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brisingr's reviews
1232 reviews
The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici by Jeanne Kalogridis
4.0
I've really been into historical books lately, and it might be just a funny coincidence that my latest reads in this genre both regard the same queen: Catherine de Medici. Known under a lot of different names, including Devil's Queen, why not, she is the one behind the massacre on Saint Bartholomew's Night, that ended up in thousand of deaths and with a change in the french dynasties.
I really liked this book, and I especially like the fact that here is depicted her whole life, from the moment when she was just a young girl living in Florence, under the protection of her aunt (which I loved terribly), but never out of danger, as a civil war had her imprisoned for a big part of her childhood. You see all the steps of her evolution, the way she had to come to terms with what others decided for her future, the way she grew cold and ready to sacrifice anything for what she thought was right. You see her becoming the queen that had to be fierce enough to make others listen to her, but kind enough to receive the love and adoration a monarch needed for a peaceful reign.
I like Catherine de Medici as a historical figure in general, but I especially love when she is depicted in books, when it's used the first person narrative. I feel close to a person that otherwise is nothing but a cold portrait in a long row of rulers. I admire her for her determination, for her desperate search to love and to find happiness. She was the most human of all, in her sometimes purely egoistic needs or wise decisions. I love her both as a ruler that did her best, as well as a woman who had to survive in a world that listened only to the word of the men.
But this book is more about the mystic Catherine, the astrolog and believer in magic Catherine. Here, the history is closely related to "devilish" practices, to blood sacrifices, to magic charms. Here, life can be bought by demons and given to those who are brave enough to make the "right" thing. I still don't know if I liked this aspect of the book, or not, but it felt weird to me. The story, real story, suddenly lost its realism by adding this detail, and unfortunately, I am looking for that realism in the books I am reading.
But 'The Devil's Queen' made me feel something, made me think of the characters' situations and analyze them closely. It sucked me in, left me breathless and desperate to know more, even if the main ideas were already known by me. It felt like a race against time, in hope I will get to the ending faster than the story itself, so maybe I could bring a change. It was that kind of intense reading, that makes you forget you're actually reading, and deems you unable to do anything else besides thinking of what's next, when you're not reading.
The author's style is also very fitting for these kind of books. Maybe a little simpler than I expected, it was obvious that the writer made their homework, as the terms regarding astrology and royal matters were impressive. Also, for some of the sadder scenes (because unfortunately, such a few rulers managed to be happy during their lives!), I felt the pain just as strongly as the first time I found out about them, for even with a simple style, the writer still managed to stir something inside me. I could feel the exact same raw feelings as the characters; somehow a link between me and the story & characters was created. And even now, after I finished reading the book, I am still stuck in that world. I disliked a few of the details at the end of the book, and this might be the greatest disappointment this book brought me: the ending. There are a few things that I could complain about, but these aren't as important as the good things this book managed to bring to the world.
Catherine de Medici still has my love and admiration, and so does this book, for it managed to portray the queen pleasantly.
I really liked this book, and I especially like the fact that here is depicted her whole life, from the moment when she was just a young girl living in Florence, under the protection of her aunt (which I loved terribly), but never out of danger, as a civil war had her imprisoned for a big part of her childhood. You see all the steps of her evolution, the way she had to come to terms with what others decided for her future, the way she grew cold and ready to sacrifice anything for what she thought was right. You see her becoming the queen that had to be fierce enough to make others listen to her, but kind enough to receive the love and adoration a monarch needed for a peaceful reign.
I like Catherine de Medici as a historical figure in general, but I especially love when she is depicted in books, when it's used the first person narrative. I feel close to a person that otherwise is nothing but a cold portrait in a long row of rulers. I admire her for her determination, for her desperate search to love and to find happiness. She was the most human of all, in her sometimes purely egoistic needs or wise decisions. I love her both as a ruler that did her best, as well as a woman who had to survive in a world that listened only to the word of the men.
