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bj66rk's reviews
17 reviews
Mina by Kim Sagwa
dark
tense
4.0
β i almost put this book down in the beginning because it was just a bit hard to get into. but i pushed because i really wanted to enjoy it and god im glad that i continued reading because i became HOOKED! i definitely dont think this writing style is for everyone (as well as the graphic nature of the book), but i loved it more and more as it continued. its frantic and repetitive, reflecting crystals inner conflict. although im not as extreme as crystal is in this book, i can understand her blinding hatred and confusion, pushing her into a corner until she completely breaks. a story about teen girl angst, suicide and the pressures of modern east asian cultures and societies, this book is an intensely dark depiction of a reality that many face.
Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
β if i had finished this book at home instead of work, i definitely would have cried lol i felt the tears coming ... this is a very tough read but it's very inspiring! recovery isnt a linear process, and i love how this book expands on different struggles and how each character reacts to and heals from their addictions and traumas. despite the tough content, this book feels like a warm hug as the newfound community around charlotte lifts her into healing. its a book that leaves you smiling with tears in your eyes, and i dont regret reading it at all.
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
"like a dog i wait for him at night. like a dog, now, stupidly, i only want him to pet me, love me, not leave, and that makes me suddenly, blazingly angry and sad all at once, which feels like a fire inside me."
β if i had finished this book at home instead of work, i definitely would have cried lol i felt the tears coming ... this is a very tough read but it's very inspiring! recovery isnt a linear process, and i love how this book expands on different struggles and how each character reacts to and heals from their addictions and traumas. despite the tough content, this book feels like a warm hug as the newfound community around charlotte lifts her into healing. its a book that leaves you smiling with tears in your eyes, and i dont regret reading it at all.
Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake
β the end of this book kinda hit hard especially during a break up as a girl with a personality disorder π but with that being said, i wish this book only focused on regan. i wasnt involved with or attached to aldo really at all?? maybe im too much of a man hater but i couldnt bring myself to care during his segments. with that, some of the style and writing felt a little corny, and the descriptions of weed was like from a tumblr fanfiction. THIS WASNT BAD! im glad i stayed to the end because i enjoyed it, but this wasnt nearly as life changing as i thought it was. the description of this book was so interesting!! so im just a bit disappointed
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"did you hold them in your hands, cradle them between the lines of your palms, and let them remind you how ill you are, how sick, how desperate?"
β the end of this book kinda hit hard especially during a break up as a girl with a personality disorder π but with that being said, i wish this book only focused on regan. i wasnt involved with or attached to aldo really at all?? maybe im too much of a man hater but i couldnt bring myself to care during his segments. with that, some of the style and writing felt a little corny, and the descriptions of weed was like from a tumblr fanfiction. THIS WASNT BAD! im glad i stayed to the end because i enjoyed it, but this wasnt nearly as life changing as i thought it was. the description of this book was so interesting!! so im just a bit disappointed
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
β i was definitely pulled into the climax but other than that this book was mediocre for me!! i get the whole oh burning books censorship premise but it was so blatant that at times it just felt corny. i feel that today theres probably so many full length novels that tackle this same idea of anti censorship and do it better. i didnt feel emotionally tied to the story because nothing was expanded upon, not even montag as the main protagonist!! without explanation its a little hard to follow in your head.
idk, so many people told me this was one of their favorite books but it was meh. i didnt hate it and was intruiging to keep reading out of interest and to knock another classic off my list. i also wished clarisse was there more bc she was literally me. im seventeen and im crazy!!!!!!
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
"the other men helped, and montag helped, and there, in the wilderness, the men all moved their hands, putting out the fire together."
β i was definitely pulled into the climax but other than that this book was mediocre for me!! i get the whole oh burning books censorship premise but it was so blatant that at times it just felt corny. i feel that today theres probably so many full length novels that tackle this same idea of anti censorship and do it better. i didnt feel emotionally tied to the story because nothing was expanded upon, not even montag as the main protagonist!! without explanation its a little hard to follow in your head.
idk, so many people told me this was one of their favorite books but it was meh. i didnt hate it and was intruiging to keep reading out of interest and to knock another classic off my list. i also wished clarisse was there more bc she was literally me. im seventeen and im crazy!!!!!!
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
got into a really bad reading slump and couldnt find the motivation to continue this :(
My Husband by Maud Ventura
β the final chapters of this book dragged on a bit and i was kind of waiting for it to end but the epilogue did pull me back into it! this really isnt what you would expect to happen; like how the narrator processes the things her husband does, you as the reader feel the same tense anxiety and assume the worst. her feelings and seemingly absurd anxieties are very relatable at times, reflecting how women are expected to be perfect for average mediocre men and how men will play with and manipulate women to keep themselves on the high ground to control their wives. what is a sometimes humorous telling of a womans love for her husband turns into a rather sad reality, and it kept me captivated. i too overthink in the same way that she does LOL
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"but even when he's deep inside me, my husband is out of my reach. even now, i still miss him so much. when he leaves my body, he leaves a gaping wound, a horrible void, a gash waiting to be infected."
β the final chapters of this book dragged on a bit and i was kind of waiting for it to end but the epilogue did pull me back into it! this really isnt what you would expect to happen; like how the narrator processes the things her husband does, you as the reader feel the same tense anxiety and assume the worst. her feelings and seemingly absurd anxieties are very relatable at times, reflecting how women are expected to be perfect for average mediocre men and how men will play with and manipulate women to keep themselves on the high ground to control their wives. what is a sometimes humorous telling of a womans love for her husband turns into a rather sad reality, and it kept me captivated. i too overthink in the same way that she does LOL
Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh
β GODDD I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!!! this book is insane. ohhh this reminds me sososo much of the film the piano teacher, how being starved from love and intimacy can bring you to acting in depraved ways like a famished animal. how the main character allows herself to be taken advantage of simply because she wants someone to take notice of her and desire her. its gut wrenching and the language of this book describes those thoughts PERFECTLY!! i couldnt put this down and i wouldve finished it in one sitting if i could
definitely on the stranger and darker side, i wouldnt recommend this to everyone but if you enjoy media like the piano teacher you will eat this up (lol)
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
"you're the devil, he tells me, quite amicably.
i love you, i tell him in return."
β GODDD I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!!! this book is insane. ohhh this reminds me sososo much of the film the piano teacher, how being starved from love and intimacy can bring you to acting in depraved ways like a famished animal. how the main character allows herself to be taken advantage of simply because she wants someone to take notice of her and desire her. its gut wrenching and the language of this book describes those thoughts PERFECTLY!! i couldnt put this down and i wouldve finished it in one sitting if i could
definitely on the stranger and darker side, i wouldnt recommend this to everyone but if you enjoy media like the piano teacher you will eat this up (lol)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
β as someone who is scared to read sci fi because of how confusing it can be, i didnt have that much trouble reading this!! there was maybe one chapter or so where i got a little lost, but i understood later as a character would repeat what was said in simpler terms lol. i really enjoyed this! i loved how the two worlds seemed separate at first but slowly came together with each chapter; referencing each other in ways that kept me going omg! with realization lol... each chapter also ended in such intruiging ways that i couldnt help but want to read more because of how captivating it was!
its funny and also reflective, and i very much enjoyed the music and literary references. the doors and albert camus ... my two favorite things ...
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
"i am here, alone, at the end of the world. i reach out and touch nothing."
β as someone who is scared to read sci fi because of how confusing it can be, i didnt have that much trouble reading this!! there was maybe one chapter or so where i got a little lost, but i understood later as a character would repeat what was said in simpler terms lol. i really enjoyed this! i loved how the two worlds seemed separate at first but slowly came together with each chapter; referencing each other in ways that kept me going omg! with realization lol... each chapter also ended in such intruiging ways that i couldnt help but want to read more because of how captivating it was!
its funny and also reflective, and i very much enjoyed the music and literary references. the doors and albert camus ... my two favorite things ...
Slow Days, Fast Company. The World, the Flesh, and L.A. by Eve Babitz
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
β if you dont know anything about los angeles, youre going to be doing a lot of googling throughout the entirety of this book π i enjoyed the contents of this; its fun and just fuels my impossible dream of being a sexy and charming young woman in the 60s/70s, but i just simply wasnt completely captivated! i had a fun time readingβi giggled a lot, but i cant see myself rereading this. definitely a good and quick summer/road trip/beach read though!!!
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
β forever one of my fave classics!!! so beautifully written it feels like a warm garden on a sunny afternoon... its mysterious and thought provoking, but i can also understand why some might not like it. wilde's theatrical dialogue can be scary when one sees two pages filled by one block of text, and the story does fall slow at times. chapter 11(?) literally had my eyes simply grazing the paper. nonetheless, i love this book and my copy is just so gorgeous i love it!!!
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"i worshipped you. i grew jealous of every one to whom you spoke. i wanted to have you all to myself. i was only happy when i was with you."
β forever one of my fave classics!!! so beautifully written it feels like a warm garden on a sunny afternoon... its mysterious and thought provoking, but i can also understand why some might not like it. wilde's theatrical dialogue can be scary when one sees two pages filled by one block of text, and the story does fall slow at times. chapter 11(?) literally had my eyes simply grazing the paper. nonetheless, i love this book and my copy is just so gorgeous i love it!!!