maxsebastian's reviews
218 reviews

Towers of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Perhaps the most action packed entry in the series, The Towers of Midnight is a fantastic penultimate book in The Wheel of Time series. While it is a little slow in the first third of the book, its pacing skyrocketed towards the end, concluding on a series of cliffhangers that lead right in to the final book in the series.

While the previous book centered on Rand's development, The Towers of Midnight develops a range of other members of the cast. While I missed Rand, I felt renewed interest for characters that had previously been uninteresting, particularly Perrin and Elayne. 

The Towers of Midnight contains moment after moment of payoff for events set up as early as the fifth book in the series. There were some fantastic beats in this story, and I'm starting to feel a bit sad that I've only got one book left. 

A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry by Charles Dickens

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

A Christmas Carol is a lovely Christmas story. Told in the old tradition of sharing a ghost story by the Yule log, A Christmas Carol illustrates how while Christmas traditions have changed, the heart of them are much the same as they were in Dickens's day.

In some sense, this story is incredibly simple. A man, perhaps the original Grinch, doesn't believe in the magic of Christmas until events unfold to change his perspective. Where A Christmas Carol succeeds, however, is how effectively Dickens conveys that message.

Each Ghost is unique and serves a particular point in developing Scrooge's character, for example.

This story is also very short, a fact that often goes understated. Tim Curry's narration is just spot on in this edition too.

As Christmas approaches, I strongly believe that A Christmas Carol should go on your holiday reading list, alongside stories like Santaland Diaries, A Christmas Memory, and The Nutcracker. 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.5

While this story is my childhood favorite of the Harry Potter series, I found it slightly less compelling on a re-read. Although Harry's anger at the beginning of the book feels in character given the events at the end of The Goblet of Fire, it can be grating. More frustratingly, this book just drags a little in the middle. 

That's about all the negatives, though. The Order of the Phoenix develops the most compelling villain of the series, Dolores Umbridge, establishes some great inter-house co-operation in the titular order, and dives into the psyche of several central characters, including illustrating the complex but ultimately beautiful relationship between Harry and Sirius

before he tragic death, that is

. The ending of this book is beautifully done and the department of mysteries, as illustrated on the original American hardcover, is as alluring today as ever. There's a reason the adaptation takes so many lines from this book verbatim: the dialogue is excellent. 

This book gets dark for our heroes, but there are also real moments of joy. Hogwarts is still a magical place, but the underlying tensions are becoming all the more apparent. In this way, Rowling effectively tells a self contained middle book within the fold of the series.

The Gathering Storm by Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

Ok wow. I've got a new favorite Wheel of Time book. With 11 (plus a prequel) books of buildup, The Gathering Storm does really feel like the beginning of the final act of this series. By resolving a few key plot lines that had been stagnant

(namely, that of the reunification of the White Tower)

, providing answers to mysteries that extend to the earliest entries in the series

(Verin is indeed black Ajah but not in the way you think)

, and focusing on characterization of its leads, The Gathering Storm is the first Wheel of Time book I've read that has kept me up late reading and made me need to start the next book right away.

While the book feels like a Robert Jordan story (Brandon Sanderson even includes some traits I wish he wouldn't, like the repeated use of the braid tugging and arm crossing), Brandon Sanderson makes a few small changes in The Gathering Storm that really improved my reading experience. In addition to concluding certain plot lines and opening up new exciting mysteries, Sanderson does a wonderful job balancing point of view chapters (mostly alternating, occasionally holding to the same POV for multiple chapters at moments of high tension), which make the book flow far better. Sanderson also does an incredible job with Jordan's characters. Egwene and Rand particularly shine in The Gathering Storm. 

It is finally hit me that I only have two books left in this adventure. While it's exciting to realize how far I have traveled with these characters, it is a little hard to imagine this series ending.

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

Knife of Dreams, in addition to having a truly fantastic title, does feel like a return to form for Robert Jordan. With conclusions to many of the overarching arcs in the infamous slog,

Perrin and Faile reuniting, Elayne getting control of Andor, the cleansing of siadin, Tuon acknowledging Mat as her husband, the White Tower (making strides towards) being reunited(?)

, Jordan drew me back into caring about the arcs of most (emphasis on the most) of his main characters. 

While there are still some pitfalls that this story falls into around pacing and questions I have about POV balance, Jordan left me surprised and creeped out with the end of this story. I'm sad I won't get another book written completely by him in this universe.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

The Goblet of Fire is another Harry Potter book that inspires the same level of wonder and surprise it did when I first read it. While J.K. Rowling continues to fall into some of her common pitfalls (

I mean come ON Voldemort, there had to be an easier way to get Harry to you than entering him illegally into a year long tournament in hopes that he would win and touch a portkey...this plot has always felt very Dr. Evil-like to me

), the magical feeling she is able to give the Wizarding World is near-unparalleled in fantasy. 

Particularly, The Goblet of Fire gives a great view into Harry growing up. From developing crushes to finding real family with the Weasleys, this entry makes you feel that Harry is beginning to heal from previous childhood trauma.

That is, until Wormtail, a character he let walk free, murders Cedric Diggory in front of him.

 

The end of this story is a rollercoaster, setting up what's to come in the final 3 books in the story. The Goblet of Fire begins a trend towards a darker, teenage tone, aging our story as Harry begins to grow up. 

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

The Ministry for the Future is a terrifying look at what the world make look like in 10-15 years. While there's hope, this book starts off really depressing and stays that way for much of its page count. Robinson is an expert in climate science, and it shows. His knowledge of how diverse topics, from glaciology to carbon economics, could affect the outcome of the climate crisis is stunning.

While a fascinating glimpse into our future, this book struggles narratively. While there are a few main characters, many of the chapters are either from the perspective of someone you never hear from again or are an explanation of one of the climate science ideas Robinson wants to discuss. This structure is frustrating to read as often as soon as some plot point begins to build momentum, Robinson shifts focus to a different topic. That said, I don't think I've ever read a book that covered such a diverse array of perspectives. Robinson switches between first person, third, first personal plural, and explanatory sections with ease, and I surprised myself by finding these pages fairly easy to turn despite the narrative hump. 

There's a reason Kim Stanley Robinson is lauded as one of the best climate writers out there. Reading The Ministry for the Future requires patience and critical thinking. While at times irritating, I ultimately think that is a sign of a worthy book. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

When I was little, I always said Prisoner of Azkaban was my second favorite Harry Potter novel, just short of The Order of the Phoenix. Re-entering this world, I can say there's still something really special about this story in particular. With the Harry Potter movies doing an excellent job of capturing the big plot points of this story, I think Rowling's skill at writing slice of life is a little underrated. From the focus on the Quidditch tournament to the infighting between Ron and Hermione to the perfect sequences with Harry and Lupin, there are some really spell binding moments in this story that are mostly about developing the world and characters, not pushing the plot forward. While Rowling's complexities as a writer are well on display in this novel (instances of racist stereotyping, Harry being a bit of a bland protagonist, and blatant stealing from other fantasy series being prime examples), there is still a lot to love here.

While this choice to spend much of the story focused on Hogwarts and its inhabitants daily lives instead of the rising conflict is true for many of the Harry Potter books, and is perhaps part of why some of the later entries get so long, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is probably the most unique of the books in the series for its intense focus on Harry's family and future.

This story is the only one without Voldemort in the whole series, and honestly, it's better for it. Without evil You Know Who, Harry is forced to wrestle with morally complex issues for one of the first times in the books. 

Harry is changed dramatically by the events of his third year, a fact that shows up throughout the later books.

In this read through, I listened to the story, swapping from Stephen Fry's narration to Jim Dale's partway through. While I feel both of these voice actors are excellent, there's something about Jim Dale's bombastic (and sometimes a little over dramatic) portrayals of each of the characters in this story that really just makes it come alive. Having grown up listening to the Jim Dale narration of this particular book in the series whenever I got bored, it's definitely partially nostalgia, but who cares? That's why I'm rereading these books anyways.

With the introduction of the dementors and first hints of Harry's feelings for Cho Chang,

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a triumphant entry in the Harry Potter series, beginning the books' transition from middle grade to young adult. If you weren't sold on the first two in the series, this just might be the one that convinces you to stay the course.

A Night In The Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

adventurous dark funny mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

While I don't know that I got A Night in Lonesome October, I still really liked it. Reading a chapter a day throughout the month of October was a great way to build spooky Halloween-ness. Although the plot mystifies me a little, the characters, particularly the central animals who we spend our time with, are fantastic. I'm not sure I'll read this book again next year, but I imagine if I do, I'll love it all the more. There's something very enjoyable about how this mystery unravels and the places it stays obscured. 

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-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? Yes

5.0

With the number of times I've read this story, I feel complicated about reviewing it. Instead, I just wanted to highlight three things that stood out to me this time around.

This was my first time listening to The Hobbit, and I found Andy Serkis's narration utterly charming. While his Gollum is iconic, I loved his takes on the rest of the cast as well. Serkis is really talented at both differentiating each character's voice while making the story not feel over the top. 

The Hobbit's episodic nature stands out to me more every time I read it. The fact that nearly each chapter feels like its own vignette makes for the perfect bedtime story.

As per usual, my favorite scenes have to be "An Unexpected Party," "Riddles in the Dark," and "Flies and Spiders."

 

The humor in this book is fantastic. Bilbo's asides are hilarious as are the actions and songs of the dwarfs. Humor is central to how Tolkien establishes his characters, and it works wonderfully in this story.