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mildlypretentiousreader's reviews
18 reviews
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“A modern classic!” “A must-read!” That’s all I’ve been hearing about Donna Tartt’s The Secret History. It lives up to the hype and so much more. Donna Tartt’s book is a psychological thriller novel that follows the story of a group of intellectually gifted students at an elite New England college who become involved in a dark and twisted murder. The protagonist, Richard Papen, joins this exclusive circle of Classics students led by the enigmatic Julian Morrow. As they delve deeper into their studies, the group's secrets and obsessions take a sinister turn, leading to a shocking murder that alters their lives forever. The novel explores themes of morality, guilt, and the consequences of obsession while unraveling the intricacies of the characters' relationships and the events that ultimately lead to tragedy.
Everything about it was splendid. It was a searing critique of the rich & and its relationship to academia. I felt the naivety of Richard throughout Book I, and I felt his guilt in Book II. I journeyed through each twisted character's arch and followed everyone's downfall. I felt every single intense high and low. All the characters were so indescribably worthless, twisted, and murderous that it kept me hooked.
Everything about it was splendid. It was a searing critique of the rich & and its relationship to academia. I felt the naivety of Richard throughout Book I, and I felt his guilt in Book II. I journeyed through each twisted character's arch and followed everyone's downfall. I felt every single intense high and low. All the characters were so indescribably worthless, twisted, and murderous that it kept me hooked.
The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
In The Bookbinder, Peggy cares for her twin sister, works long hours as a bookbinder, is a book and words lover, and dreams of academics.
Twin sisters, Peggy and Maude, work at the bookbindery in Oxford (England). Peggy is ambitious and intelligent and has to be reminded that her job is to bind books and not read them. She envies the women across the street at Sommerville College. Peggy also watches over her sister Maude who is neurodiverse, gifted in unique ways and enjoys the repetition of the binding process. WWI interrupts their lives and Peggy volunteers at a hospital for injured refugees from Belgium. As she nurses a certain Belgian soldier, her academic goals become more complicated.
It’s interesting to gain a glimpse into the labor-intensive and exacting work of bookbinding in the early 1900s. The author gives us detailed and vivid descriptions of the process, the bindery, the people, and the time period. This was a deeply feminist novel and one that I would definitely read again.
Twin sisters, Peggy and Maude, work at the bookbindery in Oxford (England). Peggy is ambitious and intelligent and has to be reminded that her job is to bind books and not read them. She envies the women across the street at Sommerville College. Peggy also watches over her sister Maude who is neurodiverse, gifted in unique ways and enjoys the repetition of the binding process. WWI interrupts their lives and Peggy volunteers at a hospital for injured refugees from Belgium. As she nurses a certain Belgian soldier, her academic goals become more complicated.
It’s interesting to gain a glimpse into the labor-intensive and exacting work of bookbinding in the early 1900s. The author gives us detailed and vivid descriptions of the process, the bindery, the people, and the time period. This was a deeply feminist novel and one that I would definitely read again.
Search by Michelle Huneven
2.5
rating: ⭐⭐
Whenever I come into books with false expectations, it’s because I only skimmed the synopsis and did not actually read it. This happened when I picked up Search and about 30 pages in, I realized I was not reading about a Christian congregation, but a completely different one (Unitarian Universalism), a faith that was open to everyone regardless of religion, sexuality, and/or gender identity.
Ise and varied, in age, politics, and sexuality! But are they as different as you might think? We see the progression of the search committee through the lens of Dana P., a long-term member of the UUs and a rather highly respected food critic. Unknown to the rest of the members of the search committee, Dana has a hidden agenda — she’s in search of the next material for her latest book.
My rating is a three out of five. The pleasant prose and the delicious food descriptions were key to drawing me in. Search was so incredibly well-written that I couldn’t put it down, and I almost overlooked the downsides. Almost! My main gripe with the book is how flat the characters are. Dana was an immensely judgemental person yet everyone in her life couldn’t stop talking about how amazing and non-judgmental she was. Side characters were literally cast aside. And, on top of that, I found the ending to be predictable.
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
challenging
dark
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The book is broken into three parts and narrated by Bertha / Antionette in the first part of the story as she shares her early family life; their troubles and rejection in a society recently liberated from slavery.
In the second part of the story, Rochester travels to the West Indies where he meets and marries Bertha, in quite bizarre circumstances. Nevertheless, entranced by her rare beauty Rochester, once married, begins to question his union when the closely guarded family secrets begin to unravel and he begins to suspect that the rumors of madness, amongst his in-laws, are not wholly unfounded.
In the final part of the book, we travel back to England where Bertha resumes her account from the attic in Thornfield Hall, where she is now guarded by Grace Pool. An account that is moving and touching as ‘the insane wife’ cries and agonizes over the need for a husband’s love and touch. However, as her pleas are ignored, we begin to question this so-called madness and its origins and feel such empathy for the character of Bertha, for all she had suffered in her early years and is set to endure in her new one.
The book is broken into three parts and narrated by Bertha / Antionette in the first part of the story as she shares her early family life; their troubles and rejection in a society recently liberated from slavery.
In the second part of the story, Rochester travels to the West Indies where he meets and marries Bertha, in quite bizarre circumstances. Nevertheless, entranced by her rare beauty Rochester, once married, begins to question his union when the closely guarded family secrets begin to unravel and he begins to suspect that the rumors of madness, amongst his in-laws, are not wholly unfounded.
In the final part of the book, we travel back to England where Bertha resumes her account from the attic in Thornfield Hall, where she is now guarded by Grace Pool. An account that is moving and touching as ‘the insane wife’ cries and agonizes over the need for a husband’s love and touch. However, as her pleas are ignored, we begin to question this so-called madness and its origins and feel such empathy for the character of Bertha, for all she had suffered in her early years and is set to endure in her new one.
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (it truly lived up to its hype)
Babel is an incredibly well-researched, in-depth, and unafraid work of fiction. Our author, Rebecca F. Kuang, never strays from her book’s purpose, fiercely telling the message that yearns to be heard.
Set in an alternative reality, Babel tells the story of Robin Swift, an orphaned child from Caton, who was stripped from his motherland and brought to England by the elusive Oxford Professor Lovell. Lovell enrolls Robin into a rigorous educational program, studying Greek, Latin, and other arts, all in hopes for Robin to one day enroll in Oxford’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford University (aka Babel). Along with Robin, other attendees of Bable include, Ramy, Letty, and Victoria. These three also come from similar backgrounds, facing hardships, such as racism, misogyny, or a mix of both. All four become fast friends and learn to navigate elite world of Oxford. Ties are tested, and friendships are broken. Along with these adjustments, the main four deal with conflicting feelings towards Oxford and England as a whole and what those institutions stand for.
One of my favorite parts of Babel was Robin, Ramy, Letty, and Victoria’s educational time at Oxford. Listening to each of their classes and hearing the professors talk about their respective subjects was enjoyable. I found myself just as sucked into the Oxford bubble as they were. I empathized with each of their struggles in leaving Oxford behind.
Outside of the premise, the most alluring part of Babel for me was the world-building. Who doesn’t love magic??? The incorporation of silver bars was incredible, and I enjoyed every tiny detail about how the magic flowed throughout England and the world.
Outside of the premise, the most alluring part of Babel for me was the world-building. Who doesn’t love magic??? The incorporation of silver bars was incredible, and I enjoyed every tiny detail about how the magic flowed throughout England and the world.
Kuang eloquently grapples with colonization, complacency in an oppressive system (as seen in the case of Robin), and how Western empires utilize the art of translation as a mere tool for exploitation.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Nobody wants to be here and nobody wants to leave.”
—————————————————————
A slow-paced book, The Road by Cormac McCarthy tells the desolate and cumbersome story of a father (“The Man” ) and his son (“The Boy”) as they travel through a post-apocalyptic United States of America. Their world is severely limited by their grim circumstances. Harsh living conditions, starvation, the threat of animals, the inhumanity of other people. Society is now rampant with thieves, bandits, cannibals, and the like who will do virtually anything to stay alive. Because of the harsh and untrustworthy nature of nearly everyone in the USA, the Man copes with this reality by trusting and helping no one he and his son come across. Although harsh, considering the circumstances, the Man feels this is necessary. If push comes to shove,
—————————————————————
A slow-paced book, The Road by Cormac McCarthy tells the desolate and cumbersome story of a father (“The Man” ) and his son (“The Boy”) as they travel through a post-apocalyptic United States of America. Their world is severely limited by their grim circumstances. Harsh living conditions, starvation, the threat of animals, the inhumanity of other people. Society is now rampant with thieves, bandits, cannibals, and the like who will do virtually anything to stay alive. Because of the harsh and untrustworthy nature of nearly everyone in the USA, the Man copes with this reality by trusting and helping no one he and his son come across. Although harsh, considering the circumstances, the Man feels this is necessary. If push comes to shove,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Grief, Vomit, War, Abandonment, Animal death, Gore, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Violence
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
2.0
Circe gives 2000s YA books in the worst way possible.
Beneath all the beautiful, alluring prose, Madeline Miller covertly writes a modern-day epic steeped in misogyny and sexism. Our protagonist and narrator, Circe, has an undeniable amount of internalized misogyny that she needs to unpack. Her character arc is essentially that she is "not like other girls." In the original text, Odysseus, many of the male characters are objectively horrible people. Many of which are rapists and abusers. Miller completely erases that reality. I understand that this is a "retelling" but completely removing essential details to fit your narrative is absurd.
Beneath all the beautiful, alluring prose, Madeline Miller covertly writes a modern-day epic steeped in misogyny and sexism. Our protagonist and narrator, Circe, has an undeniable amount of internalized misogyny that she needs to unpack. Her character arc is essentially that she is "not like other girls." In the original text, Odysseus, many of the male characters are objectively horrible people. Many of which are rapists and abusers. Miller completely erases that reality. I understand that this is a "retelling" but completely removing essential details to fit your narrative is absurd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Rape, Violence, War, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms is a novel that tells the story of a tragic love affair between Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver, and Catherine Barkley, an English nurse who had recently lost her fiancé in World War I.
One could describe A Farewell to Arms as a love story set behind the backdrop of a war or a war story encompassed by a romance. Catherine and Frederick’s love story takes center stage as the war serves as a means to unify the two and also separate them. The war is a unifying and relatable event the two lovers are able to bound over. On the other hand, the romance serves as an escape from the traumatizing, taxing, and tiresome war. Catherine and Frederick escape their harsh realities with each other. I theorize that that is why their relationship progressed so quickly as well.
Either way, A Farewell to Arms is a visceral, passionate work of literature with undertones of the simplicity and pain that constitutes life. The juxtapositions and contradictions found with A Farewell to Arms lead to effortless yet sparse writing. This style allows the reader to focus on the essence of the story and the characters, and to experience their emotions without being distracted by extra descriptions.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is the way in which Hemingway explores the concept of war. He does not present it as a heroic, noble endeavor, but rather as a senseless and brutal conflict that leaves its participants scarred and disenchanted. Throughout the novel, Henry struggles with his role in the war and his feelings of guilt at not being able to do more for the wounded soldiers he transports from the front lines.
One could describe A Farewell to Arms as a love story set behind the backdrop of a war or a war story encompassed by a romance. Catherine and Frederick’s love story takes center stage as the war serves as a means to unify the two and also separate them. The war is a unifying and relatable event the two lovers are able to bound over. On the other hand, the romance serves as an escape from the traumatizing, taxing, and tiresome war. Catherine and Frederick escape their harsh realities with each other. I theorize that that is why their relationship progressed so quickly as well.
Either way, A Farewell to Arms is a visceral, passionate work of literature with undertones of the simplicity and pain that constitutes life. The juxtapositions and contradictions found with A Farewell to Arms lead to effortless yet sparse writing. This style allows the reader to focus on the essence of the story and the characters, and to experience their emotions without being distracted by extra descriptions.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is the way in which Hemingway explores the concept of war. He does not present it as a heroic, noble endeavor, but rather as a senseless and brutal conflict that leaves its participants scarred and disenchanted. Throughout the novel, Henry struggles with his role in the war and his feelings of guilt at not being able to do more for the wounded soldiers he transports from the front lines.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Child death, War, Car accident, Mental illness, and Violence
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
“Our family was closest in the face of pain.”
