anisha_inkspill's reviews
169 reviews

A Dream Play by August Strindberg

3.0

I really liked the surreal aspect but as a read, many of the Christian references went over me, and the translation in the public domain by Edwin Björkman gave me enough of a flavour to want to watch this. 

Chinese Poems by Charles Budd

3.5

The poems are plain and what runs through most of them is stillness or nature. This occurs through a variety of themes, including resignation, loss, love or appreciation. I found some poems to be a poignant read, whilst others charmed or humoured me. 

Jane Austen at Home: A Biography by Lucy Worsley

4.0

 

With a laid back and chatty style, Lucy Worsley brings Jane Austen’s world to life. There was a lot here that piqued my interest, especially glimpses of historical and social context. Also, her hypothesis of random connections between the author’s life and her novels were also fascinating. What I liked the most about this is Worsley trying to show that Jane Austen is more than a writer of romance. 

Contemplation by Franz Kafka by Franz Kafka, Franz Kafka

3.0

 

18 pieces of varying length scattered with wonderful imagery.
 
 Reading these are like reading little pieces of hope, I couldn’t connect with all of them but the ones I did were comforting or wistful. 

The Trojan Women by Euripides

4.0

 

Reading this for the second time, was as hard as the first. Through Hecuba’s agony, Euripides shows the senselessness of war. Her voice is also the voice of the surviving women, and its truly awful, but I’m still glad I read this. What stands out for me is the women’s strength. They have been through so much and yet they are not broken. 

TW & spoiler:

A very young child is murdered by the Greeks, they are worried that the child, Astyanax will grow up get vengeance. Hecuba (bravely) retorts that this is not the action of a civilised society. 

Moon over Minneapolis by Fay Weldon

4.0

I enjoyed reading this collection of shorts. They are all punctuated with the same irony and quirkiness that delves under the surface. Their casual tone invites you to share an understanding of misunderstandings and prejudice that come with relationships between family, friends, siblings, lovers, employee and employer and the community. It delivers with quiet humour the imperfections of life and relationships. 

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

4.0

This is my second read of this translation, the first time I read this was back in 2018, around the time I joined Goodreads. That was also the first time I thought I understood this play, on previous attempts, despite being aware of how this play is discussed, it was still baffling.  This time I see how Henrik Ibsen builds tension; I know what’s coming but I am still hooked as the drama unfolds. 

The Lifted Veil by George Eliot

3.0

This gothic tale is eerie, sad and suspenseful where at times the pacing dragged but overall, an enjoyable read. The story is about 60 odd pages, and stayed with me and became a bit of a puzzle as some things that happened are not spelled out, leaving more room for interpretation. 

Emma by Jane Austen

3.5

I found this audio drama an easy way to enjoy  Jane Austen’s Emma. The production sounds a touch dated but I like how the script uses narration to bridge scenes of dialogues, and after an hour (of roughly 5.2 hours) I warmed to this. The 3.5⭐ is for this audiobook’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, starring Angharad Rees. 

The Cambridge Companion to Sylvia Plath by

4.0

Eleven essays written by eleven different contributors discuss Sylvia Plath's writing. Before reading this, I read two biographies, Plath’s abridged journal and looked through her poetry and also her letters, along with another read of the The Bell Jar. Without this, some of the essays would have been harder to follow. Overall, an informative read.