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solitaryandunsustained's reviews
162 reviews
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
4.0
Was such an interesting read, that had a few good twists and turns! My only question about this book is about Henry and Lucy's mother and how she was so easily convinced to like David and welcome him in. The author often said "David was charismatic" and other adjectives, but never really showed us in the beginning how he could be so convincing to let an entire family bring all these people in. As the reader, I also felt like we knew so little about the mother to make this part believable as well. Aside from this, I thought it was really interesting and a quick entertaining read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
inspiring
reflective
3.75
I wasn't sure if I was actually going to like this book or relate to the characters, but there were a few moments during the main conflict that I could really relate the feeling of hopelessness and running out of time. I thought this was a sweet book, and while I'm happy the main character ended up with everything she wanted, the happy resolution happened sort of suddenly and felt a little bit rushed.
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.75
I understand why it's important, but did i enjoy reading it? no. I'm sure that it doesn't help having to read some of it in high school, but it really is pretty depressing and slow.
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
3.5
Really interesting but pretty slow in the first half. It really seems to reflect on the damage caused by dictatorship, ideological monopolies, and war. More importantly it looks at the dangers of altering history and truth for the purpose of control. Very fascinating and sad
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
slow-paced
2.5
This book felt so slow, and I was frustrated because 2 murders happen in the first half of the book with the reader knowing exactly what happened, therefore having no reason to feel invested in the remaining 200 pages. I didn't like any of the characters, and i usually enjoy morally ambiguous characters, but I felt like there was absolutely no reason to like any of them especially because the majority of main characters had killed 2 people before the halfway mark. Not to mention the book just felt so incredibly slow lingering on seemingly mundane and unnecessary details. I'm sorry, I just don't understand why so many people like this book. I just wish more details had been left to the end with a more mysterious quality weaving through the book to motivate the reader more.
Daisy Miller by Henry James
1.0
So boring and pointless *revision, upon further discussion I have found this book is more intriguing for those who have read a portrait of a lady because it reveals some early ideas used in the book. Maybe once I've read that, I will appreciate this more, but currently it's a no for me
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2.75
Turned out to be just one big pop culture nostalgia fest. There were so many times that the book could have gone in an interesting or unexpected direction, but just didn't. Even with the useless mentioning of the big red button, and nothing happening with that. Additionally the book would have been wayyyy more interesting from Aech's perspective, but that character was left so undeveloped and used just for a basic catfish reveal.