nereidodelette's reviews
317 reviews

京都一年 by 林文月

emotional inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.25

Kusamakura by Natsume Sōseki

mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Pelleas et Melisande by Maurice Maeterlinck

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

金閣寺 Kinkakuji by Yukio Mishima, Yukio Mishima

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.25

 I love the dark aesthetic throughout this novel, but from the middle part of this book, the main character really annoys me because he keeps whining! 

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

傾城之戀: 短篇小說集一：一九四三年 by Eileen Chang

dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.5

The superior and sublime writing style of using the ambiance to reflect the social background and the emotion of the characters.

虞美人草 by Natsume Sōseki

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

4.25

I always love Natsume's writing style, especially in this Gubijinsō, it's a combination of the poetic forms of literary Chinese and literary Japanese. The translator, Miya (a Japanese who was born and educated in Taiwan) also did a wonderful job of maintaining the style of the literature.
It is definitely not the best novel to start the creation of Natsume Soseki, and for the fast culture nowadays, I imagine that it wouldn't please most of the readers. However, for those who love to digest slowly and enjoy heavy as well as intensive, dark emotion in the book along with a fantasy style of literature in the early 20th century, Gubijinsō will be your perfect choice.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

5.0

It's definitely the eye-catching starting book for anyone who wants to hop into the world of Agatha Christie.

The Allure of Chanel by Paul Morand

3.0

The book itself deserves 5 stars, it's interesting to read and a book that's suitable for carrying around and read when/wherever you want. I gave it 3 stars in the end because I really dislike the personality of Chanel. I love her work and extremely admire her contribution to the ballet culture- especially I am a huge fan of the Ballet Russe, but as a person who had experienced several bad experiences in the fashion industry, I can't accept a personality like her and would not worship it as a way to success.

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie

5.0

"Mrs Redfern, why, in speaking of her, did you mention the word