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kazuchuu's reviews
176 reviews
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
3/5
This review can also be found on my blog!
*holds hands up*
I know, I know. Everyone and their mother seems to love The Raven Boys-Gansey with his undying passion, Ronan with his fierce personality, Adam with his hardworking nature, Noah with his silent gentleness, Blue with her smart witticism. Don't get me wrong, I came to love them, too, it's just...it took a while.
A synopsis (spoiler-free!): Blue Sargent comes from a family of psychics. Her mother, for example, has customers occasionally coming in for a reading, and every year she goes to a churchyard to see the soon-to-be-dead, taking Blue with her. Blue doesn't possess any of these abilities, but merely makes others' abilities "stronger"-hence why her mother takes her.
One year, however, everything changes. She sees, for the first time, a soul with her very own eyes; one she is able to directly communicate with. His name is Gansey, and, according to what we're told, Blue can see him because he's destined to be her "true love"-except here's the problem.
If Blue kisses her true love, he will die.
Blue attempts to stay away from Gansey-he's an Aglionby boy, after all, and those could only be trouble. However, she becomes inexplicably drawn to him, as well as the rest of the gang: Ronan, Adam, and Noah. Gansey's passion to find an ancient, "sleeping" Welsh king piques her interest, and before she knows it, she's in for the ride of her life with these boys.
Okay, so here's the thing: when I read the summary, I was confused.
Not about what the book's main idea was, but as to why there were a lot of five-star ratings, because the whole "don't kiss your true love or he'll die!" business just...I mean...
Doesn't that make Blue and Gansey "star-crossed lovers"? The typical "we can't be together because we could get imprisoned/punished/killed!" sorta thing?
But, okay, I said to myself. Maybe everything else about the book is so great that people didn't really mind that bit. Or maybe it's written so well that it doesn't feel annoying to read.
So I started the book (this was a buddy-read, by the way, with the awesome Rebekah!) with a positive outlook. Actually, now that I think about it, a bit too positive-I'd heard a lot of great things about it that I think it affected me, because, at the start, everything just irked me.
The characters, the plot, everything. And I didn't even know why! I found Blue to be such a nuisance, Gansey's whole "concerned" attitude to be a bit fake, Ronan's reactions wild and irrational, and Adam way too much of an over-thinker. Probably the only character I didn't dislike much was Noah, and that's because he barely said or did anything at the start (that ain't criticism by the way, he's just so quiet-for a good reason, though.)
Halfway through the book, I was starting to get bored. Everything just moved too slow, and while you had those little developments here and there, I had no clue when something major would happen.
Something major does happen by the way, but I had to wait, like, two hundred pages for it. It was just too slow-paced. Some parts were confusing as well. The first few chapters talked about "ley lines" and "dowsing", and I had absolutely no clue what they were on about.
But then...suddenly, after the action started happening...trust me when I say, I don't know what went down, but I kid you not that I suddenly discovered I love them.
YEAH. IT'S WEIRD. I KNOW. How do you suddenly switch from practically despising a character to loving them?! Don't ask me. All I now know is that I adore them all, especially Noah (quiet/shy/observant guys are my weakness) and Ronan (I love how he acts all tough, but actually cares a lot.)
The writing itself isn't bad, by the way. I actually like Stiefvater's style-it's pleasant to read and gets a good laugh out of you, too.
My point about the book being slow-paced and a little perplexing still stands, though. That, and also: there is no diversity at all.
See, I'm the kind of person who just can't give five-stars to a book if it doesn't have some form of diversity. Even if the plot is clever, the writing beautiful, and the characters endearing, I just need there to be a different variety of people. It only makes sense. We live in a diverse world, after all, and everyone you know just can't be of the same nationality, sexuality, or have the same physical and mental capabilities.
I know that Stiefvater apologised for this, which I really respect. It's darn courageous of her to do that. But still.
3.0
"Aglionby Academy was the number one reason Blue had developed her two rules: One, stay away from boys because they were trouble. And two, stay away from Aglionby boys, because they were bastards."
3/5
This review can also be found on my blog!
*holds hands up*
I know, I know. Everyone and their mother seems to love The Raven Boys-Gansey with his undying passion, Ronan with his fierce personality, Adam with his hardworking nature, Noah with his silent gentleness, Blue with her smart witticism. Don't get me wrong, I came to love them, too, it's just...it took a while.
