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emanon_reads's reviews
116 reviews
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
We never got a Naomi or a Sylvia POV and that really stuck out to me. Why did we get Margaret’s? She’s not exactly more special, if something she’s less, especially in comparison to Sylvia’s mysterious accident (which was never revealed lol). I think I would’ve also liked to know more about Naomi’s background but that’s me being extra picky.
Moving away from the ladies I need to need to just make a statement here and say that Ivan was a horrible human being. Him being portrayed as someone peculiar really didn’t work as a buffer. He was iffy from the start and it got revealed to us that he’s misogynistic by nature and his good deeds are only driven by internalised guilt. He’s never sure what his feelings and opinions and he’s waaay to quick to jump to conclusions and has a bad temper. Peter on the other hand is better. Flawed but better. Self conscious , reflective and willing to talk things through. He’s the brother that’s in touch with his feelings. In addition to that, I feel like I must say that his suicidal blip was that, a blip. Intrusive thoughts rather than continuous ones. We would’ve heard of it earlier in the book if it was a recurring internal battle. Man needs a rehab, yes, maybe, but his life is not in danger, I don’t think so at least.
Finally, I think Alexis was invented for the sole purpose of including the old house in the book and its inevitable use…
Not even sure how to finish this review. I wouldn’t say don’t read it because it was good but I have just become a really critical reader so we’re left with this mess of an afterthought to deal with🤷🏻♀️
3.75
I feel like I should’ve loved this book more than I did…
I’m unsure of my rating but let’s try and rationalise things, shall we?
Writing
It was overall okay. At points it felt too detailed. Almost as if Sally was trying to fill in pages rather than develop a coherent storyline. We really didn’t need to read about Ivan’s short charger and lack of battery in his phone.
Having said that, the end was very rushed. The last chapter could’ve been divided into two and the second part could’ve stayed open ended, I would’ve preferred it to be be open ended. It’s not a happy story, it didn’t require a happy ending.
The dialogs could’ve been formatted better. I understand the lack of separation of sentence and thoughts when going into internal monologues and how it’s gets confusing and all that. This is fine, we think that way, no problem. With the dialogues on the other hand, it was a little in the way of enjoying the conversations. I needed quotations.
On a better note though! The internal monologues were amazing. That’s a nonnegotiable. I liked how tangled they got because it was a good representation of how we think and overthink.
Characters
Not even sure how to finish this review. I wouldn’t say don’t read it because it was good but I have just become a really critical reader so we’re left with this mess of an afterthought to deal with🤷🏻♀️
Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable--Includes new bonus chapter by Seth Godin
The book was quite good. It’s a good if you’re trying to get into marketing literature and not looking for suggestions into how to do things. It’s not a guid book but more of a history one. I loved how informative it was with loads of real time examples and no hypotheticals.
It is an old book (2002) and some of the language and ideas are now (2023) a bit outdated but the core of it can still be relevant.
So far we’ve noticed brands use and overuse sneezers (influencers) and ideaviruses (trends). We have come a long way from having influencers do their job just for the money to having them promote brands because they genuinely believe in them. Trends on the other hands have come from being “the cool new thing” to “the cool new thing that will definitely be forgotten in 2 weeks” and that’s problematic. Brands currently need to start practicing finding their Purple Cow all over again because otherwise they fern to bend with the herd of sheep that’s been attacking us, the consumers.
The current drivers for a successful business seem to be the following:
- engagement
- personalisation
- authenticity
- sustainability
- ethics
If your bands doesn’t have these 5 components as a given your Purple Cow, however good will probably fail. People now research even if something is not exactly ‘otaku’ for them. Seth was right when saying that a brands is remarkable when it’s drivers are obsessed with the product but it’s also difficult to find people who’re obsessed and still willing to be a part of something bigger than them.
I feel like I can go on and on with this review but I’ll stop here and let whoever read this continue with their thoughts.
It is an old book (2002) and some of the language and ideas are now (2023) a bit outdated but the core of it can still be relevant.
So far we’ve noticed brands use and overuse sneezers (influencers) and ideaviruses (trends). We have come a long way from having influencers do their job just for the money to having them promote brands because they genuinely believe in them. Trends on the other hands have come from being “the cool new thing” to “the cool new thing that will definitely be forgotten in 2 weeks” and that’s problematic. Brands currently need to start practicing finding their Purple Cow all over again because otherwise they fern to bend with the herd of sheep that’s been attacking us, the consumers.
