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mint_renegade's reviews
169 reviews
Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Other Writings by Jorge Luis Borges
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
dnf
You don't like short stories. Stop reading short stories. All day I've been glancing at this book and asking why. Why am I reading this? I could die tomorrow and this is what the coroner would find in my bag.
"Really, this is what they died reading? Now if they died reading, say, rich dad, poor dad or, better yet, a 40k enemies-to-friends-to-lovers fan fic, that would be an understandable, nay an admirable way to go. But this, oh honey."
A person I dislike recently said to me that a short story collection is like an album. In listening you might come to find your favourite song, youll definately find a least favourite and most of them will be middling, and forgettable. The only way to know which is which is to listen to the whole album.
Then I thought to myself - he had a point at the beginning, completely lost me at the end. I have never listened to any one artists' album in its entirety. I'll tell you that blood like lemonade is my favourite song by morcheeba and also that I have never listened to any other song on that album/their discography. Ill tell you that red desert was my 2022 most listened to song on CALM and it took less than 10 seconds for me to realise that wildflowers was a flop. Songs either hook their talons into me by the first riff or not at all. In book terms, we'll say 50 pages then I'm out. 78 pages and 4 stories into this and i could barely remember even 1.
You don't like short stories. Stop reading short stories. All day I've been glancing at this book and asking why. Why am I reading this? I could die tomorrow and this is what the coroner would find in my bag.
"Really, this is what they died reading? Now if they died reading, say, rich dad, poor dad or, better yet, a 40k enemies-to-friends-to-lovers fan fic, that would be an understandable, nay an admirable way to go. But this, oh honey."
A person I dislike recently said to me that a short story collection is like an album. In listening you might come to find your favourite song, youll definately find a least favourite and most of them will be middling, and forgettable. The only way to know which is which is to listen to the whole album.
Then I thought to myself - he had a point at the beginning, completely lost me at the end. I have never listened to any one artists' album in its entirety. I'll tell you that blood like lemonade is my favourite song by morcheeba and also that I have never listened to any other song on that album/their discography. Ill tell you that red desert was my 2022 most listened to song on CALM and it took less than 10 seconds for me to realise that wildflowers was a flop. Songs either hook their talons into me by the first riff or not at all. In book terms, we'll say 50 pages then I'm out. 78 pages and 4 stories into this and i could barely remember even 1.
Twelfth Night, or What You Will by William Shakespeare
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
as i read, i couldnt help but search for channing tatum and amanda bynes .
quotes immune to time's decay i found and all i could recall was the trailer to chicken little - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUBFCaWiQ28&t=120s. i could sense great comedy and wit but much of it was beyond my comprehension
quotes immune to time's decay i found and all i could recall was the trailer to chicken little - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUBFCaWiQ28&t=120s. i could sense great comedy and wit but much of it was beyond my comprehension
The Prophet by Suheil Bushrui, Kahlil Gibran
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
a reference for life's many symptoms.
will reach for it when i'm reading another book and i don't know how to capture my feelings on a characters feelings on love, death, pleasure.
it was good, i liked it, it's short, you should read it.
will reach for it when i'm reading another book and i don't know how to capture my feelings on a characters feelings on love, death, pleasure.
it was good, i liked it, it's short, you should read it.
Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Writing, plot, characters sub par. No redeemable qualities
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
money breeds eternal misery and etc
Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
dark
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
1.5
in the words of the closing scene in the 1988 film adaptation, 'boo, boo, boo!!'.
the 1 star is because this can be called a book. the 0.5 star is because i appreciated the short-chapter-nature lent to books written in the medium of letter compilation.
not one to live on in my shelf, nor indeed in my memory.
the characters were justifiably detestable. meek, weak, wicked, naive, vile. however, each of these descriptors, rather than coalescing to create complex characters, were instead separated and ascribable one-by-one to individual characters, resulting in one dimensional characters, unaided by a cyclical narrative of i love you, i hate you, i need you.
my two consolations are (i) that i can now clear space in my shelf, and (ii) i can now occupy my time with a book that isn't this one
the 1 star is because this can be called a book. the 0.5 star is because i appreciated the short-chapter-nature lent to books written in the medium of letter compilation.
not one to live on in my shelf, nor indeed in my memory.
the characters were justifiably detestable. meek, weak, wicked, naive, vile. however, each of these descriptors, rather than coalescing to create complex characters, were instead separated and ascribable one-by-one to individual characters, resulting in one dimensional characters, unaided by a cyclical narrative of i love you, i hate you, i need you.
my two consolations are (i) that i can now clear space in my shelf, and (ii) i can now occupy my time with a book that isn't this one
Paradise Lost by John Milton
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm glad to have read it. Will I ever read it again? Will I let it live on my shelves for all time? Idk
My Hair by Hannah Lee
lighthearted
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? N/A
4.0
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
3.5
I knew this book, I knew these words. As i read, my minds eye danced to a familiar tune and tenor. I heard and felt the echos of long archived melodies in the Chambers of long untrodden rooms. I don't know what dickens was smoking, but going by the sheer emotions he is able to evoke in the span of 84 pages, it was no mild sativa. I cried. I cried in a way I haven't cried over a book in quite sometime.
All Down Darkness Wide by Seán Hewitt
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.0
it feels odd, to read, rate and judge a book based on the life experiences of the author. when those experiences are shrouded in pain, repression, self-denial. when those experiences call to mind all the ways in which you, the reader, had to bend yourself out of shape in order to fit the pre-approved social conventions.