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literaryjunarin's reviews
474 reviews
The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.0
Why are they acting therapist to each other?
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
dark
medium-paced
4.0
“I looked and looked at her, and knew as clearly as I know I am to die, that I loved her more than anything I had ever seen or imagined on earth, or hoped for anywhere else.”
Disgusting, horrid plot but masterfully crafted. Gorgeous prose, impeccable storytelling. I devoured this.
Disgusting, horrid plot but masterfully crafted. Gorgeous prose, impeccable storytelling. I devoured this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: And Other Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald
funny
fast-paced
4.0
I'm still thinking how the mother gave birth to a 72-year-old, 5'8" tall Benjamin Button.
I liked the movie more because it delved deeper into Benjamin's backward ageing. This book is too short for that.
I liked the movie more because it delved deeper into Benjamin's backward ageing. This book is too short for that.
Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
“Separation cannot kill love, as you know, but it is an agony nonetheless.”
The only part I knew before reading this book is that Psyche is not allowed to see Eros's face, so reading this book is such a treat for me. However, after reading other reviews, it seems like this book is more re-imagining than retelling. It was mentioned in the plot that this is a "reimagining of Greek mythology" though, so I guess there's that.
With that out of the way, I can say that I loved this. The narration was indeed utterly transporting and was executed seamlessly. The story is easy to follow and the switching POV was not confusing at all. Eros was a lovely character. I'm disappointed with Psyche's development though. I thought she would really become a hero.
All in all, I adored this.
The only part I knew before reading this book is that Psyche is not allowed to see Eros's face, so reading this book is such a treat for me. However, after reading other reviews, it seems like this book is more re-imagining than retelling. It was mentioned in the plot that this is a "reimagining of Greek mythology" though, so I guess there's that.
With that out of the way, I can say that I loved this. The narration was indeed utterly transporting and was executed seamlessly. The story is easy to follow and the switching POV was not confusing at all. Eros was a lovely character. I'm disappointed with Psyche's development though. I thought she would really become a hero.
All in all, I adored this.
Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.75
"One makes mistakes when there is confusion between having a future at all and having the future one wants.”
DESCRIPTION: While on her daily walk with her dog in a secluded woods, a woman comes across a note, handwritten and carefully pinned to the ground by stones. “Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn’t me. Here is her dead body.” But there is no dead body. From this note, the narrator imagines who Magda is and lists the murder suspects.
This book is the embodiment of overthinking. I didn't really like it. I read We Spread by Iain Reid 3 weeks ago so I believe I have had my fill of unravelling mind narratives of old women.
DESCRIPTION: While on her daily walk with her dog in a secluded woods, a woman comes across a note, handwritten and carefully pinned to the ground by stones. “Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn’t me. Here is her dead body.” But there is no dead body. From this note, the narrator imagines who Magda is and lists the murder suspects.
This book is the embodiment of overthinking. I didn't really like it. I read We Spread by Iain Reid 3 weeks ago so I believe I have had my fill of unravelling mind narratives of old women.
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
“You are my angel and my damnation; in your presence, I reach divine ecstasy and in your absence I descent to hell.”
Set in 1849, a delightfully rich story about a pregnant young woman from Chile who traveled to California during the Gold Rush to find her lover. I enjoyed all the historical context from Chile to China to California. The side characters are all interesting as well. Epic tale.
Set in 1849, a delightfully rich story about a pregnant young woman from Chile who traveled to California during the Gold Rush to find her lover. I enjoyed all the historical context from Chile to China to California. The side characters are all interesting as well. Epic tale.
Helen of Sparta by Amalia Carosella
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.
DNF because I'm biased. I read Clytemnestra before this so when she was depicted here as an attention-seeking flirt, I couldn't handle it. Leda was pictured as an evil, scheming mother as well. Then Theseus, who was a capital a-hole in the book Ariadne, is such a fine gentleman in this story. Reading different retellings is so interesting but when details clash like this, I'm just left discombobulated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
dark
tense
medium-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
“The thing is - fear can't hurt you any more than a dream.”
Well, the thing is, I think if a group of young boys got stranded on an island with no one to supervise them, I believe they'd all just be scared and then eat fruits when they get hungry. I can accept the savagery written in this book if the characters are at least teenagers, not 12-year-olds.
Well, the thing is, I think if a group of young boys got stranded on an island with no one to supervise them, I believe they'd all just be scared and then eat fruits when they get hungry. I can accept the savagery written in this book if the characters are at least teenagers, not 12-year-olds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
informative
fast-paced
3.0
I was overwhelmed by all this information about salt, ranging from its first known use, etymology, monopoly, trade, its role in building empires, slavery, and wars, and its multitude of recipes.
We Spread by Iain Reid
tense
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? No
3.5
This is a tense, unsettling read. It talked about the lonely solitude of the elderly, the need to do more, and the fear of growing old. Reid's narration always has a dark, hypnotic atmosphere, which is disconcerting, but I also cannot stop listening.
When Penny, an elderly woman in a long-term care residence started losing grip on the passage of time, I was holding my breath. Sadly, my last remaining brain cell cannot think critically and I could not solve the mystery. Did she just move in or is she in the residence for years already? Why can't she go out? Are the carers doing something insidious to them without their knowledge? Or is it just Penny's delusions caused by her deteriorating mind?
At the end of the book, I was like, "Uhm wait what?".
When Penny, an elderly woman in a long-term care residence started losing grip on the passage of time, I was holding my breath. Sadly, my last remaining brain cell cannot think critically and I could not solve the mystery. Did she just move in or is she in the residence for years already? Why can't she go out? Are the carers doing something insidious to them without their knowledge? Or is it just Penny's delusions caused by her deteriorating mind?
At the end of the book, I was like, "Uhm wait what?".