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mayphoenix7992's reviews
641 reviews
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.25
4,25⭐️
I LOVED this book! One of my favourite of 2024! Neil Gaiman truly has a gift. I could hardly put down this book and I understand why it's so popular. The story, the worldbuilding, the characters, it took me to some other place that I would love to discover. I want to go on the tube and explore London with a new perspective, and who knows, perhaps I'll catch some glimpses of London Below 👀
I LOVED this book! One of my favourite of 2024! Neil Gaiman truly has a gift. I could hardly put down this book and I understand why it's so popular. The story, the worldbuilding, the characters, it took me to some other place that I would love to discover. I want to go on the tube and explore London with a new perspective, and who knows, perhaps I'll catch some glimpses of London Below 👀
Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of Cromwell's Protectorate by Paul Lay
informative
slow-paced
3.0
3⭐️
DNF - stopped at Chapter 9
I've picked up this book to clear up a few names and mentions at work, but I can confirm this isn't my favourite time period. It's not badly written, on the contrary, it's very thorough and seems well research, but it's quite dry.
It dives right into the topic, which made it difficult for me to understand everything as I am unfamiliar with the period of the Civil War. Perhaps it'll be easier to go back to it another time.
DNF - stopped at Chapter 9
I've picked up this book to clear up a few names and mentions at work, but I can confirm this isn't my favourite time period. It's not badly written, on the contrary, it's very thorough and seems well research, but it's quite dry.
It dives right into the topic, which made it difficult for me to understand everything as I am unfamiliar with the period of the Civil War. Perhaps it'll be easier to go back to it another time.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4⭐️
Stardust is one of my absolute all-time favourite movies so when I read the book, about 6-7 perhaps 8 years ago, I had been severely disappointed. Now that I'm older and I've read far more Faerie books, I found Stardust enchanting.
It's the perfect Faerie-story, marvellous, transporting, sweet and a little melancholic, so it's re-become one of my favourites, in another medium.
(The movie still is more romantic though!)
Stardust is one of my absolute all-time favourite movies so when I read the book, about 6-7 perhaps 8 years ago, I had been severely disappointed. Now that I'm older and I've read far more Faerie books, I found Stardust enchanting.
It's the perfect Faerie-story, marvellous, transporting, sweet and a little melancholic, so it's re-become one of my favourites, in another medium.
(The movie still is more romantic though!)
Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
5.0
5⭐️
I've always liked this book series, even if it's so repetitive, there's something comforting and hopeful about this story and the entire concept of returning back in time before the coffee gets cold.
If there was one book I could fall into, it'd be this one, so I could go back in time and give a last phonecall to my father. For that reason, the last chapter felt particularly personal and beautiful. It resonated with me very strongly.
I've always liked this book series, even if it's so repetitive, there's something comforting and hopeful about this story and the entire concept of returning back in time before the coffee gets cold.
If there was one book I could fall into, it'd be this one, so I could go back in time and give a last phonecall to my father. For that reason, the last chapter felt particularly personal and beautiful. It resonated with me very strongly.
Ragnarok: The End of the Gods by A.S. Byatt
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4,25⭐️
Wonderful retelling of the norse myths leading to Ragnarok. It was fresh and lyric, and I loved re-discovering the myths through the eyes of the thin little girl, it grounded it all into reality.
Wonderful retelling of the norse myths leading to Ragnarok. It was fresh and lyric, and I loved re-discovering the myths through the eyes of the thin little girl, it grounded it all into reality.
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
emotional
tense
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
4.5
4,5⭐️
What beautiful book, one of my favourite of the year. "Enter Ghost" is one of these books which stay with you long after the last page has been turned. The intricate and sensitive writing was superb. The heavy and raw writing exhibiting the daily life of Palestinians under Israeli occupation was rich in details and *lived* experience.
What beautiful book, one of my favourite of the year. "Enter Ghost" is one of these books which stay with you long after the last page has been turned. The intricate and sensitive writing was superb. The heavy and raw writing exhibiting the daily life of Palestinians under Israeli occupation was rich in details and *lived* experience.
Libre comme une déesse grecque by Laure De Chantal
informative
medium-paced
3.0
3⭐️
Belle introduction aux déesses grecques et leurs mythes, cependant il y a un manque d'analyse et trop de références pop culture à mon goût.
Belle introduction aux déesses grecques et leurs mythes, cependant il y a un manque d'analyse et trop de références pop culture à mon goût.
Jane Austen by Jane Austen
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
3.75
3,75⭐️
Jane Austen's poems were as witty as her writing, but I was surprised to find so many of the poems that had been inspiring to her to be rather melancholic.
Jane Austen's poems were as witty as her writing, but I was surprised to find so many of the poems that had been inspiring to her to be rather melancholic.
Seeing Stars by Simon Armitage
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3,5⭐️
📚Bookclub📚
"She had met the darkest part of herself and created this."
I'm so conflicted about this book. I liked it. I enjoyed the experience of reading it, but the characters were aggravating. It was a pity party of rich people and children in adults' bodies, but there was something attractive to it, like a mysterious piece of contemporary art that draws one in but the closer we get the uglier it becomes while it's impossible to look away.
I didn't see the point of having side characters' pov when it brought nothing to the story and only made them more irritating. Quentin was an absolute asshole. Anders is a manipulative ass. Frank needs to grow up. Zoe too. Cleo was almost a Mary Sue. Eleanore deserves better. Santiago was a sweetheart, and he deserves all the love in the world.
The one aspect I really liked were the parallels between Cleopatra and Cleo and Frank and Frankenstein. Cleopatra was wrongly thought as a seductress, she was charming, intelligent, and knowledgeable and drew in two important men (Julius Caesar & Mark Antony/Frank & Anders), who were best friends, for her advantage to some extent (political power against the Roman Empire/VISA to remain in the USA and financial stability). For both Cleopatra and Cleo, relationships were a weapon with the illusion of romance. As for Frank and Frankenstein - the monster-maker and the monster, such a perfect comparison for a man-child who destroys everyone around him in the desperate need to feel important.
All in all, it was a good book. It's just impossible to get attached to these characters.
📚Bookclub📚
"She had met the darkest part of herself and created this."
I'm so conflicted about this book. I liked it. I enjoyed the experience of reading it, but the characters were aggravating. It was a pity party of rich people and children in adults' bodies, but there was something attractive to it, like a mysterious piece of contemporary art that draws one in but the closer we get the uglier it becomes while it's impossible to look away.
I didn't see the point of having side characters' pov when it brought nothing to the story and only made them more irritating. Quentin was an absolute asshole. Anders is a manipulative ass. Frank needs to grow up. Zoe too. Cleo was almost a Mary Sue. Eleanore deserves better. Santiago was a sweetheart, and he deserves all the love in the world.
The one aspect I really liked were the parallels between Cleopatra and Cleo and Frank and Frankenstein. Cleopatra was wrongly thought as a seductress, she was charming, intelligent, and knowledgeable and drew in two important men (Julius Caesar & Mark Antony/Frank & Anders), who were best friends, for her advantage to some extent (political power against the Roman Empire/VISA to remain in the USA and financial stability). For both Cleopatra and Cleo, relationships were a weapon with the illusion of romance. As for Frank and Frankenstein - the monster-maker and the monster, such a perfect comparison for a man-child who destroys everyone around him in the desperate need to feel important.
All in all, it was a good book. It's just impossible to get attached to these characters.