But this book is more about the mystic Catherine, the astrolog and believer in magic Catherine. Here, the history is closely related to "devilish" practices, to blood sacrifices, to magic charms. Here, life can be bought by demons and given to those who are brave enough to make the "right" thing. I still don't know if I liked this aspect of the book, or not, but it felt weird to me. The story, real story, suddenly lost its realism by adding this detail, and unfortunately, I am looking for that realism in the books I am reading.
But 'The Devil's Queen' made me feel something, made me think of the characters' situations and analyze them closely. It sucked me in, left me breathless and desperate to know more, even if the main ideas were already known by me. It felt like a race against time, in hope I will get to the ending faster than the story itself, so maybe I could bring a change. It was that kind of intense reading, that makes you forget you're actually reading, and deems you unable to do anything else besides thinking of what's next, when you're not reading.
The author's style is also very fitting for these kind of books. Maybe a little simpler than I expected, it was obvious that the writer made their homework, as the terms regarding astrology and royal matters were impressive. Also, for some of the sadder scenes (because unfortunately, such a few rulers managed to be happy during their lives!), I felt the pain just as strongly as the first time I found out about them, for even with a simple style, the writer still managed to stir something inside me. I could feel the exact same raw feelings as the characters; somehow a link between me and the story & characters was created. And even now, after I finished reading the book, I am still stuck in that world. I disliked a few of the details at the end of the book, and this might be the greatest disappointment this book brought me: the ending. There are a few things that I could complain about, but these aren't as important as the good things this book managed to bring to the world.
Catherine de Medici still has my love and admiration, and so does this book, for it managed to portray the queen pleasantly.
The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder
2.0
I really thought that I won't make it, that I won't get to read this book this year either. It was a present I received last Christmas, and then I didn't manage to finish it and this year's it's been my winter goal to finish this book on Christmas Eve. And it's almost 8pm and I finally did it. I am not sure if I'd have liked to keep it only halfway read.
The idea was promising. I really liked it and until I've first started reading this book, I didn't know about the existence of advent calendars, so I was double-excited about this book especially because of this.
It started really cutely, but I feel like the simple style didn't exactly helped, because at some point it was tiredsome to keep reading "he said, she said" and seeing a lot of uneeded dialogue lines. I get that it's targeted for the younger audience, and usually this doesn't bother me, but this time it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I thought that the mistery was pretty cool and it was nice how it was brought up and how the author dealt with telling us bits and bits of the story, but the fact that some things kept repeating was... again, not my cup of tea. Also, I didn't like any of the characters that much, which was a huge turn-off about this story. I also get what this story wanted to do, stay spiritual and somewhat with intelectual advices and religious preaches, but I feel like it kind of failed, because those things didn't fit with the general feeling of the book: young and innocent and too little for how much it wanted to give.
The idea was promising. I really liked it and until I've first started reading this book, I didn't know about the existence of advent calendars, so I was double-excited about this book especially because of this.
It started really cutely, but I feel like the simple style didn't exactly helped, because at some point it was tiredsome to keep reading "he said, she said" and seeing a lot of uneeded dialogue lines. I get that it's targeted for the younger audience, and usually this doesn't bother me, but this time it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I thought that the mistery was pretty cool and it was nice how it was brought up and how the author dealt with telling us bits and bits of the story, but the fact that some things kept repeating was... again, not my cup of tea. Also, I didn't like any of the characters that much, which was a huge turn-off about this story. I also get what this story wanted to do, stay spiritual and somewhat with intelectual advices and religious preaches, but I feel like it kind of failed, because those things didn't fit with the general feeling of the book: young and innocent and too little for how much it wanted to give.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
5.0
This book was definetely so much better than the first one! ((and here, next, I'll just be gushing my feelings))
Everything fit together so nicely and I started to get attached to the characters so much! I love the trio's dynamics, and I do especially love Ron Weasley.
I enjoyed the sassy coments and the interesting creatures and monsters we met in this book and it was such a catchy read, I couldn't put it down! I think I finally understand why everyone is loving these books and the only thing that I am sad about... it's the fact that I haven't read them earlier!
Such a great book, loved everything about it (or most of it, since me and Ron share the same fear of huge spiders)!!
