david_de_saucy's reviews
113 reviews

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is amazing. Has some very remarkable line, lyrical. A great window into a particular part and time of British society.  

• Happiness, pleasure or peace?

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such a beautifully crafted world. The setting really pulls you in, the detail and thoughtfulness of the writing are lovely.

I never read books again, but I feel this one could be really enjoyable to revisit?

Side note: could it be that this is a fantasy/mystery novel that never was?

I’m suspicious we were in someone’s mind

The Raven and Other Selected Poems by Edgar Allan Poe

challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?

Pageboy by Elliot Page

hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.5

Some really enjoyable and beautiful parts. However they can get lost amongst too many time jumps, long descriptions and poor structure.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this book but it left me with so many questions! I was hoping for some further resolution but perhaps the best part is that we are all left to wonder.

The Membranes by Chi Ta-wei

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Interesting read and my first Chinese text. Enjoyed it and found the writing enjoyable, engaging and original. Nice links to queerness.

I would have liked more depth to the text and better execution of some of the ideas presented.

A Vida no Céu by José Eduardo Agualusa

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Conceito interessante e leitura agradável. Algumas partes não são muito bem elaboradas e certos momentos acontecem do nada e sem grande coerência. 

Oportunidade perdida de mudar a pequena balsa de cada capítulo para uma pequena ilha.

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This book is beautifully crafted. A really thought through and well executed narrative on abuse and the parts what that will always carry.  

Particularly resonated with

the choose your own adventure and vaccine sections.

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.5

Horrendous and daunting. A very memorable read who has left me with sadness and lack of hope for humankind. The writing is incredibly captivating.

This Arab Is Queer: An Anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab Writers by Elias Jahshan

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

This book was needed. 

It was such an interesting, informative and engaging read! Not at all a book I would usually come across but so glad I picked it up. Beautiful nonfiction but reads like a work of fiction/narrative. 

Only downside is that in some of the short stories it felt that certain paragraphs were used as a way to self promo other works. Which I didn’t necessarily appreciate as they took me away from the book.