goldripred's reviews
115 reviews

The Three Musketeers: 3 Musketeers Alexandre Dumas Book by Alexandre Dumas

adventurous dark funny sad slow-paced

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

2.25

It was entertaining in some parts. Like the gambling of horses by "noble" Athos that absolutely wrecked D'Artagnan was hilarious. But Milady characterization as a femme fatale was so sad. Beyond belief. I could not believe the author did her such a bad turn and that she was sentenced to death. D'Artagnan should've been called D'Astardly because he was actually pure evil in forcing himself on Milady and using false pretences the second time. 

The murders that the Musketeers commit  is so numerous you couldn't count them on two hands and go unpaid. Meanwhile Milady kills one girl and gets condemned to death. Also it is insanity that she is punished with a "fleur-de-lis" for having had sex as a minor. It may be my modern sensibilities, but that branding led to her almost dying of hanging by Athos. Seems like a huge overreaction. This book could be a good companion novel to Just Mercy because the justification of her sentence of death was ludicrous and as soul-crushing as some of the examples in that book. After having read this book two things have been made clear to me: the death penalty is immoral, and dueling is injurious to health. Au revoir. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Misogyny

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

Really good ending. Mind-opening and contained a lot of different perspectives. 

All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.25

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

Had some key takeaways but not as inspiring as "When breath becomes air". I liked that the book gave a framework for discussing mortality and guiding principles, like making sure you allow the patient some level of privacy and autonomy. That is life-changing and giving them access to pets or etc. is a good idea. 

"I am worried" is also a good phrase. Also there are some key questions to utilize
 

• What is your understanding of the situation and its potential outcomes?
• What are your hopes and fears?
• What tradeoffs can you make and what are you not willing to make?
• Which course of action do you think best conforms to serve that understanding?

 

Circe by Madeline Miller

hopeful 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

4.5

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

funny fast-paced

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

4.0

Apology by Plato

reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

Good and short book. I liked the argumentation and the tricky leading questions were fun. It reminded me of Lysias when he was going after one of the Thirty who had killed his brother in using questions that are designed to make it so that the opponent invariably falls into your trap. 

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

Pierre and Jean by Guy de Maupassant

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.25

Really sad although good stylistically. Just tragic material and you leave the book with a sense of melancholy. How one thing can ruin a family.