A fantastic continuation from the previous book. I am in total awe of how Robin Hobb creates characters that feel so real and human, along with their A fantastic continuation from the previous book. I am in total awe of how Robin Hobb creates characters that feel so real and human, along with their conflicts and drama that feel so earned and genuine. The Mad Ship makes you route for people you know you shouldn’t be, and has you cheer for characters you hated in the book before. This is a skill I find extremely hard to genuinely pull off. Not to mention how creative the concept of this trilogy truly is, as well as how unique the world itself is. I have so much praise for this series I could go on forever.
I do definitely think this book didn’t need to be 900 pages long. While I’m used to Hobb’s slow pace books, this one at times felt like it pushed that a little too far. It was never boring, but a few times I thought things needed to speed up a little. The politics of this book are fascinating and engaging, but getting to the actual grit of the political discussions took a couple chapters too long.
This trilogy is a truly special experience within the genre, one that I am so excited (and nervous) to watch its inevitable catastrophic conclusion. And whilst this book did have pacing issues, anything lower than five stars would be doing The Mad Ship a disservice....more
So little happened and yet so much happened within these pages. John Williams captured the mundane, ordinary human existence so effectively and masterSo little happened and yet so much happened within these pages. John Williams captured the mundane, ordinary human existence so effectively and masterfully. The prose was so matter-of-fact and straight to the point and yet filled with simplistic beauty that the words just melted into my brain. Another author could have made this story boring and repetitive, but the story of Stoner is one that is going to be impossible to forget.
This classic consumed my mind when I wasn't reading it. When I was reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was as if Stoner was a mate of mine, and I was reading about his troubles at work, his issues with his wife, his fears of the future. And it's since we can all relate to Stoner on such a personal level, it makes this seemingly boring book work. It's filled with existentialism and dread, but sprinkled with hope and joy and victories, even if those triumphs are so small that the only ones who celebrate them is ourselves alone.
Stoner is a quiet work of art, and I cannot think of a single person who I wouldn't recommend this too....more
4.5. I loved this book. From the first page I knew this story would totally be my thing. This kept me gripped the entire time, it made me cry, and it 4.5. I loved this book. From the first page I knew this story would totally be my thing. This kept me gripped the entire time, it made me cry, and it had me reading out passages to my mum, which is always a good sign that I’m enjoying a book. And most importantly, it made me think.
I Who Have Never Known Men is pretty much an allegory for life itself. When we are stripped of conversation, love, community, people, can we truly be called human beings? Will we ever understand why we are here, what the point of it all is? And if we can’t understand it all, why should we even bother trying? And the beauty and genius of this book is that we never do find out anything. The story ends with as little information as we had in the beginning. Nothing is answered. And yet, this book is absolutely filled with all we ever need to know.
Really enjoyed this one. Could have maybe used a bit more character development, but that’s just me being picky....more
"You want to be clean. You think you came here covered with soap and you think you will go out covered with soap—and you do not want to stink, not eve"You want to be clean. You think you came here covered with soap and you think you will go out covered with soap—and you do not want to stink, not even for five minutes, in the meantime.� He grasped me by the collar, wrestling and caressing at once, fluid and iron at once: saliva spraying from his lips and his eyes full of tears, but with the bones of his face showing and the muscles leaping in his arms and neck. ‘You want to leave Giovanni because he makes you stink. You want to despise Giovanni because he is not afraid of the stink of love. You want to kill him in the name of all your lying little moralities. And you—you are immoral. You are, by far, the most immoral man I have met in all my life. Look, look what you have done to me. Do you think you could have done this if I did not love you? Is this what you should do to love?�
Internalised homophobia, gender roles, heteronormativity, self (or lack of) acceptance, all within a tragic story of a gay romance with stunning prose. For such a small book, I'm pretty stuck on what to actually say about it. It's one of those books where you stare at the ceiling after finishing. And all I can truly say to someone is “just read it.�
Not one of my favourites, but even the “bad� Discworld books are still pretty enjoyable. The story just didn’t do a lot for me.
However I loved this quNot one of my favourites, but even the “bad� Discworld books are still pretty enjoyable. The story just didn’t do a lot for me.
However I loved this quote:
“It was sad music. But it waved its sadness like a battle flag. It said the universe had done all it could, but you were still alive.� TP was a genius....more
Vladimir Nabokov was undoubtedly a genius but I have no desire to read any other books of his. This was by far the most intelligent book I’ve ever reaVladimir Nabokov was undoubtedly a genius but I have no desire to read any other books of his. This was by far the most intelligent book I’ve ever read, and the fact that English was this man’s (I think) fourth language is incredible. As a fan of literature as a whole, I couldn’t help but be stunned at the prose of this book.
But I didn’t enjoy reading it. Just because something is extremely impressive, doesn’t make it an enjoyable reading experience. Not to mention that the subject matter is pretty rough to invest time in. I put this book down multiple times due to it being the absolute last thing I wanted to read about. And whilst I think it’s great to challenge ourselves when it comes to consuming media, I still want to have a somewhat good time, and with Lolita, I didn’t. If anything, this was exhausting to get through, due to both the language and the subject matter.
So while I can admire Nabokov as a writer, I couldn’t care less about him as a storyteller. I’m glad I can finally say I’ve read this book, but I am so so so glad it’s over....more
“It is impossible that all men have been doomed to suffer this awful horror!�
This was my first introduction to Tolstoy and it's as if I've been slappe“It is impossible that all men have been doomed to suffer this awful horror!�
This was my first introduction to Tolstoy and it's as if I've been slapped in the face. For a book as short as this (just under 100 pages) it's extremely impressive how hard hitting this was. Throughout my day, in between reading sessions, Ivan Ilyich was on my mind. His pain, suffering, and existential questions all felt so scarily real. Tolstoy did an incredible job of introducing this career and status driven character, only to completely destroy him for the second half of the book.
Words can't really do it justice, but the amount of philosophy crammed into this tiny book makes this an impactful gut punch of a read.
(My "Little Penguin Classics" version also had a bonus story called Three Deaths, which was fine, but nothing special)....more
It’s like an edgy fourteen year old read a Cormac McCarthy novel and tried to have a go themselves. I literally got nothing out of this.
This also remiIt’s like an edgy fourteen year old read a Cormac McCarthy novel and tried to have a go themselves. I literally got nothing out of this.
This also reminded me that I really, really don’t like poetry. Especially fake deep poetry....more
More of a character study than anything, which is exactly what Steinbeck intended to do with this short book. It was beautifully written, and has themMore of a character study than anything, which is exactly what Steinbeck intended to do with this short book. It was beautifully written, and has themes of empathy and also judgement. This book asks why we judge people based on where they work, where they live, how they look, how they surround themselves with. It asks why what we admire most in people (honesty, compassion, kindness) seems to not get us far in life career wise, and why what we seem to dislike the most (ego, greed, boastfulness) seems to led to great success.
This book is a love letter to humanity as a whole, and this entire book has little segments of life and living. I can't say I loved it, due to the total lack of plot. But I still think it set out to do exactly what it wanted, and for that I can admire it....more
This is a really hard book for me to review. On one hand, I am in awe of this story. A book written in the 1800's, following a young girls journey finThis is a really hard book for me to review. On one hand, I am in awe of this story. A book written in the 1800's, following a young girls journey finding independence and empowerment. A character who goes through so much at the expense of being born the 'wrong' sex, or not looking 'handsome' enough to earn the respect of men (and women). Not to mention the brilliant gothic elements of this story, and absolutely stunning writing within these pages, creating such a vivid image of the Victorian era. Jane Eyre is one of the most charming books I've read in a long time.
But on the other hand, I can't say I exactly enjoyed reading this. At least, not all of the time. It was painfully slow, and this really dragged down all of the before mentioned points I loved about this book. I'd read ten pages, and Jane had gone from one room to the next. I'd read twenty pages, and I've just read about a bunch of rich people playing charades, in heavy detail. And again, I don't want to come across as stupid. I totally understand how much detail (for better or worse) went into this story, particularly in said slower moments, which really dived into the themes Charlotte Brontë wanted to discuss. However I also read for entrainment, and there were many times during Jane Eyre where I was thinking: "Alright, I get the point, can we move on now?"
So I'm conflicted. This is probably the harshest three star rating I've given (which by no means is a bad rating) and I almost feel as if I'm doing this book a disservice as to how great and important it truly is, especially for its time. Jane was such a wonderful character to follow. I loved how she interacted with the people around her. I loved her dynamic with Mr. Rochester. I loved watching her grow up, both physically and mentally. I loved the overall plot. I just didn't love reading it sometimes. The parts I loved - Gateshead, arriving in Thornfield, Bertha in the attic, running away and surviving on her own - seemed to move too quickly. Parts that got old very quickly - Lowood, St John and Moor House, the repeated dialogue between Jane and every man, along with Jane and Adele - seemed to drag on forever, repeating the same points and messages over and over. And I get it! This book is not far off 200 years old! But just because it's a classic, doesn't mean I have to enjoy the whole thing.
Jane Eyre, in my opinion, is essential reading for anyone who has the slightest interest in classic literature. Jane herself is such a rememberable character that even though I am not exactly this books target audience, I can still appreciate it. But this book took me almost two months to finish, which is always an indicator for me to show how invested I really was. To me, somewhere in this book, is a five star story. And at times it really felt like one too. I could have spent a lot more time with Jane at Gateshead (the start of this book is basically perfect to me), and less time with her doing not a lot at Thornfield Hall. But I still truly acknowledge the greatness of this book, and how this story has and will continue to stand the tests of time.
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.�...more
This is a supposedly bleak book (according to critics) that I found myself not caring a whole lot about. Maybe it's due to its short page count, or maThis is a supposedly bleak book (according to critics) that I found myself not caring a whole lot about. Maybe it's due to its short page count, or maybe the characters? Despite this actually being quite enjoyable to read (compared to what I've heard others say about Ethan Frome) I still found that by the end of it, once the initial shock of the ending which I somehow hadn't had spoilt for me, I thought: "Right, what should I read next?"
That's not to discredit Ethan Frome. I think it does exactly what it sets out to do. You follow a poor farmer who is in love with the servant Mattie, whilst being married to the horrible Zeena. It paints the picture of being in love with someone and knowing you can't be together. It shows how life can be if we push all of our happiness and existence on another human, rather than ourselves. It shows (quite well; quite strange in other places) how these lovers act when they are left alone. It's a quick, sad and bleak story of love and life that is doomed from the start. I also appreciated the descriptions of snowy Massachusetts, which whilst reading in thirty degree heat was a nice escape.
But at times this book felt silly and almost pathetic. I found it hard to root for a man who is cheating on his wife, and also for a man who is clearly so dependent on other people. It also felt that Mattie didn't have a brain, and Zeena was underdeveloped. And for a 99 page book, not a lot happens. Which depending on my mood, I'd either love or hate. In one sense I enjoyed the borderline sexual tension between Ethan and Mattie, only to find myself frustrated when nothing happened. I get this was written over one hundred years ago, but I feel if you're going to write a story about a man cheating on his ill wife, you might as well go all in.
It's done now, and I'm happy I read it, but I can't help but feel this book was just a sillier version of Dostoyevsky's White Nights. However, Ethans depressing life is far from the worst thing I've ever read. In a way, I actually quite enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll be returning to Frome, or Starkfield any time soon....more
Sorry Stephen but this one bored me. Or maybe I just read it at the wrong time? I found none of the characters all that interesting; they moDNF at 53%
Sorry Stephen but this one bored me. Or maybe I just read it at the wrong time? I found none of the characters all that interesting; they more felt like stereotypes than people. The main villain (other than the bullies, and again, didn’t interest me) being an evil car didn’t do a lot for me either.
Maybe I’ll try this again some other time, but for now it’s getting put away.
I forgot how good the City Watch books are (I haven’t read a new one since 2020). I’m reading this series in publication order, but these books in parI forgot how good the City Watch books are (I haven’t read a new one since 2020). I’m reading this series in publication order, but these books in particular make me wanna focus solely on the Watch books. They’re just that good. I love the Discworld in its entirety, but the Watch books are on another level of good.
This book focused less on Vimes (although he had some standout moments) and more so on the other members of the Watch. Carrot, Colon, Detritus, Cuddy, Angua and Nobby steal the show this entire book, and made me connect with them all. I also really appreciated the social commentary on racism, sexism and gun violence. Everything about this book was perfect to me. Intriguing plot, lovable characters, emotional and heartwarming moments, funny moments (obvs) and a great ending. I get sad every time I finish these books, then immediately happy knowing I still have so many more.
"Time passed and eventually my mind had only one thought in it as regards childhood. For any kid that gets that as an option: take that sweet thing an"Time passed and eventually my mind had only one thought in it as regards childhood. For any kid that gets that as an option: take that sweet thing and run with it. Hide. Love it so hard. Because it's going to fucking leave you and not come back.�
Finishing Demon Copperhead feels like losing an old friend. I've been following Demons life for three weeks, and now that I've reached the end makes me sad. Demons unique voice - Kingsolver's prose - made this book a special experience. I also love a coming of age story, so I knew before even starting that I would enjoy this book. If enjoy is the right word. It's a very dark and heavy book, going into what it's like to be grown into poverty and drug addiction. Demons life is filled with drugs, bullying, crime and pain, that it can make this book rough to read. But somehow the narration manages to also throw in humour and heartwarming moments, friendship and love.
I didn't love it all though. It's a long book, and I found a big chunk of the second half to be no where near as interesting as the first. The book loses its steam, and I found myself not caring as much about all of the side content. I also thought the ending was a little long winded, but the actual final scene was beautiful, albeit predictable. Not to mention that I found one certain plot point quite rushed.
As mentioned above, this book has a very unique writing style, one that is objectively stunning. However since it almost reads like a fictional memoir, I found that my emotional attachment to the story wasn't all there. There were scenes where I'd think "I should be crying at this" and I just couldn't (the final scene did bring on tears though). For me this was due to the fact that this book is Demon TELLING HIS story, not so much following the story from Demons point of view. This also led me to not care about many of the characters outside of the protagonist himself, other than Angus. I still think the prose is wonderful, but it comes with its downsides too.
Demon Copperhead was an unforgettable journey, that tackles some raw and rough topics, that are sadly still a big problem today. It's a long book that I do think is worth the time investment, as I loved being in Demons world and hearing his story. It wasn't perfect, but I will miss my time that I spent in Lee County, cheering Demon on.
"This is what I would say if I could, to all smart people of the world with their dumb hillbilly jokes: We are right here in the stall. We can actually hear you.�...more
I’ve been putting off reading Stephen King’s short story collections for years now, just because they never appealed to me. I want to read a full lengI’ve been putting off reading Stephen King’s short story collections for years now, just because they never appealed to me. I want to read a full length novel over short stories every single time. But, I should have trusted that this man is one of my favourite authors for a reason. This was a really enjoyable collection, and I’m looking forward to read more of them. There were some stand outs, some forgetful ones, but each one (20 in total!) was worth my time. I’m just going to copy and paste my thoughts on all these stories from my notes app, which I updated after I finished every story.
Jerusalem‘s Lot - A pretty cool and creepy story but I wasn’t crazy on how it was written like from the 1850s, or in letter form. Just made the reading experience not the most enjoyable. 3/5
Graveyard Shift - This made my skin crawl. The image of all of those rats crawling over Hall, up his legs and into his ear, along with the flying ones, AND a massive 3 foot rat?? Stuff of nightmares. Really solid, gross story. 4.5/5
Night Surf - For what it was, I quite liked this. Reads almost like a prologue to The Stand, and made me wanna read that book again too. Quite a depressing and eerie vibe, but feels more like an idea than story. 3/5
I Am the Doorway - Space exploration is a bad idea according to this story, and for a pretty chilling and unsettling reason. Enjoyed this one, despite it being sci-fi. Ending was great too, freaked me out. 4.5/5
The Mangler - A possessed washing machine is the most Stephen King thing I’ve ever read lol. But it was surprisingly exciting and tense, not to mention gory. I simultaneously liked and disliked the ending. 4/5
The Boogeyman - Pure horror. I have a pit in my stomach after reading. Extremely unsettling. (Update: this kept me up until 4am) 5/5
Grey Matter - Suspenseful and gross. Absolutely crazy idea but it worked somehow. 3.5/5
Battleground - Probably my least favourite so far. Just found it a little too silly, but it was still entertaining-ish to see toys come to life and try and kill someone. 2/5
Trucks - Feels like a very dated “robots gain consciousness� story but with trucks. I liked it. 3.5/5
Sometimes They Come Back - Loved 90% of this one, but the ending really threw me off. Didn’t hate the ending, but it wasn’t the one I was hoping for. Felt a bit rushed and cheap. But the majority of this was great. 4/5
Strawberry Swing - An atmospheric murder story. The ending was great, but overall this one didn’t do much for me. 2.5/5
The Ledge - The perfect suspense story. I loved how this one didn’t have any horror in it other than the horror of humans. Amazing. 5/5
The Lawnmower Man - What the actual fuck did I just read?? 1.5/5
Quitters Inc. - A sinister story about quitting smoking. I absolutely loved everything about this. 5/5
I Know What You Need - Engaging throughout and a cool concept, felt it ended quite suddenly though. I personally feel like this one will end up being quite forgetful. 3/5
Children of the Corn - This being a longer one in this collection, I wish there was more time spent with the crazy cult of kids than the town with the husband and wife trying to understand why it’s deserted. Pretty cool concept though. 3.5/5
The Last Rung on the Ladder - I have no words other than it made me cry. 5/5
The Man Who Loved Flowers - Such an effective way to write a story that’s less than ten pages long. Loved the twist of this one. 3.5/5
One for the Road - Really liked going back to ‘Salems Lot after the events of the actual book. Creepy atmosphere and chilling imagery 3.5/5
The Woman in the Room - I appreciated the McCarthy-like writing style, but overall I can’t see myself returning to this one. This more felt like something Stephen King had to write for himself, given the death of his mother was very recent to this book being published. 2/5
I’ll always prefer novels over short stories, but some of these were legitimately just as terrifying and enjoyable as his full length books. Would recommend. ...more
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