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adelphiereads's reviews
150 reviews
The Red Palace by June Hur 허주은
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's an emotional mystery novel that focuses on the plot and the characters as well. I love the writing. It's not that difficult to get lost in it and I love the parallelisms in the book. Especially the parallelism between the main character and the killer. I also love how there's only a perfect dash of romance in it since it is a mystery novel set in a palace. It didn't focus on the romance aspect, it focused on the murder, the society at that time and how minorities were treated poorly by those in power. The character development of the main character was strong and the same goes with those around her. This is a really good book. I highly recommend this for people who love mystery novels, especially those who enjoy historical mystery novels. Also, it's kind of a breath of fresh air that this is a historical mystery novel set in an Asian country. I think we've had enough of Western historical mystery novels.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was definitely a thriller novel. And if you read it home alone at night, it will definitely scare you.
I love that even though it's a horror book it is still character driven. The diversity of the characters were written wonderfully. And I love how the plot, especially the ending, is open for interpretation.
It's scary, confusing, engaging, easy-to-get-lost-in-between-the-pages kind of book and it makes one reflect about what they just read. Hence, I found this book entertaining.
Highly recommended for people who want to get to the horror genre. I'm not sure if people who love horror books would think of it as a good one. But as someone who's only starting to get into horror novels, it's definitely a good place to start for me.
Honestly, I prefer the series more. But that's unfair since they're both completely different stories. Still, I loved the series more.
I love that even though it's a horror book it is still character driven. The diversity of the characters were written wonderfully. And I love how the plot, especially the ending, is open for interpretation.
It's scary, confusing, engaging, easy-to-get-lost-in-between-the-pages kind of book and it makes one reflect about what they just read. Hence, I found this book entertaining.
Highly recommended for people who want to get to the horror genre. I'm not sure if people who love horror books would think of it as a good one. But as someone who's only starting to get into horror novels, it's definitely a good place to start for me.
Honestly, I prefer the series more. But that's unfair since they're both completely different stories. Still, I loved the series more.
1984 by George Orwell
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
This is a frightening dystopian novel. Not because of the creature that lurked in the dark or the apocalypse. Instead, it is because if you look at the society we live in today, we are drawing closer to the events that took place in this book. George Orwell wrote this book in the 1940s and in hindsight, it seems to be a book of prophecy.
Orwell’s writing is engaging and captivating. You are not only transported to that world but you are also put in the shoes of the characters in it. You feel their apprehension, their doubt, their fear, their pain, their hopelessness, their defeat, their surrender and their tinge of hope that is squashed like a boot stepping on a small ant.
This book is about how the world would come to be if it continues to progress this way. With the continuous technological advancements and its influence in the deindividuation. And how humanity can be reduced to a bunch of empty vessels that live and die for an immortal idea.
There’s so much more to this book than what I have said and if I try to say all my thoughts on it, it would take more than a thousand of words. I will spare you that boredom and instead, I’ll tell you to read this book if you are into books that tackle societal issues and that trigger one’s inner fears and raw emotions.
Orwell’s writing is engaging and captivating. You are not only transported to that world but you are also put in the shoes of the characters in it. You feel their apprehension, their doubt, their fear, their pain, their hopelessness, their defeat, their surrender and their tinge of hope that is squashed like a boot stepping on a small ant.
This book is about how the world would come to be if it continues to progress this way. With the continuous technological advancements and its influence in the deindividuation. And how humanity can be reduced to a bunch of empty vessels that live and die for an immortal idea.
There’s so much more to this book than what I have said and if I try to say all my thoughts on it, it would take more than a thousand of words. I will spare you that boredom and instead, I’ll tell you to read this book if you are into books that tackle societal issues and that trigger one’s inner fears and raw emotions.
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
What I love the most about the Heaven Official's Blessing novel is that in every arc the reader's moral principles is either tested, questioned or shaken to the core. Every story arc just makes the reader stop and ask, "Huh, what would I have done if I were him?" and truly, most of the time, he/she would just be stumped and would have probably resorted to what the character did in the book.
It's like the author took the idea, "no person is all bad or all good because everyone did something out of an intention they themselves deemed justifiable", and expanded it into such heavy detail. It's truly a work of art.
It's like the author took the idea, "no person is all bad or all good because everyone did something out of an intention they themselves deemed justifiable", and expanded it into such heavy detail. It's truly a work of art.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
This book has been at the bottom of my tbr for years, even before it went viral on tiktok and I'm so glad that I finally got to read it.
