foursythia's reviews
140 reviews

The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Very short read, the language is crisp & direct. I'd say it's rather engaging & easy to read through. This story passes by like a fever dream-ish melodrama soap opera. We're following the story of how our main character shot her husband dead in the head. Interesting character exploration, I find the women in this book intriguing; especially the wife and the said mistress of the dead husband. The ending was hanging & perhaps because of that, forgettable, like a fog.

Flower Fairies of the Autumn by Cicely Mary Barker

hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

Lovely collection of autumn poems, would read the rest of the series!

Babel by R.F. Kuang
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

Writer has said interesting stance about Palestine and idk... maybe I'll read this someday laaaaater, way later.

Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

Great collection of stories. Eerie, creepy, sneaking small chills; but nothing too horrifying or stressing you out kind of horror, nor anything too gore. Perfect horror/Halloween read for scaredy cat horror fans (that's me btw). Everything is mild here, in the best way.

Odd Spirits by S.T. Gibson

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Maybe getting into a poly relationship with your partner's ex is a bad idea and here's why.

As a prequel to the first book of the series, I get to know more about the characters and view them in different light; an aspect I could appreciate. Really feel for poor David being stacked among conflicted & equally avoidant Moira & Rhys. Also, a good introduction in such a short pages. Excited to read the second book. Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for approving me an e-arc for this wonderful title!

You Are Eating an Orange. You Are Naked. by Sheung-King

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

5.0

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-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

3.5

Beautiful writing, efficient & engaging enough. Yet lacks purpose or point. The end is so jarring. The characters show no progress, not even a deterioration; they're just stagnant as a rock in each their stance.

I don't understand the love line choice?

Why made him married & with a newborn son if they're later to never be mentioned or considered existing? What even glues them together as this girl is really detached, apathetic and passive while R is entirely consumed by his passionate idealism that isn't ground in reality? Like Hello?

Anyway. What a potential that ends up pissing me off somehow? Felt like someone took coke and start this book & had run out of it by the time they had to finish it so they just wrap it up like that. Sorry 😔 

The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal by James Crews
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.

Sigh.. lost the book

This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-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

4.5

This should be on every bookworm's list of cottage core, spring, ghibli vibes, and light green academia books. While it is set in Poland (if I'm not mistaken?) & based on Slavic folklores of rusalki (water nymphs), somehow reading it I imagined Japan creepy forests. Maybe because I haven't been to Poland. But the setting is richly explored & described, and it paints a vivid background. I can picture all the beautiful, flowery bathhouses, the scenic gifting rituals. It was all such a trip of delicacy, the experience of reading this book. There's plenty stories to tell also about Slavic mythical creatures, which I appreciate truly.

Not to forget the beautiful and intriguing dynamic of the three main characters; their chemistry felt natural & just flowing. The banters & each of their traits? Chef's kiss, it complements each other. This was supposed to be a standalone but I heard the new update would have a sequel for this book? And the ending hints to it as well. I was at first bummed hearing a standalone turning into series, but now after finishing the entire book, I can say I'll wait for the second book if it's true. Hoping the sequel would keep up but without a follow up, this alone is perfect!

The Moomins and the Great Flood by Tove Jansson

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

Was very excited to read this but I guess it's not for me. This feels a lot like Ghibli movies in a way that it's so surreal and 'jumpy' if that makes sense? I think I'm way past the suitable age to read it as well, perhaps!