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dearreads's reviews
6 reviews
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
i reread this book recently because the last time i did, i wasn’t entirely focused. but after my second read, i can finally say this is my favorite book.
set in ancient day greece, tells the story of patroclus, an exiled prince of a small kingdom that crossed paths with achilles, aristos achaion, the greatest warrior of greece. how achilles chose patroclus as his companion and patroclus stayed true to his promise that he would go wherever achilles went. his love and dedication for achilles drove the plot of this book, and achilles’ heightened sense of self from a prophecy of promised fame, was the steering wheel.
this was an unexpected wild ride of chaotic gods, wars, and human ego wrapped in a tragic love story of two people who had different mission but loved each other nonetheless. i was saddened and in tears when this book came to an end, but if it happened any other way i wouldn’t have been satisfied.
madeline miller wrote this book beautifully. every sentence pulls and draws you in with vivid imagery of being in patroclus’ head. i slowly found myself also falling in love with achilles, his heels and all (haha).
a wonderful must read.
set in ancient day greece, tells the story of patroclus, an exiled prince of a small kingdom that crossed paths with achilles, aristos achaion, the greatest warrior of greece. how achilles chose patroclus as his companion and patroclus stayed true to his promise that he would go wherever achilles went. his love and dedication for achilles drove the plot of this book, and achilles’ heightened sense of self from a prophecy of promised fame, was the steering wheel.
this was an unexpected wild ride of chaotic gods, wars, and human ego wrapped in a tragic love story of two people who had different mission but loved each other nonetheless. i was saddened and in tears when this book came to an end, but if it happened any other way i wouldn’t have been satisfied.
madeline miller wrote this book beautifully. every sentence pulls and draws you in with vivid imagery of being in patroclus’ head. i slowly found myself also falling in love with achilles, his heels and all (haha).
a wonderful must read.
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
discusses the strict patriarchal, misogynistic societal standards in a lighthearted way. about the impossible beauty standards, and how women's worth can only be defined by the husband they chose to marry. also talks about money and its relationship to power. a slice of life that despite the heavy topic, is still enjoyable to read.
Circe by Madeline Miller
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
the story of a witch damned for exile because of her newfound gift and a tale of a woman who learned to fight, to grieve, to love, and to live.
deeper than the story of the Greek gods, comes Circe, the main character of the book. daughter of Helios, the Sun God, eager to please yet ever so curious. after turning a nymph to a monster, she was banished to a small island where she learned about the human world, about living with mortals, and about herself.
as a woman i resonated deeply with her struggles of realizing that everyday may be a constant fight. the world is vast and people are not always as kind as we treat them, and thus the only person we can trust and lean on is ourselves. how she got in touch and made peace with her gift, with all the losses it gave and the strength it provided, but in the end the one who picked what she would be, was herself.
as a woman i resonated deeply with her struggles of realizing that everyday may be a constant fight. the world is vast and people are not always as kind as we treat them, and thus the only person we can trust and lean on is ourselves. how she got in touch and made peace with her gift, with all the losses it gave and the strength it provided, but in the end the one who picked what she would be, was herself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
funny
medium-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
3.0
i honestly don’t know whether i loved or hated this book
absolutely fucking bonkers, wild batshit crazy ride
absolutely fucking bonkers, wild batshit crazy ride
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this is my first horror book!
as someone who is mainly used to reading mysteries, the mix of riddles and creepiness is a fresh breath of air. i’m glad the author did not make the main character’s flaws as the main plot, rather a proper companion for the main storyline. i’d give this 4 stars, because i do not like the way the author wrote the ending. however, the entire thing was very easy to read and fun, i could not put my kindle down.
as someone who is mainly used to reading mysteries, the mix of riddles and creepiness is a fresh breath of air. i’m glad the author did not make the main character’s flaws as the main plot, rather a proper companion for the main storyline. i’d give this 4 stars, because i do not like the way the author wrote the ending. however, the entire thing was very easy to read and fun, i could not put my kindle down.
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
as a health student i find elizabeth's idea incredibly innovative yet also suspicious to how it works, considering that she's a drop out from stanford who only studied for 2 semesters. reading the book was a whirlwind, how she completely disregarded patient safety to reach her ambition as a billionaire, while health students have always been told from the very beginning that patient safety will
always be the main priority. john carreyrou was correct for saying that mark zuckerberg may have learned to code when he was ten but medicine isnt something you could teach yourself from the basement of your house, you need years of practice and education to be an expert in it. carreyrou was extremely thorough in his investigation, his narrative style captivating.
always be the main priority. john carreyrou was correct for saying that mark zuckerberg may have learned to code when he was ten but medicine isnt something you could teach yourself from the basement of your house, you need years of practice and education to be an expert in it. carreyrou was extremely thorough in his investigation, his narrative style captivating.