I love the narration of the story. How each husband of Evelyn signifies a pivotal moment of her life, how she grew through the test of time and love. I love the character development of Evelyn that took decades (in her timeline) because that's very realistic. In reality, people don't just go through one hardship and suddenly changes to the best version of themselves, instead it takes years and more than just one kind of pain. I would also like to point out how the author marvelously showed the different kinds of love that one experiences in their lifetime. I'm not going to go to immense detail about these kinds of love, you should definitely read this book to check it out for yourself.
This story is not just about the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, it's about her decades of journey into finding love and family. How she suffered to find it and keep it safe from vultures who want to tear it to pieces. This is such a wonderful book. Even the character development of Monique was magnificently written despite only having a few chapters about her.
This book is direct to the point and yet each statement, each word is heart-wrenching and breathtaking.
I love the narration of the story. How each husband of Evelyn signifies a pivotal moment of her life, how she grew through the test of time and love. I love the character development of Evelyn that took decades (in her timeline) because that's very realistic. In reality, people don't just go through one hardship and suddenly changes to the best version of themselves, instead it takes years and more than just one kind of pain. I would also like to point out how the author marvelously showed the different kinds of love that one experiences in their lifetime. I'm not going to go to immense detail about these kinds of love, you should definitely read this book to check it out for yourself.
This story is not just about the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, it's about her decades of journey into finding love and family. How she suffered to find it and keep it safe from vultures who want to tear it to pieces. This is such a wonderful book. Even the character development of Monique was magnificently written despite only having a few chapters about her.
This book is direct to the point and yet each statement, each word is heart-wrenching and breathtaking.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I have always loved Hemingway's direct and impactful writing. This is short story/novella but it will definitely leave a mark on the readers.
It's a story about how life challenges your will and endurance to pain and hardship. It's a story about how in suffering the only companion you have is yourself and nature. But that doesn't mean that you can't seek out help once the suffering ends or dies down.
I really loved that it painted the big picture of how a man can be destroyed but not defeated.
This is not just a story about a fisherman. It's about so much more and I definitely recommend this to everyone. I think everyone should give this a read.
It's a story about how life challenges your will and endurance to pain and hardship. It's a story about how in suffering the only companion you have is yourself and nature. But that doesn't mean that you can't seek out help once the suffering ends or dies down.
I really loved that it painted the big picture of how a man can be destroyed but not defeated.
This is not just a story about a fisherman. It's about so much more and I definitely recommend this to everyone. I think everyone should give this a read.
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.75
This book has proven once again that whenever men see a woman that's not submissive to them, they label them as a witch, to be feared but also to be considered as a disgrace and should be outcasted from the society. Circe's story did not just reveal the misogyny of the Greek mythology but of the world we live in today as well. Removing the magical elements of her story, we, as women, would be able to see our story in hers.
Like Circe most of us women spent the better half of our life trying to impress our fathers only for them to disappoint us, hurt us or abandon us in the end. And what our fathers did to us as girls would most certainly lead the terrible string of events concerning other men in our lives. We tried to see the best in men, only for them to use our kindness to their advantage and take all that is pure and innocent within us. Circe spent hundreds of years living in fear, sorrow, and pain like all women of today. And I think that's what makes this novel beautiful and important for everyone to read. I know the story of Circe is a common tale, something already written in Greek mythology but Madeline Miller told it in such a way that the readers could relate to it, could find their own story written in the pages.
I love the character development of Circe throughout the book. And the fact that she found her The One after years of pain and hardship. She deserved it. All I can say is Circe is a QUEEN. She doesn't deserve the hate for being a "witch that turned men to pigs", after all she did only turn them to their true self.
Like Circe most of us women spent the better half of our life trying to impress our fathers only for them to disappoint us, hurt us or abandon us in the end. And what our fathers did to us as girls would most certainly lead the terrible string of events concerning other men in our lives. We tried to see the best in men, only for them to use our kindness to their advantage and take all that is pure and innocent within us. Circe spent hundreds of years living in fear, sorrow, and pain like all women of today. And I think that's what makes this novel beautiful and important for everyone to read. I know the story of Circe is a common tale, something already written in Greek mythology but Madeline Miller told it in such a way that the readers could relate to it, could find their own story written in the pages.
I love the character development of Circe throughout the book. And the fact that she found her The One after years of pain and hardship. She deserved it. All I can say is Circe is a QUEEN. She doesn't deserve the hate for being a "witch that turned men to pigs", after all she did only turn them to their true self.
