sullyisreading's reviews
56 reviews

Anthonology by Piers Anthony

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A strong anthology! My favourite stories from the vook were 'Possible to Rue', 'The Ghost Galaxies', 'On the Uses of Torture', and 'Small Mouth, Bad Taste'.

The range of stories is genuinely impressive. I reckon not many authors have such a diverse range to base their stories in. It turns out that even when a particular story isn't too my liking, and may slog, that I can't resist from skipping because there is always a redemptive quality that makes me glad to have stuck.

I debated picking 'In the Barn' as another of my favourites. One on hand, I may never read anything quite so peculiar as it ever again. On the other hand, I felt its principal ideal while strong in its elements were not woven together perfectly. Nonetheless It's worth a read, providing you can stomach how bizarre and disgusting it was. I will say this: the story reflected reality all too well, but perhaps too on the nose, as well. I did personally like the story, although I spent the better half doubting Anthony's intentions.

Radiant Black, Vol. 1 by David Lafuente, Kyle Higgins, Cherish Chen, Marcelo Costa

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

The art and characters are the main appeal here. I don't know how big a fan I am of the whole Power Rangers shtick that's being set up. But it's very good. Don't know if I would read more, but definitely enjoyed this.

Medea by Rosie Hewlett

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There is little to nothing I can complain about with this novel. Like the author herself, I have a great fascination and love for Euripides' Medea. Rosie Hewlett's novel perfectly expands and novel-ises the myth into something more human, which is honestly an achievement, as it has always been my opinion of the Greek tragedies I've read that Medea was already the most human of the myths.

Highly recommend.

Dorohedoro, Vol. 1 by Q Hayashida

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Very engaging beginning to a series. It clicked very quickly and I love a lot of what has been established so far. Would like to read more of the series.

Corrigenda for Costafine Town by Jake Morris-Campbell

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

3.75

There is a mix of poetry in this collection to catch your attention. Jake Morris-Campbell had a lot to say and if you listen, there is much to take away from his works.

Selected Short Stories by Guy de Maupassant

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've had this book to read for a while, and I'm so glad to have gone through the stories included. They are brilliant, hardly one can be pointed out as being weak. Maupassant's skill cannot be underplayed. He was a master writer.

The translation I read by Roger Colet was appropriate and strong, providing a great sense of the imagery and speech in each story. 

My favourite stories that spring to mind from the selection are Boule De Suif, The Graveyard Sisterhood, Madame Tellier's Establishment, Two Friends, The Jewels, My Uncle Jules, Mother Savage, The Horla, and Mouche. It would be harder to pick stories that were my least favourite from the collection, frankly.

The Eyes of the Overworld by Jack Vance

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

Quite enjoyable book. Had some moments I felt Jack Vance could have capitalised on, which failed to quite meet expectation, but were highly enjoyable all the same. A bizarre, farcical version of the Odyssey, if taken primarily by land instead of sea. Worth a read if old fantasy tales that tell uniquely odd stories are your bag. I don't know if I would read more of the series, but I enjoyed the read primarily for Cugel. Cugel the Clever. Clever indeed...

The King in Yellow / The Mystery of Choice by Robert W. Chambers

adventurous dark emotional informative lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

When I began this book, I had bought it for the King In Yellow section of stories. Some of them were very good, too. The Court of the Dragon, The Yellow Sign, The Mask, and The Demoiselle d'Ys - were all great in seperate ways.

However, personally, I enjoyed RWC's Mystery of Choice collection as a whole to be stronger and more enjoyable a read. Especially The Purple Emperor, The Messenger, and The White Shadow. Something about how they were written and told stood out and captured me more than the King In Yellow.

I understand as well that some stories were left absent from the collection of King in Yellow stories present in this book. I've heard they're quite basic and seem to oddly have no obvious connection to the playscript of The King in Yellow which ties his stories together. 

Nonetheless, RWC is a very talented writer, and his imagery is gorgeous. His romance-writing shows as the many relationships shown are tender, enjoyable, and sweet.

Divisible by Itself and One by Kae Tempest

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

3.75

There was some strong poetry in this book. I found some of the poems not to my liking however I couldn't pick out much that I felt made it wrong or weak, simply not to my preference in parts. Would recommend. My favourite poem was probably 'Cacoon.' Her form poetry was unique.

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Strong first book to finish reading in the year of 2024. I haven't read anything quite like this book before and it was a welcome blast. I hope to read more books like this in the future. Brilliantly written and absurdly on point with its handling of the concept of grief.