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starryeyedenigma's reviews
342 reviews
coffee days whiskey nights by Parker Lee
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
A feel good collection of poems written in modernistic style. Some triggering subjects such as suicide, depression and anxiety as well. But I liked the overall concept and content of the book :)
Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity by Justin Baldoni
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Why do we need to add another qualifier before ‘Enough’? Why can’t we just be ‘Enough’ just as we are? Why do we need to stick to age old stereotypes of what it means to be boxed into a certain label? And when or how do we bring about positive change that will help the future generations?
In this heart warming and extremely relevant book narrated by Justin Baldoni himself, he asks this of himself and his readers.
In this heart warming and extremely relevant book narrated by Justin Baldoni himself, he asks this of himself and his readers.
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
"That’s all magic is, really: the space between what you have and what you need."
When Alix E Harrow wrote Ten Thousand Doors of January, I knew she was an exceptional writer, one to watch out for. The way she weaves pictures and impressions with her words, the way her mind can bend and unbend reality and immerse the reader in a believable fantastical journey is simply amazing.
This is a feminist fairytale retelling, featuring three sisters - Beatrice Belladonna Eastwood (aka the Crone), Agnes Amaranth Eastwood (aka the Mother) and James Juniper Eastwood (aka the Maiden), fighting for basic things like their right to live with respect and love. All this is happening right in the middle of the Suffragist movement around the 1890s.
I personally love feminist Fairy Tale retellings, especially the ones that make you feel all the feels - anger, love, friendship, sisterhood. And if I haven't forced you enough to read this book yet, then there are actual Stories within the overall retelling, retold by the Witches, in the book!! I mean, what a treat!!
So yes, this was one of those books which had everything I love in a good story - friendship, sisterhood, love, magic, rage, adventure, mystery, a creepy villain, a not your typical ending or storyline and I devoured this 500+ page long book in a week :)
When Alix E Harrow wrote Ten Thousand Doors of January, I knew she was an exceptional writer, one to watch out for. The way she weaves pictures and impressions with her words, the way her mind can bend and unbend reality and immerse the reader in a believable fantastical journey is simply amazing.
This is a feminist fairytale retelling, featuring three sisters - Beatrice Belladonna Eastwood (aka the Crone), Agnes Amaranth Eastwood (aka the Mother) and James Juniper Eastwood (aka the Maiden), fighting for basic things like their right to live with respect and love. All this is happening right in the middle of the Suffragist movement around the 1890s.
I personally love feminist Fairy Tale retellings, especially the ones that make you feel all the feels - anger, love, friendship, sisterhood. And if I haven't forced you enough to read this book yet, then there are actual Stories within the overall retelling, retold by the Witches, in the book!! I mean, what a treat!!
So yes, this was one of those books which had everything I love in a good story - friendship, sisterhood, love, magic, rage, adventure, mystery, a creepy villain, a not your typical ending or storyline and I devoured this 500+ page long book in a week :)
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
What a delightful love story! I can't make up my mind on what I enjoyed more about the book - the fact that it support Women in STEM, or the fact that the lead female character is shown to be on the Ace spectrum and realizes she's Demi, or the fact that is shows powerful friendships and queer relationships, or the fact that it talks about sexism and sexual harassment in the Academic industry as well, or the fact that Adam and Olive made me get major Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey vibes!! Whew!
Read a slow burn romance after ages and really enjoyed it. Recommend it if you're into romance with the above :)
Read a slow burn romance after ages and really enjoyed it. Recommend it if you're into romance with the above :)
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? N/A
4.5
What a delightful murder mystery! I loved reading every aspect of this first investigative adventure led by a group of extremely resourceful Septuagenarians - Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron.
This group of retirees, living in an upscale retirement home called Coopers Chase comes together every Thursday to discuss old unsolved murder cases. While they're at it, they witness two murders and a couple of deaths and between their own resources and the help of two friendly detectives - Donna and Chris, they obviously crack not one, but multiple murders!
