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aeudaimonia's reviews
83 reviews
A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I feel weird about rating a dead man's grief journal, but suffice to say I loved this book. I read this around the 2-year anniversary of my dad's passing; while Lewis is writing primarily about spousal relationships and subsequent grief, I still sobbed at multiple points within a mere 76 pages. It's not the masterwork of logic Lewis is so often known for, but so much the better: it is simply the process of anger, doubt, self-loathing, and acceptance. As a Christian, especially, there's so much stigma around experiencing grief as it is! We are reminded of Job who refused to curse God; we're encouraged that "everything happens for a reason" and to think of the people who have it worse. What's actually encouraging is to get such an intimate look into Lewis's mind, so familiar to anyone processing loss, and to know that the most influential theological giant of the last century has struggled in the same way. I will be forever grateful to him for publishing his vulnerability in all its imperfection and beauty.
The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved this book a lot more than I thought I would, especially since my only previous exposure to Hemingway was The Old Man and the Sea (which I have... not learned to love quite yet). The austere, matter-of-fact prose and narrative style that I found so boring in The Old Man serves this novel exceptionally well, helping to build tension and to immerse the reader in Robert Jordan's similarly matter-of-fact reflections. Although slow in some places, each scene contributes to the larger narrative--masterfully constructed and well-paced.
Given the time period--as well as the kinds of characters Hemingway portrays--expect some Misogyny Lite™, as well as Romaphobia and frequent use of the g*psy slur.
The only issue I take with the writing itself is Hemingway's habit of head hopping--changing points of view within the same chapter, briefly and without warning. Although the reflections of these new perspective characters are legitimately interesting and, in some cases, arguably indispensable to the whole, the sudden shifts occasionally pulled me out of the story. If this had been a regular aspect of the entire book, perhaps it wouldn't have been quite so jarring; given that the first half is almost entirely Jordan's perspective, however, I found the more frequent perspective changes in the second half incredibly off-putting.
That said, if you can fully immerse yourself in Jordan's perspective, you'll find it's a powerful one. Despite his characteristic dryness, he's by no means a bland protagonist. In fact, he might be one of my new favorite protagonists of all time--even though he doesn't experience a classic character arc. His relationship with Maria fell a little bit flat for me, but I can overlook it as a secondary aspect of the main storyline.
Sobbed like a baby the entire last chapter. 8/10 would recommend.
Given the time period--as well as the kinds of characters Hemingway portrays--expect some Misogyny Lite™, as well as Romaphobia and frequent use of the g*psy slur.
The only issue I take with the writing itself is Hemingway's habit of head hopping--changing points of view within the same chapter, briefly and without warning. Although the reflections of these new perspective characters are legitimately interesting and, in some cases, arguably indispensable to the whole, the sudden shifts occasionally pulled me out of the story. If this had been a regular aspect of the entire book, perhaps it wouldn't have been quite so jarring; given that the first half is almost entirely Jordan's perspective, however, I found the more frequent perspective changes in the second half incredibly off-putting.
That said, if you can fully immerse yourself in Jordan's perspective, you'll find it's a powerful one. Despite his characteristic dryness, he's by no means a bland protagonist. In fact, he might be one of my new favorite protagonists of all time--even though he doesn't experience a classic character arc. His relationship with Maria fell a little bit flat for me, but I can overlook it as a secondary aspect of the main storyline.
Sobbed like a baby the entire last chapter. 8/10 would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism
The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II by Эдвард Радзинский, Edvard Radzinsky
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
dark
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Wish I could come up with something more eloquent and informative for future readers but I got nothing. A book by a depressed homie, for the depressed homies; great if you're on the verge of a major depressive episode or a softcore suicidal bender. (It won't help, but you might find your feelings indulged <3). Made me hate myself and the crushing prospect of living in a Society. 5 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A bizarre little book, charming in its own unorthodox way, and - despite some undertones of white colonialist rhetoric - a welcome break from the explicit racism of The Horse and His Boy.
(There's still plenty of racism here!!! It's not so overwhelmingly saturated with it like THAHB, but let us be clear: all of these books incorporate racist themes, tropes, and/or rhetoric).
I have my qualms with the book's 2008 film adaptation (particularly its characterization), but the source material is honestly so strangely structured that I'm not sure Andrew Adamson could have adapted it any other way. Without giving too many spoilers, we begin with the Pevensies, receive what became the first 25% of the film through expositionary indirect dialogue, and then peel off from the others with Susan and Lucy (Aslan takes them to a bacchanal that he called together, actually; the concept alone boggles my mind too much to articulate ). Susan and Lucy finish their task; we move to Peter, Edmund, and Caspian for the rest of the book.
