carrotsoup's reviews
22 reviews

R.U.R. by Karel Čapek

dark funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

War with the Newts by Karel Čapek

dark funny reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

How do I even write about this book? War with the Newts is one of the most incredible, absurd, hilarious, depressing, agonizing works of art ever written; it captures each and every step of Humanity and its greedy, stupid death at the hands of what are effectively serfs-turned-fascists. It is essential science-fiction, essential anti-fascist and anti-capitalist literature, just an essential read overall. Brilliant satire, brilliant social critique and a near-perfect geopolitical thriller. An absolute masterpiece that was very funny until it suddenly stopped being funny and began being terrifying.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Submissão by Michel Houellebecq

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My takeaway from Submission is that this is not so much a book about immigration or Islam as a religion as it is about how pointless and worn-down an existence modern Europeans lead, and how easily the democratic system can brutally shift (or be shifted) toward one way or the other. The political rise of Ben Abbes really made me feel like this could be about the rise of any other religion / ideology - I was namely reminded of fascism and Nazism. In reality Islam here can be an signifier for anything that claims to fill the void in those who are hopeless and lost, and that quells the lust and desires of those individuals who desperately want to be in positions of power over others.

A Confissão de Lúcio by Mário de Sá-Carneiro

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

A História Secreta by Donna Tartt

This is possibly the most overrated book I've ever read and I hate that term. I'm not even one for rating books because I feel totally unqualified and am easily impressionable but man, this was mostly just a waste of my time past the halfway point. Donna Tartt could have used either an editor or some scissors to cut like ~25-50% of this. The more I think about it the more this whole book just irks me. I better stop before I write up a storm.

Based on a True Story by Norm Macdonald

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing sad fast-paced

I would die for this man. Norm MacDonald was legitimately one of the funniest human beings alive. Also, surprisingly so well written for a book like this. He straight up pulls from Dostoevsky at times. You can tell Norm was so much smarter than he let on. Needed this during a tough time of academic burnout.

O deserto dos tártaros by Dino Buzzati

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

One of the most incredible, moving books I've ever read in my life. Will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A