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enbygojira's reviews
769 reviews
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
5.0
I hate doing this, but my actual grade here is 4.5 stars. Sorry.
Well, first of all, I love Diana Wynne Jones. I loved her already from her Chrestomanci books, which I read as a kid, and I love her now even more. Howl's Moving Castle is as fun and well written as I expected it to be, and the worldbuilding is simple and effective in a way that many authors can't manage to do nowadays. Jones's characters are very much alive, and I love how each is different from the others, how the story gets to develop their personalities without overexposing them. Also, uh, yes, I re-fell in love with Howl Jenkins. No, I couldn't help myself. Yeah, stop. Stop judging me.
I freaking love this scene so much, and I was so so happy it was in the book.
As most of this generation, I think, I saw the animation first. It didn't bother me much at the beginning, but I developed a... curious sensation as I approached the ending of the story. I don't think I can explain it properly, but I feel like the book and the film complement each other in a way that I haven't really seen written work complement adaptation, like, ever? It's weird, even. This is, of course, my opinion, and you are well entitled to feel differently, but I find it funny that the characters are best developed in the novel, while their film counterparts are more charismatic and easier to relate to; the novel's plot is more complete, it has a "bigger" feeling to it, but the film's is more... consistent. Does it make sense? I don't know.
Anyway, read it, love it. Diana Wynne Jones was a genius and deserves each and every praise she gets.
Well, first of all, I love Diana Wynne Jones. I loved her already from her Chrestomanci books, which I read as a kid, and I love her now even more. Howl's Moving Castle is as fun and well written as I expected it to be, and the worldbuilding is simple and effective in a way that many authors can't manage to do nowadays. Jones's characters are very much alive, and I love how each is different from the others, how the story gets to develop their personalities without overexposing them. Also, uh, yes, I re-fell in love with Howl Jenkins. No, I couldn't help myself. Yeah, stop. Stop judging me.
Spoiler
I freaking love this scene so much, and I was so so happy it was in the book.
As most of this generation, I think, I saw the animation first. It didn't bother me much at the beginning, but I developed a... curious sensation as I approached the ending of the story. I don't think I can explain it properly, but I feel like the book and the film complement each other in a way that I haven't really seen written work complement adaptation, like, ever? It's weird, even. This is, of course, my opinion, and you are well entitled to feel differently, but I find it funny that the characters are best developed in the novel, while their film counterparts are more charismatic and easier to relate to; the novel's plot is more complete, it has a "bigger" feeling to it, but the film's is more... consistent. Does it make sense? I don't know.
Anyway, read it, love it. Diana Wynne Jones was a genius and deserves each and every praise she gets.
Canções para o fim do mundo by Thiago Gallego
5.0
Tento não dar nota pra livros de poesia, mas esse aqui foi bastante bom. O último livro do Thiago, se me lembro bem, me deixou com um sentimento meio agridoce — bom, mas agridoce; preciso reler. Já Canções para o fim do mundo foi, num todo, ao meu ver, bem genial. Mas o que eu sei?
imagine agora
só existem no mundo
canções e caixas
de fósforo
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
5.0
The Grownup is a mystery novelette about a scammer who ends up dealing with a family who might be living in a haunted mansion. It's very short. Why is it so short?
AAAAHHHH I LOVE GILLIAN FLYNN WHY ISN'T THIS A NOVEL?
Flynn's story got me trying and failing to second-guess everything, and it felt great. All of her characters are nasty, and I love them. It's very different from Gone Girl, and yet I can see some similarities. I can't really explain why, but I loved this book very much. I just wish it was longer, really.
AAAAHHHH I LOVE GILLIAN FLYNN WHY ISN'T THIS A NOVEL?
Flynn's story got me trying and failing to second-guess everything, and it felt great. All of her characters are nasty, and I love them. It's very different from Gone Girl, and yet I can see some similarities. I can't really explain why, but I loved this book very much. I just wish it was longer, really.
The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace
"1. fill in the blank:
a) poetry is _______.
- anything you want it to be"
a) poetry is _______.
- anything you want it to be"
Azeitona by Bruno Miranda
2.0
Ai.
Azeitona tem uma premissa legal, tem uma capa bonita, tem um autor youtuber com um canal muito criativo (e aqui estou supondo que o próprio Bruno tenha escrito o livro; se rolou um escândalo de ghostwriting depois da review, eu ainda não sabia)... enfim, tinha tudo pra ser 10. Mas não foi. Por quê? Vou tentar explicar logo abaixo, vem comigo (?).
