paperindy's reviews
179 reviews
Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Heartstopper: Volume Three is another instalment of this very sweet and cheesy series. I really enjoyed the school trip context, and the illustrations capture so well the excitement and tension of sharing cabins and bus seats and being in your own little bubble of people for a few days.
Overall, a good instalment to the series and I’ll definitely pick up the fourth to return to these characters and see where the next chapter takes them.
Spoiler
The exploration of the continual coming-out that Nick and Charlie have to do was insightful and an interesting focus for this chapter. Tao and Elle were also a sweet side-plot, but I did not love the teacher plot line and it really broke me out of the otherwise believable rhythms of young love and high school dynamics. This series is cheesy-bordering-on-cringe for me, depending on the mood I’m in when reading, but for the most part it is heartwarming and comforting.Overall, a good instalment to the series and I’ll definitely pick up the fourth to return to these characters and see where the next chapter takes them.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The White Tiger was an enjoyable and engaging read but it didn’t grab me as much as I’d hoped. I did really enjoy the insights this novel has to offer on class and caste, wealth, corruption, democracy and can really see how and why it made waves in 2008.
I thought the author does a fantastic job of creating India, and placing you there amidst the smells and the chaos and the life. But it was a bit hard to get around the androcentric focus of discussion and pretty crap attitude towards women throughout the whole thing, which I understood as a reflection of the culture but left me feeling pretty yuck.
My experience was also likely influenced by my recent read of 2021 novel ‘How To Kidnap the Rich’, an Indian satire with similar tone and commentary (which has clearly been inspired by this novel). Reading these two novels close together somewhat diminished the otherwise refreshing style of writing and description The White Tiger would have to offer.
Overall this is a fast paced and engaging read, compelling in its premise and descriptions. If you think you wouldn’t be bothered by my above gripes, I’d definitely recommend this for anyone wanting a gripping and insightful novel full of fury and energy.
I thought the author does a fantastic job of creating India, and placing you there amidst the smells and the chaos and the life. But it was a bit hard to get around the androcentric focus of discussion and pretty crap attitude towards women throughout the whole thing, which I understood as a reflection of the culture but left me feeling pretty yuck.
My experience was also likely influenced by my recent read of 2021 novel ‘How To Kidnap the Rich’, an Indian satire with similar tone and commentary (which has clearly been inspired by this novel). Reading these two novels close together somewhat diminished the otherwise refreshing style of writing and description The White Tiger would have to offer.
Overall this is a fast paced and engaging read, compelling in its premise and descriptions. If you think you wouldn’t be bothered by my above gripes, I’d definitely recommend this for anyone wanting a gripping and insightful novel full of fury and energy.
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Okay this was really fun. I’m getting a lot more into these characters and the world overall, and thoroughly enjoying having this series to escape into.
This book gives you more of that surprising darkness SJM weaves through her novels. The true picture of grief and full range of emotions the characters feel and display really ground this story and I think is one of the reasons her worlds are so magnetic, even if they lack in other areas.
I saw the twist/reveal at the end coming from a long way out, but whether that’s from not being the targeted demographic orrrr from all the hints you get online, I’m not sure. That being said, it was still really fun to see the characters figure it out and to pick up on the hints along the way.
There were a few passages that were so unbelievably repetitive I was surprised they weren’t picked up in editing, and I still don’t fully get Dorian’s character - he just seems a bit meh - but this book at least gave him something a bit more interesting going on.
Overall - a great time was had and I’m really keen to get stuck into the next one, which is always a good sign!
This book gives you more of that surprising darkness SJM weaves through her novels. The true picture of grief and full range of emotions the characters feel and display really ground this story and I think is one of the reasons her worlds are so magnetic, even if they lack in other areas.
I saw the twist/reveal at the end coming from a long way out, but whether that’s from not being the targeted demographic orrrr from all the hints you get online, I’m not sure. That being said, it was still really fun to see the characters figure it out and to pick up on the hints along the way.
There were a few passages that were so unbelievably repetitive I was surprised they weren’t picked up in editing, and I still don’t fully get Dorian’s character - he just seems a bit meh - but this book at least gave him something a bit more interesting going on.
Overall - a great time was had and I’m really keen to get stuck into the next one, which is always a good sign!
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Frankenstein is an impressive classic that manages to hold up over 200 years later. This is brilliant, immersive, horrifying and tense. It has nuanced and wonderful observations of character and so many rich themes to explore on the topics of creation, life, humanity, love.
I found Victor himself to be frustrating and slightly arrogant, and had far more pity for Frankenstein’s creation, monster though he was. But the complexity of the characters and the enthralling story is really what makes this such a brilliant and influential work.
I saw another review that called a “a flawed masterpiece but definitely more masterpiece than flawed” and I think that sums it up perfectly. There are of course a few moments that have dated over the past couple of centuries, but this is completely worth your time. I highly recommend the reading by Dan Stevens whose narration was so immersive, gripping and brought out all the life and tension and sorrow of this story. I absolutely loved it.
