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theelliad's reviews
237 reviews
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
2.0
This book wasn’t for me, I wanted to be a Murakami girlie but maybe I just don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong this is beautifully composed, the writing style is breathtaking and their are moments of description that feel so cosy, I’m also aware that a twisted retelling of Oedipus is bound to be weird and so had an open mind going in. HOWEVER (and it’s a big however) I found so much about this problematic. 1. The way women are written, I knew going into this that it was a common criticism of Murakamis work however the blatant passive sexualisation of every female character is just uncomfortable and inexcusable, 2. leading on from that, i cannot get behind a book which has a ridiculously romanticised scene of r*pe and pages later the only acknowledgement is the main character literally stating ‘I shouldn’t of r*ped her’ (sorry if you consider that a spoiler, i think it’s something i would have liked to know in advance) that isn’t wacky that’s just wrong, 3. the plot really wasn’t as special as i expected. The middle section of the book in which the pieces fall together was certainly engaging and clever, however beyond that this really didn’t do it for me. Laced with repetitive actions and seemingly pointless pages of description this is a classic case of good concept terrible execution (and is also about 300 pages longer than it needs to be), 4. ANIMAL VIOLENCE IN THAT MUCH GRAPHIC DETAIL WAS SO UNNECESSARY literally what did the kittens do to you Murakami I am in pain still and it’s been days
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
4.5
Well ouch… Everything I never told you is a beautiful anatomy of familial love, placing siblings, parents and children at its very heart. There is something raw and real in each character and I think this story will hold a special place in my heart for time to come- strange really, it’s so simply written, the plot is free of twists and shocks, and yet it was one of the most engaging things I have read in a while!
All's Well by Mona Awad
4.0
This book entirely captured all that I love about psychological thrillers, playing on the sentiment ‘if you could pass your pain onto someone else, would you?’ there is wackiness written with such beauty it feels real, the lines are laden with ambiguity, there is shakespeare, there is the most fundamentally unlikable narrator I have ever read and yet it was genuinely such an experience to read. Was it perfect? no, but given my enjoyment of this giving it anythint less than 4* just felt wrong
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4.5
Americanah offers incredible insight into the subtle everyday racism of the world, exploring multiple perspectives and places. While the ending section, primarily consumed by different realtionships is somewhat repetitive and mundane, I found it increased the overall experience- its a book on real life and just like real life we are forced to weather the ups and downs the boring and the dramatic of finding place, purpose and people. Not to compare the two as while similar i do feel they are serving different purposes, i enjoyed this one more than white teeth- possibly due to the female perspectives being the most prominent, i found this was free of the main flaws which inhibited my enjoyment of White Teeth. I also thoroughly enjoyed the blog inclusion, they offered a perfect critical and commentary space that felt natural and informative and broke up the narrative nicely
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
4.0
This book offered a perfect blend between fantasy, realism and romantic storylines. A case study in the celebration of differences through a story of inversion, deceit, desire to survive and layers of lies. The characters are well developed and complex in ways you don’t often see and the plot is extremely engaging overall. Relationships are looked at from all angles, with deep and genuine friendship at the heart as well as the romantic storyline. I felt I had a lot in common with the main character and the gender politics and inversion in the book hits hard for anyone who has questioned their identity or felt out of place in their own skin. Was it a perfect representation of these gender ideas? No of course not, but where it differs from ✨certain other✨ similar stories within mainstream media is its issues do not cause harm, and the Zhu is ultimately unwilling to back down from what she wants regardless of expectations or experience. I do feel that the ending was slightly rushed but i believe there is a sequel and so i must forgive this for now! Overall it was an engaging read and i enjoyed it
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
4.0
Brideshead Revisited is a beautiful and nostalgic exploration of a time of transformation and decline. It captured the confusion of navigating life after and between wars, human relationships, religion and familial dynamics- this book is most memorable for its elegant and powerful prose and is a cosy and vibey read beyond measure
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
4.0
This is a book of complete chaos and disgust and yet I’m utterly obsessed! The writing style is so beautiful and I found myself rooting for little Grenouille despite how fucked up he is! This book does exactly what it says on the tin…