Scan barcode
tasto777's reviews
83 reviews
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Great book.
I really enjoyed Anansi Boys. In my opion it is weaker then American Gods mostly because the first half of the book kind of dragged on and i really had to push through. Especially the bit where Charlies brother takes over his life and even goes out and sleeps with his fiancee Rosie was hard for me to read. I am usually not that bothered by emotional topics but something about this felt so horrible i had to put the book away for a couple of days before i was able to continue. And there was just not too much going on despite following Charlie around. The second half was much better and you definitly got tge pay off for staying. The characters worked great together and all the bits of the world finally fell into place even before the end. The worldbuilding in the first half while a bit boring fleshed everything out so you could really dive into the book when the story started going faster.
For me thr best parts were the ones with the gods in their dimension in dreams and the stories of Anansi. This is in my opinion the thing Gaiman does incredibly great. Already in american gods you could feel the divine atmosphere in those scenes and this book has it too. It doesn't feel out of place or too much. It is just right.
But compared to american gods it has its strengths too. It is shorter and faster paced (onceyou got past the worldbuilding) and therefore it may be more interesting. It is more based in realism and has less weird or magical things happening and relies not as much on the gods doing god stuff to further the plot. And the development of the protagonist makes more sense and to be honest the protagonist in this book actually has a personality.
Would i recommend this book?
Yeah. Just as much as american gods but to dofferent people. If you enjoy fantasy but not too much, if you like interesting characters, gods, stories withing the story.. then this book is for you.
I really enjoyed Anansi Boys. In my opion it is weaker then American Gods mostly because the first half of the book kind of dragged on and i really had to push through. Especially the bit where
For me thr best parts were the ones with the gods in their dimension in dreams and the stories of Anansi. This is in my opinion the thing Gaiman does incredibly great. Already in american gods you could feel the divine atmosphere in those scenes and this book has it too. It doesn't feel out of place or too much. It is just right.
But compared to american gods it has its strengths too. It is shorter and faster paced (onceyou got past the worldbuilding) and therefore it may be more interesting. It is more based in realism and has less weird or magical things happening and relies not as much on the gods doing god stuff to further the plot. And the development of the protagonist makes more sense and to be honest the protagonist in this book actually has a personality.
Would i recommend this book?
Yeah. Just as much as american gods but to dofferent people. If you enjoy fantasy but not too much, if you like interesting characters, gods, stories withing the story.. then this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Gaslighting
Hohle Köpfe by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
How could i give a pratchett anything less than 4 stars?
Its a great book. I really really lived the golems and detritus. And of course vimes.i wasn't a huge fan of nobbys story line in this one but maybe that was just because i was so hooked on the other parts and wanted to know what happens there so much.
I would totally recommend this. The end has gotten quite philosophical which i enjoyed and it's just a good book.
Its a great book. I really really lived the golems and detritus. And of course vimes.i wasn't a huge fan of nobbys story line in this one but maybe that was just because i was so hooked on the other parts and wanted to know what happens there so much.
I would totally recommend this. The end has gotten quite philosophical which i enjoyed and it's just a good book.
Gedichte, die glücklich machen by Clara Paul
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Sehr schöne Auswahl an Gedichten. Ich habe das Buch als Geschenk zum Genurtstag erhalten und nicht viel davon erwartet. Doch ich habe einige neue Gedichte gefunden, die mir vorher noch nicht bekannt waren und due mich wirklich ein bisschen glücklicher machen konnten
Schwarz wie Erde by Ursula Poznanski
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Bisher habe ich nur Jugendbücher von Poznanski gelesen, die mich jedoch sehrbegeistert zurückgelassen haben. Deshalb habe ich ohne groß nachzudenken auch zu Vanitas gegriffen.
Der Thriller lässt einen die meiste Zeit im Dunkeln. Sei es nun die Vergangenheit der Protagonistin oder ihre Vermutungen zum Fall. Gerade auf den Fall bezogen cand ich das etwas schade, denn die große Auflösungszene ließ trotzdem noch fragen offen und war nicht befriedigend genug um das in meinen Augen zu rechtfertigen.
Die Sprache der Blumen ist sehr schön in den Roman verarbeitet.
Am Ende der Geschichte hab ich mich jedoch tatsächlich gefragt, wieso Caro sich selbst in so viel Gefahr begeben hat. Der Besuch auf der Gala und erst recht die Recherche in Verkleidung haben nicht zu der Person gepasst, die sich wenige Seiten später wieder schlaflos in ihrer Wohnung verbarrikadiert. Genauso habe ich mich gefragt, wieso sie nicht tatsächlich irgendwo im nirgendwo versteckt bleibt sondern wieder in die Großstadt zurück kehrt. Gerade mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln und überall Selfies und Photos von Toursisten ist das doch echt gefährlich für sie.
Um wirklich mitdenken zu können hatte man leider aich nicht genug Informationen bekommen. Außerdem halte ich die Kommunikation über Braille in der Haut oder in Pflanzen und Bananen und Brot für eher unrealistisch. Ich kann mir nicht wirklich vorstellen, dass man da etwas klar lesbares notieren kann.
Alles in allem hat das Buch mich doch stark gefesselt. Ich muss es zwar nicht nochmal lesen, aber es war in Ordnung. Im Vergleich zu Bsp. Erebos fand ich den Roman trotzdem schwächer, da mir das Thema doch zu düster und schwer ist. Spannung finde ich gut, aber so viel Mord organisiertes Verbrechen und Vergewaltigung brauche ich dann doch micht. Außerdem fand ich die Paranoia der Protagonistin ab der Hälfte ein bisschen anstregend.
Würde ich Vanitas weiterempfehlen?
Da bin ich mir gar nicht sicher. Ich denke schon. Das Bich ist grundsätzlich nicht schlecht.
Aber mit dem Hinweis, dass es bessere Thriller von Poznanski gibt.
Der Thriller lässt einen die meiste Zeit im Dunkeln. Sei es nun die Vergangenheit der Protagonistin oder ihre Vermutungen zum Fall. Gerade auf den Fall bezogen cand ich das etwas schade, denn die große Auflösungszene ließ trotzdem noch fragen offen und war nicht befriedigend genug um das in meinen Augen zu rechtfertigen.
Die Sprache der Blumen ist sehr schön in den Roman verarbeitet.
Um wirklich mitdenken zu können hatte man leider aich nicht genug Informationen bekommen. Außerdem halte ich die Kommunikation über Braille in der Haut oder in Pflanzen und Bananen und Brot für eher unrealistisch. Ich kann mir nicht wirklich vorstellen, dass man da etwas klar lesbares notieren kann.
Alles in allem hat das Buch mich doch stark gefesselt. Ich muss es zwar nicht nochmal lesen, aber es war in Ordnung. Im Vergleich zu Bsp. Erebos fand ich den Roman trotzdem schwächer, da mir das Thema doch zu düster und schwer ist. Spannung finde ich gut, aber so viel Mord
Würde ich Vanitas weiterempfehlen?
Da bin ich mir gar nicht sicher. Ich denke schon. Das Bich ist grundsätzlich nicht schlecht.
Aber mit dem Hinweis, dass es bessere Thriller von Poznanski gibt.
Reise um die Erde in 80 Tagen by Jules Verne
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
after i saw the new series with David Tennent i wanted to read the book. it's defintily a classic but i was never really interestes in the book before.
i found this as an audio book and it's only around 4 hours long so i started listening.
the plot is very different from what is shown in the series. i was surprised by that but i liked the book version and the tv adaption both. to be honest i liked the characters in the tv series even more then in the book because they had more depth and more time to grow on screen since it has 8 episodes an hour each. the book felt sometimes abit rushed in comparison and shallow.
but all in all i really enjoyed my time with it.
would i recommend the book?
