samihami's reviews
93 reviews

Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast by Oscar Wilde

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

2.0

I expected a short story of some kind or poetry or anything and it really is just my fault not reading the blurb. 
This is simply just a collection of thoughts and quotes either from Wilde himself or his works. Having read The Picture of Dorian Gray right before, I recognised many of the quotes. 
Sometimes they’re insightful and of value but often times it felt taken out of context or with something missing. Most times they seemed thematically categorised but sometimes there was a mess in the system and the categories became really blurry and it all turned into a mush of unrelated quotes and thoughts. 

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Baldwin’s commentary and personal insight into religion, race and family is truly spectacular. 
His pen writes magical words and will cast a spell on you. 
It is a necessity to read this at least once in a lifetime. 

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I liked it but from what I heard, I had high expectations which weren’t met. 
It’s cute and easy to read but the repetition of, for example,  information about the characters was annoying to me. 
I thought I was going to underline everything and will immediately buy the next books but no. I’m okay having read this one and no more. 
I don’t regret it and I enjoyed reading it, but I won’t necessarily read the next ones or reread it. 
I recommend it to someone who wants a quick and easy read that still conveys characters with complex stories in a world full of mysteries. 

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Kazuo Ishiguro has a way with words that will draw you into the story and you never want to let go. 

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Dustin Thao is a word magician.
Exploring grief from the perspective of a graduating teenager whose boyfriend died is so unique and yet it feels like anyone can relate. 
It is about the fear of letting go and staying. It is about loss of love and what good can come out of it. The cycle of love and relationships, letting people go and inviting new in. 
Truly a masterpiece. Can’t wait to read the new book. 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wilde really went out of his way and bravely published this provocative piece about immorality, murder, sin, and homosexuality. 
The transition from innocent and naive to paranoid and selfish is masterful and well portrayed. And the last paragraph is EPIC. 
Dorian’s personality is peculiar and I still can’t decide whether I root for him or wish he received his punishment earlier. Lord Henry (also known as Harry) is annoying self-centered controlling misogynist and I hated him every time he opened his mouth (kudos to Wilde for writing him so well). And poor Basil will forever stay in my hear. 
This revised 1891 version includes academic introduction (read after reading the story), which gives so much insight into the background of the work and author, and notes throughout the story to provide cultural, historical, and editorial context. So buy this one if you wish to read the story, because you will be more immersed in the story and view the bigger picture of it all. 

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Coco Mellors is genius and you need to read this book. 
The characters are so diverse! From a gay Polish man (trans woman?) to a woman who’s best friend is her mom, from British young broke depressed girl to older rich alcoholic. They are all unique and literally jump out through the page. 
Mellors write unlikeablility so well—I really hated some of the characters!
The writing also isn’t just in one form but is refreshing and changes throughout out.  
I stunned, mindblown, and speechless. I can’t wait to read Blue Sisters (her new book) and will read anything she posts—even her shopping lists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Minor: Transphobia

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Dear potential readers,
Stop lingering, sit down and read this work of art. 
Kath and Lily’s journey in the 1950s America and the exploration of Chinatown, Chinese identity, and familial and societal values in the contrast to white America, McCarthyism, and Lavender Scare is so insightful and rich of emotion and opinion.
It is backed up by research into which Malinda Lo dives into at the end of the work, citing her sources. 
LNATTC isn’t just a work of fiction made from the writer’s imagination but a fictitious story based on real stories and experiences from the time, supported by Lo’s family’s experiences. 
Truly a charm and gift. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Taylor Jenkins Reid has outdone herself! 
I flew through this masterpiece. It’s poetic, romantic, mysterious, real, sad, and emotional. Reid plucked all of my strings and left me craving more. 
The romance(s) in this story is messy and chaotic and frankly just human. 
Don’t be fooled by the hetero-seeming title of the work because this is packed with queer characters and stories. The parallels between Evelyn and Monique deepen the transition between past and present as Evelyn shares every detail of her career and personal life, something often hidden or altered to the eyes of the public. 
I will forever be grateful for this work. And I WILL be rereading this
Reid has a way with words and character design and will just keep you hooked to the pages and never want to put the book down. 
Thank you!

Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

I understand that Edgar is historically important and was revolutionary in the culture of literature and writing but I just couldn’t wait to finish this collection. 
There were stories that I genuinely enjoyed (The Gold Bug, The Premature Burial, The Black Cat-which I have read before individually, and Some Words with a Mummy) but most were boring, confusing, or just off. 
He tries to set a scary and dark mood but many times it was flat or straight up sill (

an orangutan is the murderer?! Seriously?!

). 
I will give him another chance, of course, but I’m not impressed and the charm of his name has disappeared for me.