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penguinna's reviews
319 reviews
Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
After being completely disappointed by the previous book, I was pretty skeptical about reading this one. But it turned out to be probably the best part of the whole series!
After their wedding, Anne and Gilbert move to a fairy tale-like House of Dreams on the seashore to start a new chapter of their lives. We meet new characters at Four Winds Point, and this time, I completely fell in love with each and every one of them:
▪️ Miss Cornelia Bryant is an old feminist who made me laugh all the time with her complaints about men.
▪️ Captain Jim, a former sailor who minds the nearby lighthouse with a cat, is a very kind old man with many stories to tell.
▪️ And Leslie Moore, the best character of the book. This young woman had a very tragic childhood, married at 16 against her will to a tyrant, and now is forced to take care of him after he suffered severe brain damage.
In the previous books, I was disappointed by the presence of too many underdeveloped characters. In the House of Dreams, it was completely the opposite: a perfect amount of very colorful and lovable personalities with absolutely amazing biographies. I felt so moved by Leslie's story, and it will definitely stay with me for many years to come.
Additionally, in this book, Anne faces her first big tragedy: she loses her newborn daughter. It was truly heartbreaking to read about the loss of the always cheerful Anne, but Gilbert didn't seem to care much. Additionally, the topic of pregnancy and childbirth is taboo, which is normal for the time period and YA genre, but it still felt a bit ridiculous that a stork suddenly brought Anne a baby.
This, together with Gilbert’s behavior, were the only parts that made me a bit disappointed with this book, but Leslie, Captain Jim, and Miss Cornelia made Anne's House of Dreams part definitely worth reading.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
After their wedding, Anne and Gilbert move to a fairy tale-like House of Dreams on the seashore to start a new chapter of their lives. We meet new characters at Four Winds Point, and this time, I completely fell in love with each and every one of them:
▪️ Miss Cornelia Bryant is an old feminist who made me laugh all the time with her complaints about men.
▪️ Captain Jim, a former sailor who minds the nearby lighthouse with a cat, is a very kind old man with many stories to tell.
▪️ And Leslie Moore, the best character of the book. This young woman had a very tragic childhood, married at 16 against her will to a tyrant, and now is forced to take care of him after he suffered severe brain damage.
In the previous books, I was disappointed by the presence of too many underdeveloped characters. In the House of Dreams, it was completely the opposite: a perfect amount of very colorful and lovable personalities with absolutely amazing biographies. I felt so moved by Leslie's story, and it will definitely stay with me for many years to come.
Additionally, in this book, Anne faces her first big tragedy: she loses her newborn daughter. It was truly heartbreaking to read about the loss of the always cheerful Anne, but Gilbert didn't seem to care much. Additionally, the topic of pregnancy and childbirth is taboo, which is normal for the time period and YA genre, but it still felt a bit ridiculous that a stork suddenly brought Anne a baby.
This, together with Gilbert’s behavior, were the only parts that made me a bit disappointed with this book, but Leslie, Captain Jim, and Miss Cornelia made Anne's House of Dreams part definitely worth reading.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
2.0
The weakest part of the whole series so far! I really couldn’t stand it, so I switched to the audio version to make my eyes roll faster. The plot is very mediocre; nothing happens, and Anne charms everyone. B-o-r-i-n-g.
In this book, Anne moves to Summerside for three years to become the head of a school while waiting for her wedding. Yes, Gilbert proposed to her in the previous book, but in this one, he’s mentioned maybe twice? Every chapter is a letter from Anne to Gilbert, but there are no letters from him at all. I was waiting for some romance, but there was literally NONE.
Together with Gilbert, there’s absolutely no mention of characters from the previous parts. Anne’s best friends Diana and Philippa vanish after their weddings, as if they never existed. There are no Marilla, Mrs. Lynde, or Paul Irving – Anne never even bothers to write to them.
BUT! There are a bunch of new characters that are mentioned once, and OF COURSE, Anne charms each and every one of them, meddles in their business, and “improves” their lives (nobody asked for it, actually). And if she has enemies, like the Pringles in this book, she inevitably wins them over later. Guaranteed.
Anne is just ABSOLUTELY perfect, and her only flaw is her hair. I stopped counting the number of times my eyes rolled when Anne’s “perfect nose with four freckles” was mentioned. So. Damn. Boring.