“Why were we expected to speak English while praising Americans for even the crumbiest dribble of Chinese?”
Qian Julie Wang’s Beautiful Country details her life as an undocumented immigrant in New York City. As a young child, Qian and her mother reunite with her father in “Mei Guo,” the Chinese word for America meaning “Beautiful Country.” Mei Guo turns out to be anything but beautiful.
Told through the lenses of a child, we peek into the fearful and harrowing life of an undocumented Chinese immigrant family. The Wang family is forced to live
“Why were we expected to speak English while praising Americans for even the crumbiest dribble of Chinese?”
Qian Julie Wang’s Beautiful Country details her life as an undocumented immigrant in New York City. As a young child, Qian and her mother reunite with her father in “Mei Guo,” the Chinese word for America meaning “Beautiful Country.” Mei Guo turns out to be anything but beautiful.
Told through the lenses of a child, we peek into the fearful and harrowing life of an undocumented Chinese immigrant family. The Wang family is forced to live
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Body shaming, Classism, Deportation, Racial slurs, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Hate crime, Infidelity, and Stalking
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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
4.0
“Racism should never have happened and so you don’t get a cookie for reducing it.”
“Relaxing your hair is like being in prison. You’re caged in.”
Americanah chronologies the lives of Nigerian immigrants, Ifemelu and Obinze, an engaged couple. Ifemelu legally enters the United States of America, while Obinze swiftly becomes an undocumented immigrant in London, England. The couple is soon separated by unforeseen circumstances and must rely on themselves to adjust to their new lives. Wrapped in the romance of the two main characters, the readers are thrown into the lives of numerous African immigrants as they navigate America and the UK.
An impressive number of issues are touched upon in Americanah. We watch the African immigrants grapple with the foreign concept of race and adjust and adapt their thinking towards other black ethnic groups in America and the UK. We watch how the pressures placed on immigrant teens can wreak havoc on their personal lives, resulting in suicide attempts. We witness the devaluation and degradation of black men and the over-sexualization of black women. We read about the victims of colorism and the constant and insistent hold texurism has on white society. All of these discussions are handled with nuance and grace.
I was not too drawn in by the plot of romance between Ifemelu and Obinze. I found it uninteresting and rather predictable. I also found that almost all the characters sucked, one way or another. Many lacked intersectionality and could not look past their own opinions. Others were habitual cheaters who lacked empathy. I was more into the political aspect of the Americanah than anything.
If I recall correctly, there were also mentions of Asian people that appeared to uphold the “model minority myth.” This rubbed me the wrong.
“Relaxing your hair is like being in prison. You’re caged in.”
Americanah chronologies the lives of Nigerian immigrants, Ifemelu and Obinze, an engaged couple. Ifemelu legally enters the United States of America, while Obinze swiftly becomes an undocumented immigrant in London, England. The couple is soon separated by unforeseen circumstances and must rely on themselves to adjust to their new lives. Wrapped in the romance of the two main characters, the readers are thrown into the lives of numerous African immigrants as they navigate America and the UK.
An impressive number of issues are touched upon in Americanah. We watch the African immigrants grapple with the foreign concept of race and adjust and adapt their thinking towards other black ethnic groups in America and the UK. We watch how the pressures placed on immigrant teens can wreak havoc on their personal lives, resulting in suicide attempts. We witness the devaluation and degradation of black men and the over-sexualization of black women. We read about the victims of colorism and the constant and insistent hold texurism has on white society. All of these discussions are handled with nuance and grace.
I was not too drawn in by the plot of romance between Ifemelu and Obinze. I found it uninteresting and rather predictable. I also found that almost all the characters sucked, one way or another. Many lacked intersectionality and could not look past their own opinions. Others were habitual cheaters who lacked empathy. I was more into the political aspect of the Americanah than anything.
If I recall correctly, there were also mentions of Asian people that appeared to uphold the “model minority myth.” This rubbed me the wrong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Suicide, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Rape, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Classism, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Police brutality