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half_blood_princess's reviews
19 reviews
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Finishing this book is like letting go of a bird and still finding yourself caged. Locked with thoughts of what could have been’s, especially the shared moments between R and the narrator. The book was inconsistent with the small things such as the forgotten still being present fruits, for example but the feelings and the bleakness of their homes were there all throughout the book. I fell in love with the characters, finding the old man as my favorite. I see him as the symbol of humanity, the idea of helping a person with no return or exchange, and his death had caused the disappearance of the narrator and the island, in connection I cannot fathom the pain that R would have felt in the end the knowledge that the person he had come to see in clarity is gone and there is no one else to look forward to Ogawa truly highlights the virtues of life.
Anatomy of Criticism by Northrop Frye
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
4.25
- Late review -
It's been so long since I've finished this book and only found time today to review it properly. I still remember the seasons, the irony, and depth of criticism. What I love the most in the book is that Fyre argues that reading is done in two-way, both outward and inward. Outward, we take apart the words— taking them in singles, their meaning alone called centrifugal. While the other side, is inward, where the words come together to make a pattern, a sense in the story. The Anatomy.of Criticism, like its title, aims to dissect literature like it is a form of sciende rather tham art. Fyre discussess in his first essay, the four types of modes (which he referred to as action) and in the second essay, he defined the five types of symbols. In the third, he concluded what is the combined meaning of these symbols, where he discussed the four seasons (the infamous spring as comedy until satire as winter.) Lastly, in his fourth essay, he discussed the four different genres.
I might come back to this book when I am older, and definitely had read more mythology.
It's been so long since I've finished this book and only found time today to review it properly. I still remember the seasons, the irony, and depth of criticism. What I love the most in the book is that Fyre argues that reading is done in two-way, both outward and inward. Outward, we take apart the words— taking them in singles, their meaning alone called centrifugal. While the other side, is inward, where the words come together to make a pattern, a sense in the story. The Anatomy.of Criticism, like its title, aims to dissect literature like it is a form of sciende rather tham art. Fyre discussess in his first essay, the four types of modes (which he referred to as action) and in the second essay, he defined the five types of symbols. In the third, he concluded what is the combined meaning of these symbols, where he discussed the four seasons (the infamous spring as comedy until satire as winter.) Lastly, in his fourth essay, he discussed the four different genres.
I might come back to this book when I am older, and definitely had read more mythology.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There are a lot of philosophies in books I've read that come off as desperate. There are times that characters are sad, simply, just because they are. It was fun to have that refreshing state of life— that are times we are lonely, simply, because we are. And no amount of wanting something is going fill that in. Reading this book made me realize how much I had thought of living in other lives of mine. I realized that I just wanted to get a glimpse of them but never suffer through them the way I did with my "root life" per se. I've seen myself in this book, wanting to write stuff, broach on philosophy, have a dog— and I'm thankful that when i get those things, I won't be back in the Midnight Library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The book was fast-paced with constant twists and turns. I love Mary’s character development and Colin’s, even though it is quite funny that they order the adults as such.
A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature by Lee Morgan, Earle Labor, Wilfred Guerin
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.5
This book is a good reference guide in distinguishing major approaches to literature. It features various literary texts looked through in different critical lenses. The diction is formal, with a jab of jokes here and there and the explanations are informative and easy to understand. I would recommend this book to those who are seeking knowledge in deepening their understanding of critical approaches, and how they differ given the same texts.
Society of the Snow: The Definitive Account of the World's Greatest Survival Story by Pablo Vierci
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book was such an amazing read because it was filled with hurt and experiences that I couldn't even fathom. I rejoiced at the survival of some of them and I felt the sadness with those who were left to succumb to death. It was such an inspiring read to appreciate things about life, even if it is just eating chocolate, tasting water that we don't truly appreciate until it's gone.
Bones by Jonathan Kellerman
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The book is quite fast in movement, through the constant discovery of the characters. Though the plot was a bit predictive, I still find myself getting surprised in some scenes. I just disliked how fast and abrupt the ending was.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love love this book way tooo much! I just wish Severus could have known about the revelation of Scabbers's identity. He deserved that closure. the writing style is of course amazing and the concept of the time turner was well done.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I find this book a really good coming-of-age book. It teaches us that things we find scary as children, the strangers, the hidden people... they can be friends even if they had a troubled past. I like the gothic writing style that seem to make normal things scary because it reminds me a lot of being a kid, when everything is almost always scary.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
One of the best books to highlight Harry's development as a child into a true chosen one. The comedy and the lightheartedness of the characters were still focused as well.