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mayphoenix7992's reviews
663 reviews
Multidirectional Memory: Remembering the Holocaust in the Age of Decolonization by Michael Rothberg
dark
emotional
informative
4.0
A Single Rose by Muriel Barbery
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2 ⭐️
Short book about loss, although I wouldn't say it's about grief considering Rose never knew her father. She was an aggravating character, angry at everything and everyone for not having a normal life. She blamed her father but she never reached out to him either.
It all happened very fast and without any chemistry or sense of connection between the characters.
Overall, very disappointing.
Short book about loss, although I wouldn't say it's about grief considering Rose never knew her father. She was an aggravating character, angry at everything and everyone for not having a normal life. She blamed her father but she never reached out to him either.
It all happened very fast and without any chemistry or sense of connection between the characters.
Overall, very disappointing.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
4 ⭐️
"Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where the histories of all people are connected, and we are able to know everything, because it's all written there."
Such a beautiful story about a shepherd going on an adventure to find his dream and learning about the world and its universal language and what really matters.
"Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where the histories of all people are connected, and we are able to know everything, because it's all written there."
Such a beautiful story about a shepherd going on an adventure to find his dream and learning about the world and its universal language and what really matters.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3 ⭐️
I really, really, reaaaaaally wanted to love this book, but I... did not? Not really? I LIKED it, but I was expecting more?
The good points:
* The worldbuilding was fantastic, although some aspects were skipped over or unrealistic.
* The plot was easy to guess, but I liked it for its simplicity.
* The diversity and various real-world inspirations, although the whole women are queens and badasses felt over the top considering the rather traditional aspects of some of these societies and religions.
The bad points:
* The characters were ATROCIOUSLY BORING AND BLAND! Except Niklaus, whom I hated, I can barely tell the difference with the other MCs (except maybe Tané or Ead?) and the side characters were all...boring or annoying (Sabran, damn it). All the characters feel like a blank face to me.
* The pacing. 800 pages for such a massive worldbuilding is waaaaay too much for a standalone! Why not make it a series? Why is the final battle over in 25 pages and the story wrapped up in 20?
I started this book in April and I'm only finishing it now. And I enjoyed it!! But I was hoping it'd be a new favourite and that's a great disappointment...
I really, really, reaaaaaally wanted to love this book, but I... did not? Not really? I LIKED it, but I was expecting more?
The good points:
* The worldbuilding was fantastic, although some aspects were skipped over or unrealistic.
* The plot was easy to guess, but I liked it for its simplicity.
* The diversity and various real-world inspirations, although the whole women are queens and badasses felt over the top considering the rather traditional aspects of some of these societies and religions.
The bad points:
* The characters were ATROCIOUSLY BORING AND BLAND! Except Niklaus, whom I hated, I can barely tell the difference with the other MCs (except maybe Tané or Ead?) and the side characters were all...boring or annoying (Sabran, damn it). All the characters feel like a blank face to me.
* The pacing. 800 pages for such a massive worldbuilding is waaaaay too much for a standalone! Why not make it a series? Why is the final battle over in 25 pages and the story wrapped up in 20?
I started this book in April and I'm only finishing it now. And I enjoyed it!! But I was hoping it'd be a new favourite and that's a great disappointment...
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
sad
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
3.75
3,75 ⭐️
"If we let everyone who dies be a cause for unhappiness, that would mean people are being born to become unhappy. But the opposite in fact is true. People are always born for the sake of happiness."
The last story was so heartbreaking, and somehow heartearming. These last lines really wrapped up the third book in the best way.
"If we let everyone who dies be a cause for unhappiness, that would mean people are being born to become unhappy. But the opposite in fact is true. People are always born for the sake of happiness."
The last story was so heartbreaking, and somehow heartearming. These last lines really wrapped up the third book in the best way.
Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
4 ⭐️
"Kazu's spring had just begun."
Somehow, I loved this one even more than the first. Such beautiful stories and getting go know Miki, Nagare and Kazu more was lovely 💛
She deserves her spring.
"Kazu's spring had just begun."
Somehow, I loved this one even more than the first. Such beautiful stories and getting go know Miki, Nagare and Kazu more was lovely 💛
She deserves her spring.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
4 ⭐️
"Until now I had been able only to grieve, not mourn. Grief was passive. Grief happened. Mourning, the act of dealing with grief, required attention."
My own year of magical thinking is reaching an end, but I am not ready yet.
"Until now I had been able only to grieve, not mourn. Grief was passive. Grief happened. Mourning, the act of dealing with grief, required attention."
My own year of magical thinking is reaching an end, but I am not ready yet.
Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe
emotional
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
4.5
4,5 ⭐️
THEY KISSED!!!
I looooove seeing the other gods being more active and present in the story, but the new subplot about Kore acting as the "Bringer of Death" and going missing is amazing. The cliffhanger of Persephone and Demeter being wanted almost killed me - but knowing Volume 6 won't be out until May 2024 destroyed me!!!
I looooove seeing the other gods being more active and present in the story, but the new subplot about Kore acting as the "Bringer of Death" and going missing is amazing. The cliffhanger of Persephone and Demeter being wanted almost killed me - but knowing Volume 6 won't be out until May 2024 destroyed me!!!
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
4 ⭐️
Lee Scoresby better not be dead.
I wasn't truly surprised that Will's father died, but it's tragic for Will it was so sudden... Will has definitely become one of my favourite characters and the little romance with Lyra is so sweet 🥹
It seems mad but is Lord Asriel the equivalent of Lucifer??
I can't wait to read the conclusion of this series!
I wasn't truly surprised that Will's father died, but it's tragic for Will it was so sudden... Will has definitely become one of my favourite characters and the little romance with Lyra is so sweet 🥹
It seems mad but is Lord Asriel the equivalent of Lucifer??
I can't wait to read the conclusion of this series!
Ancient Civilizations of Central and South America: An Enthralling Introduction to the Olmecs, Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs, and Incas (Ancient Mexico) by Enthralling History
informative
fast-paced
3.0
3 ⭐️
It does what it claims to be doing: a very short and quick overview of the ancient civilisations of Central and South America.
The writing style feels much like a middle school presentation, with exclamation marks and repetitions - although the repetitions could be excused by the similarities between the civilisations, but there would have been so many other ways of presenting the information.
I must give it credit for properly quoting its sources though.
It does what it claims to be doing: a very short and quick overview of the ancient civilisations of Central and South America.
The writing style feels much like a middle school presentation, with exclamation marks and repetitions - although the repetitions could be excused by the similarities between the civilisations, but there would have been so many other ways of presenting the information.
I must give it credit for properly quoting its sources though.