You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
areen's reviews
392 reviews
Beast at Every Threshold by Natalie Wee
3.5
definitely unique but didn't found it that interesting. but points for mentioning my man wei ying 👍
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
4.5
this was beautiful. makes us feel small and insignificant but also the opposite haha. like it zooms out to comment on the planet, mother earth, and zooms in to comment on the lives and emotions of individual humans. very well captures that moment of realization that we're humans living on this planet in the UNIVERSE and how weird that all is.
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy
4.25
this was lovely. touches on kind of the abandoned creatures (?) of our world, such as old people and mice, and how we consider if they're worth saving. also reminded me how at that old age your profession and achievements can feel so far removed from yourself, as if all old people share the same lives.
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
4.5
the first half was so quiet(?) but those minor details really made it feel like I was a silent observer like the nature or something witnessing the horror as if it's a mundane occurrence. the fact that it was just descriptions with no clear insight into their minds made it more unsettling. I felt like it captured the dread/fear of getting captured by men, knowing they'll rape you and how fucked up that reality is.
it brings up interesting conversations on violence against women during war like it's expected, but also trivialised. how these women can be forgotten so easily as a person and become just another poor victim of rape.
the second half was haunting imo.the minor details paralleling from the first part like she's haunting mc and us. and the end that shows how nothing's changed since then for the Palestinians.
it brings up interesting conversations on violence against women during war like it's expected, but also trivialised. how these women can be forgotten so easily as a person and become just another poor victim of rape.
the second half was haunting imo.
If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura
1.75
obnoxious boomer realizes the basic concepts of life before dying. I'd like to believe this was written by a kid for their homework or maybe he fell out of a coconut tree to realize and explain things that are common knowledge.
they could've explored so much with the concept of erasing something from the world and how it could affect others. like what if we erased war? and is it possible? I'd personally ask for mosquitoes and explore if they actually contribute anything worth existing lol.
but instead we got disappearing phones bc he believes times were better when people memorized telephone numbers, thinking only human beings experience loneliness etc. without digging any deeper than this.
unless you're a kid or a person with no understanding of themselves and the world, I don't think this book has much value. most people already understand the concept of appreciating life and wanting to live to the fullest in face of death, without experiencing it. the writing is also very juvenile. it felt like a first draft.
maybe it's bc I read a lot of japanese translated fiction, I expected it to actually be profound. also apparently the author is an anime director. no wonder the mc felt like one of those annoying isekai male protags lol.
they could've explored so much with the concept of erasing something from the world and how it could affect others. like what if we erased war? and is it possible? I'd personally ask for mosquitoes and explore if they actually contribute anything worth existing lol.
but instead we got disappearing phones bc he believes times were better when people memorized telephone numbers, thinking only human beings experience loneliness etc. without digging any deeper than this.
unless you're a kid or a person with no understanding of themselves and the world, I don't think this book has much value. most people already understand the concept of appreciating life and wanting to live to the fullest in face of death, without experiencing it. the writing is also very juvenile. it felt like a first draft.
maybe it's bc I read a lot of japanese translated fiction, I expected it to actually be profound. also apparently the author is an anime director. no wonder the mc felt like one of those annoying isekai male protags lol.
Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu (Novel) Vol. 2 by Meng Xi Shi
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
turns out I'm horrifyingly bad at picking up a physical book. but rereading this vol has been thoroughly entertaining as always, even if picked it back up after months.
definitely saw a lot of parallels that I didn't pick up on my first read. once again I realized how mxs often leaves a lot unsaid, whether it's character motives, their thoughts or if they were really being honest etc., leaving them to be interpreted and analysed.
this is what makes the world feel so dynamic (well it is partly based on real history) and the story so rereadable, apart from yanshen being highly entertaining.
definitely saw a lot of parallels that I didn't pick up on my first read. once again I realized how mxs often leaves a lot unsaid, whether it's character motives, their thoughts or if they were really being honest etc., leaving them to be interpreted and analysed.
this is what makes the world feel so dynamic (well it is partly based on real history) and the story so rereadable, apart from yanshen being highly entertaining.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Rape