Not much happens story wise but some people might like the vibe. And thanks for the recommendation!

  • @wnctube1
    @wnctube1 20 днів тому

    For Sci-fi I liked Clockwork Lives, K. Anderson (a Steampunk Canterbury Tales) and for fantasy Legends and Lattes

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      Nice! Thanks for the recommendations!

    • @wnctube1
      @wnctube1 20 днів тому

      @@WordsinTime Of course, love your channel!

  • @meesalikeu
    @meesalikeu 20 днів тому

    im reading left hand of darkness - i’m halfway thru - its cheery enough as its so good

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому +1

      Interesting! I didn’t find it that cheery but I’m glad you’re enjoying it!

    • @Greenslime300
      @Greenslime300 20 днів тому

      Enjoy that feeling while it lasts with that book, the second half is a lil bit different

  • @JLchevz
    @JLchevz 20 днів тому

    Fantastic crossover

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@JLchevz Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed!

  • @gedren_y8775
    @gedren_y8775 20 днів тому

    My only rec is for sci-fi. Quozl by Alan Dean Foster; so feel good that there are cartoons, and a trip to a certain theme park. Get the Flip-A-Mation paperback.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@gedren_y8775 Haha that sounds fun!

  • @Whalesong7
    @Whalesong7 14 днів тому

    I thought “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir was a great feel-good book! I couldn’t agree more.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 14 днів тому

      I’m glad you enjoyed it too!

  • @blairbabylon8504
    @blairbabylon8504 11 днів тому

    Have you tried Susan K. Quinn's hopepunk fiction. Fantastic. 💚 Her podcast is Bright Green Futures.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 11 днів тому

      @@blairbabylon8504 I haven’t but it sounds feel-good!

  • @FrankOdonnell-ej3hd
    @FrankOdonnell-ej3hd 20 днів тому

    I wouldn't call what she was holding up at the beginning of the video a book it's more like a TOME and ryan gosling may not be the best pick to play the hail mary astronaut as he's more studly than nerdy but thanks for reminding me about the bobeversre bks another booktuber mentioned them and I'd forgotten but they look like they'd be interesting⚛😀❤

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd I’m a Ryan Gosling fan, and while he is pretty “cool” I think he can pull off comedy too. I hope you enjoy Bobiverse!

  • @Yesica1993
    @Yesica1993 20 днів тому

    Oh, I definitely need happy stuff right now! I didn't know that about Tress. Is it... released to the unwashed masses now? I thought it was like a special thing only for the Superfans.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@Yesica1993 You can now buy it in all regular formats.

    • @Yesica1993
      @Yesica1993 20 днів тому

      @@WordsinTime I also saw it's at the library! Will definitely be checking it out.

  • @bookdmb
    @bookdmb 9 днів тому

    My thinking is that Vonnegut and Pratchett are both secular humanists with a playful wit, yet whereas Pratchett writes with genteel grace, Vonnegut carries a wry sort of gallows humour. Then, although ostensibly sci-fi Vonnegut is of a literary ilk, while Pratchett has immaculate prosody but is rooted in fantasy. I do think they had similar values, and were both deeply troubled by wanton violence and disregard for those things most precious.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 9 днів тому +1

      @@bookdmb That’s a great perspective!

  • @JeantheSecond-ip7qm
    @JeantheSecond-ip7qm 20 днів тому

    I need this list. Everything has to be grim and realistic. Reality sucks. I’d read the news if I wanted only grim reality. (Not that I don’t read that stuff. It just seems to be everything I pick up turns out to be depressing.) I’d recommend Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree and its sequel (it doesn’t get more feel-good than this).

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      I’m glad it was helpful! I’ve heard Legends and Lattes is cozy indeed haha

  • @mondostrat
    @mondostrat 20 днів тому

    SF isn't a very 'Feel Good' genre ... but if you're looking for a protagonist who keeps a positive attitude despite the world coming apart around them - it's Tetley from 'The Past is Red' by Catherynne M. Valente

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому +1

      Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll look it up!

  • @SciFiFinds
    @SciFiFinds 16 днів тому

    Hey there, been a fan for a while and uploaded my first video just now. Would love to feature in one of these videos at some point if you'd have me on :)

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 16 днів тому

      @@SciFiFinds Very cool! Most of the guests I have on are people that I’ve been chatting to for a long time, but I’ll check out your channel. Best of luck with it! Sci-Fi is the Best-Fi!

  • @IanTerronesReads
    @IanTerronesReads 20 днів тому

    I wish the kickstarted copies of the Brandon Sanderson secret projects did not cost 90$ on almost every used book site, they all look so cool together.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      @@IanTerronesReads They do look very nice.

  • @AbhijeetBorkar
    @AbhijeetBorkar 20 днів тому

    The Long Way was one of the most boring sci-fi books I have read. It didn't work for me.

    • @WordsinTime
      @WordsinTime 20 днів тому

      There’s not much plot development.

    • @AbhijeetBorkar
      @AbhijeetBorkar 20 днів тому

      @@WordsinTime that's certainly the big issue, but also, I found the world building to be very basic, characters completely generic and forgettable, and the therapy-speak quite annoying. From my perspective, there was nothing redeeming about the book.