You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
ahmay's reviews
21 reviews
Our Missing Hearts: A Novel by Celeste Ng
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Kind of hurts to read as an Asian-American, but it’s supposed to.
Didn’t really connect with the characters. The world feels pretty believable, but these twelve-year-olds don’t. Pretty jarring switch from a kid’s perspective to several references to sex. I was just sitting there thinking, What book am I reading again?
Nobody is fleshed out enough, and there is not much character development. At least, it’s not very prominent. I suppose Margaret changes a lot , but does she really?
I don’t think I was in the mood to read from a kid’s perspective, so perhaps it just wasn’t the right time for me to read it. Wish I enjoyed it more.
I enjoyed the tender moments between Margaret and Ethan though. Wish there was more of them, but I understand that they weren’t the focus of the book.
The ending is very open ended, which is fine, but like… not so much for me.
Didn’t really connect with the characters. The world feels pretty believable, but these twelve-year-olds don’t. Pretty jarring switch from a kid’s perspective to several references to sex. I was just sitting there thinking, What book am I reading again?
Nobody is fleshed out enough, and there is not much character development. At least, it’s not very prominent. I suppose Margaret changes a lot , but does she really?
I don’t think I was in the mood to read from a kid’s perspective, so perhaps it just wasn’t the right time for me to read it. Wish I enjoyed it more.
I enjoyed the tender moments between Margaret and Ethan though. Wish there was more of them, but I understand that they weren’t the focus of the book.
The ending is very open ended, which is fine, but like… not so much for me.
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
To be frank, I find the last 10-15ish chapters unsatisfactory. I appreciated all the stuff about how colonialism works and whatever—but Babel, or the Necessity of Violence, ironically did not contain enough violence for me. I felt like I should’ve watched the world burn like Robin wanted at some point, but we got stagnant towards the end. The last chapter, however—the one where it all ends—really did capture my heart and squeezed it in its hands.
I enjoyed this book for what it was and what it tried to be. The character and relationship development could’ve certainly benefitted from being fleshed out better since R. F. Kuang really seems to prefer summarizing over developing actual scenes between the characters that really show the audience who Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty are.
This book is by no means awful in my opinion—my 4 star rating, of course, proves that. And I know Babel is raved about by others. I totally get why!
I did cry, in fact. I cried when Victoire said she wanted to live and have a moment of happiness for herself. Her will to not only survive but live really hit home.
‘That’s just what translation is, I think. That’s all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they’re trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands.’
I wish Robin and Ramy’s relationship was developed more. Obviously, we all knew Robin was in love with Ramy, but we saw little of them actually falling in love.
I read this book over the course of 3 months, which is absolutely absurd, but I was unfortunately swept up in a thing called life. So, I wish I had more to say, but I really do not remember most of what happened in this book, which feels like its own issue.
I did have a few ? moments where the logic of reasoning just seemed too… misplaced? Illogical? I am not so sure.
Ultimately, I did appreciate the characters, but even though I consider myself easily attached, I don’t think I was able to appreciate them enough. I wanted more.
Babel, like a painting, is quite beautiful. But also, like a painting, quite flat. I can still enjoy a painting though.
I enjoyed this book for what it was and what it tried to be. The character and relationship development could’ve certainly benefitted from being fleshed out better since R. F. Kuang really seems to prefer summarizing over developing actual scenes between the characters that really show the audience who Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty are.
This book is by no means awful in my opinion—my 4 star rating, of course, proves that. And I know Babel is raved about by others. I totally get why!
I wish Robin and Ramy’s relationship was developed more. Obviously, we all knew Robin was in love with Ramy, but we saw little of them actually falling in love.
I read this book over the course of 3 months, which is absolutely absurd, but I was unfortunately swept up in a thing called life. So, I wish I had more to say, but I really do not remember most of what happened in this book, which feels like its own issue.
I did have a few ? moments where the logic of reasoning just seemed too… misplaced? Illogical? I am not so sure.
Ultimately, I did appreciate the characters, but even though I consider myself easily attached, I don’t think I was able to appreciate them enough. I wanted more.
Babel, like a painting, is quite beautiful. But also, like a painting, quite flat. I can still enjoy a painting though.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz
hopeful
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
1.0
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.5
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Does the name make the person, or does the person make the name?
. . .
Rip me apart. I know nothing but Patroclus and Achilles as they know nothing but each other.
Miller’s prose never ceases to amaze me, wound me, and put me back together all in one sentence. I have always told people that I am not a fan of romance, but apparently I was a liar!
Patroclus. Patroclus. Patroclus.
This is one of those books where you do not come out the same person you once were. When I get my hands on a pretty new copy, I will be annotating the hell out of it.
(Also, I have cried several times just thinking about them.)
I have never been left so empty after a book. I quite literally do not know what to do with my life anymore.
. . .
Rip me apart. I know nothing but Patroclus and Achilles as they know nothing but each other.
Miller’s prose never ceases to amaze me, wound me, and put me back together all in one sentence. I have always told people that I am not a fan of romance, but apparently I was a liar!
Patroclus. Patroclus. Patroclus.
This is one of those books where you do not come out the same person you once were. When I get my hands on a pretty new copy, I will be annotating the hell out of it.
(Also, I have cried several times just thinking about them.)
I have never been left so empty after a book. I quite literally do not know what to do with my life anymore.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Richard is quite the plain protagonist as he’s supposed to be the Unlikely Hero. I empathized with him more than I did with most of the supporting characters (which I believe says a lot when Door’s entire family got murdered ) since, well, they’re not exactly all that fleshed out. I do realize that it’s Richard’s story mostly, but I didn’t really care to see any of them succeed.
A predictable, quite unoriginal ending. The tension was not all that tense to me. The reveal of the antagonist was not really shocking either. This was my first Neil Gaiman book (I adore both the shows Good Omens and the Sandman), so I’m quite disappointed to say that I don’t like this book very much.
The humor is mostly enjoyable (I laughed out loud a few times) and the prose is alright too, but after a while all the wit and the crypticness of the world becomes dull and slightly frustrating. I’m okay with things just being, but please at least explain something well. Or anything for that matter. And not in the “it just can” way.
I see that quite the number of people enjoyed reading this book. The majority of reviews are very positive. But how much of it is because it’s Gaiman?
I guess dark urban fantasies just aren’t my thing? Sorry.
A predictable, quite unoriginal ending. The tension was not all that tense to me. The reveal of the antagonist was not really shocking either. This was my first Neil Gaiman book (I adore both the shows Good Omens and the Sandman), so I’m quite disappointed to say that I don’t like this book very much.
The humor is mostly enjoyable (I laughed out loud a few times) and the prose is alright too, but after a while all the wit and the crypticness of the world becomes dull and slightly frustrating. I’m okay with things just being, but please at least explain something well. Or anything for that matter. And not in the “it just can” way.
I see that quite the number of people enjoyed reading this book. The majority of reviews are very positive. But how much of it is because it’s Gaiman?
I guess dark urban fantasies just aren’t my thing? Sorry.
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Reading Circe is like going on a journey with her. From her youngest days as a naive girl to a powerful witch brave enough to face even the likes of Athena through sheer will.
Truly, it’s a story of the loneliness of an immortal—a yearning to be seen. A feeling that settles into our throats and chests.
It’s a story of learning how to live.
-
This is the first book that’s managed to keep my interest in years. (An impressive feat, really, considering I haven’t fully finished a book since perhaps middle school.) This is a very self reflective book, and Miller’s prose is just beautiful. The imagery, wow, just wow. The coastlines and the hills of Aiaia and the treacherous seas—all clear in my mind.
Some parts may have been a bit slow for my taste, but I always wanted to turn the page, wishing to know what would happen next—when would Circe finally have something that’s not fleeting?
I quite enjoy the yearning in this book and resonated with her feelings of loneliness. Maybe that is why I wanted to see her finally happy and fulfilled.
The understanding between Circe and Telemachus as well as the unyielding truth holding them together is such a heartwarming change from Circe’s other relationships. To see and be seen by someone so clearly. Though I wished to see more of them together (Christ this family tree…), the end still left me satisfied and was a good place to finish the book even if Circe’s life was really just beginning. Ironically, through the end of her immortality.
Truly, it’s a story of the loneliness of an immortal—a yearning to be seen. A feeling that settles into our throats and chests.
It’s a story of learning how to live.
-
This is the first book that’s managed to keep my interest in years. (An impressive feat, really, considering I haven’t fully finished a book since perhaps middle school.) This is a very self reflective book, and Miller’s prose is just beautiful. The imagery, wow, just wow. The coastlines and the hills of Aiaia and the treacherous seas—all clear in my mind.
Some parts may have been a bit slow for my taste, but I always wanted to turn the page, wishing to know what would happen next—when would Circe finally have something that’s not fleeting?
I quite enjoy the yearning in this book and resonated with her feelings of loneliness. Maybe that is why I wanted to see her finally happy and fulfilled.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
We do not have to become our parents.