Take a photo of a barcode or cover
random_spider's reviews
120 reviews
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Winston Smith toes the Party line, rewriting history. Each time he does his job, he grows to hate the questionable actions of them. But as he starts to think for himself, Winston can't escape the fact that Big brother is always watching.
The Good and The Bad:
Just like the author's previous book, this one dived deep into the concept of Totalitarianism. It offered a haunting reading experience choked full of dark themes such as Propaganda, Hypocrisy, Information Distortion, Revolution, etc. Despite its gloomy deposition ๐ค, the protagonist managed to show readers hope as he gradually discovers how find autonomy and live like a true human being.
My problems with the book stemmed from its story and how it was written. The story was alright, but it's pacing was not something too lethargic (and not in an intentional way.) It was also too dependent on delivering exposition, making the narrative and world-building to be just a glorified info-dump โน๏ธ.
Final Thoughts:
1984 by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about a life within a Totalitarian system. The general consensus about this novel is that IT'S THE DYSTOPIAN BOOK. And I do get it, with its disheartening vibe, provocative message, and criticisms towards the government, social hierarchy, and war. Frankly, I would prefer Animal Farm over this. Yes, this book is better in delivering their similar themes and contexts. But Animal Farm had better pace and story, as well as unique identity of utilizing fable elements.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-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
3.5
This is a book that was written to deliver a message, and I should have done more research before starting it since my expectation was a classic with some convincing plot. I personally didn't enjoy reading it due to this...but to be honest, it wasn't meant to be enjoyed. A significant piece of literature nonetheless.
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 6/10
Characters/POVs: 6/10
Prose/Style: 5/10
Themes/Messages: 10/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 4/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (Good)
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 6/10
Characters/POVs: 6/10
Prose/Style: 5/10
Themes/Messages: 10/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 4/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (Good)
" 'Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past,' " repeated Winston obediently.
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Winston Smith toes the Party line, rewriting history. Each time he does his job, he grows to hate the questionable actions of them. But as he starts to think for himself, Winston can't escape the fact that Big brother is always watching.
The Good and The Bad:
Just like the author's previous book, this one dived deep into the concept of Totalitarianism. It offered a haunting reading experience choked full of dark themes such as Propaganda, Hypocrisy, Information Distortion, Revolution, etc. Despite its gloomy deposition ๐ค, the protagonist managed to show readers hope as he gradually discovers how find autonomy and live like a true human being.
My problems with the book stemmed from its story and how it was written. The story was alright, but it's pacing was not something too lethargic (and not in an intentional way.) It was also too dependent on delivering exposition, making the narrative and world-building to be just a glorified info-dump โน๏ธ.
Final Thoughts:
1984 by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about a life within a Totalitarian system. The general consensus about this novel is that IT'S THE DYSTOPIAN BOOK. And I do get it, with its disheartening vibe, provocative message, and criticisms towards the government, social hierarchy, and war. Frankly, I would prefer Animal Farm over this. Yes, this book is better in delivering their similar themes and contexts. But Animal Farm had better pace and story, as well as unique identity of utilizing fable elements.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Clementine's (Lemon) life now felt...nothing. Not even a promotion on her job she claimed she enjoyed could revitalize something within her. Not good, not bad, just void. But she doesn't expect someone would disrupt that case. Someone attractive she could fall into, someone who is seven years apart, and perhaps she's seven years too late.
The Good and The Bad:
This was a nice book. Seriously, the prose of the author was easy (but not in a beginner type of way), and it was entertaining all throughout. Funny how I could read the food sections all day, with all their sensual descriptions that had me drooling ๐. Another contributing factor as to why this book was a pleasant read were the characters. Clementine was a relatable protagonist, with all her personal restrictions in the beginning, and even though she didn't connect with me personally the character development she went through was exemplary. The male deuteragonist, Iwan, was charismatic and had this loose yet driven attitude (that blossomed into maturity later on), complementing Clementine's stiffness. Their chemistry, and how they built it, was just...natural. The book, in the end, was neatly wrapped. And that's a lot easier said than done
The romance genre is most safe to use as a sub-genre instead of a main one. It's because without enough substance there's nothing more lackluster. Fortunately, this novel wasn't shorthanded on that department ๐ช. Reading Iwan experiencing imposter syndrome was compelling, and him full of passion and soul about cooking was engaging. Yup, he's my favorite character here. But Clementine wasn't falling behind. She had to contend with her own internal turmoil while balancing both her personal and professional life. Lastly, the book gave a unique perspective of success and growth, and it played well with the concept of fate.
I do only have one problem with this: The flashback transitions. If they could have been more distinct, I could see myself giving this the coveted 10/10 rating or 5โญ, though I doubt I'll do it based on my scores ๐. These flashbacks often meld with the main narrative, creating some momentary confusions.
Final Thoughts:
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a contemporary romance novel (and a chick Lit?) about a book publicist and a chef falling in love in the right timing, yet on a wrong time. It had speculative fiction elements, mystery, and a splash of spice, yet despite its surrealism it's humbly grounded into reality. Yes, it used some popular romance tropes, but overall, a well-package love story with just enough substance to shine by itself. To be frank, this was legit amazing and, even though I didn't click with it personally, it deserves all the praises.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.5
This was one of those books that wasn't of my personal taste...yet I still recognized how well-crafted it was. Truly an enjoyable feel-good novel.
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 8/10
Characters/POVs: 8/10
Prose/Style: 8/10
Themes/Messages: 9/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 7/10
OVERALL RATING: 9/10 (Amazing)
.
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 8/10
Characters/POVs: 8/10
Prose/Style: 8/10
Themes/Messages: 9/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 7/10
OVERALL RATING: 9/10 (Amazing)
.
"She only ever had two rules in this apartment โ one, always take your shoes off by the door.
And two: never fall in love."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Clementine's (Lemon) life now felt...nothing. Not even a promotion on her job she claimed she enjoyed could revitalize something within her. Not good, not bad, just void. But she doesn't expect someone would disrupt that case. Someone attractive she could fall into, someone who is seven years apart, and perhaps she's seven years too late.
The Good and The Bad:
This was a nice book. Seriously, the prose of the author was easy (but not in a beginner type of way), and it was entertaining all throughout. Funny how I could read the food sections all day, with all their sensual descriptions that had me drooling ๐. Another contributing factor as to why this book was a pleasant read were the characters. Clementine was a relatable protagonist, with all her personal restrictions in the beginning, and even though she didn't connect with me personally the character development she went through was exemplary. The male deuteragonist, Iwan, was charismatic and had this loose yet driven attitude (that blossomed into maturity later on), complementing Clementine's stiffness. Their chemistry, and how they built it, was just...natural. The book, in the end, was neatly wrapped. And that's a lot easier said than done
The romance genre is most safe to use as a sub-genre instead of a main one. It's because without enough substance there's nothing more lackluster. Fortunately, this novel wasn't shorthanded on that department ๐ช. Reading Iwan experiencing imposter syndrome was compelling, and him full of passion and soul about cooking was engaging. Yup, he's my favorite character here. But Clementine wasn't falling behind. She had to contend with her own internal turmoil while balancing both her personal and professional life. Lastly, the book gave a unique perspective of success and growth, and it played well with the concept of fate.
I do only have one problem with this: The flashback transitions. If they could have been more distinct, I could see myself giving this the coveted 10/10 rating or 5โญ, though I doubt I'll do it based on my scores ๐. These flashbacks often meld with the main narrative, creating some momentary confusions.
Final Thoughts:
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a contemporary romance novel (and a chick Lit?) about a book publicist and a chef falling in love in the right timing, yet on a wrong time. It had speculative fiction elements, mystery, and a splash of spice, yet despite its surrealism it's humbly grounded into reality. Yes, it used some popular romance tropes, but overall, a well-package love story with just enough substance to shine by itself. To be frank, this was legit amazing and, even though I didn't click with it personally, it deserves all the praises.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Luki wanted to do more than the constraints and control of her Bontok people. So, when the opportunity arrived through Truman Hunt, she sailed to America to be a part of the World's Fair. This will be the change that's going give her freedom. To be out there. To experience the world. And she indeed experienced it.
The Good and The Bad:
This sequel continues to be one of the most thematic books I've ever read. The author was particularly fond of packing them with those relevant to its target audiences, as well as exploring rarely-touched histories. Themes such as Colonialism, Feminism, Racism/Discrimination/Prejudice, Personal Identity and Independence, Spirituality, Greed, etc., many of which were dark-toned. I mean, it's not the biggest surprise since true historical events were mostly f*cked up ๐ฌ. The narrative was particularly focused on the exploitation of various people around the globe for Westerners' entertainment, not an ounce of regard towards sensitivity just so to establish their superiority. Ever heard of the Human Zoo during the 1904 World's Fair in St. Luis? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. All of this within the perspective of a Bontok character made the collective message much more stirring.
To my pleasant surprise, this book was incredibly balanced in terms of being a plot-driven and a character-driven story โ๏ธ. The plot had an overarching control of the direction, but our main characters (especially Luki) had capabilities to write their own stories. They had to grapple with their everyday decisions to survive and adapt. And because of this personal agency, it was an effective Young Adult (YA) fiction. Lastly, the pacing of the narrative was more stable comparatively to its antecedent. They all just fit snuggly together.
Again, the author published something with genuine intention of educating the readers to what happened in the pages of history ๐งโ๐ซ. This was evident, again, through the ending pages of the book. The section called 'What Happened Next' was a historical excerpt from the author explaining her inspirations (including their legitimate references.) There was also a Discussion Guide after it, encouraging groups of readers to share their thoughts comfortably (and perhaps learn a thing or two.) Such a great, well-researched Historical Fiction that checked all my criteria for the genre (see my he review for reference.) This is why I admire Candy Gourlay, further cementing herself to be my favorite Filipino author.
But like its predecessor, it had suffered some flaws that kept me from rating it much higher:
1. Forced scenes ๐ - There were a few scenes throughout the book that was forced...and it's embarrassing how obvious it was (as if the author was struggling on transition.) They also led into some questionable/random/odd scenarios for the characters.
2. Few derivative themes ๐คท- There's nothing innately wrong with the themes (I scored them highest, even), but they were those that have been explored further on other modern novels. Thus, they felt not fresh enough. Also, how some themes were pushy rather than being subtly integrated doesn't help either.
3. Telling ๐ฃ๏ธ - This issue was connected to the prose, which was unique by the way. Luki consistently talking to his mom? IT'S DIFFERENT YET IT WORKS WELL. However, because of this format, there were unavoidable telling incidents where Luki simply narrated the event to her mom rather than the author simply showing the occurrence.
Final Thoughts:
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay is a YA, Historical Fiction novel about the 1904 World's Fair in the perspective of a young Bontok woman and her people. It's a sequel to the author's most recent work, Bone Talk, though I'm not 100% certain if this duology would soon become a trilogy. But I'm just glad she continued her utilization of superstitions/beliefs (like in all of her novels) as it was a large part of this series. There are some parts that I would like to be written differently, but that's just me. Now, I was constantly debating on who's character to side on, since the author made sure their actions and decisions stemmed from logic. They all had a solid point, and they left me ripped apart questioning myself. THAT'S WHY I LOVED IT!!! ๐
Thank you, Miss Bea for this Christmas Book Giveaway, ๐!!!
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
dark
informative
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 7/10
Characters/POVs: 7/10
Prose/Style: 8/10
Themes/Messages: 9/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 7/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (Good)
A similarly valorous, provoking sequel to Bone Talk, I think it's a smudge better than its predecessor.
Plot/Content: 7/10
Characters/POVs: 7/10
Prose/Style: 8/10
Themes/Messages: 9/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 7/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (Good)
A similarly valorous, provoking sequel to Bone Talk, I think it's a smudge better than its predecessor.
"What are you going to do? Jump on a train? Go home?" I snapped. "The Americans are our hosts. Show some respect!"
"Show respect when they show us no respect โ"
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Luki wanted to do more than the constraints and control of her Bontok people. So, when the opportunity arrived through Truman Hunt, she sailed to America to be a part of the World's Fair. This will be the change that's going give her freedom. To be out there. To experience the world. And she indeed experienced it.
The Good and The Bad:
This sequel continues to be one of the most thematic books I've ever read. The author was particularly fond of packing them with those relevant to its target audiences, as well as exploring rarely-touched histories. Themes such as Colonialism, Feminism, Racism/Discrimination/Prejudice, Personal Identity and Independence, Spirituality, Greed, etc., many of which were dark-toned. I mean, it's not the biggest surprise since true historical events were mostly f*cked up ๐ฌ. The narrative was particularly focused on the exploitation of various people around the globe for Westerners' entertainment, not an ounce of regard towards sensitivity just so to establish their superiority. Ever heard of the Human Zoo during the 1904 World's Fair in St. Luis? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. All of this within the perspective of a Bontok character made the collective message much more stirring.
To my pleasant surprise, this book was incredibly balanced in terms of being a plot-driven and a character-driven story โ๏ธ. The plot had an overarching control of the direction, but our main characters (especially Luki) had capabilities to write their own stories. They had to grapple with their everyday decisions to survive and adapt. And because of this personal agency, it was an effective Young Adult (YA) fiction. Lastly, the pacing of the narrative was more stable comparatively to its antecedent. They all just fit snuggly together.
Again, the author published something with genuine intention of educating the readers to what happened in the pages of history ๐งโ๐ซ. This was evident, again, through the ending pages of the book. The section called 'What Happened Next' was a historical excerpt from the author explaining her inspirations (including their legitimate references.) There was also a Discussion Guide after it, encouraging groups of readers to share their thoughts comfortably (and perhaps learn a thing or two.) Such a great, well-researched Historical Fiction that checked all my criteria for the genre (see my he review for reference.) This is why I admire Candy Gourlay, further cementing herself to be my favorite Filipino author.
But like its predecessor, it had suffered some flaws that kept me from rating it much higher:
1. Forced scenes ๐ - There were a few scenes throughout the book that was forced...and it's embarrassing how obvious it was (as if the author was struggling on transition.) They also led into some questionable/random/odd scenarios for the characters.
2. Few derivative themes ๐คท- There's nothing innately wrong with the themes (I scored them highest, even), but they were those that have been explored further on other modern novels. Thus, they felt not fresh enough. Also, how some themes were pushy rather than being subtly integrated doesn't help either.
3. Telling ๐ฃ๏ธ - This issue was connected to the prose, which was unique by the way. Luki consistently talking to his mom? IT'S DIFFERENT YET IT WORKS WELL. However, because of this format, there were unavoidable telling incidents where Luki simply narrated the event to her mom rather than the author simply showing the occurrence.
Final Thoughts:
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay is a YA, Historical Fiction novel about the 1904 World's Fair in the perspective of a young Bontok woman and her people. It's a sequel to the author's most recent work, Bone Talk, though I'm not 100% certain if this duology would soon become a trilogy. But I'm just glad she continued her utilization of superstitions/beliefs (like in all of her novels) as it was a large part of this series. There are some parts that I would like to be written differently, but that's just me. Now, I was constantly debating on who's character to side on, since the author made sure their actions and decisions stemmed from logic. They all had a solid point, and they left me ripped apart questioning myself. THAT'S WHY I LOVED IT!!! ๐
Thank you, Miss Bea for this Christmas Book Giveaway, ๐!!!
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
he by John Connolly
Synopsis and/or Premise:
We follow Stan Laurel and his life of being a comic during the first half of the 20th century.
The Good and The Bad:
Despite receiving the lowest rating possible, it's a miracle how I still could manage to scrap some few good things about the novel. First, I like the minimalist and clean cover (the main reason why I bought it.) Second, there's some fleeting, faint engagement for following someone being overshadowed in an industry, being limited due to a fat body, and longing of former glories. Last and probably the least, I now know that Charlie Chaplin was a pedophile...yeah.
OH BOY! I'm going to have a field day listing all its shortcomings ๐:
1. Pretentious ๐ - Too much flowery prose to only deliver some underwhelming substance, thus the dancing of words felt unjustified and is of tricks. The book had this 'inner pride' as if it's the pinnacle of Biography Fiction literature. Book...WILL YOU SHUT UP?!?! THIS IS SO AGGRAVATING!!!
2. Telling ๐ฃ๏ธ - Another day, another crime committed. Who could thoroughly enjoy a narrative flow full of "This happened, and then this happened..."? Not me. This book suffered from one of the most common rookie mistakes in novel composition, though I'm sure this wasn't the debut of the author...WHICH MADE IT EVEN WORSE! But I do understand that there's no absolute rule on how to write a novel. Still, being able to do it doesn't mean you should do it.
