Take a photo of a barcode or cover
apalershadeofwhite's reviews
252 reviews
A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez
3.0
This is a very thought-provoking story. In my opinion, this story, with his prevalent religious themes, is a comment on faith and how inconsistent it can be. For example, the people were only interested in the man because he was rumoured to be an angel and because he was different, yet they turned their backs on him as soon as something more odd came into town.
I do wish, however, that this story was a bit longer, to be honest; I would have loved to have known more about the 'angel'.
I do wish, however, that this story was a bit longer, to be honest; I would have loved to have known more about the 'angel'.
Guts by Chuck Palahniuk
4.0
I'm going to preface this post by warning you not to read this if you have a weak stomach. I'm not kidding. This story is something else.
I've never read something like this before. I was so shocked. As someone who loves gory movies and such, I did find this story interesting, but it doesn't mean that it didn't shock me and make me cringe at first read. Overall though, I think the language used was effective in portraying the personality and age of the character and, in turn, helped the story become believable
I've never read something like this before. I was so shocked. As someone who loves gory movies and such, I did find this story interesting, but it doesn't mean that it didn't shock me and make me cringe at first read. Overall though, I think the language used was effective in portraying the personality and age of the character and, in turn, helped the story become believable
Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch by Serena Valentino
4.0
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book! I liked how Gothel was at first just misunderstood but that led to her becoming the Mother Gothel we know from the original stories. She was just a woman who cared about her sisters too much and did anything she could to save them; it just so happened that all her choices ended negatively.
I'm a big fan of the reference in this book to the classic Gilles de Rais/Bluebeard tale with the reference to The Bloody Chamber. The chapter names in this book were outstanding!
I'm a big fan of the reference in this book to the classic Gilles de Rais/Bluebeard tale with the reference to The Bloody Chamber. The chapter names in this book were outstanding!
Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy by Serena Valentino
4.0
I couldn't put down this book! This is my favourite book in the series.
It's really hard for me to pick a favourite chapter because I loved so many! 'The Great Sea Queen' and 'She Belongs to the Crows' made me so emotional; whereas 'The Land of Dreams' and 'The Dark Fairy's Birthday' made me feel warm and fuzzy inside; but then I was on the edge of my seat and reading with wide eyes during 'The Dark Fairy's Revenge' and 'Mothers and Daughters'!
As I've commented on it before, I feel it only consistent to comment on POV changes. Although this book flits between POVs, similarly to how Poor Unfortunate Souls did, it is done so much better in this novel, in my opinion. Each POV links back to the main storyline, Maleficent, and the reveal at the end. The writing is so much stronger in this novel than the last one.
Aditionally, I feel grossly connected to Oberon. Everytime he comes into a scene, I can feel a smile creeping onto my face. I believe it to be a mixture of projection and adoration. I am in awe of Oberon's wisdom and compassion and I hope to be like that some day. Similarly, I see parts of myself in Oberon and his behaviour. I simply adore this character. He is one of my favourite characters, if not the complete favourite, in any work of fiction I have ever read.
It's really hard for me to pick a favourite chapter because I loved so many! 'The Great Sea Queen' and 'She Belongs to the Crows' made me so emotional; whereas 'The Land of Dreams' and 'The Dark Fairy's Birthday' made me feel warm and fuzzy inside; but then I was on the edge of my seat and reading with wide eyes during 'The Dark Fairy's Revenge' and 'Mothers and Daughters'!
As I've commented on it before, I feel it only consistent to comment on POV changes. Although this book flits between POVs, similarly to how Poor Unfortunate Souls did, it is done so much better in this novel, in my opinion. Each POV links back to the main storyline, Maleficent, and the reveal at the end. The writing is so much stronger in this novel than the last one.
Aditionally, I feel grossly connected to Oberon. Everytime he comes into a scene, I can feel a smile creeping onto my face. I believe it to be a mixture of projection and adoration. I am in awe of Oberon's wisdom and compassion and I hope to be like that some day. Similarly, I see parts of myself in Oberon and his behaviour. I simply adore this character. He is one of my favourite characters, if not the complete favourite, in any work of fiction I have ever read.
Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch by Serena Valentino
3.0
This book is quite different to the previous ones, I think; mostly in the fact that there is a lot of other characters' POVs and not much from Ursula herself. Specially, there was a massive focus on Tulip's POV when, if anything, Pflanze would have been an interesting one to focus on more.
I am loving the consistency of the three sisters in this series though! And I thought it was quite clever how Tulip was present in the Beast's story and this one. I loved the inclusion of Ursula's song as well! It was so fun and refreshing.
Overall, I think so far this is my least favourite in the series. The book seemed a little all over the place. It was more focused on Circe and the Odd Sisters instead of Ursula. If it wasn't a book focused on the sea witch, I would have loved it, but the narrative drifted from the specified subject a bit.
I am loving the consistency of the three sisters in this series though! And I thought it was quite clever how Tulip was present in the Beast's story and this one. I loved the inclusion of Ursula's song as well! It was so fun and refreshing.
Overall, I think so far this is my least favourite in the series. The book seemed a little all over the place. It was more focused on Circe and the Odd Sisters instead of Ursula. If it wasn't a book focused on the sea witch, I would have loved it, but the narrative drifted from the specified subject a bit.
The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince by Serena Valentino
3.0
I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast, so I was really excited about this book! One thing I really liked was that "the odd sisters" made an appearance in this book as well as the last one! It created an interesting link between the two stories
In my opinion, the best chapter was 'The Prince in Exile'. This chapter really captured my heart and kept it clenching throughout the entire thing.
I did also enjoy 'The Witches Party' chapter because it was so tense. My eyes were so wide while I read the entire chapter!
In my opinion, the best chapter was 'The Prince in Exile'. This chapter really captured my heart and kept it clenching throughout the entire thing.
I did also enjoy 'The Witches Party' chapter because it was so tense. My eyes were so wide while I read the entire chapter!
Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino
3.0
An immeditale thing I noticed when I started reading this book is that it is written in a very traditional writing style. This writing style, in my opinion, makes it much easier for the writer to include linguistic techniques and detailed descriptions as opposed to a book that uses a more modern writing style like protagonist narration, for example.
One of the big aspects of the book is the Queen's unsightly relationship with her father, but I felt like that notion was sort of thrown on me in one of the earlier chapters. I really enjoyed this plot point, but I felt it was a bit haphazard in the first half of the book, but it used really well in the second half.
The chapter entitled "Envy" was by far my favourite chapter in this book! It captured the true essence of her becoming the Evil Queen and I absolutely loved how Serena Valentino did it in this chapter. It is closely followed by the chapter "Torment" though, I was in anticipation at the edge of my seat reading the whole chapter.
This books holds a very important message on beauty and obsession with beauty, in my opinion, and is very relevant to today's day of cyber-insecurity. Also, I absolutely adored the ending! The Queen, overtaken by vanity and obessesion for beauty, regained her lovely heart for her daughter.
One of the big aspects of the book is the Queen's unsightly relationship with her father, but I felt like that notion was sort of thrown on me in one of the earlier chapters. I really enjoyed this plot point, but I felt it was a bit haphazard in the first half of the book, but it used really well in the second half.
The chapter entitled "Envy" was by far my favourite chapter in this book! It captured the true essence of her becoming the Evil Queen and I absolutely loved how Serena Valentino did it in this chapter. It is closely followed by the chapter "Torment" though, I was in anticipation at the edge of my seat reading the whole chapter.
This books holds a very important message on beauty and obsession with beauty, in my opinion, and is very relevant to today's day of cyber-insecurity. Also, I absolutely adored the ending! The Queen, overtaken by vanity and obessesion for beauty, regained her lovely heart for her daughter.
The Safety of Objects by A.M. Homes
4.0
The Safety of Objects by A.M Homes was a bit odd, to say the least. I found myself scratching my head a bit at most of the stories and trying to understand what they mean. I guess it's sort of a crude take on the classic 'American Dream' and what lies in the nooks and crannies of the stereotype of a middle-class, suburban family.
〰️
A.M. Homes if often described as a provocative and/or daring writer and this collection of short stories definitely enforces that view! My favourite story was definitely the coveted 'A Reall Doll', but it is very closely followed by "Yours Truly" and "Esther in the Night". Although I was initially confused by the stories, I found myself admiring them all when it came to thinking about the collection as a whole. It was so interesting to read such gritty tales on American life because I'm so used to the grit being associated with British media.
