marleysclassics's reviews
296 reviews

Oscar Wilde by Peter Funke

informative inspiring medium-paced

3.25

An sich eine zwar knapp gehaltene, aber trotzdem interessante Biografie, die sich vor allem auf Wildes Werk und die (möglichen) Einflüsse darauf fokussiert. Dass dabei auf einige seiner Texte genauer eingegangen wird, diese auch interpretiert und kritisiert werden, fand ich wirklich spannend; auch wenn ich immer froh war, wenn ich das Werk, um das es gerade geht, bereits kannte, weil auf Inhaltszusammenfassungen eher verzichtet wird. 
Was mich mehr gestört hat, war der Umgang mit Wildes Bi-/Homosexualität, weil das Thema als Krankheit behandelt wird, für deren Auftreten in seinem Leben Gründe gesucht werden. Ja, diese Biografie ist nicht unbedingt neu, aber ein derart veraltetes Weltbild braucht es auch hier nicht. 

Das Käthchen von Heilbronn by Heinrich von Kleist

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Aus Sternen und Staub by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Der Zauberberg by Thomas Mann

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wie kann es sein, dass über hunderte Seiten hinweg praktisch nichts passiert (was das Buch nicht schlecht macht, aber obwohl der Erzähler es abstreitet, hat es so seine Längen ...), und dann auf den letzten 30 Seiten alles passiert?? ... i'm not okay

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-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

Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol by Gyles Brandreth

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

I stumbled over this book at a second-hand bookstore and basically only bought it because the idea of a fictional story about Oscar Wilde as a detective intrigued me. Only when starting the book, I realised how historically accurate it is in a lot of aspects. Even though prison life in the 1890s is no topic I am particularly interested in, Gyles Brandreth put a handful of interesting, mysterious and multilayered characters in this barren environment. While most of them were the exact opposite of likeable, some of them were more flashed-out than I thought in the beginning. Furthermore, the fluent writing style made for a fast-paced and thus very entertaining and gripping story. I especially enjoyed the numerous quotations of Oscar Wilde that are sprinkled throughout the novel. All in all, even though the middle dragged a little bit, and the setting wasn‘t my favourite (even though you really can‘t blame anyone for that), Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol was quite an enjoyable read for me, so that now I am interested in reading murder mysteries again - maybe even in reading some other books from this series. 

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was a cute book that addresses some deeper issues, yet doesn‘t do so in a more-than-average way. I liked the main characters, yet found their environment slightly toxic which is only partly talled about and rather brushed over. Also, the storyline was kind of predictable and quite cliqué/superficial in some aspects. Despite all this, I did have a fun time reading the novel, especially in the first half of the book. The second one wasn't really authentic and in this case that did have an impact on my enjoyment. 
All in all, it's definitely is no must-read, but I also don't regret picking it up. 

Der Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Der Zweikampf ; Die heilige Cäcilie ; sämtliche Anekdoten ; Über das Marionettentheater und andere Prosa by Heinrich von Kleist

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Ich mochte diese Prosasammlung Kleists wirklich gerne. "Der Zweikampf" ist eine spannende und wie immer sehr lebendig und bildlich erzählende Geschichte, die beinahe etwas krimiartiges hat - aber eben im 14. Jh. und mit Rittern. Auch die übrigen Texte mochte ich größtenteils, auch wenn die Anekdoten für meinen Geschmack etwas zu sehr auf das Militär fokussiert sind (aber das ist wohl zeitlich bedingt). Außerdem ist mir hier erst aufgefallen, wie viele Hendiadyoin (oft im Verbindung mit einer Alliteration) Heinrich von Kleist eigentlich verwendet - und ich lieb's.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This book is really weird - which I wouldn‘t have a problem with per se. Of course I love a hidden magical world where foxes and rabbits care for their own little farm houses and owls have their own mighty kingdom. Of course I love a story about two children exploring those woods on their mission to rescue a small little baby brother. But why does this have to be as militarist as it is? Yes, many fantasy stories have battles and evil queens that need fighting. But does that mean that whole armies are killed, that a twelve year old boy shoots people (and coyotes) on the first 100 pages? I guess this is also connected with the fact that Colin Meloy isn‘t that great at writing characters. Not even the main characters have any real personality traits. Hence it naturally is easier to kill of lots of characters and view it as unimportant, but still: Why? It just was too much and made it difficult to feel with the characters or even like them. At the same time I want to say that the story itself isn‘t bad and I was interested in the events. I also adored the drawings that are included in this middle grade novel. They are really beautiful and give the story some of the personality that it is lacking.