burnedstory's reviews
184 reviews

Widows of Vidarbha: Making of Shadows by Kota Neelima

dark informative fast-paced

4.5

Every interview, though managed to be presented as unbiased as possible, as logical, fact rich, and to the point, breaks your heart and the conception of society and state you have. Questions asked here will never be answered cause we don't care enough to repair the broken part of our society, we just believe in putting a band aid and beautifying it.

Is the life of a poor man worth on 1 lakh rupees? Who decides the price? How do yoh even put a price on life? All these are emotional questions, I understand but logically shall we not think if that sum is enough to sustain lives or to even sustain hopes for better days. 

I wish the interviews were longer, the strength and resilience of each and every woman in this book shines through every single line. One more thing we can see throughout is the loss of hope and sometimes dreams, how bad must it be on ground that one doesn't even dream. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

The Yellow Wallpaper  - 4/5
I understand why this story is praised so much, slow decent into madness is probably my favourite genre to read. The end made me go "WTF", did make me question how reliable the narrator is.
The Rocking Chair - 3.75/5
Felt very homoerotic in the start, very "Historians called them roomates" vibes but then the hallucinations and the frustrations, hilarious if I say so myself. Shocking end seems to be a common theme.
Old Water - 4/5
I was so irked out, there was no clear indication of the age differenceand it was getting on my nerves. I can't believe the tale is still so relevant and man what a stain on the reputations of poets. The end again was shocking but wonderful.
Overall - 4/5
Three incredible tales, the writing is not fancy and flowery. Very easy to follow, will leave you shocked and scratching your head for sure.

Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This feels like a bunch of diary entries put together, it's personal but detached somehow. A first person voice but it feels like you are looking in. I like the fact that small things aren't taken very seriously and it's pretty chill. It wasn't overly annoying as sometimes novellas tend to get. 

A Cup of Sake Beneath the Cherry Trees by Yoshida Kenkō

reflective medium-paced

3.25

It feels like an old man's ramblings, which they are I suppose. These anecdotes or advices make you feel like you are little and your grandparents are telling you stories of things they lived.

The Country Without a Post Office by Agha Shahid Ali

dark emotional reflective sad tense

4.0

I think I've never felt transported to the setting of the poems like I've with this collection. The writing transferred me to the scene, it felt like I was watching over. Beautiful is the only word I can use to describe this collection of poems. The sadness, hope, hopelessness, everything is worked into these few pages. 

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A

4.0

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.5

Though very stereotypical (Cannot expect a lot as the author is white writing about black women) when it comes to the black women in the book, Stockett does try her best or let's say to the best of her abilities. The story is probably more emotional and less political, I wish it was more thought out, more researched. Stockett doesn't let the reader linger on something too long, which is suc6a shame but does help her in a way because then one doesn't realise how poorly thought out the book is.

The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.

Boring

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

I think the twist carried the majority of the weight of the book other than that seems pretty average to me.

Ambrosia for Afters by Kalpana Swaminathan

slow-paced

1.25

I genuinely don't understand what the hell this book was trying to put forth.