thealbapoems's reviews
106 reviews

God Complex by Rachael Allen

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

This collection had some brilliant lines and striking poems. I enjoyed the weaving of the narrative, and the recurring motifs to give continuity. Allen’s voice reminded me of Diane Seuss, maybe the theme of grief and love is to blame for this. Will be re-reading these poems again. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

This is a book I had been meaning to read for a while, it’s good, entertaining, and left me thinking about the plot when I put it down. I can see why it’s such a classic in schools, but I think I read it a little too late. The writing style reflects the narrator, but I couldn’t help thinking that it might have not been entirely deliberate, seeing as Hinton was 17 when she wrote it. 

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Unfortunately, my edition was a misprint, so my experience was hindered by missing pages. Overall, I find Woolf’s writing enjoyable, and the character of Orlando with all their loves and ambitions very interesting. It’s hard to believe this book was written in 1928. I watched a documentary about Woolf and they said that this book was really one long love letter to her lesbian lover Vita Sackville, and that’s how I’d like to remember it. 

La península de las casas vacías by David Uclés

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

What a beautiful, jarring, painful, wonderful book. The best book on the Spanish Civil War I’ve read by far. It follows the lives of the Ardolento family throughout the war, in a country where there’s a God and a narrator, and the war is dictated by a chess game buried in Tenerife. Uclés has a masterful control of magical realism and manages to bring the joy of fantasy into the horrors of war. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. 

Akira, Vol. 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This is the first time I have read manga, and it’s only the first volume (out of 7?) but I don’t think I will be reading more of them. While I do enjoy anime, I don’t think manga is for me, even if I do appreciate the beautiful panels and obviously the storytelling. I’m excited to watch the movie after this one! 

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

dark emotional reflective medium-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

3.0

Paul Lynch’s style jars in the first two chapters, but very quickly the reader realizes that it perfectly suits the atmosphere of the novel. Prophet Song is a haunting exploration of a country at war with itself  through the lens of a family that is slowly torn apart. Extremely well written, it feels real and makes the reader want to personally drag Eilish out of the country. What I liked the most was the fact that it made me see for the first time, the reasons why people don’t leave their homes even when their lives are at risk. Before this book I hadn't considered the implications and family ties, it does this in a more efficient way than maybe Half of a Yellow Sun. There are moments when the writing feels almost superficial, but it does fit with the overwhelmed mental state of the protagonist, so it could have been intentional. Overall this is a very interesting dive into a crumbling country and its victims. 

Platinum Blonde by Phoebe Stuckes

emotional fast-paced

2.5

The best poem is the first one. I liked the imagery, but sometimes the poems felt too cliché. Would read other work by her though!

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

A very interesting take on women’s reproductive rights and bodies. Grounded by complex female characters and their entangled relationships, the cities, and the weather. Something about the style felt a bit superficial to me, particularly in the first half of the book, but it still made me think and reflect, which I enjoyed. Not dense, but definitely not actioned packed, it almost reads like a prolonged reflection. The scene that stuck with me the most is

when Midoriko and Mikako have their fight leading to their reconciliation and start breaking eggs on their forehead. Everything about that image was absolutely haunting, the way Midoriko has to channel her pain and her love and frustration towards her mom, and how she, in turn, replies the same way. Something about the desperation struck a chord with me.

I liked it, but I think it might be overrated. 

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I have read some other Russian classics and honestly didn’t love them, but there is something about Dostoyevski’s writing style in this that is very engaging. The female characters in it are quite interesting, and it is surprising how he manages to keep the reader’s attention even when the crime has been comitted. As always the whole complication of the Russian names is annoying, but just something that you have to take as a given. I didn’t love the book, but it’s one of those that you just have to read.

Down the Drain by Julia Fox

dark sad fast-paced

2.0

This is an entertaining but not challenging book. At times it reads like it hasn't been edited, but despite this the voice comes through and the reader is able to enjoy (if that’s the right word) Julia’s story. What I liked the most about this book is the fact that she doesn’t try to make herself look good. She is unlikable and shows the ugly, dark truth, which is what saves the book. I didn’t know much about Julia Fox, but now I want to keep up with whatever she’s up to.