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elizabethmercas's reviews
134 reviews
The Death of Ivan Ilyich and The Devil by Leo Tolstoy
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The Death of Ivan Ilych - 1.75 🌟
read the Hugh Alpin translation - completely and utterly hated it.
this, for me, is the first book by Tolstoy that I've read and did not like - I tried to like it, but just felt helples in the process.
*but maybe someday I might try another translation
The Devil - 3 🌟
read the Hugh Alpin translation - and it was not nearly as tragic as with The Death of Ivan Ilyich.
I liked the pacing and the writing style (although...😳) but I expected more from the story that what it delivered.
A good short-story nonetheless, but for me Tolstoy works best in a larger format.
read the Hugh Alpin translation - completely and utterly hated it.
this, for me, is the first book by Tolstoy that I've read and did not like - I tried to like it, but just felt helples in the process.
*but maybe someday I might try another translation
The Devil - 3 🌟
read the Hugh Alpin translation - and it was not nearly as tragic as with The Death of Ivan Ilyich.
I liked the pacing and the writing style (although...😳) but I expected more from the story that what it delivered.
A good short-story nonetheless, but for me Tolstoy works best in a larger format.
Ultima dorință by Andrzej Sapkowski
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
wasn't really interested in the story and the protagonist kinda fell flat for me.
The Netflix series is better. (never thought I'd say this)
The Netflix series is better. (never thought I'd say this)
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
The worst 50 pages of my life.
nO hOmO.
nO hOmO.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
4.0
I am not content in giving you any spoilers so I will try and stay far away from any detail than might disturb the average reader.
The book itself is good but not quite spectacular; but do not get me wrong it is certainly worth a read or maybe even two but of all the books this particular one took me longer than I expected. Maybe it was school, I thought at first to myself out of love and respect for the author but looking back it just does not compare with the introduction to the series – but the book it’s unique in it’s own way and by no means bad or boring.
For a matter of fact, the plot is like one I have never read before, and the manner in which Rowling writes fiction is truly marvelous and that is hidden in the way in which she combines action and feeling and the characters with their identity. We see little Harry grow up a bit this year, and we will hopefully see him mature some more in the years to come – his wish to save his friends and the cold attitude that he receives from his colleagues build his character up bit by bit and give us, readers a GoodRead :)
Liz.
The book itself is good but not quite spectacular; but do not get me wrong it is certainly worth a read or maybe even two but of all the books this particular one took me longer than I expected. Maybe it was school, I thought at first to myself out of love and respect for the author but looking back it just does not compare with the introduction to the series – but the book it’s unique in it’s own way and by no means bad or boring.
For a matter of fact, the plot is like one I have never read before, and the manner in which Rowling writes fiction is truly marvelous and that is hidden in the way in which she combines action and feeling and the characters with their identity. We see little Harry grow up a bit this year, and we will hopefully see him mature some more in the years to come – his wish to save his friends and the cold attitude that he receives from his colleagues build his character up bit by bit and give us, readers a GoodRead :)
Liz.
Ultima noapte de dragoste, întâia noapte de război by Camil Petrescu
1.0
extremely and utterly BAD. So HORRID that I had to stop at times and rest my eyes from the misogynistic and sexist bits of the book, that really just make it whole.
I pity Ella, I really do; although she had a bit to do with that whole cheating situation - all the 'proof' that our sexist, stupid and misogyn protagonist had was circumstantial at best (at the very best) - poor girl: she had to live with this man that was obsessed with her for years and when she tried to break free he just enjoyed seeing her sturggle and suffer.
and I am not even going to get in Stefan Gheorghidiu: it is just tiring to see or speak his name now.
BEGONE BOOK!
I pity Ella, I really do; although she had a bit to do with that whole cheating situation - all the 'proof' that our sexist, stupid and misogyn protagonist had was circumstantial at best (at the very best) - poor girl: she had to live with this man that was obsessed with her for years and when she tried to break free he just enjoyed seeing her sturggle and suffer.
and I am not even going to get in Stefan Gheorghidiu: it is just tiring to see or speak his name now.
BEGONE BOOK!