On the bright side, the descriptions are as beautiful as ever, capturing the atmosphere of the small town perfectly. That’s the only reason for 2 stars instead of 1. The side characters have very promising personalities, but sadly, they do not receive enough development and representation.
I am very disappointed and hope the next parts are better. Anne books are perfect as audiobooks while doing some side activities, but I don’t think I will waste further time physically reading them.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
In this book, Anne moves to Summerside for three years to become the head of a school while waiting for her wedding. Yes, Gilbert proposed to her in the previous book, but in this one, he’s mentioned maybe twice? Every chapter is a letter from Anne to Gilbert, but there are no letters from him at all. I was waiting for some romance, but there was literally NONE.
Together with Gilbert, there’s absolutely no mention of characters from the previous parts. Anne’s best friends Diana and Philippa vanish after their weddings, as if they never existed. There are no Marilla, Mrs. Lynde, or Paul Irving – Anne never even bothers to write to them.
BUT! There are a bunch of new characters that are mentioned once, and OF COURSE, Anne charms each and every one of them, meddles in their business, and “improves” their lives (nobody asked for it, actually). And if she has enemies, like the Pringles in this book, she inevitably wins them over later. Guaranteed.
Anne is just ABSOLUTELY perfect, and her only flaw is her hair. I stopped counting the number of times my eyes rolled when Anne’s “perfect nose with four freckles” was mentioned. So. Damn. Boring.
On the bright side, the descriptions are as beautiful as ever, capturing the atmosphere of the small town perfectly. That’s the only reason for 2 stars instead of 1. The side characters have very promising personalities, but sadly, they do not receive enough development and representation.
I am very disappointed and hope the next parts are better. Anne books are perfect as audiobooks while doing some side activities, but I don’t think I will waste further time physically reading them.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
At first, I wanted to give this book a worse rating. A certain thing in it triggered me so much that I wanted to put it down and never touch this series again, honestly.
In Anne's book series, everything is always surrounded with a love for life, for people, and for nature. The main character, Anne, is a person who finds beauty in everything she sees, and her heart is so full of kindness to the world around her. She is also very religious, and this part of the series has been discussing Christian values way more than the previous ones (sometimes even too much actually), emphasizing loving each other and helping those in need.
That’s why I was especially triggered by certain chapters. One of them is when a stray cat Rusty starts following Anne, trusting and loving her. Anne is so annoyed by him that she and her friends decide nothing better than to poison the poor animal! When their first attempt fails, they consider trying again, giggling about it. Luckily, Anne changes her mind and adopts Rusty, but what the hell? That’s not the Anne we all know!
Another chapter is when Anne finds it very funny that her neighbor decided to hang his old dog, but the dog escaped and the neighbor had to try again. I am sure life was quite different in the 1880s, but animal cruelty is at the top of my list of triggers that I absolutely cannot tolerate.
These two chapters made me feel incredibly angry and sad. Fortunately, this book had many more good chapters than bad ones. One memorable chapter describes Anne visiting her birthplace and her parents’ graves. Another recounts her close friend saying farewell forever. There's a chapter where Anne meets the man of her dreams, another where she and her new friends move into the fairy tale-like Patty’s Place, and the final chapter where Anne confesses her love for the first time.
This book is a collection of short stories about Anne, just like the previous two. Anne is changing, and Avonlea is changing too, without her presence this time. Except those two chapters that I hated, I enjoyed the rest of the book because of its heartwarming descriptions, beautiful metaphors, timeless lessons, and a soothing, relaxing flow. I am going to continue with the series to see what comes next. Hopefully no more animal cruelty though.
In Anne's book series, everything is always surrounded with a love for life, for people, and for nature. The main character, Anne, is a person who finds beauty in everything she sees, and her heart is so full of kindness to the world around her. She is also very religious, and this part of the series has been discussing Christian values way more than the previous ones (sometimes even too much actually), emphasizing loving each other and helping those in need.
That’s why I was especially triggered by certain chapters. One of them is when a stray cat Rusty starts following Anne, trusting and loving her. Anne is so annoyed by him that she and her friends decide nothing better than to poison the poor animal! When their first attempt fails, they consider trying again, giggling about it. Luckily, Anne changes her mind and adopts Rusty, but what the hell? That’s not the Anne we all know!
