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zatannacomic's reviews
169 reviews
Eurotrash by Christian Kracht
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
2.5
Eurotrash had all the ingredients for the perfect book for me. It had reflections on the past, a difficult relationship between a family, while also thinking of the concept of their actions. There was also a fun concept - as this mother and son go a road trip and are just giving away the mothers money. This book also has a cool title, which I can always appreciate.
What surprised me the most about this book, was its writing style. It is bold and critical, but also very confusing. It feels like a long rant and I didn’t enjoy that. It felt like how I imagine American Pyscho would be. The author does mention Bret Easton Ellis… so I feel like that comparison is not out of place. A lot of names and connections to the war were mentioned, but there was an assumption that you just knew these people. If you don’t (which was in my case) you end up feeling lost.
The main character is bitter towards his mother and the nazi past of his family from fathers side. He writes about his family history and how their bad choices set up his future, guilt and bitterness towards them. Through the story he tries to sympathize and understand his mother, which in certain moments he can, but they also keep clashing. The ending was very sweet though.
The roadtrip (to give it a name) did change the whole atmosphere. It made this book a lighter to read and a bit more fun. But in the end this book didn’t do it for me. I get the message of this book. I get the point the author is trying to make. I just didn’t like the execution of it.
What surprised me the most about this book, was its writing style. It is bold and critical, but also very confusing. It feels like a long rant and I didn’t enjoy that. It felt like how I imagine American Pyscho would be. The author does mention Bret Easton Ellis… so I feel like that comparison is not out of place. A lot of names and connections to the war were mentioned, but there was an assumption that you just knew these people. If you don’t (which was in my case) you end up feeling lost.
The main character is bitter towards his mother and the nazi past of his family from fathers side. He writes about his family history and how their bad choices set up his future, guilt and bitterness towards them. Through the story he tries to sympathize and understand his mother, which in certain moments he can, but they also keep clashing. The ending was very sweet though.
The roadtrip (to give it a name) did change the whole atmosphere. It made this book a lighter to read and a bit more fun. But in the end this book didn’t do it for me. I get the message of this book. I get the point the author is trying to make. I just didn’t like the execution of it.
Alleen en duizend mensen by Malou Holshuijsen
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
In grote lijnen was dit een goed boek. De schrijfstijl is sober, maar kon wel af en toe een glimach op mijn gezicht doen verschijnen.
Het hoofdpersonage Rivka is oké, maar het soort ‘oké’, waarvan je in tranen uitbarst. Dit boek zet haar emoties centraal. In dit boek verliest ze haarzelf door enkele gebeurtenissen. Ze zoek wie ze is en hoe haar leven anders kan. Een moeilijke zoektocht, maar je voelt met haar mee. Ook al frustreerde ze mij op sommige momenten enorm.
Dit is een boek over liefde en verlies. Het was op bepaalde momenten zeer pakkend. Het moment, die dit boek in gang zet - de carbaretier, die uit het raam springt (geen spoiler, het staat in de beschrijving) - is shockerend. Vooral de nasleep ervan en het effect op Rivka zorgde voor een goed boek. De historie gaf dit al snel een tragisch kantje, iets waar ik van hou. Dit boek was met momenten heel goed - meestal wanneer het over bodemdrift en Leopold en Rivka ging - en met andere momenten was het gewoon oké - Rivka’s familie problemen.
Het hoofdpersonage Rivka is oké, maar het soort ‘oké’, waarvan je in tranen uitbarst. Dit boek zet haar emoties centraal. In dit boek verliest ze haarzelf door enkele gebeurtenissen. Ze zoek wie ze is en hoe haar leven anders kan. Een moeilijke zoektocht, maar je voelt met haar mee. Ook al frustreerde ze mij op sommige momenten enorm.
Dit is een boek over liefde en verlies. Het was op bepaalde momenten zeer pakkend. Het moment, die dit boek in gang zet - de carbaretier, die uit het raam springt (geen spoiler, het staat in de beschrijving) - is shockerend. Vooral de nasleep ervan en het effect op Rivka zorgde voor een goed boek. De historie gaf dit al snel een tragisch kantje, iets waar ik van hou. Dit boek was met momenten heel goed - meestal wanneer het over bodemdrift en Leopold en Rivka ging - en met andere momenten was het gewoon oké - Rivka’s familie problemen.
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book feels cold and warm at the same time. The main characters and their relationship felt like a small light in the darkness. It wasn’t a romance or real friendship, but there was an understanding. The main character felt seen after being ignored and treated harshly by most people around her.
I liked what this story was trying to say about loneliness, trying to find your place in the world but also being stuck at one place in your life.
I expected it to be more about North Korea, since the blurb made a point to mention it. I didn’t mind it not being a big plot point at all.
The writing style felt similar to what I’ve read before from Korean authors. However this writing style was more distant from emotions and also focused on body image and doubts about oneself. I enjoyed it and I liked reflecting on what I had read.
I liked what this story was trying to say about loneliness, trying to find your place in the world but also being stuck at one place in your life.
I expected it to be more about North Korea, since the blurb made a point to mention it. I didn’t mind it not being a big plot point at all.
The writing style felt similar to what I’ve read before from Korean authors. However this writing style was more distant from emotions and also focused on body image and doubts about oneself. I enjoyed it and I liked reflecting on what I had read.
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
The story took a while to get into it. Multiple mysteries were set up, however these were interconnected. These strings were interesting to follow. Characters and places get referenced in different parts. I liked the vignette-style writing. It made this a quick read.
While not bad, I felt very little while reading. Perhaps it was because i was trying to figure out the way this world and time travel worked. I picked up on some hints left in between the lines. I was able to guess somethings, which felt satisfying. Was the story a tiny bit predictable in the end? Maybe, but I still enjoying puzzling everything together.
It’s clear most of these characters all care very much about their loved ones and I’d say that is an important theme in this book. It’s just that I personally didn’t see why I should care about these characters very much. I didn’t feel connected to any of them.
In the end everything just ended up being just okay to me. I thought a bit too often about DNF this, but since this read fairly quick I decided to finish it. This didn’t blow my mind, but I didn’t hate it.
While not bad, I felt very little while reading. Perhaps it was because i was trying to figure out the way this world and time travel worked. I picked up on some hints left in between the lines. I was able to guess somethings, which felt satisfying. Was the story a tiny bit predictable in the end? Maybe, but I still enjoying puzzling everything together.
It’s clear most of these characters all care very much about their loved ones and I’d say that is an important theme in this book. It’s just that I personally didn’t see why I should care about these characters very much. I didn’t feel connected to any of them.
In the end everything just ended up being just okay to me. I thought a bit too often about DNF this, but since this read fairly quick I decided to finish it. This didn’t blow my mind, but I didn’t hate it.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Curiosity killed the cat.
I didn’t enjoy this the way it was intented. I found this book terrible, but I finished it in a way you keep watching a so-bad-it’s-good-movie. The writing in this is insanely immature and so are the characters. This book is filled with tropes in a way I could probably tag this as on AO3. The main character can’t say a word without being sarcastic, which makes none of her words have weight. The love interest is a brooding man who doesn’t care about the main character but actually he does! And that’s true love! Without the sex scenes this could be a YA, and I don’t like the implications of that. One compliment it that when the main characters like each other, the romance between them is well written.
Now I could live with all of the above (which is why I give this book a 2.25). I know this is not what I usually read and I should manage my expectations. What I have read before (and what I love) are vampires. The vampire lore in this book is pathetic and is stripped to its bare bones. They are creatures who drink blood out of a juice box. I hated how these paranormal creatures had to be clean. They weren’t allowed to be immoral and any darkness that these monsters have is avoided. The werewolves are big dogs. The vampires are elves with fangs. It’s honestly insulting to the unique lore the vampire. As of the werewolves…I’m no expert on that, maybe they are just big dogs…
The conflict between these different species was too weak to carry on for 400 pages. Everything is vague and it feels like you have to just accept everything. On top of this it’s predictable and there is no place to think or wonder where the plot is going to lead. Everytime something of a conflict was going to happen, it faded to black. Which is just annoying and removes an gravity from the conflict. It was an easy and quick read, just don’t bother asking why in this book. You barely get answers.
I didn’t enjoy this the way it was intented. I found this book terrible, but I finished it in a way you keep watching a so-bad-it’s-good-movie. The writing in this is insanely immature and so are the characters. This book is filled with tropes in a way I could probably tag this as on AO3. The main character can’t say a word without being sarcastic, which makes none of her words have weight. The love interest is a brooding man who doesn’t care about the main character but actually he does! And that’s true love! Without the sex scenes this could be a YA, and I don’t like the implications of that. One compliment it that when the main characters like each other, the romance between them is well written.
Now I could live with all of the above (which is why I give this book a 2.25). I know this is not what I usually read and I should manage my expectations. What I have read before (and what I love) are vampires. The vampire lore in this book is pathetic and is stripped to its bare bones. They are creatures who drink blood out of a juice box. I hated how these paranormal creatures had to be clean. They weren’t allowed to be immoral and any darkness that these monsters have is avoided. The werewolves are big dogs. The vampires are elves with fangs. It’s honestly insulting to the unique lore the vampire. As of the werewolves…I’m no expert on that, maybe they are just big dogs…
The conflict between these different species was too weak to carry on for 400 pages. Everything is vague and it feels like you have to just accept everything. On top of this it’s predictable and there is no place to think or wonder where the plot is going to lead. Everytime something of a conflict was going to happen, it faded to black. Which is just annoying and removes an gravity from the conflict. It was an easy and quick read, just don’t bother asking why in this book. You barely get answers.
Of Cattle and Men by Ana Paula Maia
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
If I could summerize this book in one worth it would be survival. This book is about people and animals surviving in a cruel world.
The story show how brutal meat processing can be and has a character that cares and wonders how he can at least kill with the least amount of guilt possible. It makes you think of your own consumption. These animals are taking their own lives, which makes you wonder about the ethics and the agency of animals. The mentions of extreme poverty makes this a sad story of people trying to survive by risking their life.
As hort but heavy story about killing and eating meat, but mostly its also about survival.
The story show how brutal meat processing can be and has a character that cares and wonders how he can at least kill with the least amount of guilt possible. It makes you think of your own consumption. These animals are taking their own lives, which makes you wonder about the ethics and the agency of animals. The mentions of extreme poverty makes this a sad story of people trying to survive by risking their life.
As hort but heavy story about killing and eating meat, but mostly its also about survival.
Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
2.75
The use of the ‘note book’ and the analysis of the notebook were fun.The mystery hidden in the pages created a hypnotic atmosphere until the 60% mark, where it got reptitive. I enjoyed the writing. It felt very posh. It seems like the main character is getting lost in made-up lies, while searching for the cause of the death of her sister. We saw her turn into the case study, by reading her journals. There was a thin line between what is deal and imagination. The main character had a mean streak and wants to stir things up in her life by lying, which in the end made a mess of her life. However ı foundfe it hard to care about why she is doing all of this. The “non-fiction” parts about her therapist seemed like they belonged in a whole other book, but i guess i liked reading them
Zephyr by Auke Hulst
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.5
Vreemd genoeg heb ik al verschillende videos gezien over de California Zephyr. Dus een boek over deze treinrit leek mij enorm leuk. De vergelijking met de trein uit Afrika is verrassend. Ook een exploratie van Amerikaanse cultuur in verschillende perspectieven. Het was kritisch om de juiste redenen, maar ook een beetje een appreciatie. De opmerkingen over de impact van het veranderende klimaat was waardevol.
A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.0
When I read the blurb I had the impression that this book was about death and losing people. This did happen, but there were these long tangents about the love life of the main character and what he learned from that. I didn’t feel like these fit and had little interest in them. They also took away the enjoyment of the ‘main’ story line about the passing of someone and the effects of war on people. I do get that these experiences were relevant for personal growth and context and they weren’t badly written, they just slowed down an otherwise quickly paces plot. It made me wonder if I should DNF this book - in hindsight I think I should have.
The death of the person, who Krishan was not that close with - despite seeing her daily for a few years added room for thoughts about his life. The political message added an engaging perspective on a part of history i knew little about.
The death of the person, who Krishan was not that close with - despite seeing her daily for a few years added room for thoughts about his life. The political message added an engaging perspective on a part of history i knew little about.
De hongerspelen by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The Hunger Games is nu al een klassieker voor mij. Dit eerste boek is de start van een fantastische reeks, maar is ook sterk op zichzelf. Katniss en Peeta zijn zo’n goed personages met hun eigen sterktes en zwaktes en hun interacties zorgen elke keer voor een nieuwe wending.
De wereld van Panem zit zo goed in elkaar en nu ik dit verhaal opnieuw lees, merk ik ook zaken die naar de echte wereld verwijzen of die in de later boeken nog interessant worden.
Ik hou van dit boek, van deze personages en van het verhaal. Iets anders dan een 5 sterren kan gewoon niet.
De wereld van Panem zit zo goed in elkaar en nu ik dit verhaal opnieuw lees, merk ik ook zaken die naar de echte wereld verwijzen of die in de later boeken nog interessant worden.
Ik hou van dit boek, van deze personages en van het verhaal. Iets anders dan een 5 sterren kan gewoon niet.