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pran's reviews
228 reviews
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Audiobook was very difficult to get into. May try again on kindle
Hit Parade of Tears by Izumi Suzuki
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I loved Terminal Boredom but this one was just not giving.
The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century by Olga Ravn
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Plays with interesting ideas of capitalism, productivity.
I like anything experimental with form.
But ultimately the book made me feel nothing- hence the 2.75 stars. I've read plenty of speculative fiction that manages to discuss issues in a more nuanced way that also makes the reader feel more.
I read on kindle but this cover design looks very cool also.
I like anything experimental with form.
But ultimately the book made me feel nothing- hence the 2.75 stars. I've read plenty of speculative fiction that manages to discuss issues in a more nuanced way that also makes the reader feel more.
I read on kindle but this cover design looks very cool also.
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
4.0
The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire by William Dalrymple
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
I just lost momentum with this one. Hoping to pick back up at some point this year.
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is a very ambitious book. It is trying to be a historical, espionage, family-drama, wartime thriller.
Unfortunately I think the tension-building could've been better as I just did not feel it was very propulsive. I think this was due to a combination of the writing style, character-building and pacing.
I didn't feel attached to the characters, I think because Cecily was really just built of everything she hadn't done or wasn't, rather than qualities or traits she had. I thought the characterisation of the children was much better, and I certainly felt more attached to them and they felt more life-like.
However, I think the book was too short to actually explore everything it did, and had it been longer, it would've made more sense and felt less stilted.Abel's alcoholism, Yuki's abuse and disfigurement and Gordon's death felt like they were basically just trauma porn and plot-driven, rather than experiences that the characters go through which develop them. You could see through almost every interaction in the book as being purposeful for the plot rather than being seamlessly weaved together and capturing early 1940s Malaysia.
And then the ending just felt hastily tied together because books like this need to have a neat ending.
Unfortunately I think the tension-building could've been better as I just did not feel it was very propulsive. I think this was due to a combination of the writing style, character-building and pacing.
I didn't feel attached to the characters, I think because Cecily was really just built of everything she hadn't done or wasn't, rather than qualities or traits she had. I thought the characterisation of the children was much better, and I certainly felt more attached to them and they felt more life-like.
However, I think the book was too short to actually explore everything it did, and had it been longer, it would've made more sense and felt less stilted.
And then the ending just felt hastily tied together because books like this need to have a neat ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, and War
The East Indian by Brinda Charry
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a nice book.
But if you take out the fact that this is about one of the first Indians to come to America, there is nothing particularly special about the story or the writing. In fact, there were quite a lot of clichés in the plot and the characters, who were often very two-dimensional. Many of the characters were portrayed as wholly good or bad. The only character I felt was portrayed with some amount of depth was actually Dick.
I believe Charry falls into the trap of superimposing very modern ideas and ways of thinking onto characters who lived in the 1600s and while I understand that this is her way of showing the reader that this character is virtuous, I think it detracts from the historical accuracy and plausibility of the story.
I also felt like a lot of the atrocities and unkindness that Tony and other character would've faced were either glossed over, or written about in very vague terms. This surprised me, considering the author is a historian.
But if you take out the fact that this is about one of the first Indians to come to America, there is nothing particularly special about the story or the writing. In fact, there were quite a lot of clichés in the plot and the characters, who were often very two-dimensional. Many of the characters were portrayed as wholly good or bad. The only character I felt was portrayed with some amount of depth was actually Dick.
I believe Charry falls into the trap of superimposing very modern ideas and ways of thinking onto characters who lived in the 1600s and while I understand that this is her way of showing the reader that this character is virtuous, I think it detracts from the historical accuracy and plausibility of the story.
I also felt like a lot of the atrocities and unkindness that Tony and other character would've faced were either glossed over, or written about in very vague terms. This surprised me, considering the author is a historian.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
The beginning part was absolutely stunning, and even a lot of the political stuff he was talking about was great, but then... it just got so dry... and I wasn't sure if I could go on. Maybe I will try and come back to it later :)
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a lovely read. I think Miller accomplishes exactly what she sets out to do with this. It is not trying to be high-brow, overly intellectual literary fiction. Miller's goal is to make Greek mythology accessible and entertaining to a modern audience, and she does that beautifully, I think, while also managing to emotionally involve us and tug at the reader's heartstrings more than a few times. I think this is so cool because that may have been how ancient Greek audiences received these stories at the time.
Regarding the whole 'Achilles heel' thing, I read that this isn't actually referenced in the Iliad itself, but later in a different text. I think Miller's aim was to retell the story as it was in the Iliad, which is why that is not referenced.
Also, I love that the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus has been debated throughout history, literally since Homer first wrote the Iliad, as the ancient Greeks didn't really distinguish between homosexual and heterosexual relationships between men. This is really Miller's interpretation of how their relationship might've been, and I think it's entirely plausible (and makes for a beautifully tragic love story)given Achilles' reaction to Patroclus' death.
I just gave it 4.5 stars because I felt the writing and dialogue was a little cliché at times, and felt a bit like I was reading a movie, which is something that I personally don't like.
Regarding the whole 'Achilles heel' thing, I read that this isn't actually referenced in the Iliad itself, but later in a different text. I think Miller's aim was to retell the story as it was in the Iliad, which is why that is not referenced.
Also, I love that the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus has been debated throughout history, literally since Homer first wrote the Iliad, as the ancient Greeks didn't really distinguish between homosexual and heterosexual relationships between men. This is really Miller's interpretation of how their relationship might've been, and I think it's entirely plausible (and makes for a beautifully tragic love story)
I just gave it 4.5 stars because I felt the writing and dialogue was a little cliché at times, and felt a bit like I was reading a movie, which is something that I personally don't like.