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danipanini's reviews
124 reviews
The Virgins by Pamela Erens
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
It was pretty okay until i lost interest and tbh i just really wanted to skip to the ending but my good conscience could not
Maybe ill pick it up in the future again. Maybe.
Maybe ill pick it up in the future again. Maybe.
Lovely War by Julie Berry
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Oh my, this book. Where to even begin?
You know how most of the reviews you see about this book start with "what the fuck did I just read?" Pretty fucking accurate, imo—in both a good and a bad way.
The first thing you gotta know: suspend ALL disbelief when you read this book. You have to mentally be aware of this fact and let it govern your perspective while reading because you'll want an explanation for what the fuck is happening (Spoiler:you'll get nothing ).
Ngl tho, it hooks you in real good. At the onset, you get all the cliche It Girl clique vibes and the varied academia aesthetics. And then there are Bunnies. And things happen to the Bunnies and the bunnies. And somehow more animals get involved in the mix. And because it's reeled you in, you'll WANT to know what the heck happens to everyone because of everything that's going on. Vague, I know, but you'll really have to read it to get it.
Personally tho, it wasn't a waste of time. I enjoyed reading the book because I was looking for something pretty outlandish yet still familiar to read. I believe it also conveyed commentary about loneliness and belonging, groupthink to some level, gender and their portrayal in art, and the like. One of those books that I can definitely imagine as a TV series—not a movie because I don't think 2.5 hours can encapsulate everything that goes on in this book.
Oh, and there's a twist. I didn't know how to feel about the twist but personally, I didn't see it coming. I hoped it would explain things, but it made everything just a tad more confusing.
Tldr; It was weird. I liked it. Would I rave about it? Nah. But I think this is good to get you out of a reading slump—it got me out of mine haha.
You know how most of the reviews you see about this book start with "what the fuck did I just read?" Pretty fucking accurate, imo—in both a good and a bad way.
The first thing you gotta know: suspend ALL disbelief when you read this book. You have to mentally be aware of this fact and let it govern your perspective while reading because you'll want an explanation for what the fuck is happening (Spoiler:
Ngl tho, it hooks you in real good. At the onset, you get all the cliche It Girl clique vibes and the varied academia aesthetics. And then there are Bunnies. And things happen to the Bunnies and the bunnies. And somehow more animals get involved in the mix. And because it's reeled you in, you'll WANT to know what the heck happens to everyone because of everything that's going on. Vague, I know, but you'll really have to read it to get it.
Personally tho, it wasn't a waste of time. I enjoyed reading the book because I was looking for something pretty outlandish yet still familiar to read. I believe it also conveyed commentary about loneliness and belonging, groupthink to some level, gender and their portrayal in art, and the like. One of those books that I can definitely imagine as a TV series—not a movie because I don't think 2.5 hours can encapsulate everything that goes on in this book.
Tldr; It was weird. I liked it. Would I rave about it? Nah. But I think this is good to get you out of a reading slump—it got me out of mine haha.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Self harm, Abandonment, Body horror, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Hmm...okay, it wasn't that I didn't enjoy it. Again, I also read this pretty short book spaced out over a month, which I don't think should ever be the case with Japanese literature usually packaged short and sweet like Sentaro's dorayaki.
It reads like a comfort book; I can see why people would think it so. It's pretty reminiscent of "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" in how the characters interact with one another as the story moved forward. I loved the air of mystery around Sentaro and Tokue, with the gradual introduction of the other characters including Wakana and the dorayaki stall owner, and how they were relevant to the story. The circumstances made you root for the characters, ultimately making the story relatable and introspective.
But speaking of plot and characters, they both felt a bit lacking for me as the book progressed. The plot lacked in terms of buildup to the main reveal of the book.I'm talking about the Hansen's disease/leprosy plot point. I was lead to think Tokue had maybe an accident when she was young that affected her hands, but then the whole pivot to the Hansen's disease plot point felt quite jarring. I may just not be familiar with its context, especially in Japan, so this is just a personal sentiment. But I believe the author seems pretty proud to include this plot point to help bring this understated issue to light, so kudos to them! The characters were fleshed out just enough, but not quite there—a bit undercooked I might say.
