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lumreads's reviews
94 reviews
Audition by Ryū Murakami
2.0
Language was straightforward and easy to comprehend.
and uh-- that's about all I have for praise.
I really don't know where to start in regards to critiquing this novel because I thoroughly did not enjoy it BUT I did finish it so I should have things to say about it...?
It was short (not always a bad thing but didn't give you enough time to form deep or any sort of interest/investment in the characters- just kinda felt like word vomit like this character is this way because I'm /telling/ you not showing you), buildup was done really poorly. Climax was done just as bad if not worse (this then this then this and oo, look this is convenient!!!)
There really is not a need to read this book at all.
Maybe this book was so popular because of how gruesome the movie was?
The book is pretty gory towards the end so if that's something you enjoy, maybe just flip to the last two chapters to give it a read before putting it back on the bookshelf at your local bookstore?
and uh-- that's about all I have for praise.
I really don't know where to start in regards to critiquing this novel because I thoroughly did not enjoy it BUT I did finish it so I should have things to say about it...?
It was short (not always a bad thing but didn't give you enough time to form deep or any sort of interest/investment in the characters- just kinda felt like word vomit like this character is this way because I'm /telling/ you not showing you), buildup was done really poorly. Climax was done just as bad if not worse (this then this then this and oo, look this is convenient!!!)
There really is not a need to read this book at all.
Maybe this book was so popular because of how gruesome the movie was?
The book is pretty gory towards the end so if that's something you enjoy, maybe just flip to the last two chapters to give it a read before putting it back on the bookshelf at your local bookstore?
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
2.0
I think... I am giving this a three?
I have very mixed feelings about this whole book.
Honestly, the first 3/4 was such a chore to read. But at the same time, I couldn't put it down and zoomed through it but that might just be because its a graphic novel?? so big amount of pages read in a short period of time ≠ enjoyment??
The first 3/4 was repetitive.
Repetition can be good if the character is carrying out something interesting- or if something profound or compelling or complex is happening to them.
So, lets pose the question, "Was the repetition good?", with the answer being "NoOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooO- it was racking not."
Why?
Because Freddy would continue to do the same things over- and over- and over again, acting like she was very much mindless- as if she lacked a frontal lobe. And I understand, this relationship is all compelling and envelops her entire being but when you need someone to start spelling out to you "Check. On. Your. Friend.", that's when you start treading into "Wow, this character is really unlikable and probably not worth investing my time into".
Her pushover attitude, how she treats her friends, her motives for staying with laura, etc etc really shaped her into an unlikable character for me.
Spoiler, I liked (heavy emphasis on "like") her character by the end.
I really enjoyed the last quarter.
The events that transpired towards the end of the novel was dealt with well.
I have very mixed feelings about this whole book.
Honestly, the first 3/4 was such a chore to read. But at the same time, I couldn't put it down and zoomed through it but that might just be because its a graphic novel?? so big amount of pages read in a short period of time ≠ enjoyment??
The first 3/4 was repetitive.
Repetition can be good if the character is carrying out something interesting- or if something profound or compelling or complex is happening to them.
So, lets pose the question, "Was the repetition good?", with the answer being "NoOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooO- it was racking not."
Why?
Because Freddy would continue to do the same things over- and over- and over again, acting like she was very much mindless- as if she lacked a frontal lobe. And I understand, this relationship is all compelling and envelops her entire being but when you need someone to start spelling out to you "Check. On. Your. Friend.", that's when you start treading into "Wow, this character is really unlikable and probably not worth investing my time into".
Her pushover attitude, how she treats her friends, her motives for staying with laura, etc etc really shaped her into an unlikable character for me.
Spoiler, I liked (heavy emphasis on "like") her character by the end.
I really enjoyed the last quarter.
