Scan barcode
adelphiereads's reviews
150 reviews
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
When I was reading this book, I felt like I was having a conversation with a 16 year old boy. The kind of conversation that is unfiltered on the surface but is actually sort of still filtered. Like even though he’s saying a bunch of unnecessary observations about the world and making nonsensical declarations or statements, he is still saying something worthwhile underneath it all.
What I loved the most about this book is that it served as literary lens to give the reader a view of what society was like during that time for a boy with unstable emotions and unsecured attachments and/or relationships all while trying to find his identity. It’s really something to read and ponder on.
What I loved the most about this book is that it served as literary lens to give the reader a view of what society was like during that time for a boy with unstable emotions and unsecured attachments and/or relationships all while trying to find his identity. It’s really something to read and ponder on.
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
This book feels like a love letter for people in the closet and for those who are afraid to be themselves or even just to find out who they are. It gives the reader courage to step out of their comfort zone and discover who they really are. It also provides a vision of the what the world would look like if a person's immediate family and friends are more accepting and supportive of their identity regardless of how it deviates from the social norm (as long as it doesn't pose any harm to themselves and others, of course).
Every person deserves a family like Ari and Dante. Every person in the closet deserves a family like Ari and Dante.
This book could also serve as a guide for the family and friends of those who are in the closet or who just came out and they have no idea how to deal with it. All in all, everyone should read it so that they would have an idea what it truly means to live and to love.
Every person deserves a family like Ari and Dante. Every person in the closet deserves a family like Ari and Dante.
This book could also serve as a guide for the family and friends of those who are in the closet or who just came out and they have no idea how to deal with it. All in all, everyone should read it so that they would have an idea what it truly means to live and to love.
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I think this book is the perfect end to the entire book series of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse. It's the cherry on top of this marvelous work of fantasy literature. The plot gripped my heart and squeezed like it's nothing but a plushie toy. I was so immersed in the characters and their issues and their world's conflicts, it felt like I was a part of them. I laughed, swooned, loathed, and cried with the Grishaverse characters and this book is the perfect closure for our journey together. The Grishas, the Ravkans, the Kerch, the Zemeni, the Fjerdans, the Shus, and the orphans--all of them will forever have a special place in my heart.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I read each chapter so fast because I was so eager to find out what’s really going on. I wanted to get to the bottom of things quickly. I wanted to see what’s really happening in the messed up minds of this married couple.
Without giving away any spoiler, I’d just like to end my review with this (now it is up to you if a story like this is something you would want to read): this is a story about a man and a woman who should’ve never married but they still did.
Without giving away any spoiler, I’d just like to end my review with this (now it is up to you if a story like this is something you would want to read): this is a story about a man and a woman who should’ve never married but they still did.
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 5 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
I know, you’re probably not expecting to see these topics on a book marketed as BL or Boys Love. I hope these things made you interested in it and gave you the urge to start reading the book series because it is definitely worth it.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Obviously I am obsessed with this book series so yes this volume gets 5 stars as well. I will not go into details on why I love this book series and why I am so attached to its characters. Instead, I would like to point out the interesting topic discussed in this volume.
- The existence of sexism even in “heavenly realm” or more appropriately in religious setting.
- The drastic measures men do to keep their pride. This includes (and not limited to) breaking genuine friendships and neglecting one’s principles.
- Discrimination and prejudice against children with different temperament.
- The discrimination people experience when they don’t follow the social norms.
I know, you’re probably not expecting to see these topics on a book marketed as BL or Boys Love. I hope these things made you interested in it and gave you the urge to start reading the book series because it is definitely worth it.
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this book, obviously. There’s so much that I love about it that I would probably bore you with them. The romance is undoubtedly the best in this volume because we can really see a significant progress between Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. I won’t dive deeper into that. Nor will I talk about the other characters that I am attached to.
What I would like to talk about is the underlying tones in this volume. It’s difficult to do this without spoilers so here it goes:
So we saw from the previous volumes or chapters how the Heaven Realm along with its officials were held in high regard. That even though they had blood in their hands, that’s all in the past. They did that to achieve greatness and to ascend. But once they have become heavenly officials, they have changed and did nothing but for the good of humanity. If anything, only Xie Lian seemed to be the one who caused harm to humans after his first ascension.
But now we saw that that’s not the case. That even as heavenly officials they never stopped. That if they paved their way to heavenly greatness with blood, they will continue doing so because even in heaven there is still competition. No one is equal.
We saw that despite their power and greatness, men will still strive for more or use their power to control fate. The Water Master played with fate, used his power to change fate. Even though it is with good intentions, it doesn’t make it right. He caused the ruin of a man and his family to protect his brother and make him ascend. He stole the fate of an innocent man to save his brother. As shown in Xie Lian’s case, it’s not entirely impossible to chase away the curse placed on the Water Master’s brother. But he still cheated, he thought that because he became a god, he can change fate. He can say who gets to be god and who gets to die. This soon bite him in the back. He got his karma, of course.