A synopsis (spoiler-free!): Blue Sargent comes from a family of psychics. Her mother, for example, has customers occasionally coming in for a reading, and every year she goes to a churchyard to see the soon-to-be-dead, taking Blue with her. Blue doesn't possess any of these abilities, but merely makes others' abilities "stronger"-hence why her mother takes her.
One year, however, everything changes. She sees, for the first time, a soul with her very own eyes; one she is able to directly communicate with. His name is Gansey, and, according to what we're told, Blue can see him because he's destined to be her "true love"-except here's the problem.
If Blue kisses her true love, he will die.
Blue attempts to stay away from Gansey-he's an Aglionby boy, after all, and those could only be trouble. However, she becomes inexplicably drawn to him, as well as the rest of the gang: Ronan, Adam, and Noah. Gansey's passion to find an ancient, "sleeping" Welsh king piques her interest, and before she knows it, she's in for the ride of her life with these boys.
Okay, so here's the thing: when I read the summary, I was confused.
Not about what the book's main idea was, but as to why there were a lot of five-star ratings, because the whole "don't kiss your true love or he'll die!" business just...I mean...
Doesn't that make Blue and Gansey "star-crossed lovers"? The typical "we can't be together because we could get imprisoned/punished/killed!" sorta thing?
But, okay, I said to myself. Maybe everything else about the book is so great that people didn't really mind that bit. Or maybe it's written so well that it doesn't feel annoying to read.
So I started the book (this was a buddy-read, by the way, with the awesome Rebekah!) with a positive outlook. Actually, now that I think about it, a bit too positive-I'd heard a lot of great things about it that I think it affected me, because, at the start, everything just irked me.
The characters, the plot, everything. And I didn't even know why! I found Blue to be such a nuisance, Gansey's whole "concerned" attitude to be a bit fake, Ronan's reactions wild and irrational, and Adam way too much of an over-thinker. Probably the only character I didn't dislike much was Noah, and that's because he barely said or did anything at the start (that ain't criticism by the way, he's just so quiet-for a good reason, though.)
Halfway through the book, I was starting to get bored. Everything just moved too slow, and while you had those little developments here and there, I had no clue when something major would happen.
Something major does happen by the way, but I had to wait, like, two hundred pages for it. It was just too slow-paced. Some parts were confusing as well. The first few chapters talked about "ley lines" and "dowsing", and I had absolutely no clue what they were on about.
But then...suddenly, after the action started happening...trust me when I say, I don't know what went down, but I kid you not that I suddenly discovered I love them.
YEAH. IT'S WEIRD. I KNOW. How do you suddenly switch from practically despising a character to loving them?! Don't ask me. All I now know is that I adore them all, especially Noah (quiet/shy/observant guys are my weakness) and Ronan (I love how he acts all tough, but actually cares a lot.)
The writing itself isn't bad, by the way. I actually like Stiefvater's style-it's pleasant to read and gets a good laugh out of you, too.
My point about the book being slow-paced and a little perplexing still stands, though. That, and also: there is no diversity at all.
See, I'm the kind of person who just can't give five-stars to a book if it doesn't have some form of diversity. Even if the plot is clever, the writing beautiful, and the characters endearing, I just need there to be a different variety of people. It only makes sense. We live in a diverse world, after all, and everyone you know just can't be of the same nationality, sexuality, or have the same physical and mental capabilities.
I know that Stiefvater apologised for this, which I really respect. It's darn courageous of her to do that. But still.
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
4/5
This review can also be found on my blog!
Oh boy, am I glad to have continued this series.
As you all probably know, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater is a series loved by most, and has been recommended to me for months now. I'd picked up The Raven Boys, was sadly disappointed by it, but decided to venture on to see if the other books make up for that.
And make up for that they did.
At least, that is the case with The Dream Thieves, because I loved it.
(Me crying tears of joy.)
(I never finished Kimi Ni Todoke, whoops.)
(MOVING ON.)
The second book of this quartet mainly focuses on Ronan (other characters have significant roles too, but the revelation of Ronan's ability is what the story revolves around.)
The development of the characters was astounding; I was actually shocked. The portrayal of Ronan's actions and why he behaved the way he did was excellent; I found myself falling in love with him more by the minute. Noah is still my precious child, of course. His gentleness and quirkiness is adorable and I will FIGHT YOU if you insult him.
(Just kidding.)
(...Maybe.)
Adam's fighting as hard as ever to conquer the boulders life hurtles at him, and while he has those explosive moments, you can't help but sympathise with him. Blue's sarcasm is on point as usual-a refreshing break from any angst or intense action-and I love papa Gansey. HE'S THE PAPA OF THE GROUP, Y'ALL.
The plot really moved forward with this book, and not too fast, either. The more obstacles the gang kicked down along the way, the more appeared, and I was itching to find out how they'd kick those down, too.
Possibly the only thing I didn't like about this book is Joseph Kavinsky.
(A few spoilers ahead!)
I know some people like him, and that's alright! But to me...nah. The guy's a psycho. And not even one of those psychos that are well-portrayed, or that hide behind ominous smiles that invite you to learn more about them.
I mean a psycho that is literally a nuisance and, to me, even disgusting. There is much debate about whether the things he does are justified, and whether he's really as bad as people think he is, but here's what I've learnt about him:
I understand that he's a messed up, afraid, wild kid with too much money, time, and dreamt-up friends on his hands, but I still despise him for what he did, especially towards the end. Yes, he did help Ronan at one point-but that's about the only good thing he ever did.
This book ends at a cliff-hanger-great to compel you to pick up the next one, which is precisely what I did! I'll be sure to tell you about my thoughts on Blue Lily, Lily Blue soon enough!
4.0
“He was brother to a liar and brother to an angel, son of a dream and son of a dreamer.”
4/5
This review can also be found on my blog!
Oh boy, am I glad to have continued this series.
As you all probably know, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater is a series loved by most, and has been recommended to me for months now. I'd picked up The Raven Boys, was sadly disappointed by it, but decided to venture on to see if the other books make up for that.
And make up for that they did.
At least, that is the case with The Dream Thieves, because I loved it.
(Me crying tears of joy.)
(I never finished Kimi Ni Todoke, whoops.)
(MOVING ON.)
The second book of this quartet mainly focuses on Ronan (other characters have significant roles too, but the revelation of Ronan's ability is what the story revolves around.)
The development of the characters was astounding; I was actually shocked. The portrayal of Ronan's actions and why he behaved the way he did was excellent; I found myself falling in love with him more by the minute. Noah is still my precious child, of course. His gentleness and quirkiness is adorable and I will FIGHT YOU if you insult him.
(Just kidding.)
(...Maybe.)
Adam's fighting as hard as ever to conquer the boulders life hurtles at him, and while he has those explosive moments, you can't help but sympathise with him. Blue's sarcasm is on point as usual-a refreshing break from any angst or intense action-and I love papa Gansey. HE'S THE PAPA OF THE GROUP, Y'ALL.
The plot really moved forward with this book, and not too fast, either. The more obstacles the gang kicked down along the way, the more appeared, and I was itching to find out how they'd kick those down, too.
Possibly the only thing I didn't like about this book is Joseph Kavinsky.
(A few spoilers ahead!)
I know some people like him, and that's alright! But to me...nah. The guy's a psycho. And not even one of those psychos that are well-portrayed, or that hide behind ominous smiles that invite you to learn more about them.
I mean a psycho that is literally a nuisance and, to me, even disgusting. There is much debate about whether the things he does are justified, and whether he's really as bad as people think he is, but here's what I've learnt about him:
- • he manipulates Ronan badly, messing with him, his emotions, his friends, and his own family
- • he uses homophobic comments when insulting him
- • he harasses him a ton
- • this is debated, but some say that he touched Ronan without his consent, and others say he only traced the tattoo on his back. Either way, Kavinsky's words and actions confuse the heck out of me because you're never sure of his intentions. But I just can't forget that he canonically tells Ronan that consent is "overrated".
I understand that he's a messed up, afraid, wild kid with too much money, time, and dreamt-up friends on his hands, but I still despise him for what he did, especially towards the end. Yes, he did help Ronan at one point-but that's about the only good thing he ever did.
This book ends at a cliff-hanger-great to compel you to pick up the next one, which is precisely what I did! I'll be sure to tell you about my thoughts on Blue Lily, Lily Blue soon enough!
Royal Tour by Amy Alward
4.0
I, for one, found the sequel better than the first book. Although there were a few parts that irked me, (like the goal of the plot being a bit blurry...), I did enjoy reading the way the characters developed, and the plot twists that happen definitely got me hooked.
And, of course, I can't forget the ending. I LOVE the ending, mostly because you think "Oh, everything's alright again!" and then you're like, "...Wait. THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN."
That's mostly what's got me itching for the third book to come out - hoping it's even better!
And, of course, I can't forget the ending. I LOVE the ending, mostly because you think "Oh, everything's alright again!" and then you're like, "...Wait. THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN."
That's mostly what's got me itching for the third book to come out - hoping it's even better!
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
3.25/5
This review can also be found on my blog!
So, we're here. I have finally finished one of the most popular fantasy book series, and darn, is that a satisfying feeling!
While finishing this series feels so, the book itself...well...
*sigh* Not so much.
I know, I know - I'm a weirdo because everyone else seems to love this conclusion (and that's totally okay! I'm not here to judge y'all) but I didn't, not really.
Don't get me wrong: the entirety of this book wasn't dull to read. There characters are as endearing as ever, but more on that later. My main concern here is: am I the only one who felt like there was barely a plot to this book?
The Raven King is the conclusion to The Raven Cycle, a uniquely-written quartet about psychics, history, magic, and dead Welsh kings that has captured the hearts of many. We embark on one last journey with the gang - Gansey, Ronan, Adam, Noah, Henry, and Blue - as they strive to finish what they started. Strange occurrences are seen at Cabeswater, new villains have entered the picture, and there's the whole issue of Blue's true love dying if she kisses him. Together, they strive to get to the bottom of these mysteries, all while hunting for the famous Glendower.
Spoilers ahead!
Firstly, I think I need to say what's really been plaguing my mind since I'd finished Blue Lily, Lily Blue: why do we need four books for this?
I personally think that the plot is captivating and original, and it had so much potential...but if you think about it, the events that go down really don't need four books. A trilogy, at most, would have sufficed. This book feels cluttered with miscellaneous sub-plots here and there that make only the slightest contribution to the storyline as a whole. And then, after 300-something pages of this, all the major twists are crammed at the end, which, in my opinion, don't give a satisfying ending at all.
I don't understand how Gansey came to realise that now is the time to find Glendower. He'd been talking with Gwenllian, and suddenly he just...realised that, "Hey, you know what? We've made the readers wait long enough. Time to find our king."
And it's not like he had to perform some feat to prove his worth. Instead, all he did was ask to be taken to him. Ask. Are you telling me that's all he had to do? Just decide, "Take me to Glendower, guys," and that's it? That's the whole resolution to this quest? One that several other people have attempted to finish, and have somehow never come to this conclusion?
Not to mention, the fact that Glendower is found indubitably and undeniably dead is simply...well, disheartening, is a way to put it. Anticlimactic is another. I mean,we've traveled with these incredible characters for four books, have learned to love them and share their passion for this quest, and now this king of theirs is...dead? Just like that? No explanation? It made the whole plot seem pointless. I was really, really hoping that something would happen and Glendower would wake up, or something else would wake up, but...nothing. I was quite baffled and disappointed.
Also, I have to ask: since Blue seems to jump at the opportunity to defend females everywhere, sometimes doing so for unnecessary reasons, how come she just sits there and barely defends Henry when Ronan and Adam make fun of his race? Equality isn't just about genders, it's about cultures and nationalities, too. This part really annoyed me and gave me a bad impression, especially since Henry is one of the most lovable characters in the series, and it is hinted that he has been made fun of for his race before:
"It was this: Blue, teetering on the edge of offence, saying, I don't understand why you keep saying such awful things about Koreans. About yourself. And Henry saying, I will do it before anyone else can. It is the only way to not be angry all of the time."
Another main problem I've noticed is the amount of characters involved in this plot. Of course, in a series, there have to be a lot of characters with a role to play - but I just felt like each and every character in this had something very major to contribute, which lead to a lot of point of views feeling rushed, and to more than a few characters being left out. It was also pretty confusing. Usually, in a plot, you have the protagonists who contribute the most to the events that take place, the antagonists, and the minor characters who do the little things that matter. Except that, with The Raven Cycle, everyone feels like a main character, which doesn't work at all, because how is it possible for an author to keep track of so many and give them enough screen time without making it all seem so hectic? I felt like Stiefvater tried to cram all the characters together, which resulted in developments being sprung up on us out of nowhere, catching us completely off-guard.
In addition, Noah is once again neglected, and you all know just how much I love Noah.
I think he only had, like, one or two scenes in which he was significant? Also, something towards the end about dying instead of Gansey...? Was that chapter supposed to be an explanation? I really didn't understand much. 😭
Most of the positive things I have to say about this book are about the characters, especially Ronan's and Blue's friendship. I'd already mentioned this in my review for Blue Lily, Lily Blue, but I just have to mention it again, because I did truly enjoy those scenes and they made me forget about my disappointment...if only for a little while.
•
I adored Pynch, as well as Henry's addition to the group - he's hilarious and sweet and compassionate, and I think he might have secured top spot as my favourite character.
Other than that...well, I really wanted to give this book a higher rating, but I just couldn't. In fact, I'm still not a 100% sure of my rating, but I will say that for all the build-up throughout the book, I expected a more exciting and unpredictable ending.
3.0
“He was a book, and he was holding his final pages, and he wanted to get to the end to find out how it went, and he didn't want it to be over.”
3.25/5
This review can also be found on my blog!
So, we're here. I have finally finished one of the most popular fantasy book series, and darn, is that a satisfying feeling!
While finishing this series feels so, the book itself...well...
*sigh* Not so much.
I know, I know - I'm a weirdo because everyone else seems to love this conclusion (and that's totally okay! I'm not here to judge y'all) but I didn't, not really.
Don't get me wrong: the entirety of this book wasn't dull to read. There characters are as endearing as ever, but more on that later. My main concern here is: am I the only one who felt like there was barely a plot to this book?
The Raven King is the conclusion to The Raven Cycle, a uniquely-written quartet about psychics, history, magic, and dead Welsh kings that has captured the hearts of many. We embark on one last journey with the gang - Gansey, Ronan, Adam, Noah, Henry, and Blue - as they strive to finish what they started. Strange occurrences are seen at Cabeswater, new villains have entered the picture, and there's the whole issue of Blue's true love dying if she kisses him. Together, they strive to get to the bottom of these mysteries, all while hunting for the famous Glendower.
Spoilers ahead!
Firstly, I think I need to say what's really been plaguing my mind since I'd finished Blue Lily, Lily Blue: why do we need four books for this?
I personally think that the plot is captivating and original, and it had so much potential...but if you think about it, the events that go down really don't need four books. A trilogy, at most, would have sufficed. This book feels cluttered with miscellaneous sub-plots here and there that make only the slightest contribution to the storyline as a whole. And then, after 300-something pages of this, all the major twists are crammed at the end, which, in my opinion, don't give a satisfying ending at all.
I don't understand how Gansey came to realise that now is the time to find Glendower. He'd been talking with Gwenllian, and suddenly he just...realised that, "Hey, you know what? We've made the readers wait long enough. Time to find our king."
And it's not like he had to perform some feat to prove his worth. Instead, all he did was ask to be taken to him. Ask. Are you telling me that's all he had to do? Just decide, "Take me to Glendower, guys," and that's it? That's the whole resolution to this quest? One that several other people have attempted to finish, and have somehow never come to this conclusion?
Not to mention, the fact that Glendower is found indubitably and undeniably dead is simply...well, disheartening, is a way to put it. Anticlimactic is another. I mean,we've traveled with these incredible characters for four books, have learned to love them and share their passion for this quest, and now this king of theirs is...dead? Just like that? No explanation? It made the whole plot seem pointless. I was really, really hoping that something would happen and Glendower would wake up, or something else would wake up, but...nothing. I was quite baffled and disappointed.
Also, I have to ask: since Blue seems to jump at the opportunity to defend females everywhere, sometimes doing so for unnecessary reasons, how come she just sits there and barely defends Henry when Ronan and Adam make fun of his race? Equality isn't just about genders, it's about cultures and nationalities, too. This part really annoyed me and gave me a bad impression, especially since Henry is one of the most lovable characters in the series, and it is hinted that he has been made fun of for his race before:
"It was this: Blue, teetering on the edge of offence, saying, I don't understand why you keep saying such awful things about Koreans. About yourself. And Henry saying, I will do it before anyone else can. It is the only way to not be angry all of the time."
Another main problem I've noticed is the amount of characters involved in this plot. Of course, in a series, there have to be a lot of characters with a role to play - but I just felt like each and every character in this had something very major to contribute, which lead to a lot of point of views feeling rushed, and to more than a few characters being left out. It was also pretty confusing. Usually, in a plot, you have the protagonists who contribute the most to the events that take place, the antagonists, and the minor characters who do the little things that matter. Except that, with The Raven Cycle, everyone feels like a main character, which doesn't work at all, because how is it possible for an author to keep track of so many and give them enough screen time without making it all seem so hectic? I felt like Stiefvater tried to cram all the characters together, which resulted in developments being sprung up on us out of nowhere, catching us completely off-guard.
