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badspringbye's reviews
194 reviews
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
First of all, I would like to take a moment to appreciate this author's introductory paragraph(s). Caught me off guard once again, just like the first book did. The best thing is, nothing gets bad. Father Earth is still deteriorating and everybody's flaw started to show and civilization is (still) about to be totally wiped out, yes. But that's what made this book even better. At first I find it slow but never dragging, because every character was given an exposure for a reason (literally no tapon no extra-lang). Surprisingly relaxing and frustrating and nerve-racking. Did not expect that the gaps will be filled out this way but surely excited for the last piece!!
excerpts:
p. 7 "He can sleep through anything. The songs of the earth have always been his lullaby."
p. 163 "Thirty thousand years? Forty? A long time to be pathetic creatures we are now, huddling behind our walls and putting all our wits, all our learning, toward the singular task of staying alive. ... Once, we were so much more."
(wish I could put more but technically most of my fave lines = spoiler)
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
5.0
"After all, a person is herself, and others. Relationships chisel the final shape of one's being. I am me, and you. Damaya was herself and the family that rejected her and the people of the Fulcrum who chiseled her to a fine point. Syenite was Alabaster and Innon and the people of poor lost Allia and Meov. Now you are Tirimo and the ash-strewn road's walkers and your dead children...and also the living one who remains."
First of all, I would like to take a moment to appreciate this author's introductory paragraph(s). Caught me off guard once again, just like the first book did. The best thing is, nothing gets bad. Father Earth is still deteriorating and everybody's flaw started to show and civilization is (still) about to be totally wiped out, yes. But that's what made this book even better. At first I find it slow but never dragging, because every character was given an exposure for a reason (literally no tapon no extra-lang). Surprisingly relaxing and frustrating and nerve-racking. Did not expect that the gaps will be filled out this way but surely excited for the last piece!!
excerpts:
p. 7 "He can sleep through anything. The songs of the earth have always been his lullaby."
p. 163 "Thirty thousand years? Forty? A long time to be pathetic creatures we are now, huddling behind our walls and putting all our wits, all our learning, toward the singular task of staying alive. ... Once, we were so much more."
(wish I could put more but technically most of my fave lines = spoiler)
Spy x Family, Vol. 5 by Tatsuya Endo
slow-paced
2.0
chap. 24-30.
sooo slow. no progress with the plot too. nightfall in addition to yoru's brother? ffs.
sooo slow. no progress with the plot too. nightfall in addition to yoru's brother? ffs.
Spy x Family, Vol. 4 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
chap. 18-23.
so freaking cute. funniest chapters so far, too.
so freaking cute. funniest chapters so far, too.
Spy x Family, Vol. 3 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
medium-paced
4.0
chap. 12-17.
almost gave this a lower rating but thanks to the dog for saving the day
almost gave this a lower rating but thanks to the dog for saving the day
The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin
informative
reflective
3.0
confusing and would like to reread it to understand it well, but good.
Sky, Wind and Stars by Kyungnyun K. Richards, Yun Dong-ju
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
5.0
<333 out of 90+ poems, certainly loved the most of it. been meaning to find a copy and as luck would have it, I finally got to do so. this is the type of collection that I would always want to go back to regardless of what I am in the mood for
The Double by Fyodor Dostoevsky
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
well, this was a mess
Spy x Family, Vol. 2 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
medium-paced
4.0
chap. 6-11.
still cute but I hope the repetitive introduction were removed. I got a feeling that I would hate yoru's sibling too, lol
still cute but I hope the repetitive introduction were removed. I got a feeling that I would hate yoru's sibling too, lol
Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
fast-paced
4.0
chap. 0-5.
wholesome & funny, tho some parts were already expected/common
wholesome & funny, tho some parts were already expected/common
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
by way of starting the book through the perspective of Robert Walton, an explorer who eventually meets the doctor in the middle of nowhere, has been such a strong point, until the seafarer's role briskly fades in order to reveal the story behind this depressed stranger — frankenstein.
the letter's for his sister filled me with gaiety, although short and served only as an introduction to our main story.
p. 1 "Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes."
p. 2 "I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a paradise of my own creation;"
p. 7 "The winter has been dreadfully severe; but the spring promises well,"
Walton mentioned that "the tale was quickly told", no, it wasn't. the moment Victor discovers the significance of knowledge, we begin from that, his early days, his discoveries, his explorations, jumping from a branch of science to another. also my favourite part. how he cherished these experiences and considered them treasures of his life.
p. 30 *limitless discovery of information (still applicable up to this day) "It seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever be known."
the story unfolds as we ride into the coaster and mix of doubts and hopes in succeeding in this study and creation (of the monster).
p. 41 "Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm."
p. 44 "Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world."
beautiful. love how Victor continuously piled up these countless imaginative possibilities and also how he considers both life & death as similar matters, similarly dark. however, it is still unclear to me what is it he truly desires to accomplish: is it immortality or just the immunity to pain or natural decay...?
he did this project for years and came to realization only after being placed in front of his own creation. suddenly he wanted it gone. even ran away from it. did he not think about this possibility all throughout those years? maybe, possible. (it was pleasant to hear that he blamed the selfishness of his passion, not the monster, though. the regrets just happened way too fast.)
the monster's pov, on the other hand, kept me entertained. that part when the creature voices out the feeling of not non-belonging but unworthiness as a being was sad. the confrontation also blew my mind. what a philosophical monster.
despite my mixed feelings about this literature, I realized how most of my disliked parts usually centers only on Victor and his constant self-hate on top of another. and yet another chapter and here he goes again entering another journey he's already aware of the possible consequences it may bring his life and the people around him. what irks me is how it's always shown how he's scared more with his creation, rather than himself. most of the time he's just playing fool, idk.
the letter's for his sister filled me with gaiety, although short and served only as an introduction to our main story.
p. 1 "Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes."
p. 2 "I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a paradise of my own creation;"
p. 7 "The winter has been dreadfully severe; but the spring promises well,"
Walton mentioned that "the tale was quickly told", no, it wasn't. the moment Victor discovers the significance of knowledge, we begin from that, his early days, his discoveries, his explorations, jumping from a branch of science to another. also my favourite part. how he cherished these experiences and considered them treasures of his life.
p. 30 *limitless discovery of information (still applicable up to this day) "It seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever be known."
the story unfolds as we ride into the coaster and mix of doubts and hopes in succeeding in this study and creation (of the monster).
p. 41 "Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm."
p. 44 "Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world."
beautiful. love how Victor continuously piled up these countless imaginative possibilities and also how he considers both life & death as similar matters, similarly dark. however, it is still unclear to me what is it he truly desires to accomplish: is it immortality or just the immunity to pain or natural decay...?
he did this project for years and came to realization only after being placed in front of his own creation. suddenly he wanted it gone. even ran away from it. did he not think about this possibility all throughout those years? maybe, possible. (it was pleasant to hear that he blamed the selfishness of his passion, not the monster, though. the regrets just happened way too fast.)
the monster's pov, on the other hand, kept me entertained. that part when the creature voices out the feeling of not non-belonging but unworthiness as a being was sad. the confrontation also blew my mind. what a philosophical monster.
despite my mixed feelings about this literature, I realized how most of my disliked parts usually centers only on Victor and his constant self-hate on top of another. and yet another chapter and here he goes again entering another journey he's already aware of the possible consequences it may bring his life and the people around him. what irks me is how it's always shown how he's scared more with his creation, rather than himself. most of the time he's just playing fool, idk.