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dylanhenning's reviews
131 reviews
A Frozen Heart by The Walt Disney Company, Elizabeth Rudnick
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
This book is a retelling of the 2013 Disney animated film Frozen told through alternating POV chapters from the characters Anna and Hans.
Alternating POVs is usually a way to keep the story fresh and there are some unique character insights and internal thoughts that you don’t get from the film but the biggest issue here is Hans is designed to be a one note character. He’s evil and selfish and his motivations is simply trying to further his own agenda. While it’s interesting at first and includes some backstory about his family and upbringing, it quickly becomes repetitive and dull making his chapters feel like a chore most of the time. Anna on the other hand is a well rounded character who goes on a wonderful arc with meaningful character development and she makes up for what the Hans chapters lack.
Alternating POVs is usually a way to keep the story fresh and there are some unique character insights and internal thoughts that you don’t get from the film but the biggest issue here is Hans is designed to be a one note character. He’s evil and selfish and his motivations is simply trying to further his own agenda. While it’s interesting at first and includes some backstory about his family and upbringing, it quickly becomes repetitive and dull making his chapters feel like a chore most of the time. Anna on the other hand is a well rounded character who goes on a wonderful arc with meaningful character development and she makes up for what the Hans chapters lack.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What can be said about A Christmas Carol that hasn’t already been said?
Ive seen many adaptations of this classic Dickens tale over the years and many more movies that were inspired by it so I was concerned that I wasn’t going to find this interesting or it wouldn’t live up to the hype I had given it in my head. I’m happy to say it’s definitely worth the hype in my opinion.
I’m reading this in December 2023 and it’s perfect to lead into the holiday season with it. The writing gives me cozy visuals of the classic Victorian era London around winter time. The ghosts were actually kinda creepy at times almost leaning into horror territory just a little bit.
The themes and message of the book is fortunately or unfortunately just as timely and relevant as they were in 1843 with themes of kindness and giving and how you live your life is how you’ll be remembered.
If you’re like me and somewhat new to classics and want to give one a try this is a safe one to start with because you more than likely already know the story and it won’t feel to intimidating.
Ive seen many adaptations of this classic Dickens tale over the years and many more movies that were inspired by it so I was concerned that I wasn’t going to find this interesting or it wouldn’t live up to the hype I had given it in my head. I’m happy to say it’s definitely worth the hype in my opinion.
I’m reading this in December 2023 and it’s perfect to lead into the holiday season with it. The writing gives me cozy visuals of the classic Victorian era London around winter time. The ghosts were actually kinda creepy at times almost leaning into horror territory just a little bit.
The themes and message of the book is fortunately or unfortunately just as timely and relevant as they were in 1843 with themes of kindness and giving and how you live your life is how you’ll be remembered.
If you’re like me and somewhat new to classics and want to give one a try this is a safe one to start with because you more than likely already know the story and it won’t feel to intimidating.
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
It’s important to know peoples stories. I read this in 2023 where unfortunately anti-trans rhetoric and violence is the worst it’s ever been and I think this book written nearly a decade ago is as important as it’s ever been.
Janet Mock has a story that is uniquely her own. She details her struggles growing up in Hawaii as a person of color, of growing up lower middle class, of growing up with various forms of abuse, and of growing up trans. While all these things that make up her story is uniquely hers it’s also very relatable to different groups of people.
No matter who you are or your place in life you can read this memoir and find a piece of yourself in it. It’s the relatability and vulnerability in Janet’s writing that take these various characteristics of herself and mold them into a fully three dimensional person that you can find yourself in and begin to dismantle any preconceived beliefs you have about transgender folks.
It’s important to know people’s stories.
Janet Mock has a story that is uniquely her own. She details her struggles growing up in Hawaii as a person of color, of growing up lower middle class, of growing up with various forms of abuse, and of growing up trans. While all these things that make up her story is uniquely hers it’s also very relatable to different groups of people.
No matter who you are or your place in life you can read this memoir and find a piece of yourself in it. It’s the relatability and vulnerability in Janet’s writing that take these various characteristics of herself and mold them into a fully three dimensional person that you can find yourself in and begin to dismantle any preconceived beliefs you have about transgender folks.
It’s important to know people’s stories.
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Lost Christmas! by Alastair Heim
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s a hard task to try to write a sequel to a Dr. Seuss book. It’s an impossible task to live up to the classic that is How The Grinch Stole Christmas. But Alastair Heim tries his best and dost a pretty decent job.