But the story to me wasnt just your run of the mill murder mystery. What makes this book unique is its set of characters, their relationships with each other, their family and friends, how they navigate the last stages of their lives and the lives of their loved ones, the secrets and grief they hold, death, and loss. We are all going to get there eventually, if we're blessed enough to have a long life. But what lies at the end of it all? But their friendship and collective interest in solving puzzles also gives them a new handle on life and something to look forward to every night and every morning.
I cant wait to read the next book in the series and live their lives again. Joyce is my favorite character from the first book for obvious reasons ;) Also, where can I find a retirement home like Coopers Chase in India and how rich do I need to be to book a place there for myself? Things to ponder :)
This group of retirees, living in an upscale retirement home called Coopers Chase comes together every Thursday to discuss old unsolved murder cases. While they're at it, they witness two murders and a couple of deaths and between their own resources and the help of two friendly detectives - Donna and Chris, they obviously crack not one, but multiple murders!
But the story to me wasnt just your run of the mill murder mystery. What makes this book unique is its set of characters, their relationships with each other, their family and friends, how they navigate the last stages of their lives and the lives of their loved ones, the secrets and grief they hold, death, and loss. We are all going to get there eventually, if we're blessed enough to have a long life. But what lies at the end of it all? But their friendship and collective interest in solving puzzles also gives them a new handle on life and something to look forward to every night and every morning.
I cant wait to read the next book in the series and live their lives again. Joyce is my favorite character from the first book for obvious reasons ;) Also, where can I find a retirement home like Coopers Chase in India and how rich do I need to be to book a place there for myself? Things to ponder :)
The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Matt Haig's books are becoming like a cup of hot chocolate to cozy up with on a cold day.
This is a perfect pick me up companion to be placed beside your bed or on your coffee table. Anyone can read a page from anywhere in the book and feel happy when they're done reading. This is a happy book and I really enjoyed reading it.
"Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn't give up" :)
This is a perfect pick me up companion to be placed beside your bed or on your coffee table. Anyone can read a page from anywhere in the book and feel happy when they're done reading. This is a happy book and I really enjoyed reading it.
"Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn't give up" :)
Loveless by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
If there was an option to add a million star rating for this book, I'd give it that. That's how much I loved this book. Again, this is a purely personal rating, since Georgia's story sang to me like it was my own song. Her love for her friends made me miss my soulmates too.
I felt ecstatic that finally someone in the World has written a book that tells me that there's nothing wrong with me and nothing that I need to fix. But I also felt a bit sad that it took me so long to figure this out. If only someone had written this story twenty years back, a lot of heartbreak could've been saved. But well, I'm still grateful that others like me will have a chance to realise that if they feel indifferent towards romance or sex or both, then there's nothing wrong with them. That's just who we are.
This review feels like a coming out post to me. But I don't want to make it that. Since I'm still discovering many things about myself and I want to be fluid. I don't want specific labels to define me all the time but I'm glad that someone came up with these labels to tell people like me that we're alright and that we deserve to be loved in our own way :)
So an absolutely humungous thank you to the author Alice Oseman for writing a story about an aro-ace MC and about the magic of platonic love :)
I felt ecstatic that finally someone in the World has written a book that tells me that there's nothing wrong with me and nothing that I need to fix. But I also felt a bit sad that it took me so long to figure this out. If only someone had written this story twenty years back, a lot of heartbreak could've been saved. But well, I'm still grateful that others like me will have a chance to realise that if they feel indifferent towards romance or sex or both, then there's nothing wrong with them. That's just who we are.
This review feels like a coming out post to me. But I don't want to make it that. Since I'm still discovering many things about myself and I want to be fluid. I don't want specific labels to define me all the time but I'm glad that someone came up with these labels to tell people like me that we're alright and that we deserve to be loved in our own way :)
So an absolutely humungous thank you to the author Alice Oseman for writing a story about an aro-ace MC and about the magic of platonic love :)
Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut
funny
medium-paced
4.0
Continuing with my goal of trying to read more backlist titles from one of my favourite satirists - Kurt Vonnegut.
In this book, Mr. Vonnegut tells us about the reversing of human evolution. How our ‘big brains’ resulted in reversing of our evolution and turning us into amphibians with small brains and flippers 😂 Apparently, that was much better for us. I can totally see why that would be better.
In his usual style he touches upon the dark pasts of his characters or dark situations (there are a lot of triggering subjects though), but somehow makes it all funny. You’ll be constantly laughing and feeling uncomfortable about it - because isn’t the human life a tragic comedy after all?
In this book, Mr. Vonnegut tells us about the reversing of human evolution. How our ‘big brains’ resulted in reversing of our evolution and turning us into amphibians with small brains and flippers 😂 Apparently, that was much better for us. I can totally see why that would be better.
In his usual style he touches upon the dark pasts of his characters or dark situations (there are a lot of triggering subjects though), but somehow makes it all funny. You’ll be constantly laughing and feeling uncomfortable about it - because isn’t the human life a tragic comedy after all?
Death Note: Black Edition, Vol. 5 by Tsugumi Ohba
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The chase continues and it seems like Light Yagami is finally getting cornered. But will Near and Mello be able to defeat him? Light seems to be getting dangerously close to being a proper villain, from the events of this book.
Still unhappy with the female characterization in the series. Can't wait to see how Light's journey ends.
Still unhappy with the female characterization in the series. Can't wait to see how Light's journey ends.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Longlisted for Booker 2021, I had a tough time deciding how to rate this book. So I went back to my usual criteria of - Did I learn something new? Did the book entertain me?, to rate the book.
This is the second book I've read by Kazuo Ishiguro. The first one was The Buried Giant. I actually preferred the story or concept in that book than this one to be honest. But, I think his writing style is not something I enjoy in general, probably because of the pacing style.
The best part about this story was the unique narrator - an AI or AF (Artificial Friend) called Klara. Although the book is called Klara and the Sun, it is about Klara's understanding about the world and the humans occupying it. While she is made in the copy of a human child, while living with the family that buys her to be a companion for their daughter - Josie, Klara learns what it means to be a human, to be loved and to have hope and believe in something.
I liked the overall message in the book, it definitely ends with a positive message for the readers. There were a few heartbreaking moments as well. But I felt that there were quite a few themes that were introduced but left for the readers to speculate on. A good thing for a book club discussion.
The setting is futuristic and the author has also tried to explore themes of friendship, love, classism in the future, bullying, in this book. So yes, its not fast paced and might get a trifle boring half way through the book, but I think its a good book to read, just to remind ourselves about what makes us humans and the importance of Sun in our lives :) I for one definitely felt the need to immediately soak in the sunshine right after reading this book.
This is the second book I've read by Kazuo Ishiguro. The first one was The Buried Giant. I actually preferred the story or concept in that book than this one to be honest. But, I think his writing style is not something I enjoy in general, probably because of the pacing style.
The best part about this story was the unique narrator - an AI or AF (Artificial Friend) called Klara. Although the book is called Klara and the Sun, it is about Klara's understanding about the world and the humans occupying it. While she is made in the copy of a human child, while living with the family that buys her to be a companion for their daughter - Josie, Klara learns what it means to be a human, to be loved and to have hope and believe in something.
I liked the overall message in the book, it definitely ends with a positive message for the readers. There were a few heartbreaking moments as well. But I felt that there were quite a few themes that were introduced but left for the readers to speculate on. A good thing for a book club discussion.
The setting is futuristic and the author has also tried to explore themes of friendship, love, classism in the future, bullying, in this book. So yes, its not fast paced and might get a trifle boring half way through the book, but I think its a good book to read, just to remind ourselves about what makes us humans and the importance of Sun in our lives :) I for one definitely felt the need to immediately soak in the sunshine right after reading this book.