In addition, Noah is once again neglected, and you all know just how much I love Noah.
I think he only had, like, one or two scenes in which he was significant? Also, something towards the end about dying instead of Gansey...? Was that chapter supposed to be an explanation? I really didn't understand much. 😭
Most of the positive things I have to say about this book are about the characters, especially Ronan's and Blue's friendship. I'd already mentioned this in my review for Blue Lily, Lily Blue, but I just have to mention it again, because I did truly enjoy those scenes and they made me forget about my disappointment...if only for a little while.
'No homework. I got suspended,' Blue replied.
'Get the fuck out,' Ronan said, but with admiration. 'Sargent, you asshole.'
[...]
'For what?'
'Emptying another student's backpack over his car. I don't really want to talk about it.'
'I do,' Ronan said.
'Well, I don't. I'm not proud of it.'
Ronan patted her leg, 'I'll be proud of you.'
•
'To think you could have been dreaming the cure for cancer,' Blue said.
'Look, Sargent,' Ronan retorted. 'I was gonna dream you some eye cream last night since clearly modern medicine's doing jack shit for you, but I nearly had my ass handed to me by a death snake from the fourth circle of dream hell, so you're welcome.'
Blue looked appropriately touched. 'Ah, thanks, man.'
'No problem, bro.'
I adored Pynch, as well as Henry's addition to the group - he's hilarious and sweet and compassionate, and I think he might have secured top spot as my favourite character.
Other than that...well, I really wanted to give this book a higher rating, but I just couldn't. In fact, I'm still not a 100% sure of my rating, but I will say that for all the build-up throughout the book, I expected a more exciting and unpredictable ending.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
4.0
➳Full review now posted.
(This review can also be found on my blog!)
Damn. For a classic set in 1800s England with names like 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Thrushcross Grange', that was intense.
That's not to say, of course, that I didn't like it - quite the opposite, actually! Although I found it a bit difficult to get into, I ended up really enjoying Wuthering Heights - my first classic in a long time - and I encourage you to pick it up, too!
I think what really captured my attention, right from the start, was the unorthodox approach to pretty much everything: the characters, the concept of love, the ending ... Brontë does an excellent job of showing us how villains are made.
I'll tell you why a lot of people can't stand this book: the most despised characteristics are rolled into our two protagonists: Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. They're people you would detest to be with in real life - they're malicious, selfish, rude, manipulative, and vengeful. Their love for each other is even more twisted.
This is because we're so used to the typical 'heroic' characters - and hey, though I love those too, they seem to be blinding us to the reality that humans can be horrible, too. So why can't our main character be so?
What I truly love about this, however, is that Brontë doesn't just show us that they're villainous, but she also shows us how they grow up to be like that. The events of their childhood unfold before us at a slow pace, giving us time to get used to the format and method of story-telling, all while introducing the factors that would shape their personalities.
Another clever element Brontë uses is an unreliable narrator. Sure, it seems like Nelly has nothing to gain out of lying, but how would we know? She had to be there at Catherine's beck and call throughout her life, and was the on receiving end of endless taunting and manipulation - and let's not forget that she must have seen those folks as haughty no matter what they did - so how can we be certain that she doesn't exaggerate certain events? This is a powerful mode of story-telling, because you, as a reader, have to be alert enough to analyse situations for yourself and to make your own judgement.
Brontë moves forward with the events to illustrate how Heathcliff's childhood has affected him. All the abuse that he was exposed to - both verbal and physical - is embedded deep within him, so much so that it becomes a part of him. All the hurt that accumulates over the years comes flooding out, and he is so consumed by the prospect of vengeance that it becomes an obsession. He is not afraid to sneer at anyone, or to twist any situation to his advantage, to the point that it alarms the readers themselves.
Of course, me, being completely inexperienced in this genre of books besides my required reading at school, cannot give you an extremely-detailed review packed with quotes and evidence, but I can tell you this: if you want an unconventional, realistic novel with characters and scenarios you can debate about, Wuthering Heights is the book for you. Just make sure to keep look up the translations for whatever the hell Joseph says throughout this story.
❧Book club read with these lovelies: Jana, Laura, Ines, Rebekah
(This review can also be found on my blog!)
Damn. For a classic set in 1800s England with names like 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Thrushcross Grange', that was intense.
That's not to say, of course, that I didn't like it - quite the opposite, actually! Although I found it a bit difficult to get into, I ended up really enjoying Wuthering Heights - my first classic in a long time - and I encourage you to pick it up, too!
I think what really captured my attention, right from the start, was the unorthodox approach to pretty much everything: the characters, the concept of love, the ending ... Brontë does an excellent job of showing us how villains are made.
I'll tell you why a lot of people can't stand this book: the most despised characteristics are rolled into our two protagonists: Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. They're people you would detest to be with in real life - they're malicious, selfish, rude, manipulative, and vengeful. Their love for each other is even more twisted.
This is because we're so used to the typical 'heroic' characters - and hey, though I love those too, they seem to be blinding us to the reality that humans can be horrible, too. So why can't our main character be so?
What I truly love about this, however, is that Brontë doesn't just show us that they're villainous, but she also shows us how they grow up to be like that. The events of their childhood unfold before us at a slow pace, giving us time to get used to the format and method of story-telling, all while introducing the factors that would shape their personalities.
Another clever element Brontë uses is an unreliable narrator. Sure, it seems like Nelly has nothing to gain out of lying, but how would we know? She had to be there at Catherine's beck and call throughout her life, and was the on receiving end of endless taunting and manipulation - and let's not forget that she must have seen those folks as haughty no matter what they did - so how can we be certain that she doesn't exaggerate certain events? This is a powerful mode of story-telling, because you, as a reader, have to be alert enough to analyse situations for yourself and to make your own judgement.
Brontë moves forward with the events to illustrate how Heathcliff's childhood has affected him. All the abuse that he was exposed to - both verbal and physical - is embedded deep within him, so much so that it becomes a part of him. All the hurt that accumulates over the years comes flooding out, and he is so consumed by the prospect of vengeance that it becomes an obsession. He is not afraid to sneer at anyone, or to twist any situation to his advantage, to the point that it alarms the readers themselves.
Of course, me, being completely inexperienced in this genre of books besides my required reading at school, cannot give you an extremely-detailed review packed with quotes and evidence, but I can tell you this: if you want an unconventional, realistic novel with characters and scenarios you can debate about, Wuthering Heights is the book for you. Just make sure to keep look up the translations for whatever the hell Joseph says throughout this story.
❧Book club read with these lovelies: Jana, Laura, Ines, Rebekah
Illuminae by Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman
5.0
5/5
Oh my God, this is one of the best books I have ever read.
It's so unique! The mode of story telling, those scattered files and patterned words-oh my God, it's just perfect.
Kady is a strong, independent female lead with the brain of an IT Genius (note the capitalisation; Kady would be proud).
Ezra is a strong, independent male lead with a ❤ of gold.
I recommend this book to everyone, even those who aren't a fan of reading; they'll be so mesmerised by the surprises each page holds for them that they wouldn't even notice them fly by!
Oh my God, this is one of the best books I have ever read.
It's so unique! The mode of story telling, those scattered files and patterned words-oh my God, it's just perfect.
Kady is a strong, independent female lead with the brain of an IT Genius (note the capitalisation; Kady would be proud).
Ezra is a strong, independent male lead with a ❤ of gold.
I recommend this book to everyone, even those who aren't a fan of reading; they'll be so mesmerised by the surprises each page holds for them that they wouldn't even notice them fly by!
Gemina by Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman
4.0
4.25/5
Just like I loved its elder sister, I loved this book, too-Hanna's sharp wit, Nik's sweet nature (hidden under all those tattoos, mind you), and, of course, Ella's sarcasm. I mean, she may not be in the best physical state, but she is one dexterous hacker.
I loved hearing from Kady's father in this story, it helped me get a better insight on what her life was like with him, and how much he loves her.
Though there are some cliche elements in this book, ones that I found a bit annoying...okay, I must rant.
WHY IS IT THAT, WHEN A MAIN CHARACTER HAS A SEEMINGLY-PERFECT BOYFRIEND, WITH GOOD LOOKS AND STRAIGHT A'S, THERE'S ANOTHER "BAD BOY" CRUSHING ON HER, AND THE SAID BOYFRIEND ENDS UP BEING A JERK/TRAITOR/PSYCHOPATH?
Seriously! I mean, I know Jackson ended up helping them, but STILL! This is a cliche that really bothers me, and it's always the "Bad Boy" who goes like "this guy is no good for you, I'm better," and the girl doesn't believe him, BUT HE ENDS UP BEING RIGHT. I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Nik and Hanna, but THIS REALLY IRKED ME.
Another thing: So...the only notorious "crime family" in this book just so happens to be Russian?
