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marleysclassics's reviews
298 reviews
Der Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Here Lies: The Collected Stories of Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This collection of 24 of Dorothy Parker's short stories gives a nice overview over her work - that was the feeling I had, at least, as this is the only thing of hers that I have read so far. Hence, it's possible that there are sides of her writing that one can't find in this edition.
But still, Here lies: The Collected Stories of Dorothy Parker let me experience funny, satirical encounters, the (ironic) struggles of overthinking, but sometimes also quite tragic histories - and even though her witty dialogue and humorous stream of consciousness are great, I think she can do both.
Naturally, there are aspects which one stumbles upon nowadays and that are at times problematic. This did take a way from my enjoyment of the book, but one can also see that she looks at the society critically.
In the end, there were stories which I found are quite brilliant and others that weren't my cup of tea - like it is with almost every short story collection I suppose. I was and am intrigued and interested in Dorothy Parker's work and will probably read something else by her (her poems?) sometime.
But still, Here lies: The Collected Stories of Dorothy Parker let me experience funny, satirical encounters, the (ironic) struggles of overthinking, but sometimes also quite tragic histories - and even though her witty dialogue and humorous stream of consciousness are great, I think she can do both.
Naturally, there are aspects which one stumbles upon nowadays and that are at times problematic. This did take a way from my enjoyment of the book, but one can also see that she looks at the society critically.
In the end, there were stories which I found are quite brilliant and others that weren't my cup of tea - like it is with almost every short story collection I suppose. I was and am intrigued and interested in Dorothy Parker's work and will probably read something else by her (her poems?) sometime.
Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum war mein erstes Buch von Heinrich Böll und so hatte ich eigentlich keine Ahnung, was ich erwarten sollte.
Zunächst ist mir - wie vermutlich recht vielen - der etwas sperrige Schreibstil aufgefallen. Denn obwohl der eigentlich sehr knapp und "einfach" ist, musste ich Sätze manchmal mehrmals lesen, um die Worte in einen Zusammenhang zu bringen. Damit hat mich der Erzählstil aber auch beeindruckt.
Das trifft wohl auch auf die Handlung der Erzählung zu. Sie ist nicht direkt spannend, immerhin ist von Beginn an klar, wie das Ganze ausgeht. Trotzdem ist die Story irgendwie packend und man möchte wissen, wie genau alles passiert ist - wobei ich dennoch nicht das Gefühl hatte, dass es sich dabei um den Fokuspunkt des Buches handelt.
Es ist allgemein schwierig zu sagen, worum es vor allem geht. Klar, um problematische "journalistische" Praktiken à la Bild, außerdem ist da wohl der historische Kontext und etwas Gesellschaftskritik. Darüber kann ich als über den Autor nur oberflächlich informierte Person allerdings wenig schreiben.
Was mir noch (auf)gefallen ist, ist eher die Reaktion auf die Geschehnisse und die "Berichtserstattung" durch Katharina Blum. Ihre Person wird zwar recht direkt charakterisiert - wie Vieles in dieser Geschichte -, trotzdem nimmt es eben keine Komplexität und auch nicht das Interesse am Charakter. Katharina ist ruhig und gefasst, stolz, aber da ist eben auch diese Wut.
Letztlich hat mich Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum also sowohl unterhalten als auch mein Interesse geweckt: An diesem Buch selbst und an den anderen Werken Bölls.
Zunächst ist mir - wie vermutlich recht vielen - der etwas sperrige Schreibstil aufgefallen. Denn obwohl der eigentlich sehr knapp und "einfach" ist, musste ich Sätze manchmal mehrmals lesen, um die Worte in einen Zusammenhang zu bringen. Damit hat mich der Erzählstil aber auch beeindruckt.
Das trifft wohl auch auf die Handlung der Erzählung zu. Sie ist nicht direkt spannend, immerhin ist von Beginn an klar, wie das Ganze ausgeht. Trotzdem ist die Story irgendwie packend und man möchte wissen, wie genau alles passiert ist - wobei ich dennoch nicht das Gefühl hatte, dass es sich dabei um den Fokuspunkt des Buches handelt.
Es ist allgemein schwierig zu sagen, worum es vor allem geht. Klar, um problematische "journalistische" Praktiken à la Bild, außerdem ist da wohl der historische Kontext und etwas Gesellschaftskritik. Darüber kann ich als über den Autor nur oberflächlich informierte Person allerdings wenig schreiben.
Was mir noch (auf)gefallen ist, ist eher die Reaktion auf die Geschehnisse und die "Berichtserstattung" durch Katharina Blum. Ihre Person wird zwar recht direkt charakterisiert - wie Vieles in dieser Geschichte -, trotzdem nimmt es eben keine Komplexität und auch nicht das Interesse am Charakter. Katharina ist ruhig und gefasst, stolz, aber da ist eben auch diese Wut.
Letztlich hat mich Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum also sowohl unterhalten als auch mein Interesse geweckt: An diesem Buch selbst und an den anderen Werken Bölls.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
hopeful
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? N/A
3.5
What I love most about this book are the characters: Yes, you can very clearly see what Casey McQuiston was trying to do here - but it definetely worked. I fell in love with August and Jane, with Myla and Niko, and Wes and Isaiah, ... We love a found family that includes emotional-support psychics, chaotically-genius artists, missing-person investigators on the path of finding themselves, a dog (!!!) and a whole lot of other great personalities. It made me really happy to be able to go back to these people every time I opened One Last Stop.
The love story between August and Jane was cute and beautiful and I did get emotional every once in a while. Still, I think it seemed a little exaggarated at times. On the other hand, I didn't necessarily dislike how cheesy it got in the end. It certainly was what we were all rooting for.
The fact that Casey McQuiston included a whole sci-fi mystery in this romance novel makes it quite unique, that's for sure. I wouldn't say that this storyline is particularly captivating, but watching August and her friends solve this thing step by step was interesting and fun.
In the end, I had quite a good time with this book. It does drag a bit sometimes and there are aspects of the story that I found were too obvious. But nevertheless I enjoyed this mix of romance, mystery, a quick brush upon queer history, a journey to yourself and accepting others in you life.
The love story between August and Jane was cute and beautiful and I did get emotional every once in a while. Still, I think it seemed a little exaggarated at times. On the other hand, I didn't necessarily dislike how cheesy it got in the end. It certainly was what we were all rooting for.
The fact that Casey McQuiston included a whole sci-fi mystery in this romance novel makes it quite unique, that's for sure. I wouldn't say that this storyline is particularly captivating, but watching August and her friends solve this thing step by step was interesting and fun.
In the end, I had quite a good time with this book. It does drag a bit sometimes and there are aspects of the story that I found were too obvious. But nevertheless I enjoyed this mix of romance, mystery, a quick brush upon queer history, a journey to yourself and accepting others in you life.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's really difficult to write my thoughts about a book that I found to be very confusing at times. It's also quite difficult to explain why - most of it probably is the writing style's fault. It is very minimalistic and I have to admit that this isn't necessarily my favorite thing. When authors try to express everything in a few words it can easily seem a little pathetic - at least to my mind. And yes, that's what I thought here too - sometimes. At other times these one-to-three-word sentences, these half-a-page chapters really hit the spot.
Thus, Aristotle and Dante definitely made me think and feel quite a lot. Here too, I somehow feel pathetic because I guess that's exactly what the author wanted to achieve. But I have to admit: it worked. I certainly experienced a wide range of emotions, from feeling seen to being angry to being shocked to feeling touched to being annoyed to smiling at the pages in front of me. And at all times there was a certain dullness, a thing lingering in the air.
I'm not sure if it is that thing that was resolved on the last, very last page(s), I don't know if I want it to be. Because I feel like it would make everything that is so deep and entangled and there in this book unauthentically simple. But also ... it wouldn't. And even if it kind of seems like this in the end, I think it might be exactly what the story needed. These last to pages, this last sentence - I was just happy. Okay, maybe not just. But quite a lot.
Thus, Aristotle and Dante definitely made me think and feel quite a lot. Here too, I somehow feel pathetic because I guess that's exactly what the author wanted to achieve. But I have to admit: it worked. I certainly experienced a wide range of emotions, from feeling seen to being angry to being shocked to feeling touched to being annoyed to smiling at the pages in front of me. And at all times there was a certain dullness, a thing lingering in the air.
I'm not sure if it is that thing that was resolved on the last, very last page(s), I don't know if I want it to be. Because I feel like it would make everything that is so deep and entangled and there in this book unauthentically simple. But also ... it wouldn't. And even if it kind of seems like this in the end, I think it might be exactly what the story needed. These last to pages, this last sentence - I was just happy. Okay, maybe not just. But quite a lot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Death, Transphobia, Medical content, Murder, and Lesbophobia
She Gets the Girl by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Ich wünsch' dir nur das Beste by Mason Deaver
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Though definitely not being the first retelling of Greek myths I've read, The Penelopiad certainly is a very special one. The fact that it is very short (not even 200 pages long which each of them being printed everything but densely), made it a bit difficult to actually get to know the characters on a deeper, emotional level. The book rather felt like an essay turned into a narration. While this made the reading experience less intriguing in some way, it also made it especially interesting in another. How multilayers the retelling actually is, only really became clear to me step by step. At first I saw Penelope as the main narrator as the "highest authority", and I had the impression the book was quite boring and one-sided. At some point, I began to realize what the Chorus line, referring to the classical Greek drama, was all about (or I at least found my own interpretation of its role). This showed me that even though looking at the life and deeds of Odysseus through the eyes of Penelope as a new, feminist perspective, this doesn't have to mean that it is the (only) true and fully reliable one.
Margaret Atwood tells this story (or stories) in a new and complex way, bringing different versions and interpretations of it together. After getting used to the way she does that, I am now very fascinated by The Penelopiad and can recommend it for sure. Especially shortly after finishing Homer's Odyssey, this book which is a summary, an analysis, interpretation and a further development of the text, was great in many ways. I still wish, it would be a lot longer, as it sort of felt like it just showed what perspectives on the story there are, but didn't actually dive deeper into these perspectives. Still, this remains the only real critique I can think of.
Margaret Atwood tells this story (or stories) in a new and complex way, bringing different versions and interpretations of it together. After getting used to the way she does that, I am now very fascinated by The Penelopiad and can recommend it for sure. Especially shortly after finishing Homer's Odyssey, this book which is a summary, an analysis, interpretation and a further development of the text, was great in many ways. I still wish, it would be a lot longer, as it sort of felt like it just showed what perspectives on the story there are, but didn't actually dive deeper into these perspectives. Still, this remains the only real critique I can think of.