tea_with_tigers2024's reviews
12 reviews

Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan

sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Hope Not Fear by Hassan Akkad

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Violence, and Police brutality

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I've read this novella twice now, and the second reading was just as frustrating as the first.  I've also seen the films with Anthony Quinn, and Spencer Tracy.
The frustration lies with the main character, Santiago, an old, yet strong of body fisherman.  His mission to break his unlucky streak of harvesting no fish for 84 days, results in his going out as far as he can to to find that yield.  He eventually catches a huge marlin, and the story focuses on his brutal battle to kill it.  

Reading this story through a modern day lens (and with thoughts of The Faroe Islands 'The Grind', in mind) , there were many times I just wished he would give up, and let the fish go.  But, I guess the point of the story was to deal with themes of man's dominance over nature, and man's dominion over himself.  I couldn't help, but see it as a story of ego.  Santiago has nostalgia for his past, when he was a 'somebody' of note, and maybe he was holding on to that; to be respected still by the townspeople, the little boy Manolin, who greatly looks up to him, and himself.  I guess, The Old Man And The Sea, is a story of endurance, winning, loss, against the odds, and consequence too.  Seems to me, in order for Santiago to feel a sense of respect, or pride in himself, a lot of living things had to die.

The Luminaries, Volume 3: The Psychology of the Sun and Moon in the Horoscope, Vol 3 by Liz Greene, Sasportas

informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

5.0

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

5.0

Playing the Fool by Colin a. Low

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.5

I came to this book after watching the author's tarot videos on YouTube (which are a fantastic resource for anyone interested in tarot).  This is an adventurous, reflective and sometimes humorous story, of the main character, The Fool's', journey and meetings with a variety of people, that have something to teach The Fool.  Upon completing it, I felt I missed her company.

This is not a book to learn tarot from, it's more of a philosophical story that utilises the familiar major arcana cards.

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

funny lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

All good books, must come to an end. 
A long-time fan of John Steinbeck, Cannery Row is this perfect, relatively short story, of friendship, kindness, and the flaws of humans.  It is dark, it is light, reflective and sometimes humorous.  I loved it!

Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth by Benebell Wen

informative medium-paced

5.0

A phenomenal resource, essential for those interested in the tarot.  Combined with Benebell's channel, this book becomes essential for learning tarot history, and different versions of historical tarot decks.

The Secret of Scent: Adventures in Perfume and the Science of Smell by Luca Turin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

When the author is talking about our relationship to scent, the writing is almost poetic, and I wish there was more of that. The science part of scent is informative and interesting, but if you're not into chemistry, you can feel a little bit lost in most of those chapters.