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porgyreads's reviews
148 reviews
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
3.75
Ling Taishi carried this on her back like a champ! It wasn’t perfect but I’m quite excited for the next one.
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
One thing about me a fantasy saga specifically centred around one family??? I’m gonna enjoyyyyy.
If a book makes me shed tears immediately it’s 4.5 stars because the level of investment I had in these characters snuck up on me. This is one of those few stories where I think the author picked the main characters CORRECTLY. Sometimes it happens that there are characters who are more interesting or from which the story could’ve been told but getting Mamoru and Misaki’s POV (for the most part) was both big brained and actually an assault on my person.
I will maintain that the entry was clumsy and slightly off putting because I didn’t get to have the insane experience that was reading this until I gave it a second attempt.That being said when you get to the heart of the book - misaki! - there is no way not to be hooked.
The fight scenes imo were great. Well choreographed and easy to follow. Had me on the edge of my seat multiple times. Misaki is an icon. I will always respect a woman that has known and conquered regret. She is a woman that contains multitudes!!!! Little onion of a woman that she is. And it’s not just her but most characters that are featured are nuanced and loveable. Even characters like takeru who, at least 6 points in the book, I wanted to murder with my bare hands, grew on me. By the end I was like that’s a GOOD man savannah!
Also the girls who were marketing this as an adult avatar need to speak up Louder because they were right. The zutara/risaki complex was THUMPING. I gagged, I did. Overall it wasn’t perfect by any means but it was perfect for me.
Also in hindsight I definitely think SOK put me in a reading slump because I found it much harder to finish books after this. But who know s it could also have been the order of events in my little life that played a part too :0
If a book makes me shed tears immediately it’s 4.5 stars because the level of investment I had in these characters snuck up on me. This is one of those few stories where I think the author picked the main characters CORRECTLY. Sometimes it happens that there are characters who are more interesting or from which the story could’ve been told but getting Mamoru and Misaki’s POV (for the most part) was both big brained and actually an assault on my person.
I will maintain that the entry was clumsy and slightly off putting because I didn’t get to have the insane experience that was reading this until I gave it a second attempt.That being said when you get to the heart of the book - misaki! - there is no way not to be hooked.
The fight scenes imo were great. Well choreographed and easy to follow. Had me on the edge of my seat multiple times. Misaki is an icon. I will always respect a woman that has known and conquered regret. She is a woman that contains multitudes!!!! Little onion of a woman that she is. And it’s not just her but most characters that are featured are nuanced and loveable. Even characters like takeru who, at least 6 points in the book, I wanted to murder with my bare hands, grew on me. By the end I was like that’s a GOOD man savannah!
Also the girls who were marketing this as an adult avatar need to speak up Louder because they were right. The zutara/risaki complex was THUMPING. I gagged, I did. Overall it wasn’t perfect by any means but it was perfect for me.
Also in hindsight I definitely think SOK put me in a reading slump because I found it much harder to finish books after this. But who know s it could also have been the order of events in my little life that played a part too :0
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
4.75
This was not what I expected it to be. Not sure why the girls were saying they were crying at this. Did think the theological allegory was very smart and strung out enough that it didn’t click until the last few pages when figurative language became literal? Yes. Did I cry? No. Did I think wow the use of repetition works here in such an intricate weaving of a broader narrative just shy of fatigue because of the short form? Yes.
Craft-wise, a novella masterclass.
Craft-wise, a novella masterclass.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
3.5
I read and enjoyed this esp the undercurrent of nostalgia from my vague awareness that I could’ve read at least a part of this in the library when I was like 13.
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
4.5
The girls that get it, get it. Very interested in where Caleb goes next.
Sign Here by Claudia Lux
4.0
This is like if arrival and domestic psychological thriller had a baby.
Its a reverse katabasis where hell is a bureaucratic landscape that is stuffed full of humorous unease and discomfort. Yet still manages to evoke real despair when I think about ever having to wind up there.
The way Lux creates this world of hell and the lore of her characters is something special and she makes it read and look effortless.
Calamity really made this book for me. I need time to gather my thoughts. But wow a truly complex character that felt fully formed in all her hatred and hope and attempts at winning the glory of her fathers affection. Lily - at first I wasn’t sold. But I respect you sister in the end you won me over.
Mickey is written wisely enough that you understand in the final pages exactly why the narrative centres around her. And you can feel it from the first viewpoint that we are building towards that point of knowledge. She is so resolutely normal on every page and her relationship with Ruth is so specific unique to girlhood i said poor Mick about 1000 times in my head just because like I get it, I do.
