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camscampbell's reviews
635 reviews
Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
4.0
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: (penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Ken Kesey
dark
sad
medium-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
4.0
I read this as part of a book club read over at Mike's Book Reviews on YouTube. I found it engaging and compelling, if not enjoyable. I'm not sure 'enjoy' is a word that I would use for such a dark topic, which is why I went with 'compelling' instead.
I said no above to the characters' being diverse, but it's a bit of a loaded term these days. In terms of background and pathology, I would have said yes to that question. We have a variety of mental health presentations among the patients, as well as backgrounds and level of education. My favourite character was Harding, once the 'bull goose loony' of the asylum before McMurphy appears. His erudition in his interactions with McMurphy added a lot to the story.
Of course, Nurse Ratched looms large throughout and it becomes a battle of wills. We get more of McMurphy's background than we do of Nurse Ratched's, which is a shame as it makes her appear a little wooden and caricatured. There's a brief mention of what she gets up to at weekends, but it's not enough to give us a picture of who she is and what her motivations might be.
The only character who gets a glimpse into the complexity of McMurphy's character is Bromden, the narrator of the story. All the others see is the bravado McMurphy, the gambler, the manipulator, the 'bull goose loony'.
It's a few days since I finished reading it and it has remained in my mind, so I guess it's one of those books that grows after finishing it. I read the introduction again after I finished it and found that to be helpful. Do be aware that it contains spoilers.
I said no above to the characters' being diverse, but it's a bit of a loaded term these days. In terms of background and pathology, I would have said yes to that question. We have a variety of mental health presentations among the patients, as well as backgrounds and level of education. My favourite character was Harding, once the 'bull goose loony' of the asylum before McMurphy appears. His erudition in his interactions with McMurphy added a lot to the story.
Of course, Nurse Ratched looms large throughout and it becomes a battle of wills. We get more of McMurphy's background than we do of Nurse Ratched's, which is a shame as it makes her appear a little wooden and caricatured. There's a brief mention of what she gets up to at weekends, but it's not enough to give us a picture of who she is and what her motivations might be.
The only character who gets a glimpse into the complexity of McMurphy's character is Bromden, the narrator of the story. All the others see is the bravado McMurphy, the gambler, the manipulator, the 'bull goose loony'.
It's a few days since I finished reading it and it has remained in my mind, so I guess it's one of those books that grows after finishing it. I read the introduction again after I finished it and found that to be helpful. Do be aware that it contains spoilers.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
It’s fine. I just don’t have time for it in my reading schedule. I got it from the library after hearing a BookTuber haul video that made it sound appealing.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
2024 Reread
The same text stood out to me this time around. Reading puts me in the Now. I've always called it 'the good place,' and that's where I am now, having just finished the reread. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's a rare book that I can read in bed and not find myself struggling to get through two pages because of the lure of sleep. This series is just such rare books.
adventurous
emotional
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 just finished this one for the second time. I remember enjoying them nearly twenty years ago, around the time my concept of God was evolving. The Wit and the Skill tied in with that nicely.
Here is my favourite part...
Here is my favourite part...
The exercise for centering oneself is a simple one. Stop thinking of what you intend to do. Stop thinking of what you have just done. Then, stop thinking that you have stopped thinking of those things. Then you will find the Now, the time that stretches eternal, and is really the only time there is. Then, in that place, you will finally have time to be yourself.
2024 Reread
The same text stood out to me this time around. Reading puts me in the Now. I've always called it 'the good place,' and that's where I am now, having just finished the reread. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's a rare book that I can read in bed and not find myself struggling to get through two pages because of the lure of sleep. This series is just such rare books.
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez
dark
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
4.0
This dark horror novel is set in Argentina and spans the period from 1960 to 1997. It follows the lives of Gaspar, the main character, and his family as Gaspar comes of age. His father, Juan, will stop at nothing to protect him from the evil clutches of his wife's family, who want to take advantage of Juan and Gaspar's talents of accessing the Darkness to become immortal.
I read the English translation (by Megan McDowell) and thoroughly enjoyed it. The structure moves around, and I never found myself annoyed by the time shifts back and forth.
It has some troubling scenes of violence, particularly of child abuse.The scenes of the children in cages in the dark tunnel under Puerto Reyes were horrific. .
If you enjoyed Stephen King's It, you'll probably enjoy this. The part set in Buenos Aires in 1985–1986, in particular, reminded me of the Losers Club from that novel. Fans of Clive Barker would probably enjoy it, too. I felt some vibes of The Great and Secret Show in this in how dark it was.
My YouTube review of this book is here: https://youtu.be/M2GgCPpWEpA
I read the English translation (by Megan McDowell) and thoroughly enjoyed it. The structure moves around, and I never found myself annoyed by the time shifts back and forth.
It has some troubling scenes of violence, particularly of child abuse.
If you enjoyed Stephen King's It, you'll probably enjoy this. The part set in Buenos Aires in 1985–1986, in particular, reminded me of the Losers Club from that novel. Fans of Clive Barker would probably enjoy it, too. I felt some vibes of The Great and Secret Show in this in how dark it was.
My YouTube review of this book is here: https://youtu.be/M2GgCPpWEpA
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism