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arthuriana's reviews
611 reviews
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
5.0
I—I have no idea what to say or think or do in regards to this book. I mean, when I started this out, I said that I was going to watch the movie after reading the book, but now . . . well, I'm not that sure.
It's not that I'm nervous about the torture scenes or whatever. Today's media is so utterly depraved that I didn't really care about those passages in the book, except to share them to my friends in some kind of twisted sociological experiment about how'd they react (suffice to say, they concluded that the author must have been a murderer before and they've demanded that I finish it—take of that what you will).
No, it's not about that. Rather, it's about this book and that film and, oh dear Lord, would the film ever at least reach the exact amount of genius that this book gave to me while reading?
Because let's forget about the crimes and the depravity and the violence. Let's look at this book for what it really is: a careful meditation about narcissism and egoism and too much consumerism. If this book is scary, it isn't because of the overly descriptive torture scenes. This book is scary because Patrick Bateman, who he is and what he is, could easily be you and me.
And that is fucking scary.
It's not that I'm nervous about the torture scenes or whatever. Today's media is so utterly depraved that I didn't really care about those passages in the book, except to share them to my friends in some kind of twisted sociological experiment about how'd they react (suffice to say, they concluded that the author must have been a murderer before and they've demanded that I finish it—take of that what you will).
No, it's not about that. Rather, it's about this book and that film and, oh dear Lord, would the film ever at least reach the exact amount of genius that this book gave to me while reading?
Because let's forget about the crimes and the depravity and the violence. Let's look at this book for what it really is: a careful meditation about narcissism and egoism and too much consumerism. If this book is scary, it isn't because of the overly descriptive torture scenes. This book is scary because Patrick Bateman, who he is and what he is, could easily be you and me.
And that is fucking scary.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
2.0
I'm not gonna lie, this is a children's book. I didn't expect the profundity of Tolstoy to come leaping out of these pages, nor did I expect the intricacy of Joyce's prose. I expected a nice read, just like what an average person would expect from a children's book.
But honestly? I felt that this was a half-assed effort. I didn't feel anything. It just felt like I was reading, nothing more and nothing less. I didn't connect with the characters. I didn't sympathize with their plight. I could barely even care to turn the next page. This book was almost marked as a gave-up-on.
Seriously, this book had one of the greatest foundations for a children's novel. I mean, honest, a school for spies? Dude, that sounds so awesome.
The problem is, the book isn't.
But honestly? I felt that this was a half-assed effort. I didn't feel anything. It just felt like I was reading, nothing more and nothing less. I didn't connect with the characters. I didn't sympathize with their plight. I could barely even care to turn the next page. This book was almost marked as a gave-up-on.
Seriously, this book had one of the greatest foundations for a children's novel. I mean, honest, a school for spies? Dude, that sounds so awesome.
The problem is, the book isn't.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
3.0
Something must be wrong with me.
I mean, lately, I've been giving out low-star reviews for books that had a ton of five-star reviews.
This is one of those examples.
Honestly, though, I just cannot connect with this book. I mean, alright, fine, you've died for this girl you've bullied for the past couple of years. Congratulations on not being a douchebag and all, but should that erase the bullying you've done? I don't even care if you gave up your life for this girl—seeing as we're not even sure if what you've done seriously affected the timeline.
This is like a repentant sinner on his deathbed. The only problem is, I don't really believe repentant sinners on their deathbeds. Why should I, when they spent all their lives sinning? I don't believe in God, and I don't believe that there could ever be an objective sense of good and evil, but what I do believe in is cleaning up your act and pulling your shit together while you're still alive to do it.
Let's be honest here: people wouldn't suddenly remember her as a good girl after she died. She'll just be remembered as that mean bitch who so happened to save the girl she'd been bullying for years. At best, a lot of people would turn up in her funeral service and some of those would be just doing it for the sake of appearances, because, you know, she's 'popular,' after all. At worst, people would say that perhaps she drank too much at the party and she didn't really mean to push that girl out of the way.
Because, honestly, repentance is for the living. This girl? Yeah, she was already dead when she changed, which is too bad, I suppose.
I mean, lately, I've been giving out low-star reviews for books that had a ton of five-star reviews.
This is one of those examples.
Honestly, though, I just cannot connect with this book. I mean, alright, fine, you've died for this girl you've bullied for the past couple of years. Congratulations on not being a douchebag and all, but should that erase the bullying you've done? I don't even care if you gave up your life for this girl—seeing as we're not even sure if what you've done seriously affected the timeline.
This is like a repentant sinner on his deathbed. The only problem is, I don't really believe repentant sinners on their deathbeds. Why should I, when they spent all their lives sinning? I don't believe in God, and I don't believe that there could ever be an objective sense of good and evil, but what I do believe in is cleaning up your act and pulling your shit together while you're still alive to do it.
