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wohnjick's reviews
76 reviews
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
There is nothing to like here. Ethan Frome is a loser who's entire purpose in this book is to cheat on his sick wife Zeena (who's also his cousin, just for funsies) because she isnt as cheerful as her cousin Mattie who's arrived as a housekeeper. All three of these characters are unlikable: Ethan is a cheating loser, Mattie is a merciless homewrecker, and Zeena (who is perhaps the only character who isnt an outright loser) is also just annoying and rude. I also dont understand the moral of the story: Ethan ends up with a worse life than he did before, Mattie becomes bitter and helpless, and Zeena gets burdened with taking care of them both; nobody wins and nothing changes except for the worse for everyone (yet neither Ethan nor Mattie are ever condemned by Wharton for their actions?). Wharton's prose is also subpar; never are there flashes of brilliance and I found her way of attempting to write in a southern accent annoying and shoehorned. The only thing this book has going for it is that it's short, so at least it ends quickly
Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Its not a bad book but it isn't a great book. As with the other Vonnegut books I've read it's prose is very readable and I found myself getting through it rather quickly when I actually sat down to read it. But for me, Bluebeard just doesn't land as well as something like Sirens of Titan; Rabo Karabekian is a good, likable, well written character (and the plot itself has these same virtues), but in the end I couldn't help but ask "is that all we went on this journey for?"
The Opposing Shore by Julien Gracq
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Tough to rate. Gracq's prose is phenomenal and he masterfully creates this surreal, mysterious aura which the book revels in. The premise is fascinating and the overall narrative is of the same variety I loved in Buzzati's The Sronghold. Unfortunately I found the ending of the book to get a bit tedious as Gracq's aforementioned brilliant prose does have a tendency to meander on less-than-important features of the story and by the end it was becoming a bit tiresome. This book in a phrase: a little too much of a good thing
The Beggar Student by Osamu Dazai
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I guess I just didn't get it
Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Bit difficult to follow at times since it's not told wholly chronologically, but Vonnegut remains funny and insightful
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
5.0
Worthy sequel to the orignal masterpiece. Not as good in my opinion, but Paul's character arc is interesting and continues the universe in thought provoking ways.
Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
4.0
A step down from the previous books. I found it wordier than previous entries, but the world Herbert builds and the concepts he brings up are worth the extra attention. The Atreides twins are less gripping characters than previous protagonists, but still prove fleshed out. This does shape the tone for the rest of the series, so if you find yourself disliking this book you may want to avoid the rest.
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
4.0
Solid sci-fi thriller. The technology Morgan puts in the forefront of the story proves interesting, and the plot is interesting. Occasionally there are moments that seem perhaps a bit edgy for the sake of being edgy, but its far from intrusive and overall is an enjoyable reading experience.