I found Victor himself to be frustrating and slightly arrogant, and had far more pity for Frankenstein’s creation, monster though he was. But the complexity of the characters and the enthralling story is really what makes this such a brilliant and influential work.
I saw another review that called a “a flawed masterpiece but definitely more masterpiece than flawed” and I think that sums it up perfectly. There are of course a few moments that have dated over the past couple of centuries, but this is completely worth your time. I highly recommend the reading by Dan Stevens whose narration was so immersive, gripping and brought out all the life and tension and sorrow of this story. I absolutely loved it.
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
Bewilderment is a commentary on the current state of the world, told through the story of a widowed Dad and his 9-year-old son who undergoes a new therapy for behavioural management.
There was a lot I liked about this story. I thought Theo and Robin were great characters, and I enjoyed watching Robin’s development over the course of the book, and Theo’s insights as he muddled through parenting with the ghost of his wife. I really loved the interweaving of science and science fiction, the comfort that was found from imagining other worlds and the importance of being able to do that for grappling with the state of our own world.
I couldn’t quite suspend my disbelief of the therapy method (and being able to summon someone’s essence through training to their brain scan) so I struggled a little bit with that element of the novel. But overall I thought this book had a good mix of character, plot, and insight. It was an honest portrayal of the current world’s trajectory, and a moving exploration of empathy and loss and solace within that.
There was a lot I liked about this story. I thought Theo and Robin were great characters, and I enjoyed watching Robin’s development over the course of the book, and Theo’s insights as he muddled through parenting with the ghost of his wife. I really loved the interweaving of science and science fiction, the comfort that was found from imagining other worlds and the importance of being able to do that for grappling with the state of our own world.
I couldn’t quite suspend my disbelief of the therapy method (and being able to summon someone’s essence through training to their brain scan) so I struggled a little bit with that element of the novel. But overall I thought this book had a good mix of character, plot, and insight. It was an honest portrayal of the current world’s trajectory, and a moving exploration of empathy and loss and solace within that.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
challenging
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
This was such an unexpectedly inspiring book. Big Magic talks about why and how to live a creative life. It is for professional creators, sure, but mostly it’s for anyone who likes to make things, professional or not.
Gilbert offers a frank perspective on being creative as a practice, a habit, a privilege, a joy. She shares the belief that making art is one of deep commitment with serious impact that speaks to the very nature of the human soul, and also that it really doesn’t matter at the end of the day and tells you to not take it so seriously, people. This balance of serious and not-serious is so wonderfully kept up throughout the book.
This book really helped me reflect on why I like to take pictures of books stacked amongst pretty things, to paint sunflowers on to-do lists, to dress up and wear lipstick, to plate my food in fun ways, to dance in the bathroom, to do singing lessons just to sing, to draw someone’s portrait just because, to write random snippets when the mood strikes. It was a reminder that being human is being creative and how lucky are we to have that?
The audiobook was brilliant. Funny, friendly, with great tone and good tips. Big Magic makes you want to steal fifteen minutes in a stairwell to make out with your art. It reminds you that curiosity is more reliable than passion. That your ego is a great servant and a terrible master. That it doesn’t matter if your creativity is a side hobby that doesn’t pay the bills - it’s still worth doing. And above all, making things should be done because it’s fun and you like it.
Overall it argues that a creative life is a life lived well, and I so wholeheartedly agree. This is highly recommended for anyone who likes to create or make at any level, it will kick your creative gears back into drive and open your heart up to welcome inspiration however it might arrive.
Gilbert offers a frank perspective on being creative as a practice, a habit, a privilege, a joy. She shares the belief that making art is one of deep commitment with serious impact that speaks to the very nature of the human soul, and also that it really doesn’t matter at the end of the day and tells you to not take it so seriously, people. This balance of serious and not-serious is so wonderfully kept up throughout the book.
This book really helped me reflect on why I like to take pictures of books stacked amongst pretty things, to paint sunflowers on to-do lists, to dress up and wear lipstick, to plate my food in fun ways, to dance in the bathroom, to do singing lessons just to sing, to draw someone’s portrait just because, to write random snippets when the mood strikes. It was a reminder that being human is being creative and how lucky are we to have that?
The audiobook was brilliant. Funny, friendly, with great tone and good tips. Big Magic makes you want to steal fifteen minutes in a stairwell to make out with your art. It reminds you that curiosity is more reliable than passion. That your ego is a great servant and a terrible master. That it doesn’t matter if your creativity is a side hobby that doesn’t pay the bills - it’s still worth doing. And above all, making things should be done because it’s fun and you like it.
Overall it argues that a creative life is a life lived well, and I so wholeheartedly agree. This is highly recommended for anyone who likes to create or make at any level, it will kick your creative gears back into drive and open your heart up to welcome inspiration however it might arrive.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a lovely little novella tucked into a world of surprising richness for its length. The Empress of Salt and Fortune is story-within-a-story set in a vivid fantastical world that reveals itself as it goes.
I think the blurb is a little overexcited calling this an indictment of monarchy, but nonetheless it is an interesting story of power and dynasty, that unravels layers of intrigue and does leave you wanting for more knowledge about this world.
There was at times a distinct allegory-type feel to the writing which I’m not entirely sure how I felt about. I admittedly got a bit lost occasionally in what exactly Rabbit was asking if we understood (although I was admittedly reading it in between naps so it might have just been my tired brain.)
Overall, worth the read, potentially worth a re-read, and I will happily pick up the next in the series too.
I think the blurb is a little overexcited calling this an indictment of monarchy, but nonetheless it is an interesting story of power and dynasty, that unravels layers of intrigue and does leave you wanting for more knowledge about this world.
There was at times a distinct allegory-type feel to the writing which I’m not entirely sure how I felt about. I admittedly got a bit lost occasionally in what exactly Rabbit was asking if we understood (although I was admittedly reading it in between naps so it might have just been my tired brain.)
Overall, worth the read, potentially worth a re-read, and I will happily pick up the next in the series too.
See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Violence by Jess Hill
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This was a powerful, honest, raw look at domestic abuse in Australia that was told with such incredible feeling, empathy and intelligence. Jess Hill turned over so many stones in writing this book to look at what lived in the dark places underneath, and then stepped back to look at the foundations that have allowed this issue to fester.
This is one of the best structured non-fiction books I’ve read. Each chapter, themed and informative, builds upon the previous in a way that leaves you with a feeling of a broad reaching overview of domestic abuse and takes you on a real journey through the topic.
She covers everything from the complex factors underpinning “women who stay” and confrontingly empathetic investigation into the psyche of men who abuse, to the messy intersection of children, custody and the law, to the impact of colonialisation on abuse rates in Indigenous communities - and more.
But she doesn’t just look at the problem, she looks at the problems in trying to address the problem - why there aren’t tangible metrics set against policy goals around domestic abuse? What programs have worked? Why? How can we learn from them at a bigger scale? How can we can use the knowledge discussed in this book to talk more openly and empathetically about addressing this serious issue in our country?
Peppered with real stories, interviews, research, critique - this was a highly insightful, gripping, important read and just so, so well done.
This is one of the best structured non-fiction books I’ve read. Each chapter, themed and informative, builds upon the previous in a way that leaves you with a feeling of a broad reaching overview of domestic abuse and takes you on a real journey through the topic.
She covers everything from the complex factors underpinning “women who stay” and confrontingly empathetic investigation into the psyche of men who abuse, to the messy intersection of children, custody and the law, to the impact of colonialisation on abuse rates in Indigenous communities - and more.
But she doesn’t just look at the problem, she looks at the problems in trying to address the problem - why there aren’t tangible metrics set against policy goals around domestic abuse? What programs have worked? Why? How can we learn from them at a bigger scale? How can we can use the knowledge discussed in this book to talk more openly and empathetically about addressing this serious issue in our country?
Peppered with real stories, interviews, research, critique - this was a highly insightful, gripping, important read and just so, so well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a deeply poetic reflection on a life I assume inspired by the author's own. Done in the form of a letter, Vuong flips between second and third person as he reveals and muses upon the people and relationships he was raised amidst as a queer Vietnamese man in small town America.
There was some stunning, reflective moments in this and beautiful descriptions of people, places and events in this novel. Vuong's writing is filled with vivid imagery and nuanced and insightful moments of comparison. The experiences he articulates are complex, interesting, and worth telling.
I did feel the poetic elements were sometimes too heavy handed for my taste, some of the writing was slightly too drenched in figurative devices and the weight of some seriously beautiful lines and observations weren't given quite enough breathing space. There is an art to the balance of poetic and prosaic that I think this book doesn't quite hit perfectly, making it more a collection of compelling observations and stitched together themes and stories rather than a truly wonderful novel.
That being said, this is worth the read if you enjoy poetic musing. It is more than briefly gorgeous, it is endlessly packed with intimate, vulnerable and delicate insights with a beautifully unique perspective on it all.
There was some stunning, reflective moments in this and beautiful descriptions of people, places and events in this novel. Vuong's writing is filled with vivid imagery and nuanced and insightful moments of comparison. The experiences he articulates are complex, interesting, and worth telling.
I did feel the poetic elements were sometimes too heavy handed for my taste, some of the writing was slightly too drenched in figurative devices and the weight of some seriously beautiful lines and observations weren't given quite enough breathing space. There is an art to the balance of poetic and prosaic that I think this book doesn't quite hit perfectly, making it more a collection of compelling observations and stitched together themes and stories rather than a truly wonderful novel.
That being said, this is worth the read if you enjoy poetic musing. It is more than briefly gorgeous, it is endlessly packed with intimate, vulnerable and delicate insights with a beautifully unique perspective on it all.
Paper Girls, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An intriguing start to this series. This is a super cool concept and I’m a sucker for anything ‘80s, so I really like the premise so far and there’s so much that can be done with time travel. The art is absolutely stunning (especially the colour work) which makes this a pleasure to flick through.
I hope we get a bit more out of all the characters in the future volumes but so far a really great first volume.
I hope we get a bit more out of all the characters in the future volumes but so far a really great first volume.