fernhunter's reviews
42 reviews

The Chips Are Down by Jean-Paul Sartre

lighthearted relaxing sad fast-paced

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

4.75

I am absolutely in love with this book and especially with the characters. Pierre is such a charismatic and lovable person, you can't help but feel sorry for him. He is a very mature character with strong morals and values that he is ready to protect. Ève is no less impressive. She is simply a queen and is very empowering and strong for her time. They're both very interesting separately and together form a very beautiful relationship. It was my first ever screenplay and I loved the pace and dynamics of it. Very simple read, highly recommend you to read it because it is sad yet warm and makes your emotions jump and dance.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I sincerely enjoyed this book because it investigates the soul of a person in the situation which we aren't really facing in our life (being a prisoner and unjustifiably sentenced). Some ideas are definitely worth being discussed and taken into consideration, characters are very plain (except the main one) but that's the whole point in my opinion. It's a great book to stimulate thinking and because it's so simple and short, I'd highly recommend it as a summer read or one evening read. It's right on point and brings the idea home to a reader in very sharp and easy writing.

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

informative inspiring relaxing fast-paced

4.25

Such an amazing book, very short yet still relatable and relevant. I absolutely enjoyed the style of writing, V. Woolf is insanely talented and I wish I could listen to her lectures, she seems to be extraordinary lecturer. It's so interesting to read about women in literature from a woman's perspective and it's actually so sad that most of things she wished to happen are still unavailable for women. It's a great, empowering, short read for those who wants to read something by a female author or start reading Virginia Woolf. 

Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre

challenging dark inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Very simple yet powerful book. It provokes millions of emotions and even if nothing in particular happens, you're incredibly immersed in the thought process of the character. Sometimes stream of consciousness is so chaotic and intense that it makes you really sick but in good way? you literally can't stop reading because at some point you feel the same. I would highly recommend this book if you want to wake up your brain and jump on the train of endless discussions and thinking.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship

Одно небо на двоих by Ана Шерри

funny lighthearted medium-paced

2.5

The beginning was promising, and the set of characters seemed interesting and unusual, but after ~100 pages everything just turned into a banal love novel. Sometimes I could not believe in the feelings between the characters. I hated Milena and Jack's storyline, especially because of the author's point of view on this issue. I really hated the pregnancy twist, it was so irresponsible and stupid. I also hate that Virginia literally became a housewife and gave up her dreams and passion because of a man. I didn't like many points in this book because it was obvious that the author was trying to make a happy ending and prove her own ideas. Besides, Virginia's whole line of "being like a native" just because she grew up in Dubai, wearing traditional clothes and changing her religion within a few hours without any major inner struggles - it sucks the most. Even interesting conflicts were wasted. Very corny. 2 stars for the first 100 pages and 0.5 for an easy and simple language. But I think the book could be half the size if all the repetitions and unnecessary explanations were removed.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think you either love this book or hate it. Nothing in between and that's ok. I really loved it because the story is about a very universal character who is very universally lost in this sad and disappointing world. I loved the chaotic stream of thoughts, how character is constantly in challenge and battle with himself. I read this book for a class so I was taking notes and tried to dig deeper in the character and the plot thus it was a very incredible and immersing experience. Can't wait to read more of Salinger! 

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

One of the best books I have read (even taking into consideration some questionable moments). I think native speakers don't appreciate enough the beauty and power of the author's language. It is unbelievably beautiful and inspiring. Language and imagery (including allusions, metaphors, references) are extremely entertaining and profound. I have found so many interesting books and amazing artists due to this story. It also interested me in Greek mythology and helped to look differently on classic music. This book is definitely not for everyone because you must think reading it, it's not just a one-hour-quick-reading. It is smart and beautiful and I had spent amazing time reading it. 

Love Her Wild: Poems by Atticus

fast-paced

3.0

Maybe I don't undersatnd modern poetry, or maybe I just don't have enough feelings for such poems. There were some pretty interesting ones, but all in all I can't call it poetry. 

The Dark Between Stars by Atticus

fast-paced

3.0

Better than Love her wild but still a rather pretentious and meaningless piece of poetry. I am really sad that a lot of people say that it is modern masterpiece and that classical poetry is boring comparing to this. Sadly, it doesn't give me any feelings, he definitely needs to work on the depth and variety of his topics. It is rather boring to read about all the same stuff over and over again. 

Find Me by André Aciman

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was a journey that made me think and not so much feel. I love the idea of fate and the parallels of life, how we have destined people and can truly open our souls only ones. I also enjoyed a new look at the topic of death and life, I truly enjoy Aciman's view on the purpose and meaning of life. It was a very satisfying and warm reading that gave me a sense of finality of the story.