thealbapoems's reviews
119 reviews

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A bizarre, haunting, at times beautiful read. Oddly enough it reminds me of My Year of Rest and Relaxation in the way that I can see how this book influenced it. The protagonist only communicates with the readers through brief journal like entries that stop as she stops communicating with those around her. This novel will stay with me for a while, amongst many things because of the scene where Yeonghe describes how her dad made her eat the dog that bit her, in a short but profoundly disturbing piece of foreshadowing. Kang explores bodily autonomy, familial relations, and the expectation of women as daughters, wives, and mothers. I hope that at the end

Yeonghe never makes it to the hospital, and is finally able to do what she wants, and becomes a tree in that ambulance, with her sister next to her.

I Cannot be Good Until You Say it by Sanah Ahsan

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

Striking exploration of sexuality and gender and religion. Of family, tradition and comfort. The weaving of the verses from the Quran underline the tension, and eventually the home coming. The rhythm is hard to shake off. 

Inheritance by Jasmine Cooray

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

4.25

A poignant reflection on grief. Elegy for a wedding will sit with me for a long time. The language surprises and soothes. 

God Complex by Rachael Allen

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

This collection had some brilliant lines and striking poems. I enjoyed the weaving of the narrative, and the recurring motifs to give continuity. Allen’s voice reminded me of Diane Seuss, maybe the theme of grief and love is to blame for this. Will be re-reading these poems again. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

This is a book I had been meaning to read for a while, it’s good, entertaining, and left me thinking about the plot when I put it down. I can see why it’s such a classic in schools, but I think I read it a little too late. The writing style reflects the narrator, but I couldn’t help thinking that it might have not been entirely deliberate, seeing as Hinton was 17 when she wrote it. 

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Unfortunately, my edition was a misprint, so my experience was hindered by missing pages. Overall, I find Woolf’s writing enjoyable, and the character of Orlando with all their loves and ambitions very interesting. It’s hard to believe this book was written in 1928. I watched a documentary about Woolf and they said that this book was really one long love letter to her lesbian lover Vita Sackville, and that’s how I’d like to remember it. 

La península de las casas vacías by David Uclés

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

What a beautiful, jarring, painful, wonderful book. The best book on the Spanish Civil War I’ve read by far. It follows the lives of the Ardolento family throughout the war, in a country where there’s a God and a narrator, and the war is dictated by a chess game buried in Tenerife. Uclés has a masterful control of magical realism and manages to bring the joy of fantasy into the horrors of war. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. 

Akira, Vol. 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

2.5

This is the first time I have read manga, and it’s only the first volume (out of 7?) but I don’t think I will be reading more of them. While I do enjoy anime, I don’t think manga is for me, even if I do appreciate the beautiful panels and obviously the storytelling. I’m excited to watch the movie after this one! 

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Paul Lynch’s style jars in the first two chapters, but very quickly the reader realizes that it perfectly suits the atmosphere of the novel. Prophet Song is a haunting exploration of a country at war with itself  through the lens of a family that is slowly torn apart. Extremely well written, it feels real and makes the reader want to personally drag Eilish out of the country. What I liked the most was the fact that it made me see for the first time, the reasons why people don’t leave their homes even when their lives are at risk. Before this book I hadn't considered the implications and family ties, it does this in a more efficient way than maybe Half of a Yellow Sun. There are moments when the writing feels almost superficial, but it does fit with the overwhelmed mental state of the protagonist, so it could have been intentional. Overall this is a very interesting dive into a crumbling country and its victims. 

Platinum Blonde by Phoebe Stuckes

emotional fast-paced

2.5

The best poem is the first one. I liked the imagery, but sometimes the poems felt too cliché. Would read other work by her though!