A história é a de dois adolescentes que resolvem mentir para participar de uma versão brasileira do 16 and Pregnant — como eu disse, uma premissa bem bacana —, mas todo o plano sai do controle dos dois — e do autor — quando mil reviravoltas acontecem. Os problemas aparecem do nada e são resolvidos com uma facilidade absurda, quase que por um acaso, assim, dando a impressão de que só estão ali pra aumentar o tamanho do livro. Sabe aqueles livros fininhos, estilo Coleção Vaga-Lume, em que uma coisa parece se resolver rápido demais pro livro não ficar muito longo? Azeitona passa essa mesma vibe, com a diferença de que, aqui, mil coisas acontecem e fazem com que o livro se estenda por 350 páginas.
Outros comentários rápidos: o protagonista é parecido demais com o que o próprio Bubarim passa pra gente nos vídeos; nenhum personagem é exatamente carismático ou relatable; faltou uma boa revisão final pra "polir" o texto de algumas coisinhas bobas, como falta de travessão, vírgulas etc.
Pra um primeiro livro, não está exatamente horrível, mas poderia ter sido tão melhor...
Fico mesmo na torcida por uma melhora nos próximos livros. Gosto muito do Bubarim COMO PESSOA (a gente sempre acha que conhece intimamente os youtubers que assiste, vai) e só desejo sucesso pra ele.
Azeitona tem uma premissa legal, tem uma capa bonita, tem um autor youtuber com um canal muito criativo (e aqui estou supondo que o próprio Bruno tenha escrito o livro; se rolou um escândalo de ghostwriting depois da review, eu ainda não sabia)... enfim, tinha tudo pra ser 10. Mas não foi. Por quê? Vou tentar explicar logo abaixo, vem comigo (?).
A história é a de dois adolescentes que resolvem mentir para participar de uma versão brasileira do 16 and Pregnant — como eu disse, uma premissa bem bacana —, mas todo o plano sai do controle dos dois — e do autor — quando mil reviravoltas acontecem.
Spoiler
Sério, da metade do livro pra frente são só reviravoltas, e nem todas têm a ver com a história principal em si. Quem liga pra criança que desapareceu do nada e só tava escondida em cima de uma árvore, gente?! Foco, por favor.Outros comentários rápidos: o protagonista é parecido demais com o que o próprio Bubarim passa pra gente nos vídeos; nenhum personagem é exatamente carismático ou relatable; faltou uma boa revisão final pra "polir" o texto de algumas coisinhas bobas, como falta de travessão, vírgulas etc.
Pra um primeiro livro, não está exatamente horrível, mas poderia ter sido tão melhor...
Fico mesmo na torcida por uma melhora nos próximos livros. Gosto muito do Bubarim COMO PESSOA (a gente sempre acha que conhece intimamente os youtubers que assiste, vai) e só desejo sucesso pra ele.
A Invenção de Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares
4.0
Borges chamou A invenção de Morel de perfeito. Vou ficar com bom. Acho que esperava uma ficção científica mais descarada, com robôs ou extraterrestres, então acabei me desapontando um pouco, ainda que inteiramente por culpa minha. Outra coisa que me chateou um pouco, também, foi . Fora isso, uma história boa, bem escrita, com uma temática ainda bastante atual, como de praxe em FC.
Spoiler
o interesse romântico do protagonista por Faustine. Dava pra passar sem essa
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists by J.K. Rowling
3.0
It's okay. I'll never understand why these posts are being called short stories, though.
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies by J.K. Rowling
3.0
I was hoping to find Draco's post in this one. I've already read it, yes, but it would be nice to see that Draco was included in one of these three — oh, but sure, let's add freaking Kettleburn, but not Draco.
Minerva's bit is beautiful, though. It's one of the few pieces from the "new Harry Potter stuff" that I actually, genuinely enjoy and love.
Minerva's bit is beautiful, though. It's one of the few pieces from the "new Harry Potter stuff" that I actually, genuinely enjoy and love.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor
4.0
I took my time with this one.
Well, listen, Welcome to Night Vale is a podcast. Its main intent is not to be read, but listened to. It was expected that its transcript would be kind of slow and somewhat tiring. Do not expect to read Mostly Void, Partially Stars all at once, short as it may be.
Having said that, it's delightful. I love Night Vale. Loved the novel, love the podcast—granted, I don't have a healthy relationship with podcasts in general, but we're getting there. If you know and love WTNV already, this is the book for you: it's full of nostalgia, plus extra comments by the show's creators. If you don't—hey! this is your chance! I promise you won't regret it. It is a friendly desert community, after all, where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep.
Well, listen, Welcome to Night Vale is a podcast. Its main intent is not to be read, but listened to. It was expected that its transcript would be kind of slow and somewhat tiring. Do not expect to read Mostly Void, Partially Stars all at once, short as it may be.
Having said that, it's delightful. I love Night Vale. Loved the novel, love the podcast—granted, I don't have a healthy relationship with podcasts in general, but we're getting there. If you know and love WTNV already, this is the book for you: it's full of nostalgia, plus extra comments by the show's creators. If you don't—hey! this is your chance! I promise you won't regret it. It is a friendly desert community, after all, where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep.