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catapillar's reviews
105 reviews
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
(Mild backstory and B plot spoilers)
I did not enjoy this book at all, I'll admit, I asked chatgpt for a book recommedation - something with old houses and secret passageways, please - and this is what I recieved.
This was barely thrilling, the MC was stupid, dull, and inconsistent, which would be fine except all this pulled away from the thrill and tension of the book, I would even say everything pulled away from the tension of the book.
There was a lack of build-up, too much unnecessary bulk. Contrived. Telling and no showing, the characters voices indistinguishable from each other. There's no tension, and really it's just filled with small talk.
In the first half of the book, notably the motif of the 'scary' wallpaper that the book kept going to. What is so scary about wallpaper?
Somehow, there was a mystery in all this that the MC conveniently stumbled into. Bumbling and naive. Irritating in what she did and did not understand.
And apparently, it was a thriller? If you want to create tension in your book, fill interactions, pacing, and dialogue with tension!
After the doctor asks Jules how her arm is, she replies:
"it's great" and "thanks for, you know, fixing it."
Having a character hurt themselves but be genuinely fine diminishes the scene's tension. And minimises the thrill of the book, especially when it happens over and over again.
(Yes, I know in this example it was because she liked him, but my point is that this kind of thing happened multiple times).
Fashion and name brands seem to be a big part of the main character and the energy of the book. These things bore me if not simply going over my head. (The book is quite vain in general in the way it describes people and things).
The main character is basic and obsessed with wealth and brands. By her own admittance, she has loved brands since she was young.
She weirdly is thinking about this at her parents' funeral. About wanting fruit loops (not generic froot loops) as a child and more generally how much her "name-brand obsession cost over time" for both her parents. I get that it was ultimately about regret, but far, far more words were dedicated to describing food with only a final sentence about regret.
I want to read books where, when the main character remembers her parents' terminal illness, talks not about fruit loops and insurance plans but about what it was like to experience. The emotions, what are they thinking and feeling, the events, what was it actually like?
I dont expect anyone to be reading this, but if you are, so sorry I know it's rambling, I'm much better at reading than I am with writing.
If you are young and like petty revenge, clichés and fashion, have a sensitive system but like a mild thrill, then I recommend this book.
I did not enjoy this book at all, I'll admit, I asked chatgpt for a book recommedation - something with old houses and secret passageways, please - and this is what I recieved.
This was barely thrilling, the MC was stupid, dull, and inconsistent, which would be fine except all this pulled away from the thrill and tension of the book, I would even say everything pulled away from the tension of the book.
There was a lack of build-up, too much unnecessary bulk. Contrived. Telling and no showing, the characters voices indistinguishable from each other. There's no tension, and really it's just filled with small talk.
In the first half of the book, notably the motif of the 'scary' wallpaper that the book kept going to. What is so scary about wallpaper?
Somehow, there was a mystery in all this that the MC conveniently stumbled into. Bumbling and naive. Irritating in what she did and did not understand.
And apparently, it was a thriller? If you want to create tension in your book, fill interactions, pacing, and dialogue with tension!
After the doctor asks Jules how her arm is, she replies:
"it's great" and "thanks for, you know, fixing it."
Having a character hurt themselves but be genuinely fine diminishes the scene's tension. And minimises the thrill of the book, especially when it happens over and over again.
(Yes, I know in this example it was because she liked him, but my point is that this kind of thing happened multiple times).
Fashion and name brands seem to be a big part of the main character and the energy of the book. These things bore me if not simply going over my head. (The book is quite vain in general in the way it describes people and things).
The main character is basic and obsessed with wealth and brands. By her own admittance, she has loved brands since she was young.
She weirdly is thinking about this at her parents' funeral. About wanting fruit loops (not generic froot loops) as a child and more generally how much her "name-brand obsession cost over time" for both her parents. I get that it was ultimately about regret, but far, far more words were dedicated to describing food with only a final sentence about regret.
I want to read books where, when the main character remembers her parents' terminal illness, talks not about fruit loops and insurance plans but about what it was like to experience. The emotions, what are they thinking and feeling, the events, what was it actually like?
I dont expect anyone to be reading this, but if you are, so sorry I know it's rambling, I'm much better at reading than I am with writing.
If you are young and like petty revenge, clichés and fashion, have a sensitive system but like a mild thrill, then I recommend this book.
Nothing Venture, Nothing Win by Edmund Hillary
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
This is a wonderful book, it's very consistently written with many exciting tales.
As soon as he reached the peak of everest, and finished the media circuit I did find it a bit of a slog to get through. But I'm done, only took me like 7 months.
As soon as he reached the peak of everest, and finished the media circuit I did find it a bit of a slog to get through. But I'm done, only took me like 7 months.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
His style of writing is extremely hard for me to picture, there's very little narrative. And as a result I have very little comprehension.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
5.0
A fantastic book.
I absolutely loved this.
Small review coming later.
I absolutely loved this.
Small review coming later.
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
This was silly fun. I actually enjoyed the style of writing, both the exposition and the - not revealing of information - felt natural.
I related to the main character a bit as well, and since I watch a lot of films i thoroughly enjoyed how Red used film tropes to guide her and make sense of her situation.
I related to the main character a bit as well, and since I watch a lot of films i thoroughly enjoyed how Red used film tropes to guide her and make sense of her situation.
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
Read this because I'm watching the TV show. (Currently on episode 4).
The book is absolutely beautiful and rich with detail. Dark but also darkly humorous at times.
The tv show is not a good adaptation at all.
The book is absolutely beautiful and rich with detail. Dark but also darkly humorous at times.
The tv show is not a good adaptation at all.
The Small Hand by Susan Hill
4.0
Books have a tendancy to feel forced and unnatural with the way the events are revealed, usually this happens with first person narratives (such as The Small Hand), they can feel unnatural in the way the character is explaining what is going on, saying things internally and doing things they really wouldn't if it were real. Especially if what the narrator knows and what the reader needs to know don't naturally line up. All this unfortunately really pulls me out of the story.
The small hand however was so well written. The narration felt very natural, and consistent, nothing felt out of place and there were certainly no plot contrivances.
The plot and narration were harmonious.
I don't think I've read such a tightly written book in a long long time. Well done Susan Hill, I think I will try and find more of her books, because she is great.
The small hand however was so well written. The narration felt very natural, and consistent, nothing felt out of place and there were certainly no plot contrivances.
The plot and narration were harmonious.
I don't think I've read such a tightly written book in a long long time. Well done Susan Hill, I think I will try and find more of her books, because she is great.
Dear Child by Romy Hausmann
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Loved the beginning but the rest dragged. Did not like the style that the ending was written in, very trope-filled, telling rather than showing.
The Tale of the Unknown Island by José Saramago
Simple little tale about a man and his dream to sail to an island.
I felt like the text was meant to be quite beautiful but probably would be more so in its original language. And maybe if I read it aloud?
This would be suitable for reading aloud to children.
I felt like the text was meant to be quite beautiful but probably would be more so in its original language. And maybe if I read it aloud?
This would be suitable for reading aloud to children.