Everything fit together so nicely and I started to get attached to the characters so much! I love the trio's dynamics, and I do especially love Ron Weasley.
I enjoyed the sassy coments and the interesting creatures and monsters we met in this book and it was such a catchy read, I couldn't put it down! I think I finally understand why everyone is loving these books and the only thing that I am sad about... it's the fact that I haven't read them earlier!
Such a great book, loved everything about it (or most of it, since me and Ron share the same fear of huge spiders)!!
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
4.0
With a really knotted story and following the lives of some of the most important persons in the Seven Kingdoms, A Game of Thrones presents the intrigues at the court and the secrets that are surrounding even the most powerful men of the era.
We have a big pallete of characters, varying from honorable men to traitors, from women who loved to crazy witches, from bastards to youngsters who are ready to rule. The most horrible and amazing thing at the same time is that Martin knows his characters very well, which makes him extremely powerful, making us loving them. No character is fully good or fully bad, they simply serve the causes that seem right for them at the time, the one from where they can gain the most. We have lots of point of views, which just lets you see the world created in its width, and also its population, but at the same time also lets you unable to choose a side, choose a favorite to root for. The author makes you know its characters as well as him, making you to sigh "oh my child" at every other page.
I really loved the story and the author's style fits so well with the genre he has chosen. It catches your attention and it is a book from where you learn a lot of things, even if for the lessons to come through, you have to cry with some characters or swear at other ones. These lessons leave their marks, the readers being left with only an empty pit in their stomach, a tear that won't roll down their cheek and the certainty that if they were there, it would have changed something. Because in spite of the hard life most of the people in the books have to face, in spite of the intrigues that kill easier and more efficiently than any war, you can't stop but wish you could be there as well.
I think that this wish is what made this book so special. George R. R. Martin managed to make everything seem real, extremely real and not seem like such a far-away thing from our own world. It is, of course, much in the past and has creatures that belong in the fantasy realm, but still, you can't stop wondering, what if?
But during my read, I couldn't stop feeling helpless and idignant, more than anything else, and I must admit that I was surprised by this book. Probably the first book which I've doubted, but proved itself worth the hype.
This book is awful for my heart, but so great for my mind and pleasures.
Favorite characters up until now are: Arya (for how amazing her determination and small, internal revolt is) and Daenerys (for her strenght and what a big impact she left on me) and Cat (for how desperate she is to protect the ones she loves). For now, the Stark house it is my favorite, but I feel like future books might change my opinion (oh sweet spoilers I didn't want or need).
My hands shake just slightly when I think in how many wrong ways this story could turn and I just need to run and buy the next volumes and just read them, as soon as possible. My sense are tingling when I think that this series will only just become better (and here all my friends nod in agreement and I end this rant).
4/5 stars just because I still had the feeling that something was missing...
We have a big pallete of characters, varying from honorable men to traitors, from women who loved to crazy witches, from bastards to youngsters who are ready to rule. The most horrible and amazing thing at the same time is that Martin knows his characters very well, which makes him extremely powerful, making us loving them. No character is fully good or fully bad, they simply serve the causes that seem right for them at the time, the one from where they can gain the most. We have lots of point of views, which just lets you see the world created in its width, and also its population, but at the same time also lets you unable to choose a side, choose a favorite to root for. The author makes you know its characters as well as him, making you to sigh "oh my child" at every other page.
I really loved the story and the author's style fits so well with the genre he has chosen. It catches your attention and it is a book from where you learn a lot of things, even if for the lessons to come through, you have to cry with some characters or swear at other ones. These lessons leave their marks, the readers being left with only an empty pit in their stomach, a tear that won't roll down their cheek and the certainty that if they were there, it would have changed something. Because in spite of the hard life most of the people in the books have to face, in spite of the intrigues that kill easier and more efficiently than any war, you can't stop but wish you could be there as well.
I think that this wish is what made this book so special. George R. R. Martin managed to make everything seem real, extremely real and not seem like such a far-away thing from our own world. It is, of course, much in the past and has creatures that belong in the fantasy realm, but still, you can't stop wondering, what if?
