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mergwenthur's reviews
72 reviews
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
emotional
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
One of the rare times the film is better !! I was actually so surprised at how much I disliked the book. Sparks is pretty much known for his tragic love stories but the book wasn't even really that tragic. The film did a much better job at adapting the story and changing bits to make it much better.
I was also shocked at how much I disliked the writing style too. Some of the dialogue was a bit pathetic and didn't seem realistic.
It made no sense that Dawson and Amanda just broke up. That was it, and nothing was said more about their break up. The whole book is about how they're meant to be, how they never stopped loving one another yet....they casually just broke up and Amanda never saw/spoke to him again. At least with the film Amanda didn't really have a choice in losing contact with Dawson.
I struggled to connect to the characters and their stories too and I think it was good to have other perspectives but most of the time it was like 'is this really necessary?'
I was also shocked at how much I disliked the writing style too. Some of the dialogue was a bit pathetic and didn't seem realistic.
It made no sense that Dawson and Amanda just broke up. That was it, and nothing was said more about their break up. The whole book is about how they're meant to be, how they never stopped loving one another yet....they casually just broke up and Amanda never saw/spoke to him again. At least with the film Amanda didn't really have a choice in losing contact with Dawson.
I struggled to connect to the characters and their stories too and I think it was good to have other perspectives but most of the time it was like 'is this really necessary?'
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked this book! it was so interesting to see how different the twin's lives turned out and how things ended.
I think though at times it was confusing. I really liked reading the different perspectives and experiences of each character but sometimes if you spent like 30 pages on one specific character, it was easy to forget small details of another character when their pov came back around. I noticed too that often the beginning of a chapter wasn't clear on who exactly I was reading about until other details came in so I think it would have been good to name each chapter with the name of the character.
the last chunk of chapters were particularly confusing because it had multiple character povs in each chapter. one paragraph on one character then the next on another. the time jumping forwards, backwards and in the present was also confusing.
overall though I really liked this book and I think because I get confused easily esp with time stuff it made it a bit harder to read but I would def recommend it and read it again myself!
I think though at times it was confusing. I really liked reading the different perspectives and experiences of each character but sometimes if you spent like 30 pages on one specific character, it was easy to forget small details of another character when their pov came back around. I noticed too that often the beginning of a chapter wasn't clear on who exactly I was reading about until other details came in so I think it would have been good to name each chapter with the name of the character.
the last chunk of chapters were particularly confusing because it had multiple character povs in each chapter. one paragraph on one character then the next on another. the time jumping forwards, backwards and in the present was also confusing.
overall though I really liked this book and I think because I get confused easily esp with time stuff it made it a bit harder to read but I would def recommend it and read it again myself!
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really don't understand why this isn't more popular than 'Dracula'! It is shorter, easier to read/understand, it centers women and is lesbian plus...'Dracula' is basically just a copy of Carmilla anyway ?? Anyway, need more love for Carmilla <3 Lost a portion of stars bc of racism ofc
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
The Yellow Wallpaper & Herland: With Women and Economics by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm always suspicious of feminist books from white women in general but especially from before the 21st century as a lot of them tend to have elements of racism.
This one also did have elements of racism which is unfortunate. However the message was strong and I minus the racism I liked both Yellow Wallpaper and Herland. Herland was obviously longer and more detailed and it was v much a typical man's point of view regarding women! It was interesting to read how women functioned in Herland but I did struggle with how motherhood is basically the main point of their existence, its their religion and the one thing they strive for. But I can also see how the message is deeper than that. Its about community and making the world better for the next generations.
So I did like this just a shame about the racism!
This one also did have elements of racism which is unfortunate. However the message was strong and I minus the racism I liked both Yellow Wallpaper and Herland. Herland was obviously longer and more detailed and it was v much a typical man's point of view regarding women! It was interesting to read how women functioned in Herland but I did struggle with how motherhood is basically the main point of their existence, its their religion and the one thing they strive for. But I can also see how the message is deeper than that. Its about community and making the world better for the next generations.
So I did like this just a shame about the racism!
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oh my gosh i love this so much 🥺 not only is it about a bengali muslim lesbian but its also interracial relationship with two poc which we hardly ever see !!
i adore this so much and it was soo relatable too
i adore this so much and it was soo relatable too
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I mean what's not to love about it !!!
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
Do not read this book if you are mentally ill 😠ITS GOOD but man is it heart breaking
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail