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lit_terary's reviews
499 reviews
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2.0
Moral of the story: men are trash?
I don't know, it's not my cup of tea. The book is very short yet I felt bored the entire time. Very flat and a little too dramatic for my taste.
I don't know, it's not my cup of tea. The book is very short yet I felt bored the entire time. Very flat and a little too dramatic for my taste.
La Traduction Et La Lettre. Ou L'auberge Du Lointain by Antoine Berman
3.0
Some interesting ideas on translation that greatly differ from common practices but some bits could've been explained better. [had to read this for school]
Find Me by André Aciman
3.0
Calling it a cmbyn sequel is a disservice. It's not a bad book, it's rather enjoyable and readable, but it's very different and it doesn’t even feature Elio and Oliver that much (as a matter of fact, I found Sami’s story more interesting, even though Miranda is a total lunatic). It reminded me a lot of "Before sunrise", as it's heavily dialogue-based and events take place in a very short span of time. The writing was pretty, as I had predicted, but way too dramatic and emphatic. This style had suited cmbyn because Elio was a 17-year-old teenage boy experiencing his first love, but these are grown-ass adults and they sound straight up ridiculous (again: Miranda is a lunatic).
A couple things bothered me, not gonna lie, some were kind of weird. Plus, this book should’ve been titled “Daddy Issues” because DAMN they all got em.
A couple things bothered me, not gonna lie, some were kind of weird. Plus, this book should’ve been titled “Daddy Issues” because DAMN they all got em.
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
4.0
[this book brought me back to life, I said what I said] Awesome, amazing, spectacular. What I needed, hoped, wanted and some more. Great start to a series, perfect introduction to magic system, world and characters. Such a fun, engaging fantasy that really takes sucks you in - this is escapism in its purest form. I'm sold. Brando-Sando, bring it.
Poveri e semplici by Anna Maria Ortese
3.0
I’ve come to love Anna Maria Ortese’s writing style, it’s simply impeccable. The only problem I had with this novel is the length: it’s so tragically short. I needed more time to get adjusted and grow fond of the characters, for that reason I found it pretty hard to even care at all about the story. This would’ve made such a lovely novel had it been longer.
Il ballo by Irène Némirovsky
3.0
A novella about mommy issues? Sounds about right to me. Long story short, this novella is about a mom and a daughter being super petty towards each other. It does its job nicely, but it's not an unforgettable story. Solid but average.
L'Iguana by Anna Maria Ortese, Pietro Citati
4.0
What a weird little gem! This is a rather short story that has a bit of the story-tale, a bit of the fable, and a bit of the myth in it. On the surface it’s like a spiralling fever dream with fantastical and grotesque elements and quite an absurd “love story” at its heart, but, as things spiral down into a seemingly nonsensical frenzy, the story just gets more and more allegorical and inspired. The writing is simply superb; Ortese has a way to make the most grotesque things sound so tender, endearing and sweet. One cannot ignore the pain, misfortune and injustice endured by the little iguana and not deeply feel for her. In such a short and simple book, the author manages to explore themes such as evil, redemption, salvation, loneliness but also hope. Can’t wait to read more of this author!
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
4.0
Finally, I got to read one the most beloved fantasies out there and let me just say that I totally get it and I’m on board. All of my expectations, albeit pretty high, were met. I got my crew of funny misfits, I got my clever and endearing characters, I got my heists, I got my Venetian ambience and I couldn’t be any more satisfied. I truly have not much to say about this book: it was enjoyable and riveting, super readable and nicely-paced, I have virtually no complaints. Also, I have no idea of what is going to happen in the books to follow, because the ending did not resort to cheap cliffhangers to manipulate readers’ interest; things wrapped up perfectly and neatly - which is something that I always admire in books. That being said, I can’t wait to see where Lynch will the Gentlemen Bastards.
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
4.0
And so my Salinger journey comes to an end and I’m quite sad to let him go. I surprisingly enjoyed this collection and most stories. I usually have problems when it comes to short stories because they always end up going over my head leaving me with nothing. While, in a way, these were no exception, Salinger, I found, is so good at writing about seemingly nothing. Some of the stories left me dumbfounded, and I’m sure there’s a ton I missed, misinterpreted and/or misread; however, they were still enjoyable to read.