Cals dynamic with Pey is so unique in its ability to tread closely to what you might expect at any given moment, but it never fully meets those expectations. Lux darts away to do something else and it’s always better than the last thing.
At one reveal, I legitimately said what the hell? out loud in the living room not even realising I was speaking.
Big up eniola for recommending this to me because it would’ve been buried in my TBR and I might never have to experience the rollercoaster.
In the end Pey, won me over as well. So I guess non-human sales grifter demons have rights.
The ending was very season finale of your favourite show, that got cancelled early and at first you swear that they had to rush the ending but after finding out later that they’d only planned to have the 2 seasons anyway, you’re like no actually I get the vision.
Which is my way of saying I think a screen adaptation of this in the right hands would be quite something! Will be checking to see if it’s been optioned asap.
Its a reverse katabasis where hell is a bureaucratic landscape that is stuffed full of humorous unease and discomfort. Yet still manages to evoke real despair when I think about ever having to wind up there.
The way Lux creates this world of hell and the lore of her characters is something special and she makes it read and look effortless.
Calamity really made this book for me. I need time to gather my thoughts. But wow a truly complex character that felt fully formed in all her hatred and hope and attempts at winning the glory of her fathers affection. Lily - at first I wasn’t sold. But I respect you sister in the end you won me over.
Mickey is written wisely enough that you understand in the final pages exactly why the narrative centres around her. And you can feel it from the first viewpoint that we are building towards that point of knowledge. She is so resolutely normal on every page and her relationship with Ruth is so specific unique to girlhood i said poor Mick about 1000 times in my head just because like I get it, I do.
Cals dynamic with Pey is so unique in its ability to tread closely to what you might expect at any given moment, but it never fully meets those expectations. Lux darts away to do something else and it’s always better than the last thing.
At one reveal, I legitimately said what the hell? out loud in the living room not even realising I was speaking.
Big up eniola for recommending this to me because it would’ve been buried in my TBR and I might never have to experience the rollercoaster.
In the end Pey, won me over as well. So I guess non-human sales grifter demons have rights.
The ending was very season finale of your favourite show, that got cancelled early and at first you swear that they had to rush the ending but after finding out later that they’d only planned to have the 2 seasons anyway, you’re like no actually I get the vision.
Which is my way of saying I think a screen adaptation of this in the right hands would be quite something! Will be checking to see if it’s been optioned asap.
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
“There are moments however when a man’s imagination suddenly rises above its daily level, and looks down over all the crossroads and turning points in the long road of life.”
I always believe I’m not a classics girl but it’s simply untrue!
I always believe I’m not a classics girl but it’s simply untrue!
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Deeply original almost to the point of surreal quirkiness but it doesn’t sacrifice the humanity of any character to do so. The truth of gretas character creeps up on you and it’s such a bittersweet end.
I think both characters will stick with me for a long time.
I think both characters will stick with me for a long time.
Either/Or by Elif Batuman
emotional
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
At the same time, I had a powerful sense of having escaped something: of having finally stepped outside of the script.”
I have rarely had the feeling where even halfway through the book I am already planning to re-read it. Nor a book that mentions so many books i feel compelled to read. I picked up Either/Or in Paris because I hated the British covers and so had put off buying it. I hadn’t even thought I’d be able to get the book where I was and upon finishing it, I realise that wait between finishing The Idiot and getting to Either/or, was fate.
I have rarely had the feeling where even halfway through the book I am already planning to re-read it. Nor a book that mentions so many books i feel compelled to read. I picked up Either/Or in Paris because I hated the British covers and so had put off buying it. I hadn’t even thought I’d be able to get the book where I was and upon finishing it, I realise that wait between finishing The Idiot and getting to Either/or, was fate.
Recitatif by Toni Morrison
5.0
“Actually my sign didn’t make sense without Roberta’s”
I would pay an obscene amount of money to take a tour of Toni Morrison’s brain, truly. So glad I own a physical version of this it is beautiful.
I would recommend reading zadie smiths introduction last if this is the first time you are reading the short story (like me) but that it works as a wonderful warm up for revisits, since there is so much in her introduction that begs to be revisited alongside Morrisons work.
I would pay an obscene amount of money to take a tour of Toni Morrison’s brain, truly. So glad I own a physical version of this it is beautiful.
I would recommend reading zadie smiths introduction last if this is the first time you are reading the short story (like me) but that it works as a wonderful warm up for revisits, since there is so much in her introduction that begs to be revisited alongside Morrisons work.