But during my read, I couldn't stop feeling helpless and idignant, more than anything else, and I must admit that I was surprised by this book. Probably the first book which I've doubted, but proved itself worth the hype.
This book is awful for my heart, but so great for my mind and pleasures.
Favorite characters up until now are: Arya (for how amazing her determination and small, internal revolt is) and Daenerys (for her strenght and what a big impact she left on me) and Cat (for how desperate she is to protect the ones she loves). For now, the Stark house it is my favorite, but I feel like future books might change my opinion (oh sweet spoilers I didn't want or need).
My hands shake just slightly when I think in how many wrong ways this story could turn and I just need to run and buy the next volumes and just read them, as soon as possible. My sense are tingling when I think that this series will only just become better (and here all my friends nod in agreement and I end this rant).
4/5 stars just because I still had the feeling that something was missing...
The Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen
2.0
This is actually more of a 2.5/5 read for me, but it leans more on the two stars part than third stars.
I was pretty excited to read this, especially because the romanian edition has a really pretty cover. Plus, I've really been into historical fiction lately.
We follow the story of the last people in the Romanov dinasty, from the peak of their life, popularity and luxury and slowly descending as we move forward into the story, as told by Daria Borisnova, so called witch and close friend of the imperial family, also the person who was taking care by the emperor and empress' son, Alexei, who was very ill.
First of all, I must say I am not a big fan of characters inserted by the author in a story that follows important people in the history. I am picky, I usually like things to be as close to the truth, and this book just... wasn't my cup of tea. Also, all the mystic and magical touches to the story did little to make me enjoy it. It could have been just as great and just as nice without butterflies, magical seeds, reincarnations and powerful amber. Yes, it does give the story an interesting touch and it might have been catchy and nice to somebody else. In my case, it just warded me off from the actual story.
But the historical parts were quite enjoyable and nice! I really liked the way the love between the tsar and the tsarina was potrayed, it was nice and pure and they sincerely cared about each other. The romance parts are the one I enjoyed the most, even those between Daria and Avram, taking in consideration I don't like the main character... like at all. It still was amazing to see the devotion she had to finding the last romanov and the way the book ended... I am not sure what to think of it. I wanted it to happen, but at the same time, not in that way?
The writer says in the notes at the end that she wanted to portray the monarchy coming slowly to ruin, but most of the time where the royal family actually was in desperate situations, was too fast paced and the scenes were not detailed as much as I would have liked them to be.
I had problems with most of the characters in this book. The main ones were mainly annoying, except the tsar which was an absolute sweetheart and amazing man up until the end, and those who were promising were not developed enough. Sighs.
Also, the style was bothering me through the whole reading process. It's in present tense and it would have been magnificent... if i had read this book in english. Reading it in romanian, the magic of present tense disappeared and most of the true style has been lost in the translation. Such a pity!
Yet, it had some details and things that I really enjoyed and I hoped until the last page that this book was not going to disappoint me, that it's going to become better. Sometimes I am wrong.
Still, I don't really regret reading this, I still found out some things I did not know, but I really feel disappointed because I really wanted to like this book!
I was pretty excited to read this, especially because the romanian edition has a really pretty cover. Plus, I've really been into historical fiction lately.
We follow the story of the last people in the Romanov dinasty, from the peak of their life, popularity and luxury and slowly descending as we move forward into the story, as told by Daria Borisnova, so called witch and close friend of the imperial family, also the person who was taking care by the emperor and empress' son, Alexei, who was very ill.
First of all, I must say I am not a big fan of characters inserted by the author in a story that follows important people in the history. I am picky, I usually like things to be as close to the truth, and this book just... wasn't my cup of tea. Also, all the mystic and magical touches to the story did little to make me enjoy it. It could have been just as great and just as nice without butterflies, magical seeds, reincarnations and powerful amber. Yes, it does give the story an interesting touch and it might have been catchy and nice to somebody else. In my case, it just warded me off from the actual story.
But the historical parts were quite enjoyable and nice! I really liked the way the love between the tsar and the tsarina was potrayed, it was nice and pure and they sincerely cared about each other. The romance parts are the one I enjoyed the most, even those between Daria and Avram, taking in consideration I don't like the main character... like at all. It still was amazing to see the devotion she had to finding the last romanov and the way the book ended... I am not sure what to think of it. I wanted it to happen, but at the same time, not in that way?
The writer says in the notes at the end that she wanted to portray the monarchy coming slowly to ruin, but most of the time where the royal family actually was in desperate situations, was too fast paced and the scenes were not detailed as much as I would have liked them to be.
I had problems with most of the characters in this book. The main ones were mainly annoying, except the tsar which was an absolute sweetheart and amazing man up until the end, and those who were promising were not developed enough. Sighs.
Also, the style was bothering me through the whole reading process. It's in present tense and it would have been magnificent... if i had read this book in english. Reading it in romanian, the magic of present tense disappeared and most of the true style has been lost in the translation. Such a pity!
Yet, it had some details and things that I really enjoyed and I hoped until the last page that this book was not going to disappoint me, that it's going to become better. Sometimes I am wrong.
Still, I don't really regret reading this, I still found out some things I did not know, but I really feel disappointed because I really wanted to like this book!
Les valets du roi by Mireille Calmel
2.0
Read it in romanian, writing a review in english on the french edition of the book... Makes sense.
The book follows the adventures of Mary, who has to dress like a boy to receive a proper education and to help out her mother. But, with the death of both her mother and her benefactor, Mary has to make the right choices in her life and to use the knowledge she acquired and her adventurous spirit to survive in a world where people don't even look at those with whom fate wasn't kind.
I don't even know where to start, because I have quite a lot of things to.. say about this book.
Firstly, the narration is very fast, you're passed very quickly through the events and the years, and the only things that are detailed are the ones that do not matter. It's very fast-paced and it's also very simple so it does not bring a plus to the book. Just this book contains happenings on a 20 years timeline. I didn't like this at all, because even if it gets you interested in the book at first, it leaves you empty, because you can't just have action, without the proper characters to do the things you want them to do.
And unfortunately, I didn't like any of the characters. Mary is annoying to the point of barely accepting to keep on reading and I couldn't get attached to her. She was always posssesed by the wrong feelings, took selfish decisions and even if it was wanted for her to be one of those strong female characters, she became actually a cold-hearted, unprincipled woman. Even when she was supposed to love madly and honestly, I couldn't feel it because everything was too rushed, so I couldn't see how and when could the relationships between the characters evolve. This is something that happens to all characters, actually, not just Mary. Also, the male characters were all the same, barely any difference in their personality. All were wicked by one of Mary's traits, found out her secrets and then loved her madly. I understand that she was supposed to be the femme fatale, but it's hard to believe that ALL the characters wanted the same woman. Even a just-married man would have chosen her instead of his wife, and I find this quite... tiredsome and repetitive and it became plain annoying at some point.
The only character I liked was a male one, mysterious and strong and with a really interesting personality (because he haven't met Mary, I bet!), but my instinct is screaming in me that he'll go downhill soon enough.
The idea and the whole mystery/treasure-hunting themes were interesting, but I feel like so much more could have been done. The author tried to keep some historical landmarks, but I feel like those just made the whole thing even more confusing and not nice.
A french person I don't know about said that Mireille Calmel is the new queen of historical fiction, but I feel like this is an exaggeration. I have nothing with this genre or this author, but this book didn't deserve such a praise. I was disappointed, probably also because I had big expectations from this book, especially because being a pirate girl was one of my childhood dreams. The first half of the book was actually quite enjoyable, but then it started going downhill, and fast. I feel like it was a very rushed reading, like I was always hurried through the pages and the style of writing was really a big NO for me.
The volume ends with a cliffhanger, but I decided I won't read the next volumes in the series. I ended up tired and frustrated at the end of this one, and I don't want this experience repeated.
Maybe if I wasn't a "serious" reader (serious as in being picky about the books I'm reading and wanting a level of quality from them), maybe I would have enjoyed this book more, but as I am now, I'm just meh with this book.
