82_99's reviews
21 reviews

Sun and Steel by Yukio Mishima

inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

Mishima writes with tremendous fervor and clarity. It’s a shame how such talent could work against itself, for all I could think about was his extremely conservative views and misogyny. I suppose this is an exercise in mindfulness to separate the art from the artist. 

Nevertheless, I felt this deeply resonated with me. I am a worshipper of the Sun and the Steel. I see a bit of Mishima within me.  I will use my fervor well. 

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for he is not the same man and it is not the same river.” I will wait for you to step into the river with me, and I hope that in this new river we may build mirrors free from distortions, fully reflecting our inner beauty upon each other
and
discuss the art of book covers, and be proud of one another. 

—————-
+5.0 for being amazing
-.5 for pretty much only portraying women alongside sex 

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Not as challenging as I anticipated it to be. A pleasant read for those who surround themselves with darkness. For those whose reflections are not dark by nature, or those whose aesthetic is simply more lighthearted, it will certainly drag you into a very uncomfortable, but ultimately, rewarding place. The translation was solid. The biggest thing I got out of this book is a haunting fear of ever finding myself in a position to commit such heinous acts and a revitalized sense of love for my family, whom I owe everything to. 

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

My experience with this book was generally an observation in prose. Her plots are so cut and dry it’s like I’m eating kale.

My genuine reaction when Virginia Woolf holy xD Queen of Prose. Do not use the term writer lightly, I suppose.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

challenging dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh. Forgive my grammatical errors please, this cafe is closing. I am currently on my second immediate reread of this novel. 

I believe this truly warrants a full-fledged, creative writing piece as a review out of love. 

This book is imperfect—for instance, the chapter early on about Wardine and her abusive mother being written super poorly; almost a pretentious, unfamiliar (racist, I’d contend) mockery of African-inner city accent rather than actually adhering to it. But what it teaches me as a writer is that this is insignificant in comparison to the themes you wish to convey to your readers and the devices you use to present those themes. It’s very much the intangibles, the hidden-between-the-lines pourings of David Foster Wallace’s creative juices that make this in my opinion the best book I’ve read, despite receiving a 4.5/5. It’s a paradoxical and perhaps ignorant, nonsensical rating given my standing but it is the only score that resonates with my heart. 

It’s an off-kilter, rambunctious uncle who alternates from a Math-rock tempo’d style to a more somber, depressing atmosphere. It is very postmodern; as in, The Denver Library, or the Portland Building, or Mount Saint Michael + Saint Michael’s Mount by Aphex Twin. It’s super disorienting to read, it feels like being drugged in a world where you are the last remaining being, because it’s also devoted to its messages of isolation and suicide and talent and addiction. 

It definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you are of the open-mind, I definitely think this is worthwhile. Oh, worthwhile certainly, but it’s just a matter of how uncomfortable you’re willing to get before conceding.

(More to be added).

The Parade by Dave Eggers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.

I got like 80 pages in, but this book is not good. You all can write something better I guarantee you.

The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Fast-to-medium-paced storytelling is a jarring contrast from what I am currently reading, so this is like an ice-cold lemonade during these 90-degree summer days.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

3.0