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ladybugwrites's reviews
217 reviews
Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
The concept of this novel is immensely fascinating and lends so many different directions to take it in. It's well-written and it's a thought experiment that leads the reader to thinking about their own idea of the same concept, to try to answer those questions the narrator constantly asks.
And, unfortuantely, it disappoints.
The first part of this, which is about a clinc for the elder with memory loss to live in the time they do remember, is fascinating and interesting and had me constantly try to figure out what to think of the past. What is the past, when do we classify the past and so on. The book takes this experiment a little further at first, where I don't think there's anything unrealistic about it and find it equally fascinating - to open up the past to everyone, even those with the memories of the present.
This book however, takes this thought experiment even further and loses me about halfway throught. There's still a lot of fascinating things happening and thought provoking ideas of what the past means and what history means, but it takes up so much space in an otherwise interting book to the extent that I didn't care about it. I liked the quietness of the first part and struggled with the expanse of the third one. I wish it had stopped at some point before this, or used the concept of the first idea instead. It was more interesting, it had more merit, and it felt more real. Maybe the book could've done a better job of being the time shelter it talks about.
It is also a hard book to explain without spoiling anything. It's one of those I think you have to understand, to get. But wether that's worth it or not, I'm not entirely sure.
And, unfortuantely, it disappoints.
The first part of this, which is about a clinc for the elder with memory loss to live in the time they do remember, is fascinating and interesting and had me constantly try to figure out what to think of the past. What is the past, when do we classify the past and so on. The book takes this experiment a little further at first, where I don't think there's anything unrealistic about it and find it equally fascinating - to open up the past to everyone, even those with the memories of the present.
This book however, takes this thought experiment even further and loses me about halfway throught. There's still a lot of fascinating things happening and thought provoking ideas of what the past means and what history means, but it takes up so much space in an otherwise interting book to the extent that I didn't care about it. I liked the quietness of the first part and struggled with the expanse of the third one. I wish it had stopped at some point before this, or used the concept of the first idea instead. It was more interesting, it had more merit, and it felt more real. Maybe the book could've done a better job of being the time shelter it talks about.
It is also a hard book to explain without spoiling anything. It's one of those I think you have to understand, to get. But wether that's worth it or not, I'm not entirely sure.
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-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
This book is a respite from life, a breathing space to remind us of where the ground is in a world where it is hard to find sometimes. I don't really know how to explain it. It just, felt like a fresh breath of air, in a way. And at the same time it tackles big questions and thoughts and culture clashes and so on, with different sides, with strong characters. I can't really explain it.
But I can say that I'm sad this was the last book in the wayfarers series because I've loved all of the books, but I know I'll reread them at some point and maybe it won't be like reading them for the first time, but I imagine it might feel like a break after being away from home and I'm absoluelty looking forward to that.
But I can say that I'm sad this was the last book in the wayfarers series because I've loved all of the books, but I know I'll reread them at some point and maybe it won't be like reading them for the first time, but I imagine it might feel like a break after being away from home and I'm absoluelty looking forward to that.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
4.5
This is a book about being different, about not fitting in with society's expectations of what a 'normal' person is. And the most delightful part of it is the fact that our MC, Furukura Keiko, does not care that she's not normal. Because of this, she manges to point out all the things that doesn’t make sense with society, lets the readers know that it’s hard to realize why something you did doesn’t make sense when no one tells you, and gives people like me who struggles with many of the same things as Keiko as chance to feel somewhat understood.
This book criticizes what 'normal' means and the society we've created of what's expected of people, and I absolutely loved that. It felt nice to see someone thinking the same things as me.
This book criticizes what 'normal' means and the society we've created of what's expected of people, and I absolutely loved that. It felt nice to see someone thinking the same things as me.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
This is my second time reading this book and it remains as one of my all time favorites.
This is a book that says so many things; it's okay to not know who you are no matter your age; it's okay to change your life if your current one doesn't seem right and it's just as okay to go back if it turns out that was right. But most importantly, this book says that it's okay to take a break. If that's what you need, take one. Maybe that break is reading this book, or taking a few weeks or months away from society, any way a break seems appealing is okay if you feel like you need one.
It's also a book that talks about what it means to be, generally what it means to exist and I thinks the reflection it comes with through the meeting of two different world (i.e robot and human) are great, they're amusing and thought-provoking at the same time.
Honestly, this book brought with it new thoughts on the second time around and I bet it will when I read it again for the third, fourth, fifth time. I'm already looking forward to it.
This is a book that says so many things; it's okay to not know who you are no matter your age; it's okay to change your life if your current one doesn't seem right and it's just as okay to go back if it turns out that was right. But most importantly, this book says that it's okay to take a break. If that's what you need, take one. Maybe that break is reading this book, or taking a few weeks or months away from society, any way a break seems appealing is okay if you feel like you need one.
It's also a book that talks about what it means to be, generally what it means to exist and I thinks the reflection it comes with through the meeting of two different world (i.e robot and human) are great, they're amusing and thought-provoking at the same time.
Honestly, this book brought with it new thoughts on the second time around and I bet it will when I read it again for the third, fourth, fifth time. I'm already looking forward to it.
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
It's boring, it reads as a young adult while trying to be more adulty, and it constantly tells instead of shows. I don't care enough to pine myself through a book when I'm not liking it after 70 pages and theres another 400 left.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
This book is about race and discrimination. It portays a picture of how horrible racism can be, the extent people are willing to go to just hurt others that are different from themselves. It's such an important read. I don't have words to describe it, I think it's a book you have to experience.
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.0
When I bought this book, I had only heard rave reviews (which, I realize, is not a good basis for buying a book - not that it shouldn't have you check it out, but maybe read some other reviews so that you're not completely blinded by all the people leaving five stars). Unfortunatley, those reviews did not present the book I read.
All of the talk about how this books starts conversations on what defines womanhood and what it means to be a woman, about what a monster actually is (that it's not necessarily the looks that make the monster, but the nature), and it subtly talks about abuse in more forms than one. All these things are true. This book does do exactly that, but it doesn't do it in a way I find to be that profound or make the entire book. These conversations are important and I think the book does a decent job of talking about it in it's own subltety, however I find that these themes are easily overshadowed by the plot. The important parts of this book are hidden behind what I'd say is a romance plot in wrapped up in a fantasy/fairy-tale-esque world. The romance takes up half of the story before it really even starts, and it is constantly the main drive of the plot. Whilst it does show the conversations and it deals with the themes, I think the focus on the romance ruins part of the book. It could've been a subplot that really drove the book and showed the themes and conversations it starts, but instead, to me, it took so much focus that the themes almost lost themselves behind the "importance" of the romance.
I still liked the book. And I am glad that I didn't DNF it. But there's something extra disappointing about a book you have high hopes for that doesn't do what you hoped it would.
All of the talk about how this books starts conversations on what defines womanhood and what it means to be a woman, about what a monster actually is (that it's not necessarily the looks that make the monster, but the nature), and it subtly talks about abuse in more forms than one. All these things are true. This book does do exactly that, but it doesn't do it in a way I find to be that profound or make the entire book. These conversations are important and I think the book does a decent job of talking about it in it's own subltety, however I find that these themes are easily overshadowed by the plot. The important parts of this book are hidden behind what I'd say is a romance plot in wrapped up in a fantasy/fairy-tale-esque world. The romance takes up half of the story before it really even starts, and it is constantly the main drive of the plot. Whilst it does show the conversations and it deals with the themes, I think the focus on the romance ruins part of the book. It could've been a subplot that really drove the book and showed the themes and conversations it starts, but instead, to me, it took so much focus that the themes almost lost themselves behind the "importance" of the romance.
I still liked the book. And I am glad that I didn't DNF it. But there's something extra disappointing about a book you have high hopes for that doesn't do what you hoped it would.