〰️
A.M. Homes if often described as a provocative and/or daring writer and this collection of short stories definitely enforces that view! My favourite story was definitely the coveted 'A Reall Doll', but it is very closely followed by "Yours Truly" and "Esther in the Night". Although I was initially confused by the stories, I found myself admiring them all when it came to thinking about the collection as a whole. It was so interesting to read such gritty tales on American life because I'm so used to the grit being associated with British media.
The Lais of Marie de France by Marie de France
5.0
I very much enjoyed reading 'The Lais of Marie de France'! I find the narration to be very interesting because of its first person and use of "I"; you don't see this a lot in historical tales. Also, it was very refreshing to see some Welsh tales in there!
One thing that did tick me off a bit was the fact that all the women say they are not equal to the men and not fit for them because they are not worthy. It's sort of giving into the idea that women should be grateful for any man to want them and that they are inferior. This is a common theme in historical literature though, so I'm not surprised by it.
One thing that did tick me off a bit was the fact that all the women say they are not equal to the men and not fit for them because they are not worthy. It's sort of giving into the idea that women should be grateful for any man to want them and that they are inferior. This is a common theme in historical literature though, so I'm not surprised by it.
My Name is Monster by Katie Hale
4.0
I liked the structure of this book. It almost felt like it was being written in a diary, but it wasn't the adolescent sort of diary. It was more of a melancholic tale of events because someone had to record history down. Similarly, I love the use of language. Hale uses language of effectively between the two parts/narrations. For instance, she used a lot more similes in the second part because Monster was newer to the world and didn't have a vocabulary of the old world, before the Sickness, so she compared everything to something else in order to make it make sense in her head
The way Hale changes the tense between each 'entry' is really effective! It distinguishes between what Monster is going through now and the memories she is reminiscing on of a time that was both easier and yet just as difficult for her.
This book is like that bowl of crisps your mother would put on the table if you had company over: you don't realise how much you're eating until the bowl is empty. I spent hours turning page after page and suddenly I found myself on page 150 when 10 minutes ago I swore I was on page 65.
I loved the way Hale introduced us to the second Monster and how she recited all the words she knew, just like how the first Monster did when she was young. Calling herself Mother, it was like she was stepping into the shoes of her own mother and is bringing up her own little monster.
I found it really interesting how Monster have the girl her name and decided to call herself Mother. Knowing the first Monster's story, it made me think about how much we as reader know more than the characters; dramatic irony, if you will. For example, the second Monster kept calling Mother a creator and saying she wasn't a survivor, when in fact Mother was a survivor long before Monster was. It also brings forth the idea that we a speople don't truly know someone else. They could be putting on a face, playing a role, keeping things hidden and we may never know
Overall, though, I think this book is about hope in seemingly hopeless and desolate situations, but also how things are never quite what they seem or what you think they make be. And I think that's beautiful.
The way Hale changes the tense between each 'entry' is really effective! It distinguishes between what Monster is going through now and the memories she is reminiscing on of a time that was both easier and yet just as difficult for her.
This book is like that bowl of crisps your mother would put on the table if you had company over: you don't realise how much you're eating until the bowl is empty. I spent hours turning page after page and suddenly I found myself on page 150 when 10 minutes ago I swore I was on page 65.
I loved the way Hale introduced us to the second Monster and how she recited all the words she knew, just like how the first Monster did when she was young. Calling herself Mother, it was like she was stepping into the shoes of her own mother and is bringing up her own little monster.
I found it really interesting how Monster have the girl her name and decided to call herself Mother. Knowing the first Monster's story, it made me think about how much we as reader know more than the characters; dramatic irony, if you will. For example, the second Monster kept calling Mother a creator and saying she wasn't a survivor, when in fact Mother was a survivor long before Monster was. It also brings forth the idea that we a speople don't truly know someone else. They could be putting on a face, playing a role, keeping things hidden and we may never know
Overall, though, I think this book is about hope in seemingly hopeless and desolate situations, but also how things are never quite what they seem or what you think they make be. And I think that's beautiful.