Scan barcode
gabiirayner's reviews
46 reviews
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
2.0
To say this was a chore is such an understatement. NOTHING HAPPENS? AND IT JUST KIND OF ENDS? You turn each page of dull exposition just hoping and praying that something will eventually hit the same way that The Hunger Games did but nope. It's an interesting enough concept but I was never hopeful for a Snow prequel, wishing instead it had been a retelling of Haymitch or Finnick's games. Another review mentioned the 3rd person aspect of this book and I think that's so important; The Hunger Games from Katniss' 1st person perspective felt raw, urgent, terrifying, but to hear Snow's constant inner monologue as he watches a boring Games unfold from the outside....how was that ever going to read well? The easter egg references to The Hunger Games are garish and so painfully obvious when they could've been subtle nods, the unending number of cringey song lyrics is unbearable, and the characters themselves are neither memorable nor appealing (aside from Sejanus and the one girl in the games who I actually cared about because she had a smart gameplan). The overall sociopolitical messages (?) and class commentaries are so vague and underdeveloped that I couldn't even begin to tell you what you're supposed to understand of them, only that it means I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who liked The Hunger Games because you'll just be sorely disappointed :(
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
4.0
4.5
I wish I had the literary intelligence and philosophical capability to say I honestly understood and was shaken by every word I read but that would be an absolute lie. However, I truly believe this is one of the most haunting books I've read and I cannot even begin to wrap my head around the linguistic and storytelling skill Donna Tartt possesses. Another review mentioned how much of the book feels like the authorial equivalent of a runner jogging in place as they wait at a traffic light and I can't deny this in the slightest, but sometimes it is these moments of empty exposition and dialogue that allows the chaos to sink in, to slowly realise (just as Richard does) just who these people really are and what they've managed to drag him into. Oof.
I wish I had the literary intelligence and philosophical capability to say I honestly understood and was shaken by every word I read but that would be an absolute lie. However, I truly believe this is one of the most haunting books I've read and I cannot even begin to wrap my head around the linguistic and storytelling skill Donna Tartt possesses. Another review mentioned how much of the book feels like the authorial equivalent of a runner jogging in place as they wait at a traffic light and I can't deny this in the slightest, but sometimes it is these moments of empty exposition and dialogue that allows the chaos to sink in, to slowly realise (just as Richard does) just who these people really are and what they've managed to drag him into. Oof.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
5.0
this is stunning. absolutely, well and truly, painfully stunning. I wish more than anything that I had sat and read this in one go but nevertheless, I will no doubt be replaying moments and lines over and over in my head for YEARS. the descriptions are just beautifully poetic and despite the simple enough storyline, it's engaging and intriguing and exciting. I'm so so happy to have read this, even in the face of heartbreak.
Circe by Madeline Miller
4.0
4.5
god this is so gorgeous. madeline miller is a poet and a lyricist and every word she writes is just beautiful to take in; what the book lacks in solid, linear plotline it more than makes up for in characterisation, dialogue and imagery and I will absolutely not be complaining. what a funky little book to make you appreciate your funky little mortal life whilst simultaneously despising all the men who have ever done circe wrong
god this is so gorgeous. madeline miller is a poet and a lyricist and every word she writes is just beautiful to take in; what the book lacks in solid, linear plotline it more than makes up for in characterisation, dialogue and imagery and I will absolutely not be complaining. what a funky little book to make you appreciate your funky little mortal life whilst simultaneously despising all the men who have ever done circe wrong
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
1.0
I'm so sorry to Ms. Harkness but this is without a shadow of a doubt the worst book I have ever read. It is 688 pages long and takes until the final hundred for there to be anything of REMOTE intrigue, whilst all the rest of the time is spent doing absolutely nothing aside from Diana reading, Diana drinking tea, Diana whining about Matthew, Diana walking to a library, Diana rowing, Diana being watched by Matthew, Diana sleeping. GOOD GOD IT'S SO BORING?? Nothing makes any sense and the reader is either treated like they're stupid and need things spelled out for them OR like they have the exact same academic understanding and experience as the author and so don't need explanations, no in between.
Diana and Matthew themselves are so painfully unlikeable I can't even begin to describe it, and the only characters I cared for and wanted to know more about were Marcus and Miriam, who get barely a mention aside from being Matthew's lackeys. I'm so so so disappointed and even though yes I will be googling a summary of the next two books just for my own personal closure, I will absolutely not be reading on.
Diana and Matthew themselves are so painfully unlikeable I can't even begin to describe it, and the only characters I cared for and wanted to know more about were Marcus and Miriam, who get barely a mention aside from being Matthew's lackeys. I'm so so so disappointed and even though yes I will be googling a summary of the next two books just for my own personal closure, I will absolutely not be reading on.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
3.0
3.5
Okay what a fascinating read!! Whilst it's a little slow in places and is obviously meant for an audience perhaps a little younger than I am and so still has a few YA clichés and predictabilities, I still enjoyed this a lot. Zélie and Amari are two really interesting, complimentary characters and I really hope their relationship is explored more in the sequel because I was far more invested in that than any of the het relationships I witnessed!
There was an issue for me with regards to far too many throwaway characters that didn't need to be named and described in the detail they were if they weren't going to be in it for very long (to the point where when some were listed towards the end for an emotional evocation I was kinda like "? who's that again?") but problems like that are overshadowed by just how important I think fiction/fantasy books like this are for modern young audiences . An unapologetically black, Nigerian culture inspired story and setting is so refreshing and an allegory of black oppression and brutality told in a fantastical way is so clever. What a great way to shape future minds and in such an entertaining manner.