Another chapter is when Anne finds it very funny that her neighbor decided to hang his old dog, but the dog escaped and the neighbor had to try again. I am sure life was quite different in the 1880s, but animal cruelty is at the top of my list of triggers that I absolutely cannot tolerate.
These two chapters made me feel incredibly angry and sad. Fortunately, this book had many more good chapters than bad ones. One memorable chapter describes Anne visiting her birthplace and her parents’ graves. Another recounts her close friend saying farewell forever. There's a chapter where Anne meets the man of her dreams, another where she and her new friends move into the fairy tale-like Patty’s Place, and the final chapter where Anne confesses her love for the first time.
This book is a collection of short stories about Anne, just like the previous two. Anne is changing, and Avonlea is changing too, without her presence this time. Except those two chapters that I hated, I enjoyed the rest of the book because of its heartwarming descriptions, beautiful metaphors, timeless lessons, and a soothing, relaxing flow. I am going to continue with the series to see what comes next. Hopefully no more animal cruelty though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved this part of the series, and honestly, much more than the first one! Instead of a talkative, annoying troublemaker, we now spend time with a young, almost-adult lady who continuously sees beauty in the world around her.
Anne Shirley is now 17 years old and begins a new chapter in her life as a teacher at the Avonlea school. She and Marilla adopt twins, who bring new challenges and joy to their lives. Anne meets new neighbors, encounters new adventures, and discovers more kindred spirits along the way.
Some chapters were so beautifully written that I had to read them twice. The legend of a secret garden told in the blooming woods during the Golden Picnic and the story of an old maid, Miss Lavendar, who finds love thanks to Anne, are my favorite parts of this book. When Anne is around, everything seems to bloom.
"Anne of Avonlea" was perfect for me during busy weeks when I needed something relaxing, calm, and beautiful to read before sleeping. This book is so charming and magical that I believe no one can remain indifferent to Anne after reading this part.
I am looking forward to reading "Anne of the Island," where Anne goes to college with Gilbert Blythe. I suspect it is going to be one of the most beautiful love stories ever created!
Anne Shirley is now 17 years old and begins a new chapter in her life as a teacher at the Avonlea school. She and Marilla adopt twins, who bring new challenges and joy to their lives. Anne meets new neighbors, encounters new adventures, and discovers more kindred spirits along the way.
Some chapters were so beautifully written that I had to read them twice. The legend of a secret garden told in the blooming woods during the Golden Picnic and the story of an old maid, Miss Lavendar, who finds love thanks to Anne, are my favorite parts of this book. When Anne is around, everything seems to bloom.
"Anne of Avonlea" was perfect for me during busy weeks when I needed something relaxing, calm, and beautiful to read before sleeping. This book is so charming and magical that I believe no one can remain indifferent to Anne after reading this part.
I am looking forward to reading "Anne of the Island," where Anne goes to college with Gilbert Blythe. I suspect it is going to be one of the most beautiful love stories ever created!
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel is about illusions — illusions of love, happiness, and dreams that pervade the lavish society of the Roaring Twenties in America.
Gatsby is in love with Daisy, but the Daisy he loves is not the real woman. She is an illusion he crafted in his mind. When he was young and poor, he fell in love with her wealth, and over the years, her memory transformed into an idealized perfection.
Daisy, on the other hand, is in love with money. Her husband, Tom Buchanan, doesn't even hide his evenings with a lover, but Daisy pretends not to notice so she can continue living in her perfect illusory world. Gatsby believes she has always loved him and wants to leave Tom, but in truth, she has never loved anyone but money.
Tom Buchanan just wants to have it all to maintain the perfect image of himself. He has no genuine feelings; he only wants to possess. He is a weak man pretending to be powerful — yet another illusion.
All the characters in this novel live a lie. They pretend to enjoy each other's company and play a game of creating the right impressions, but they are all empty inside.
Life in the Jazz Age of New York spins and twirls so fast that no one cares about anything. It is just one big party. They remain on the surface, surrounded by money, alcohol, expensive cars, and hundreds of famous people in their mansions. Yet, when they die, no one even bothers to attend their funerals.
This is the Jazz Age of America, and Fitzgerald could not have depicted it better.
Gatsby is in love with Daisy, but the Daisy he loves is not the real woman. She is an illusion he crafted in his mind. When he was young and poor, he fell in love with her wealth, and over the years, her memory transformed into an idealized perfection.
