violetturtledove's reviews
403 reviews

Herzog by Saul Bellow

emotional reflective slow-paced

3.5

This is such a strange, rambling and neurotic book, it's difficult to know what to say about it. It's much more about thought than action. Some of the thoughts are heavily philosophical and to be honest, more highbrow than I am able to follow. Or maybe they are intentionally muddled, after all Herzog may be losing his mind.

But other parts are very evocative, I able to appreciate the feelings even if I didn't quite understand the theory! It's a slow one to reflect on, and I'm sure if you have the patience for re-reading you would understand it a little more each time.

Ultimately, I'm reluctant to rate this one especially high or low as it didn't fully click with me but I appreciate that it has many layers to it and they just weren't all for me. But sometimes the only way to judge a book is by the feeling you get at the end, and in this case I felt pretty satisfied and content.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia

Nobody Needs to Know: A Memoir by Pidgeon Pagonis

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Such an eye-opening and important book. Completely engaging, I read about half of this in one day. Pidgeon's positive attitude and determination shines through the often enraging and shocking subject matter of what has been done to them and other intersex people.

While of interest to anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, I honestly think anyone can find something to relate to in this. Anyone who's had a choice taken from them. Anyone who's felt their body is not their own. Anyone who has worried about fitting in. Anyone who has witnessed injustice and wanted to fix it. 

Bohemians of the Latin Quarter : by Henri Murger by Henri Murger

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

This is really quite a charming book, I didn't go into it with any real idea what it was, and it's not really a novel - it's a series of amusing events concerning the same main group of characters. 

I don't know if it's a feature of the translation, but it feels very fresh and modern (if you ignore one or two outdated stereotypes). It could be that translators tend to refresh the prose a little, or maybe it's just that the habits of artistic types never change! 

It's sweet and light, there's no main plot to speak of but it's a lovely, witty trip to the past that still feels very relevant.

The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi: Laughter, Madness and the Story of Britain's Greatest Comedian by Andrew McConnell Stott

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.25

A really interesting look into the history of regency theatre, clowning and pantomime. I'd never actually heard of Grimaldi until I saw this book in a charity shop, but I do like theatrical histories so I thought it would be worth a read. It seems really well researched, there's lots of fascinating little anecdotes and footnotes included with the main history, and a thoughtful commentary on the nature of celebrity and comedy which in some ways has not changed much at all.

It's interesting to see how sorts of entertainment fall in and out of favour... We may not be entertained by the same sort of 'pantomime' today, but it's easy to spot similar trends for physical comedy, satire etc today. Also, while we may think of past audiences as prudish, or modern ones as 'easily offended', this just shows that such things are always changing.

The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

The Vampyre by John William Polidori

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

It's hard to read something like this impartially, knowing that it's the first of what would become a huge glut of vampire stories. It's also a story with a famous backstory, and while reading it I did consider that this was possibly a first draft that was never really revised or developed further.

So basically it's worth a read for the history (and won't take you too long) but it's hard to read without being aware of everything surrounding it 

I probably sound like I'm moaning about the story: it's a good story, and fits a lot into a short length. The introduction, explaining the folklore, and the tone of the ending actually remind me of the style of a creepypasta! Again, not a bad thing.

It's oddly bookended with two 'extracts of letters' which seem to focus on singing Bryon's praises. I wasn't sure if this was a 'letter within the story' or just something else written by the author, but it does give some hints about the circumstances under which the story was written.

Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck by McKayla Coyle

funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

This is a sweet and uplifting book. I was a little dubious about a 'how to' on being a goblin, and self-help books in general, but I was curious and it was a good read. 

It's a great starting point for anyone interested in taking up some 'goblin' past times like crafts, foraging, making your own face masks etc. 

It's perhaps not as chaotic as I would usually expect from goblin literature, but I suppose this is just the basics and the true chaos has to come from within.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I'm not sure it's fair to review an unfinished manuscript, but it's Dickens and a) he gets plenty of praise and b) he's dead so I don't think he'll mind. 

I found this, unfortunately, a bit of a slow start. The atmosphere is good, going from idyllic to creepy, and most of the characters are lively and interesting but some of the plot points didn't really grab my attention in the first part.

I was able to make a guess of 'whodunnit' before I knew for sure what 'it' was, now at the end I still think he did something but who knows if it was the actual murder. I got quite into this by the end, despite knowing it was going to be cut short. A shame that a lot of questions will never be answered but I suppose it gives academics plenty to debate about.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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? No

5.0

Wow. I don't want to lean into the surgery puns too much in this review, but this was a gut-wrenching read! Not for the faint-hearted, I'd recommend checking out the content warnings if you have any triggers at all, but it is very much worth it (as the author notes, surgery looks a lot like torture).

This is a gothic horror featuring a trans, autistic protagonist who wants to be a surgeon but is unfortunately AFAB in Victorian London, so of course he ends up in a finishing school/hospital. Oh and there's ghosts. 

It's fast paced and gripping, I loved the characters so much, I felt their frustration, recognised myself in some parts, and found a better understanding of others in other parts. All aspects of them are just so well portrayed.

 I'm not 'read a book in a day' fast but I stayed up reading until 2am two nights in a row with this book (i read it on my kobo so it was my bedtime read, in hindsight maybe not the best choice for restful sleep!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria

Attack of the Moon Cows by Rodney Milton

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

If you are looking for something silly, far-out and utterly (or should that be udderly?) ridiculous then this book might be for you! The narrator is a hippy cow who speaks in groovy 60's slang, it also features disco dancing cow-bots, a nutty professor, madcap military types and a hard-as-nails Scottish cleaning lady (my personal favourite). 

A good blend of sci-fi comedy, peace and love, dairy-based puns and satire. It's a fun trip as long as you're not looking for high literature (and if you are you probably shouldn't pick a book with such a silly title!)