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federicadaisy's reviews
151 reviews
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
28 racconti by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fernanda Pivano
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
This is a collection of 28 tales selected by Fitzgerald's late friend, Malcolm Cowley, in a way that could cover every phase of the author's life and experiences. Apart from being a reflection of Fitzgerald's life and career, some of these tales also represent a report of the roaring Twenties american society and all of the issues of that time.
The collection is thus divided into four sections which span from the Jazz age, through the Great Depression of 1929 and the time of the New Deal, ending at the eve of WWII.
What is striking about these tales are the perfectly human characters, depicted in all of their frailty and with their issues: rich men dealing with alcoholism, young men aspiring to success, young women and marriage, scandalous lives, the hypocrisy of the elite class.
Among these 28 tales, those I found more interesting and, at times, heartbreaking, were those belonging to the "All the sad young men" collection (originally published in 1926). These tales reflect a peculiar time in the author's life who was, at that time, struggling with financial crisis and a deep disillusionement in a more general way.
The collection is thus divided into four sections which span from the Jazz age, through the Great Depression of 1929 and the time of the New Deal, ending at the eve of WWII.
What is striking about these tales are the perfectly human characters, depicted in all of their frailty and with their issues: rich men dealing with alcoholism, young men aspiring to success, young women and marriage, scandalous lives, the hypocrisy of the elite class.
Among these 28 tales, those I found more interesting and, at times, heartbreaking, were those belonging to the "All the sad young men" collection (originally published in 1926). These tales reflect a peculiar time in the author's life who was, at that time, struggling with financial crisis and a deep disillusionement in a more general way.
Follia by Patrick McGrath
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Un libro devastante. Inquadra perfettamente le ossessioni amorose e come queste possano portare alla rovina non solo chi le prova in prima persona, ma anche chi, malauguratamente, si trova coinvolto in queste storie anche indirettamente.
La storia trascina giù con sè tutti i personaggi, rendendoli deboli, vulnerabili e distruggendoli completamente.
Lettura molto accattivante e scorrevole, ottima capacità dell’autore di coinvolgere il lettore con il suo stile e i colpi di scena, ma a colpire sono i personaggi così complessi e fragili per i quali è impossibile, a un certo punto, non simpatizzare proprio per l’umana debolezza di cui essi sono caratterizzati.
La storia trascina giù con sè tutti i personaggi, rendendoli deboli, vulnerabili e distruggendoli completamente.
Lettura molto accattivante e scorrevole, ottima capacità dell’autore di coinvolgere il lettore con il suo stile e i colpi di scena, ma a colpire sono i personaggi così complessi e fragili per i quali è impossibile, a un certo punto, non simpatizzare proprio per l’umana debolezza di cui essi sono caratterizzati.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
fast-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
1.0
One of the worst books I’ve read this year. I don’t know how is it possible to come up with something like this.
The synopsis was quite promising so I decided to get this book and give it a try but I was disappointed and can’t understand how can people find it a good book.
Besides being so poorly written and full of cringe moments (because the characters are cringe themselves), it’s all so flat and frivolous it’s insane.
Percy (the protagonist) is egoist and self centered and treats people around her like they don’t have feelings, yet she expects to be pitied and forgiven (especially in the last pages).
Sam, on the other hand, is the only character I actually liked a bit, but the rest was just a mess.
The story is so predictable, so many unnecessary descriptions (bad ones as well) that make the book longer than it should’ve been.
The synopsis was quite promising so I decided to get this book and give it a try but I was disappointed and can’t understand how can people find it a good book.
Besides being so poorly written and full of cringe moments (because the characters are cringe themselves), it’s all so flat and frivolous it’s insane.
Percy (the protagonist) is egoist and self centered and treats people around her like they don’t have feelings, yet she expects to be pitied and forgiven (especially in the last pages).
Sam, on the other hand, is the only character I actually liked a bit, but the rest was just a mess.
The story is so predictable, so many unnecessary descriptions (bad ones as well) that make the book longer than it should’ve been.
Agostino by Alberto Moravia
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Agostino is a young boy who, one summer, clashes against the reality of the adult world and its promiscuity which stains his innocence and becomes a source of turmoil and sorrow.
The novel mainly develops around his mother and what she represents to Agostino: in his naive perception of things, typical of childhood, he’s always idealised his mother and seen her as pure, comforting, protective and untouchable. Realising that she’s “nothing but a woman” and becoming aware of her sexuality and her physical attraction to the young man who pays visits to her, makes him question everything he’s believed in until that moment.
The group of young boys he meets while he’s on holiday with his mother initiates him to that world and brutally opens his eyes, forcing him to see the truth: that his mother isn’t innocent and he isn’t as well. Agostino spends time with these boys even though he resents them for he thinks they’re being cruel and unfair to him by presenting him the reality in such a brutal way. Although he wants to stay away from them in order to protect himself, he is also attracted to them and the stories they tell him, like he derives some sort of guilty pleasure from them.
In the end, Agostino is reminded he is just a boy and still too naive to actually enter the adult world so early even though he wants to.
The novel mainly develops around his mother and what she represents to Agostino: in his naive perception of things, typical of childhood, he’s always idealised his mother and seen her as pure, comforting, protective and untouchable. Realising that she’s “nothing but a woman” and becoming aware of her sexuality and her physical attraction to the young man who pays visits to her, makes him question everything he’s believed in until that moment.
The group of young boys he meets while he’s on holiday with his mother initiates him to that world and brutally opens his eyes, forcing him to see the truth: that his mother isn’t innocent and he isn’t as well. Agostino spends time with these boys even though he resents them for he thinks they’re being cruel and unfair to him by presenting him the reality in such a brutal way. Although he wants to stay away from them in order to protect himself, he is also attracted to them and the stories they tell him, like he derives some sort of guilty pleasure from them.
In the end, Agostino is reminded he is just a boy and still too naive to actually enter the adult world so early even though he wants to.
I Hate You - Don't Leave Me: Third Edition: Understanding the Borderline Personality by Hal Straus, Jerold J. Kreisman
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5