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spootilious's reviews
123 reviews
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
3.0
A wonderful fantasy that feels like historical fiction. Wecker provides amazing imagery and has an array of multicultural characters. Looking at immigrant lives in early New York through the new born eyes of a golem and the ancient eyes of a Jinni the ambience and cadence of this is book is definitely what makes it a gem. A refreshing twist on cultural stories the reader may already know.
I could not bring myself to give this novel more than 3 stars. While the descriptions were stunning I felt no draw towards the characters. Wecker has a tell, rather than showing, style, which informs the reader how her character's feel rather than pulling at the reader's empathy, ruining the immersion into the story.
The major plot points are predictable and over far too quickly with such long build ups that they fly by without being savored, leaving me feeling as if I gorged myself on cheap Chinese buffet food just to be hungry and hour later.
The character development of the Jinni is notable along with the ice cream man but the other fall flat.
Overall, I can understand why so many love this novel but find that I have neither an affection for it nor a distaste. It is not bad or good.
I could not bring myself to give this novel more than 3 stars. While the descriptions were stunning I felt no draw towards the characters. Wecker has a tell, rather than showing, style, which informs the reader how her character's feel rather than pulling at the reader's empathy, ruining the immersion into the story.
The major plot points are predictable and over far too quickly with such long build ups that they fly by without being savored, leaving me feeling as if I gorged myself on cheap Chinese buffet food just to be hungry and hour later.
The character development of the Jinni is notable along with the ice cream man but the other fall flat.
Overall, I can understand why so many love this novel but find that I have neither an affection for it nor a distaste. It is not bad or good.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
3.0
What to say about this book...
First off, let me make it clear that I have not seen the movie.
Secondly, I realize this rating is a bit harsh and you certainly do not have to agree with it.
Things that I liked:
-Fast paced
-Funny
-Relatable characters
-Middle school age appropriate
-Nice twists on traditional Greek Myths
-Very similar to Harry Potter
Things I did not like:
-First person (yes I know I am bias)
-Lack of in depth descriptions
-Not a lot of depth in characters
-Plot points are a bit repetitive
-Very similar to Harry Potter
-Cliche of Evil=Ugly
-Very Predictable
-overhyped
In all honesty, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one. I think there were two main things that really shaded my opinion. Perhaps the most influential was how highly this cams recommended and the excitement everyone put behind it. It fell a bit flat after my expectations were set so high. The second was that I listened to the audiobook by Jesse Berstein and though it was not terrible it was pretty rough. The voices were either stereotypical or sounded like smokers after 75 years... or surfer dudes... and it shaded a lot of characters to his perspective though about midway through I gave up and started reading the ebook which is how I came to the rating I present to you now.
First off, let me make it clear that I have not seen the movie.
Secondly, I realize this rating is a bit harsh and you certainly do not have to agree with it.
Things that I liked:
-Fast paced
-Funny
-Relatable characters
-Middle school age appropriate
-Nice twists on traditional Greek Myths
-Very similar to Harry Potter
Things I did not like:
-First person (yes I know I am bias)
-Lack of in depth descriptions
-Not a lot of depth in characters
-Plot points are a bit repetitive
-Very similar to Harry Potter
-Cliche of Evil=Ugly
-Very Predictable
-overhyped
In all honesty, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one. I think there were two main things that really shaded my opinion. Perhaps the most influential was how highly this cams recommended and the excitement everyone put behind it. It fell a bit flat after my expectations were set so high. The second was that I listened to the audiobook by Jesse Berstein and though it was not terrible it was pretty rough. The voices were either stereotypical or sounded like smokers after 75 years... or surfer dudes... and it shaded a lot of characters to his perspective though about midway through I gave up and started reading the ebook which is how I came to the rating I present to you now.
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