I really can't emphasize enough the strangeness of Prince Caspian's narrative structure, but even stranger is the fact that it's still a more or less 4-star read. The story feels like someone put a cogent narrative together, scrambled it into puzzle pieces, and left them scattered on the table, but for the most part it's a good story and a fun, kooky time. Cheesy in some places (Lewis named a Narnian schoolteacher Miss Prizzle and I will never recover), but a little cheesiness in The Chronicles is par for the course. Still not my favorite Narnia book, but I was pleasantly surprised!
TL;DR: The cheesy, homey scrambled eggs of the literature world. Pretty decent; 4 stars.
(There's still plenty of racism here!!! It's not so overwhelmingly saturated with it like THAHB, but let us be clear: all of these books incorporate racist themes, tropes, and/or rhetoric).
I have my qualms with the book's 2008 film adaptation (particularly its characterization), but the source material is honestly so strangely structured that I'm not sure Andrew Adamson could have adapted it any other way. Without giving too many spoilers, we begin with the Pevensies, receive what became the first 25% of the film through expositionary indirect dialogue, and then peel off from the others with Susan and Lucy (
I really can't emphasize enough the strangeness of Prince Caspian's narrative structure, but even stranger is the fact that it's still a more or less 4-star read. The story feels like someone put a cogent narrative together, scrambled it into puzzle pieces, and left them scattered on the table, but for the most part it's a good story and a fun, kooky time. Cheesy in some places (Lewis named a Narnian schoolteacher Miss Prizzle and I will never recover), but a little cheesiness in The Chronicles is par for the course. Still not my favorite Narnia book, but I was pleasantly surprised!
TL;DR: The cheesy, homey scrambled eggs of the literature world. Pretty decent; 4 stars.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
As a Western Christian, I'm uncomfortable commenting too much on the narrative structure and philosophy of this book. I've gleaned from other reviewers, however, that Hesse's narrative is a major departure from the original legend. I'd like to do additional research, particularly from Buddhist scholars and reviewers, before evaluating the themes and messages of Hesse's version. Why Siddhartha remains the seminal book on spirituality in the 20th century Western canon is still beyond me. Perhaps I'll understand after additional reading (and perhaps a reread or two).
Otherwise, the lack of plot didn't necessarily bother me. I read it via audiobook, and it was nice to simply follow along with Siddhartha's journey. I've only read one other book by Hesse, Demian; it remains my favorite of the two. Overall decent book; 4.00-4.25 ⭐
Otherwise, the lack of plot didn't necessarily bother me. I read it via audiobook, and it was nice to simply follow along with Siddhartha's journey. I've only read one other book by Hesse, Demian; it remains my favorite of the two. Overall decent book; 4.00-4.25 ⭐
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Frankly, I didn't have high hopes for The Poisoner's Handbook, expecting it to be, well, more of a handbook than a cohesive narrative. Happy to report I was mistaken! Informative but clearly written, it was one of the more enjoyable books I've read this year. I'd gladly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Jazz Age, as well as a more casual interest in chemistry.
The book's content and prose earns a full five stars; the structure, however, left me somewhat dissatisfied. Blum organizes the book by poison (with chapters titled "Wood Alcohol," "Cyanides," etc) but tells the narrative more or less chronologically--an ambitious structure, with varying degrees of success. Most straightforward are the earlier chapters, when the Medical Examiner's Office was in its infancy. As the book progresses, however, Blum adds shorter anecdotes about Prohibition and the bootlegging business, New York street gangs, and poison cases unrelated to that chapter's nominal poison but chronologically relevant. All these narrative threads end up obscuring the heart of the chapter; I often wondered, "How did we get here?" regarding information that I'd otherwise have eaten up without a second thought.
Otherwise, though, this was masterfully crafted and a fantastic introduction to the period.
The book's content and prose earns a full five stars; the structure, however, left me somewhat dissatisfied. Blum organizes the book by poison (with chapters titled "Wood Alcohol," "Cyanides," etc) but tells the narrative more or less chronologically--an ambitious structure, with varying degrees of success. Most straightforward are the earlier chapters, when the Medical Examiner's Office was in its infancy. As the book progresses, however, Blum adds shorter anecdotes about Prohibition and the bootlegging business, New York street gangs, and poison cases unrelated to that chapter's nominal poison but chronologically relevant. All these narrative threads end up obscuring the heart of the chapter; I often wondered, "How did we get here?" regarding information that I'd otherwise have eaten up without a second thought.
Otherwise, though, this was masterfully crafted and a fantastic introduction to the period.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship