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brisingr's reviews
997 reviews
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
This is technically a 3-stars book, but I am bumping it up for 4 for many various reasons: John Green's overall cultural impact on book culture - and popular culture in general, as well as his commitment to education; the undying hope in this book, every chapter brimming with the joy of being part of this Earth, and part of this era; my friends' love for this book, that makes me softer and think more kindly on it.
Loooved the concept. It is just... ideas from today's humanity that are being reviewed, woven with personal stories from the author himself. The second bit, the personal tone, which felt so kind and honest and so warm despite the world's despair, was much better than the first. This would have been more aptly named "The Americacene Reviewed", which is probably my complaint with it - I literally couldn't care less about half of the things mentioned in this book.
Loooved the concept. It is just... ideas from today's humanity that are being reviewed, woven with personal stories from the author himself. The second bit, the personal tone, which felt so kind and honest and so warm despite the world's despair, was much better than the first. This would have been more aptly named "The Americacene Reviewed", which is probably my complaint with it - I literally couldn't care less about half of the things mentioned in this book.
Set on You by Amy Lea
2.0
Giving this two stars because the hero was truly out of this world in this one and saved this one from being a full on disappointment. But everything else is such a hot mess, to me personally. I hate the influencer culture this heroine is so involved in, because it dates this book horribly, and although written 2-3 years ago, it's already 'old' for its internet slang and pop culture references. Hated the plot's structuring around the gym setting (I!!! hate gyms with my whole heart!!) and in fact the whole book was super triggering for me, but not in the kind that would allow me some kind of katarsis.
Sometimes, maybe, it's better to shut up on important, but deeply personal topics that one may know nothing about. Because sometimes, unfortunately, you end up with a poorly paced novel that says nothing.
Sometimes, maybe, it's better to shut up on important, but deeply personal topics that one may know nothing about. Because sometimes, unfortunately, you end up with a poorly paced novel that says nothing.
Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko
4.0
This book was a pick for our Eastern European literature book club. If you'd like to diversify your reading alongside us, please join us! https://www.instagram.com/kultbookclub/
If you ever wondered what studying at the School of Philology in an ex-soviet/communist country is like, this book is the answer: just pure vibes, utterly severe incomprehensible teachers, and an obsession with grammar, stupidly long train journeys and terrible living conditions. I did not think that a novel about a magical school set in early 2000s Ukraine would be as captivating as it ended up being: in its familiarity, all throughout.
I admit I, even Eastern European myself, am just as guilty in my ignorance of books from the area. But oh, it does feel absolutely divine to read books that are so familiar to the mapping of my soul, from the way these people are vacationing, to Gaudeamus igitur as the school's anthem, all the way to the phrasing of the dialogue, which may sound choppy in English, but is so utterly recognizable because we all say it the same: "Close your mouth when I am talking." / "What do you want? What? Just let me die! All of you, let me die!"
I am left with a thousand more questions now that I finished this volume than when I started it, and I am fearful that I won't see a translation of the continuation any time soon. But what I do know is that, despite my expectations and the headache-inducing minuscule font, I somewhat enjoyed myself reading this. I loved the oh so familiar, communist and severe approach of the teachers, the absolute stubbornness of the main character, and the running plot and magic system that is yet to be explained, but I can already tell is so studied, and is in its own, an elegy to how I learnt language and the power of the word.
I have no idea how we are supposed to talk about this book, couldn't explain it if I tried. Literally vibes. UBB Cluj wishes it fucked this hard.
If you ever wondered what studying at the School of Philology in an ex-soviet/communist country is like, this book is the answer: just pure vibes, utterly severe incomprehensible teachers, and an obsession with grammar, stupidly long train journeys and terrible living conditions. I did not think that a novel about a magical school set in early 2000s Ukraine would be as captivating as it ended up being: in its familiarity, all throughout.
I admit I, even Eastern European myself, am just as guilty in my ignorance of books from the area. But oh, it does feel absolutely divine to read books that are so familiar to the mapping of my soul, from the way these people are vacationing, to Gaudeamus igitur as the school's anthem, all the way to the phrasing of the dialogue, which may sound choppy in English, but is so utterly recognizable because we all say it the same: "Close your mouth when I am talking." / "What do you want? What? Just let me die! All of you, let me die!"
I am left with a thousand more questions now that I finished this volume than when I started it, and I am fearful that I won't see a translation of the continuation any time soon. But what I do know is that, despite my expectations and the headache-inducing minuscule font, I somewhat enjoyed myself reading this. I loved the oh so familiar, communist and severe approach of the teachers, the absolute stubbornness of the main character, and the running plot and magic system that is yet to be explained, but I can already tell is so studied, and is in its own, an elegy to how I learnt language and the power of the word.
I have no idea how we are supposed to talk about this book, couldn't explain it if I tried. Literally vibes. UBB Cluj wishes it fucked this hard.