This was so sweet. <3 Definitely one to keep, I'd want my daughter to read this one day.This was so sweet. <3 Definitely one to keep, I'd want my daughter to read this one day....more
It took all of my patience to complete this book. The only motivation I had to do so was the simple knowledge and feeling of duty that I had, that in It took all of my patience to complete this book. The only motivation I had to do so was the simple knowledge and feeling of duty that I had, that in turning away from Lomax's story I would have been doing him, and all other POWs - past and present - a severe and unjust disservice.
The first 100 or so pages are painfully dull, and I don't believe any of the underlying effects of the memoir would have suffered had Lomax not included them at all. Once Lomax actually gets to the war, things do pick up but I was surprisingly detached. At the end of the war, I was kind of disappointed, for I thought that the torture parts had not been given enough attention, so I was still thinking that there was going to be more. I mean, I do understand that he must have wanted to keep himself at a safe distance while he wrote this memoir, even if he was in a much better place than when the war had first ended.
The writing is not the best, but I doubt he was really planning to go through what he did - I doubt he ever planned to write about his life. (If he was going to write, it probably would have been something about the AMAZING world of locomotives - no thanks, I've had more than enough of that in this memoir about WWII, POWs and torture...)
I'll give this a 3. I appreciate Lomax, and his story is *all the things* (I think memoirs are essential in a book collection for one to have an all-rounded viewpoint of the world), but the writing was choppy, with uneven pacing and unnecessary details that really spoils it, and I'm glad that lots of other people seem to think the same way in that regard....more
I think I knew that when the time came, that I would fall in love with Jane Austen. I admit that I had never previously properly tried one of her noveI think I knew that when the time came, that I would fall in love with Jane Austen. I admit that I had never previously properly tried one of her novels before this instance, a matter that had once given me much cause for embarrassment and dread.
Very surprisingly I finished Pride and Prejudice in less than even a week upon commencement. The writing style was at first quite difficult and unnecessarily verbose, grossly so; but after I got used to it and understood it to be the consequence of the age in which the narrative was written, I began to appreciate it all.
The story is quite simple, and I cannot help but compare my reading experience to that of Little Women. Many may argue that not much happens at all - again, possibly a consequence of the time in which these books were written. The brilliance lies in the subtlety in its delivery and development of themes that still bear great relevancy to today's society. From the first line we know that the great overarching theme and struggle faced in Pride and Prejudice is the societal pressures one is placed, that they should marry well and with respect to their own social circles. And yes, much or all of this book revolves around that one idea, whether in argument or agreement to its ideal.
The ending induced in me all the happy, warm, fuzzy feelings that can possibly result from reading a book such as this one. I'll have to read a couple of contemporary books to revert back into my normal writing voice, but it will certainly not be long in the future before I shall endeavour to read another book written by the esteemed Jane Austen....more
Wow. That was pretty damn twisted. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading this, but man...
I love reading unreliable narrators4/5
Wow. That was pretty damn twisted. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading this, but man...
I love reading unreliable narrators. Somehow I was able to feel real sympathy for Rachel and even Anna, to an extent. Just imagine if you had only known them from another person's perspective. Hawkins made the right decision in writing multiple points of view.
The beginning where Rachel has constructed this whole imagined reality for the couple she can view from her train into London every day is quite meditative... I tend to do that, and I think everyone does tend to do that, even if you don't know them, even if you don't have the whole story. The masks we put on to protect ourselves, or the people around us... and the way media and others pursue falseties without knowing exactly what could have been going on underneath. I dunno, I'm not really thinking straight, just typing as I think.
Another lesson to be gathered from reading this book (for the guys): never cheat on a woman unless you're really good at covering your tracks - no - really fucking stupid. Actually, I'm being sexist there. Cheating..just don't do it....more
No matter how much time passes I still cannot get over how aesthetically pleasing this cover is. One day it WILL be mine. (I borrowed my boyfrien4.5/5
No matter how much time passes I still cannot get over how aesthetically pleasing this cover is. One day it WILL be mine. (I borrowed my boyfriend's copy... He would have been reading it if it weren't for me hehe :P) The vibrant oranges, font typeface (it's beveled!) and placement of visual elements all work for me.
This won't be a long review because I won't actually be posting it for the blog. (I'm a really dedicated book reviewer if you didn't know by now! :thumbsup:) The Martian is two things: 1) a really cool and nerdy sci-fi novel imagining what it would be like to be stranded alone... IN MARS, and 2) an accessible and uplifting story that really drives home what it means to be human, and how far a person can stretch himself to survive. I don't read a lot of sci-fi (certainly not any that hope to be realistic by any means) so this was a bit of a stretch for me to get my head around. The intricate details that big science geeks could probably keep up. That barely took away from my reading experience, however. I went in hoping for a captivating story and that is exactly what I got.
Mark Watney brings humour to this otherwise bleak and horror-filled situation. His attitude did prevent the story from becoming too heavy and disheartening to read. For a while I had wished that we had known more about Watney's personal life, like, what did he have to live for specifically. It was only until I was reading the reading guide that I figured that it really doesn't matter. We as readers don't need to know. In the past we as a society have become emotionally invested in real-life people who we don't personally know face tragedy or struggles. We wish for them to survive because there is something that everything lives for: we just don't always know what exactly it is. That detail is irrelevant. So we will remember this character for his almost unwavering will to survive, quick thinking, humour and sarcasm, and that is enough for us to care about what happens to him.
We don't get to know much about the characters on the Hermez either, so I can't really comment on them. This is a sci-fi novel so I can hardly expect to feel much for the characters on any real level. And on rare occasions, that's okay. Because characters-to-fall-in-love-with is not the reason for why I would ever seek out a sci-fi novel.
So, in summary... great book. Definitely think about reading this if you enjoyed/loved the film. Looking forward to maybe more from this guy in the future....more
OKAY. I'M DONE! NO MORE, I CANNOT DEAL... No more My Fifty Shades, no more "Oh My!", no more "inner goddess" and "my subconscious" and Mrs Robinson anOKAY. I'M DONE! NO MORE, I CANNOT DEAL... No more My Fifty Shades, no more "Oh My!", no more "inner goddess" and "my subconscious" and Mrs Robinson and Jose and...
The reason I am not giving this book 1 star is simply because I finished it, therefore it is, to some degree, "readable". I will not be reviewing this book properly because I will not really be able to analyse it objectively... so here's just a jumbled mess of my thoughts towards this book.
I WILL concede that the book IS better than the film adaptation. The relationship that is formed between Anastasia and Christian feels more real, and overall I didn't absolutely hate how it progresses. I feel like it can be a very real portrayal of an abusive relationship... not so sure about a BDSM relationship (I really don't have the experience or knowledge to delve into this topic; another reason why I cannot review this book properly).
I remember reading a lot of criticism from fellow reviewers over Anastasia Steele and her being "weak" and "boring", etc. I feel that I have become slightly more flexible; the decision to mould and shape their characters is up to the author. I don't find her as weak as I had first envisioned. She resists and fights back on a few separate occasions, which came as a welcome surprise. Perhaps their statements over her being "weak" relate to how she continues this relationship with him even though she knows "hearts and flowers" is something he cannot give to her. And I agree that her pull to him, especially once she first discovers about his Red Room of Pain/Pleasure (depending on one's perspective), was pretty unrealistic and flimsy. I'm sure any normal girl, who has ZERO experience, would run for the hills and live the rest of her days in hiding (nevermind that Christian would find her, insane psycho-stalker that he is). You can rattle on about how she is brave and strong because she stayed and survived so long, but to me her reaction is utter bullcrap.
Ana's best friend reminds me of my own in some ways. The bond shared between them was quite nice. I absolutely love reading books that include good and supportive friendships in them... though, who doesn't? Her budding romance with Christian's brother serves as a stark and obvious contrast to that of Ana & Christian. I really don't have much of an opinion for the brother to discuss this topic further.
The writing... wasn't very good. As a predominantly YA reader I am familiar with what others would consider "juvenile" writing, but I know for a fact that a good chunk of the YA I have read has at least matched, if not surpassed, the reading level of that of Fifty Shades. E.L. James is so heinously obvious in her attempt to sound intelligent (*ahem* I smell thesaurus-whoreing), but fails to follow through. Anastasia is so inconsistent. As an English lit major you would expect at least an air of semi-maturity in her thought processes. Some of the things she says is so very childish and makes her appear incapable of expressing herself clearly. [I would include examples if I wasn't so lazy.]
Jose. He is basically a sack of potatoes. Cast aside constantly by Ana, and like a puppy dog (she even describes him as like a puppy many times) he always comes right back. Gah! And some of the things he says, things he does, is tremendously cringeworthy. He is a walking cliche, the quintessential "friend zone: level 1000". I felt pity for him, but then again, his whole character is so flat that I didn't really care. At least in book 1, his character has zero development.
I actually liked the ending. What's not to like? XD Anyway, no I will most probably NOT be continuing on with the series. Once I had turned the last page my first thought was, "OMG IT'S OVER!", not "OMG I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!" I will say, however, this was a mildly-moderately entertaining book and I don't regret spending time to read it. Plus, this book and I spent a lot of time together between the times of 12am-6am (night shift at the hospital)... and you know how minds tend to wander and go loopy in the dead of night. So I thank you, Fifty Shades, for the entertainment, the ideas and for establishing in me that I do not ever want to enter into a BDSM relationship... at least not to that extreme where I must sign a blasted contract (and perhaps like Anastasia, still go through with it even though SHE NEVER SIGNS THE BLOODY THING!).
Wow. Loved it!! What can I even say? This book was simply everything. I'm so excited for the movie and I'll definitely need to buy myself a copy of thWow. Loved it!! What can I even say? This book was simply everything. I'm so excited for the movie and I'll definitely need to buy myself a copy of the book soon!...more
Finished on the last day of 2013. Good job, me. ;P
I can definitely see why this is considered a classic, and why my friends who've read the book alreaFinished on the last day of 2013. Good job, me. ;P
I can definitely see why this is considered a classic, and why my friends who've read the book already had urged me to read it also. Thankfully a won a box set including The Hobbit in 2010 (?) and now I've finally read it. None of my friends have actually read the Lord of the Rings, but I'll get around to it eventually. Years from now, I think.
I enjoyed this, though it was slow at times....more
"No matter how dreary and grey our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful."No matter how dreary and grey our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home." (27)
(VVV copy + paste from a discussion post I made)
I just finished reading it a few minutes ago. I really enjoyed it. The most interesting aspect of the book for me was the Emerald City and the Wizard of Oz (details in spoiler tag below). It seems there's something deeper that will be explored in later books.
[Emerald City - How everything looks green only once you wear the green spectacles. There's a bit of an idealism that seems to be portrayed in that (like rose-coloured glasses). Wizard of Oz - how he is just an average man and became great only because he was different and pretended to be more than he was. The fact that a lie becomes harder to reveal once you're in the thick of it, such that he was too afraid to even leave the premises. (hide spoiler)]
@Melissa: Not spoiler-ish for you but since your points were expressed in a spoiler tag I'll do that too. [I also liked the fave colour segregation between the lands. Colour is such an important element to the book, I feel. It's really lovely how the attributes (kindness, courage and wisdom) are explored. I won't go into detail because it is slightly spoiler-y. You'll know it once you get near the end. ;) (hide spoiler)]
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I think it's worthwhile to read this; the story is a bit longer than the one in the movies, and it's much more violent than expected. Quite a bit of head chopping, actually. I want to just continue on with the 2nd and 3rd books (as I have the new 2013 bindup 9781471117008) but that's all for now.
The cowardly lion --> bravery The heartless Tinman --> heart/kindness The brainless Scarecrow --> brains/wisdom
The writing style is similar to Louisa May Alcott (Little Women) and it's magical and enjoyable, with some themes that I hope will be explored in later books.
* Also I was surprised that the shoes were silver instead of ruby red. Dorothy still wears her blue and white checkered dress though, and her dog Toto is there....more
This book wasn't even on my radar until Nomes reviewed it. And Wendy. So then I requested the book on Netgalley and just when I was about to prepare mThis book wasn't even on my radar until Nomes reviewed it. And Wendy. So then I requested the book on Netgalley and just when I was about to prepare myself to start reading it I receive a physical copy for review in the mail.
I'm not complaining.
4.5/5? 4/5?
The only real complaint I have is in regards to the love interests. And maybe the convenient ending. I don't want a love triangle pushed on us for the next book. There was a sense of desperation in the relationships that were formed, of which I have no reservations. There was a quick I love you exchange, which always annoys me, but I'll let it slide. I'm much more concerned about where that particular pairing goes from here, given how this book ended.
This definitely lived up to the hype. The only other alien book I've read is I Am Number Four, which I remember liking, but this one is completely different and it just blew me away.
I'm hoping that the next book develops the alien thing further. I liked most of the plot points and I don't think any point dragged on in particular.
I'm still trying to find part X (10). It seems to be missing in my copy (and Netgalley ARC).
Great use of voice. I liked Cassie. The way the book was set out is really unique. Also Yancey used a variety of sentence structures and techniques, which worked personally for me. I really clicked with the story because of it.
I couldn't picture the last few scenes, due to the description or just my impatience and incomprehension I'm not sure.
The army training part was interesting. It did take a while for me to really care about that part of the story though, as I didn't fully understand its relevance.
This definitely is the first in a series. No way is there a full sense of resolution.
I see this as like Blood Red Road plus aliens (maybe The Host?). Blown to hell. Cassie is on a mission to get back to her little brother after he's taken away from the enemy. Their parents are dead. Nowhere is safe. Anybody else feeling the comparison? (Which is a good thing as I loved both.)
~ A more coherent review/my thoughts will be written by the end of the week. Maybe....more
Booktopia free shipping + July Goodreads book club choice = another purchase for May.
*Note: I have only read BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S--not the short stoBooktopia free shipping + July Goodreads book club choice = another purchase for May.
*Note: I have only read BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S--not the short stories (HOUSE OF FLOWERS, A DIAMOND GUITAR & A CHRISTMAS MEMORY)
4-4.5/5 (full of spoilers at the moment!!!)
This book is about belonging; home; identity; independence, freedom and choice; marriage and love (of many forms)... I kind of really liked it. Actually.
Nothing I can really say. It was an enjoyable read. Some details went right over my head, but that's nothing new. My favourite quote was the one from p.40, which I added in my last status update. It pinpoints one of the main themes/ideas of this book, and I think it's beautiful in a semi-tragic kind of way.
The girl in the book is 20 (my age). That sense of uncertainty is felt strongly in her character. She doesn't name the cat because they don't really belong together; she dreams of her own place, which she believes will feel like Tiffany's; her innocent conviction, her determination to escape... She feels so familiar it's like I'd already met her, or at least some form of her, before.
Her masks. The identity that doesn't quite fit together. Despite living a social life, throwing parties and meeting many rich and powerful people, she admits she's very lonely and has no friends on whom she can depend. This proves almost true, as several of her "lovers" turn their back on her. But not [narrator] and Joe Bell, who secretly loved her ("a stranger who's a friend", p15).
The unnamed narrator. He stands as far away by the sidelines as Nick Carraway does in The Great Gatsby. I found their relationship interesting: tenuous, perhaps a little one-sided, perhaps not. It's never truly defined.
TBC
ADD: Just went through Gradesaver (no Sparknotes). Going through the entire text again in a more analytical light, I have to mentally give this book a 4.5/5. It has moral ambiguity, an aspect in literature that I absolutely love; as well as belonging and all that good stuff. Easy reading. Super short. I'll be rereading this one for years onward.
ADD: House of Flowers infuriated me. It's about a stupid young girl who falls in love with a man who treats her like trash. -SPOILERS- In the end the man ties to a tree so that everyone knows she has been a disgrace, her prostitute friends come and visit her, offer to pack her bags so that she can escape--but no. She ties herself back up, unpacks everything and stays with the man. I just can't understand. I don't care about the cultural + social differences back in that time. I can't enjoy that kind of story, and I will not ever revisit it. The prose wasn't too bad.
ADD: A Diamond Guitar - I liked it. It's quite bitter. To me the guitar represents longing, loneliness, a hole... I wouldn't know for sure without reading up on it though. One more short story, which will have to wait for tomorrow.
ADD: A Christmas Memory - beautiful. I've never had that kind of truly Christmas memory, nor have I ever had anything with my own grandmother. While this story is quite bittersweet, it's a lovely testament to a memory of Capote's. I'm not sure how much of it is fictional, but I do know it's semi-autobiographical. This was my favourite of the three short stories. :)...more
Not nearly as good as Catching Fire was. I have to side with the majority on this. While I still really liked it, I feel like there are so4.5/5 (4/5?)
Not nearly as good as Catching Fire was. I have to side with the majority on this. While I still really liked it, I feel like there are so many unanswered questions and things that were never given enough attention.
This book is even darker than books 1 and 2. It drives home the horrendous effects that the Hunger Games and the control of Snow had on our characters.
I feel like the way Panem ends up is SLOPPY. And of course I can't discuss this without spoilers, so I'll chuck them behind a spoiler tag.
(view spoiler)[I don't understand why Katniss agreed to have a Hunger Games for the remaining Capitol children...? And why wasn't more attention brought to that, why wasn't she allowed to think it over? Or... so after everything, after Snow's downfall (and Coin), the districts still exist? It just doesn't feel like the end. And the epilogue is....kind of lovely but so short and it doesn't feel like enough. And by the second half of this book I started casting off Gale, I didn't want him to end up with Katniss in the end. But. It's just sad, I guess, that after all they'd been through that now they will become mere memories to one another. Still reeling after Prim's death. She ended up succumbing to the cruelty of the Games after all. No one can save the innocent from the evil that surrounds this world. Rue, the children, and then Prim.
Don't even get me started on Finnick. Or any of the others who died directly due to Katniss' decisions. I feel like they weren't given enough importance in the end, like they were given the flick off (kind of like the nameless kids in the Games) and the living just got on with it. The only time I ever cared was with Finnick and Primrose. Maybe it's because they meant something real. Why did we never have follow-up with Annie? A real follow-up? And with Primrose... and their mother... does Katniss ever see her again? It's like she's changed so much and nothing matters anymore. (hide spoiler)]
But even so, there were so many things I loved about this book.
The Hanging Tree. The Tomorrow, When the War Began feel. The Remember who the enemy is theme still runs undercurrent. When old characters came back, characters you thought had died. I liked the structural consistencies (Prim book 1, Prim book 3; Buttercup, the cat; the Games are in all 3 books). The darkness. The vividness of Collins'/Katniss' descriptions. And it remained suspenseful through to the end. The intense exchanges between Katniss and Peeta. The real sense of danger is present from start to finish. I expect to bawl my eyes out during the movie(s?).
Thank you Suzanne Collins. Now write a better, more substantial ending....more
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