WHY ARE ALL THE CRIMINALS RUSSIAN? I REALLY WANNA SEE A NICE, SWEET RUSSIAN CHARACTER WHO JUST WANTS PEACE AND TEDDY BEARS. (Okay, I know Nik is actually nice and sweet, and Ella likes teddy bears, probably, BUT YOU GET MY POINT).
Although, I did love the diversity in this book, there were a lot of different nationalities (more of the bad guys, really, but hey, I can roll with that.)
Definitely excited for "Obsidio", 'cause DAMN that cover is MESMERISING, and I need to see more of Hanna/Nik when they're not too busy stuffing each other's bodies into ships/lockers and trying to undo a universal paradox that could be the end of them.
Oh yeah, there's that, too.
I didn't mind that plot, 'cause I've always been interested in quantum theories and things like that, but I kept getting confused 'cause, in a nutshell: EVERYONE DIES, BUT EVERYONE ALSO LIVES.
I honestly thought Ella died, like, two times while reading-it went something like this:
"WHAT, IS SHE DEAD? ELLA NO, STAY WITH ME!"
*Sobs*
"...Wait, OH NEVER MIND. THANK GOD."
*Hugs book*
"WAIT, SHE DIES ANYWAY? NOOO!"
*Sobs*
"...Oh, that's...okay, she doesn't die in THEIR universe...phew..."
*near the ending*
"...SO IS SHE GOING TO DIE OR NOT? SOMEONE TELL ME SO I CAN MENTALLY PREPARE MYSELF, PEOPLE!"
Although I did prefer "Illuminae", I am definitely going to count down the months for the third book to come out!
Just like I loved its elder sister, I loved this book, too-Hanna's sharp wit, Nik's sweet nature (hidden under all those tattoos, mind you), and, of course, Ella's sarcasm. I mean, she may not be in the best physical state, but she is one dexterous hacker.
Spoiler
I loved hearing from Kady's father in this story, it helped me get a better insight on what her life was like with him, and how much he loves her.
Though there are some cliche elements in this book, ones that I found a bit annoying...okay, I must rant.
WHY IS IT THAT, WHEN A MAIN CHARACTER HAS A SEEMINGLY-PERFECT BOYFRIEND, WITH GOOD LOOKS AND STRAIGHT A'S, THERE'S ANOTHER "BAD BOY" CRUSHING ON HER, AND THE SAID BOYFRIEND ENDS UP BEING A JERK/TRAITOR/PSYCHOPATH?
Seriously! I mean, I know Jackson ended up helping them, but STILL! This is a cliche that really bothers me, and it's always the "Bad Boy" who goes like "this guy is no good for you, I'm better," and the girl doesn't believe him, BUT HE ENDS UP BEING RIGHT. I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Nik and Hanna, but THIS REALLY IRKED ME.
Another thing: So...the only notorious "crime family" in this book just so happens to be Russian?
WHY ARE ALL THE CRIMINALS RUSSIAN? I REALLY WANNA SEE A NICE, SWEET RUSSIAN CHARACTER WHO JUST WANTS PEACE AND TEDDY BEARS. (Okay, I know Nik is actually nice and sweet, and Ella likes teddy bears, probably, BUT YOU GET MY POINT).
Although, I did love the diversity in this book, there were a lot of different nationalities (more of the bad guys, really, but hey, I can roll with that.)
Definitely excited for "Obsidio", 'cause DAMN that cover is MESMERISING, and I need to see more of Hanna/Nik when they're not too busy stuffing each other's bodies into ships/lockers and trying to undo a universal paradox that could be the end of them.
Oh yeah, there's that, too.
I didn't mind that plot, 'cause I've always been interested in quantum theories and things like that, but I kept getting confused 'cause, in a nutshell: EVERYONE DIES, BUT EVERYONE ALSO LIVES.
I honestly thought Ella died, like, two times while reading-it went something like this:
"WHAT, IS SHE DEAD? ELLA NO, STAY WITH ME!"
*Sobs*
"...Wait, OH NEVER MIND. THANK GOD."
*Hugs book*
"WAIT, SHE DIES ANYWAY? NOOO!"
*Sobs*
"...Oh, that's...okay, she doesn't die in THEIR universe...phew..."
*near the ending*
"...SO IS SHE GOING TO DIE OR NOT? SOMEONE TELL ME SO I CAN MENTALLY PREPARE MYSELF, PEOPLE!"
Although I did prefer "Illuminae", I am definitely going to count down the months for the third book to come out!