A Poised Quill: goodreads

Showing posts with label goodreads. Show all posts

Review: A Gentleman in Moscow

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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I belong to that distinct minority who did not absolutely love this book.

~~I find myself conflicted. I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had expected.~~ After sleeping on it, I can say with actuality that I did not enjoy this book like everyone else seemed to have done so. It was long and tedious for the most part. The sociopolitical commentary flew right over my head, made my eyes glaze over, and my attention wander. It wasn't a bad book per se, it just didn't...hold my interest. The Count's philosophical musings are pockets of wisdom, but it often felt like I needed to have quite a bit of a background on Russia's history to be able to understand half of what's written on this book. It also felt like reading a lengthy, pretentious, and pompous essay--one that feels like I was forced to read in class--instead of a story.

There were various nuances of the story I wish were focused on: the relationship of the characters, parenthood, and even the unique circumstances of a house arrest. But instead, I got a long-winded meditation that honestly, made me want to abandon the book multiple times. I didn't hate the book. I just don't think the amount of time I spent reading it and trying to understand it was really worth it.

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Review: The Shadow of the Wind

The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1)

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
My rating: 4.5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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What a whirlwind. This is probably one of the most elaborate reads of my life and it makes for one very beautiful book. I dove into Daniel Sempere and Julian Carax's stories not knowing what to expect from the plot or of the story line; the blurb didn't give away much. I didn't expect to be swept away completely. It is a very slow read--that I can comment on hence, the imperfect rating--but don't let that dissuade you. It's a long journey, and the unhurried pace Zafón set up for the me, the reader, allowed me to relish and soak in the flavours he established: the bitterness of longing and loneliness bled through each page, and that melancholy from all the intertwined characters gave a warm sweetness that spreads over your palate. It pulls you into a different layer of yearning that can only be drawn through masterful empathetic character writing. Wonderfully dark and delicious.

For a while, it also brought me back to my nights in Paris a few years ago (read about it here). It reminded me of the mystery, chill, and the gothic vibe that perpetually cloaks the City of Love even in these modern years. On the other hand, I may not be able to explore Barcelona now because of the pandemic, but it feels like I've lived vicariously already through Zafón's novel. It instilled in me, however, a renewed longing to see Barcelona and the rest of the world, and live my own mystery and adventure in a strange and foreign city.

They were right. This is the ultimate love letter to literature.
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A few of my favorite quotes from The Shadow of the Wind:

"Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you."

"Making money isn't hard in itself. What's hard is to earn it doing something worth devoting one's life to."

"You women listen more to your heart and less to the nonsense. That's why you live longer."

"What is really killing him is loneliness. Memories are worse than bullets."

"Time goes faster, the more hollow it is."

"There are no coincidences. We are puppets of our subconscious desires."

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Review: Lincoln in the Bardo

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 3.9 stars
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I have considered DNF-ing this book numerous times halfway throughout. I'm so glad I didn't. The format takes a lot of time to get used to and the different tones adapted by the different characters constantly threw me off-balance. When I was just in the process of getting used to a character's specific way of speaking, a different tone and language will be adapted by the next character. During the first half, it was really difficult to follow. I can truly understand why a lot of readers didn't bother finishing this book. But I pushed through, because however difficult the format was, the story was so beautiful, and the characters were all so interesting.

The entire story revolved around the night of Willie Lincoln's internment, during which President Lincoln visited his son after the funeral. A war had just started, both in the world, and inside Abe Lincoln's heart. The turmoil and grief within President Lincoln was depicted holistically in the book; it was impossible to not get pulled in. Willie's arrival in the bardo became a source of excitement for the other "citizens" of the graveyard. During this night, characters from the graveyard got to tell their stories, and each story was as unique and heartbreaking as the next. I was rooting for Willie, but I was rooting more for Bevins, Vollman, and the Reverend. It was Willie's story, but it's as much as Bevin's and Vollman's stories too. While it revolves around historically facts of Willie's death, the entire book was wholly imaginative and unique, my mind refused to put it down.

I would have enjoyed this story much more if the format followed a more conventional type. But even with how it is written now, it was still beautiful and unforgettable.

