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lit_terary's reviews
499 reviews
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
2.0
This was not for me, it's really not mu cup of tea (only reason I read is because it was a bookclub's selection, I would've never picked it up on my own). To be fair, it's not a bad book at all, it has a flare to it, just not my kind. Also, it focuses too much on history: If I wanted to read about the world order post WWII, I would've read a history book instead.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
4.0
[Re-read] I mean, it's Wuthering Heights, we all know the drill. Upon rereading it I do feel a bit different about it, in a sense that I appreciate more the way E.B. creates and develops her villanous chatacters (they're all villains, no exception, don't @ me) and sets the eerie ambience. I kind of wish the book ended after the first chapter of Vol II, tho, but oh well.
Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence
4.0
Not my favourite out of the bunch, mostly because I found some things very confusing and unclear, and also I thought the ending would reveal something new about the world and the "moon". Honestly, I'm no sure what I wanted from this, but anyway I didn't fully get it. Regardless, Lawrence confirms himself as an amazing writer, and Nona a great chatacter!
Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie
2.0
The reason why I didn't like this is partly my fault, I put less than the minimum effort and as a result I didn't care and I didn't enjoy myself. In my defense, though, I really think it's one of the weakest Poirot's mystery. It lacks the intriguing factor, and it's honestly no fun, plus, Poirot really did not come through this time around.
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
4.0
3.5 ish
Definitely easier to follow than the first one, and less tiring for my brain to digest and understand. Even though this was more pleasurable and less stressful to read, because the Fifth Season had been such an info dump, this one felt a little stagnant. I was hoping to get more out of this world and its system/configuration. Still good though, but i want more, and I’m expecting HELL TO BREAK LOSE IN STONE SKY. oKAY?
Definitely easier to follow than the first one, and less tiring for my brain to digest and understand. Even though this was more pleasurable and less stressful to read, because the Fifth Season had been such an info dump, this one felt a little stagnant. I was hoping to get more out of this world and its system/configuration. Still good though, but i want more, and I’m expecting HELL TO BREAK LOSE IN STONE SKY. oKAY?
The Stand by Stephen King
2.0
I don't like saying that a book was a waste of time, especially when said book was clearly trying so hard to do something, but I want my time-refund of this. An unnecessarily long, endless rambling going nowhere while faking substance and content. The first 200p were cool, but then it dissolved into nothing. Sad. Not to mention the ending: so bland, shallow, I actually gasped, and it literally achieved nothing.
To be fair, the concept had potential and was relatively interesting, but to say that the execution was lacking would be an understatement. Not only is the book appallingly uneventful and repetitive (especially if you take into consideration that it’s over a t h o u s a n d pages long), but the whole framework too was banale and underwhelming. This could’ve gone so many mad, crazy ways, but instead King stuck with the clichè and very mediocre Good vs Evil with a touch of religion. How about more of the scientific aspect? Or a more faceted portrayal of the hardships of rebuilding society? Or some political intrigue? Antropological analysis? But nope. Good people vs boogeyman. Frustrating to say the least.
To be fair, the concept had potential and was relatively interesting, but to say that the execution was lacking would be an understatement. Not only is the book appallingly uneventful and repetitive (especially if you take into consideration that it’s over a t h o u s a n d pages long), but the whole framework too was banale and underwhelming. This could’ve gone so many mad, crazy ways, but instead King stuck with the clichè and very mediocre Good vs Evil with a touch of religion. How about more of the scientific aspect? Or a more faceted portrayal of the hardships of rebuilding society? Or some political intrigue? Antropological analysis? But nope. Good people vs boogeyman. Frustrating to say the least.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
3.0
2.75/5
It was ok, pretty solid I suppose, but really nothing more than that. As always - for all Schwab's books I read so far, at least - something was missing and that prevented me from fully enjoying the ride. It's always the same problem with her: execution never on par with her ideas. She comes up with cool and interesting concepts but then doesn't really know how to develop them enough to keep them intriguing. This book felt particularly limited in scope and very surface level in many aspects. For starters, I found that characters weren't fleshed out nor developed enough and this made their choices and actions seem quite purposeless and illogical. Most things were straight-out contradictory, others not properly explained or absolutely nonsensical without an in-depth portrayal of the characters. Also, she could've definitely explored concepts of morality and ethics, bad vs evil a bit more - after all, wasn't it the point of the whole book? Most points of the plot also felt a bit too abrupt, with no building and no momentum. I always get the impression the Schwab is on a rush when writing her books, don't exactly know why.
Overall, it is a pretty average book. Could it have been more compelling, engaging, thought-provoking and less simplistic? Totally. Did that make it a bad book? Not really. Still rather pleasurable and mind-numbing, but don't expect me to think on it a weak for now.
It was ok, pretty solid I suppose, but really nothing more than that. As always - for all Schwab's books I read so far, at least - something was missing and that prevented me from fully enjoying the ride. It's always the same problem with her: execution never on par with her ideas. She comes up with cool and interesting concepts but then doesn't really know how to develop them enough to keep them intriguing. This book felt particularly limited in scope and very surface level in many aspects. For starters, I found that characters weren't fleshed out nor developed enough and this made their choices and actions seem quite purposeless and illogical. Most things were straight-out contradictory, others not properly explained or absolutely nonsensical without an in-depth portrayal of the characters. Also, she could've definitely explored concepts of morality and ethics, bad vs evil a bit more - after all, wasn't it the point of the whole book? Most points of the plot also felt a bit too abrupt, with no building and no momentum. I always get the impression the Schwab is on a rush when writing her books, don't exactly know why.
Overall, it is a pretty average book. Could it have been more compelling, engaging, thought-provoking and less simplistic? Totally. Did that make it a bad book? Not really. Still rather pleasurable and mind-numbing, but don't expect me to think on it a weak for now.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
2.0
Let me say first and foremost that I had no idea that this was a collection of essay on neurology. At first I was definitely intrigued by some of the cases and Sacks' commentary, but after a while I started losing interest. I found it to be a bit repetitive at times, and quite boring, to be honest. Also, it wasn't exactly what I thought it would, which is my fault.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
3.0
Average-good classic, didn't take my breath away, didn’t hate either. My overall dislike of the main character, though, prevented me from actually enjoying the story, as it revolves competely around him. Pip is the embodiment of everything I tend to despise about some male characters: the hopeless romantic that recklessly falls for the idea of a woman rather than woman herself - this trope needs to die, we deserve better. I would'd ve loved the story to focus more on Estella, Miss Havisham and their toxic relationship, that would've been much more interesting than Pip's painfully bland and obnoxious coming of age story.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
2.0
At first, I was fascinated and very surprised by the format of the book: it's not a linear story, but rather a collection of various documents, letters and diary entries. Unfortunately, this backfired in the second half of the book. In the end, it was painstakingly boring and slow, and extremely frustrating. The cultural impact is unquestioned, but the pace of action is a "No" for me. I've got to say, though, Mina's character really shined through, and I was pleasantly surprised to read about a modern (maybe I'm overreaching) female character like her, strong, resilient and active.