3. Lacking โ - It had no hook that could attract readers to continue past the first few pages, an absent of some functional tension to keep the readers intrigued, a weak cast of characters that weren't compelling at all, and not even efficient nor effective with its prose (as mentioned being pretentious.) Wow, amazing indeed ๐.
4. Repetitive ๐ - The prose, being all pretentious, had this annoying habit of repeating what's written just to forced it into the reader's mind. It indeed got into my mine, but not in any good way. It's excessive, in my opinion.
5. Fast yet Slow ๐คจ - Book...how did you even made this possible? It's contradictory in concept, but for some unknown reason, the book did it. The chapters were mostly short, averaging about 2-3 pages long. This is a reliable indicator that the narrative pacing was fast. But this novel subverts (and not in a good way) by dragging the story into a crawl. The result was an unpleasant reading experience with hundreds of short chapters, each barely moving the plot forward.
6. Too many characters/events ๐๏ธ - So many unimportant names cluttered within. So many inconsequential events happened just for the sake of adding something in the pages. So many problems this book had acquired. Just so many it muted the experience and turned it into a chore.
7. Overall numbness ๐ - This book was near lifeless in essence, and a disappointment of its genre. I briefly mentioned from my review of Deadwood that a novel within Historical Fiction genre should accomplish 3 major things: A faithful retelling, a novel perspective, and a powerful plot. If completed, the Historical Fiction genre could be the best as it revitalizes true history from the deliverance of a fictionalized narrative. This book fell short from 2/3rd of the criteria (I am not sure about its historical accuracies, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.) It even sort of failed on its job as a Biography Fiction since I, a stranger to the characters, still didn't give a damn. I felt nothing about this book, and everything that came out of it.
Final Thoughts:
he by John Connolly is a Biography Fiction and Historical Fictional novel set during the early to mid-20th century about the failures, dramas, and successes of a comic duo. It's roughly the worst of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' type of books. Now, if you're curious on why I persevered not DNFing this one, I have a few reasons why:
1. I get to finally remove it from my physical TBR,
2. It gave me a justification for this rant (which I occasionally enjoy writing), and
3. I personally do not DNF books to give them a chance of recovery (which this book failed, and I am now rethinking about this policy of mine.)
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
informative
slow-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? It's complicated
0.5
This may come out more like rant, but I have no regrets.
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 1/10
Characters/POVs: 2/10
Prose/Style: 2/10
Themes/Messages: 2/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 1/10
OVERALL RATING: 1/10 (Ironically impressed)
WOW...it's been a while since I rated something this low of a score.
At best, this book was just a bland and sluggish fictional biography of both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy that didn't work for me (since I never knew nor cared about the lives of these comics in the first place.) At worst, a complete failure of its genres that sucked the enjoyment out of my hobby.
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 1/10
Characters/POVs: 2/10
Prose/Style: 2/10
Themes/Messages: 2/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 1/10
OVERALL RATING: 1/10 (Ironically impressed)
WOW...it's been a while since I rated something this low of a score.
At best, this book was just a bland and sluggish fictional biography of both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy that didn't work for me (since I never knew nor cared about the lives of these comics in the first place.) At worst, a complete failure of its genres that sucked the enjoyment out of my hobby.
I know what will happen when Babe goes, Vera says.
โ What will happen?
โ Life will stop, but time will go on.
Vera is wrong.
The clock ticks, and life goes on.
That is what makes it all so unbearable.
Synopsis and/or Premise:
We follow Stan Laurel and his life of being a comic during the first half of the 20th century.
The Good and The Bad:
Despite receiving the lowest rating possible, it's a miracle how I still could manage to scrap some few good things about the novel. First, I like the minimalist and clean cover (the main reason why I bought it.) Second, there's some fleeting, faint engagement for following someone being overshadowed in an industry, being limited due to a fat body, and longing of former glories. Last and probably the least, I now know that Charlie Chaplin was a pedophile...yeah.
OH BOY! I'm going to have a field day listing all its shortcomings ๐:
1. Pretentious ๐ - Too much flowery prose to only deliver some underwhelming substance, thus the dancing of words felt unjustified and is of tricks. The book had this 'inner pride' as if it's the pinnacle of Biography Fiction literature. Book...WILL YOU SHUT UP?!?! THIS IS SO AGGRAVATING!!!
2. Telling ๐ฃ๏ธ - Another day, another crime committed. Who could thoroughly enjoy a narrative flow full of "This happened, and then this happened..."? Not me. This book suffered from one of the most common rookie mistakes in novel composition, though I'm sure this wasn't the debut of the author...WHICH MADE IT EVEN WORSE! But I do understand that there's no absolute rule on how to write a novel. Still, being able to do it doesn't mean you should do it.
3. Lacking โ - It had no hook that could attract readers to continue past the first few pages, an absent of some functional tension to keep the readers intrigued, a weak cast of characters that weren't compelling at all, and not even efficient nor effective with its prose (as mentioned being pretentious.) Wow, amazing indeed ๐.
4. Repetitive ๐ - The prose, being all pretentious, had this annoying habit of repeating what's written just to forced it into the reader's mind. It indeed got into my mine, but not in any good way. It's excessive, in my opinion.
5. Fast yet Slow ๐คจ - Book...how did you even made this possible? It's contradictory in concept, but for some unknown reason, the book did it. The chapters were mostly short, averaging about 2-3 pages long. This is a reliable indicator that the narrative pacing was fast. But this novel subverts (and not in a good way) by dragging the story into a crawl. The result was an unpleasant reading experience with hundreds of short chapters, each barely moving the plot forward.
6. Too many characters/events ๐๏ธ - So many unimportant names cluttered within. So many inconsequential events happened just for the sake of adding something in the pages. So many problems this book had acquired. Just so many it muted the experience and turned it into a chore.
7. Overall numbness ๐ - This book was near lifeless in essence, and a disappointment of its genre. I briefly mentioned from my review of Deadwood that a novel within Historical Fiction genre should accomplish 3 major things: A faithful retelling, a novel perspective, and a powerful plot. If completed, the Historical Fiction genre could be the best as it revitalizes true history from the deliverance of a fictionalized narrative. This book fell short from 2/3rd of the criteria (I am not sure about its historical accuracies, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.) It even sort of failed on its job as a Biography Fiction since I, a stranger to the characters, still didn't give a damn. I felt nothing about this book, and everything that came out of it.
Final Thoughts:
he by John Connolly is a Biography Fiction and Historical Fictional novel set during the early to mid-20th century about the failures, dramas, and successes of a comic duo. It's roughly the worst of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' type of books. Now, if you're curious on why I persevered not DNFing this one, I have a few reasons why:
1. I get to finally remove it from my physical TBR,
2. It gave me a justification for this rant (which I occasionally enjoy writing), and
3. I personally do not DNF books to give them a chance of recovery (which this book failed, and I am now rethinking about this policy of mine.)
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Keiko was nothing more than a convenience store woman for almost two decades, and is happily contented with this 'mask' of normalcy. However, people around her life were becoming more worrisome due to her lack of personal growth/change and life achievements. Will she able to hide more?
The Good and The Bad:
This book will GRIP you, without fail from beginning to end. Hear me out! ๐ณ A short novel with chapter-less format, fast pacing, active prose, and peppery characterizations โ who couldn't resist finishing it within a sitting or two? I mean, there's not much point resisting since the book was written in such quirky, entertaining manner you'll be surprised how the pages fly. It was also uniquely comedic in an unconventional way, since most of the humor stemmed from either the unpredictability of events or deadpan amusements. But of course, this book wasn't just show. IT HAD HEART โค๏ธ. Complicated adult themes that were surprisingly dark and triggering were present within. Subjects such as social compliance, escapism, and stagnation were few of many being explored.
Now, let's talk about the two major characters: Keiko and Shiraha. They were both highlights on their own terms. Keiko, the protagonist, was one of my most personally relatable fictional character ๐ซ. She's was uniquely herself, yet was easy to grasp her character. Some Japanese literatures I read had their protagonists undergo little to no character development, but instead experience character revelation (alongside its consequences.) Keiko was no different from them. The best parts, perhaps, was her thought processes. A charismatic blend of ignorance and genuineness, and pure passion for the convenience store. She was basically what you get when you transform AI into a person. Shiraha, on the other hand, earned himself to be a member of "THE MOST DESPICABLE CHARACTERS". A complete Red Flag ๐ฉ: He's a hypocrite, a lazy freeloader, misogynistic asshole, manipulative coward, condescending to others he considered low-life, self-centered creep, insecure loser, failure in life, and literally filthy. Such an absolute sore individual with no redeeming qualities. I just wanted to beat him up to pulp ๐ค...and that's why I didn't rate this book lower despite him being in there. His role was meant to be hated, and he excelled at it.
I humbly admire this book for being a social critic of some sort, specifically towards the concept of conformity. Society often told us what to do or what to be. And we're helpless against it since we humans are meant to be social creatures; we have a need to feel accepted/belonged. Using Keiko (and to a dangerous extent, Shiraha), the book strived to expose the harsh realities like pressure, judgement, and rigid mentalities. It also forced the readers in an awkward dilemma โ๏ธ: Support Keiko's life in the convenience store, or be with society that forces change on her. My choice was linked to Keiko's side, but I also can't ignore my disposition towards the other side's arguments. Also, I love how the ending of the book was tied to this predicament (sorry, can't spoil it.) A perfect, thought-provoking conclusion with a potent message.
However, I do have a single issue with this one:
1. Repetitive coercions/judgements ๐ฃ๏ธ - Honestly, this was the only thing I could find where the book falters a bit. The coercions weren't much of a problem for the majority of pages (around 2/3)...well, up until later when it became tedious and repetitive. There's also a lot of negativities on it, which excessively drains energy.
Final Thoughts:
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata is a Japanese contemporary fiction short novel about a convenience store woman and the pressures placed upon by people around her. It's over-the-top, strangely humorous and depressing, and had a character I personally relate to. Now, despite not explicitly stated, the general consensus towards Keiko was she belonged within the spectrum of autism (which I just knew after reading other reviews). Not sure whether I also am, but I'm simply happy it got a decent representation within the story. Speaking of, the narrative was not I was expecting based on the blurb. Anyways, there were reviews which didn't quite understood the main point of this novel...so yeah, it ended up underrated.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 7/10
Characters/POVs: 8/10
Prose/Style: 8/10
Themes/Messages: 9/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 9/10
OVERALL RATING: 9/10 (amazing)
WOW! This book is absurd...and I love it! Highly recommended.
Plot/Content: 7/10
Characters/POVs: 8/10
Prose/Style: 8/10
Themes/Messages: 9/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 9/10
OVERALL RATING: 9/10 (amazing)
WOW! This book is absurd...and I love it! Highly recommended.
The woman narrowed her eyes and said, "This place never changes, does it?"
I paused, then answered, "You're right it doesn't!"
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Keiko was nothing more than a convenience store woman for almost two decades, and is happily contented with this 'mask' of normalcy. However, people around her life were becoming more worrisome due to her lack of personal growth/change and life achievements. Will she able to hide more?
The Good and The Bad:
This book will GRIP you, without fail from beginning to end. Hear me out! ๐ณ A short novel with chapter-less format, fast pacing, active prose, and peppery characterizations โ who couldn't resist finishing it within a sitting or two? I mean, there's not much point resisting since the book was written in such quirky, entertaining manner you'll be surprised how the pages fly. It was also uniquely comedic in an unconventional way, since most of the humor stemmed from either the unpredictability of events or deadpan amusements. But of course, this book wasn't just show. IT HAD HEART โค๏ธ. Complicated adult themes that were surprisingly dark and triggering were present within. Subjects such as social compliance, escapism, and stagnation were few of many being explored.
Now, let's talk about the two major characters: Keiko and Shiraha. They were both highlights on their own terms. Keiko, the protagonist, was one of my most personally relatable fictional character ๐ซ. She's was uniquely herself, yet was easy to grasp her character. Some Japanese literatures I read had their protagonists undergo little to no character development, but instead experience character revelation (alongside its consequences.) Keiko was no different from them. The best parts, perhaps, was her thought processes. A charismatic blend of ignorance and genuineness, and pure passion for the convenience store. She was basically what you get when you transform AI into a person. Shiraha, on the other hand, earned himself to be a member of "THE MOST DESPICABLE CHARACTERS". A complete Red Flag ๐ฉ: He's a hypocrite, a lazy freeloader, misogynistic asshole, manipulative coward, condescending to others he considered low-life, self-centered creep, insecure loser, failure in life, and literally filthy. Such an absolute sore individual with no redeeming qualities. I just wanted to beat him up to pulp ๐ค...and that's why I didn't rate this book lower despite him being in there. His role was meant to be hated, and he excelled at it.
I humbly admire this book for being a social critic of some sort, specifically towards the concept of conformity. Society often told us what to do or what to be. And we're helpless against it since we humans are meant to be social creatures; we have a need to feel accepted/belonged. Using Keiko (and to a dangerous extent, Shiraha), the book strived to expose the harsh realities like pressure, judgement, and rigid mentalities. It also forced the readers in an awkward dilemma โ๏ธ: Support Keiko's life in the convenience store, or be with society that forces change on her. My choice was linked to Keiko's side, but I also can't ignore my disposition towards the other side's arguments. Also, I love how the ending of the book was tied to this predicament (sorry, can't spoil it.) A perfect, thought-provoking conclusion with a potent message.
However, I do have a single issue with this one:
1. Repetitive coercions/judgements ๐ฃ๏ธ - Honestly, this was the only thing I could find where the book falters a bit. The coercions weren't much of a problem for the majority of pages (around 2/3)...well, up until later when it became tedious and repetitive. There's also a lot of negativities on it, which excessively drains energy.
Final Thoughts:
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata is a Japanese contemporary fiction short novel about a convenience store woman and the pressures placed upon by people around her. It's over-the-top, strangely humorous and depressing, and had a character I personally relate to. Now, despite not explicitly stated, the general consensus towards Keiko was she belonged within the spectrum of autism (which I just knew after reading other reviews). Not sure whether I also am, but I'm simply happy it got a decent representation within the story. Speaking of, the narrative was not I was expecting based on the blurb. Anyways, there were reviews which didn't quite understood the main point of this novel...so yeah, it ended up underrated.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Gaspery investigates a glitch within the timeline, crossing paths with the lives of other characters as he found the will to change their faith.
The Good and The Bad:
If I could name a major strength of the book, I would confidently say its unique formatting ๐. It was jarring (in a fresh way) that made the reading process surprisingly stimulating. Each divisions had their own respective pacing and essence, offering a variety of experience for readers. We have Edwin's chapters being the most atmospheric, Olive's chapters were drawn out to maximize angst and paranoia, Gaspery's chapters had this noir element...you get the gist, right? Creativity simply bloomed on its structure. Plus, the book's chaotic imbalance perfectly synergized with the overall bewildering aspect of time travel (which this novel fully embraced.)
Do you enjoy a trippy reading experience? THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! I kid not, what's happening within the pages was bizarre it wasn't uncommon to be confused ๐ตโ๐ซ. I guess you could expect that from something full of interconnected events, time jumps, and a loose premise. These qualities almost made me label the genre to be speculative fiction instead of Sci-Fi (though I'm pretty sure it's both.) You know what? I bet all these 'dizziness' were intentionally employed by the author. An exemplary book for those who seek to be perplexed. Props to her for achieving that, eh?
I'll dive more into the flaws in a minute, but first I wanted say that the latter half of the book was the most engaging part. Things became a lot clearer (for me, at least), like figuring out the general premise and who is the main 'backbone' character. I also like the consistent floating mystery ๐ถ๏ธ that had been established from the start and how it eventually solved itself. It tells the readers to let go of the idea of control...to accept the simulation/fate...to live as is what's written, and that it is simply ok.
Right, I do have some major issues with the book. Do keep in mind that these three were interconnected with each other:
1. Lopsided ๐คท- Like I implied before, most of the best parts were in the latter half of the novel...ONLY IN THE LATTER HALF. Basically, the majority of events before that point was a set-up. Yeah, it succeeded in that task, but it also established an apparent imbalance that stuck out like a sore thumb.
2. Overall zooming pace ๐จ - Since the majority of 'important' plot occurred only during the 2nd half of the book, it had compromising consequences to the narrative. It turned the pacing into something rushed. The lower page count of the book didn't help either. So, what you got here is a book appearing slow during set-up, then gains absurd momentum upon reaching the 50% threshold.
