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luwalhati's reviews
11 reviews
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was such a wonderful read. The writing and the storytelling was so beautiful and vivid, I doubt I'll ever move on from this story. Can't wait till I get my hands on the sequel :-)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
Schwab's writing is absolutely brilliant. With every single turn of the page, everything fell into places just right. This book has earned so much applause already (imo) but I believe it needs more.
If you're a person who finds relief in the weight of knowing and remembering (whether you are the one doing, or the subject of the doing), this book is a must-read. I doubt you'll regret it.
If you're a person who finds relief in the weight of knowing and remembering (whether you are the one doing, or the subject of the doing), this book is a must-read. I doubt you'll regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide
Moderate: Drug use, Death, Death of parent, and War
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
it was so cute omg slightly glad this was my first romance book. the pacing somewhat didn't stick to me in the middle part but i loved the characters anyways so !! i finished it. i now believe i need an adam carlsen in my life. or an olive smith.
Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil
She is a hijra, a genderqueer identity in India (from my understanding), a eunuch. When Dimple said that, I immediately felt as if I clicked with her. I sympathized with her character a lot throughout the book.
However, I simply wished her character was just written better. The way she's written is already spectacular, but there's this something that Thayil failed to write down and grasp. I don't know what it is either. Maybe I've liked her too much.
Anyways, this book is full of poetic devices, and the imagery was so colorful. Since the first page. It wasn't a read that I could stomach all too well, but it was a thriling one. I would love to re-read this, though.
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm somewhat at a loss of words for this book. Thayil's writing style in this novel is simply entrancing, and it was what pulled me to continue trekking on his words.
However, while reading, I kept on trying to pull myself from the depth of the waves the themes of this book pulled me in. A little while and then, I'd try not to drown in the pervasive manner the events written in this book wrangled in my mind. If you're planning to read this, you do need a bit of strength to pull through the vivdly violent parts. Though, some parts were actually hard to read, and I wouldn't be quite sure if it was the writing style and plot starting to bore me, or if I simply just couldn't handle it.
And let's talk about how Jeet Thayil treated Dimple's Character. Now, personally, I loved her. She was the first character introduced in the book, other than the main character, Dom.
However, while reading, I kept on trying to pull myself from the depth of the waves the themes of this book pulled me in. A little while and then, I'd try not to drown in the pervasive manner the events written in this book wrangled in my mind. If you're planning to read this, you do need a bit of strength to pull through the vivdly violent parts. Though, some parts were actually hard to read, and I wouldn't be quite sure if it was the writing style and plot starting to bore me, or if I simply just couldn't handle it.
She said: "Woman and man are words other people use, not me. Some days I'm neither, or nothing. On other days I feel I'm both.
She is a hijra, a genderqueer identity in India (from my understanding), a eunuch. When Dimple said that, I immediately felt as if I clicked with her. I sympathized with her character a lot throughout the book.
However, I simply wished her character was just written better. The way she's written is already spectacular, but there's this something that Thayil failed to write down and grasp. I don't know what it is either. Maybe I've liked her too much.
Anyways, this book is full of poetic devices, and the imagery was so colorful. Since the first page. It wasn't a read that I could stomach all too well, but it was a thriling one. I would love to re-read this, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No Longer Human was heavier than I'd expected to be, and I have no idea if it was due to my own naivety or if it was due to Dazai's vivid and realistic writing style.
If Osamu Dazai wished to achieve this languid and gut-emptying writing, then he has done more than excellent. As I've read through the novel, more of the themes that had settled in started to penetrate me word by word.
That being said, it is quite scary to think that I can relate to a character like Yozo. It was too frightening, to the point where I told myself to pick myself up even if his themes and motives were like mine.
spoilers ahead from here:
In the first notebook, our main character, Yozo, already realizes that he cannot be human, lest even understand humans. It is a pouring shame into him, and he carries it out thoughout until the end of the third notebook. There are certain arcs of the story that I wish I understood better, such as the importance of Horiki's character, the implications of ghosts, and the literary references— the verses by Guy-Charles Cros mentioned as well I believe there is more to the story than simple despair and anguish that a person can go through.
If Osamu Dazai wished to achieve this languid and gut-emptying writing, then he has done more than excellent. As I've read through the novel, more of the themes that had settled in started to penetrate me word by word.
That being said, it is quite scary to think that I can relate to a character like Yozo. It was too frightening, to the point where I told myself to pick myself up even if his themes and motives were like mine.
spoilers ahead from here:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, and Alcohol
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
this book is everything i needed to read. i needed a break from all the dark media i've been consuming, and honestly, even if i were reading anything else, this book is like a breath of fresh air. since this is marketed towards middle grade, i was expecting an easy read with little to no nuance, but there was and that was quite a shock to me at first. the pacing and use of dialogue was the highlight of reading this book. with this book, you get to feel like a kid. and even if you are seeing most of the book from the lens and explanation of a child, you still get to see the many facets that surround alex's life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis