daisiescaroline's reviews
57 reviews

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Three words I’d use to describe this book: heavy, bleak, long. And yet, I wouldn’t say that I didn’t enjoy it. I’ll admit that I had to take several breaks from reading it because of the writing style (hundreds of long and dense paragraphs) but when I was on these breaks, I was always left thinking about it.
It’s a classic for a reason and you can tell that while you’re reading it. The question it poses and debates through the novel will always be relevant and despite the fact that it is bleak throughout, the slight crack of light at the end is enough hope to make it worth it without losing the lasting effect of the book.
It is not a reader friendly book and I had to really hype myself up at some points to get through it but I don’t regret picking it up at all.
In conclusion, it’s a book that I’ll definitely look back on but wouldn’t recommend to someone unless I knew they would be able to get through it because it’s enough to put you in a big reading slump.

Chameleon in a Candy Store by Anonymous

dark fast-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

4.75

I wasn’t disappointed by this sequel which is very very unusual. I really enjoyed reading it and found that you could see the improvement in the writing from Diary of an Oxygen Theif. 
It felt like a very twisted and partially failed redemption for a character that didn’t really need or deserve one which made it a really interesting read. The advert ideas peppered throughout were engaging and didn’t feel like a forced inclusion which I appreciated. 
Even though I really enjoyed it, it didn’t live up to its predecessor in my opinion. Diary of an Oxygen Theif did not need a sequel but this was a good one anyway.

Cyrano de Bergerac: in a free adaptation by Edmond Rostand, Martin Crimp

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

This has to be one of my favourite plays of all time. I’ve watched it performed live quite a few times and reading it just takes me right back to the theatre. 
The plot is familiar and has been replicated so many times for a reason, it’s the perfect story of personality being more significant than physical beauty. 
The only sad thing about reading it back is knowing how much better it is when it’s performed, just brings a feeling of melancholy.
The adaptation is immaculate aim so many areas, the pulls into modern day allow for more humour and the references back aid in the story and make it ever so reader friendly.
I will never stop loving this play and I would recommend it to anyone who asked.

Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates

informative tense medium-paced

3.5

This is not the book to read if you’re in any flavour of relationship with a man or even considering one. I went into it expecting it to be brutal and I wasn’t wrong.
I originally picked it up because I am generally fascinated by the incel community and like to hear more about it and what it is constantly mutating into and this book didn’t disappoint for the most part.
I was kept going with each new catagory of men and recognised the attitudes and phrases which unnerved me but kept me reading.
The main shortfall for me was the middle of the book. It starts off very hard hitting but hits a generic lull in the middle where the catagories blend into eachother a bit, before coming to a strong close. 
Overall, I did enjoy this and it was a book I flew through but I think could have been more concise at points.

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The best way I can describe this is the Scottish, de-yassified American Psycho.
It was a good read and had a really big car crash kind of energy; yes it was horrifying, but no, I could not put it down. The progression of the story keeps you involved and the structure and introductions of the chapters make it reader friendly in contrast to the content and writing style.
I really enjoyed the ending and just appreciated the last sentences, it just cemented it as a book that I wouldn’t stop thinking about.
Overall, it’s a book that I’ll definitely look back on and think about over the next couple of weeks. No cats but I’m thankful for this really.

Twisted Hate - Special Edition by Ana Huang

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

This book was enemies to lovers done so incredibly right, it’s the first good one I’ve read in ages because the progression of the relationship just made sense.
I had so much fun reading this book and felt like the balance of the enemies to lovers was in an amazing sweet spot where it didn’t feel rushed or delayed. Even through the friends with benefits to relationship, it was immaculate. 
It has been my favourite of the Twisted Series and I think it’s because I see more of myself in Jules than the others and more of what I like- completely personal reasons but I don’t care.
My only issue was that it went a little too far into the unrealistic, which is an issue I’ve had with the past books, but it is fiction at the end of the day.
Overall, I was super happy reading this book, even if there weren’t any cats?

Twisted Games by Ana Huang

emotional relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

I honestly enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. The characters were decent, the story was consistent and it was an easy read.
The best thing about it was by far the pacing. I have never enjoyed the pacing of a romance more than this one because it was done so well and with such a fluidity that really made everything make sense, even with little time jumps here and there. 
It’s impossible to read from a series and not compare the books so I really felt that this was a step up from its predecessor (Twisted Love). Though the characters still weren’t revolutionary, I felt they were a lot less textbook than those in Twisted Love and the story was a lot nicer.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. An easy and fun read even if it didn’t stay in my head long after. No cats though which is disappointing 

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

emotional fast-paced

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

3.5

I mean, it’s a textbook romance really but not in a bad way. I enjoyed the build and the payoff but I did feel like the break at the end was a little unnecessary and brought me straight back out of the fantasy.
I really did like the dynamic of all the characters together and I’m glad I can read more of them in the series which is a massive plus. 
The only thing missing for me was the real spark I want from a romance novel, it felt so calm the whole time and I just wanted more than the traumatic past and revenge storylines.
Overall I did enjoy it but I really was left wanting more from it which is sad. No cats which makes it even sadder. 

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I’ve always wanted to read this book and I’m glad I crossed it off my list as a Christmas read. 
It was a day book that I just picked up and didn’t put back down which I loved and just made it more of an experience.
Though the story wasn’t long I did find myself invested and enjoying the romantic notions of it all.

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

This was a beautiful book to read, the language is stylised but still gorgeous. I wouldn’t say it was the most exciting book in the world and it felt like it was just meandering along quite calmly which was what I needed in a book at this point.
The ending was so well fitted and done, I really enjoyed it and felt like it was the only way the book could have ended effectively for the characters.
It’s definitely a good read if you have a little background on Greek mythology because the nods to familiar stories were so lovely.
There weren’t any cats but there were lions which I think count fine.