The current drivers for a successful business seem to be the following:
- engagement
- personalisation
- authenticity
- sustainability
- ethics
If your bands doesn’t have these 5 components as a given your Purple Cow, however good will probably fail. People now research even if something is not exactly ‘otaku’ for them. Seth was right when saying that a brands is remarkable when it’s drivers are obsessed with the product but it’s also difficult to find people who’re obsessed and still willing to be a part of something bigger than them.
I feel like I can go on and on with this review but I’ll stop here and let whoever read this continue with their thoughts.
Five on Brexit Island by Bruno Vincent
2.5
Kinda funny, kinda silly, very much Brexit inspire but most importantly - there was a dog called Timmy
Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval
2.0
Eh.. kinda boring, kinda creepy, would not repeat
---- coming aback after some time away form the book
It's a good one. great? not so much.
It dives into interesting topics of self-discovery, being overly perceptive of life, and human actions. I think it exposes us as natural human being that do extremely normal (but disgusting according to society) things. This refers to the first half of the book.
The second half is a bit kuku. I'm not sure what exactly the point was. Feminism? Obsessiveness? Mental health discovery? or maybe just write for the 'wtf' effect.
The writing style very much reminded me of Ottessa Moshfegh writing in Eileen, the only difference being that Eileen didn'tget laid . (lmao, spoilers for s different book haha).
---- coming aback after some time away form the book
It's a good one. great? not so much.
It dives into interesting topics of self-discovery, being overly perceptive of life, and human actions. I think it exposes us as natural human being that do extremely normal (but disgusting according to society) things. This refers to the first half of the book.
The second half is a bit kuku. I'm not sure what exactly the point was. Feminism? Obsessiveness? Mental health discovery? or maybe just write for the 'wtf' effect.
The writing style very much reminded me of Ottessa Moshfegh writing in Eileen, the only difference being that Eileen didn't
The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
4.0
I don’t think I have a lot to say about the book. It was good, while the setting of the story is not explained and there is no details that can connect it to real events in our history you can tell that he was influenced by the wars throughout his time (WW2 to be specific).
One thing I like is the structure of the book. Each chapter started with a description of the time of the scene, its feel, how it was situated in comparison to the story so far and then it went into a dialogue between the characters which gave a better perspective of their situation, feelings and intentions.
I really enjoyed the description of the different soldiers at the very start of the book. I like books that talk about the human parts of war. Learning that these individuals were not exactly made for it but had to take part despite it.
Reading about the fear conquerers feel was somewhat reassuring. It’s good to know that even the adviser can feel unsettled, scared and paranoid. While the conquered go through horrific treatments, abuse and mental pressure it is somewhat satisfying to know that they’re not the only ones.
Anyways, I maybe have babbled a little. The book is good. I had my suspicions about liking it but am now slightly wondering whether I should read one of his other publications. Steinbeck was a good author and definitely worth the read.
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
slow-paced
3.0
Omg, I have so much beef with mr Adams. I’m ready to fight dirty and win because this man made me suffer.
In hindsight, I’m not made for book series, I don’t think so. So please don’t take my advice but I recommend you either audiobook this or reading it with a month break between each book.
So! The books vary in rating for me but the forts one gets 5 starts and then it’s between 3.5 and 4. If we do proper math my rating should be 4 but I’m taking a start for emotional damage.
This book is not as good as people make it. I’m sorry but it just isn’t. Or at least it’s not as good read all in one go rather than in bits, slowly, with time in between. The humor is impeccable, don’t get me wrong but the way in which the first three books are written is by following a very sitcom like formula and then the last two books are very different in both feel and plot line development.
Now onto the formula. What I mean is that each major scene was focused on making little sense, loosely being related to the rest of the book and then making us laugh. The sitcom formula! And I realise that might be sure to the nature of Adams being a radio show writer and screenplay writer rather than a book author but omg, it really bugged me.
I won’t lie, I did enjoy reading the Guide entries, even the ones mentioned way in advance, I think they were fun.
