talethal's reviews
46 reviews

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

Oh, what a beautiful story! The last book (Anne of Windy Poplars) I found somewhat tedious and had me a little bored at times, but this novel made up for that! I laughed and (very nearly) cried with Anne and Gilbert. Chills raced through my body at the harrowing moments; unexpected cackles tore from my lips at the humorous ones. What a skilled and insightful writer was Lucy Maud Montgomery! 

I love that as Anne gets older the issues she faces seem very real to that stage of life; the losses are harder to bear but the triumphs are more victorious. I always want to learn alongside Mrs Doctor, dear.

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I wasn’t all that fond of the format at the first, but then variety reared its unpredictable head and I became more invested. This book  reads almost like a collection of short stories until the very end.

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-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

4.25

Two of my best friends got engaged to each another the day after I finished this book, and the day after THAT another two of my best friends started dating one another. I have therefore observed a strong correlation between reading this book and positive things happening in the lives of those you love immediately afterwards; would highly recommend.

A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I want Miss Marple to be my grandmother.

It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet by James Herriot

funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

I had no idea what I was going into with this book, but I am so glad I gave it a go! Such a pleasurable read - I am eager to read the rest of the series.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Villain stories are complicated things - the author must enable their devoted readers to peak into the mind of a nefarious individual, appreciating their thoughts and moral compass, without justifying their short-comings/downright evil deeds. Collins has tiptoed this line between “explaining” and “excusing” fairly well, enabling the audience to feel for Snow without trying to force him into an ill-fitting redemption arc. There is LOTS of symbolism and thematic exploration, most of which is done very well!!

My main critiques:
a) *I’m going to be vague about this one but expand upon it in the “spoilers” section.* I’m not sure whether I found this annoying because it was poorly executed or because I just don’t have the mentality of a villain (at least, I don’t think I do), but there were many times when I felt as though the *evil* mentality was very forced. I don’t know how better to say this without actually giving an example.
b) It all wrapped up slightly too quickly for my liking - everything just dissolved suddenly without quite enough build-up.

a) For example, there were soooooo many times Coriolanus thought of Lucy Gray as “belonging” to him… was it actually too on the nose, or do I just see that this is dangerous logic? 
ALSO; HOW CAN YOU CONTROL BIRDS WITH A REMOTE CONTROL IF THEY HAVE NO ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OF ANY KIND?!? Yeah yeah, “genetic engineering”, sure… I’m unconvinced.

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I ADORED THIS BOOK - WHAT A SPLENDID READ.

This book is absolutely hilarious, outrageously poetic and - tragically - too short. I can ALMOST give it a perfect score, but as enchanting and elegantly-written as it is, I just found the beginning a little slow. I initially wasn’t all that interested in the new characters, but through her fine literary skills and imagination, Montgomery brought me to care as deeply for them as I’ve ever cared for any fictitious people. Every single character has their purpose in the story, and even those you don’t “see” all that much are portrayed in such a way as to evoke such FEELING from the reader. I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS.

I believe this series has become such a cult classic because it teeters on the edge dividing fantasy and reality - the events are all certainly occurrences that could have happened, and the people very like those we may meet today, but they have this uncanny gleam to them, as though polished just too brightly, leaving them unsuited for this dull world.

But, I mean, COME ON; I LOVE EVERY SINGLE INTERACTION BETWEEN ANNE AND GILBERT BUT THE TWO OF THEM NEED TO GET A MOVE-ON.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a delightful book to read once more! I think every human on the planet should adventure through this book every few years - Anne’s beautiful outlook reminds you to look up and out, to drink in the splendour of the world. 
Additionally, reading this as a young adult instead of as a youth made me realise the HILARITY of Montgomery’s writing - the dreams of little girls just seem so whimsical and silly to an older reader, but they are still so lovely.
I find myself thinking much more like Marilla Cuthbert. 

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Intense and thrilling from page one of the prologue. Marissa Meyer expertly cultivates an internal struggle within you, the reader, as the “heroes” and anti-heroes play tug-of-war over your sympathies, only for you to realise that there are bigger problems at hand.

Supernova by Marissa Meyer

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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

4.25

A turbulent conclusion to a turbulent trilogy. Every small mistake the characters have made has caught up with them, and Marissa leaves you unable to predict what’s coming - she’s quite good at writing novels you simply can’t put down, even with an approaching exam looming over your head, because while you’re in it, Gatlon City is more important than reality.