iseefeelings's reviews
335 reviews

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

I first discovered Lori Gottlieb when she was a guest on my favorite podcast, "Terrible, Thanks for Asking," and I have always been curious about this book since then. I found the e-book on Libby this month, and as I approached the last chapters, I knew I needed to buy a physical copy so I could reread it and annotate each chapter with underlines and highlights. This book is incredibly insightful; Lori Gottlieb has a remarkable way with words and demonstrates compassion and sincerity throughout its pages. I am deeply moved by each story presented in the book, which comes from anonymous clients, and I find it surprisingly inspiring. However, her therapist, Wendell, did not resonate with me, and his narrative felt flat; much of what makes him seem 'wise' seemed to stem from the author's assumptions about the meaning behind the lines. 

On another note, while I understand that the author must mix up the details to protect the identities and confidential information of her clients, it does trouble me to think about how much of the content is fabricated and how much is true. I wonder if I would feel deceived if I ever found out. 

Nonetheless, I have a deep appreciation for this book and would love to spend another time writing more about it.
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Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou

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emotional inspiring fast-paced

3.75

This year coincides with my first literary encounters with different authors, including Maya Angelou. One should not be misled by the brevity of this book. Although it can be read swiftly, I was fully aware that a lifetime cannot be encapsulated in a single narrative. With her concise and somehow distant voice, Maya Angelou tucks her pain away while simultaneously inspiring you with her effortless grace throughout the hell of her life. Her mother, gradually, took a vital part in giving her strength and compassion. The mother-daughter relationship is central to this book, often marked by turbulence and excruciating obedience. I do think there are many unresolved traumas tied to this relationship, yet Maya Angelou skillfully hightlights her mother, Vivian Baxter, as a heroine of her time. 
Normal People by Sally Rooney

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It has been so long since a coming-of-age story captured my heart & stirred a burning sensation in my chest. The bittersweet experience to reach the last pages left me reluctant to let go. I found myself grappling with a book hangover while throwing myself in a deeper well by watching the tv mini series adapted from the book simultaneously. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal delivered exceptional performances as Marianne and Connell, with an on-screen chemistry that is truly unmatched! I was torn between continuing the tv miniseries or taking a moment to pause. I was completely entranced. Isn’t this the magic of reading? It allows you to not only glimpse into someone else’s life but also to immerse yourself in it, tasting it whole. 
Some say that the relationship between Connell and Marianne is toxic. I disagree. To genuinely connect with the characters, one must consider the challenges they faced. The effects of capitalism, social class status and abuse are intricately woven into their interactions. Their lives are tangled up and they hurt each other. They engaged in a constant push and pull with the love they share while also forging a deep connection in each other’s arms. Rarely does life offer such intimacy they share. Both Connell and Marianne were learning to come to terms with who they were, and I saw love as a source of comfort amidst the hellish moments of their lives. (Spoiler alert) while this may sound like wishful thinking or a cliché, I found it to resonate as truth: they inevitably will find their back way to one another, as they always have.
Sally Rooney’s writing is both concise and direct; nothing feels mundane or overly elaborate. Each sentence carries weight of emotions—whether it is a quiet gaze or a nonchalant shrug. Her decision to omit the quotation marks seems to be jarring at first, but it gradually grew on me. Rooney is an adept in giving her characters the space to tell their stories while also maintaining a removed and omniscent narrative voice. 
I made my time to read this book during a chaotic on-call weekend, then staying up later than intended so I could savour the book a little bit longer, despite my partner’s complaints that I kept the light on too long. I don’t concern myself with the hype of this book, just simply delighted to have come across Connell and Marianne, two extraordinary normies.
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The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Reading this book, one might feel that Joan Didion did not move on from her grief at all: rather, she was moving through it. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to relive both the good and the bad days, to be painfully aware that she was no longer under the same sky as her husband. It wrenched my heart to imagine myself in her position, frightfully aware that no one can escape the reality of losing their loved ones to death. It can happen at any moment. There is no magical way to get out of this. I hope she has found peace with her beloved. 
Gustav Klimt: 1862-1918 by Gilles Néret

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informative fast-paced

3.75

I purchased this book with a very reasonable price way back when I was still studying art in Toronto, but I didn't get around to reading it till this February. Coincidentally, I bought a 2024 calendar that showcases some of his most captivating paintings (I and my partner were delighted to identify the numerous human figures hidden throughout the intricate composition of  'Garden Path with Chickens', the psychological effect was profound). During my time at school, I had engaged in discussions about his art style and was impressed by the rich textures and vibrant colours woven into his works. However, nothing truly piqued my interest for further research in his art & life until this book. Klimt's painting methods fascinate me. As I read Néret's essay, I began to appreciate the distinctive character of Gustav Klimt.  An anecdote that particularly stood out to me was how Klimt made a comical response to his academic commissioner's criticism by painting a picture, 'Goldfish' (I couldn't stop laughing while looking at that painting, the level of mockery as its finest). He was not intimidated by the any raucous opposition, but when a commissioner did not sastify with his work, he would rather buy the painting back than leaving his work with them.  I was also unexpectedly blown away by the methodical and no-frills, straightforward text by Gilles Néret. This is rare for me, as I have sifted through many essays on art history, often finding them laden with redundant and cliché language that diminishes the value of the book: they became another 'table book' to decorate than to be of any use. This book stands out as an exception. It was fascinating, and I wish it could have included more about Klimt's life in addition to his work.


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I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

2.75

I saw this book everywhere and thought to give it a try, assuming this could be a moving memoir. I didn't expect it to primarily consist of transcripts from the author's therapy session (with a psychiatrist that I'd love to have!). The book ends abruptly with chapters dedicated to the people in the author's life, which felt like chatting with a friend about anything and everything without a clear takeaway, leaving me unsure of what to derive from their rants but to be a devoted listener. The snippets of advice from the psychiatrist, along with the similarities I noticed between the author's symptoms and my own, motivated me to finish this book. Apart from that, it's quite astonishing that this little-atttempt, unpolished format was not only made it to print but also came with a sequel.
A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver

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informative medium-paced

4.0

Emma: An Authoritative Text, Backgrounds, Reviews, and Criticism by Jane Austen

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

3.25

Stumbling upon this first American edition from 1972, which stood out in the yellow paperback, was my highlight moment of last December. I enjoyed the criticism and reviews as much as the text of Emma itself. At times I was grappling with the lengthy sentences, trying to decipher their meaning. However the prose remained more accessible than many other classics that I'm not quite ready to tackle yet. The story was entertaining, but I felt the male characters lacked the depth I craved and found them somewhat unconvincing (this interrupted my enjoyment of F.Churchill's letter). Jane Austen is known for her comedic storytelling, but I didn't feel that in this book. Perhaps when revisiting this novel one day, I would catch the passages that were supposed to be funny? Despite the intention of presenting a sympathetic inside view of Emma, I couldn't find myself drawn to the character, either. Surprisingly, I was enchanted by the side characters like Harriet and Jane Fairfax more and wished for more intricate layers to their development throughout the book. While it may not rank as my favourite, the book certainly piqued my interest enough to keep on reading Jane Austen's other novels. 
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101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest

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lighthearted reflective fast-paced

2.0

Interesting topic, half-heartedly done. 
If you’re looking for a table book that your house guests can browse through or that will spark engaging conversation rather than small talk, this could be it. Otherwise, it seems to be a compilation of lists that you possibly find somewhere on the internet, something to share & quickly move on from. Claiming each chapter is an essay feels misleading, it merely grazes the surface of what was represented. The author invited readers to explore their inner worlds, attempting to delve into the complexity of the emotional and mental aspects of our lives, only to leave the readers adrift when the long-buried issues resurfaced.
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I had set aside this book more than two years ago, feeling frustrated with the sluggish pace of the story and got lost in the number of characters introduced in the first few chapters. I decided to revisit The Voyage Out in early January, drawn by my current interest in modern classics. As if Woolf had picked up the momentum as she wrote on, the story started to captivate me this time. With the insightful interior monologues, Woolf allows me to delve into the inner life of each character and recognised their differences. Every time Terence and Rachel appeared on the page, I felt a spark of anticipation, sensing their relationship could develop into something more profound. Just as I became invested, the story took an unexpected turn. There are simply too many characters in The Voyage Out, which diverts focus from the central figures and leaves the narrative feeling fragmented. I had high hopes for this novel but it ultimately fell short, leaving me somewhat disappointed in its execution.
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