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sandaru's reviews
187 reviews
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Took me 8 months to finish, with reading slumps in between.
The story and the translation's language are very easy to understand and stay with the flow of the story. Big books like this, usually scare me off, or I get bored in the middle. Even if I took 8 months to finish this, the story and the flow never bothered me. It was relatable and interesting.
Some parts dragged way too much, but the story was good overall. The characters' names were a bit confusing since the Russian names's full names and the short names are different, but you get used to it as you read. I liked how the author portrayed the crime and its punishment in so many layers.
Why must Rodion Raskolnikov commit the crime, thinking he has the authority to have a judgment and the right to punish the old pawnbroker woman over her crimes which resulted in Rodion having to go through his own share of crime and punishment? And how he was already being punished before the actual punishment by law. The emotional torment leads him to confess his crime, only to not repent about it later since that was given. And how the rest of the people around him who did not commit any crimes were punished even before the crime happened. It's a crazy book but very real to its core and relatable.
The story and the translation's language are very easy to understand and stay with the flow of the story. Big books like this, usually scare me off, or I get bored in the middle. Even if I took 8 months to finish this, the story and the flow never bothered me. It was relatable and interesting.
Some parts dragged way too much, but the story was good overall. The characters' names were a bit confusing since the Russian names's full names and the short names are different, but you get used to it as you read. I liked how the author portrayed the crime and its punishment in so many layers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Suicide
Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell
informative
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
3.0
Good read!
Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story by K.M. Weiland
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.0
Good reference for structuring your novel. I took a number of pointers and notes from this. But it was always unnecessarily long at times. I really liked the part where the plot structure timeline was discussed. I have already used it as the baseline for the structure of my novel.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The book is a quick and enjoyable read, featuring a fast-paced narrative that keeps you engaged. The story flows smoothly, maintaining a good balance between its feel-good elements and intriguing mystery. The unexpected double twist at the end adds complexity to the mystery, making it less predictable. However, I still find HJ's 'Five Survive' to be a more preferred choice over this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, and Murder
Minor: Rape
Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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? N/A
2.5
I preferred the 1st story better than this one. Her writing style is interesting and engaging as ever but the plot seems a bit awkward and amateur compared to the first. Even in the first story, the villain was evident from the beginning, even in this more than it was evident, a lot of awkward troops and arc were included. Some parts felt stupid and some felt complicated unnecessarily. May be I am judging a middle grade book way too harsh, but I was expecting more detective plot and plot twists.
Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: The Body under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
As soon as I saw the book I wanted to read this (the whole series) as immediately as possible, for two reasons.
One, this is a spin off story about one of my favourite crime writers, Agatha Christie and her sleuth character, Hercule Poirot. I adore the Poirot series and Christie's books.
Second reason, I am in the middle of a similar project myself, writing a crime novel series for the middle grade audience. While reading, I compared and reflected on the areas I might have needed help/inspiration from, whether it's the suitable writing styles, grammar, dialogue or even potholes and plot related areas. It was really cool, reading someone's novel in order to get inspired or to learn. Much like a reference book sort of!
The writing style was humorous and engaging and kept me reading it faster, which I believe I should be inspired from for my own project. And the story is fairly decent and engaging, even if I guessed the killer from the first time of their appearance. (Or may be it's because I am just too into crime genre, I have learned to ignore the obvious and look at the not so obvious everytime) another things was, a lot of times the dialogue and the plot was great and coherent and smooth but there were parts I felt either awkward and rushed or even too slow and draggy. But overall for the middle grade audience, this would make a cute and engaging story. Something I wish I got to read as a kid.
Ps: the misconception, or may be it's a real thing still!, about murder being the topic of a middle grade novel, was put aside by this author, which I am really grateful for teaching me that it's okay to write about a topic like that without making it a big deal. Not so gruesome but not too cute of a murder. Loved it.
One, this is a spin off story about one of my favourite crime writers, Agatha Christie and her sleuth character, Hercule Poirot. I adore the Poirot series and Christie's books.
Second reason, I am in the middle of a similar project myself, writing a crime novel series for the middle grade audience. While reading, I compared and reflected on the areas I might have needed help/inspiration from, whether it's the suitable writing styles, grammar, dialogue or even potholes and plot related areas. It was really cool, reading someone's novel in order to get inspired or to learn. Much like a reference book sort of!
The writing style was humorous and engaging and kept me reading it faster, which I believe I should be inspired from for my own project. And the story is fairly decent and engaging, even if I guessed the killer from the first time of their appearance. (Or may be it's because I am just too into crime genre, I have learned to ignore the obvious and look at the not so obvious everytime) another things was, a lot of times the dialogue and the plot was great and coherent and smooth but there were parts I felt either awkward and rushed or even too slow and draggy. But overall for the middle grade audience, this would make a cute and engaging story. Something I wish I got to read as a kid.
Ps: the misconception, or may be it's a real thing still!, about murder being the topic of a middle grade novel, was put aside by this author, which I am really grateful for teaching me that it's okay to write about a topic like that without making it a big deal. Not so gruesome but not too cute of a murder. Loved it.
Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan
challenging
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Read for a competition. Liked this immensely. The best part about this book for me was the story telling aspect. It was done perfectly well even if the story sound unrealistic or a exaggerated (given it's not fully speculative fiction)
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
If I go into the review without explaining what the book is about a little bit, I wouldn't do my review a justice. The story in the book could be compared to a self-help book that is out there. It talks about various topics such as love marriage , children, crime and punishment, law, eating and drinking, pleasure, death and may more topic and gives a philosophical teachings on each topic. However, the difference is the format these topics were discussed upon. The story starts with a man called the Prophet on the day he is planning to leave the land he made home for many year. Whole his ship taking him to his original land boarding, the people in this land asks him last minute advice on topics related to the characters that ask these questions.
It started out really interesting and with beautiful writing I have never read in my entire life. I loved those parts in the book but there were more topics I found really boring and too philosophical or whimsical for my taste. However, I have to mention this book has some of the most amazing writing and metaphors I have ever seen.
It started out really interesting and with beautiful writing I have never read in my entire life. I loved those parts in the book but there were more topics I found really boring and too philosophical or whimsical for my taste. However, I have to mention this book has some of the most amazing writing and metaphors I have ever seen.
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
2.25
It was an interesting read but towards the end I got a little bored but I could see this book was written for me. The part about the resistance was like a waking up call. Towards later the repetition and the slow pace bored me so I couldn't get much out of it. Overall it's a great read for anyone who has a creative block. You might be able to figure out as to why you procastinate or even cannot move forward with your creativity.