3. Uncompelling ๐ - Since the first half of the book was dedicated to set up the events and interactions later on, it does mean the other POV characters were thorough and complex, right? Since they had their own time to develop...RIGHT? Welp, I couldn't be more wrong about that. For some reason, most of the characters fell flat. They were barely acceptable, with their superficial depth and weary personal lives. They felt...insignificant, which might be the point. They were great serving as the catalyst for Gaspery's character revelation, considering he cared so much about them. If only that care extends for the readers.
Final Thoughts:
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel is a speculative sci-fi novel about a time traveling investigator. It's rightfully trippy by tackling the concepts of time jumps within a simulated world. Honestly, if I haven't watched Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse, I think I would enjoy this book much more. But since I'm already familiar with the idea of a 'canon event', the concept was trite. I also believe it needed more pages because 259 was a bit too short. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the experiences of Olive within the book was based on the author's life during peak COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, this is a novel with intriguing concepts that would be better understood upon revisit, but that won't likely happen due to an unenjoyable first read-through.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 4/10
Characters/POVs: 6/10
Prose/Style: 10/10
Themes/Messages: 6/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 3/10
OVERALL RATING: 6/10 (ok)
Yup, aside from the author's prose and the stylized format this novel was SOOOOO aggressively mid ๐ฉ. Though, I have to admit, it has extreme potential upon reread.
Plot/Content: 4/10
Characters/POVs: 6/10
Prose/Style: 10/10
Themes/Messages: 6/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 3/10
OVERALL RATING: 6/10 (ok)
Yup, aside from the author's prose and the stylized format this novel was SOOOOO aggressively mid ๐ฉ. Though, I have to admit, it has extreme potential upon reread.
"A life lived in a simulation is still a life."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Gaspery investigates a glitch within the timeline, crossing paths with the lives of other characters as he found the will to change their faith.
The Good and The Bad:
If I could name a major strength of the book, I would confidently say its unique formatting ๐. It was jarring (in a fresh way) that made the reading process surprisingly stimulating. Each divisions had their own respective pacing and essence, offering a variety of experience for readers. We have Edwin's chapters being the most atmospheric, Olive's chapters were drawn out to maximize angst and paranoia, Gaspery's chapters had this noir element...you get the gist, right? Creativity simply bloomed on its structure. Plus, the book's chaotic imbalance perfectly synergized with the overall bewildering aspect of time travel (which this novel fully embraced.)
Do you enjoy a trippy reading experience? THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! I kid not, what's happening within the pages was bizarre it wasn't uncommon to be confused ๐ตโ๐ซ. I guess you could expect that from something full of interconnected events, time jumps, and a loose premise. These qualities almost made me label the genre to be speculative fiction instead of Sci-Fi (though I'm pretty sure it's both.) You know what? I bet all these 'dizziness' were intentionally employed by the author. An exemplary book for those who seek to be perplexed. Props to her for achieving that, eh?
I'll dive more into the flaws in a minute, but first I wanted say that the latter half of the book was the most engaging part. Things became a lot clearer (for me, at least), like figuring out the general premise and who is the main 'backbone' character. I also like the consistent floating mystery ๐ถ๏ธ that had been established from the start and how it eventually solved itself. It tells the readers to let go of the idea of control...to accept the simulation/fate...to live as is what's written, and that it is simply ok.
Right, I do have some major issues with the book. Do keep in mind that these three were interconnected with each other:
1. Lopsided ๐คท- Like I implied before, most of the best parts were in the latter half of the novel...ONLY IN THE LATTER HALF. Basically, the majority of events before that point was a set-up. Yeah, it succeeded in that task, but it also established an apparent imbalance that stuck out like a sore thumb.
2. Overall zooming pace ๐จ - Since the majority of 'important' plot occurred only during the 2nd half of the book, it had compromising consequences to the narrative. It turned the pacing into something rushed. The lower page count of the book didn't help either. So, what you got here is a book appearing slow during set-up, then gains absurd momentum upon reaching the 50% threshold.
3. Uncompelling ๐ - Since the first half of the book was dedicated to set up the events and interactions later on, it does mean the other POV characters were thorough and complex, right? Since they had their own time to develop...RIGHT? Welp, I couldn't be more wrong about that. For some reason, most of the characters fell flat. They were barely acceptable, with their superficial depth and weary personal lives. They felt...insignificant, which might be the point. They were great serving as the catalyst for Gaspery's character revelation, considering he cared so much about them. If only that care extends for the readers.
Final Thoughts:
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel is a speculative sci-fi novel about a time traveling investigator. It's rightfully trippy by tackling the concepts of time jumps within a simulated world. Honestly, if I haven't watched Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse, I think I would enjoy this book much more. But since I'm already familiar with the idea of a 'canon event', the concept was trite. I also believe it needed more pages because 259 was a bit too short. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the experiences of Olive within the book was based on the author's life during peak COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, this is a novel with intriguing concepts that would be better understood upon revisit, but that won't likely happen due to an unenjoyable first read-through.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
Synopsis and/or Premise:
We follow "Eyes" form an unexpected connection-turned-friendship with Kojima. They were a haven for each other against bullies. But soon, the harsh foundation of their special relationship began to crumble.
The Good and The Bad:
This book was about undergoing adolescence ๐ง. Poetic on how the clear it presented the general chaos from that age, starting with sexual urges, uncomfortable feelings, family structures/dynamics, and the need to have a stable connection with fellow adolescents.
This book was about social hierarchy ๐ฅ (specifically within a middle school context, where it is realistically evident.) By relentlessly showing readers how the weak will be preyed upon by those who's able to take advantage, it instilled the idea of how unjust and destructive some social constructs are.
This book was about suicidal thoughts ๐ฅ. It wasn't afraid to dive into the thought processes of someone considering of ending things. It's haunting, it's grim, and it's unyielding.
This book, surprisingly for me, was about perceptions and how drastic one person's way of seeing things is from another. WHAT A THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONCEPT โฅ๏ธ, especially as we witness the protagonist struggling to grapple those that belong to the people around him (as they justify) while forming his own. This theme was perfectly tied to the protagonist's condition, Lazy Eye, with the 'eyes' as windows to a soul.
This book was about the need to change. Some things are fine staying as they were ๐, but there are those that needed to be change for the better. And the book gently whispered that the process isn't something to be ashamed of, that it is not a bad thing. Change is, often, necessary.
And of course, if you couldn't get the gist of it, this book was philosophical ๐ญ. I appreciated it's deeper meaning and how they reflect on society. It was meant not to be rushed, but instead to take time absorbing what the book laid out and ponder upon them.
Honestly, I couldn't find any mistake the book did other than having some paragraphs of meandering plot ใฐ๏ธ. Yeah, it slows the pacing or whatever, but it's a flaw I'm not even frustrated about. Like it's meant to be there...for a more natural book. And as if it served a purpose of balancing the heavy topics.
Final Thoughts:
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami is a brutally taut and unsettling novel that wasn't afraid to address subjects like bullying. The author's direction for it was simultaneously tender and sharp, capturing the fickle poignancy of real life. I also admire how she simply laid out the angles of discussion regarding the topics without siding on one, thus allowing the readers to choose for their own accounts. Like I said in the beginning, this book wasn't meant to be rated, because despite not of perfection, it just fits right for its purpose. Looking forward to more Japanese Literature after this. Any good recommendations?
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 4/10
Characters/POVs: 6/10
Prose/Style: 6/10
Themes/Messages: 10/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 9/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (good)
Weird how I can't give this a confident rating...like it's meant not to be. Sometimes, a thing was simply written for the sole purpose of effectively putting out a provocative message. Indeed, a powerful literature.
Plot/Content: 4/10
Characters/POVs: 6/10
Prose/Style: 6/10
Themes/Messages: 10/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 9/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (good)
Weird how I can't give this a confident rating...like it's meant not to be. Sometimes, a thing was simply written for the sole purpose of effectively putting out a provocative message. Indeed, a powerful literature.
"...You, me, we're all free to interpret the world however we want. We see the world differently. It's that simple..."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
We follow "Eyes" form an unexpected connection-turned-friendship with Kojima. They were a haven for each other against bullies. But soon, the harsh foundation of their special relationship began to crumble.
The Good and The Bad:
This book was about undergoing adolescence ๐ง. Poetic on how the clear it presented the general chaos from that age, starting with sexual urges, uncomfortable feelings, family structures/dynamics, and the need to have a stable connection with fellow adolescents.
This book was about social hierarchy ๐ฅ (specifically within a middle school context, where it is realistically evident.) By relentlessly showing readers how the weak will be preyed upon by those who's able to take advantage, it instilled the idea of how unjust and destructive some social constructs are.
This book was about suicidal thoughts ๐ฅ. It wasn't afraid to dive into the thought processes of someone considering of ending things. It's haunting, it's grim, and it's unyielding.
This book, surprisingly for me, was about perceptions and how drastic one person's way of seeing things is from another. WHAT A THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONCEPT โฅ๏ธ, especially as we witness the protagonist struggling to grapple those that belong to the people around him (as they justify) while forming his own. This theme was perfectly tied to the protagonist's condition, Lazy Eye, with the 'eyes' as windows to a soul.
This book was about the need to change. Some things are fine staying as they were ๐, but there are those that needed to be change for the better. And the book gently whispered that the process isn't something to be ashamed of, that it is not a bad thing. Change is, often, necessary.
And of course, if you couldn't get the gist of it, this book was philosophical ๐ญ. I appreciated it's deeper meaning and how they reflect on society. It was meant not to be rushed, but instead to take time absorbing what the book laid out and ponder upon them.
Honestly, I couldn't find any mistake the book did other than having some paragraphs of meandering plot ใฐ๏ธ. Yeah, it slows the pacing or whatever, but it's a flaw I'm not even frustrated about. Like it's meant to be there...for a more natural book. And as if it served a purpose of balancing the heavy topics.
Final Thoughts:
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami is a brutally taut and unsettling novel that wasn't afraid to address subjects like bullying. The author's direction for it was simultaneously tender and sharp, capturing the fickle poignancy of real life. I also admire how she simply laid out the angles of discussion regarding the topics without siding on one, thus allowing the readers to choose for their own accounts. Like I said in the beginning, this book wasn't meant to be rated, because despite not of perfection, it just fits right for its purpose. Looking forward to more Japanese Literature after this. Any good recommendations?
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke
Synopsis and/or Premise:
A tale of obsessive revenge defying human limitations. We follow the critically injured Hugh Glass setting out to venture into dangerous wilderness full of hostile inhabitants and the unforgiving nature, being fueled only by his sheer determination to let his betrayers pay.
The Good and The Bad:
The book had good themes that were unsurprisingly dark ๐ค. I'm talking about Revenge, Obsession, Survival, Morality and Conscience, and The Fear of Unknown. They were handled competently and granted the book some delicious substance to supplement its simplistic narrative.
Being part Historical Fiction (HF) โณ, it was successful in shedding life to various events within the early 19th century American West fur trade. Of courses the author took some creative liberty to a point, but was overall true to real life events (evident of the historical note behind the book โ though I'm not an historian, so I can't scrutinize its accuracy.)
The characters, especially the major players, were nicely written. I believe most (if not all) were just mere two dimensional. But there's something complex about Hugh Glass, Captain Henry, and Jim Bridger that made them more human than the rest. It might be because of their backstory and their current to internal conflicts that made them relatable, or at least, human ๐ค.
Aside from not being afraid to exhibit nerve-wracking scenes, my favorite parts of the book were the gorgeous imageries (even worthy of being cinematographic.) If chunks of your plot included a motivated protagonist adventuring through the American woods, rivers, and plains, your book has got to have some epic sceneries that reflect both the beauty of the character and setting. The book accomplished it! There are two particular scene that were my favorite (MINOR SPOILER ๐จ: The Wolf Standoff & The Winter Reunion) because they delivered with powerful dramatic/emotional tension for the character as well as giving a scenic ambiance. LOVE THEM โฅ๏ธ.
Here are its major issues:
1. Dependent on expositions ๐- What I mean was that there's a lot of them...LIKE A LOT OF THEM. All of the backgrounds of major characters were delivered this way (paragraphs after paragraphs), and it slowed the plot as it does little to forward the narrative. There's also this annoying tendency of the author to detour from the story because he wanted to over explain some minor matters (like the process of some Indian crafts.)
2. Plot armor ๐ก๏ธ- Honestly, I couldn't think of a book I've read where the main character had more plot armor than Hugh Glass himself. He defies reality as if some kind of a superhuman. But I guess the book kinda needed it to deliver the major themes (lessening my gripe.) However, I noticed an unpleasant consequence. Because Hugh Glass needs to NOT die, other characters around him requires to do so for some threatening events to have value. It could work well as an interesting take to the 'Plot-Armored Protagonist' if the characters around Hugh Glass were those that readers care about (examples are Captain Henry and Jim Bridger). But since the crucial plot consisted of him being separated to them, the best the author could do to remain realistic was to throw in some fodders to perish.
Final Thoughts:
The Revenant by Michael Punke is an adventurous HF and Western novel about a man coursing through the North American wilderness in order to get revenge on his betrayers. It's a bit anticlimactic at the end, though I think it's the correct move. I believe many of its flaws were stemmed to the fundamental dilemma of HF novels. They need to be respective of true historical events...but they also need to deliver a compelling story (which demands a creative plotline, conflicting with the purpose of authenticity.) So, attempting authors of HF novels were always on this fragile balance that necessitates finesse writing skills. Granted, this book wasn't that bad. And I think I need to watch the 2015 movie, hoping if my favorite scenes are present because they deserved some magnificent cinematography (please don't spoil in the comments.)
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 6/10
Characters/POVs: 7/10
Prose/Style: 6/10
Themes/Messages: 7/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 6/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (good)
Good Western, and a pretty quick read as well. Nothing extraordinary and still is recommended, though I have some doubts about it.
Plot/Content: 6/10
Characters/POVs: 7/10
Prose/Style: 6/10
Themes/Messages: 7/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 6/10
OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (good)
Good Western, and a pretty quick read as well. Nothing extraordinary and still is recommended, though I have some doubts about it.
"...Murdered him, except he would not die. Would not die, he vowed, because he would live to kill his killers."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
A tale of obsessive revenge defying human limitations. We follow the critically injured Hugh Glass setting out to venture into dangerous wilderness full of hostile inhabitants and the unforgiving nature, being fueled only by his sheer determination to let his betrayers pay.
The Good and The Bad:
The book had good themes that were unsurprisingly dark ๐ค. I'm talking about Revenge, Obsession, Survival, Morality and Conscience, and The Fear of Unknown. They were handled competently and granted the book some delicious substance to supplement its simplistic narrative.
Being part Historical Fiction (HF) โณ, it was successful in shedding life to various events within the early 19th century American West fur trade. Of courses the author took some creative liberty to a point, but was overall true to real life events (evident of the historical note behind the book โ though I'm not an historian, so I can't scrutinize its accuracy.)
The characters, especially the major players, were nicely written. I believe most (if not all) were just mere two dimensional. But there's something complex about Hugh Glass, Captain Henry, and Jim Bridger that made them more human than the rest. It might be because of their backstory and their current to internal conflicts that made them relatable, or at least, human ๐ค.
Aside from not being afraid to exhibit nerve-wracking scenes, my favorite parts of the book were the gorgeous imageries (even worthy of being cinematographic.) If chunks of your plot included a motivated protagonist adventuring through the American woods, rivers, and plains, your book has got to have some epic sceneries that reflect both the beauty of the character and setting. The book accomplished it! There are two particular scene that were my favorite (MINOR SPOILER ๐จ: The Wolf Standoff & The Winter Reunion) because they delivered with powerful dramatic/emotional tension for the character as well as giving a scenic ambiance. LOVE THEM โฅ๏ธ.
Here are its major issues:
1. Dependent on expositions ๐- What I mean was that there's a lot of them...LIKE A LOT OF THEM. All of the backgrounds of major characters were delivered this way (paragraphs after paragraphs), and it slowed the plot as it does little to forward the narrative. There's also this annoying tendency of the author to detour from the story because he wanted to over explain some minor matters (like the process of some Indian crafts.)
2. Plot armor ๐ก๏ธ- Honestly, I couldn't think of a book I've read where the main character had more plot armor than Hugh Glass himself. He defies reality as if some kind of a superhuman. But I guess the book kinda needed it to deliver the major themes (lessening my gripe.) However, I noticed an unpleasant consequence. Because Hugh Glass needs to NOT die, other characters around him requires to do so for some threatening events to have value. It could work well as an interesting take to the 'Plot-Armored Protagonist' if the characters around Hugh Glass were those that readers care about (examples are Captain Henry and Jim Bridger). But since the crucial plot consisted of him being separated to them, the best the author could do to remain realistic was to throw in some fodders to perish.
