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aquamarinecadet's reviews
79 reviews
The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
My first Frederick Forsyth read, but certainly not my last. Impeccable pacing and very detailed descriptions :D so a super fun read. Also written in a somewhat lyrical style (for a thriller), which I thoroughly enjoyed.
sadly not a 5 star read because for the time being the ending has me disappointed
sadly not a 5 star read because for the time being the ending has me disappointed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Murder
L'Arrière-saison by Philippe Besson
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
J'ai lu le livre en français mais 🥴 j'ai la flemme d'écrire le review en français donc.
Spot on, incredibly fleshed out characterizations!! I understand why others may have given this book low reviews given the ways the characters (especially Louise) are described, but I think that rating this book based off its characterizations (whether they are morally or socially sound) is the wrong way to go about it. The characters' flaws are what make them interesting, and this book was clearly not written as a morality bible to live by. I at least see it more as a very astute (and fun) observation of the human psyche in the context of a mundane yet life changing crisis between ex-lovers in a Cape Cod diner.
It was a good read.
Spot on, incredibly fleshed out characterizations!! I understand why others may have given this book low reviews given the ways the characters (especially Louise) are described, but I think that rating this book based off its characterizations (whether they are morally or socially sound) is the wrong way to go about it. The characters' flaws are what make them interesting, and this book was clearly not written as a morality bible to live by. I at least see it more as a very astute (and fun) observation of the human psyche in the context of a mundane yet life changing crisis between ex-lovers in a Cape Cod diner.
It was a good read.
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
If you think you can stomach it, read it.
It's a horrible read, as many others have already pointed out, but I believe that the only way to bring stories like these, that tell of such gruesome, infuriating injustices, to light, to bring them Out of Darkness, is to read them.
To carry with oneself all of the stories that have stayed in the dark for so long, in order to give them a voice.
It's a horrible read, as many others have already pointed out, but I believe that the only way to bring stories like these, that tell of such gruesome, infuriating injustices, to light, to bring them Out of Darkness, is to read them.
To carry with oneself all of the stories that have stayed in the dark for so long, in order to give them a voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder
Faithful and Virtuous Night by Louise Glück
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
>:D Imagine yourself stepping into a melancholy milky way. To me, this poetry collection was exactly that. The poems didn't all speak to me the same way Visitors from Abroad & Approach of the Horizon did, but the overall dreamlike, nostalgic tone of them all somehow repaired parts of my soul I never knew were broken before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death
Vladivostok Circus by Elisa Shua Dusapin
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Quand sort la recluse by Fred Vargas
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CHEF D'ŒUVRE WOW
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
Das Fräulein von Scuderi by E.T.A. Hoffmann
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Jaaaaa also. Ein guter alter deutscher Krimiklassiker, aber was gibt es sonst noch zu sagen? Nicht viel. Es gibt Interessanteres in der Welt der Krimis.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really cannot empathize with all the flamboyant reviews that call this book "quirky" "hilarious" or "dreamy" because to me, Convenience Store Woman is none of those things. Sure, it was comical at times, but it feels to me as those who consider this book a well-written comedy have largely missed the mark. How come nobody highlighted the interesting perspectives on misogyny, society's apparent expectations for women, or the (very misleading and entirely false) call for normalcy that this book brought to the table?
That appalling aspect aside, I found the prose in this book very...meta? Whatever it was, (actually I think I know what it was: the narrator tells a story, her story, but from what feels like an outsider/observer's perspective) it had a surreal feel, and I liked it very much. Also, this book has great one-liners:
"He really was just like me, uttering words that sounded human when really he wasn't saying anything at all"
A hot take on babies: "So far as I could see, aside from a few minor differences they were all just an animal called a baby and looked much the same, just like stray cats all looked the same."
And the best one: "The sensation that the world is slowly dying feels good."
Only took away 0.25 stars because the prose felt wonky at some parts.
That appalling aspect aside, I found the prose in this book very...meta? Whatever it was, (actually I think I know what it was: the narrator tells a story, her story, but from what feels like an outsider/observer's perspective) it had a surreal feel, and I liked it very much. Also, this book has great one-liners:
A hot take on babies: "So far as I could see, aside from a few minor differences they were all just an animal called a baby and looked much the same, just like stray cats all looked the same."
And the best one: "The sensation that the world is slowly dying feels good."
Only took away 0.25 stars because the prose felt wonky at some parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
well this was heartbreaking. the longing for belonging and a house you are proud enough to call home is one i feel generations of lower middle class americans could empathize with.
i had a lovely time reading this collection of vignettes, and would 100% recommend it to anyone interested in getting a glimpse of what sandra cisneros' writing style is like but who doesn't want to commit to a long book lol (vibrant imagery, spot on insights)
p.s. my favorite quote from the book :'))) "And the story goes she never forgave him. She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn't be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don't want to inherit her place by the window."
i had a lovely time reading this collection of vignettes, and would 100% recommend it to anyone interested in getting a glimpse of what sandra cisneros' writing style is like but who doesn't want to commit to a long book lol (vibrant imagery, spot on insights)
p.s. my favorite quote from the book :')))
Le parfum des fleurs la nuit by Leïla Slimani
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
"Quand on a plusieurs pays, plusieurs cultures, cela peut conduire à une certaine confusion. On est d'ici et puis d'ailleurs. On se revendique toujours étranger et on déteste en même temps que l'autre nous voie comme tel. On est de mauvaise foi."
un joli roman/essai :D
un joli roman/essai :D