Daisy, on the other hand, is in love with money. Her husband, Tom Buchanan, doesn't even hide his evenings with a lover, but Daisy pretends not to notice so she can continue living in her perfect illusory world. Gatsby believes she has always loved him and wants to leave Tom, but in truth, she has never loved anyone but money.
Tom Buchanan just wants to have it all to maintain the perfect image of himself. He has no genuine feelings; he only wants to possess. He is a weak man pretending to be powerful — yet another illusion.
All the characters in this novel live a lie. They pretend to enjoy each other's company and play a game of creating the right impressions, but they are all empty inside.
Life in the Jazz Age of New York spins and twirls so fast that no one cares about anything. It is just one big party. They remain on the surface, surrounded by money, alcohol, expensive cars, and hundreds of famous people in their mansions. Yet, when they die, no one even bothers to attend their funerals.
This is the Jazz Age of America, and Fitzgerald could not have depicted it better.
Death Note, Vol. 12: Finis by Tsugumi Ohba
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
The Japanese manga, Death Note, centers on Light Yagami, an ace student who finds a notebook dropped by a god of death. This notebook grants him the power to kill anyone simply by writing their name in it. Light decides to use the notebook to create a perfect world without criminals. However, a brilliant detective known only as L aims to track down the vigilante.
12 parts, 2,236 pages. I devoured the first 7 parts in less than a week! Numerous plot twists and the battle of wits really made it impossible for me to go a minute without knowing what would happen next! This manga absorbed me! I was admiring the gorgeous multidimensional portrayal of the villain and adored the constant feeling of being on pins and needles.
But then…
It became crap. Too many new characters appeared out of the blue, and overly complicated plot twists made it impossible to keep track of what was going on. I think during the first 7 parts, Death Note became so popular that it was decided to take the most profit out of it and keep it going no matter what. I had to force myself to continue the manga, and I was happy when I turned the last page.
All in all, Death Note is a brilliant idea that explores themes of justice, morality, and the consequences of wielding absolute power. However, it should have been shorter. In the end I completely lost interest, was sick of the characters, and did not care about the ending (which is also better in the anime in my opinion).
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
I am very skeptical when it comes to self-help books. This exact one has been literally EVERYWHERE in recent years, so I decided to give it a go. The result? I am now even more skeptical about self-help books!
It must already be clear what The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is about. It teaches you how to focus on only important and “enjoyable” problems, choose your life values, and stop worrying about insignificant issues.
Or at least, that's what it's supposed to be about. To me, it felt more like an autobiography of the author, focusing on his problems, and his acquired philosophy. The language is supposed to be engaging and fun, but suited more for a teenager who just learned the f-word. Sometimes, too much is just too much: he literally puts swear words everywhere, which gets really tiring. The main ideas of this book could be summarized in 50 pages; everything else is background noise.
To cut it short, it's Buddhism explained through Manson’s biographical stories, plus a bunch of unnecessary swear words. And a pinch of sexism.
This book has some interesting points, but I have already learned 90% of them through my own life experience. It might be worth reading this book at age 18, but I felt like I was wasting my time repeating things I already knew.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
It must already be clear what The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is about. It teaches you how to focus on only important and “enjoyable” problems, choose your life values, and stop worrying about insignificant issues.
Or at least, that's what it's supposed to be about. To me, it felt more like an autobiography of the author, focusing on his problems, and his acquired philosophy. The language is supposed to be engaging and fun, but suited more for a teenager who just learned the f-word. Sometimes, too much is just too much: he literally puts swear words everywhere, which gets really tiring. The main ideas of this book could be summarized in 50 pages; everything else is background noise.
To cut it short, it's Buddhism explained through Manson’s biographical stories, plus a bunch of unnecessary swear words. And a pinch of sexism.
This book has some interesting points, but I have already learned 90% of them through my own life experience. It might be worth reading this book at age 18, but I felt like I was wasting my time repeating things I already knew.
More reviews by me on instagram: @penguinna_books
Death Note, Vol. 11: Kindred Spirits by Tsugumi Ohba
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Death Note, Vol. 10: Deletion by Tsugumi Ohba
adventurous
dark
tense
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
4.0
Death Note, Vol. 9: Contact by Tsugumi Ohba
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75