aeudaimonia's reviews
70 reviews

A History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition by Jennifer Kolpacoff Deane

challenging informative fast-paced

4.5

The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats: Revised Second Edition by W.B. Yeats
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

Fantastic poet, would recommend, but not hitting right now. Will return to it for sure.

Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam by Nick Turse

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and War

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

challenging reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

A History of Judaism by Martin Goodman

informative slow-paced

4.0

Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia by Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari

challenging informative slow-paced

5.0

I didn't say it was good i said that i liked it

Notes from a Dead House by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark reflective slow-paced

3.75

These are very much Dostoevsky's notes, not a novel. Chapters tend to cover topics (Christmas, punishment, animals, a particularly horrible one detailing the graphic domestic abuse and murder of a convict's wife) rather than narrative beats; the prose is often repetitive bordering on self-indulgent. Part of this comes down to its serial publication over the course of a couple of years - it just reads differently than modern books do. However, comparing Dostoevsky's writing in Notes with Crime and Punishment, also published in the papers just a few years later, the difference in quality is noticeable. Despite being a relatively easy read for Dostoevsky, it drags. 

Embedded in the repetitive and sometimes triggering material, however, are Dostoevsky's trademark insights into human nature. The final chapter and the appendix, "The Peasant Marey," brought me to tears and make the read more than worthwhile.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Animal cruelty and Antisemitism

Duino Elegies and The Sonnets to Orpheus by Rainer Maria Rilke

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Rilke competed both the Elegies and the Sonnets after a long period of depression; so have I read them. Existential dread and the terror of the divine and the daunted but resolute commitment to live.

“Earth, isn't this what you want: to resurrect 
in us invisibly? Isn't it your dream
to be invisible one day? Earth! Invisible!
What's your urgent charge, if not transformation?
Earth, my love, I will.”

Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Leonard cohen save me