our24oclock's reviews
20 reviews

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

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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

4.25

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.25

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

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

2.75

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

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5.0

Rating: 9.5/10

Looking at the dog-eared edges of my copy of Pride and Prejudice, anyone would think me a devoted fan of it, but really the worn edges are the result of it being tossed around in my backpack where it has spent most of its time under my ownership, collecting dust. The first time I tried reading this novel, I was in middle school. I found it to be a hard and tedious read with language I didn’t comprehend. I tried again sometime two years ago, but that didn’t go well either. It’s very easy to understand why some people might pick up this book only to not finish it and never pick it up again, but after giving this book a third chance, I can’t help but say that it is one of the best books I’ve ever read. (Not that that says much, I haven’t read properly since middle school.) Even now, I don’t think I grasped the true, full complexity of it. Not only is the story enjoyable, but Austen’s beautiful writing teaches a lesson everyone should learn.

Austen not only speaks of pride and prejudice but also humility and dignity. One of my favorite quotes from the book, from Mr. Darcy himself, is about humility.

“Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It’s often only carelessness of opinion and sometimes an indirect boast.”

Mr. Darcy’s image to society shows the cons of being arrogant and prideful, as many assumed him to be because of his behavior at social functions. Elizabeth’s prejudices against him show how easy it is to let our first impressions and judgments take charge of our attitude towards a person. However, false humility is the biggest and worst result of pride.

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy both have major flaws and struggle against each other because of them. Their growth as characters leads to their romance. They naturally begin to respect each other and reflect upon their own behavior and past mistakes. Pride and Prejudice is known as the blueprint for the popular enemies-to-lovers trope, but different from modern-day enemies-to-lovers, Austen focused more on each individual’s personal development rather than their direct relationships with each other. This blueprint is yet to be surpassed.

After realizing her mistakes, Elizabeth was courageous enough to admit to them and apologize. She carried herself in a dignified manner even in uncomfortable situations. She was a delightful character and both her and Darcy were relatable. Although this story takes place in a different time with different traditions, the main lessons still apply today, dubbing it a classic for all time. (Cheesy I know, but true.)

- Sun