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semi's reviews
62 reviews
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
adventurous
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
1.75
This book shouldn’t be marketed as a mystery; the book felt more like domestic drama—a somewhat predictable one at that—unraveling than a mystery that has me guessing the whole time.
The dual timeline was hard to follow in the beginning. It made it even harder to get through since I found one timeline was less interesting than the other. Also while I liked the use of mixed media, the way it was scattered around through the book made it sort of disorienting while discerning the confusing dual timeline at the same time.
The dual timeline was hard to follow in the beginning. It made it even harder to get through since I found one timeline was less interesting than the other. Also while I liked the use of mixed media, the way it was scattered around through the book made it sort of disorienting while discerning the confusing dual timeline at the same time.
Get In My Swamp by G.M. Fairy
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
Literally the worst piece of literature I’ve ever read, and I am so deeply ashamed. Read it.
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
mysterious
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
2.0
Oh boy, I needed a drink for this one🥃.
The main strength I’ll give this book is the writing. Despite how clunky the plot got, I still enjoyed the writing for the most part. What I didn’t enjoy as much was the plot twists, characterizations, and pacing.
During the first 60% of the book, I was literally getting déjà vu to “The Woman in the Window”. The classic trope of a alcoholic, unhinged woman that has no hobbies besides spying on her neighbors with binoculars… but there was nothing new or fresh done to the trope so nothing much happens for the first half.
The MC was also somewhat frustrating. I’m not expecting some natural genius born detective, just someone with a bit more common sense and critical thinking. Casey’s actions were just so juvenile and reckless I had to pause a couple times. It also doesn’t help that she has literally no other redeeming qualities that would make me overlook her actions.
Lastly, the fact that nothing happens in the first half then the last half is just flooded with plot twists that were not built up was very disorienting. The plot twists weren’t believable and the paranormal plot twists literally came out of nowhere so it felt like I was reading like three completely different books. But I did not predict where this book would end, so they got me there.
The main strength I’ll give this book is the writing. Despite how clunky the plot got, I still enjoyed the writing for the most part. What I didn’t enjoy as much was the plot twists, characterizations, and pacing.
During the first 60% of the book, I was literally getting déjà vu to “The Woman in the Window”. The classic trope of a alcoholic, unhinged woman that has no hobbies besides spying on her neighbors with binoculars… but there was nothing new or fresh done to the trope so nothing much happens for the first half.
The MC was also somewhat frustrating. I’m not expecting some natural genius born detective, just someone with a bit more common sense and critical thinking. Casey’s actions were just so juvenile and reckless I had to pause a couple times. It also doesn’t help that she has literally no other redeeming qualities that would make me overlook her actions.
Lastly, the fact that nothing happens in the first half then the last half is just flooded with plot twists that were not built up was very disorienting.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
⚠️This contains slight spoilers!
I REALLY wanted to love this book for how much praise it got, but I think the overall message and complex themes were lost on me. I also want to state that I understand how dark academia is a critique/commentary on elitist education, and it can be described rather satirically. I understand the characters aren’t meant to be likable, the themes were supposed to be dark, etc. Though that doesn’t take away from the fact that I did not have a fun time reading this like I anticipated.
I REALLY wanted to love this book for how much praise it got, but I think the overall message and complex themes were lost on me. I also want to state that I understand how dark academia is a critique/commentary on elitist education, and it can be described rather satirically. I understand the characters aren’t meant to be likable, the themes were supposed to be dark, etc. Though that doesn’t take away from the fact that I did not have a fun time reading this like I anticipated.
I should have checked the trigger warnings because I was completely blindsided by the themes of attempted suicide, actual suicide, incest, abuse, substance abuse, blatant bigotry, and rape fantasies. Like oh, my, goodness. One part that made me feel very unsafe was when Camilla was telling Richard that her own twin- her own blood and family- was physically abusing her and being extremely protective, not in a brotherly sense but in a romantic sense. And apparently the group knew that Charles and Camilla having a sexual relationship, but I can’t help but believe that it was not consensual in the slightest. So Richard proceeds to imagine what it would be like to grape her (around page 470 or smth if I remember correctly). Like who in their right mind??? Anyways I found every character insufferable except for the professor because he was the one I knew least about. I also liked how romanticism was displayed through his character by making him never see things as how they really were but the best version of it.
This book also had a slew of homophobia and blatant racism that was not explored more deeply considering this novel should be a commentary on those things in the education system or the social life of a student. It felt more like the dark academic theme was a way to excuse her just randomly and sometimes excessively repeating slurs and justifying it by saying “it’s deeper than that”. Like okay?? Then at least leave think pieces or portray how those scenes point to something more complex than just repeating the n-, f-, and r- slurs successively. It felt like a child learning their first swear word and they won’t stop saying it.
Also considering that the book is almost 600 pages, you would hope that things are actually developed. However I wish we knew more about Camilla’s character for example. I wanted to know more about why she seemed so emotionally detached and her experience of being the only girl in a group of unhinged (in the worst way possible) guys. Also of course the author had to force a pathetic romance between Camilla and all of the straight guys in the friend group. Like majority of them felt so random or unbelievable.
TLDR; read the trigger warnings, the pacing and character development could have been better considering its length, some parts were just random bigotry that didn’t move the plot, and everything was insufferable. Bonus points for nice imagery and descriptions tho.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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
2.0
Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.5
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
fast-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
2.75
Shelter by Harlan Coben
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
* Writing style personally didn’t do it for me. It just feels so plain and empty. It felt more of a first draft where you just want to get all of your ideas into a page but you don’t flesh it out and connect your thoughts later.
* Characters were extremely cliché and flat. It has the passive mc, the moody emo outcast, the dumb jocks, nerds, 1D female characters TBR are only there to look good, etc. There is no depth to literally any of the characters (that I’ve read so far and tbh i did DNF about 30% in so take with a grain of salt), so it creates really uncomfortable diagnose between characters. This dialogue was the most awkward and unnatural i have ever read. Particularly on page 17 where spoon randomly went up to MC and talked about being the donkey to his Shrek….mind you they have never talked before and it didn’t come off as funny or endearing, it was just so out of place. Peak literature tbh.
* The narration was also very off. Going off of the cliché characters, the narrative voice is just as bad. It reads as exactly how you would picture and out of touch middle aged man would write teens. You cannot convince me that any of the main cast are high school students.
* Characters were extremely cliché and flat. It has the passive mc, the moody emo outcast, the dumb jocks, nerds, 1D female characters TBR are only there to look good, etc. There is no depth to literally any of the characters (that I’ve read so far and tbh i did DNF about 30% in so take with a grain of salt), so it creates really uncomfortable diagnose between characters. This dialogue was the most awkward and unnatural i have ever read. Particularly on page 17 where spoon randomly went up to MC and talked about being the donkey to his Shrek….mind you they have never talked before and it didn’t come off as funny or endearing, it was just so out of place. Peak literature tbh.
* The narration was also very off. Going off of the cliché characters, the narrative voice is just as bad. It reads as exactly how you would picture and out of touch middle aged man would write teens. You cannot convince me that any of the main cast are high school students.