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carrimeraviridae's reviews
49 reviews
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
Revenge really is a dish best served cold.
I was saddened when Edmond's peaceful life was taken away from him by these greedy men. Thanks to Abbé Faria, Edmond was able to piece together the misfortunes that befell on his supposedly happiest day. The good abbé also was able to support him post-Château d'If. I was rooting for the Count's vengeance all of the way.
At the start, I got overwhelmed by the amount of characters. There are too many names to remember! However, the more I read, the more I got invested in each of their stories. I wanted more. I didn't want the story to end.
Rating: 5/5
I was saddened when Edmond's peaceful life was taken away from him by these greedy men. Thanks to Abbé Faria, Edmond was able to piece together the misfortunes that befell on his supposedly happiest day. The good abbé also was able to support him post-Château d'If. I was rooting for the Count's vengeance all of the way.
At the start, I got overwhelmed by the amount of characters. There are too many names to remember! However, the more I read, the more I got invested in each of their stories. I wanted more. I didn't want the story to end.
Rating: 5/5
1984 by George Orwell
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
You know, I actually DNF'd this in 2020 at the part when Julia and Winston first had sex. I hate instalove scenarios. There's no buildup and nothing to get invested into.
I tried rereading this and thankfully got past that scene. The next one that really challenged me was Part II, Chapter IX. If you know, you know. I almost DNF'd it again but I stopped reading it for a few days and waited for a better mindset.
This really was a part novel, part essay. It's kinda dry. The setting is horrifying but I kind of wanted more with the execution. I didn't care much for the characters.
Reading Time: 7h 51m
I tried rereading this and thankfully got past that scene. The next one that really challenged me was Part II, Chapter IX. If you know, you know. I almost DNF'd it again but I stopped reading it for a few days and waited for a better mindset.
This really was a part novel, part essay. It's kinda dry. The setting is horrifying but I kind of wanted more with the execution. I didn't care much for the characters.
Reading Time: 7h 51m
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love Crichton's way of storytelling. Complicated things sound so simple and there aren't any boring parts. I know most of what would happen because I watched and adored the movie. Seeing the differences are fun and adds to the thrill of the plot.
I just kinda hated Lex as a character. She's a kid so her actions can be excusable. But she's annoying. Also didn't quite get the purpose of Dr. Grant and co.'s final actions if the scene ended like that.
I just kinda hated Lex as a character. She's a kid so her actions can be excusable. But she's annoying. Also didn't quite get the purpose of Dr. Grant and co.'s final actions if the scene ended like that.
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Yeaaah, the only reason I read this is because I enjoyed the movie. I wanted to see the difference between the adaptation and the one it's based on.
When reading this, I felt I was eating junk food that I didn't like very much. Of course, I still loved the twist with Tyler.
When reading this, I felt I was eating junk food that I didn't like very much. Of course, I still loved the twist with Tyler.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
My understanding of the very loose narrative, I give credit to the short film adaptation I watched last year. I actually preferred that over this short story. The words are quite challenging to read at the start due to the artistic choice of font, but my eyes quickly adapted to it.
My favorite part which makes me teary-eyed everytime is when the horse reveals something about itself and kept it hidden because the other horses are jealous. In favor of fitting in, the horse decided to inhibit his gift and be more "normal".
My favorite part which makes me teary-eyed everytime is when the horse reveals something about itself and kept it hidden because the other horses are jealous. In favor of fitting in, the horse decided to inhibit his gift and be more "normal".
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Dang, this was so bleak. Nothing matters. Nobody cares. Everyone's on autopilot. The novel's also hilariously dark at times.
Of course, I know Patrick Bateman via the iconic movie. I got curious with its book counterpart which led me into reading this. The parts where I genuinely felt creeped out, icky, and viscerally hurt were all of his scenes involving the unfortunate women.
I would not like to live a life where nothing valuable and meaningful ever occurs. It's funny that he can monologue on what someone's wearing, but he doesn't know who the wearer is.
Other parts can be quite dragging, especially when he's mentally breaking down ang word vomiting reviews of some music albums.
Reading Time: 9h 7m
Of course, I know Patrick Bateman via the iconic movie. I got curious with its book counterpart which led me into reading this. The parts where I genuinely felt creeped out, icky, and viscerally hurt were all of his scenes involving the unfortunate women.
I would not like to live a life where nothing valuable and meaningful ever occurs. It's funny that he can monologue on what someone's wearing, but he doesn't know who the wearer is.
Other parts can be quite dragging, especially when he's mentally breaking down ang word vomiting reviews of some music albums.
Reading Time: 9h 7m
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I love stories with a circus or a carnival as a setting. This novel is like a comforting dream for me. The descriptive prose really brings me into the main event. The story has the vibes of mystery and fantasy I like. But I warn the readers that it is very light in plot.
I think a revision of the book's description is in order. The duel between the two characters was exaggerated and I am also not a fan of instant love. I would have rated this higher if the synopsis wasn't a little misleading. I wished the other characters had more "screentime".
Reading Time: 6h 57m
I think a revision of the book's description is in order. The duel between the two characters was exaggerated and I am also not a fan of instant love. I would have rated this higher if the synopsis wasn't a little misleading. I wished the other characters had more "screentime".
Reading Time: 6h 57m
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
sad
fast-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? Yes
1.5
Well... it was a page turner. That's the only positive thing this novel has. Hmm, maybe the dog too?
The main character is annoying and quirky for the sake of being quirky. I'm a medical student, but I don't go around calling nosebleeds as epistaxis, vomiting as emesis, or heart attacks as acute myocardial infarctions casually.
I would have believed what her mouth spouted if she was a time traveler from today who went back into the 1960s. The message was too on the nose. It felt unnatural and distracting. Yeah, I'm a female and I appreciate the agenda but it's not presented well.
The plot was intriguing but the execution failed.
Reading Time: 5h 47m
The main character is annoying and quirky for the sake of being quirky. I'm a medical student, but I don't go around calling nosebleeds as epistaxis, vomiting as emesis, or heart attacks as acute myocardial infarctions casually.
I would have believed what her mouth spouted if she was a time traveler from today who went back into the 1960s. The message was too on the nose. It felt unnatural and distracting. Yeah, I'm a female and I appreciate the agenda but it's not presented well.
The plot was intriguing but the execution failed.
Reading Time: 5h 47m
The Fisherman by John Langan
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I can relate to Abe's bitterness with Dan's actions in the end. It's really difficult to put trust now on people. They easily become selfish if the situation favors them.
The concept of Der Fischer didn't do anything for me. I'm also not sure how I felt with the structural style of the story, but the vibes were there.
Reading Time: 6h 39m
The concept of Der Fischer didn't do anything for me. I'm also not sure how I felt with the structural style of the story, but the vibes were there.
Reading Time: 6h 39m
The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Greg Sestero
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Years ago, when I was still taking my pre-med, PewDiePie's latest upload appeared on the top of my YT feed. The thumbnail was hilarious and I got curious. Glad I discovered one of the most iconic movies in history. Dang, The Room was really hilariously bad and funny. Few months later, a trailer for The Disaster Artist was realesed. I didn't know there was a novel written by Mark's actor.
Now that I finally got round to finishing this amazing recollection of his life behind the scenes, my enjoyment for the movie increased a lot. Tommy Wiseau was and is still, inconceivable. This book was written well.
Now that I finally got round to finishing this amazing recollection of his life behind the scenes, my enjoyment for the movie increased a lot. Tommy Wiseau was and is still, inconceivable. This book was written well.