zendivir's Reviews (118)

Blood Music

DID NOT FINISH: 58%

This is not the right time for me to be reading this book. Although I'm not afraid of the fictional intelligent virus in the novel, I was more afraid of the rate of infection as well as the emotional reaction towards the body horror. My family had caught (and overcame) omicron while I was reading this book, and the emotional time made me put it down. I was unable to pick the book up again, even after everyone's recovery.

The narration of this novel makes it seem like I am watching a movie, which is a compliment. However, some scenes abruptly change without a proper transition.

I was deeply disappointed in Virgil's death, because I was expecting him- as the main character- to stay the entire length of the novel. The POV abruptly changed from third person singular / limited to third person multiple. Although, I understand that he would not have stayed human after some time. Both his mental state and physical body were deteriorating and changing. The beginning took a bit too long to tell us that it was really a third person multiple after all.

Content Warnings

All the Lovely Bad Ones

Mary Downing Hahn

DID NOT FINISH: 32%

I was not happy about the repeated term "nut case" / "looney" / "crazy" referring to those who believed in ghosts and spirits.

The Art Of Psychological Warfare: How To Skillfully Influence People Undetected And How To Mentally Subdue Your Enemies In Stealth Mode

Michael T. Stevens

DID NOT FINISH: 40%

Very pessimistic book if you think about it.

Intentionally I was using this book as a way to study for manipulative characters in my stories. I was unable to get through this reading due to being empathic and a trauma survivor. I already know how to spot red flags in manipulators, and their tactics are explained in this book.

This book is good at exploiting tactics of abusers and people in power- and explains how to be one of them. Use this to your advantage. I hope people use this knowledge as a way to identify manipulative tactics.

Interview with the Vampire

Anne Rice

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

It took me four months to read, but I loved it ❤️

Content Warnings

Cemetery Boys

Aiden Thomas

DID NOT FINISH: 28%

I enjoyed the paranormal aspect as well as reading a transgender male protagonist (I myself am transmasculine). I also enjoyed reading a non-white protagonist with a background different from mine. I gave this book a try, but I was unable to get through the long scenes with long info-dumping dialogue. And Maritza (according to the chapters 1-6 that I have read) has been a Captain Obvious type of humor that was not my preference. I had to DNF due to the dragged out scenes, making me think it will continue to happen throughout the rest of the novel (although I'll never know unless I give it another try).

However, I do recommend giving this book a try!

Content Warnings

The Lady in the Lake

Raymond Chandler

DID NOT FINISH: 10%

I'm not into detective / cosy mysteries.

Fight Club

Chuck Palahniuk

2.0

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I'm not happy about the misportrayal of a mental illness. Discussing it here would bring up multiple spoilers. There are more reasons I dislike this book, such as the amount of topics featuring sexual content.

Content Warnings

The Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka

3.5

dark reflective sad

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Content Warnings

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