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squaresunflowers's reviews
25 reviews
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina by Michaela DePrince, Elaine DePrince
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy by Molly Kendall, Elizabeth Kendall
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.25
This was an exhilarating rush of conflicting emotions and dry retching (despite the evident absence of anything remotely gory, the recounts of Liz's experiences still left a very unpleasant taste in my mouth). To get the full picture, I got the updated publication containing Liz's afterthoughts. Reading her inner turmoils laid bare page after page, I felt nothing but deep sympathy.
On the flip side, not to romanticise Ted Bundy's motives/life, but any aspiring parent should use his story as a stern reminder to themselves too: please, please ensure that you provide your child(ren) a loving and complete childhood; else, you're just one of the many parents that contribute unwittingly to the vicious generational merry-go-round.
On the flip side, not to romanticise Ted Bundy's motives/life, but any aspiring parent should use his story as a stern reminder to themselves too: please, please ensure that you provide your child(ren) a loving and complete childhood; else, you're just one of the many parents that contribute unwittingly to the vicious generational merry-go-round.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Alcohol
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-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
4.5
Reread this book for the 2nd time and The Handmaid's Tale still blew my mind. Despite being published 37 years ago, the futuristic dystopian society Atwood crafted remains very much relevant, even until today.
It's a hauntingly beautiful classic (though I wouldn't say so for the lives the characters had to endure), and it also got the reader thinking about the implications of monotheocracy in a society - if religion is rendered to a brute totalitarian tool, does it still serve the functions it was originally established upon?
'Bout time humans revisit ourselves - our bloody past, and the bleary future.
It's a hauntingly beautiful classic (though I wouldn't say so for the lives the characters had to endure), and it also got the reader thinking about the implications of monotheocracy in a society - if religion is rendered to a brute totalitarian tool, does it still serve the functions it was originally established upon?
'Bout time humans revisit ourselves - our bloody past, and the bleary future.
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
5.0
I read the book in Chinese. Ironically, it was a non-Chinese friend that introduced it to me.
Albeit being a fairly newbie sci-fi reader, this book immediately drew me in with its clever no-BS plot arrangement.
Although the plot is very straightforward, Liu masterfully ties each consecutive scene back to a foreshadow (or even multiple ones) expertly buried in an earlier chapter(s).
I can't say too much for fear of spoiling the entire book, but let's just say that at the end of the journey, I was utterly FLOORED - flipping through from the back to the front, it seemed as if the very first chapter was foreshadowing the final chapter.
Truly recommended read, and a delicious one for frequent revisiting.
Albeit being a fairly newbie sci-fi reader, this book immediately drew me in with its clever no-BS plot arrangement.
Although the plot is very straightforward, Liu masterfully ties each consecutive scene back to a foreshadow (or even multiple ones) expertly buried in an earlier chapter(s).
I can't say too much for fear of spoiling the entire book, but let's just say that at the end of the journey, I was utterly FLOORED - flipping through from the back to the front, it seemed as if the very first chapter was foreshadowing the final chapter.
Truly recommended read, and a delicious one for frequent revisiting.
The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu
5.0
The beauty of Liu's writing lies in his ability to lay the plot bare in front of the reader's eyes from the very beginning (re: book title), yet deftly weaves the plot into an elaborate worldview entirely different from what the reader predicted.
The plot twists cunningly laid throughout the storyline often take me by surprise, yet blend into each other seamlessly. Using the concept of hibernation, Liu fast forwards his narrative when needed to reach certain time periods in the future quickly - keeping the reader on their heels.
Akin to an award-winning movie where the aural sensation leads the audiences deliciously along, Liu's writing paints panorama after panorama of spectacular views. If you are one that enjoys surrealism, pick this book up, sit down with a cup of coffee, and read away.
The plot twists cunningly laid throughout the storyline often take me by surprise, yet blend into each other seamlessly. Using the concept of hibernation, Liu fast forwards his narrative when needed to reach certain time periods in the future quickly - keeping the reader on their heels.
Akin to an award-winning movie where the aural sensation leads the audiences deliciously along, Liu's writing paints panorama after panorama of spectacular views. If you are one that enjoys surrealism, pick this book up, sit down with a cup of coffee, and read away.
