irene_addler's reviews
38 reviews
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Raoul is insufferable. This story could truly be so much shorter if he just shut up and respected Christine's wishes.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
While the book is rife with humor and LGBTQ+ characters, I found the lack of diversity elsewhere underwhelming, the plot too slow, description much to heavy and long, and I wasn't connecting with any of the main characters.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was an interesting book, particularly from a 2023 perspective. Dick's foresight and creativity were certainly lacking in areas. While he could imagine a future with androids almost indistinguishable from humans, he still made every secretary a woman, and money is still physical coins and bills despite no longer being a dollar.
The story itself is fun and interesting. It poses many ethical questions about humanity, and doesn't seek to answer them, but instead make you think. I'm excited to read more about the book and other people's opinions.
While I absolutely think this would ruin the book, I would now love to read a chapter from one of the android's perspectives--particularly to see what Dick believed of them.
The story itself is fun and interesting. It poses many ethical questions about humanity, and doesn't seek to answer them, but instead make you think. I'm excited to read more about the book and other people's opinions.
While I absolutely think this would ruin the book, I would now love to read a chapter from one of the android's perspectives--particularly to see what Dick believed of them.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
4.5
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was spooky and good fun for a haunted house story. The very end fell a little flat for me, but only the last few pages. The actual climax and resolution were great, but I still feel like I can't give it quite 5 stars.
The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers
medium-paced
3.0
Like most people, I was pretty disappointed by the second half of this anthology. The stories about the myself titular play are unique and interesting, but the book takes a hard turn about halfway and not only forgets about the play, but it seems Chambers forgot what genre he was working with.
I recommend reading about the first half. The second half is better if you like romance, but even then, it's not very good romance...
I recommend reading about the first half. The second half is better if you like romance, but even then, it's not very good romance...
The Shining by Stephen King
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
2.0
THE SHINING ends on a surprisingly strong and face-paced note given how much of a slog the rest of the book felt like.
Stephen King, at times, has very strong prose and vivid exposition, but he weakens his own tension with odd breaks in the middle of sentences. They're jarring and while I can see how they would serve the story, it's too often and drew me out of the story.
Then his tendency to go too far into the weird (often concerning nudity--sometimes with children) was also extremely unsettling in a way that didn't feel like it served the book. Unsettling in a way that made me question his decisions as an author, not unsettling in a way they left me creeped out. I even had a scene I loved and felt spooked by ruined by him going too far.
The book also aged very poorly with ample use of the n-word and some other slurs. I don't believe any of the usage was out of a personal racism he felt, but his attempt at writing a Black man while being a bit out of touch. I would be curious to hear a Black person's perspective on it, however.
Women are disproportionately objectified.
Much of the story felt like he didn't know where it was going, particularly in the middle. Luckily, many elements he seeded early were brought together at the end, but other elements sprinkled throughout felt like they could have been foreshadowed better.
He jumps perspectives too much. Some of the ending's tension was lost on me because of that, in fact.
I think a lot could have been cut from this book to create something solid, but it's too long and there are too many moments where the tension is ruined.
Final Verdict: Had I not been reading this for something, I would have DNFed.
Stephen King, at times, has very strong prose and vivid exposition, but he weakens his own tension with odd breaks in the middle of sentences. They're jarring and while I can see how they would serve the story, it's too often and drew me out of the story.
Then his tendency to go too far into the weird (often concerning nudity--sometimes with children) was also extremely unsettling in a way that didn't feel like it served the book. Unsettling in a way that made me question his decisions as an author, not unsettling in a way they left me creeped out. I even had a scene I loved and felt spooked by ruined by him going too far.
The book also aged very poorly with ample use of the n-word and some other slurs. I don't believe any of the usage was out of a personal racism he felt, but his attempt at writing a Black man while being a bit out of touch. I would be curious to hear a Black person's perspective on it, however.
Women are disproportionately objectified.
Much of the story felt like he didn't know where it was going, particularly in the middle. Luckily, many elements he seeded early were brought together at the end, but other elements sprinkled throughout felt like they could have been foreshadowed better.
He jumps perspectives too much. Some of the ending's tension was lost on me because of that, in fact.
I think a lot could have been cut from this book to create something solid, but it's too long and there are too many moments where the tension is ruined.
Final Verdict: Had I not been reading this for something, I would have DNFed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Blood, Violence, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
This book got a bit too fantasy for me. it's my fault, but I went in expecting more of a horror. I'll need to try it again in a different mind set.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a way of writing books that are much more than a story. I admire her ability to weave real, historical tension and conflict with plots that draw the reader in and sweep them away to another world.
She writes complicated, imperfect characters who are still loveable, and terrible characters the reader can see through well before naive and kindhearted characters.
Her stories get under the skin but poses humor and joy too, all while being easy to read.
I highly recommend The Daughter of Doctor Moreau for fans of Mexican Gothic, or for people looking to dip their toe into Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work. It lacks the bone chilling horror of Mexican Gothic, which still have similar characters and difficult themes, yet the story is completely and entirely unique.
A must read for Silvia Moreno-Garcia's fans.
She writes complicated, imperfect characters who are still loveable, and terrible characters the reader can see through well before naive and kindhearted characters.
Her stories get under the skin but poses humor and joy too, all while being easy to read.
I highly recommend The Daughter of Doctor Moreau for fans of Mexican Gothic, or for people looking to dip their toe into Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work. It lacks the bone chilling horror of Mexican Gothic, which still have similar characters and difficult themes, yet the story is completely and entirely unique.
A must read for Silvia Moreno-Garcia's fans.