Final Thoughts:
The Revenant by Michael Punke is an adventurous HF and Western novel about a man coursing through the North American wilderness in order to get revenge on his betrayers. It's a bit anticlimactic at the end, though I think it's the correct move. I believe many of its flaws were stemmed to the fundamental dilemma of HF novels. They need to be respective of true historical events...but they also need to deliver a compelling story (which demands a creative plotline, conflicting with the purpose of authenticity.) So, attempting authors of HF novels were always on this fragile balance that necessitates finesse writing skills. Granted, this book wasn't that bad. And I think I need to watch the 2015 movie, hoping if my favorite scenes are present because they deserved some magnificent cinematography (please don't spoil in the comments.)
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Synopsis and/or Premise:
We follow Evelyn Hugo narrating the backstory of her life as a celebrity goddess (and more) to her chosen reporter, Monique.
The Good and The Bad:
Here's a fact: Did you know this was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book? Yes sir, and I'm glad it had to be this one. The author's writing and style was as captivating as the titular character. She was able to weave humanizing qualities to characters that was farthest from it, turning the final printed product to be a riveting and engrossing experience. She also, in consequence, made the book dear for its readers. You could easily witness it's success in online pop-culture bookish communities, where this book stood to be one of the favorites. Not only that, the flow of the story was creatively structured. Occasional strips of fictional article cutouts detailing the 'news' was a treat to encounter. Plus, there's a specific chapter written in 2nd person POV, which worked perfectly as to its context. The majority of the plot was also in retrospect, giving it some investable quality as readers will be eager to know more of what happened (which rightfully plays into the character of Evelyn Hugo controlling her narrative). Kudos Taylor Jenkins Reid ๐.
As I personally expected, this book worked as sort of pseudo-satire to the celebrity lifestyle and the various strings attached to its industry. Inciting as one cold describe it, many elements were given light for the readers. An example would be the underlying nature of publicity, how it was not a straightforward process since there's a prevailing manipulation of truth ๐. The book was also revelatory towards how vile the game of fame is, encouraging self-centered and cynical behaviors for an easy (and dirty) success.
This book having a positive LGBTQ+ representations ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ was not a surprise for me. It's a constant requisite for most outputs of the modern publishing industry. What I'm astounded at was how central the theme of LGBTQ+ for the plot. Same goes with relationships and their complexion. At first, I thought the book was all about celebrities and their drama, but the concept of relationship management (which were extremely personal, by the way) was too much of a major element that the book deserved its Romance genre alongside Contemporary Fiction.
I can't write this book review without mentioning by far the best aspect of it: Evelyn Hugo. Absolute pinnacle characterization ๐ฏ. Most of this bookโs narrative was a thorough character study (the exploration of a femme fatale and power of intrigue) to one of the most recognizable modern-day fictional protagonists. She's a significant feminist, aura of dazzle, charismatic, resilient spirit, dominant, A MOMMY, and definitely the perfect morally gray character. And don't even forget about her phenomenal character arc. I think I'm not worthy enough to describe how compelling and real she was. Not only she captivated the characters within the book, she also does it without difficulty to real life people (including me.) Odd to say this, but she's too good for the book. If I could rate a character, she THE 5โญ. I MEAN...WHAT MORE COULD I SAY? IT'S EVELYN HUGO!
But unfortunately, Evelyn Hugo is only a part of the book, which was something I have criticisms on:
1. Dumb/forced circumstances - I can't give a a specific example as it would spoil, but yeah...they're present within. They just happened for the sake of plot continuation.
2. Monique's side - Let me make things clear first. Monique's side of story was, fundamentally, fine. There's nothing inherently wrong, thus was acceptable...which is the problem. Her sections were only bare minimum and not persuasive enough. I'm glad it contrasted with those of Evelyn Hugo, making the star shine more. And I see how the interactions between Monique and Evelyn Hugo were entertaining, but beyond that her personal story was distracting. Plus, I'm not a big fan of what the author did regarding her 'connection' towards the end. It just felt manufactured.
Final Thoughts:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a highly enjoyable read about a celebrity goddess and her relationships throughout career. I love how each of her marriages represented something: Desire, Lust, Intimacy, Feigning, Pragmatic, Need, Yearning, and Favor (I guess you could determine who's on which if you've read the book.) The overall plot does kinda remind me of the movie Millennium Actress by Satoshi Kon. And if you're wondering which husband is of my liking, I'm on team Rex Northโ๏ธ.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
------Stat Score------
Plot/Content: 7/10
Characters/POVs: 9/10
Prose/Style: 9/10
Themes/Messages: 8/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 9/10
OVERALL RATING: 8/10 (great)
I'm recently skeptical on taking something from BookTok since their ratings were often bloated. Surprisingly, this book came out to be fairly rated. One of the better ones out there, for sure.
Plot/Content: 7/10
Characters/POVs: 9/10
Prose/Style: 9/10
Themes/Messages: 8/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 9/10
OVERALL RATING: 8/10 (great)
I'm recently skeptical on taking something from BookTok since their ratings were often bloated. Surprisingly, this book came out to be fairly rated. One of the better ones out there, for sure.
"I think you're brilliant. I think you're tough. And I think the word whore is something ignorant people throw around when they have nothing else."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
We follow Evelyn Hugo narrating the backstory of her life as a celebrity goddess (and more) to her chosen reporter, Monique.
The Good and The Bad:
Here's a fact: Did you know this was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book? Yes sir, and I'm glad it had to be this one. The author's writing and style was as captivating as the titular character. She was able to weave humanizing qualities to characters that was farthest from it, turning the final printed product to be a riveting and engrossing experience. She also, in consequence, made the book dear for its readers. You could easily witness it's success in online pop-culture bookish communities, where this book stood to be one of the favorites. Not only that, the flow of the story was creatively structured. Occasional strips of fictional article cutouts detailing the 'news' was a treat to encounter. Plus, there's a specific chapter written in 2nd person POV, which worked perfectly as to its context. The majority of the plot was also in retrospect, giving it some investable quality as readers will be eager to know more of what happened (which rightfully plays into the character of Evelyn Hugo controlling her narrative). Kudos Taylor Jenkins Reid ๐.
As I personally expected, this book worked as sort of pseudo-satire to the celebrity lifestyle and the various strings attached to its industry. Inciting as one cold describe it, many elements were given light for the readers. An example would be the underlying nature of publicity, how it was not a straightforward process since there's a prevailing manipulation of truth ๐. The book was also revelatory towards how vile the game of fame is, encouraging self-centered and cynical behaviors for an easy (and dirty) success.
This book having a positive LGBTQ+ representations ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ was not a surprise for me. It's a constant requisite for most outputs of the modern publishing industry. What I'm astounded at was how central the theme of LGBTQ+ for the plot. Same goes with relationships and their complexion. At first, I thought the book was all about celebrities and their drama, but the concept of relationship management (which were extremely personal, by the way) was too much of a major element that the book deserved its Romance genre alongside Contemporary Fiction.
I can't write this book review without mentioning by far the best aspect of it: Evelyn Hugo. Absolute pinnacle characterization ๐ฏ. Most of this bookโs narrative was a thorough character study (the exploration of a femme fatale and power of intrigue) to one of the most recognizable modern-day fictional protagonists. She's a significant feminist, aura of dazzle, charismatic, resilient spirit, dominant, A MOMMY, and definitely the perfect morally gray character. And don't even forget about her phenomenal character arc. I think I'm not worthy enough to describe how compelling and real she was. Not only she captivated the characters within the book, she also does it without difficulty to real life people (including me.) Odd to say this, but she's too good for the book. If I could rate a character, she THE 5โญ. I MEAN...WHAT MORE COULD I SAY? IT'S EVELYN HUGO!
But unfortunately, Evelyn Hugo is only a part of the book, which was something I have criticisms on:
1. Dumb/forced circumstances - I can't give a a specific example as it would spoil, but yeah...they're present within. They just happened for the sake of plot continuation.
2. Monique's side - Let me make things clear first. Monique's side of story was, fundamentally, fine. There's nothing inherently wrong, thus was acceptable...which is the problem. Her sections were only bare minimum and not persuasive enough. I'm glad it contrasted with those of Evelyn Hugo, making the star shine more. And I see how the interactions between Monique and Evelyn Hugo were entertaining, but beyond that her personal story was distracting. Plus, I'm not a big fan of what the author did regarding her 'connection' towards the end. It just felt manufactured.