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Review: Pachinko

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 3.8 stars
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To be honest, I dived into this book with the wrong mindset. During the first book, I was waiting for a noble and heroic twist to the story--something loud, grand, and thundering. Gradually, I realized this isn't always played out as such in real life. It’s usually a steady progress and manifolds from generation to generation. It's probably the reason why I didn't shed any tear on any tragedy the characters went through. That doesn't mean I didn't feel their pain, but it was subtler than resounding.

This book was not an easy read. A family saga told through four generations and gave me a glimpse of the relationship of Korea and Japan. Much like the author herself, before this book, I was not aware of the Japan Annexation of Korea. This book gave an insightful and educational tale of the state of Korea during World War II and the plights of Koreans in the hands of foreigners.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Magic, Londons, princes, a stubborn and strong-willed girl, and a nefarious plot with a confusing albeit cliché execution. It lacked.... something . I started the book as someone from afar, an audience watching things unfold, and I ended the book feeling exactly the same: just an audience and not part of the story. The story and characters all felt one-dimensional.

The setting and premise were what drew me to glance at this book in the first place. The reviews and ratings were what convinced me to pick it up. Sadly, I was not as roped in to the story as I hoped I would be. Everything was a dark matter-of-fact, and to be honest, a bit flat. Where Strange the Dreamer overflowed with emotion, this book lacked it. It lacked depth. It didn't feel immersive, which is such a total waste. I loved the world it built, but was disappointed with how shallow the book ran.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
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For a few minutes after reading the last page, I was speechless. Strange the Dreamer is so wonderfully and ingeniously crafted. The world Taylor created is a breath of fresh air from the desolation brought by the real world and by the era of post-apocalyptic dystopian novels. The world within this book is fantastical and rich. There is also a sense of other-worldliness at how she writes. And it isn't just purely whimsy, it has humor and mystery. The setting was built in rich detail and background. The story has great pacing within the three-quarters of the book, but it slowed down towards the remaining quarter when I was already on the edge of my seat itching for things to pick up. This is actually one of the reasons why I didn't give this book a perfect score. Towards the end, there were chapters dedicated to Lazlo and Sarai's discovery of each other in dreams. That is, discovery in a physical sense. Their 'getting to know' stage left a bad taste for me. Lazlo being Lazlo, the dreamer (and the romantic), gave way to what I can only call with a shudder as corny. It was too...contrived. The emotions ran heavy, cloying, and flamboyant, as opposed to the hard-edged but muted manifestation of Eril-Fane and Azareen's story. Lazlo and Sarai's meetings and relationship were built in dreams which didn't give me a sense of validity at all. Their love story seemed rushed and only to serve as the plot device of the book. But again, I have to give credit at how Taylor writes prose beautifully by way the book ended. (view spoiler on Goodreads!)

Goth by Otsuichi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Creepy, but still feels so....disconnected. The stories didn't draw me in. Most times it was just boring. This isn't as engaging as Battle RoyaleBattle Royale, nor as interesting as ConfessionsConfessions. I had high expectations for this book simply because I regard Japanese literature as uniquely crafted, but Goth just didn't work out for me. The characters were too devoid of emotions, which I know is the point of the novel, but it drew no sense of believability. Without it being believable, every story just sounded ridiculous. I guess the problem I had with this is how the chapters are just short stories of Morino and her classmate's interactions with killers. But these killers were not built with the same development as the main characters. These killer just seem so abrupt and absurd. I detected a sinister character development with the two main characters (more with the boy than with Morino, which is another source of disappointment), but even that was rushed. The rest of the characters were just treated as background noise. I would have enjoyed this book if it focused on one or two killers, and narrated the story around them.

The only reason I'm not giving this a one-star rating is because of the chapter entitled Memory/Twins. That was the only chapter that provided me with the right blend of horror, mystery, and emotion from the book. Despite the twists, the other stories were narrated with a monotonous feel, and I just wanted to get it over with.

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Review: Human Acts

Human Acts by Han Kang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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If I could rate this higher, I would.