yes. but i would point anybody interested to the series too so they can enjoy both
i found this as an audio book and it's only around 4 hours long so i started listening.
the plot is very different from what is shown in the series. i was surprised by that but i liked the book version and the tv adaption both. to be honest i liked the characters in the tv series even more then in the book because they had more depth and more time to grow on screen since it has 8 episodes an hour each. the book felt sometimes abit rushed in comparison and shallow.
but all in all i really enjoyed my time with it.
would i recommend the book?
yes. but i would point anybody interested to the series too so they can enjoy both
Circe by Madeline Miller
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
i really enjoyed this audiobook. much more then the song of achilles. this one felt more real and relatble. i just enjoyed circe as the narrator more. now that i finished it i would like to listen or read it again.
definitly recommend it
definitly recommend it
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I was sad when i finished it not because tge ending is sad but because it is over now. And i think this is exacty how a good book should make you feel.
Shadow as a protagonist was sometimes a bit bland. He does not really jave a personality but for me he doesn't need one. The story more than makes up for it. The roadtrip trough the us was super interesting and i loved to see the different names and formes the gods use. The epilogue was a tiny but too long for my taste but maybe that is just impatience speakig since i really wanted to finish the last bit quickly.
In the first half gaimens descriptions of female characters was a bit icky. Too much talk about boobs and nipples poking though shirts. But i didn't notice it that much in the second half so it's okay.
Would i recommend this book?
Yes. Wholeheartly. It's great. Especially with a nit of knowledge of some gods and mythologies but even with knowing barely more than the basics you can have a blast with this novel.
Shadow as a protagonist was sometimes a bit bland. He does not really jave a personality but for me he doesn't need one. The story more than makes up for it. The roadtrip trough the us was super interesting and i loved to see the different names and formes the gods use. The epilogue was a tiny but too long for my taste but maybe that is just impatience speakig since i really wanted to finish the last bit quickly.
In the first half gaimens descriptions of female characters was a bit icky. Too much talk about boobs and nipples poking though shirts. But i didn't notice it that much in the second half so it's okay.
Would i recommend this book?
Yes. Wholeheartly. It's great. Especially with a nit of knowledge of some gods and mythologies but even with knowing barely more than the basics you can have a blast with this novel.
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Francesc Miralles, Héctor García Puigcerver
informative
slow-paced
2.0
first slef help book i ever read and it felt like joining a cult. i would not recommend this book. the author said the same thing over and over and over again (mediate, don't eat until you are full, healthy diet, moderate work out/movement, positive attitide and have a reason to live). there is no deeper insight into anything and i could have done just as good without listening to those words.
i finished it still because it is only 3 hours long and not that much of a waste of time but honestly just don't read it.
i finished it still because it is only 3 hours long and not that much of a waste of time but honestly just don't read it.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
like many people i saw the movie. not as a child but just a couple of years ago as an adult. i really liked it but tbh i am in love with stop motion so this was totally my thing.
then i saw this book at the book store and i knew i had to read it. it was a very quick read. i finished more then half of it in one go on the train. the second half took a bit longer because i couldn'T find the time. but i really enjoyed every second with Coraline.
She is not really a flawed protagonist in any way. in the beginning she just wants some adventure and life to not be boring. she gets that and uses all of her knowledge to free her parents and escape from the other mother. but she didn't really learn anything from it (or maybe i am missing this) she is just the same as before the story. i think this is a pity since everything else is really nice.
would i recommend this?
totally.
then i saw this book at the book store and i knew i had to read it. it was a very quick read. i finished more then half of it in one go on the train. the second half took a bit longer because i couldn'T find the time. but i really enjoyed every second with Coraline.
She is not really a flawed protagonist in any way. in the beginning she just wants some adventure and life to not be boring. she gets that and uses all of her knowledge to free her parents and escape from the other mother. but she didn't really learn anything from it (or maybe i am missing this) she is just the same as before the story. i think this is a pity since everything else is really nice.
would i recommend this?
totally.