Scan barcode
tiiiger35's reviews
54 reviews
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Written in 1764, and widely regarded as the first gothic genre novel. It’s a very quick, strange & gloomy story with an equally menacing castle as the backdrop.
It’s hard to critique it without acknowledging it’s been the inspiration for nearly all gothic novels since. So, at times it feels cliche but in context to when it was written, it was actually full of fresh ideas.
Overall, I liked this book. It maintained a tense, dark & haunting tone throughout. The characters were easy to sympathise with each battling their own demons.
Not an essential classics read unless you’re a big fan of gothic stories.
It’s hard to critique it without acknowledging it’s been the inspiration for nearly all gothic novels since. So, at times it feels cliche but in context to when it was written, it was actually full of fresh ideas.
Overall, I liked this book. It maintained a tense, dark & haunting tone throughout. The characters were easy to sympathise with each battling their own demons.
Not an essential classics read unless you’re a big fan of gothic stories.
What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
I thought the first 3/4 of this were great. So interesting & honest. This book isn’t just about her presidential loss but the fundamental damage being done to the US voting system & their democracy.
Hillary Clinton always gets a lot of scrutiny but she is incredibly smart, savvy & knowledgeable about what she’s talking about. In this book she definitely reveals a little more of herself and comes across less guarded, talking about her personal life & feelings.
My only complaint was the last 1/4 of the book didn’t hold my attention, it didn’t feel necessary to the book. Overall though, I think Hillary continues to be great writer and thinker.
Hillary Clinton always gets a lot of scrutiny but she is incredibly smart, savvy & knowledgeable about what she’s talking about. In this book she definitely reveals a little more of herself and comes across less guarded, talking about her personal life & feelings.
My only complaint was the last 1/4 of the book didn’t hold my attention, it didn’t feel necessary to the book. Overall though, I think Hillary continues to be great writer and thinker.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Arthur Conan Doyle remains the best at the Mystery, thriller genre. I loved that the book was fast paced but still detailed enough to give a thorough understanding. The gray towers of Baskerville Hall painted the perfect backdrop for the ghostly aesthetic. Doyle cleverly portrays the ‘moor’ as a living, breathing, alien-like entity. It adds greatly to overall suspense.
Very quick and easy to read.
Very quick and easy to read.
Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Like its predecessor, this books very emotional & at times hard to read. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could survive under such brutality & soul crushing conditions, let alone a girl so young. To be freed from the horror of Auschwitz, only to be wrongfully imprisoned again for almost another decade in a Soviet work camp, is absolutely despicable.
The fact this lady managed to build a happy, content life for herself afterwards is beyond incredible.
These stories harrowing as they are, have to be told now more than ever, at a time when the holocaust is called in to question by right wing conspirators & wars are breaking out across the world. Stories like this matter.
The fact this lady managed to build a happy, content life for herself afterwards is beyond incredible.
These stories harrowing as they are, have to be told now more than ever, at a time when the holocaust is called in to question by right wing conspirators & wars are breaking out across the world. Stories like this matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
The Rise: A Short Story by Ian Rankin
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A very quick enjoyable read that took just over an hour or so. Well written, easy to follow and fast paced.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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
5.0
This is one of my favourites. I love everything about this book. If you’re a Fleetwood Mac fan, you’ll love, not only the overall aesthetic of the characters & setting but, the familiarity of Daisy & Billy’s tumultuous relationship, which echoes that of Stevie Nicks & Lindsay Buckingham. Stevie herself has now admitted how much of herself she sees in Daisy Jones.
This is always my go to recommendation for anyone in a reading slump or anyone who loves the whole 70/80s era of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.
The tv series is one of very few that does its book justice but, I think to truly appreciate this story, the beauty lies in the details within the book.
This is always my go to recommendation for anyone in a reading slump or anyone who loves the whole 70/80s era of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.
The tv series is one of very few that does its book justice but, I think to truly appreciate this story, the beauty lies in the details within the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Terminal illness
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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
I loved this book.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
18 year old me loved everything about Twilight. Apart from ‘The Vampire Diaries’, there wasn’t much else related to vampire's in the young adult genre.
The premise of the book was so appealing to young girls, that the fandom alone made the release of each book in the series more exciting.
I remember falling in love with Edward and the idea of him immediately. He was a tortured soul, doomed to walk the earth alone for centuries, until he met Bella.
It’s been criticised over the years for poor writing quality, but ‘Stephanie Mayer’ never tried to insinuate it was a sophisticated, complex book. For what ‘Twilight’ is (a teen romance book) it’s Perfectly good & has certainly maintained its popularity as a coming of age story.
The premise of the book was so appealing to young girls, that the fandom alone made the release of each book in the series more exciting.
I remember falling in love with Edward and the idea of him immediately. He was a tortured soul, doomed to walk the earth alone for centuries, until he met Bella.
It’s been criticised over the years for poor writing quality, but ‘Stephanie Mayer’ never tried to insinuate it was a sophisticated, complex book. For what ‘Twilight’ is (a teen romance book) it’s Perfectly good & has certainly maintained its popularity as a coming of age story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75