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sineadlily's reviews
106 reviews
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
fast-paced
2.5
I can't say I was the biggest fan of this one, though I never read it as a child, so I can only speak on my experiences having read it as an adult, without nostalgia tied to it. While it was a jolly and pretty story, I found it incredibly convoluted and complex for a children's story (published in 1908 so to be expected!). Sometimes I found it hard to visualise, perhaps due to the fast pacing of the story and also because of the overly flowery language.
There are without a doubt some really sweet sentiments/learnings/lessons about life and relationships that would bode well for children. However, it was definitely patronising in it's views of women (again published in 1908 so unfortunately not entirely unexpected) and while I can take into account the time period of which it was written, as it is a story primarily about male animals, I don't really see why it was necessary to be present. The novel can't help the time period in which it was written, but it also can't help the time period in which it is now being read.
I would be really interested to know how this story goes down with children in modern day times and whether they are still as captivated by it? I have to assume that they are, for this novel to have become a 'classic', but I think it is so incredibly of its time and so it would definitely interest me to see how children receive this book now. Personally, I wouldn't be reading it to my children, purely based on its depiction of women, which might sound extreme but I didn't think the subconscious messages it was sending were all that pleasant. Still a sweet story and I'm glad to have read it!
There are without a doubt some really sweet sentiments/learnings/lessons about life and relationships that would bode well for children. However, it was definitely patronising in it's views of women (again published in 1908 so unfortunately not entirely unexpected) and while I can take into account the time period of which it was written, as it is a story primarily about male animals, I don't really see why it was necessary to be present. The novel can't help the time period in which it was written, but it also can't help the time period in which it is now being read.
I would be really interested to know how this story goes down with children in modern day times and whether they are still as captivated by it? I have to assume that they are, for this novel to have become a 'classic', but I think it is so incredibly of its time and so it would definitely interest me to see how children receive this book now. Personally, I wouldn't be reading it to my children, purely based on its depiction of women, which might sound extreme but I didn't think the subconscious messages it was sending were all that pleasant. Still a sweet story and I'm glad to have read it!
Love Letters: Vita and Virginia by Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville-West
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book was completely beautiful and inspiring. These letters are charming, funny, lovely relics of both a deep romantic love, and a wonderful friendship that was full of the utmost respect. Reading these letters and diary entries felt just like reading a novel. Everything was written so beautifully and filled with the most vivid imagery. Not only are they heartfelt memories of two lovers, but also fascinating, purely as artifacts of history, and will be especially of interest to writers and/or readers of the works of Woolf and Sackville-West. These letters are filled with the back-stories and the writing processes of these two artist's most famous works.
It feels like I have gotten to know Woolf and Sackville-West so personally, that I have started to consider them old friends of mine. I feel that now, as I continue to make my way through their works, they will be all the more special to me.
Though I knew how this story would come to an end, I was wishing hopelessly that Virginia would not die. I cried at the end. It was utterly devastating. I didn't expect this little book to tear my heart to pieces. (But of course, I mean that in the best possible way.)
It feels like I have gotten to know Woolf and Sackville-West so personally, that I have started to consider them old friends of mine. I feel that now, as I continue to make my way through their works, they will be all the more special to me.
Though I knew how this story would come to an end, I was wishing hopelessly that Virginia would not die. I cried at the end. It was utterly devastating. I didn't expect this little book to tear my heart to pieces. (But of course, I mean that in the best possible way.)
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami
Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
I have always been a huge fan of Murakami's novels and though I'd heard controversy surrounding his depictions of women, I was either a) too young to notice these issues when reading his novels in the past or b) was yet to come across it, but alas, the time has come where I have seen it all. Honestly, I'm so upset that I wasted so much time reading 400 pages of this novel, just to realise I simply could not stand another description of a 12 year old girl's breasts. Every single male character in this novel is interesting, heroic and full of great back story, whereas every female character feels like they are simply there to propel Murakami's inappropriate fantasies. The only thing I have come to know about any of the female characters in this novel, is what their breasts look like. It got to the point where I was quite literally cringing at certain statements or passages in this book.
It is disappointing because the story line of this book was incredibly intriguing and the imagery was vivid and delightful. Murakami is an incredible author and I have enjoyed many of his novels in the past, but I fear this one might be my last.
It is disappointing because the story line of this book was incredibly intriguing and the imagery was vivid and delightful. Murakami is an incredible author and I have enjoyed many of his novels in the past, but I fear this one might be my last.