its_naman's reviews
80 reviews

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

I'm DONE. Thanks to Southern Reach, I'm definitely not reading any book series for a LONG while. This book has nothing to interest you, to keep you reading further. So many questions were left unanswered and I feel cheated. 

You're better off spending time watching a sack of potatoes instead of reading whatever this is.

Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

Given how good Annihilation was, I was aware that I was setting myself up for disappointment when I started reading this book. I was right. I don't know if it's fair to judge it comparatively to its predecessor or view it as an independent work, because if it's the latter, I would have probably rated it a bit higher.

Annihilation was an adrenaline fueled rush and this one is more laid-back, taking its time for a buildup. I usually don't have a problem with these type of books as I'm very patient, but unlike its predecessor it didn't make me feel like frantically searching for answers. In fact, I'm having doubts about starting the third book.

You get a glimpse of how good this book could be when

Control finds Whitby's paintings on the wall

and

later when Area X expanded to Southern Reach.

These scenes made me hold my breath, terrified me and for a moment, convinced me it's as good as the first one. Unfortunately, the slow pace with an incompatible protagonist took away all my interest from this trilogy.

I'll, however, read Acceptance anyway to satisfy the curiousity I once had.

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

dark 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 is definitely the most tense book I've ever read. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time promising myself I'll get up after finishing this chapter.  Never has a book ever made me so excited yet nervous for what's to come next.

All the time I'd been reading it, I experienced the ominous presence lurking in the dark just like the narrator. I shared her fear, her panic and her suspicions. I felt like I was in the Area X and could not wait to get all the answers and get out.

The author did a brilliant job in shaking my nerves. He gave me one of my best and most haunting reads ever. An unsettling experience.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark emotional 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

4.75

One of the best works I've ever read! The way Dostoevsky captures the loneliness of a man, his desire to be loved, his desperate attempts to please - it's so heart touching. 

Fyodor really makes his characters go through some tragic shit.

To give him all his happiness for one moment, then suddenly take it all away the next..

He really makes you root for them, no matter how terrible their actions are (*cough* Crime and Punishment *cough*). 

If you're someone who's easily intimdated by the size of Russian Classics, you should definitely check this out.

Lord Arthur Savile's Crime by Oscar Wilde

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

I always found the sheer stupidity of Oscar Wilde's characters to be very anger inducing rather than funny (except The Canterville Ghost, that shit was hilarious!). That's not a bad thing, though. 

This short story is no different. The titular character, Lord Arthur Savile is an insufferable man who, like many stupid people, thinks his brain is overflowing with common sense. Like all other works of Wilde, the story starts with a very interesting premise and it's sort of difficult to predict where things are heading. And the ending leaves you reflecting for days..

I love Wilde's writing style, how he throws the most profound things in the most casual manner. 

The world is a stage. But the play is badly cast.

Never in my life have I been disappointed by an Oscar Wilde book.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous tense 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

3.25

Let me begin by saying that I understand that this book may not have been written for me. I like stories that are grounded, focus on the human psyche, its complexities and beauties. Six of Crows had a slow and confusing start, in my opinion. I was completely unfamiliar with the Grishaverse or the world building. But once the things started making sense, I was hooked.

At first, the characters seemed to be shallow and insufferable. But once we were presented with their backstories, I could understand their actions better, especially Kaz's. Also, I think it greatly helped that the book was written from multiple POVs. It really helped me to warm my feelings for everyone. (I initially wanted Nina and Matthias to just kill each other so that they can be done with their drama and let the plot progress.)

The story has a lot of tense moments which completely grab your attention. However, that, according to me, does not eventually work out in its favour. The first time I saw Kaz in danger, I couldn't wait to see how he got out of this mess. I was very impressed with the way he saved himself. Since that incident, everytime a character was involved in a life threatening situation, (a) it was revealed that it was actually a part of the plan, (b) their homies would magically appear from nowhere to save them. What I initially found genius had me rolling my eyes later. So, when a character I liked was just about to die and survived by some miracle for the 416th time, I found myself whispering 'Oh, please.' in exasperation.

I'd say this would have been a great read if Leigh Bardugo hadn't put the characters in dangers every 2 pages and found a way to rescue them 2 paragraphs later. The pacing, however, is great. Despite this book being longer than my average reads, it never dragged. The characters are complex and lovable.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

We just want to live. If anyone would let us.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.

Beautifully written, this is just not the right time to read it

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

adventurous tense 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

May the odds be in your favour

Having watched the movie before, I've been avoiding to read this book for years. I finally read it when I found it was the only decent book in a university library I was visiting. I should've read it way earlier because I was missing out on such a good story!!

In my opinion, the book does a lot better job to capture the characters' emotions, the violence, the conflict inside Katniss - can she trust 'the boy with the bread' or is he a wolf in sheep's clothing scheming against her while playing innocent?

I sure as hell wasn't ready for the sheer bloodbath and brutality of the games. Nothing could have prepared me for

Cato's death. It's going to stay with me for a while, unnerving me whenever I think of it.

If, like me previously, you think that the books don't have anything new to offer, trust me you'll be proven wrong. It's a fast paced, bloody story that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Give it a chance!