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girlnextshore's reviews
806 reviews
1984 by George Orwell
4.0
One of my favourite books growing up, which is an eye-opener on the tyranny of false virtues.
I try to read this book every five years or so, for a little bit of social mirroring I'm still amazed at how prophetic it is *cough*fake news and alternative facts*cough*, and how its political thesis stands true to life.
Also, for the longest time, I thought this was Orwell's finest (perhaps romanced by the sentiment of him writing and finishing this in a remote island before his death), but having read Yevgeny Zamyatin's [b:We|76171|We|Yevgeny Zamyatin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421883730l/76171._SY75_.jpg|2144026] in between, I've realised how much was borrowed, and now conceding that [b:Animal Farm|170448|Animal Farm|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1325861570l/170448._SY75_.jpg|2207778] is much better.
I try to read this book every five years or so, for a little bit of social mirroring I'm still amazed at how prophetic it is *cough*fake news and alternative facts*cough*, and how its political thesis stands true to life.
Also, for the longest time, I thought this was Orwell's finest (perhaps romanced by the sentiment of him writing and finishing this in a remote island before his death), but having read Yevgeny Zamyatin's [b:We|76171|We|Yevgeny Zamyatin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421883730l/76171._SY75_.jpg|2144026] in between, I've realised how much was borrowed, and now conceding that [b:Animal Farm|170448|Animal Farm|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1325861570l/170448._SY75_.jpg|2207778] is much better.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
2.0
It’s been a busy couple of days so I picked up something fairly “easy”, but this took me a while to get through. Despite the short chapters it just did not capture my attention as much as I wanted it to.
I didn’t like any of the characters, and that’s not because they’re white privileged people. But they came across as whiny “woe is me I’m not getting enough on my mahoosive trust fund” white privileged people who are also quite racist. You know, the overly dramatic types who are quite unaware of anything else beyond their poor little rich kid bubbles.
The writing itself was slightly confusing. At times I feel it bordered on creative, until it flows into a verbose exaggeration you don’t need. I felt it tried, but I felt it didn’t need to.
It’s not quite terrible, not quite brilliant, and I was actually fairly surprised by the twist at the end (if not slightly disappointed by it).
Anyway, I’m glad I read this to feed the curiosity. Just don’t think it’s something that would stick long.
I didn’t like any of the characters, and that’s not because they’re white privileged people. But they came across as whiny “woe is me I’m not getting enough on my mahoosive trust fund” white privileged people who are also quite racist. You know, the overly dramatic types who are quite unaware of anything else beyond their poor little rich kid bubbles.
The writing itself was slightly confusing. At times I feel it bordered on creative, until it flows into a verbose exaggeration you don’t need. I felt it tried, but I felt it didn’t need to.
It’s not quite terrible, not quite brilliant, and I was actually fairly surprised by the twist at the end (if not slightly disappointed by it).
Anyway, I’m glad I read this to feed the curiosity. Just don’t think it’s something that would stick long.
Atlas of Improbable Places: A Journey to the World's Most Unusual Corners by Travis Elborough
3.0
A compendium of strange places in the world, almost a quickfire version of Atlas Obscura. Some good tidbits of history, definitely fuelled my wanderlust.
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
1.0
Feels like Thelma and Louise meets Single White Female with a millennial twist. Such a promising premise with badly executed prose and cringe-worthy metaphors.
"Adrienne Oderdonk? It's going to be hard for me to say 'Badonkadonk'"
"My heart beat faster and faster as I read, badum badum badum, until it seemed to be convulsing like a person in the final throes of suffocation."
"Blood, so much blood, surging on the floor, more than a single skull should hold, like his head was a jug of sloshing wine."
I was quick to read this, but it was slightly excruciating. It's like listening to someone who takes forever to get to the point, peppering the story with lots of red herrings and jokey bits, and when they're done you're left thinking what was even the point?
"Adrienne Oderdonk? It's going to be hard for me to say 'Badonkadonk'"
"My heart beat faster and faster as I read, badum badum badum, until it seemed to be convulsing like a person in the final throes of suffocation."
"Blood, so much blood, surging on the floor, more than a single skull should hold, like his head was a jug of sloshing wine."
I was quick to read this, but it was slightly excruciating. It's like listening to someone who takes forever to get to the point, peppering the story with lots of red herrings and jokey bits, and when they're done you're left thinking what was even the point?