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iamjudgedredd's reviews
269 reviews
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book is some excellent merits to it, as well as some interesting (and I believe purposeful detractions). A ghostly, choral affair that deals with death, life, love and loss, in many different forms and walks of life. The plot is minutely simple but the characters are rich with life (irony) although much of that richness and life is not to be found in the words on the pages, rather the allusions to fuller lived experiences, and things to come.
Truly, Lincoln in the Bardo is: The Journey and Not the Destination: A Novel. Again, The Bardo itself being the main character is a place, but not a destination. Lots to play around with in this experimental novel, and at times it reaches exceedingly great heights, and at others it struggles to get where it's going - again, that could be seen as purposeful, but for me it stumbled a few times in trying.
Truly, Lincoln in the Bardo is: The Journey and Not the Destination: A Novel. Again, The Bardo itself being the main character is a place, but not a destination. Lots to play around with in this experimental novel, and at times it reaches exceedingly great heights, and at others it struggles to get where it's going - again, that could be seen as purposeful, but for me it stumbled a few times in trying.
Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Not in the right mood. Book is extremely opaque.
From Hell by Alan Moore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Too slow, lost interest. Might try again some time, just lost steam and wasn't in the mood.
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
TVS was a book I was screaming my way through. That's not a metaphor for speed, it was quite literally rage inducing, frustrating, and tragic from start to finish. Like the voyerism of the neighbourhood boys, you as the reader will be on the outside of the novel begging to be able to reach into the pages and shake some sense into almost every single one of the characters.
Eugenides' success as an author is on full display in this 250 pager. He crammed so much into it without it feeling bloated, on-the-nose, or pretentious. I found the prose to be unpretentious, and yet pregnant with meaning, sense experience, and philosophy (much of which is between the lines). The accessibility of this novel is, I presume, why it's an educational staple, especially for younger readers. That being said, I'm a 36 year old white man, and it was just as moving and relevant to me as to any teenager.
I loved this book. I loved it in the way that it succeeded in everything it set out to do; to frustrate, to reflect, and to expose. It was enraging, callous, and vile at times. And yet the tiny moments of reflection, deference, and hope highlight that human nature endures far beyond the bounds of the oppressive environs of 1970's suburbia.
Eugenides' success as an author is on full display in this 250 pager. He crammed so much into it without it feeling bloated, on-the-nose, or pretentious. I found the prose to be unpretentious, and yet pregnant with meaning, sense experience, and philosophy (much of which is between the lines). The accessibility of this novel is, I presume, why it's an educational staple, especially for younger readers. That being said, I'm a 36 year old white man, and it was just as moving and relevant to me as to any teenager.
I loved this book. I loved it in the way that it succeeded in everything it set out to do; to frustrate, to reflect, and to expose. It was enraging, callous, and vile at times. And yet the tiny moments of reflection, deference, and hope highlight that human nature endures far beyond the bounds of the oppressive environs of 1970's suburbia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Loved volume 2 just like volume 1
Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
What a stunning and surprising book. It shouldn't be, because it's highly considered - but I'd just never heard of this before I randomly found it in a second hand book shop. I blitzed through it in a few sittings because it was really hard to put down. I found the characters, the community, the culture all so very compelling. My favourites were the slices of rural Sudanese life that you find in the discussions and stories being bantered around by the elders over drinks.
Whilst there's a fascinating broader story about the protagonist and the mysterious Mustafa, that explores much of colonization, clashing world views and cultures, again, the interpersonal relationships are what I found so interesting. The layers of Islam on top of European colonization, on top of agrarian villaging paint a wonderfully nuanced portrait of a life that couldn't be further away from my own.
Whilst there's a fascinating broader story about the protagonist and the mysterious Mustafa, that explores much of colonization, clashing world views and cultures, again, the interpersonal relationships are what I found so interesting. The layers of Islam on top of European colonization, on top of agrarian villaging paint a wonderfully nuanced portrait of a life that couldn't be further away from my own.
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I've watched the Netflix adaptation, which suffers from the age-old problem of child actors never being quite up to snuff when it comes to acting. I still enjoyed it though, but had no idea it was based on a series of graphic novels. I read volume on in like, just over an hour, it's lightning paced, and so much more about the vibes, and the messages, rather than over-complex images and wordy dialogue. So much of the character development is in the negative space of the panes, or in the passing of the pages. It's adorable, heartwarming, and queer - everything that a you would want from something like this.
Troubles by J.G. Farrell
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
The Troubles is a tale of crumbling British colonial rule in Ireland told through the lens of an eccentric cast of The Quality living in a dilapidated hotel: The Majestic.
The pacing is quite literally glacial, twisting, and plodding, much like taking a stroll through the rotten corridors of the great building. It's a comedy, but like all comedies it's juxtapose with striking terror, and other very heavy themes. All of which the cast attempts to gloss over with a veneer of 'civilization' in a land that their bigotry and fear deems to be more and more barbaric.
Not a book for everyone, and honestly parts of it were pretty hard work because of the pacing, but I'm very glad that I completed it.
The pacing is quite literally glacial, twisting, and plodding, much like taking a stroll through the rotten corridors of the great building. It's a comedy, but like all comedies it's juxtapose with striking terror, and other very heavy themes. All of which the cast attempts to gloss over with a veneer of 'civilization' in a land that their bigotry and fear deems to be more and more barbaric.
Not a book for everyone, and honestly parts of it were pretty hard work because of the pacing, but I'm very glad that I completed it.
The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 2: Fredericksburg to Meridian by Shelby Foote, Shelby Foote
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Book two completed. This one includes some of the titanic struggles of the war including Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga. Really sober part of the war with the escalations of casualty numbers, and upping the antes of the stakes.
Really enjoying this series.
Really enjoying this series.
Morning Star by Pierce Brown
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A predictable end to a popular sci-fi trilogy. I can see why people like it, and it does what it sets out to do well enough. It’s good without being great, even though this one was the best of the three it may not have been my favourite.
Probably won’t bother with the others in the series, as there’s a lot and the time commitment is warranted with the quality of the books.
Probably won’t bother with the others in the series, as there’s a lot and the time commitment is warranted with the quality of the books.