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mayphoenix7992's reviews
705 reviews
The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
adventurous
sad
fast-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
4.0
"He knew no man was ever alone on the sea."
The story of an old man going fishing on the sea and being dragged around by a big fish should not have been so good as this, but Hemingway worked his magic. I couldn't put this book! His prose is so simple and yet so profound.
The story of an old man going fishing on the sea and being dragged around by a big fish should not have been so good as this, but Hemingway worked his magic. I couldn't put this book! His prose is so simple and yet so profound.
Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is the most tragic mystery I've ever read. It was brilliant.
Reading the constant struggle of Elena against the disease gave me a sort of physical anxiety I couldn't shake off while reading. It was very difficult to put the book down and at first, I was certain Elena was right and Rita hadn't killed herself, but as the story evolved and Rita became more and more burdened and desperate, I understood Rita even more than Elena.
The themes of motherhood, caretaking, abortion and religion were dominant and, at times, unexpected.
Amazing book!
Reading the constant struggle of Elena against the disease gave me a sort of physical anxiety I couldn't shake off while reading. It was very difficult to put the book down and at first, I was certain Elena was right and Rita hadn't killed herself, but as the story evolved and Rita became more and more burdened and desperate, I understood Rita even more than Elena.
The themes of motherhood, caretaking, abortion and religion were dominant and, at times, unexpected.
Amazing book!
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"She had never lived. Even as a child, as far back as she could remember, she had done nothing but endure."
This book... this book! It was near impossible to put down. I didn't know what to expect when I started it, but it was such an intense story. I feel so bad for Yeong-Hye and In-Hye. The men in their lives were vile. Everything that happened, everything lost, because of a mere dream... that was such a powerful book. I'm looking forward to reading more from Han Kang.
This book... this book! It was near impossible to put down. I didn't know what to expect when I started it, but it was such an intense story. I feel so bad for Yeong-Hye and In-Hye. The men in their lives were vile. Everything that happened, everything lost, because of a mere dream... that was such a powerful book. I'm looking forward to reading more from Han Kang.
Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is one of the most powerful book I've ever read. It was gripping and hard to put down once I'd start reading, but it still took me a while to finish. So much of it was similar to my own story that it made the reading and enjoyment feel too distant. It was a bookclub read, but when my fellow readers enjoyed the story and writing, all I could see was my own family and our own rotten dynamics. It was difficult and therapeutic all at once.
進撃の巨人 2 Shingeki no Kyojin 2 by Hajime Isayama
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Pluie by Michael McDowell
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
C'est difficile à croire que ce soit terminé...
Je m'attendais à ce que les personnages apprennent la vérité au sujet d'Elinor, mais à part Billy, Zaddie et peut-être Tommy Lee, je doute qu'ils connaissent le fin mot de l'histoire.
La dernière scène va me hanter, surtout avec le parallèle du tout début de l'histoire. La boucle est bouclée.
Je m'attendais à ce que les personnages apprennent la vérité au sujet d'Elinor, mais à part Billy, Zaddie et peut-être Tommy Lee, je doute qu'ils connaissent le fin mot de l'histoire.
La dernière scène va me hanter, surtout avec le parallèle du tout début de l'histoire. La boucle est bouclée.
La Fortune by Michael McDowell
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Je ne m'attendais pas du tout à ce que Frances décide simplement de tout quitter pour Nerita... J'ai l'impression que quelque chose de gros et terrible va se produire dans le dernier livre. Ce tome 5 est le calme avant la tempête.
Hildegarde by Léo Henry
informative
slow-paced
2.0
Je suis sûre que j'avais acheté ce livre pour une bonne raison mais en relisant la quatrième de couverture assez floue, impossible de comprendre pourquoi. J'ai lu le premier chapitre et je suis complètement perdue. C'est joli, mais ce n'est pas pour moi.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
2 generous stars ⭐️ DNF 75 pages
I really wanted to like this book, but it didn't work for me at all. At first, I enjoyed the writing and I was curious to discover the Earth from the orbit, to find out more about these characters from so many different places, but not even a third through the reading became a burden.
There is no plot, nothing happens, there's no deeper meaning to the story, we don't learn anything about the characters, *nothing happens* and then the pretty words turn into purple prose.
I really wanted to like this book, but it didn't work for me at all. At first, I enjoyed the writing and I was curious to discover the Earth from the orbit, to find out more about these characters from so many different places, but not even a third through the reading became a burden.
There is no plot, nothing happens, there's no deeper meaning to the story, we don't learn anything about the characters, *nothing happens* and then the pretty words turn into purple prose.
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"As I could, I loved you."
That final book was a perfect ending to the Winternight trilogy 🤍
The beginning was heartbreaking - Solovey's abrupt death, Vasya's burning, but I liked that there were real and sorrowful consequences for what she had done.
I liked the war between Morozko and Medved, but I loved even more the more historical aspects of the story. The War with the Tartars, Sasha's final battle, the unification of the Rus' together, men and chierty together.
More than anything this is the part that I've taken from this story and will stay with me: everything that happened was in order for the Russians to come together, to become a people and a nation, with a folklore and bells, with old gods and a new one.
This trilogy really was a perfect winter read 🤍
That final book was a perfect ending to the Winternight trilogy 🤍
The beginning was heartbreaking - Solovey's abrupt death, Vasya's burning, but I liked that there were real and sorrowful consequences for what she had done.
I liked the war between Morozko and Medved, but I loved even more the more historical aspects of the story. The War with the Tartars, Sasha's final battle, the unification of the Rus' together, men and chierty together.
More than anything this is the part that I've taken from this story and will stay with me: everything that happened was in order for the Russians to come together, to become a people and a nation, with a folklore and bells, with old gods and a new one.
This trilogy really was a perfect winter read 🤍