Let's be honest here: people wouldn't suddenly remember her as a good girl after she died. She'll just be remembered as that mean bitch who so happened to save the girl she'd been bullying for years. At best, a lot of people would turn up in her funeral service and some of those would be just doing it for the sake of appearances, because, you know, she's 'popular,' after all. At worst, people would say that perhaps she drank too much at the party and she didn't really mean to push that girl out of the way.
Because, honestly, repentance is for the living. This girl? Yeah, she was already dead when she changed, which is too bad, I suppose.
Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith
3.0
Alright, this book was actually good. Hence the three-star rating. However, most of the time, I felt weirdly unattached. It was as if instead of sympathizing with the characters, it was like I was watching a movie. In black and white. Muted.
Because this is what this novel is: muted. The tone is passive. The prose was, to be honest, not that stellar. There are character dramas that I think should have made me feel invested in these characters but ended up being like static on a television set. Irritating. Useless. A headache if you stare at it long enough, because, honestly, this book had all these words and all these paragraphs but it didn't really feel like it would add up to anything you know?
Walker-Smith employs the tell method. And that is where she struck out. All Charlotte could ever do was tell the readers—and other characters—about how troubled she is, about how she has these 'problems.' These issues. The thing is, it never felt like issues. It disappeared when it needed to be and it appeared when the plot called for it. Contrived? Yep, it certainly is.
Twas a pity, really. If this could have been done with better prose, we could have the next big coming-of-age YA novel. A novel about love lost and love found and lost again. About family. About friendships and betrayal.
Instead, we get muted colors of black and white. Safe. Natural. Comfortable.
Boring.
Because this is what this novel is: muted. The tone is passive. The prose was, to be honest, not that stellar. There are character dramas that I think should have made me feel invested in these characters but ended up being like static on a television set. Irritating. Useless. A headache if you stare at it long enough, because, honestly, this book had all these words and all these paragraphs but it didn't really feel like it would add up to anything you know?
Walker-Smith employs the tell method. And that is where she struck out. All Charlotte could ever do was tell the readers—and other characters—about how troubled she is, about how she has these 'problems.' These issues. The thing is, it never felt like issues. It disappeared when it needed to be and it appeared when the plot called for it. Contrived? Yep, it certainly is.
Twas a pity, really. If this could have been done with better prose, we could have the next big coming-of-age YA novel. A novel about love lost and love found and lost again. About family. About friendships and betrayal.
Instead, we get muted colors of black and white. Safe. Natural. Comfortable.
Boring.
The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long
3.0
I appreciate the story that this book is trying to tell. In another world, I might have found it interesting and I'd have gushed over how good it was, because I'm not stupid, I know this is a good book and I know that. The thing is, that's in another world and, sadly, we're worlds away from me gushing over this book.
Look, I tried to like the book. I honestly did. But the only good thing about this book for me was Jack and even he bored me a bit. Honestly, I'm all for unconventional heroes whose loyalties you couldn't actually discern until the last minute, but the drama of his character felt contrived. His was a plight that I sympathized with, but even I don't have the patience to read all those paragraphs upon paragraphs about his angst over his non-existent freedom.
And the heroine—by God, she's like Mother Mary. She's so pure and innocent and good . . . and completely unbelievable. Like, you want me to believe that a girl like her exists? Haha. No. Way.
So, yeah, good premise and good plot, but bad execution of character development.
Look, I tried to like the book. I honestly did. But the only good thing about this book for me was Jack and even he bored me a bit. Honestly, I'm all for unconventional heroes whose loyalties you couldn't actually discern until the last minute, but the drama of his character felt contrived. His was a plight that I sympathized with, but even I don't have the patience to read all those paragraphs upon paragraphs about his angst over his non-existent freedom.
And the heroine—by God, she's like Mother Mary. She's so pure and innocent and good . . . and completely unbelievable. Like, you want me to believe that a girl like her exists? Haha. No. Way.
So, yeah, good premise and good plot, but bad execution of character development.
Saving Mars by Cidney Swanson
2.0
I'll be honest. I didn't like this book and I didn't hate it either. I was just unaffected most of the time I was reading this.
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
4.0
Y'all got any more of them space YAs?
To be frank, though, I think space YAs the place to go to if you want quality YAs. True, I might have been unaffected by Saving Mars, but I do understand how people would like it.
But this book—this book I am most certainly not unaffected by. It was amazing and awesome and all whoop-de-doo.
I just love it.
To be frank, though, I think space YAs the place to go to if you want quality YAs. True, I might have been unaffected by Saving Mars, but I do understand how people would like it.
But this book—this book I am most certainly not unaffected by. It was amazing and awesome and all whoop-de-doo.
I just love it.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
5.0
I—I have no words for this book. It's, like, seriously good and honest and original and so, so touching that I can't even describe how much it affected me while reading.
Just . . . just go read this book. Honestly.
And that's all I can say about that.
Just . . . just go read this book. Honestly.
And that's all I can say about that.