This was like a jab on men rising to power declaring that they’re a philanthropist. Even though they’re in power they would still serve humanity. But in reality, if given the opportunity, they would still use their power to serve themselves at the cost of others’ suffering.
I loved the title in one of the chapters where it said “Gods appointing gods is beneath ghosts devouring ghosts.”
I have so much to say but I can’t write them down. I feel like I should say it. Should I start a podcast about this? Hahaha kidding
What I would like to talk about is the underlying tones in this volume. It’s difficult to do this without spoilers so here it goes:
So we saw from the previous volumes or chapters how the Heaven Realm along with its officials were held in high regard. That even though they had blood in their hands, that’s all in the past. They did that to achieve greatness and to ascend. But once they have become heavenly officials, they have changed and did nothing but for the good of humanity. If anything, only Xie Lian seemed to be the one who caused harm to humans after his first ascension.
But now we saw that that’s not the case. That even as heavenly officials they never stopped. That if they paved their way to heavenly greatness with blood, they will continue doing so because even in heaven there is still competition. No one is equal.
We saw that despite their power and greatness, men will still strive for more or use their power to control fate. The Water Master played with fate, used his power to change fate. Even though it is with good intentions, it doesn’t make it right. He caused the ruin of a man and his family to protect his brother and make him ascend. He stole the fate of an innocent man to save his brother. As shown in Xie Lian’s case, it’s not entirely impossible to chase away the curse placed on the Water Master’s brother. But he still cheated, he thought that because he became a god, he can change fate. He can say who gets to be god and who gets to die. This soon bite him in the back. He got his karma, of course.
This was like a jab on men rising to power declaring that they’re a philanthropist. Even though they’re in power they would still serve humanity. But in reality, if given the opportunity, they would still use their power to serve themselves at the cost of others’ suffering.
I loved the title in one of the chapters where it said “Gods appointing gods is beneath ghosts devouring ghosts.”
I have so much to say but I can’t write them down. I feel like I should say it. Should I start a podcast about this? Hahaha kidding
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
adventurous
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
4.0
To a fifteen year old, going through puberty is like trying to discover all the secrets of the universe. Sáenz embodied that struggle in this book which is why I loved it so much. He showed that finding yourself is a lot like finding the answers to the mysteries of the universe. You can’t do it on your own. You need family and friends to support you. You need people who has tried to discover the secrets of the universe and was only able to successfully answer a few of them. Still, you need them. Because as they help you, they’re also helping themselves. The book shows that regardless of what age a person is, he/she will always be growing, always trying to discover the secrets of the universe and finding wrong or right answers. Because….that’s just what life really is. A continuous search for meaning.
All in all, I highly recommend this for the boys and girls going through puberty and for the adults who had become so engrossed with the machine-like system of our society and had forgotten what it means to really live.
All in all, I highly recommend this for the boys and girls going through puberty and for the adults who had become so engrossed with the machine-like system of our society and had forgotten what it means to really live.
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Francesc Miralles, Héctor García Puigcerver
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
What I loved the most about this self-help book is that it is research-based. It’s not like the mainstream self-help books that are simply based on the beliefs and principles of the author which is clearly a biased opinion.
This book made me excited about life. It made me feel that there is more to discover about life. It gave me hope that life is not just about it ending sooner or later. I will definitely re-read this every now and then as I try to live by the principles of ikigai or as I try to find my ikigai.
This book made me excited about life. It made me feel that there is more to discover about life. It gave me hope that life is not just about it ending sooner or later. I will definitely re-read this every now and then as I try to live by the principles of ikigai or as I try to find my ikigai.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Even as someone with subpar knowledge on world history and politics, this book was really impactful. Through this “fairy story” one can see how a distortion or a desecration of socialism could easily turn into tyranny. It showed how from a novel and innocent idea of a future where everyone is equal, with a little bit of distortion carefully placed by cunning men, it can transform into a tyrannical system and everyone still believes that it’s the same thing. That it’s normal. That they’re still heading for the same goal.
It’s Orwell’s warning to the people. And although the afterword of Russel Baker said it’s not so much applicable today, I beg to differ. With the rise of technology and the almost limitless power it can grant to its users and managers, it is still a very important warning to everyone. To keep their eyes open for pigs trying to rise into power.
It’s Orwell’s warning to the people. And although the afterword of Russel Baker said it’s not so much applicable today, I beg to differ. With the rise of technology and the almost limitless power it can grant to its users and managers, it is still a very important warning to everyone. To keep their eyes open for pigs trying to rise into power.