emanon_reads's reviews
116 reviews

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

This book called me single in 45 diff chapters lol

Anyways, the book is great, it’s not very detailed but that wasn’t a problem. It felt like watching a movie because there was so much happening at each moment. I think if it was more detailed it would’ve felt a bit like a drag. 

I like that a lot of the movement of the book have been inspired by previous literature from back then. 

The cliffhangers were amazing, I literally screamed after one of them cuz I didn’t wanna wait to find out. 

My eyes skipped through the lines one too many times to find the answers before getting to it which I think is an indicator to good writing.

I think the use of history and literature pre-dating WW1 made the story feel more real which was great and I hope the characters were accurate to his private school boys were back then cuz it’s an interesting insight.

It’s a great read, I was not expecting to like it so it’s deff a nice surprise!

Dear Sappho: A Legacy of Lesbian Love Letters by Kay Turner

5.0

I’m not exactly sure how I’m supposed to hate this. It’s not a 5 star because the content is marvellous but because the existence of such history is simply good.

It’s also so so so interesting too see how normal these women were despite the century difference. It’s funny how similar out language is to theirs and it’s amazing how common the world of lesbians this books makes it feel. 

I liked it and the physical copy so a piece of art🥹

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Where do I even start?

I’m not giving it 5 stars because somehow it doesn’t feel perfect for me. Don’t get me wrong, the book was a rollercoaster if one was as dizzying the way this book did.

I’m quite surprise that I was able to finish a 700p long book and not put it down even though it took me a month of daily reading.

I’m also surprised how long it took to get into the story and I won’t lie to you, I don’t think we actually did until about halfway though. I mean… this didn’t feel like a story, more like a biography if I have to be candid. It’s written as such, I think.

I’m not big on character building but it was surprisingly good and entertaining. I do think it’s a shame that we were so deeply involved within the characters of Malcolm and JB only to have them dropped after the first part of the book. What I mean by that is - We left Malcolm in a very vulnerable state of self confusion and loss within his life purpose and then the next time we heard of him he was suddenly in a relationship and successful. What happened in between these two moments? How did he get firm point A to point B. We also left JB in a significantly different state of vulnerability, he was going through a double identity crisis and about his origins and then that was dropped until we suddenly got hints about his drug abuse and the that was explained only to reveal how his mental state led him to irrational behaviour. Don’t even get me started on the fact that this man is very obviously mentally unwell and was somehow unspoken of simply because the story shifted to a different perspective. I think I would’ve absolutely loved a JB perspective towards the end of the book.

I absolutely loved Harold’s chapters! I love that they were done in a letter format and I love how vulnerable they felt. I think he’s my favourite character simply because of how beautifully this man has been portrayed through his chapters.

I think the young Jude chapters were really well written as well. You were taken back to the past rather than just being told a retelling to if what happened. I also think what was done really well is the way in which we learn about Jude’s past without it being repeated multiple times. I think the hints and the name drops and the lingering uncomfortable sensation that I felt before each ‘reveal’ made the suspense so much better because I’d have my own little assumptions and sometimes I was correct and other I was shockingly wrong. I love how whenever Jude felt grateful for one of the kinder men it made me feel graceful as well only to catch myself fooled because it’s so obvious how wrong it all is. I was captivated, I was feeling what Jude was.

I think I have very uninteresting feeling towards Willem. Like… I loved him and I agree with every action/ emotion/ observation that he’s gone through but somehow, writing this right after finishing the book, after his death I feel so much less towards him. And I fully blame that on how the focus at the end was on Jude’s grief over him. Why did we not get more of the grief felt over Malcolm? Why was he overshadowed like that? And it’s not Willens fault for that but it deff affected my way of observing him despite the fact that he was my favourite character for the majority of the time. I do sympathise with his struggle of being in a relationship with someone so complex and so fragile, I think it’s more work and dedication and one can imagine. 

I’m also a little mad at how Willem, Malcolm & Sophie died. It was so… uneventful? Like, don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t need an American Psycho scenario, it’s just that… it could’ve been a disease or something of that sort. Anyways, I just feel like it could’ve been something that made me cry rather than a quick car crash.

Wow, I obviously have a lot to say about this book. I feel like I can go on but I’ll stop here and just say that overall it’s an incredible book. I’m just a little emotionally drained after it.

A Little Life took a bit of life out of me.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

It’s so funny to me that this book seems to have divided people into two. Some absolutely love it and others hate it.

It’s a book about a woman that wants to reinvent herself and the only way she sees out is through sleep. If she sleeps for long enough she can one day wake up ans start all over again.

It depicts two things very well, depression and exhaustion. The character isn’t diagnosed with depression but the symptoms are there and the trauma is obvious, you can tell what has led to it all and you cannot do anything but mumbled under you breath that she’s just too blind to see it.

