Keen AI Book Club

Mythos

Fiction
Reviewed: August 2023
Suggested by: Tom
Readers: Amjad, Petar, Tom
Endorsements: 3/3

Notes: “We definitely agreed that this book is worth a read. You learn a lot about Greek mythology, which some of us didn’t know, and the writing style is entertaining in a quintessentially Stephen Fry way. We highly recommend listening to the audio book as the narration makes it excellent.”

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Fiction
Reviewed: June 2023
Suggested by: Petar
Readers: Amjad, Petar, Tom
Endorsements: 0/3

Notes: “We loved the concept, the world and some of the characters. We all hated the way it finished, thinking ‘FFS!’ which left it hard to recommend. The author seems like he’s trying to build a “Hunger Games” like trilogy but we’re not sure leaving the first book unfinished is the best way to do it“

Alchemy

Non-fiction
Reviewed: May 2023
Suggested by: Sarah
Readers: Amjad, Petar, Tom, Sarah
Endorsements: 1/4

Notes: “This book may leave you with a sour taste if you are into numbers and like approaching problems scientifically. We enjoyed the book’s short chapters and a few of the points which Rory developed throughout. However, we found that the points did not ‘stick’ with us as well as other books we have previously read, and felt that some chapters were not quite long enough to develop a good enough understanding.“

Imperium

Fiction
Reviewed: March 2023
Suggested by: Amjad
Readers: Amjad, Petar, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 4/4

Notes: “It was easy to read with a fluid storyline. We noted that it was hard to keep up with the character names because of their similarity and complexity. The first half of the book was more enjoyable than the second, and with a small break, continuing to read the trilogy is not unimaginable to all. The book is not written from the perspective of the main character and we found that this added depth to the story.“

Roadside Picnic

Fiction
Reviewed: January 2023
Suggested by: Petar
Readers: Amjad, Petar, Tom
Endorsements: 0.5/3

Notes: “It is a gritty, sombre, sci-fi novel that explores the physical and philosophical struggles of a man who battles with the events of the zone. Though it’s relatively light on sci-fi, the book presents some exciting ideas about alien contact, the artefacts they’ve left behind and the bigger picture underneath it all that is interwoven with the day-to-day lives of people. It’s not the easiest of reads, it’s not the most exciting of developments and it ultimately leaves you with very little closure… but there is something about it that leaves you with a deeply visceral sensation, a mixture of despair and hope.“

The Joy of Small Things

Non-fiction
Reviewed: December 2022
Suggested by: Sarah
Readers: Sarah, Petar, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 1/4

Notes: “The book is full of short chapters which are convenient to read on-the-go. However, if read at once, the book becomes too long and repetitive. Each reader found something relatable or funny in the book. We would only really recommend this book for short term reads and it is definitely not as catchy as a well-written sci-fi book.“

Old Man’s War

Fiction
Reviewed: November 2022
Suggested by: Amjad
Readers: Amjad, Petar, Tom
Endorsements: 3/3

Notes: “A good storyline which also develops nicely over the next couple of books and would make an interesting movie. Especially for a scifi book, it is easy to read and without any complicated concepts to wrap your head around. Every couple of chapters, someone dies in a bit of a gruesome way and although the book includes some more gloomy parts, it is nothing too serious.“

The Ninth Metal

Fiction
Reviewed: October 2022
Suggested by: Amjad
Readers: Amjad, Petar, Tom
Endorsements: 1/3

Notes: “Not bad, not great. A story full of clichés that explores interesting ideas but lacks any real depth. The book focuses more on the sub-plot of the rivalry and internal conflicts surrounding Frontier Metals, rather than Hawkin’s story. It’s an easy read but not satisfying, which is reinforced by the disappointing ending. Also contains questionable Starburst thermodynamics!”

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Non-fiction
Reviewed: September 2022
Suggested by: Tom
Readers: Sarah, Petar, Tom
Endorsements: 1/3

Notes: “Rich Dad Poor Dad received a mixed reception among our book club readers. As expected, it is a book about getting rich, nothing more nothing less. We are sure that if you follow the lessons and rules of the book, they likely lead to success. But at what cost is often questionable. The writer makes little to no attempt to make getting rich sound appealing or fulfilling. In fact, it often makes you feel like Poor Dad has the right attitude and thoughts towards a fulfilling life, even if he does not have the right attitude towards becoming rich.”

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Fiction
Reviewed: August 2022
Suggested by: Saad
Readers: Petar, Amjad, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 0.5/4

Notes: “It is an important work of literature, but not one we enjoyed reading. It gripped us at certain parts and felt like a chore at others. The story takes a long time to get to the point, and then it felt flat. We certainly would not recommend this as an audiobook as the dated language and long sentences make it harder to follow. Nevertheless, the way Oscar Wilde describes scenery is wonderful and it paints vivid mental pictures.”

Why Has Nobody Ever Told Me This Before?

Non–fiction
Reviewed: July 2022
Suggested by: Tom
Readers: Petar, Amjad, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 1/4

Notes: “It does a good job as a manual and self help guide, but is not great as a book to read for fun or curiosity. Covering various topics, there’s probably something in it for everyone, but it’s more like a textbook you refer to when you need a useful toolbox to brush up some knowledge. Perhaps listening to it as an audio-book is better than reading it.”

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Fiction
Reviewed: June 2022
Suggested by: Amjad
Readers: Petar, Amjad, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 2/3

Notes: “This book is hard to follow at the start, but gets better as you read it. We would describe it as a slow spy novel with an unpredictable story-line. Its language is a little outdated and it has interesting trends like frequently mentioning drinking or the Germans always offering food to Leamas (one of the main characters).”

The Anthropocene Reviewed

Non-fiction
Reviewed: May 2022
Suggested by: Tom
Readers: Petar, Amjad, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 1/4

Notes: “Slightly depressing with each chapter needing a few minutes to thought about. The personal experiences may not be for everyone, but can make for a interesting read.”

The Kaiju Preservation Society

Fiction
Reviewed: April 2022
Suggested by: Amjad
Readers: Petar, Amjad, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 4/4

Notes: “Fun, light-hearted perfect for a flight. Good world-building without going over the top. Good to see bad guys get their comeuppance.”

The Scout Mindset

Non-fiction
Reviewed: December 2021
Suggested by: Tom
Readers: Petar, Amjad, Tom, Saad
Endorsements: 4/4