Okay what a fascinating read!! Whilst it's a little slow in places and is obviously meant for an audience perhaps a little younger than I am and so still has a few YA clichés and predictabilities, I still enjoyed this a lot. Zélie and Amari are two really interesting, complimentary characters and I really hope their relationship is explored more in the sequel because I was far more invested in that than any of the het relationships I witnessed!
There was an issue for me with regards to far too many throwaway characters that didn't need to be named and described in the detail they were if they weren't going to be in it for very long (to the point where when some were listed towards the end for an emotional evocation I was kinda like "? who's that again?") but problems like that are overshadowed by just how important I think fiction/fantasy books like this are for modern young audiences . An unapologetically black, Nigerian culture inspired story and setting is so refreshing and an allegory of black oppression and brutality told in a fantastical way is so clever. What a great way to shape future minds and in such an entertaining manner.
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
3.0
I can't quite decide if I'm straight up confused or if I'm poetically unsettled by this book. It's haunting and strange and surreal and brutal and quite difficult to wrap both my head and words around. But I can't stop thinking about it.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
5.0
MAN that was so good. My expectations were high but WOW. This is such a refreshing take on superpowers in a way that makes it feel like a dark, literary classic that explores "morality, mortality, and villainy" in a gorgeous little way.
In terms of pacing it is just superb; at no point was I bored or feeling too rushed and the time jumps help to keep things interesting in this regard, and it never gets complicated! You can just FEEL Victor and Eli getting closer and closer and it's so intense to follow along, despite the respite through flashbacks.
The characters are all complex and morally grey and likeable to different degrees and I just enjoyed this immensely!! What more can I say?!
In terms of pacing it is just superb; at no point was I bored or feeling too rushed and the time jumps help to keep things interesting in this regard, and it never gets complicated! You can just FEEL Victor and Eli getting closer and closer and it's so intense to follow along, despite the respite through flashbacks.
The characters are all complex and morally grey and likeable to different degrees and I just enjoyed this immensely!! What more can I say?!
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
2.0
Let me make it abundantly clear that Neil Gaiman is without a SHADOW of a doubt a talented writer with a knack for gorgeously simplistic prose and description. But I was disappointed with this story and I'm so sad to say it.
Whilst I can understand people's love for the grounded yet fantastical world he's created in the form of Faerie, I felt as though the story suffered a lack of a clear plot aside from Tristran dragging Yvaine home to Victoria. The threat of the witches or the Stormhold brothers was minimal and all the other characters were too bizarre or fleeting.
I know that I'm heavily influenced by my utter adoration for the Stardust movie adaptation but perhaps it is exactly that that made me wish for a faster pace, a more thrilling ride, and a more passionate romantic journey. Maybe this is because I'm so used to the Hollywoodisation of stories by now (in which case that's disappointing and I absolutely wish to return to my more appreciative younger state) but I'd be lying if I said that I was turning every single page eagerly.
I was so excited to witness a more fleshed out journey of the Tristan and Yvaine I witnessed onscreen, wishing that they'd had more time together to explore their relationship instead of the 1 week the film takes place over, but somehow 6 months together and I felt they were less connected than Charlie Cox and Clare Danes after just 5 minutes onscreen. Such a pity.
Whilst I can understand people's love for the grounded yet fantastical world he's created in the form of Faerie, I felt as though the story suffered a lack of a clear plot aside from Tristran dragging Yvaine home to Victoria. The threat of the witches or the Stormhold brothers was minimal and all the other characters were too bizarre or fleeting.
I know that I'm heavily influenced by my utter adoration for the Stardust movie adaptation but perhaps it is exactly that that made me wish for a faster pace, a more thrilling ride, and a more passionate romantic journey. Maybe this is because I'm so used to the Hollywoodisation of stories by now (in which case that's disappointing and I absolutely wish to return to my more appreciative younger state) but I'd be lying if I said that I was turning every single page eagerly.
I was so excited to witness a more fleshed out journey of the Tristan and Yvaine I witnessed onscreen, wishing that they'd had more time together to explore their relationship instead of the 1 week the film takes place over, but somehow 6 months together and I felt they were less connected than Charlie Cox and Clare Danes after just 5 minutes onscreen. Such a pity.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
3.0
okay I have incredibly mixed feelings about this and I don't think I could coherently write them in prose so I'm going to bullet point please forgive me:
• this is such a roller coaster in terms of pacing and level of interest (up, DOWN, up)
• I am absolutely far too unintelligent to appreciate the philosophical and poetic aspects to both Wilde's style and content
• the entire premise is so good and the final ending is NEAT
• I wish there had been a little more depth with regard to Basil's character
• this could've been so much shorter, it felt like there was so much unnecessary exposition and so many throwaway characters who I felt served no real purpose? but maybe I need to research it more
• I am left thoroughly intrigued as to how good the movie adaptation with ben barnes (loml) is
• this is such a roller coaster in terms of pacing and level of interest (up, DOWN, up)
• I am absolutely far too unintelligent to appreciate the philosophical and poetic aspects to both Wilde's style and content
• the entire premise is so good and the final ending is NEAT
• I wish there had been a little more depth with regard to Basil's character
• this could've been so much shorter, it felt like there was so much unnecessary exposition and so many throwaway characters who I felt served no real purpose? but maybe I need to research it more
• I am left thoroughly intrigued as to how good the movie adaptation with ben barnes (loml) is