The events that transpired towards the end of the novel was dealt with well.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
2.0
okay, i'm sticking to my guns and declaring loud and clear that this book is a 2/5 for me. its not a bad rating so i don't want anyone coming for me!!!
i feel like this book is geared towards people that have experienced a specific type of grief.
this book, through powerful control of words and vivid descriptions opens up old wounds, resurfaces emotions long felt. so i can't understand why individuals that have gone through a similar sort of grief connor goes through seems to enjoy this so much. (guess its got something with being able to relate and to relate is to belong and its in our biology to crave n' want to belong).
truth.
this book kept harping on about the truth.
truth is important but i'm a person that practices and believes that there are some things better left unsaid.
did connor need to speak his truth? no, but he's 13 and i understand why /he/ needed to in this instance. the way he was shown that it was okay to speak his truth was abstract. which i didn't mind but got to a point where it was bordering abuse. the kid really didn't need that and it wasn't really necessary.
the whole harry thing??? i didn't understand. like the whole demeanor that pertained to "i know that you have those nightmares, i know that the yew tree visits you"... etc. or was i the only one that felt like that was harry's demeanor??? either way, it was weird when harry decided that he couldn't see him anymore and connor thought that it was the perfect time to break harry's arm. how does a kid just break someone's arm?
also, how are we okay with a kid destroying an entire living room? it doesn't make sense to me and i know not all things have to make sense but if you're writing a book that's grounded in reality mostly and presents everything other than the talking yew tree as reality, how are you going to explain the destruction of an entire living room space by a 13 year old kid?
also (2), am i the only one that thinks connor should have gone to see a therapist/psychiatrist/psychologist? i don't think its particularly healthy for a child to:
1. be talking to a monster/tree and believe that they're truly real (tells his dad about it and his dad being the very responsible dad he is ignores it!! in what world????)
2. do things that they don't remember
3. be so full of anger + be so deluded to the point where he doesn't even remember breaking a kid's arm
and it's sad because nobody seems to give a shit. everyone just continues to let him and his delusions fester.
to me, this book was an exploration of adults failing conner in every sphere of his life, either intentionally or unintentionally. from his dad prioritising his new family over connor during such a difficult period in his life to his teachers that fail to reprimand him for breaking more than just the school rules.
also (3), what the heck was lilly's (?) character? a childhood friend that doesn't really do much aside from try to stick up for him at the beginning before ignoring him before telling him hey i still wanna be friends before-???? her character isn't fleshed out one bit and i get that its a short book yaddah yaddah but if you're going to give a character a name, they might as well do something significant (i guess she did tell everyone about connor's mum having cancer but was that really all to her character?)
i feel like this book is geared towards people that have experienced a specific type of grief.
this book, through powerful control of words and vivid descriptions opens up old wounds, resurfaces emotions long felt. so i can't understand why individuals that have gone through a similar sort of grief connor goes through seems to enjoy this so much. (guess its got something with being able to relate and to relate is to belong and its in our biology to crave n' want to belong).
truth.
this book kept harping on about the truth.
truth is important but i'm a person that practices and believes that there are some things better left unsaid.
did connor need to speak his truth? no, but he's 13 and i understand why /he/ needed to in this instance. the way he was shown that it was okay to speak his truth was abstract. which i didn't mind but got to a point where it was bordering abuse. the kid really didn't need that and it wasn't really necessary.
the whole harry thing??? i didn't understand. like the whole demeanor that pertained to "i know that you have those nightmares, i know that the yew tree visits you"... etc. or was i the only one that felt like that was harry's demeanor??? either way, it was weird when harry decided that he couldn't see him anymore and connor thought that it was the perfect time to break harry's arm. how does a kid just break someone's arm?
also, how are we okay with a kid destroying an entire living room? it doesn't make sense to me and i know not all things have to make sense but if you're writing a book that's grounded in reality mostly and presents everything other than the talking yew tree as reality, how are you going to explain the destruction of an entire living room space by a 13 year old kid?
also (2), am i the only one that thinks connor should have gone to see a therapist/psychiatrist/psychologist? i don't think its particularly healthy for a child to:
1. be talking to a monster/tree and believe that they're truly real (tells his dad about it and his dad being the very responsible dad he is ignores it!! in what world????)
2. do things that they don't remember
3. be so full of anger + be so deluded to the point where he doesn't even remember breaking a kid's arm
and it's sad because nobody seems to give a shit. everyone just continues to let him and his delusions fester.
to me, this book was an exploration of adults failing conner in every sphere of his life, either intentionally or unintentionally. from his dad prioritising his new family over connor during such a difficult period in his life to his teachers that fail to reprimand him for breaking more than just the school rules.
also (3), what the heck was lilly's (?) character? a childhood friend that doesn't really do much aside from try to stick up for him at the beginning before ignoring him before telling him hey i still wanna be friends before-???? her character isn't fleshed out one bit and i get that its a short book yaddah yaddah but if you're going to give a character a name, they might as well do something significant (i guess she did tell everyone about connor's mum having cancer but was that really all to her character?)
Room by Emma Donoghue
3.0
3.25? 3.5?
it was good but definitely could've been shorter.
the world building was thorough but it was- like what i've been constantly commenting after i finish a substantial chunk of the book- a drag.
the beginning especially was really difficult for me to get into.
perhaps it was no fault of the author? i'm not too sure.
i don't mind reading about the mundane/monotonous stuff (which is like a massive chunk, 50% of the book) but it really didn't do much for me. like sure, we need that stuff to be able to understand what goes on in their life but its so, so repetitive.
i think that's what the book was going for like the whole day-in-day-out, same thing, constant cycle because they're in a room with no way out but i felt like that whole sequence could've been made a lot shorter. we understood from the get go how monotonous things could be for jack and his mum.
the climax was beautifully executed. tense. i was going for my morning walk while i was listening to it and i literally had to stop at one point because it was becoming so nerve-wracking (placed both hands at my cheeks and whispered a low 'noooooooooo' as everything was unfolding which probably,
1. was not the wisest thing to do because we're going through a pandemic
2. made me look a little loopy).
after the climax i could feel it slowing down again. it had become a bit laborious to listen to again after what i assume could've been 3 chapters post-climax.
tldr for this section; DRAGGED ON TOO LONG BUT CLIMAX WAS GOOD.
in regards to the characters, i quite liked jack. at first i thought, yeah nah this does not sound like a 5-year old but after a while you start to understand his nuances and once that happens you can accept that there could be a 5-year old like jack in the world. which adds to the heartbreak.
i felt a bit indifferent to the mum.
hated old nick which is expected.
and that's about it!
it was good but definitely could've been shorter.
the world building was thorough but it was- like what i've been constantly commenting after i finish a substantial chunk of the book- a drag.
the beginning especially was really difficult for me to get into.
perhaps it was no fault of the author? i'm not too sure.
i don't mind reading about the mundane/monotonous stuff (which is like a massive chunk, 50% of the book) but it really didn't do much for me. like sure, we need that stuff to be able to understand what goes on in their life but its so, so repetitive.
i think that's what the book was going for like the whole day-in-day-out, same thing, constant cycle because they're in a room with no way out but i felt like that whole sequence could've been made a lot shorter. we understood from the get go how monotonous things could be for jack and his mum.
the climax was beautifully executed. tense. i was going for my morning walk while i was listening to it and i literally had to stop at one point because it was becoming so nerve-wracking (placed both hands at my cheeks and whispered a low 'noooooooooo' as everything was unfolding which probably,
1. was not the wisest thing to do because we're going through a pandemic
2. made me look a little loopy).
after the climax i could feel it slowing down again. it had become a bit laborious to listen to again after what i assume could've been 3 chapters post-climax.
tldr for this section; DRAGGED ON TOO LONG BUT CLIMAX WAS GOOD.
in regards to the characters, i quite liked jack. at first i thought, yeah nah this does not sound like a 5-year old but after a while you start to understand his nuances and once that happens you can accept that there could be a 5-year old like jack in the world. which adds to the heartbreak.
i felt a bit indifferent to the mum.
hated old nick which is expected.
and that's about it!
The Alchemist by H.P. Lovecraft
3.0
this was so unsettling... really didn't want to finish the last two pages :'/
i found the prose initially to be very verbose but after a page or two and google dictionary by my side, i started getting the hang of things
probably not a story i will read again and not one that will stick with me for a while but it was still a good, fast read nonetheless!
i found the prose initially to be very verbose but after a page or two and google dictionary by my side, i started getting the hang of things
probably not a story i will read again and not one that will stick with me for a while but it was still a good, fast read nonetheless!