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marik0n's reviews
514 reviews
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: I am so satisfied, I really liked this one. It probably didn't change my life, but I love it and I would most probably recommend.
This was such a cute, cozy read!
Tropes: found family, grumpy x sunshine
Mika Moon is a modern witch, in a world where witches are safer when they are alone- and inevitably, lonely, since they cannot reveal their true selves. When an unexpected job opportunity reveals its self Mika's life is about to drastically change.
I really like the commentary-like narration style, I think it added to the overall feeling of coziness an fluffiness this book offered me.
This was one of these very cute and everything-is-going-to-be-alright-at-the-end kind of books that I occasionally enjoy and with everything going on in the world right now I was in great need of an uplifting book. This absolutely did the job. So, if you're in the mood for a fluffy, holiday-related, witchy book, this one is for you.
PS: I really liked the cover. I don't usually comment on covers, as I don't think that they're that important (I mainly read e-books) but this one really caught my eye.
This was such a cute, cozy read!
Tropes: found family, grumpy x sunshine
Mika Moon is a modern witch, in a world where witches are safer when they are alone- and inevitably, lonely, since they cannot reveal their true selves. When an unexpected job opportunity reveals its self Mika's life is about to drastically change.
I really like the commentary-like narration style, I think it added to the overall feeling of coziness an fluffiness this book offered me.
This was one of these very cute and everything-is-going-to-be-alright-at-the-end kind of books that I occasionally enjoy and with everything going on in the world right now I was in great need of an uplifting book. This absolutely did the job. So, if you're in the mood for a fluffy, holiday-related, witchy book, this one is for you.
PS: I really liked the cover. I don't usually comment on covers, as I don't think that they're that important (I mainly read e-books) but this one really caught my eye.
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul
This book was an absolute page turner for me and I enjoyed every second of reading it. At first I picked it up because it gave [book:The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo|32620332] vibes and I was all for it.
This story is a multi-generational saga which includes strong, resilient, feminist women and indeed explores Hollywood. However, it does so in the context of the civil rights movement.
As a European I was familiar with the hardship black people and especially black women had to endure (and many still do up until today), but reading this book was certainly a punch it the stomach. There is no only a comparison of white vs black lives and privileges through different times, but also it highlights the different approaches and livelihoods inside the black community.
While reading this I kept thinking about this quote from Barbie: "We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they've come.”. If this book isn't a representative example of that I don't know what is.
This book also offers some food for thought regarding men and their relationships with women; the ways men disappoint us, take advantage of us or simply the way that they will never full (sometimes because they just won't even try) comprehend womanhood <i> The need to possess, to own her, was the masculine greed that killed her </i>
The only thing I disliked about this book were the present day segments. They just weren't this strong and they kind of threw me off the story. Thankfully, the main focus of the books is the in the past pov which I greatly enjoyed. If the majority of the chapters hadn't been about the past, I believe that I would have DNFed this book. The character development of the St. John sister was barely there and to be honest it didn't really move me as they felt a little flat and who can actually relate with millionaires?
Both while reading and after finishing this book I felt very sentimental and connected to women and womanhood.
I would most certainly recommend it.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book was an absolute page turner for me and I enjoyed every second of reading it. At first I picked it up because it gave [book:The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo|32620332] vibes and I was all for it.
This story is a multi-generational saga which includes strong, resilient, feminist women and indeed explores Hollywood. However, it does so in the context of the civil rights movement.
As a European I was familiar with the hardship black people and especially black women had to endure (and many still do up until today), but reading this book was certainly a punch it the stomach. There is no only a comparison of white vs black lives and privileges through different times, but also it highlights the different approaches and livelihoods inside the black community.
While reading this I kept thinking about this quote from Barbie: "We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they've come.”. If this book isn't a representative example of that I don't know what is.