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Before anything I would like to commend the writing of the author in this book, it was so moving and heartfelt that I was able to feel every single emotions of the characters through the scenes as if I was them. I love how every single detail of the book is related and can be used as a metaphor to describe its central theme.
This is a story about newly wed couples, two young people who thought that marriage means freedom, that marriage is adulthood. This is because it was set in the era when society dictates that marriage is the threshold to adulthood and freedom to do one's will. But the exact year this story was set in is actually the time that the aforementioned belief is slowly being considered old and unconventional. It was the time of transitioning between traditional and modern times. And along with is the transitioning of two couples to "adulthood" by marriage or so they thought. Anyway, give this book a read. I highly recommend this for people who want to understand the gravity of marriage, of love, of freedom and self-expression. Also, side note, I love how Chesil Beach itself acts as a symbol for the central theme due to its geographical appearance.
This is a story about newly wed couples, two young people who thought that marriage means freedom, that marriage is adulthood. This is because it was set in the era when society dictates that marriage is the threshold to adulthood and freedom to do one's will. But the exact year this story was set in is actually the time that the aforementioned belief is slowly being considered old and unconventional. It was the time of transitioning between traditional and modern times. And along with is the transitioning of two couples to "adulthood" by marriage or so they thought. Anyway, give this book a read. I highly recommend this for people who want to understand the gravity of marriage, of love, of freedom and self-expression. Also, side note, I love how Chesil Beach itself acts as a symbol for the central theme due to its geographical appearance.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is a very light-hearted fantasy novel. It feels like the author wanted this story to feel like home for the readers. But it didn't do it for me. It was cute and chill but it didn't feel like home.
The writing style is interesting but the plot was confusing and almost felt like hastened. I did like how every small detail in the beginning made sense in the end but the plot still felt like brain vomit.
I loved the setting and the characters individually, though.
Comparing it to the Ghibli movie, the movie is definitely better. But it is still an interesting and light-hearted read.
The writing style is interesting but the plot was confusing and almost felt like hastened. I did like how every small detail in the beginning made sense in the end but the plot still felt like brain vomit.
I loved the setting and the characters individually, though.
Comparing it to the Ghibli movie, the movie is definitely better. But it is still an interesting and light-hearted read.
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Before reading this novella, I read first Robert Louis Jackson's introduction and from there it was quite obvious that a lot of men had studied this work and tried to explain it thoroughly, even using Dostoevsky's words post-publication of this story. But this is what I love about classics, you can take the intended meaning of the author and the interpretation of scholars throughout the years, along with your own thoughts and interpretation of it.
The Underground Man concept that was discussed in the introduction was really on point. The duality discussed was also perfectly reflected on the story. But I saw something else in it. I saw a lonely man. A man who wanted to be seen by the world but has been isolated for so long that it burns him in anguish if it happened even for a brief second.
On another note, I admire and believe Dostoevsky's philosophy of man and his free will that was explained in the first part of the novella. This is because I have seen it play out a lot of times in the past and even nowadays. People doing something vile out of the blue after being so headstrong on their path of good.
The underground behavior is a really interesting concept. I think it's arguably true. I wouldn't go into details about the things discussed here. You have to see for yourself.
This is a very immersive novella that makes you question yourself and the people around you for a couple of times. It also evokes feelings of sympathy, anger, disgust, contempt and sadness. And one of the best part is that it has really good dark humor.
This is a perfect example of what Dostoevsky had said: "Tragedy and satire are two sisters who go hand in hand, and the name of both of them, taken together, is truth."
The Underground Man concept that was discussed in the introduction was really on point. The duality discussed was also perfectly reflected on the story. But I saw something else in it. I saw a lonely man. A man who wanted to be seen by the world but has been isolated for so long that it burns him in anguish if it happened even for a brief second.
On another note, I admire and believe Dostoevsky's philosophy of man and his free will that was explained in the first part of the novella. This is because I have seen it play out a lot of times in the past and even nowadays. People doing something vile out of the blue after being so headstrong on their path of good.
The underground behavior is a really interesting concept. I think it's arguably true. I wouldn't go into details about the things discussed here. You have to see for yourself.
This is a very immersive novella that makes you question yourself and the people around you for a couple of times. It also evokes feelings of sympathy, anger, disgust, contempt and sadness. And one of the best part is that it has really good dark humor.
This is a perfect example of what Dostoevsky had said: "Tragedy and satire are two sisters who go hand in hand, and the name of both of them, taken together, is truth."