The book follows the adventures of Mary, who has to dress like a boy to receive a proper education and to help out her mother. But, with the death of both her mother and her benefactor, Mary has to make the right choices in her life and to use the knowledge she acquired and her adventurous spirit to survive in a world where people don't even look at those with whom fate wasn't kind.
I don't even know where to start, because I have quite a lot of things to.. say about this book.
Firstly, the narration is very fast, you're passed very quickly through the events and the years, and the only things that are detailed are the ones that do not matter. It's very fast-paced and it's also very simple so it does not bring a plus to the book. Just this book contains happenings on a 20 years timeline. I didn't like this at all, because even if it gets you interested in the book at first, it leaves you empty, because you can't just have action, without the proper characters to do the things you want them to do.
And unfortunately, I didn't like any of the characters. Mary is annoying to the point of barely accepting to keep on reading and I couldn't get attached to her. She was always posssesed by the wrong feelings, took selfish decisions and even if it was wanted for her to be one of those strong female characters, she became actually a cold-hearted, unprincipled woman. Even when she was supposed to love madly and honestly, I couldn't feel it because everything was too rushed, so I couldn't see how and when could the relationships between the characters evolve. This is something that happens to all characters, actually, not just Mary. Also, the male characters were all the same, barely any difference in their personality. All were wicked by one of Mary's traits, found out her secrets and then loved her madly. I understand that she was supposed to be the femme fatale, but it's hard to believe that ALL the characters wanted the same woman. Even a just-married man would have chosen her instead of his wife, and I find this quite... tiredsome and repetitive and it became plain annoying at some point.
The only character I liked was a male one, mysterious and strong and with a really interesting personality (because he haven't met Mary, I bet!), but my instinct is screaming in me that he'll go downhill soon enough.
The idea and the whole mystery/treasure-hunting themes were interesting, but I feel like so much more could have been done. The author tried to keep some historical landmarks, but I feel like those just made the whole thing even more confusing and not nice.
A french person I don't know about said that Mireille Calmel is the new queen of historical fiction, but I feel like this is an exaggeration. I have nothing with this genre or this author, but this book didn't deserve such a praise. I was disappointed, probably also because I had big expectations from this book, especially because being a pirate girl was one of my childhood dreams. The first half of the book was actually quite enjoyable, but then it started going downhill, and fast. I feel like it was a very rushed reading, like I was always hurried through the pages and the style of writing was really a big NO for me.
The volume ends with a cliffhanger, but I decided I won't read the next volumes in the series. I ended up tired and frustrated at the end of this one, and I don't want this experience repeated.
Maybe if I wasn't a "serious" reader (serious as in being picky about the books I'm reading and wanting a level of quality from them), maybe I would have enjoyed this book more, but as I am now, I'm just meh with this book.
Stoner by John Williams
4.0
Stoner is a horrible book. Read it. It is horribly painful and horribly real and hit horribly close to home.
Let's meet William (Willy/Bill) Stoner: son of two farmers, boy of the land who is sent to university, in hope that studying chemistry and subjects related to land and how it can be improved, will also ease the lives of those in his family. But there, he finds out that his callous hands are made of holding a pen instead of a shovel and that his mind is more interested in literature than science. And so, he changes his specialization and starts studying what he truly loves, becoming in the end a dedicated teacher.
If you are a huge fan of action, I am sorry to say that this book is not for you, even if I'd recommend Stoner to everyone, because it's a wonderful book. It's honest and raw and manages to touch a string of the reader's heart. Maybe because Stoner is so normal, so like every single one of us, that we feel personally drawn towards his life, that we are so willing to read something that only shows us the everyday occurances in a teacher's life. Really, Stoner is every single one of us and I do believe every reader can identify themselves in at least one aspect of Stoner's life or personality.
