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thebookofbanana's reviews
18 reviews
Chess: A Novel by Stefan Zweig
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Chandelier by Clarice Lispector
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The complex thoughts of a simple-minded woman as she attempts to form connections with her dysfunctional family members, other people who only seek to connect with her for their own desires, and the world around her, struggling between wanting to grow through uncomfortableness and suffering through familiarity. A stream of consciousness crafted with meticulous care and intelligent thought, but held back by just how boring and tiring it is to actually read.
Additionally, I really wish there was more of the finding freedom through creation aspect of the book that I had heard about, instead of the failing to find freedom through forming the aforementioned connections.
Lispector is clearly a very talented writer, but this was the wrong book of hers to start with. Still, I want to try her other, shorter books.
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Calvino’s writing creates vivid scenes of sprawling metropolises and quaint villages, each uniquely beautiful and with its own brief history to be found from its current state. I found it relaxing to meditate over these cities and their people in my imagination, thinking about every detail as it was described. Once again, I find Calvino to be the one of the most creative and fun authors I’ve read
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
If on a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A book about reading. The reader (you) starts reading a book with an interesting first chapter, only to find the rest of the book is a completely different book. You try to find the remainder of the book only to find another completely different book, also with a differing remainder beyond the first chapter. What ensues is a fun journey to find each of the books in full, spliced with the first chapters of said books, each varying in theme. As each new first chapter is found, the story becomes crazier and even more inventive. Very creative and very fun, though it can drag slightly.
Species of Spaces and Other Pieces by Georges Perec
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Species of Spaces is a comforting work on how Perec finds comfort in the simple material world around him, and how he sees the spaces around him as a canvas to create.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-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
5.0
The Outsider – Albert Camus
Meursault is a person who cannot empathise with others; he does not understand the emotions of others because he does not explicitly feel these emotions himself.
Meursault thinks pure logically, and his logic works to fulfil his needs, in addition to solving problems practically, without the interference of emotions.
It seems that Meursault’s logical way of thinking, and thus his consequential actions, has developed in accordance with the cordial rules of the surrounding society; rules of politeness that every member of society is expected to follow.
Meursault does not think he is abnormal. In his mind, he is doing and thinking as the rest of society does, and this way of thinking has sufficed for Meursault so far.
However, his lack of empathy could only ever get him so far in this society of unspoken rules and implied morals. He kills a man, and is punished for it in a way he can’t understand. He thinks he has only acted in a practical way, to eliminate a problem. He is tried and found guilty by a justice system that seeks to condemn rather than understand. His past acts (of logic) are called into question and unfairly scrutinised. His lack of faith in God is deemed a sin. They all hate Meursault, but he cannot understand why.
And then, in his perpetual condemnation, Meursault realises just how absurd all the rules and the judgement are. Then, by discarding this absurdity, he is ready to reborn with a new lease on living life without that judgement, and instead being content with simplicity. Just in time to die.
The Outsider is a thought-provoking story about the absurdity of the way we inflict importance onto everything and the fallacy of that system to seriously punish any transgressions of those rules of importance.
Meursault thinks pure logically, and his logic works to fulfil his needs, in addition to solving problems practically, without the interference of emotions.
It seems that Meursault’s logical way of thinking, and thus his consequential actions, has developed in accordance with the cordial rules of the surrounding society; rules of politeness that every member of society is expected to follow.
Meursault does not think he is abnormal. In his mind, he is doing and thinking as the rest of society does, and this way of thinking has sufficed for Meursault so far.
However, his lack of empathy could only ever get him so far in this society of unspoken rules and implied morals. He kills a man, and is punished for it in a way he can’t understand. He thinks he has only acted in a practical way, to eliminate a problem. He is tried and found guilty by a justice system that seeks to condemn rather than understand. His past acts (of logic) are called into question and unfairly scrutinised. His lack of faith in God is deemed a sin. They all hate Meursault, but he cannot understand why.
And then, in his perpetual condemnation, Meursault realises just how absurd all the rules and the judgement are. Then, by discarding this absurdity, he is ready to reborn with a new lease on living life without that judgement, and instead being content with simplicity. Just in time to die.
The Outsider is a thought-provoking story about the absurdity of the way we inflict importance onto everything and the fallacy of that system to seriously punish any transgressions of those rules of importance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexism
Supposed to be seen as bad
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0