It is set during different eras, and centers around the story of Dong-ho, a boy killed during the Gwangju Uprising in 1980 when Martial Law is still in effect in South Korea. This is rawness that goes straight to your core. Told through six point-of-views, the narrative echoes with pain, trauma, and guilt, effectively silencing my usual skittish thoughts. Dong-ho's soul and presence resonates all throughout the narrative. It is unsettling and riveting at the same time. Each chapter gives you different views of human suffering. Is cruelty and suffering all that makes one human? It bathes you with realization after realization of the weakness and tenacity of a human soul.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
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Full disclosure: This is my first Nesbø book, and I've read that this book stands on its own. So no, I haven't read any of its predecessors on the Harry Hole series.

I genuinely tried to really love this book simply because many of my fellow readers sang praises to it. But it was a difficult tread from start to finish. Maybe I expected too much. For a 500-page crime/thriller, it lacked the suspense I was expecting. It only became remotely exciting towards the last part--when the confrontation happened. The only other thing I loved about this is how Nesbø built the character of the serial killer--thorough and definite. In the end, there is absolutely no doubt surrounding the killer's insanity.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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The Night Circus feels like a dream. The ambiance from start to finish was splendid. It started off pensive and whimsical, until it gradually progressed to a darker undertone. There's nothing graphic about the novel, but certain chapters left me feeling...derailed. The challenge was obscured and remained a confusion to me up until the end of the book, but I didn't mind. The mystery kept me tethered to the story.

Pines by Blake Crouch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
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I honestly don't know how I feel about this book yet. It's definitely a strong start towards a trilogy, but I was expecting....more. As Crouch noted, Pines is inspired by the 90's cult classic Twin Peaks. While I am not entirely familiar with Twin Peaks, I do notice the similarities of the thematic "creepy town" vibe. The novel is a combination of horror and science fiction, and makes for an enthralling and unique read. However, the first book lumbered along and it was incredibly frustrating not knowing anything at all. To be fair, the book ended on a definite note. You're certain that there's a sequel, but you get a sense of satisfaction at the way the first book ended. It can stand on its own.

Would I be continuing with the next books on the series? DEFINITELY, because I'm still expecting Wayward Pines to live up to the ~~good~~ great reviews.

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Review: Final Girls

Final Girls by Riley Sager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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I AM STUNNED. 😨😨😨

This belongs to my Top Reads of 2017. Every chapter put me on edge. This book made me feel a range of emotions from start to finish. Admittedly, the most common was frustration. The book was frustrating most of the time because of the presence of Sam/Tina. Another source of frustration was Quincy's recklessness. I really done know if that recklessness comes with being a Final Girl, or is it recklessness that comes with being Quincy? Wherever it came from, it became a constant source of irritation for me.

This is one of those books that gives twists one after the other, without being too confusing, and without being too absurd. Just when you thought you had it figured out, it pulls you again to another direction and it will leave you reeling. It's one of those stories that makes you feel complacent one moment knowing you understand it, but then you realize you absolutely know nothing.

It's a horror/mystery and it did a mighty job at scaring and leaving me breathless from the twists. I am looking forward to re-reading this book and reconnecting all the clues to have a better grasp of the story and be amazed all over again with Sager's brilliance.

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Review: The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
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Tinti writes beautiful prose, but to be completely honest, I struggled with this book. I could not relate to neither Loo nor Hawley. They've been through a lot, particularly Hawley, which makes him so compelling and difficult at the same time. He makes for one of the most interesting characters I've read recently, but he's so complex and doesn't make for an easy read.To be frank, I am not really comfortable with guns--they've always held a sense of danger and violence for me. And this book did not help repress that fear. Because of the characters' and plot's heavy dependence on guns, I'm wary for the entire time I was reading the book.

Halfway through the book, I felt duped. I was expecting this book to be...magical, or at least I would find constant reference to classical myths as one of the blurb said, but I found none of that. So yeah, I guess, it was unmet expectations. I was irritated at how at one point, the story was veering towards the YA genre. If you haven't noticed, I no longer hold contemporary YAs to the highest regard. They don't hold much "believability" and being identifiable for me anymore. (I don't know if it's just because I've grown out of it, or there just aren't any exceptional YAs lately.) So this book shifting towards YA at one point was sigh-inducing.

A redeeming feature for me (by that I meant, the reason why I didn't give this an even lower rating) was towards the end of the book; Bullet Number Eleven was the most beautiful chapter of this book. In hindsight, it may look sloppy, but the build-up towards it was paced well, and it became the quintessential manifestation of Loo and Hawley's relationship.

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Disclaimer: Excerpts below are from the book. Copyright © 2017 by Hannah Tinti:

It was easier to fall back on what he knew than try to change, even though he understood things weren't right anymore.

Changing where you were could change how much you mattered.

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Review: American Gods

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 4.8 stars
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It's difficult to put into words what exactly I loved about American Gods. It was a myriad of eccentricities; this is the weirdest book I have read. The book is a plenitude of riddles. There were things I wish I understood immediately, or had connected immediately to what I've previously read. But due to my on-and-off reading (it took me a month (!!!) to finish this book), some details have already gotten lost among the trivial everyday things on my mind. I only really fully understood what was happening towards the end when the twist was revealed. I'm still reeling from all that had happened--I don't think I've fully grasped and related Shadow's dreams with the resolution. On a different note, it makes me want to go on a road-trip across America to visit all the places Shadow visited.

Despite getting lost along the way, however, I never remembered a time when I didn't have fun reading it. American Gods held me fascinated and intrigued. It got me attached to characters (more importantly to quiet Shadow and resilient Laura). It educated me (a bit) about the different gods of different myths and folklore, which I am otherwise previously unfamiliar with. Although you wouldn't be a subject matter expert immediately after reading this, this served as an introduction to African folklore, German folklore, Egyptian myths, and Algonquian folklore. The blend of culture and tradition made this book so exhilarating to read.

I especially loved the Coming to America short stories (?) by Mr. Ibis. I would have loved to read more of it. I wish Gaiman would write an anthology using Mr. Ibis' voice to regale us with the gods' manifestation in America, and read about the (mis)adventures of the people who brought them here.

Gaiman has always been one of my favorite authors. His works are always so compelling, and his writing mesmerizing. American Gods is no exception. The way he weaves his tale is ingenious. His prose is always lyrical no matter how simple the words he used. Each voice he took with each point-of-view is sharp and distinct.

I think I would still enjoy this book even after re-reading it numerous times. It's one of those books that naturally amass its own cult following. It's just so...profound, and has a lot of layers waiting to be discovered at every re-read you do.

Information and knowledge: these are currencies that have never gone out of style.

You know why dead people only go out at night? Because it's easier to pass for real, in the dark.

Fiction allows us to slide into these other heads, these other places, and look out through other eyes. And then in the tale we stop before we die, or we die vicariously and unharmed, and in the world beyond the tale we turn the page or close the book, and we resume our lives.

A life, which is, like any other, unlike any other.

Religions are places to stand and look and act, vantage points from which to view the world.

I think I would rather be a man than a god. We don't need anyone to believe in us. We just keep going anyhow. It's what we do.

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Review: Blindness

Blindness by José Saramago
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Reading this gave me the WORST headaches. I am simply not smart enough for this book. It is most certainly jarring and disturbing, but not in a way I've enjoyed. Saramago's style is so complicated. There are probably a thousand nuggets of wisdom within this book, but most of them went over my head, or they simply did not make any impression on me because I was too confused and distracted with the "non-dialogue". It was a serious struggle for me to finish this book. I went on because I was genuinely curious about the epidemic and what will happen to the main characters, but I did not absorb nor appreciate the countless poorly punctuated philosophical ramblings. I think I would enjoy this more if it was written into a more conventional style.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
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I am floored by Chamber's material. I really don't know where she got it, but growing up in a household of science probably helped a lot. This novel is immersive, and often overwhelming. But really, this book is...fun. Not Star Wars type of fun and legendary (*ducks to avoid tomatoes flying towards my head*). Honestly, I'm not a hard-core Star Wars fan (yet) because I haven't read/watched/consumed everything-Star-Wars (BOOOO! *barely had time to duck to avoid a TV flying towards my head.*) (Calm down! Calm down! I'll get to it!) But both are really different. If you're looking for a fast-paced, thrilling read filled with space wars and theatrical adventures, this isn't it. The closest action in this book was at the end when they finally reached the "angry planet". And even then, it was still kind of mellow and slowed down. Even then, the book still centered on the Wayfarer and its crew. The story focused more on the characters, so I really can't say anything bad about character development because Chambers gave that a lot of thought and perspective.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)

