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auldesola's reviews
126 reviews
How to Read Poetry Like a Professor: A Quippy and Sonorous Guide to Verse by Thomas C. Foster
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Adequate. Although I wanted something a little more indepth, I think it served well enough to assist in understanding poetry more than I did previously.
Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Joe Dispenza
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Human-Alien friendship got to me. It's a great and fun little read.
Parasite in Love by Sugaru Miaki
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Medical content
Depictions of OCD
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I needed more queer horror and AJW delivered this beautiful thing with its trans empowerment message and the wonderfully written trans male MC, Silas.
I feel like I have so much to say about The Spirit Bares its Teeth, but I don't want to spoil it. If you can handle the horror aspects of it (which, I'm not gonna lie, it probably isn't for everyone), there is something so gold here. As a trans man, myself, I saw so much of myself in Silas, whether it was some of his mindsets or thoughts shared through narrative voice. AJW got to the whole soul of it and plunged the scalpel in deep to show you the heavy, bloody truth about what it is like to be trans. What it feels like to be autistic as well. And how big of a joy it is to find someone like yourself.
Although, I would very much like to find some adult stories about trans folks, this YA is still quite wonderful and I think it's worthy of your time like it was, mine.
I feel like I have so much to say about The Spirit Bares its Teeth, but I don't want to spoil it. If you can handle the horror aspects of it (which, I'm not gonna lie, it probably isn't for everyone), there is something so gold here. As a trans man, myself, I saw so much of myself in Silas, whether it was some of his mindsets or thoughts shared through narrative voice. AJW got to the whole soul of it and plunged the scalpel in deep to show you the heavy, bloody truth about what it is like to be trans. What it feels like to be autistic as well. And how big of a joy it is to find someone like yourself.
Although, I would very much like to find some adult stories about trans folks, this YA is still quite wonderful and I think it's worthy of your time like it was, mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Transphobia
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Dysphoria
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What is your first thought when you see a rougher stock person who has, quite obviously, experienced some difficult things in their life? Is it wariness? Fear? Disgust?
The Outiders dares you to try to see beyond that. Rather, it shows you that there is always more to a person than the situation they find themself in or the way they dress and behave.
I feel like I don't want to say more than that, though. Because it will spoil the wonderful journey this book takes you on. A story about several kids trying to make it when they've lost so much and want people to understand them.
I recommend reading it for yourself!
Until then, stay gold, readers. Stay gold.
The Outiders dares you to try to see beyond that. Rather, it shows you that there is always more to a person than the situation they find themself in or the way they dress and behave.
I feel like I don't want to say more than that, though. Because it will spoil the wonderful journey this book takes you on. A story about several kids trying to make it when they've lost so much and want people to understand them.
I recommend reading it for yourself!
Until then, stay gold, readers. Stay gold.
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As someone who saw the movies first, I must admit I went into this with curiosity as to how it might differ from the musical cinematic versions. And I dare say, it is quite different. And quite a bit more scary in its thrilling/mysterious qualities.
I found Erik/The Opera Ghost to be a lot more of an imposing presence and a lot more phantom-like. He was quite fickle and messed around with people a lot which made for some enjoyable shenanigans and hilarious arguments among the managers Richard and Moncharmin (and also Madame Giry when the managers interrogated her about her involvement with O.G.)
I did find a lot of the trickery and ventriloquy Erik got up to, to be very intriguing, especially when he trapped Raoul and the daroga in the torture chamber where they were sent off to African deserts to die in the confines of their minds.
All in all, it was enjoyable. The author leaving us with his thoughts as to how true some of the story of this Opera Ghost might be added some fun food for thought. But also him letting us perceive for ourselves what the truth might be and whether we find Erik the Opera Ghost a sympathetic character whom we should pity for his disfigurement making connections with others quite difficult and painful.
I feel that Erik, above all else, was lonely and wanted someone to see beyond his appearance, a feature he could not help. And Christine did so, but also feared him for his obsession. The man clearly did not know how to behave when someone accepted him. Too overcome with joy that he felt he had to imprison someone to get them to stay. Christine was an inquisitive and sought to look upon the face he hid away. And he hated his own face and feared it would make her react in the same manner as all others in the past. I found in the end that I did pity him. And even more in the book than the films.
I think Erik wanted a genuine kind of connection with another person more than romantic love, but I think he wanted love, too. A great many of the plays and music that went on in the Opera House spoke and enacted different kinds of love. I think he just wanted that for himself and didn't know how to get it with the issue of his disfigurement.
Because, are we not all deserving of a base-level kind of love? A decency?
A kiss to the forehead to those who believe this to be true.
I found Erik/The Opera Ghost to be a lot more of an imposing presence and a lot more phantom-like. He was quite fickle and messed around with people a lot which made for some enjoyable shenanigans and hilarious arguments among the managers Richard and Moncharmin (and also Madame Giry when the managers interrogated her about her involvement with O.G.)
I did find a lot of the trickery and ventriloquy Erik got up to, to be very intriguing, especially when he trapped Raoul and the daroga in the torture chamber where they were sent off to African deserts to die in the confines of their minds.
All in all, it was enjoyable. The author leaving us with his thoughts as to how true some of the story of this Opera Ghost might be added some fun food for thought. But also him letting us perceive for ourselves what the truth might be and whether we find Erik the Opera Ghost a sympathetic character whom we should pity for his disfigurement making connections with others quite difficult and painful.
I feel that Erik, above all else, was lonely and wanted someone to see beyond his appearance, a feature he could not help. And Christine did so, but also feared him for his obsession. The man clearly did not know how to behave when someone accepted him. Too overcome with joy that he felt he had to imprison someone to get them to stay. Christine was an inquisitive and sought to look upon the face he hid away. And he hated his own face and feared it would make her react in the same manner as all others in the past. I found in the end that I did pity him. And even more in the book than the films.
I think Erik wanted a genuine kind of connection with another person more than romantic love, but I think he wanted love, too. A great many of the plays and music that went on in the Opera House spoke and enacted different kinds of love. I think he just wanted that for himself and didn't know how to get it with the issue of his disfigurement.
Because, are we not all deserving of a base-level kind of love? A decency?
A kiss to the forehead to those who believe this to be true.