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manatad's Reviews (31)
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For what I expected to be a revenge story, The Star King was not nearly as dark or as violent as I thought it would be. The protagonist is motivated by a pragmatic sense of duty more than he is by hatred, and most of the nasty stuff that occurs in the story is either implied or not described in gross detail. The highlight of the book, for me, was definitely its worldbuilding. The characters, though one-dimensional, were also fairly distinct and memorable.
adventurous
challenging
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Police brutality
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After revisiting this book since I read it for the first time 13 years ago, I think I can see why it didn't leave a very big impression on me, especially compared to the other dystopian novels I had read around the same time, Brave New World and 1984 (the latter I had also revisited last year). Fahrenheit 451 certainly does describe a few interesting and relevant observations about people's shortening attention spans and resistance to confronting challenging or uncomfortable topics, but I don't agree with the whole "books good, TV bad" sentiment that is strongly expressed throughout the novel. And while its warning message regarding censorship was undeniably relevant at the time when it was written, I'm not sure that it still holds up in the context of today's world. I guess some say now that it's more of a warning against political correctness, but even that interpretation feels like sort of a cop-out to me.
My favorite thing about the novel is actually Ray Bradbury's writing style. I found his imaginative use of simile to be quite wonderful, and I did sense a feeling of great passion from the book in general. I think the short length of the novel is appropriate too, because the prose would very likely have worn out its charm if I had to read 300 pages or more of it.
There's not much else I can say about such a famous book that hasn't already been said a hundred times before. Overall, I think it is an enjoyable read, and quick, so there is no reason for anybody who is interested to not to read this classic.
My favorite thing about the novel is actually Ray Bradbury's writing style. I found his imaginative use of simile to be quite wonderful, and I did sense a feeling of great passion from the book in general. I think the short length of the novel is appropriate too, because the prose would very likely have worn out its charm if I had to read 300 pages or more of it.
There's not much else I can say about such a famous book that hasn't already been said a hundred times before. Overall, I think it is an enjoyable read, and quick, so there is no reason for anybody who is interested to not to read this classic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Suicide attempt, War
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Χαίρομαι να γράψω ότι έχω διαβάσει επιτέλους το πρώτο μου βιβλίο στα ελληνικά! Ήτανε πολύ δύσκολο να καταφέρω, αλλά έχω νιώσει μεγάλη βελτίωση αφού άρχισα. Αξίζει τελείως.
Αυτό το βιβλίο διάλεξα γιατί η δασκάλα μου μού το πρότεινε συγκεκριμένα. Είναι κοντό στο μήκος του και κάπως ευθύ σχετικά τα θέματά του, δηλαδή είναι κατάλληλο για κάποιον του επίπεδό μου. Αν και είχε πάρα πολλές λέξεις που έπρεπε να ψάξω (πάνω από 500 να πω την αλήθεια), το αγάπησα παρά τις δυσκολίες.
Ενώ φαίνεται καταρχήν σαν αθώο παιδικό βιβλίο, είναι πραγματικά μία ιστορία με βαθιά θέματα σχετικά αγάπη, φιλία, αποχωρισμό και χάσιμο. Προκαλεί και την φαντασία. Μ' έκανε να γελάσω και μ' έκανε να κλάψω. Δεν έχω συγκινηθεί πολύ καιρό από ένα βιβλίο. Δεν μπορώ να πιστέψω ότι δεν είχα ακούσει ποτέ για αυτό το βιβλίο μέχρι πρόσφατα!
Θα πρότεινα αυτό το βιβλίο σε σχεδόν οποιοσδήποτε. Θα μου άρεσε και κάποια μέρα να διαβάσω την αγγλική μετάφραση. Μπορεί να μου δώσει διαφορετική αίσθηση.
Αυτό το βιβλίο διάλεξα γιατί η δασκάλα μου μού το πρότεινε συγκεκριμένα. Είναι κοντό στο μήκος του και κάπως ευθύ σχετικά τα θέματά του, δηλαδή είναι κατάλληλο για κάποιον του επίπεδό μου. Αν και είχε πάρα πολλές λέξεις που έπρεπε να ψάξω (πάνω από 500 να πω την αλήθεια), το αγάπησα παρά τις δυσκολίες.
Ενώ φαίνεται καταρχήν σαν αθώο παιδικό βιβλίο, είναι πραγματικά μία ιστορία με βαθιά θέματα σχετικά αγάπη, φιλία, αποχωρισμό και χάσιμο. Προκαλεί και την φαντασία. Μ' έκανε να γελάσω και μ' έκανε να κλάψω. Δεν έχω συγκινηθεί πολύ καιρό από ένα βιβλίο. Δεν μπορώ να πιστέψω ότι δεν είχα ακούσει ποτέ για αυτό το βιβλίο μέχρι πρόσφατα!
Θα πρότεινα αυτό το βιβλίο σε σχεδόν οποιοσδήποτε. Θα μου άρεσε και κάποια μέρα να διαβάσω την αγγλική μετάφραση. Μπορεί να μου δώσει διαφορετική αίσθηση.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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:
No
This is a lovely little book. It's straightforward in its plot, making it easy to read. The prose and overall tone have a strange and peculiar feeling to them, but the book is short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome. Perhaps best of all is the main character, Piranesi, who is a remarkably charming and adorable protagonist. The plot may be the weakest feature of the book, but the setting is definitely the strongest. Its descriptions of the ocean-drowned marble halls of the House are very vivid, memorable, and mystifying to me.
What I love the most about the book, and what I took to be its most important message, is how it inspires one to remember to experience life slowly and notice the beauty that is everywhere in the world. The way Piranesi marvels over the architecture of the House, the Statues, the birds and the sea life -- and how meditative these sections of the book are -- reminds me that this is the way I want to experience the world more often. No matter how lonely I feel, no matter what the situation is, there is always some form of beauty in my surroundings. All I need to do is slow down and look for it.
What I love the most about the book, and what I took to be its most important message, is how it inspires one to remember to experience life slowly and notice the beauty that is everywhere in the world. The way Piranesi marvels over the architecture of the House, the Statues, the birds and the sea life -- and how meditative these sections of the book are -- reminds me that this is the way I want to experience the world more often. No matter how lonely I feel, no matter what the situation is, there is always some form of beauty in my surroundings. All I need to do is slow down and look for it.