Final Thoughts:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a highly enjoyable read about a celebrity goddess and her relationships throughout career. I love how each of her marriages represented something: Desire, Lust, Intimacy, Feigning, Pragmatic, Need, Yearning, and Favor (I guess you could determine who's on which if you've read the book.) The overall plot does kinda remind me of the movie Millennium Actress by Satoshi Kon. And if you're wondering which husband is of my liking, I'm on team Rex Northโ๏ธ.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Born out of nothing, Damon is a lost boy who searches for a place he could call home. He navigates life riddled with fickle accomplishments, heavy losses, influence and addiction, and grit with persistence for a better tomorrow. Deemed as the modern-day Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, it had its own southern Appalachian twist to deliver a fresh and personal experience of the classic for readers.
The Good and The Bad:
Masterfully written โ๏ธ, the author knew to how meticulously craft an intricate saga about the journey and growth of an unwanted boy as well as the people/community around him. It was also bold. It doesn't think twice showing you the reality behind the lives of its characters. One can say it was written to be profound, and I couldn't agree more to that statement. It accomplished that status by being as multi-layered and complex as possible, from the characters, perspectives of exposition, humor, interconnected events, and more. The book was also packing with kindling topics/themes such as child labor, fish-out-of-water, drug addiction, stagnation, facade's guilt, growth and maturity, priorities, independence, institutional injustice, potentials, etc. I mean...I could just go on with this list. So, merit-wise, this book was prime. No wonder it won awards such as Pulitzer Prize Winner 2023.
The aspect I enjoy the most was the characters. Starting with Damon himself, a true underdog and being one of the most admirable protagonists I've ever encountered. Witty, Persevering, and Thoughtful โ plus Handsome ๐คฉ, he was like the shining beacon of the novel. But he comes to full life when interacting with other quirky characters: Maggot, Emmy, June, McCobbs, U-Haul, Dori, Fast Forward, etc (OMG another endless list.) My favorite character, aside from Damon himself, is Angus, with her androgynous nature and coldish vibes. I admire how the author wrote these characters (including the main character) to have imperfections, like real people do. It was also nice to witness the diversity of conclusions for them. All to made a cast worthy for this powerful tale of drugs, belongingness, and contemporary rural life.
I was genuinely rooting for this to be included in my 10/10 (5โญ) list of perfect books. Pure confidence...up until the middle portion of the book. And after closing the last page, I was highly doubting to give the coveted title. Here were the reasons:
1. Faltered halfway ๐ - The book was incredibly immersive and engaging during the first half or so. But after that, not so much until the last bunch of chapters. I don't want to spoil anything, but let me just say that the focus became all over the place instead of deeply rooted to the main character. Perhaps one of many reasons as to why the "middle slog" happened for some of us.
2. Codes and Abbreviations ๐- This was more of my pet peeve, so yeah...take this whatever you'd like. They were just annoying for me.
3. Conflicting intentions ๐คจ - Ummm...the premise, as to what's written behind the title, was somewhat deceiving. The majority was fine, but the idea of loving the rural areas instead of abandoning them for a city life is handled contradictory. The book wanted to tell us not to discriminate against them, even making its main character a lover of Appalachian Mountains. But the portrayal of the nice people (Damon, Tommy, June, etc.) were tonally overshadowed by its unhinged community drowned in drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, domestic malpractice, and sketchy individuals. Or just pitiful, petty people. Am I being forced to feel bad about them??? It was too focused on the painful experiences, as if glorifying them and giving the message "Hey, live here and meet our most tenacious people worthy of praise!" Not attractive when it unintentionally hinting how fucked-up what's beneath. I think the book functions more so of an eye-opener instead.
Final Thoughts:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is a contemporary Lit Fic about a lost boy and his journey to maturity. It had a unique structure and prose (like it was kind of a fictional memoir), with limited dialogues but extensive narrations, monologues, and expositions. It's also meant to be a modern version of David Copperfield, which is ambitious. But I believe it was also trying too hard to be itself, being a little too hefty. However, I can't assess much of the parallels since I haven't read the book of Charles Dickens.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
--Stat Score--
Plot/Content: 6/10
Characters/POVs: 9/10
Prose/Style: 10/10
Themes/Messages: 8/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 8/10
OVERALL RATING: 8/10 (great)
----------
This book is something...but for some reason I can't convince myself to give it a 5โญ despite wanting to. Especially after a few of its criticisms online just validated some of my thoughts.
Plot/Content: 6/10
Characters/POVs: 9/10
Prose/Style: 10/10
Themes/Messages: 8/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 8/10
OVERALL RATING: 8/10 (great)
----------
This book is something...but for some reason I can't convince myself to give it a 5โญ despite wanting to. Especially after a few of its criticisms online just validated some of my thoughts.
"...To start over someplace from scratch, as nobody and nothing? I hated the thought. I was only just now starting to exist."
Synopsis and/or Premise:
Born out of nothing, Damon is a lost boy who searches for a place he could call home. He navigates life riddled with fickle accomplishments, heavy losses, influence and addiction, and grit with persistence for a better tomorrow. Deemed as the modern-day Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, it had its own southern Appalachian twist to deliver a fresh and personal experience of the classic for readers.
The Good and The Bad:
Masterfully written โ๏ธ, the author knew to how meticulously craft an intricate saga about the journey and growth of an unwanted boy as well as the people/community around him. It was also bold. It doesn't think twice showing you the reality behind the lives of its characters. One can say it was written to be profound, and I couldn't agree more to that statement. It accomplished that status by being as multi-layered and complex as possible, from the characters, perspectives of exposition, humor, interconnected events, and more. The book was also packing with kindling topics/themes such as child labor, fish-out-of-water, drug addiction, stagnation, facade's guilt, growth and maturity, priorities, independence, institutional injustice, potentials, etc. I mean...I could just go on with this list. So, merit-wise, this book was prime. No wonder it won awards such as Pulitzer Prize Winner 2023.
The aspect I enjoy the most was the characters. Starting with Damon himself, a true underdog and being one of the most admirable protagonists I've ever encountered. Witty, Persevering, and Thoughtful โ plus Handsome ๐คฉ, he was like the shining beacon of the novel. But he comes to full life when interacting with other quirky characters: Maggot, Emmy, June, McCobbs, U-Haul, Dori, Fast Forward, etc (OMG another endless list.) My favorite character, aside from Damon himself, is Angus, with her androgynous nature and coldish vibes. I admire how the author wrote these characters (including the main character) to have imperfections, like real people do. It was also nice to witness the diversity of conclusions for them. All to made a cast worthy for this powerful tale of drugs, belongingness, and contemporary rural life.
I was genuinely rooting for this to be included in my 10/10 (5โญ) list of perfect books. Pure confidence...up until the middle portion of the book. And after closing the last page, I was highly doubting to give the coveted title. Here were the reasons:
1. Faltered halfway ๐ - The book was incredibly immersive and engaging during the first half or so. But after that, not so much until the last bunch of chapters. I don't want to spoil anything, but let me just say that the focus became all over the place instead of deeply rooted to the main character. Perhaps one of many reasons as to why the "middle slog" happened for some of us.
2. Codes and Abbreviations ๐- This was more of my pet peeve, so yeah...take this whatever you'd like. They were just annoying for me.
3. Conflicting intentions ๐คจ - Ummm...the premise, as to what's written behind the title, was somewhat deceiving. The majority was fine, but the idea of loving the rural areas instead of abandoning them for a city life is handled contradictory. The book wanted to tell us not to discriminate against them, even making its main character a lover of Appalachian Mountains. But the portrayal of the nice people (Damon, Tommy, June, etc.) were tonally overshadowed by its unhinged community drowned in drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, domestic malpractice, and sketchy individuals. Or just pitiful, petty people. Am I being forced to feel bad about them??? It was too focused on the painful experiences, as if glorifying them and giving the message "Hey, live here and meet our most tenacious people worthy of praise!" Not attractive when it unintentionally hinting how fucked-up what's beneath. I think the book functions more so of an eye-opener instead.
Final Thoughts:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is a contemporary Lit Fic about a lost boy and his journey to maturity. It had a unique structure and prose (like it was kind of a fictional memoir), with limited dialogues but extensive narrations, monologues, and expositions. It's also meant to be a modern version of David Copperfield, which is ambitious. But I believe it was also trying too hard to be itself, being a little too hefty. However, I can't assess much of the parallels since I haven't read the book of Charles Dickens.
--------------------
Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph