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jsncnrd's reviews
321 reviews
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
5.0
Gone Girl was enticing from front to back. This novel has been an acclaimed bestseller since its release, and that hype is well-deserved. Aside from the chilling plot and suspense, the use of unreliable narration and foreshadowing is used in an expert manner, to the point where every plot twist was indeed unexpected (Part 2, I am referring to you).
The criticism that the book is a work that denounces feminism is (in my opinion) completely misguided, and I would even go so far as to describe it as an abstract exploration of feminist principles. Gillian Flynn explores the notion that women can be just as violent as their male counterparts; while Amy is indeed an extreme example, she fits the mold of a strong female character - intelligent, daring. Feminism often discusses the sexual, economic and political equality of all genders: this novel tackles the notion of, perhaps, psychological equality (though some debates in the field will counter this). Women can be evil as well. Psychopathy in females is a current area of research, and though extreme, this book touches on the principle.
Taking into account the amount of planning that Gilliam Flynn had to undergo writing this book is astonishing - every loose end is resolved. The ending was brutal, and the novel speaks to many themes: revenge, media, relationships, money, instability, and marriage for instance. I was left shocked and impressed, and due to that, I went and purchased Dark Places earlier today.
Side note: the movie is fantastic.
The criticism that the book is a work that denounces feminism is (in my opinion) completely misguided, and I would even go so far as to describe it as an abstract exploration of feminist principles. Gillian Flynn explores the notion that women can be just as violent as their male counterparts; while Amy is indeed an extreme example, she fits the mold of a strong female character - intelligent, daring. Feminism often discusses the sexual, economic and political equality of all genders: this novel tackles the notion of, perhaps, psychological equality (though some debates in the field will counter this). Women can be evil as well. Psychopathy in females is a current area of research, and though extreme, this book touches on the principle.
Taking into account the amount of planning that Gilliam Flynn had to undergo writing this book is astonishing - every loose end is resolved. The ending was brutal, and the novel speaks to many themes: revenge, media, relationships, money, instability, and marriage for instance. I was left shocked and impressed, and due to that, I went and purchased Dark Places earlier today.
Side note: the movie is fantastic.
The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer
5.0
Beautiful, truthful, and accurate are three adjectives I would use to describe this novel. Beautiful - a heartbreaking tale about descent into mental illness, tragedy, and the power of memory written surprisingly well. Truthful - a highly plausible take that evoked many emotions in me. Accurate - a fair portrayal of how schizophrenia (and mental illness In general) operates and how it affects the individual suffering from it, and the people who care about them. The portrayal of the mental health system was rather accurate as well.
The book was fantastic: I was not sure what to expect going in, as I hadn't heard anything about it. In the end, I was highly satisfied with the prose and format, the characterization, and the themes hit on in the book. I am happy to have this wonderful book on my shelf and in my memory.
The book was fantastic: I was not sure what to expect going in, as I hadn't heard anything about it. In the end, I was highly satisfied with the prose and format, the characterization, and the themes hit on in the book. I am happy to have this wonderful book on my shelf and in my memory.
Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder by Paul T. Mason
1.0
Words to describe this book: vile, insensitive, and shameful. This book is victim-blaming at its absolute finest. People with this disorder already have difficulties with criticism, regulating emotions, self-esteem, and the way people view them. Writing a book that attacks them for that is definitely a great idea, right? This is rubbish and shames people for having a disorder that is beyond their control. Also, how selfish can the authors get? "Taking Back your life" ? Let's not even consider the need for the sufferer to take back their life. Unreal. Run away from this book and find a more reliable, informative source.