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evanorlando's reviews
13 reviews
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
very very good - just struggled with all the whimsy next to my v odd life - will probably return to and love this novel
I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
odd. just very odd. not my type of book but it was good. it was like looking into the mind of someone you don't like very much. not the most enjoyable experience but still interesting. quite gross too. wouldn't read again but glad I've read it once.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
A Year Without a Name: A Memoir by Cyrus Grace Dunham
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I truly believe this is a great book that I will return to at some point later down the line but it just hits a bit too close to home.
A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Not what it says on the tin but still good. Doesn't really dissect the experience of the loved ones of those who commit su/c/de but what you do get is an interesting reflection on certain mundane events in Etsukos life (much like 'Never Let Me Go' is merely a collection of Kathy's memories and never really confronts the crushing reality of their purpose).
Ishiguro is an incredibly skilled writer and I find and where he shines is where he gets you to absolutely despise certain characters, particularly Sachiko. I have never hated so many characters in one book so much. Sachiko particularly is so infuriatingly dissmissive of her childs safety, needs and just lived experience >:(
I will say, the only thing that stands out quite a bit - after reading his more acclaimed works - is his use of 'time jumps'. Where in Never Let Me Go they're very clear and natural, in this novel it's often unclear for the first sentence in a new time. It's nothing major and doesn't distract too much but there is still that mental shift you have to do manually.
As a debut novel it is incredibly strong. But that's exactly what it is; a debut. You can see his excellent mind and you just cannot wait to see what he does next.
Ishiguro is an incredibly skilled writer and I find and where he shines is where he gets you to absolutely despise certain characters, particularly Sachiko. I have never hated so many characters in one book so much. Sachiko particularly is so infuriatingly dissmissive of her childs safety, needs and just lived experience >:(
I will say, the only thing that stands out quite a bit - after reading his more acclaimed works - is his use of 'time jumps'. Where in Never Let Me Go they're very clear and natural, in this novel it's often unclear for the first sentence in a new time. It's nothing major and doesn't distract too much but there is still that mental shift you have to do manually.
As a debut novel it is incredibly strong. But that's exactly what it is; a debut. You can see his excellent mind and you just cannot wait to see what he does next.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
dark
slow-paced
2.5
[Previously rated 1 star]
This is so painfully dense. Of co
urse, there are some truly iconic moments but it's really not worth your time. The only saving grace for this book is that, because I'm studying it for class, i can have really thoughtful conversations about major themes in the novel. But truly, this is a classic that is not worth your time; just watch the film adaptation.
EDIT: I think my thoughts were too harsh. Shelley is an incredibly dense writer, perhaps just following the trends of the time. However, the mind on her is immaculate! My God, if only she were born later she would be one of the greatest screenwriters of all time!
A fantastic vision from a poor novelist.
This is so painfully dense. Of co
urse, there are some truly iconic moments but it's really not worth your time. The only saving grace for this book is that, because I'm studying it for class, i can have really thoughtful conversations about major themes in the novel. But truly, this is a classic that is not worth your time; just watch the film adaptation.
EDIT: I think my thoughts were too harsh. Shelley is an incredibly dense writer, perhaps just following the trends of the time. However, the mind on her is immaculate! My God, if only she were born later she would be one of the greatest screenwriters of all time!
A fantastic vision from a poor novelist.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
5.0
when wagyu beef grows up and realise they had it good.
This Is Not Who I Am: Our Authenticity Obsession by Emily Bootle
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
very interesting thoughts. should we be less obsessed with seeming authentic? do we have a right to demand authenticity from celebs? are we defining authenticity by what we own? lots of interesting questions raised with lots of nuance. I think what Bootle does best though is her expansive yet relevant examples, she talks briefly on taylor swift, hipsters, TERFs, and even Simone De Bevoir.
little scratch by Rebecca Watson
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
this free-form half-poetry visual-writing book is how my mind thinks. There are always minimum a dozen entirely different thoughts or conversations or whatevers on a page and you have to balance between them - which do you read first ? Do you read one line of each ? Do you read in sections ? Must read the all-caps first ? But what if you miss something ?
Rebecca Watson's stark depiction of how insidious trauma can be over the course of only one day is truly beautiful and harrowing.
If I could give six stars, I would.
Rebecca Watson's stark depiction of how insidious trauma can be over the course of only one day is truly beautiful and harrowing.
If I could give six stars, I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Self harm
I Hate Men by Pauline Harmange
challenging
informative
fast-paced
3.0
I think while I do agree with the core philosophy of this essay, that being misandry is a completely valid response to the systematic and incessant sexism and violence women face, but I have one major qualm with this essay. The complete omission of transgender people from the conversation. I have said this before and I will say it again; if your feminism, your anti-racism, your anti-homophobia, your any human rights movement does not include transgender people, it is not comprehensive nor is it truly intersectional.