The book shows a part of humanity that is unapologetic. We are allowed to tap into the mind of the main character and it’s almost scary how candidly written everything is. Every single shameful emotion, though and/ or action is expressed and no one really does anything about it. I personally blame it on her mental state (the idea of being so exhausted of everything that you no longer care about anything).

The book had no significant plot, there are things that happen and there is a plot to follow but it’s an extremely character heavy book. We care about how they feel, act and talk rather than what their next steps are.

The are descriptions of complete vanity and toxicity that left me speechless. You forget how bad people can be until you meet them.

I don’t think I’ve ever narrated a book as much as I’ve narrated this one. It’s just had too many jaw dropping moments.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

2.75

I’d love to have a string opinion about this book but I can go as far as saying that maybe my understanding of philosophy isn’t as strong as I’d like it to be🤷🏻‍♀️

I do like how the main character is so unbothered by what people say or think and that he just doesn’t what is logical to him, I believe that’s the ultimate form of freedom - not giving a damn fuck. 

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea by Yukio Mishima

1.75

This ending is so baaaad😭😭

This book is honestly a lil questionable. I’m not sure how I feel about it. The characters didn’t exactly feel connected and the story didn’t follow a particular flow that I can say worked.

I liked the love story and I genuinely felt happy that the two characters felt the way they did but were the unsettling throughs and actions of the kid so scattered? Also, did he have to be a part of a group of kids? It didn’t make much sense especially because the kids didn’t feature a lot. They were there for exactly two (horrible) scenes and that’s it. Existing to make chaos under the pretence that because they are kids it’s all okay.

I- honestly idk. I feel like it could’ve been restructured into a much better story. The writing was good which made the reading process easier but that’s about it :/

Остайница by Рене Карабаш, Петя Абаджиева

sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Broooo wtf??

Why was the writing so gooood😩. I genuinely don’t remember the last time I ate a book up the way I did this one!!

Ok ok, let’s start with the review.

Wow, honestly… it was so widely written and in such a complex way but somehow the meaning of each chapter and each action just translated itself. I didn’t find myself confused which is a huge bonus with experimental writing. I won’t lie the lack of character separation in the text was a lil different to distinguish but also sooooo good.

This book felt like something based on real life which makes it soooo trippy. I honestly have no idea how much of the shared traditions actually exist but damn, that’s a harsh life to live. Wtf

Also!!!! Whaaaat, the author really messed with me making one thing seem like another. She made my heart skip a beat in two very major moments only to turn things around and be like “Nah, we good”. Genius😙👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼


Idk what else to say. It was amazing. That’s about it.

Ps.: apologies for the English review, I just can’t deal with translating my thought atm

Franz Kafka's the Trial by Harold Bloom

1.5

I think I’ve very much misunderstood this book cuz you can’t tell me that Kafka’s The Trial is as famous as it is and as praised as it is while making absolutely no sense.

I hated reading it. Halfway through I switched I switched to an audiobook because I wanted to finish it but knew that my attention span would not last on something I’m not enjoying.

The book felt scattered and plotless. New character kept on being introduced only to be dropped for little reason. Some sections dragged on for way too long while other for too little. Our main character was falling for every other girl just cuz it’s fun?? Idk, I did enjoy when he got called out of that but maaan, the rest was bullocks.

I guess there’s so hidden deep philosophical meaning in the book about like and people and how things are changing but it felt so hidden away that it als most did not exist. What makes a good author? One that can write in metaphors and still portray their opinions clearly or one that hides it so well that only the best of critics can decipher it?

I’m so mad at this piece of literature💀💀

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

2.75

This book is weeeeeird

Also, why tf do some editions have 200+ pages and others 70??? 

But yes, weird piece of literature and the writing was meh… it wasn’t boring which is good but kinda average🫠

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More by Roald Dahl

4.25

Giving it 4 stars because I took a long break between the stories and found out that they didn’t really stick in my head. Having said that it doesn’t mean that I don’t think that they weren’t amazing. 

The Boy Who Talked with Animals
- this was a peculiar story but also a lovely one; it was the right amount of entertaining and easy to read

The Hitch-hiker
- I love love love this short story; the characters were so fun and I really like a little conversation heavy plot… makes you feel like you’re a part of the scene😌

The Mildenhall Treasure
- I appreciate the introduction to the story; I love it when the author gets involved in their works… makes them more personal
- this Ford guy needs a good kicking cuz damn that was dumb move from his side

the Swan
- wow, this is bullying on another level

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
- this was a story that contained a story that had a retelling in it; complex if you ask me but so damn interesting; man knows how to write!!

Lucky Break
- again! He made it personal and that so nice; it’s good to know how one came to be through their own words and Dahl does it so well

A Piece of Cake 
- reading this wasn’t a piece of cake, I got lost while reading it

Final thought:
- I absolutely loved “The Swan” and “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”; both stories were complex in their own way and both stories were told really well
- I got into reading this collection of short stories because of the newly released short movies by Wes Anderson and wow, I did not realise how much inspiration this man draws from Dahl and it’s quite cool to see
- 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