Second (are we numbering? ig now we are), the ends of these books were funny until they weren’t. WHY WAS THERE NO CONCLUSION? could just be how book series are… genuinely don’t know.
Now into my questions:
Wtf happed the the end of book 3? Why was that only briefly mentioned in book 4 and then kinda tossed to the side? Why was Random introduced so late into the game only to become a big thing for something like three chapters and then go crazy on us? WHY WERE THE MICE ONLY A THING IN THE FIRST BOOK? Why was the girl who was about to figure out the meaning of life never mentioned again????
I’m genuinely so so so angry at Adams for just killing them off without even trying to figure the question to their answer (42). Like what the actual fuck? I would’ve genuinely been fine with them finding it and then the Vogons killing then off or something but dropping the whole matter is low.
I have so much beef with this book omg, I hate it but it’s also not a horrible read.
Take it or leave, just, pls, don’t talk to me about it. I’m upset.
In hindsight, I’m not made for book series, I don’t think so. So please don’t take my advice but I recommend you either audiobook this or reading it with a month break between each book.
So! The books vary in rating for me but the forts one gets 5 starts and then it’s between 3.5 and 4. If we do proper math my rating should be 4 but I’m taking a start for emotional damage.
This book is not as good as people make it. I’m sorry but it just isn’t. Or at least it’s not as good read all in one go rather than in bits, slowly, with time in between. The humor is impeccable, don’t get me wrong but the way in which the first three books are written is by following a very sitcom like formula and then the last two books are very different in both feel and plot line development.
Now onto the formula. What I mean is that each major scene was focused on making little sense, loosely being related to the rest of the book and then making us laugh. The sitcom formula! And I realise that might be sure to the nature of Adams being a radio show writer and screenplay writer rather than a book author but omg, it really bugged me.
I won’t lie, I did enjoy reading the Guide entries, even the ones mentioned way in advance, I think they were fun.
Second (are we numbering? ig now we are), the ends of these books were funny until they weren’t. WHY WAS THERE NO CONCLUSION? could just be how book series are… genuinely don’t know.
Now into my questions:
I’m genuinely so so so angry at Adams for just killing them off without even trying to figure the question to their answer (42). Like what the actual fuck? I would’ve genuinely been fine with them finding it and then the Vogons killing then off or something but dropping the whole matter is low.
I have so much beef with this book omg, I hate it but it’s also not a horrible read.
Take it or leave, just, pls, don’t talk to me about it. I’m upset.
Emanon Volume 4: Emanon Wanderer Part Three by Shinji Kajio
fast-paced
5.0
😭😭😭😭 I’m so sad this series ends with this Vol. I do want more! I know the mangas were inspired by a light novel series but I cannot find them for the life of me and it’s such a sad situation.
Now with this volume things get a little jumbled. Not so much in meaning as in secondary characters.We never got answers about Emanon’s brother. We were introduced to a character with regenerative powers and knowledge of whoever he meets. And we were introduced to the time travelling Hikari. Their stories weren’t developed fully despite how interesting they voice made the volume or future ones. They also open the quest of “is their world full of people with different abilities?”. It’s interesting stuff.
I won’t lie, I’m not annoyed at the misters of these characters. Sometimes overextending a story makes it loose sense. And to be honest I primarily cared about Emanon herself. I do really like that Ruozo knew about her and decided to just keep it to himself and accept whatever the future held.
Now with this volume things get a little jumbled. Not so much in meaning as in secondary characters.
I won’t lie, I’m not annoyed at the misters of these characters. Sometimes overextending a story makes it loose sense. And to be honest I primarily cared about Emanon herself. I do really like that Ruozo knew about her and decided to just keep it to himself and accept whatever the future held.
Emanon Volume 3: Emanon Wanderer, Part Two by Shinji Kajio
fast-paced
5.0
I just cannot give these books 5 starts. They hold such a special space in my heart!!
I absolutely loved the storyline in this one. Maybe I’m a sucker for alove story, who knows. And omg, the art! I can never get over the art!!
It did get really sad when Emanon (Ema) gave birth and lost herself, even though I knew it’d happen and really hoped it wouldn’t so the feelings were strong but maaaan, finding out that Ryozo took things into his own hands and revived the carries is such a green flag!!
I absolutely loved the storyline in this one. Maybe I’m a sucker for a