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festive_fossil's Reviews (173)
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Medical content
Moderate: Death
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to love this book and yet....it isn't the movie. It really is wonderful that Goldman was able to write the screenplay for the movie, because he did an amazing job adapting it for the screen. It also happened to cut out some of the eccentricities that Goldman included in the text. Some eccentricities that I really could not stand.
While the satire is pretty evident in the movie, it is even more delightfully so in the book, really poking fun at fairy tales in general. But the truly exhausting contortions Goldman goes through to keep up the charade that he is abridging a longer work by a fictional author are...well, exhausting. And not amusing, at least for me. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind. Plus there are the even more egregious insertions of what *I hope and assume* is a satirical version of Goldman's relationship with his ex-wife and son.
Basically, this is a rare case for me where the movie is better than the book.
While the satire is pretty evident in the movie, it is even more delightfully so in the book, really poking fun at fairy tales in general. But the truly exhausting contortions Goldman goes through to keep up the charade that he is abridging a longer work by a fictional author are...well, exhausting. And not amusing, at least for me. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind. Plus there are the even more egregious insertions of what *I hope and assume* is a satirical version of Goldman's relationship with his ex-wife and son.
Basically, this is a rare case for me where the movie is better than the book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
I 'read' the audiobook of this, and finished it in two sittings. A truly excellent memoir that explores dealing with undiagnosed chronic disease and battling addiction. I found a lot to identify with in this book, as I have also dealt with a chronic disease, the years-long quest for diagnosis - though on a much less extreme scale I am thankful to say. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about what the experience of having chronic disease is like. Khakpour is explicit that this is not a triumphal narrative, so be prepared for that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Violence
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just finished my second read-through of this book, the first having been many years ago when it was first published. I think overall I can appreciate the story more this time around, but I definitely still have some critiques.
As someone with historical training, this book struck some chords with me and I really enjoyed the dark academia ~vibes~ of the story, though it was published years before that starting trending. It is nice to read a story about historians as a historian. And of course, there is an element of Indiana Jones to all this. What is it about dragging stuffy scholars out of their cozy armchairs and into dark adventures that is so satisfying? Kostova's books are also always spectacularly well-researched and this one was no exception.
The overall richness of Kostova's writing is always something I have admired; the details are great if that is your thing, and the story just has a feeling of depth to it that comes from excellent worldbuilding. However, if you struggle with slow reads this may not be for you. It moves at a snail's pace. A beautiful snail, but still literally a snail. Definitely around the page 500 mark I was getting impatient with the constant bouncing back and forth between three different timelines and everything being narrated through letters. I also found the ultimate motivation of the antagonist to be....unconvincing? Like in the extreme. Further villainy is hinted at, but never explored, and the climax of the book was ultimately dissatisfying because paradoxically to the rest of the work it felt rushed.
It is very interesting because despite my experience being the same with each of Kostova's books, I still continue to read them all lol. So clearly she is doing something right.
As someone with historical training, this book struck some chords with me and I really enjoyed the dark academia ~vibes~ of the story, though it was published years before that starting trending. It is nice to read a story about historians as a historian. And of course, there is an element of Indiana Jones to all this. What is it about dragging stuffy scholars out of their cozy armchairs and into dark adventures that is so satisfying? Kostova's books are also always spectacularly well-researched and this one was no exception.
The overall richness of Kostova's writing is always something I have admired; the details are great if that is your thing, and the story just has a feeling of depth to it that comes from excellent worldbuilding. However, if you struggle with slow reads this may not be for you. It moves at a snail's pace. A beautiful snail, but still literally a snail. Definitely around the page 500 mark I was getting impatient with the constant bouncing back and forth between three different timelines and everything being narrated through letters. I also found the ultimate motivation of the antagonist to be....unconvincing? Like in the extreme. Further villainy is hinted at, but never explored, and the climax of the book was ultimately dissatisfying because paradoxically to the rest of the work it felt rushed.
It is very interesting because despite my experience being the same with each of Kostova's books, I still continue to read them all lol. So clearly she is doing something right.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Holy god, what a wild ride. I couldn't put it down, for me just such a compelling story. If you were hoping for a Rebecca-like read for spooky season, this is IT.
My one complaint upon further reflection was I wasn't quite sure how some of the darker sexual themes added to the story. Further creep factor? Idk. But overall, this was an amazing read and I don't even normally dabble in horror!
My one complaint upon further reflection was I wasn't quite sure how some of the darker sexual themes added to the story. Further creep factor? Idk. But overall, this was an amazing read and I don't even normally dabble in horror!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Excellent. I ended up just sitting down and finishing the whole thing in one afternoon. I have followed Humans of NY on Instagram for years, but this is the first book I have bought. The concept itself is just such a good one, photographing people and then interviewing them. But it is especially shocking to read about someone half a world away who is experiencing many of the same struggles and experiences as you are. Maybe they are going through the motions, but not really enjoying life. Maybe they have childhood trauma. Maybe they're in love. It can be easy to say "We're all human," and even to believe it intellectually, but this book is so brilliant because it gives that statement faces and stories. You really feel that connection.
Very much enjoyed this, it also made me reflect on my own life, and I am sure I will return to it again and again.
Very much enjoyed this, it also made me reflect on my own life, and I am sure I will return to it again and again.