This book also offers some food for thought regarding men and their relationships with women; the ways men disappoint us, take advantage of us or simply the way that they will never full (sometimes because they just won't even try) comprehend womanhood <i> The need to possess, to own her, was the masculine greed that killed her </i>
The only thing I disliked about this book were the present day segments. They just weren't this strong and they kind of threw me off the story. Thankfully, the main focus of the books is the in the past pov which I greatly enjoyed. If the majority of the chapters hadn't been about the past, I believe that I would have DNFed this book. The character development of the St. John sister was barely there and to be honest it didn't really move me as they felt a little flat and who can actually relate with millionaires?
Both while reading and after finishing this book I felt very sentimental and connected to women and womanhood.
I would most certainly recommend it.
The Nanny by Lana Ferguson
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.0
Tropes:
nanny x single rich dad
insta-lust
miscommunication
hidden identity
forced proximity
workplace romance
forbidden romance
grumpy x sunshine
dual pov
found family
I hate this book with the passion of a hundred burning suns. There was just a handful of elements I liked (ex: the Enchanto reference), but most were ruined by the end of it (ex. Wanda). And boy, do I have things to say.
Overview:
Regarding the plot, it was nonexistent. I mean, the only resemblance to plot is them avoiding each other after an incident that only exists in the heads until the accidentally meet again at the kitchen and have an awkward chat. As for the characters they were flat, boring, extremely melodramatic with a martyr syndrome and serious miscommunication issues.
While I was reading this book, I felt bored and frustrated, there was a constant eye roll happening. When I finished it I was so relived.
I would not really recommend it to anyone.
Things I disliked (may contain spoilers):
First things first, I disliked Cassie so, so much.
- Why is she so dramatic about the situation with her parents? I mean... surely, being lonely isn't the best for anyone- especially for a kid-, but Jesus "I put myself to bed, I made my own dinner, I spent weekends talking to a ridiculous number of imaginary friends just to simulate some sort of human contact. That kind of loneliness can really fuck a kid up.” . Give it a rest and stop acting like it traumatized you so deeply. Not every negative experience we have is drama.
-She deleted her OF account only because one of her fans disappeared? This just doesn't make sense. Her livelihood and education depended on this income but she was so heartbroken? It just doesn't seem right.
-The way Aiden treats Iris is just ridiculous. She practically raised Sophie with her sister, while Aiden only saw her once or twice per month(!), but then he took her? Why? All for the kid to spend all her time with nannies that she disliked? Why not leave her with her aunt?
Nevertheless, even if we overlook the fact that Iris was a much more suitable as a guardian for Sophie and Aiden somehow was worth of having her, why isolate her from her niece? After all, Iris herself says that Cassie was the one that tried to get involved her with Sophie and her life, not Aiden. Don't get me started on the fact that it is casually revealed in the epilogue that this "strew" was queer.
-Why did Iris talk to Cassie like that? Aiden is indeed a shitty dad, but she attacked her brutally. After all, Sophie is not her responsibility the way she is for Aiden. Cassie isn't used to being responsible for a child in a parental way and therefore it would be expected on her part to forget about her phone. But Aiden? Inexcusable.
-After the incident with Iris I was almost laughing with Cassie's behavior. This life or death vibe that Cassie emits seems more appropriate for a fantasy book than contemporary romance. It kinda felt like watching a 90s soap opera. These two could easily be Romeo and Juliet with all this non-sense stuff going on for them.
- I was devastated over Wanda. I outright loved her in the beginning of the book and her character was one of the reasons that I pressured myself to keep reading. However, by the end of the book the writer managed to ruin it. It is revealed by Wanda that her whole iconic lifestyle is indeed not a choice, but the consequence of the greatest mistake of her youth: not accepting to marry Henry, a too good-looking man that proposed to her after knowing her for just three months and wanted for them to started their new life at the other side of the country, which led to their break-up. However, after eight months she realized that she is ready to settle down, but guess what? Henry is married to a new girl now and her heart is forever broken. Wanda goes as far as saying that she has never felt the same way about a man since then. Like girl??? You just said that he was handsome and that he married another girl within eight months. What did you love so much??
Also, by the end of the back she is married to a man she is not particularly fond of that she had previously rejected as she didn't want anything so serious. However, after the heart attack and confiding to Cassie about her "true love" Henry, she comes to the conclusion that she is getting older (of which she seems rather proud throughout the book) and she doesn't want to die alone. Therefore, she marries that guy and she seems crazy in love with him.
-When Cassie finally returns to Aiden after torturing all three of them for some weeks it literally takes 30 seconds and five words to resolve the whole issue and then we have this great "happy ever after".
My thoughts on some quotes while reading(contains spoilers)
-Give the damn nipple incident a rest, it wasn't SUCH A HUGE DEAL. Most women nowadays don't even bother to wear a bra, a nipple isn't such an atrocious thing to see.
-Why both of them assume that the other person will not be interested in them and proceed to acting like 6-year-olds?
-He walked out of my life once, and I survived that, but could I do it again? GIRL. HE IS JUST A GUY WHO WATCHED YOU ON ONLY FANS. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER.
Oh, nonsense,” Joseph scoffs. “No one wants that. We can find a way to make sure you have more time at home without taking you down from the position.” That's his boss' answer when ask to spend less time working, expecting (of course) to lose his position as first chef and part of his salary. oh okay, I didn't know I was reading sci-fi
-If I read the phrase "out like a light" one more time, I'm going to start screaming
-Aiden is no longer that faceless person who turned me on and whispered to me in the dark. Now, he’s this person who seems like so much more than I deserve, with his nice smile and his pretty eyes and his addictive laugh. Bitch, are you kidding me?
If you read up until this point I'm sorry for the rant. It's just that I disliked to many things about this book.
nanny x single rich dad
insta-lust
miscommunication
hidden identity
forced proximity
workplace romance
forbidden romance
grumpy x sunshine
dual pov
found family
I hate this book with the passion of a hundred burning suns. There was just a handful of elements I liked (ex: the Enchanto reference), but most were ruined by the end of it (ex. Wanda). And boy, do I have things to say.
Overview:
Regarding the plot, it was nonexistent. I mean, the only resemblance to plot is them avoiding each other after an incident that only exists in the heads until the accidentally meet again at the kitchen and have an awkward chat. As for the characters they were flat, boring, extremely melodramatic with a martyr syndrome and serious miscommunication issues.
While I was reading this book, I felt bored and frustrated, there was a constant eye roll happening. When I finished it I was so relived.
I would not really recommend it to anyone.
Things I disliked (may contain spoilers):
First things first, I disliked Cassie so, so much.
- Why is she so dramatic about the situation with her parents? I mean... surely, being lonely isn't the best for anyone- especially for a kid-, but Jesus "I put myself to bed, I made my own dinner, I spent weekends talking to a ridiculous number of imaginary friends just to simulate some sort of human contact. That kind of loneliness can really fuck a kid up.” . Give it a rest and stop acting like it traumatized you so deeply. Not every negative experience we have is drama.
-She deleted her OF account only because one of her fans disappeared? This just doesn't make sense. Her livelihood and education depended on this income but she was so heartbroken? It just doesn't seem right.
-The way Aiden treats Iris is just ridiculous. She practically raised Sophie with her sister, while Aiden only saw her once or twice per month(!), but then he took her? Why? All for the kid to spend all her time with nannies that she disliked? Why not leave her with her aunt?
Nevertheless, even if we overlook the fact that Iris was a much more suitable as a guardian for Sophie and Aiden somehow was worth of having her, why isolate her from her niece? After all, Iris herself says that Cassie was the one that tried to get involved her with Sophie and her life, not Aiden. Don't get me started on the fact that it is casually revealed in the epilogue that this "strew" was queer.
-Why did Iris talk to Cassie like that? Aiden is indeed a shitty dad, but she attacked her brutally. After all, Sophie is not her responsibility the way she is for Aiden. Cassie isn't used to being responsible for a child in a parental way and therefore it would be expected on her part to forget about her phone. But Aiden? Inexcusable.
-After the incident with Iris I was almost laughing with Cassie's behavior. This life or death vibe that Cassie emits seems more appropriate for a fantasy book than contemporary romance. It kinda felt like watching a 90s soap opera. These two could easily be Romeo and Juliet with all this non-sense stuff going on for them.
- I was devastated over Wanda. I outright loved her in the beginning of the book and her character was one of the reasons that I pressured myself to keep reading. However, by the end of the book the writer managed to ruin it. It is revealed by Wanda that her whole iconic lifestyle is indeed not a choice, but the consequence of the greatest mistake of her youth: not accepting to marry Henry, a too good-looking man that proposed to her after knowing her for just three months and wanted for them to started their new life at the other side of the country, which led to their break-up. However, after eight months she realized that she is ready to settle down, but guess what? Henry is married to a new girl now and her heart is forever broken. Wanda goes as far as saying that she has never felt the same way about a man since then. Like girl??? You just said that he was handsome and that he married another girl within eight months. What did you love so much??
Also, by the end of the back she is married to a man she is not particularly fond of that she had previously rejected as she didn't want anything so serious. However, after the heart attack and confiding to Cassie about her "true love" Henry, she comes to the conclusion that she is getting older (of which she seems rather proud throughout the book) and she doesn't want to die alone. Therefore, she marries that guy and she seems crazy in love with him.
-When Cassie finally returns to Aiden after torturing all three of them for some weeks it literally takes 30 seconds and five words to resolve the whole issue and then we have this great "happy ever after".
My thoughts on some quotes while reading(contains spoilers)
-Give the damn nipple incident a rest, it wasn't SUCH A HUGE DEAL. Most women nowadays don't even bother to wear a bra, a nipple isn't such an atrocious thing to see.
-Why both of them assume that the other person will not be interested in them and proceed to acting like 6-year-olds?
-He walked out of my life once, and I survived that, but could I do it again? GIRL. HE IS JUST A GUY WHO WATCHED YOU ON ONLY FANS. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER.
Oh, nonsense,” Joseph scoffs. “No one wants that. We can find a way to make sure you have more time at home without taking you down from the position.” That's his boss' answer when ask to spend less time working, expecting (of course) to lose his position as first chef and part of his salary. oh okay, I didn't know I was reading sci-fi
-If I read the phrase "out like a light" one more time, I'm going to start screaming
-Aiden is no longer that faceless person who turned me on and whispered to me in the dark. Now, he’s this person who seems like so much more than I deserve, with his nice smile and his pretty eyes and his addictive laugh. Bitch, are you kidding me?
If you read up until this point I'm sorry for the rant. It's just that I disliked to many things about this book.
Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris
0.0
I am so incredibly disappointed by this book.
I have read Behind Closed Doors a few years back and I absolutely loved it. But this one? There is just a handful of books that have made feel that I have wasted my time in the least productive -and fun- way. This is in the top 5 list.
First things first, for the first three quarters of this book absolutely nothing happened. The plot was dragging and there was zero effort to cultivate any interest on the part of the reader regarding anything that happened, which admittedly wasn't much. I felt like I was reading the same chapter and again.
The characters were flat and there was no reason to actually continue reading. Also, nothing really made sense. During reading this one, I constantly thought to myself 'Wtf is wrong with these people? I mean... one sister disappears into thin air and the other gets with her boyfriend? That's absolutely fcked up.
Fuinn is such an arse on multiple levels and I disliked him right from the beginning. He keeps so many secrets, he acts weird and he is ready to throw everyone and everything under the bus in order to keep himself afloat.
All in all, this book required some impossible logical jumps to cover the huge plot holes and was ultimately very boring. I wouldn't recommend it.
!Spoiler alert!
Make love to me like you used to make love to Layla What the absolute fuck?
I don't buy this whole 'Layla became a voice deep in my head and I was Ellen now' bullshit. Also, Finn and everyone else failed to recognize her after just a year? And after spending 11 years with her he still didn't understand who she was?
I have read Behind Closed Doors a few years back and I absolutely loved it. But this one? There is just a handful of books that have made feel that I have wasted my time in the least productive -and fun- way. This is in the top 5 list.
First things first, for the first three quarters of this book absolutely nothing happened. The plot was dragging and there was zero effort to cultivate any interest on the part of the reader regarding anything that happened, which admittedly wasn't much. I felt like I was reading the same chapter and again.
The characters were flat and there was no reason to actually continue reading. Also, nothing really made sense. During reading this one, I constantly thought to myself 'Wtf is wrong with these people? I mean... one sister disappears into thin air and the other gets with her boyfriend? That's absolutely fcked up.
Fuinn is such an arse on multiple levels and I disliked him right from the beginning. He keeps so many secrets, he acts weird and he is ready to throw everyone and everything under the bus in order to keep himself afloat.
All in all, this book required some impossible logical jumps to cover the huge plot holes and was ultimately very boring. I wouldn't recommend it.
!Spoiler alert!
Make love to me like you used to make love to Layla What the absolute fuck?
I don't buy this whole 'Layla became a voice deep in my head and I was Ellen now' bullshit. Also, Finn and everyone else failed to recognize her after just a year? And after spending 11 years with her he still didn't understand who she was?
The Patient by Jasper DeWitt
0.0
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but there were so many things wrong with it that I don't even know where to begin.
The plot: In a thread of blog posts, a psychiatrist (Parker) tells the tale of a peculiar psych patient (Joe). He claims that several staff members that have worked with Joe have either gone insane or committed suicide. The readers of the blog are encouraged to try and guess the mental illness that torments Joe and those around him. HOWEVER (and I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH), we are falsy led to believe that this story has anything to do with a mental illness while it DOESN'T. This is rather a paranormal/ supernatural impossibility. If I knew that this was a paranormal book I would have never picked it up, because that's not my cup of tea.
-I was tempted to DNF it at 20%, but I thought that since this is a short book and taking under consideration all the nice comments I read, I pushed through. Big mistake. I ended up wasting my time.
-In the description, I read that this book is somehow similar to The Silent PatientThe Silent Patient. No, it isn't. I suppose it kind of resembles S. King's writing, but I cannot say for sure, since I do not really know a lot about his book because I don't like them at all.
-This attempt at a blog format was the means to no end. There was no reason for it and it made reading kind of tiring (like trying to read this story wasn't already hard enough)
-All four of the female characters are more like caricatures than actual people and are only there to.. i don't know. I can't even really say that they progress the plot, because the plot itself is a joke.
-The way the main character talks about his mentally ill mother sickens me (abomination, it etc.). Even more disturbing is that he thought that of her when he was a little boy. Like what????
-Dude is describing his boss (one of the FC) and his only comments are about her body and her looks? Disgusting. Also, they are practically the same person, but she is unethical and callous? At the same time, he is so fucking arrogant. No one knows ANYTHING, but him (who, mind you, has just graduated from school). Moreover, I should probably mention that despite the fact that his boss acted pretty much the same as him at his age, she claims that she was bamboozled by Joe, because she doesn't have children views basically anyone younger than her as her child. What The Fuck? Meanwhile, none of the male characters in the book had children and none of them were viewing this patient as their son.
-Don't get me started on the editing, because it seems like there was no provision for that. I noticed several typos and double words and so much repetition.
Ultimately, I didn't understand the point of this story, and I’m pretty upset that I wasted my time reading this.
P.S. The past few months I actively try and avoid books written by men, because I am tired of reading shitty books. However, once every few weeks I try and read a book written by a man. And oh boy, how the almost never fail to disappoint me.
The plot: In a thread of blog posts, a psychiatrist (Parker) tells the tale of a peculiar psych patient (Joe). He claims that several staff members that have worked with Joe have either gone insane or committed suicide. The readers of the blog are encouraged to try and guess the mental illness that torments Joe and those around him. HOWEVER (and I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH), we are falsy led to believe that this story has anything to do with a mental illness while it DOESN'T. This is rather a paranormal/ supernatural impossibility. If I knew that this was a paranormal book I would have never picked it up, because that's not my cup of tea.
-I was tempted to DNF it at 20%, but I thought that since this is a short book and taking under consideration all the nice comments I read, I pushed through. Big mistake. I ended up wasting my time.
-In the description, I read that this book is somehow similar to The Silent PatientThe Silent Patient. No, it isn't. I suppose it kind of resembles S. King's writing, but I cannot say for sure, since I do not really know a lot about his book because I don't like them at all.
-This attempt at a blog format was the means to no end. There was no reason for it and it made reading kind of tiring (like trying to read this story wasn't already hard enough)
-All four of the female characters are more like caricatures than actual people and are only there to.. i don't know. I can't even really say that they progress the plot, because the plot itself is a joke.
-The way the main character talks about his mentally ill mother sickens me (abomination, it etc.). Even more disturbing is that he thought that of her when he was a little boy. Like what????
-Dude is describing his boss (one of the FC) and his only comments are about her body and her looks? Disgusting. Also, they are practically the same person, but she is unethical and callous? At the same time, he is so fucking arrogant. No one knows ANYTHING, but him (who, mind you, has just graduated from school). Moreover, I should probably mention that despite the fact that his boss acted pretty much the same as him at his age, she claims that she was bamboozled by Joe, because she doesn't have children views basically anyone younger than her as her child. What The Fuck? Meanwhile, none of the male characters in the book had children and none of them were viewing this patient as their son.
-Don't get me started on the editing, because it seems like there was no provision for that. I noticed several typos and double words and so much repetition.
Ultimately, I didn't understand the point of this story, and I’m pretty upset that I wasted my time reading this.
P.S. The past few months I actively try and avoid books written by men, because I am tired of reading shitty books. However, once every few weeks I try and read a book written by a man. And oh boy, how the almost never fail to disappoint me.
Το τετράδιο της Μάγια by Isabel Allende
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Δεν μπορώ να πω ότι το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο μου άρεσε ή ότι με εντυπωσίασε ιδιαίτερα.
Το πρώτο μου -και μεγαλύτερο- πρόβλημα μου ήταν ότι η Μάγια δεν είχε κάποιο τραγικό παρελθόν που να δικαιολογεί τον κατήφορο στον οποίο έπεσε. Ναι, την εγκατέλειψαν οι γονείς της σε νεαρή ηλικία, αλλά αφήνοντας την στα τρυφερά χέρια των παππούδων της, οι οποίοι την μεγάλωσαν με ό,τι μπορεί να ήθελε ένα παιδί. Ο θάνατος του παππούς της παρουσιάζεται ως "η τελευταία σταγόνα" που οδηγεί την Μάγια από την μία αυτοκαταστροφική επιλογή στην επόμενη, με απόγειο την εισχώρηση της σε μία εγκληματική κλίκα στο Λας Βέγκας, η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε με γελοιωδώς φθηνά κόλπα.
Επίσης, τι γίνεται με τον μισογυνισμό σε αυτό το βιβλίο; Οριακά μπορούσα να τον δω να στάζει. Γιατί υπάρχουν τόσες περιγραφές βιασμών που δεν εξυπηρετούν με κανέναν τρόπο την πλοκή;
Τέλος, μου φάνηκε πολύ παράδοξο το να περιγράφεται το Τσιλοέ στην μία σελίδα ως "το μάτι του γαλαξία" και να εκθιάζονται οι αρετές του, ο τρόπος ζωής κλπ. και μερικές σελίδες αργότερα να περιγράφεται ως ένα μέρος όπου ο αλκοολισμός, η ενδοοικογενειακή βία και η αιμομιξία έχουν κανονικοποιηθεί (έτος:2009).
Ο λόγος που λατρεύω τα βιβλία της Αλιέντε είναι γιατί καταφέρνει να ενσωματώνει μέσα τους τόσα στοιχεία για την ιστορία και την κουλτούρα της Χιλής, αλλά το συγκεκριμένο έπεσε σε υπερβολικά πολλά παράδοξα και αντιθέσεις, χωρίς να καταφέρνει να δημιουργεί μία ελκυστική ιστορία που να κρατάει τον αναγνώστη. Όλη η πορεία της Μάγια μου θύμιζε ένα κακομαθημένο παιδί που απλά αντιδράει αυτοκαταστροφικά γιατί ο κόσμος είναι άδικος και τόλμησε να της στερήσει τον παππού της.
Είναι εμφανές ότι απογοητεύτηκα αρκετά με αυτήν την ανάγνωση.
Το πρώτο μου -και μεγαλύτερο- πρόβλημα μου ήταν ότι η Μάγια δεν είχε κάποιο τραγικό παρελθόν που να δικαιολογεί τον κατήφορο στον οποίο έπεσε. Ναι, την εγκατέλειψαν οι γονείς της σε νεαρή ηλικία, αλλά αφήνοντας την στα τρυφερά χέρια των παππούδων της, οι οποίοι την μεγάλωσαν με ό,τι μπορεί να ήθελε ένα παιδί. Ο θάνατος του παππούς της παρουσιάζεται ως "η τελευταία σταγόνα" που οδηγεί την Μάγια από την μία αυτοκαταστροφική επιλογή στην επόμενη, με απόγειο την εισχώρηση της σε μία εγκληματική κλίκα στο Λας Βέγκας, η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε με γελοιωδώς φθηνά κόλπα.
Επίσης, τι γίνεται με τον μισογυνισμό σε αυτό το βιβλίο; Οριακά μπορούσα να τον δω να στάζει. Γιατί υπάρχουν τόσες περιγραφές βιασμών που δεν εξυπηρετούν με κανέναν τρόπο την πλοκή;
Τέλος, μου φάνηκε πολύ παράδοξο το να περιγράφεται το Τσιλοέ στην μία σελίδα ως "το μάτι του γαλαξία" και να εκθιάζονται οι αρετές του, ο τρόπος ζωής κλπ. και μερικές σελίδες αργότερα να περιγράφεται ως ένα μέρος όπου ο αλκοολισμός, η ενδοοικογενειακή βία και η αιμομιξία έχουν κανονικοποιηθεί (έτος:2009).
Ο λόγος που λατρεύω τα βιβλία της Αλιέντε είναι γιατί καταφέρνει να ενσωματώνει μέσα τους τόσα στοιχεία για την ιστορία και την κουλτούρα της Χιλής, αλλά το συγκεκριμένο έπεσε σε υπερβολικά πολλά παράδοξα και αντιθέσεις, χωρίς να καταφέρνει να δημιουργεί μία ελκυστική ιστορία που να κρατάει τον αναγνώστη. Όλη η πορεία της Μάγια μου θύμιζε ένα κακομαθημένο παιδί που απλά αντιδράει αυτοκαταστροφικά γιατί ο κόσμος είναι άδικος και τόλμησε να της στερήσει τον παππού της.
Είναι εμφανές ότι απογοητεύτηκα αρκετά με αυτήν την ανάγνωση.
My Shadow Is Purple by Scott Stuart
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0
A wonderful children's book that young and older alike should read. In today's society, where it is evident that the traditional binaries are not enough to include everyone, children should learn from a young age that there is no thing such as 'black' or 'white' and that the world operates in different shades of grey.
This is book perfectly fits my category of children's books that adults are in desperate need of reading. I am so glad to see that more inclusive books are getting published more and more often.
This is book perfectly fits my category of children's books that adults are in desperate need of reading. I am so glad to see that more inclusive books are getting published more and more often.
Σε κάποιους αξίζει ο θάνατος by Peter Swanson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
DNFed at 56%
This book threw me right into a reading slump.
This book threw me right into a reading slump.
The Pact by Sharon Bolton
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
I first saw this book a couple of days before reading it and I have to admit that I foung the synopsis to be really interesting.
5 rich kids and Megan (not so rich) do typical rich-people-are-stupid things, that inevitably end up with an accident where actually one women and her two daughters are killed. Megan agrees to take the blame in exchange for a favour of each of her friends when she is out of jail. Some times passes (a lot more than Megan and the others thought that would pass) and Megan is finally free. Now, it's their turn to be prisoners.
There is a 3rd person narration that didn't bother me at all. Reading that book caused my heart to raced and I literally couldn't put it down. I was being played, just like the old gang and I was desperate to see how everything would come to an end.
The actual ending was semi-surprising and it felt just kind of rushed. I wouls like it if there were a couple more pages.
Overall, it was a great book and I throughly enjoyed reading it.
5 rich kids and Megan (not so rich) do typical rich-people-are-stupid things, that inevitably end up with an accident where actually one women and her two daughters are killed. Megan agrees to take the blame in exchange for a favour of each of her friends when she is out of jail. Some times passes (a lot more than Megan and the others thought that would pass) and Megan is finally free. Now, it's their turn to be prisoners.
There is a 3rd person narration that didn't bother me at all. Reading that book caused my heart to raced and I literally couldn't put it down. I was being played, just like the old gang and I was desperate to see how everything would come to an end.
The actual ending was semi-surprising and it felt just kind of rushed. I wouls like it if there were a couple more pages.
Overall, it was a great book and I throughly enjoyed reading it.
All The Lies by Nicola Sanders
slow-paced
0.0
I feel that even reviewing this book is a waste of my time, but let's give it a go.
Amy is a ballet dancer, but unfortunately she suffers an accident that ends her carreer. She meets Jason, they fall in love, they get married, he abuses her. Amy can't really rely on anyone, because even her own mother adores her son in law and refuses to believe her daughter (misogyny much?).
The characters were flat and the choices they made were totally unreasonable. The whole plot is based on misogyny and it really doesn't make sense. There was no plot twist, since this is the most predictable book even. The whole 'happily ever after' at the end felt rushed and unrealistic.
There was not even one thing for me to like in this book.
P.S. I don't know why the writter needs to incorporate so much misogyny into her books. It ends up being comical.
The plot holes in this book...
Amy pretending to be Liz for so long without anyone finding out is just dellusional
The whole relationship with Fabrizio was there in order to... what exactly? Have a romance trope?A woman was abused by her husband for so long, but that didn't even make her hesitate before completely trusting another one?
Amy is a ballet dancer, but unfortunately she suffers an accident that ends her carreer. She meets Jason, they fall in love, they get married, he abuses her. Amy can't really rely on anyone, because even her own mother adores her son in law and refuses to believe her daughter (misogyny much?).
The characters were flat and the choices they made were totally unreasonable. The whole plot is based on misogyny and it really doesn't make sense. There was no plot twist, since this is the most predictable book even. The whole 'happily ever after' at the end felt rushed and unrealistic.
There was not even one thing for me to like in this book.
P.S. I don't know why the writter needs to incorporate so much misogyny into her books. It ends up being comical.
Amy pretending to be Liz for so long without anyone finding out is just dellusional
The whole relationship with Fabrizio was there in order to... what exactly? Have a romance trope?A woman was abused by her husband for so long, but that didn't even make her hesitate before completely trusting another one?