By the end, I wanted to feel moved by this book. It started out so well for me, but just fell flat by the end. But again, this isn't saying that it's not a good book. And again, I can see why a lot of people loved it. Hence, the solid middle 3⭐️ for this book. A nice and light snack for the senses that packs enough depth and flavor, like Sentaro's dorayaki.
It reads like a comfort book; I can see why people would think it so. It's pretty reminiscent of "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" in how the characters interact with one another as the story moved forward. I loved the air of mystery around Sentaro and Tokue, with the gradual introduction of the other characters including Wakana and the dorayaki stall owner, and how they were relevant to the story. The circumstances made you root for the characters, ultimately making the story relatable and introspective.
But speaking of plot and characters, they both felt a bit lacking for me as the book progressed. The plot lacked in terms of buildup to the main reveal of the book.
By the end, I wanted to feel moved by this book. It started out so well for me, but just fell flat by the end. But again, this isn't saying that it's not a good book. And again, I can see why a lot of people loved it. Hence, the solid middle 3⭐️ for this book. A nice and light snack for the senses that packs enough depth and flavor, like Sentaro's dorayaki.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Despite me spacing out this book for over two months, I really didn't mind actually. I'm glad I didn't rush this because the book tackles very human and very real circumstances, as much as you'd get from a book written by a therapist about her patients and her own experience as a patient.
As mentioned in the Author's Note, if you see yourself in the pages, it's purely "intentional and coincidental," further underscoring how we all have the same profoundly human experiences no matter who, what, or where we are in life. And it is in this way that I see how important therapy is, how important it really is to have a deeper understanding of ourselves in order to see how we change and grow in relation to others and our environment. Therapy helps achieve this because, my god, that is definitely not an easy thing to do alone. This book highlights that you are not—and you don't have to be—alone.
Where I'm from, therapy can be considered a privilege because the majority still cannot access this service due to its steep price (I can attest to this—I had to stop seeing mine because I couldn't afford it anymore). This makes me all the more grateful that a resource like this is available to read. It definitely can't replace the work of psychotherapy, but it can definitely open more people's eyes to the work that goes behind it and the ripple effect that it creates, starting with the patient and radiating outwards.
I personally enjoyed this book because I've always been intrigued with psychology and the workings of the human mind in this context. Despite its very slight structural issues with chapters that tend to jump from one place to another, by the end it provides the whole story of people just trying their absolute best to be human—to not just survive, but to live.
As mentioned in the Author's Note, if you see yourself in the pages, it's purely "intentional and coincidental," further underscoring how we all have the same profoundly human experiences no matter who, what, or where we are in life. And it is in this way that I see how important therapy is, how important it really is to have a deeper understanding of ourselves in order to see how we change and grow in relation to others and our environment. Therapy helps achieve this because, my god, that is definitely not an easy thing to do alone. This book highlights that you are not—and you don't have to be—alone.
Where I'm from, therapy can be considered a privilege because the majority still cannot access this service due to its steep price (I can attest to this—I had to stop seeing mine because I couldn't afford it anymore). This makes me all the more grateful that a resource like this is available to read. It definitely can't replace the work of psychotherapy, but it can definitely open more people's eyes to the work that goes behind it and the ripple effect that it creates, starting with the patient and radiating outwards.
I personally enjoyed this book because I've always been intrigued with psychology and the workings of the human mind in this context. Despite its very slight structural issues with chapters that tend to jump from one place to another, by the end it provides the whole story of people just trying their absolute best to be human—to not just survive, but to live.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Abandonment, and Suicidal thoughts
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
XOXO by Axie Oh
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I did not expect to binge read this book in a single day. Not. At. All.
I did not expect to look up at the time and see that at 3 am, I'd reached the last page.
Most of all, I did NOT expect how light and happy it made me feel and, oh my god, how much it made me LAUGH OUT LOUD. Not once, BUT MULTIPLE TIMES.
Yes, insta!love drives the story. Yes, all the cliched tropes are there(roommate enemies-to-friends, misleading couples, secret romance obviously, mysterious boy with heart of gold, etc etc etc) . Yes, some plot points were pretty meh (I could see things coming a mile away). Yes, all the characters were pretty shallow and not fleshed out enough. Yes, the prose could definitely be better. But you know what?
I don't care.
When I say I want a light read, I MEAN THIS.
I loved the ensemble cast the most and how all their contrasting personalities and dynamics jived well with each other. I loved both the comedic timing and the tension buildup throughout the story, this way I can definitely see it as a K-Drama as mentioned by several other reviews. It's both aspirational and grounded, with characters that, despite the tropes and shallow depictions, you could easily relate to. And I really believe the reason why I was able to binge read literally 95% of the book in one day was because of how easy it was to read, no complicated words or anything. Even the Korean terms and phrases, despite some explanations being too on-the-nose, weren't hard to comprehend and didn't feel like forced and out of place elements.
You could feel the authenticity because the author is a Korean American and a genuine Kpop stan. And to be honest, it hits way different as someone who just so happens to be getting into the stan life as well (bc we all abt that bangtan life now, right ARMY???). I enjoyed this book thoroughly and wholeheartedly, lots of XOXOs from me for sure sigh.
I did not expect to look up at the time and see that at 3 am, I'd reached the last page.
Most of all, I did NOT expect how light and happy it made me feel and, oh my god, how much it made me LAUGH OUT LOUD. Not once, BUT MULTIPLE TIMES.
Yes, insta!love drives the story. Yes, all the cliched tropes are there
I don't care.
When I say I want a light read, I MEAN THIS.
I loved the ensemble cast the most and how all their contrasting personalities and dynamics jived well with each other. I loved both the comedic timing and the tension buildup throughout the story, this way I can definitely see it as a K-Drama as mentioned by several other reviews. It's both aspirational and grounded, with characters that, despite the tropes and shallow depictions, you could easily relate to. And I really believe the reason why I was able to binge read literally 95% of the book in one day was because of how easy it was to read, no complicated words or anything. Even the Korean terms and phrases, despite some explanations being too on-the-nose, weren't hard to comprehend and didn't feel like forced and out of place elements.
You could feel the authenticity because the author is a Korean American and a genuine Kpop stan. And to be honest, it hits way different as someone who just so happens to be getting into the stan life as well (bc we all abt that bangtan life now, right ARMY???). I enjoyed this book thoroughly and wholeheartedly, lots of XOXOs from me for sure sigh.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Okay y'all I'M SO MAD I HAVE SO MANY EMOTIONS OVER THIS BOOK
*insert saoirse ronan "women—" gif*
Words to describe this book:
- Men are trash
- Fuck the patriarchy
- Check your privilege
But also
- We can still do things to change this narrative
It was so hard to finish this book even though it definitely can be finished in one sitting. 5⭐ for its writing approach and stark presentation of hard facts to back up all claims and situations made in this book.
As a woman, it's harder to separate the bias from the subject matter. But regardless of culture and country, this is real. This book is real. It makes me rethink women in society and the roles we're all expected to play, and how overall we must all do better.
A hard pill to swallow, but a necessary one.
*insert saoirse ronan "women—" gif*
Words to describe this book:
- Men are trash
- Fuck the patriarchy
- Check your privilege
But also
- We can still do things to change this narrative
It was so hard to finish this book even though it definitely can be finished in one sitting. 5⭐ for its writing approach and stark presentation of hard facts to back up all claims and situations made in this book.
As a woman, it's harder to separate the bias from the subject matter. But regardless of culture and country, this is real. This book is real. It makes me rethink women in society and the roles we're all expected to play, and how overall we must all do better.
A hard pill to swallow, but a necessary one.
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexism, and Misogyny
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0