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princesa's reviews
3 reviews
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This book had me the entire time. Genuinely I picked up this book without any prior knowledge to what it was about nor what to expect. I picked this off of Korean pop group BTS' reading list and I'm so glad I did. This book had me. I couldn't not stop reading, especially after the boy reached the oasis. Which is why I did say it was medium paced, the first 30% of the book was, I suppose, slow paced but once I hit that part I just could not stop. The intrigue to not only what he may find at the pyramids, but the lessons to me as the reader along the way were enticing. The way I never knew where the boy's journey would lead him next was truly refreshing. Though I did predict just one realization from the book, everything else was delightfully unexpected.
The way I was rooting for the boy the whole way, how amiable he was- how open he was. The speak of alchemy and the way many times my mind just kinda went, "aha," at a given message was thrilling. With the blend of spirituality and the way this was written, this was a perfect concoction for what I was looking for without knowing I was looking for it. Instant favorite.
The way I was rooting for the boy the whole way, how amiable he was- how open he was. The speak of alchemy and the way many times my mind just kinda went, "aha," at a given message was thrilling. With the blend of spirituality and the way this was written, this was a perfect concoction for what I was looking for without knowing I was looking for it. Instant favorite.
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter--And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
I think it would've hit harder if I read this when I had just gotten into my twenties. I'm about twenty-five as I just finished this book for the first time and the intro almost turned me away. I felt as though the information I was getting I had already learned over the years and this was just preaching to the choir. The chapter I appreciated the least was the 'my life should look better on facebook' because I've since stopped comparing myself to my peers and don't even use platforms like Instagram or Facebook for those purposes (let alone at all). I'm very grateful I stuck with it though because I did find the remaining two-thirds though-provoking. I do wish to share this book with some of my peers as I feel they would find this useful as well. Overall a good read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
depression , mental illness
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Eliza and Her Monsters will always be near and dear to my heart. Niche yet approachable and enjoyable. When I first picked up this book I related to it immensely, from the specific separation of online and in-person entities to the depression that unfortunately bled through both. After re-reading almost four years later, I'm able to genuinely pinpoint my issues with the book besides just blindly giving it a 5/5 for relevance.
Now, even though I resonate with the emotions Eliza feels, I'm less sympathetic to the decisions of Eliza and Wallace towards the end of the book. However, they're both children after all and don't have the emotional intelligence to fully communicate with one another yet. Also, while there are diverse characters they are mostly side characters and don't have much to do with the actual plot of the story. Arguably, it's still appreciated and especially since from the plot standpoint this really does focus on Eliza and her alone.
My final gripe with the story pertains to her younger brother being a savior in her war with her parents. Though I appreciate the emotional maturity we had yet to learn from this character until this point I don't think it should've been his place to say what Eliza herself needed to say. I'm glad she had someone in her corner to speak up for her though I found this rather unrealistic in most situations.
Despite my few complaints, this is still such a good read with compelling storytelling. Each time Zappia writes to the more intimate moments between Eliza and Wallace, I feel as though I'm reliving the feelings myself. The same giddiness and innocence of being that close to someone for the first time. Not only that, but the passion Eliza has for her work and community online. This is one of those books that's great if you relate to her situation, but even if you don't it's still well-written enough for you to enjoy for what it is.
Now, even though I resonate with the emotions Eliza feels, I'm less sympathetic to the decisions of Eliza and Wallace towards the end of the book. However, they're both children after all and don't have the emotional intelligence to fully communicate with one another yet. Also, while there are diverse characters they are mostly side characters and don't have much to do with the actual plot of the story. Arguably, it's still appreciated and especially since from the plot standpoint this really does focus on Eliza and her alone.
My final gripe with the story
Despite my few complaints, this is still such a good read with compelling storytelling. Each time Zappia writes to the more intimate moments between Eliza and Wallace, I feel as though I'm reliving the feelings myself. The same giddiness and innocence of being that close to someone for the first time. Not only that, but the passion Eliza has for her work and community online. This is one of those books that's great if you relate to her situation, but even if you don't it's still well-written enough for you to enjoy for what it is.
Content Warnings
Minor: Car accident, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
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