You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
introvertinterrupted's Reviews (1.08k)
Poor Gatsby. I wasn't necessary overly impressed by this story, but the way Jay Gatsby's story played out was über sad. People came to his parties, dranked his alcohol, used him as entertainment, and then left him when he needed them the most.
This book didn't pick up until the half-way mark when Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom were all in the same room yet, as soon as I started getting interested in the book, it was over. I think this would have made an excellent short story or could have been an even better read if Fitzgerald had managed to pack more action into the story toward the beginning of the book, but other than that, this was a solid read. I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to start reading more classics, but doesn't know where to begin. I'm now going to go watch the movie version so I can compare the two.
This book didn't pick up until the half-way mark when Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom were all in the same room yet, as soon as I started getting interested in the book, it was over. I think this would have made an excellent short story or could have been an even better read if Fitzgerald had managed to pack more action into the story toward the beginning of the book, but other than that, this was a solid read. I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to start reading more classics, but doesn't know where to begin. I'm now going to go watch the movie version so I can compare the two.
Finally knocked this one off my TBR Pile.
It wasn't as earth shaking as I thought it be, but it was still a sad and sweet read.
It wasn't as earth shaking as I thought it be, but it was still a sad and sweet read.
This book was just as good as everyone said it was. I'm not happy about the ending, but I guess Dr. Manhattan from [b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442239711s/472331.jpg|4358649] is right, "Nothing ever ends," at least not the way you want it too. Still, I'd have liked to know what happened to Eleanor's mom and siblings at the end. This book is a good piece of realistic fiction that doesn't set up unobtainable goals for teenagers about life and I appreciate that. This is definitely a book I'd recommend to people of all ages.
Everyone should read this book at least once. The characters in this story are witty and seriously funny. The plot is fresh and interesting. And most importantly, you won't want to put the story down.
Definitely a contender for favorite book of 2014!
Definitely a contender for favorite book of 2014!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2020 Book Review
I rather enjoyed my reread of this novella. I see how this book fits into a wider narrative of feminist African Literature.
2013 Book Review
I rather enjoyed my reread of this novella. I see how this book fits into a wider narrative of feminist African Literature.
So Long a Letter was a tad dry for me in comparison with other African Classics that dealt with similar feminist and nationalistic topics. Ba's book seemed to be one note due to the main character Ramatoulaye's passiveness through out the book. Even when action was called for, it seemed as if this character stalled until the last possible moment before she made a decision or did anything to take initiative in her life.
Coming in at a mere 89 pages, I felt as if it could have been trimmed to include either Ramatoulaye's feelings about her demotion to being a first wife or enhanced to be a dual narrative that included Ramatoulaye's story and Ramatoulaye's best friend, Assiatou's story. Since Ba chose to write such a simplistic story about a woman who gets shunned after her husband partakes in polygamy, the weightiness of other issues sometimes made this story unbearable for me. I would recommend this book however, I would also recommend that it be read in congruence with another African Classic that gives a fuller picture of feminist problems in modern Africa such as, Ama Ata Aidoo's [b:Changes A Love Story|73973|Changes A Love Story|Ama Ata Aidoo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1170846380s/73973.jpg|71569] or [b:Nervous Conditions|158675|Nervous Conditions And Related Readings|Tsitsi Dangarembga|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348373746s/158675.jpg|153151] by Tsitsi Dangarembga.
I rather enjoyed my reread of this novella. I see how this book fits into a wider narrative of feminist African Literature.
2013 Book Review
I rather enjoyed my reread of this novella. I see how this book fits into a wider narrative of feminist African Literature.
So Long a Letter was a tad dry for me in comparison with other African Classics that dealt with similar feminist and nationalistic topics. Ba's book seemed to be one note due to the main character Ramatoulaye's passiveness through out the book. Even when action was called for, it seemed as if this character stalled until the last possible moment before she made a decision or did anything to take initiative in her life.
Coming in at a mere 89 pages, I felt as if it could have been trimmed to include either Ramatoulaye's feelings about her demotion to being a first wife or enhanced to be a dual narrative that included Ramatoulaye's story and Ramatoulaye's best friend, Assiatou's story. Since Ba chose to write such a simplistic story about a woman who gets shunned after her husband partakes in polygamy, the weightiness of other issues sometimes made this story unbearable for me. I would recommend this book however, I would also recommend that it be read in congruence with another African Classic that gives a fuller picture of feminist problems in modern Africa such as, Ama Ata Aidoo's [b:Changes A Love Story|73973|Changes A Love Story|Ama Ata Aidoo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1170846380s/73973.jpg|71569] or [b:Nervous Conditions|158675|Nervous Conditions And Related Readings|Tsitsi Dangarembga|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348373746s/158675.jpg|153151] by Tsitsi Dangarembga.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship
Checkout my book & movie review of The Namesake on my YouTube page.
All the feels! I haven't been this inspired by a book in a while.....ok maybe like a few weeks, but STILL...I highly recommend it to everyone!
All the feels! I haven't been this inspired by a book in a while.....ok maybe like a few weeks, but STILL...I highly recommend it to everyone!