Talking about the characters, I do feel strangely attached to Stoner, in a way that I am with not so many other characters in the books I've read. Maybe the fact that you're walking on Stoner's footsteps on a period of forty years ties you with him, but he's so likeable and nice that you just can't help yourself feeling pity and a touching, somewhat admiration towards him and his way of reacting to everything life throws at him. Because, to be honest, life isn't so nice with Stoner. One person here on goodreads actually put a photo in a review, where he'd changed the name of the book in "Life sucks and then you die". Well, isn't that kind of true to every single one of us? But it is really important on how we react to whatever bad things come our way, and Stoner's way of coping is by being resilient in his own little world and passionate about several things during his life. He is a great teacher, and while he's failing on other aspects of his life, this is the only constant good thing around him.
I don't know what to say exactly about the author's style, it's definetely one that catches your attention and I think it really fits the story and the slow-paced happenings and this type of book. I really enjoyed some dialogues and it had a lot of interesting details in it. But still, what hits you the worst, is definetely the reality of the words and of the events in the book.
It was an amazing book, but so, so sad. I am feeling right now sick in front of the prospect of living a life like Stoner's, because I look at it and I know I will never be able to accept it with the easiness of the main character. Probably that's what makes up most of the sadness and drama in this book: how easy Stoner accepts everything that comes upon him. And it's sad but in a morbid way, I loved seeing how weak he was in some situations and how he reacted and I have no words to explain how this book made me feel.
Just read it, I doubt someone will regret reading this book. 4/5 because I can't exactly sort out my feelings well right now and I am kind of really messed up because of this book and I just need time. Nonetheless, I really did enjoy this book.
Let's meet William (Willy/Bill) Stoner: son of two farmers, boy of the land who is sent to university, in hope that studying chemistry and subjects related to land and how it can be improved, will also ease the lives of those in his family. But there, he finds out that his callous hands are made of holding a pen instead of a shovel and that his mind is more interested in literature than science. And so, he changes his specialization and starts studying what he truly loves, becoming in the end a dedicated teacher.
If you are a huge fan of action, I am sorry to say that this book is not for you, even if I'd recommend Stoner to everyone, because it's a wonderful book. It's honest and raw and manages to touch a string of the reader's heart. Maybe because Stoner is so normal, so like every single one of us, that we feel personally drawn towards his life, that we are so willing to read something that only shows us the everyday occurances in a teacher's life. Really, Stoner is every single one of us and I do believe every reader can identify themselves in at least one aspect of Stoner's life or personality.
Talking about the characters, I do feel strangely attached to Stoner, in a way that I am with not so many other characters in the books I've read. Maybe the fact that you're walking on Stoner's footsteps on a period of forty years ties you with him, but he's so likeable and nice that you just can't help yourself feeling pity and a touching, somewhat admiration towards him and his way of reacting to everything life throws at him. Because, to be honest, life isn't so nice with Stoner. One person here on goodreads actually put a photo in a review, where he'd changed the name of the book in "Life sucks and then you die". Well, isn't that kind of true to every single one of us? But it is really important on how we react to whatever bad things come our way, and Stoner's way of coping is by being resilient in his own little world and passionate about several things during his life. He is a great teacher, and while he's failing on other aspects of his life, this is the only constant good thing around him.
Spoiler
He gets married and in the end, his wife turns out to be a somewhat 'enemy' in his life, the one there to ruin everything, although I think I could really emphasize with Edith, because at some point, living with someone who turns out being disappointing, you just want to take revenge for what you think has been done wrong to you. I feel like I can understand a part of her, though I do feel bad that they ended up living a miserable life, also dragging their daughter in the vicious and trouble cycle they were in.I don't know what to say exactly about the author's style, it's definetely one that catches your attention and I think it really fits the story and the slow-paced happenings and this type of book. I really enjoyed some dialogues and it had a lot of interesting details in it. But still, what hits you the worst, is definetely the reality of the words and of the events in the book.
It was an amazing book, but so, so sad. I am feeling right now sick in front of the prospect of living a life like Stoner's, because I look at it and I know I will never be able to accept it with the easiness of the main character. Probably that's what makes up most of the sadness and drama in this book: how easy Stoner accepts everything that comes upon him. And it's sad but in a morbid way, I loved seeing how weak he was in some situations and how he reacted and I have no words to explain how this book made me feel.
Just read it, I doubt someone will regret reading this book. 4/5 because I can't exactly sort out my feelings well right now and I am kind of really messed up because of this book and I just need time. Nonetheless, I really did enjoy this book.
Transcendence by Shay Savage
1.0
More of a 1.5/5 read for me, because although not much, still a little bit better than City of Bones and the others books that received 1 star.
Also, this book being the third I finish in the same day, I am too tired to try and be nice or stuffs.
I try to recall how this book came in my possesion but I can't remember. I have no idea from where I got the book or what made me want to get it. Because definetely I was lacking a lot of knowledges about the subject of this book.
First of all: careful, mature content. I didn't know that and it only helped to shock me. I guess it was kind of expected at some point, but I just... I'm sorry, but the storyline... No. I understand, it sounds intriguing and it sounded so interesting to read from the caveman's perspective, but in the end it was just a big NO-NO for me. Because, you have only one perspective, which is limited by a man who cannot comprehend what is said to him (so neither do you, the reader, do) and by his rather limited knowledges. Quite sad, but all these things also make Beh seem just... weird and idiotic. For me, she was just way too willing to accept a life lived in an unknown place and unknown era. Oh, and I will never believe, no matter how romantic this was supposed to sound, that a 21st century woman/girl/human would fall in love with another person who doesn't even have the capacity of holding a conversation. The range of actions is limited, it takes longer time to get your ideas through and love can't be possible without knowing the person and this book just jumped over all the stages of how a relationship should develop. I mean, I was so confused... suddenly they're fighting and Beh's crying and the next moment, Ehd the caveman is putting a baby in her. Yay.
I get the writer's license and everything, but I do feel like this book was just... too much for my liking. I enjoy romances, but I do prefer both of the persons in the relationship understanding the depth of it and seeing more in it besides the survival of the species. Yes, the characters do get the development in their relationship in the end, but... No, sorry, still cannot see it happening.
There were also a lot of plot holes, which I was expecting from the author's note and goodreads' summary, but in the end still bothered me. Also, in the beggining, I guess the book was trying to be hilarious... Not so succeeding in doing so.
In the end I preffer to ignore the existence of the book, I am still slightly disturbed by some (a lot of) things that happened, and so... meh.
Also, this book being the third I finish in the same day, I am too tired to try and be nice or stuffs.
I try to recall how this book came in my possesion but I can't remember. I have no idea from where I got the book or what made me want to get it. Because definetely I was lacking a lot of knowledges about the subject of this book.
First of all: careful, mature content. I didn't know that and it only helped to shock me. I guess it was kind of expected at some point, but I just... I'm sorry, but the storyline... No. I understand, it sounds intriguing and it sounded so interesting to read from the caveman's perspective, but in the end it was just a big NO-NO for me. Because, you have only one perspective, which is limited by a man who cannot comprehend what is said to him (so neither do you, the reader, do) and by his rather limited knowledges. Quite sad, but all these things also make Beh seem just... weird and idiotic. For me, she was just way too willing to accept a life lived in an unknown place and unknown era. Oh, and I will never believe, no matter how romantic this was supposed to sound, that a 21st century woman/girl/human would fall in love with another person who doesn't even have the capacity of holding a conversation. The range of actions is limited, it takes longer time to get your ideas through and love can't be possible without knowing the person and this book just jumped over all the stages of how a relationship should develop. I mean, I was so confused... suddenly they're fighting and Beh's crying and the next moment, Ehd the caveman is putting a baby in her. Yay.
I get the writer's license and everything, but I do feel like this book was just... too much for my liking. I enjoy romances, but I do prefer both of the persons in the relationship understanding the depth of it and seeing more in it besides the survival of the species. Yes, the characters do get the development in their relationship in the end, but... No, sorry, still cannot see it happening.
There were also a lot of plot holes, which I was expecting from the author's note and goodreads' summary, but in the end still bothered me. Also, in the beggining, I guess the book was trying to be hilarious... Not so succeeding in doing so.
In the end I preffer to ignore the existence of the book, I am still slightly disturbed by some (a lot of) things that happened, and so... meh.