Nirvana in Fire 琅琊榜 by 海宴
5.0
Being a hardcore historical fiction fan, Nirvana In Fire (the official English name of 琅琊榜) has set the bar unforgivably high (at least within the circle of Chinese dynasty-themed novels) with its adept use of literary devices and historical settings.
With a timeline stretched across multiple decades, the book started off by narrating the arrival of a sickly-yet-charismatic young man (Mei Chang Shu / Su Zhe) into the city. As his encounters with the royal family and political figures grew, the reader was gradually given glimpses into his background; ultimately revealing his inextricably linked past with the royal family.
Having read this book (split into 3 volumes) in my teens, 琅琊榜 holds a special place in my heart. It is one of the select few that I will revisit every so and then (and probably will pass down as a heirloom to my children lols).
With a timeline stretched across multiple decades, the book started off by narrating the arrival of a sickly-yet-charismatic young man (Mei Chang Shu / Su Zhe) into the city. As his encounters with the royal family and political figures grew, the reader was gradually given glimpses into his background; ultimately revealing his inextricably linked past with the royal family.
Having read this book (split into 3 volumes) in my teens, 琅琊榜 holds a special place in my heart. It is one of the select few that I will revisit every so and then (and probably will pass down as a heirloom to my children lols).
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4.0
The author's narrative skill itself deserves a full 5 stars, don't get me wrong; the single blanked out star is purely because of my personal indifference towards the genre.
Set in a drab neighbourhood with its fair share of racial prejudice and white supremacy, TKAM tackles theses issues head-on through the lens of a naive, innocent child. As the timeline goes on, the reader is pulled in along with the child's confusion of the world around her, yet witnesses her maturity budding slowly but surely.
Central to the plot is the mystical figure Boo Radley, which is only mentioned in fleeting glimpses all over the book - yet, his presence is felt constantly throughout the journey. Personally, I feel this is the biggest ability of the author: to bring forth the personalities of each character to such vividness without describing it in plain detail.
Overall, the book is a very enjoyable read easily digestible by readers of all ages (but do provide appropriate adult supervision to young readers). Truly worthy of its praises.
Set in a drab neighbourhood with its fair share of racial prejudice and white supremacy, TKAM tackles theses issues head-on through the lens of a naive, innocent child. As the timeline goes on, the reader is pulled in along with the child's confusion of the world around her, yet witnesses her maturity budding slowly but surely.
Central to the plot is the mystical figure Boo Radley, which is only mentioned in fleeting glimpses all over the book - yet, his presence is felt constantly throughout the journey. Personally, I feel this is the biggest ability of the author: to bring forth the personalities of each character to such vividness without describing it in plain detail.
Overall, the book is a very enjoyable read easily digestible by readers of all ages (but do provide appropriate adult supervision to young readers). Truly worthy of its praises.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
4.5
A few decades overdue, The Testaments feels like a migraine personified. And a throbbing one at that.
Heavily referencing/incorporating biblical elements similar to its predecessor, Atwood dives into the minds of 3 different characters of starkly different social statuses: bringing to life the Gileadean world from within and without.
Through the recounts of the 3 characters, the reader is sequentially pulled down into the inner workings of Gilead like quicksand - as much the reader resents the horrors of Gilead, they're unable to stop themselves from wading on (thus the migraine reference).
Considering the timing the book was birthed at, it's heart-wrenchingly prophetic. Just look at Afghanistan.
One could only hope that they never had to endure what the Gileadens lived through.
Heavily referencing/incorporating biblical elements similar to its predecessor, Atwood dives into the minds of 3 different characters of starkly different social statuses: bringing to life the Gileadean world from within and without.
Through the recounts of the 3 characters, the reader is sequentially pulled down into the inner workings of Gilead like quicksand - as much the reader resents the horrors of Gilead, they're unable to stop themselves from wading on (thus the migraine reference).
Considering the timing the book was birthed at, it's heart-wrenchingly prophetic. Just look at Afghanistan.
One could only hope that they never had to endure what the Gileadens lived through.