Reading this book has been a most magical journey. A tale of gods, warriors, creatures, and giants. Of battles and tales of trickery and gods outplaying each other.

All the tales in the book were as delightful and intriguing as the next, but my favorites are:

* Thor's Journey to the Land of the Giants : Thor, Loki, and Thialfi's journey to Utgard was one of the most fascinating stories in this book, especially Utgardaloki's challenges to his visitors. These challenges, in hindsight, proved their strength.

* Ragnarok: The Final Destiny of the Gods : The only word I can describe this last tale on the book is epic . The narrative was short as far as battles go, but it gave leeway for scholars and storytellers to give it their own unique spin--a chance Gaiman did not waste. At the end of Ragnarok came the rebirth of the world, which filled me with hope, as Mimir's head filled Odin.

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Actual Rating: 3.9 stars
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Magical realism confuses the hell out of me; I won't disguise that truth. I've had to research the difference between magical realism and fantasy, because as I was thinking of what to write in my review, I kept wondering why I'm not fond of magical realism whereas I love fantasy. The former is grounded on the world as what we perceive as real as opposed to the latter, in which the setting and characters are completely made up.

Surprisingly, Bone Gap was not as complicated as I thought it would be. I was able to enjoy and follow the story because it was still comprehensible. Yes, the circumstance was out of place because it was laced with fantasy. I found myself getting frustrated for any lack of explanation or background on the fantastical elements, and I desperately wished that it will be explained at the end. Of course it wasn't. This is magical realism after all--it's confusing and all that is magical will not be demystified. This may explain my aversion to the genre--I like things that make sense, that can be untangled to an extent.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)

Parts tagged with * has major spoilers. If you still want to read it, please do so on Goodreads here. :)
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This is still one of the most clever mysteries I've read. Unique and fresh even as I've only read it now in 2017. I suspect that I would enjoy this book immensely when I read it for the second time. However, I cannot put this on par with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, which in my view is in a league of its own.

However, one of the things I love about Murder on the Orient Express is how it seemed to be darker and more sinister. I'm attributing it to the fact that the setting was closed and secluded, and also because the weather here in Manila has been dark and gloomy recently--which is always an ideal background for reading mysteries. However, I often found myself confused and unable to recall the passenger names and details; I even mix them up even after finishing the novel. Unfortunately for an easily-distracted reader like me, some of the characters were not given enough particulars to stand out. The characters were mysterious, and this is partly to blame. The amount of secrecy behind each character became a nuisance. (view spoiler)* Another thing I loved about this book is how it showed Poirot's ability to manipulate his suspects into revealing their little truths. His guesses were not absurd and they were always substantiated and shown (unlike some detective stories *coughdeckercough*).

The Fireman by Joe Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This review is also found on Goodreads! :)
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Note: Spoilers ahead in a 'general' sense, but nothing in detail. :)

Joe Hill always surprises me with how distinct his stories are. The plot, in forethought, sounds worn-out (I'm blaming it on the blurb). The Fireman, for example, introduces the readers to an apocalypse. A plethora of books have already been published introducing dystopian societies. But Hill managed to paint this world we're living into something so desolate and sinister. At the core of this book lies an outline of the rough edges of humanity: how our souls seek harmony, and how we thirst for religion. It shows that each human being has his own fire inside: whether it's compassion and empathy, or cruelty and violence. This book doesn't sugarcoat things. It's brutal, graphic, and good people die. At the end of the book, I was pretty much jaded as much as the characters. I was actually surprised I didn't die with the others.