Scan barcode
venusinlove's reviews
330 reviews
Tony Takitani by Ann Faison, Yao Michiko, Haruki Murakami
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I think this book felt less of a Murakami book rather than his usual longer books. It read like a tale, a forgotten myth almost which i really liked! Made me feel as if loneliness and death are pretty much the only two permeant things that are certain in life. It sounds sad and the book is pretty sad. It went REALLY fast so that sadness was a bit dulled due to how fast it ended. The story itself was pretty interesting tho. I liked it. :) And if only Murakami had skipped the whole "giant p*nis" shit and sexual-ness it would have been like a 100 times better.
As i grow and read more (better) literature, i start to see the flaws of Murakami. I really appreciate his style of writing but do we really need all that unnecessary sexual orientated stuff? No, we do not. I hope he learns someday. Or i hope i find an author who has similar writing style but is less creepy and misogynistic. :)
As i grow and read more (better) literature, i start to see the flaws of Murakami. I really appreciate his style of writing but do we really need all that unnecessary sexual orientated stuff? No, we do not. I hope he learns someday. Or i hope i find an author who has similar writing style but is less creepy and misogynistic. :)
Weyward by Emilia Hart
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
absolutely fascinating! i really liked the three linked women and their stories about womanhood and witchcraft! it really gives off autumn vibes and the whole nature and animal theme was so lovely! (although at parts it creeped me out lol) one thing i couldn't figure out but i don't think it needed any figuring out was if altha and grace were in love or just "buddies". if they were i'd rethink my decision of giving this book only 4*, lol.
a really great read for the autumn/winter season and the cover is just so pretty! that's what pulled me into reading such a lovely book. :) the writing was also pretty well done for the many different times the stories were developing which really made me giddy inside because i tend to see it as a rarity.
the stories themselves were so full of twists and turns that maybe more so towards the last (third) part of the mook i was reading it with my mouth fully open due to the surprising scenes, haha. so many unexpected things were happening, it was great! i love a good plot-twisting book!
that being said, i feel like i needed some bit of a warning regarding some pretty heavy topics so if any of my friends on here want to read it too - i advice you to check up on those TWs! :)
a really great read for the autumn/winter season and the cover is just so pretty! that's what pulled me into reading such a lovely book. :) the writing was also pretty well done for the many different times the stories were developing which really made me giddy inside because i tend to see it as a rarity.
the stories themselves were so full of twists and turns that maybe more so towards the last (third) part of the mook i was reading it with my mouth fully open due to the surprising scenes, haha. so many unexpected things were happening, it was great! i love a good plot-twisting book!
that being said, i feel like i needed some bit of a warning regarding some pretty heavy topics so if any of my friends on here want to read it too - i advice you to check up on those TWs! :)
Chlorine by Jade Song
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wow, so much angst and unhinge-ness.
that was literally Our Wives Under the Sea but make it gore-y and mermaid-y. i know I've been comparing almost every book i read recently to one that I've read months ago but that keeps my mind in track with the many books i might go through. it might seem stupid but many of the themes overlap and it kind of becomes a rarity to find something gut-punching good. so now, me comparing this absolute gem of creativity to a similar one is not a bad thing! they are both similar only in the sense of being surrounded (lol, good pun) by the theme of different bodies of water and something i will not spoil. but damn!
this book is so fucking original? like? i know it's something that's not necessarily uncommon but it's the first mermaid book that i've read and I'm quite shook. maybe it was the body horror that got me, i honestly don't know but when i read that specific part my jaw dropped. i love me some gore-y shit and that was amazing. i realize also the fact that many people have one certain scene that they want to include solely because they rely on the shock value of that moment and i've read many books like that but this one seemed natural? maybe because you expect it but when it happens it still fucking shocks and scares you a bit. nevertheless, i still can't find my jaw, help. the way it was written, oh my god.
honestly, i think the book has some flaws plot-wise and maybe even character-wise (to me!!) but i was so invested with the story that they didn't really matter. the flow was good and so was the writing so i was v happy, lol. that was a pretty nice read. <3
that was literally Our Wives Under the Sea but make it gore-y and mermaid-y. i know I've been comparing almost every book i read recently to one that I've read months ago but that keeps my mind in track with the many books i might go through. it might seem stupid but many of the themes overlap and it kind of becomes a rarity to find something gut-punching good. so now, me comparing this absolute gem of creativity to a similar one is not a bad thing! they are both similar only in the sense of being surrounded (lol, good pun) by the theme of different bodies of water and something i will not spoil. but damn!
this book is so fucking original? like? i know it's something that's not necessarily uncommon but it's the first mermaid book that i've read and I'm quite shook. maybe it was the body horror that got me, i honestly don't know but when i read that specific part my jaw dropped. i love me some gore-y shit and that was amazing. i realize also the fact that many people have one certain scene that they want to include solely because they rely on the shock value of that moment and i've read many books like that but this one seemed natural? maybe because you expect it but when it happens it still fucking shocks and scares you a bit. nevertheless, i still can't find my jaw, help. the way it was written, oh my god.
honestly, i think the book has some flaws plot-wise and maybe even character-wise (to me!!) but i was so invested with the story that they didn't really matter. the flow was good and so was the writing so i was v happy, lol. that was a pretty nice read. <3
Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ah, so good!
describes depression as a "black hole" in such a distinct way that it's way too real. i could relate to so much of the book - the job, the constant nudge from your family to be an "adult", to be social, to work and push yourself to the limit constantly. it amazes me sometimes the world we live in, the jobs being so gray and similar, not a single creativity in sight, nor freedom to express oneself. the book touches on many important topics such as loneliness, rejection, mental health, class difference, the way that the world is working right now which felt so surreal. somehow it felt as if it isn't happening right now - the sameness of tasks, the panic about what the future holds for us. maybe that's also the reason why this book very much reminded me of some of the Japanese books I've read. maybe The Factory or Convenience Store Woman or even Diary of a Void (more of the last one, tho). or you're just stuck in that one black mirror episode, lol.
i think it's not an uncommon theme about the whole "working and being socially inept" theme but this one felt too genuine! almost like a memoir and that i really loved (can i say that for a book so upsetting?). that theme will never get tired and i can see many more people writing about how depressing their 9-17 job makes them, how depressing and how they don't know any other way to live outside of it. even i felt it and I'm only 23.
one thing i REALLY liked too was the (view spoiler)
another thing i want to say is about the black hole. not many people can transcribe the feeling of dread and hopelessness but here it was as if the author took my mind and threw it on the pages. the panic of it, the way consumes you, the feeling of it eating up your whole energy and leaving you alone in the middle of the room with no sound, no vision - it was exactly how I've been feeling for the past 6 years.
i'd love to read this again, in another, more stable point in my life when i am no longer lonely and scared of the future. worth the read! and probably the re-read too. :)
describes depression as a "black hole" in such a distinct way that it's way too real. i could relate to so much of the book - the job, the constant nudge from your family to be an "adult", to be social, to work and push yourself to the limit constantly. it amazes me sometimes the world we live in, the jobs being so gray and similar, not a single creativity in sight, nor freedom to express oneself. the book touches on many important topics such as loneliness, rejection, mental health, class difference, the way that the world is working right now which felt so surreal. somehow it felt as if it isn't happening right now - the sameness of tasks, the panic about what the future holds for us. maybe that's also the reason why this book very much reminded me of some of the Japanese books I've read. maybe The Factory or Convenience Store Woman or even Diary of a Void (more of the last one, tho). or you're just stuck in that one black mirror episode, lol.
i think it's not an uncommon theme about the whole "working and being socially inept" theme but this one felt too genuine! almost like a memoir and that i really loved (can i say that for a book so upsetting?). that theme will never get tired and i can see many more people writing about how depressing their 9-17 job makes them, how depressing and how they don't know any other way to live outside of it. even i felt it and I'm only 23.
one thing i REALLY liked too was the (view spoiler)
another thing i want to say is about the black hole. not many people can transcribe the feeling of dread and hopelessness but here it was as if the author took my mind and threw it on the pages. the panic of it, the way consumes you, the feeling of it eating up your whole energy and leaving you alone in the middle of the room with no sound, no vision - it was exactly how I've been feeling for the past 6 years.
i'd love to read this again, in another, more stable point in my life when i am no longer lonely and scared of the future. worth the read! and probably the re-read too. :)
Tin Man by Sarah Winman
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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 was expecting more out of this one. the blurb sounded more like a coming-of-age type of book and it was more a relationship(s) through time. the timeline was HELLA confusing and I didn't know what was happening most of the time which honestly sucked. btw, I don't remember the ending at all and it's only been a day since i read it so that says it all. 3.5*.
The Lie And How We Told It by Tommi Parrish
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
the art itself was so cool!!! but the story was all over the place and i was confused most of the time. again the art - phenomenal!! the colours and shapes! :)
A City Inside by Tillie Walden
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.75
short and perfectly describes my mentally built city where i have all the control i need. but it's also very lonely out there.
i'll never stop praising tillie walden's art skills!
i'll never stop praising tillie walden's art skills!
The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
something is pushing me away from giving this book a full 5* but i don't know what it is.
it's one of the saddest books I've read but somehow it didn't make me cry? which was weird since i'm a big crybaby especially when it comes down to lgbt+ tragic stories.
the themes of the book very much reminded me of the tv show Pose, which definitely made me love it even more. the themes are really heavy aka HIV, it's a thing you have to learn about and not be ignorant towards it. the book gives a great perspective from a few sides - the protagonist, his sister and his mother. that really made the book feel more real - we get different views of people reacting to the sickness but also from their eyes we also get other characters' opinions and beliefs. it's so hurtful and honestly heartbreaking to think that there was a time and people (even now) who are so goddamn homophobic and vicious towards gays. i think that's the first book about AIDS that i've read but it really felt so close to me. in my country that theme is very(!!) taboo and we never hear about the gays in the 80s or 90s out here simply because there were different times, times of communism. i'm saying that because i can't exactly relate or feel THAT close to the topic but this book opened my eyes a little more to it. i can't also say that i am completely ignorant about HIV (i blame that on my queerness throughout the years) but as i said, not a thing that is common or known here so it was good for me to read/hear a very realistic point of view of Brian and his pretty shitty family (except Letty. ily, Letty, mwah!).
it's really a book that EVERYONE should read, queer or not. it's simply human nature to be nice to people no matter what their sexual orientation is. just read the book, take notes and be better towards other people. especially the gays!
it's one of the saddest books I've read but somehow it didn't make me cry? which was weird since i'm a big crybaby especially when it comes down to lgbt+ tragic stories.
the themes of the book very much reminded me of the tv show Pose, which definitely made me love it even more. the themes are really heavy aka HIV, it's a thing you have to learn about and not be ignorant towards it. the book gives a great perspective from a few sides - the protagonist, his sister and his mother. that really made the book feel more real - we get different views of people reacting to the sickness but also from their eyes we also get other characters' opinions and beliefs. it's so hurtful and honestly heartbreaking to think that there was a time and people (even now) who are so goddamn homophobic and vicious towards gays. i think that's the first book about AIDS that i've read but it really felt so close to me. in my country that theme is very(!!) taboo and we never hear about the gays in the 80s or 90s out here simply because there were different times, times of communism. i'm saying that because i can't exactly relate or feel THAT close to the topic but this book opened my eyes a little more to it. i can't also say that i am completely ignorant about HIV (i blame that on my queerness throughout the years) but as i said, not a thing that is common or known here so it was good for me to read/hear a very realistic point of view of Brian and his pretty shitty family (except Letty. ily, Letty, mwah!).
it's really a book that EVERYONE should read, queer or not. it's simply human nature to be nice to people no matter what their sexual orientation is. just read the book, take notes and be better towards other people. especially the gays!
Бели зъби by Zadie Smith
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
i honestly thought that this was gonna be a magnificent 5* book! but then the second half hit and i was so disappointed by it. :( archie and samad's stories were so good, so intriguing but once irie's one came up i couldn't focus on any of it, it wasn't as good. and don't let me get started on that futuremouse thing... I was so annoyed by it. the story felt so good just by itself being historical with no technology needed (since the time it was circulating was before the 2000s) and i seriously was enjoying my time out here. girlie, zadie, you didn't have to ruin the book with that mouse stuff...
the whole idea of the Bulgarian cover is phenomenal tho! and zadie smith's teeth explanation throughout the whole book was really well thought out and made so much sense. actually genius! the roots and the canals and everything, really - amazing!
one thing i liked about the ending was the doctor thing! that was such a good plot twist!!!! it changed the book's whole energy even if it was towards the very end.
if it wasn't for the last part i would have given it 5* without even considering anything else. it just got too political and religious all of a sudden and i got a headache every time i picked the book up. for a book that is that heavy though, the comedy aspect was really good! there were many parts (mainly in the beginning, sorry) where i was snickering and kicking my feet up in the air, lol. interestingly enough, unlike other literature about culture and religion, this one didn't feel offensive or vile (although i can't really speak up on that since i am not Muslim or deeply involved in other cultures rather than my Eastern European one). one thing i loved(!!!!!!!!) was howArchie and Samad both missed the ending of the war while being stranded in a small village in Bulgaria(!!!). that was literally so fucking funny to me! political humour will always be my favourite one no matter what. it's too good but you have to be very precise with it to be even slightly funny. i don't even think "funny" is the right word. it needs to make you smile and let out a little breath through your nose. it's not a ha-ha funny but a niche-type. not everyone should get it. it needs to be specific and zadie smith did a great job of doing exactly that with this book!
i know my review is a bit backward but looking back on it (lol, that's funny) i think that's the best way i can "review" this book.
the whole idea of the Bulgarian cover is phenomenal tho! and zadie smith's teeth explanation throughout the whole book was really well thought out and made so much sense. actually genius! the roots and the canals and everything, really - amazing!
if it wasn't for the last part i would have given it 5* without even considering anything else. it just got too political and religious all of a sudden and i got a headache every time i picked the book up. for a book that is that heavy though, the comedy aspect was really good! there were many parts (mainly in the beginning, sorry) where i was snickering and kicking my feet up in the air, lol. interestingly enough, unlike other literature about culture and religion, this one didn't feel offensive or vile (although i can't really speak up on that since i am not Muslim or deeply involved in other cultures rather than my Eastern European one). one thing i loved(!!!!!!!!) was how
i know my review is a bit backward but looking back on it (lol, that's funny) i think that's the best way i can "review" this book.
Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ah, such beautiful details! loved the illustrations and the different styles of hair represented in it, haha. the colours too! pure magic!