The plot itself is unique but the plot structure is almost 1 to 1 the same as what it was for How The Grinch Stole Christmas and it didn’t feel as much like a tribute to that classic as being afraid to branch out and do something different.
The rhymes were just ok. Part of what makes Seuss books so memorable is their witty and well written rhymes so it’s damn near impossible to try to match that. While some of the rhymes were interesting others do fall flat and others are just clearly copying How The Grinch Stole Christmas and feels forced more than a tribute.
Overall this book is for children and they’ll probably enjoy the art and the rhymes but I don’t see this joining the original book on the list of classic Christmas stories.
The plot itself is unique but the plot structure is almost 1 to 1 the same as what it was for How The Grinch Stole Christmas and it didn’t feel as much like a tribute to that classic as being afraid to branch out and do something different.
The rhymes were just ok. Part of what makes Seuss books so memorable is their witty and well written rhymes so it’s damn near impossible to try to match that. While some of the rhymes were interesting others do fall flat and others are just clearly copying How The Grinch Stole Christmas and feels forced more than a tribute.
Overall this book is for children and they’ll probably enjoy the art and the rhymes but I don’t see this joining the original book on the list of classic Christmas stories.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I haven’t read this book since I was a kid and while I’m very familiar with the story I wanted to re-read it through the eyes of an adult and there’s a reason this book is a classic and has stood the test of time.
It’s simple in it’s message that Christmas isn’t just a physical gift from a store and how the Grinch has to learn that for him to understand and have compassion for other people is a great lesson for children. They’ll also enjoy the whimsical rhymes.
The art work throughout the book is as iconic as the story itself. The drawings in this book has been translated to animation , live action, and countless live stage adaptations and it’s because of how identifiable the art is.
It’s simple in it’s message that Christmas isn’t just a physical gift from a store and how the Grinch has to learn that for him to understand and have compassion for other people is a great lesson for children. They’ll also enjoy the whimsical rhymes.
The art work throughout the book is as iconic as the story itself. The drawings in this book has been translated to animation , live action, and countless live stage adaptations and it’s because of how identifiable the art is.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read the Holiday 2023 Edition with the two bonus Xaden chapters.
This book is normally not my cup of tea because while it is classified as fantasy which is definitely up my alley, this is a sub-genre of “romantasy” with is basically fantasy smut. I’m not really a fan of smutty books. Have nothing against it but in my history sex scenes in books are poorly written and painful to read.
All that being said, this book was way better than I expected it to be. From my knowledge Rebecca Yarros mostly writes military fiction and this is her first dip into fantasy and she does a pretty good job at the character work and world building.
My biggest criticism here besides some clunky writing is that the lore is often dumped in big chunks since the main character recites things she’s learned about the history of this world to herself when she’s stressed and it just feels like a lazy way to present the lore.
As for the sex scenes they were surprisingly well written. As I’ve said before I don't care for smut and most times sex scenes feel like they’re written by a teenage boy who’s writing what he thinks sex is and using too many words when he just wants to say d**k and t**s. Yarros writes her sex scenes with a lot of sensationalism you’ve come to expect from these types of books but it’s also pretty realistic.
Now as for the bonus chapters found in the 2023 holiday edition I found them interesting with some insights into Xaden’s thinking during a couple pivotal moments in the novel and also pose one question I have that I hope future books will answer.
This book is normally not my cup of tea because while it is classified as fantasy which is definitely up my alley, this is a sub-genre of “romantasy” with is basically fantasy smut. I’m not really a fan of smutty books. Have nothing against it but in my history sex scenes in books are poorly written and painful to read.
All that being said, this book was way better than I expected it to be. From my knowledge Rebecca Yarros mostly writes military fiction and this is her first dip into fantasy and she does a pretty good job at the character work and world building.
My biggest criticism here besides some clunky writing is that the lore is often dumped in big chunks since the main character recites things she’s learned about the history of this world to herself when she’s stressed and it just feels like a lazy way to present the lore.
As for the sex scenes they were surprisingly well written. As I’ve said before I don't care for smut and most times sex scenes feel like they’re written by a teenage boy who’s writing what he thinks sex is and using too many words when he just wants to say d**k and t**s. Yarros writes her sex scenes with a lot of sensationalism you’ve come to expect from these types of books but it’s also pretty realistic.
Now as for the bonus chapters found in the 2023 holiday edition I found them interesting with some insights into Xaden’s thinking during a couple pivotal moments in the novel and also pose one question I have that I hope future books will answer.