loischanel's reviews
312 reviews

Very dark, twisted and almost demonic anti-hero story. A most unconventional romance for such a classic and a profound depth behind the many toxic relationships

Very funny! A plot-driven, gripping historical tale about Uhtred's determination to settle his bloodfeud with his uncle who betrayed his father and stole his birthright. Along the way he meets new comrades and faces new adversaries. A brilliant read for all those partial towards historical fiction and Game of thrones!

I just finished reading A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler which is a short novella that can be completed in one-sitting. Its about the secluded and humble life of Andreas Egger, a lone human being who has spent his whole life living in a mountain valley in Austria. Though the story is very slow paced, it has an abundance of scenic and atmospheric prose. I thought it was a quietly dignified look into the solitary life of its very modest protagonist. It didn't try to grab my attention or pull me in as the reader through any fanciful means, it simply told the unassuming story of Andreas' ordinary life without trying to sound like an award-winning bestseller. It was a very self aware read that most people who don't mind a very slow-burner will enjoy

This novel in itself was very average and while it was quite interesting, it was on the whole, underwhelming and felt like so many different movies I've seen before.

Though I loved the first book, I honestly wasn't expecting much from the sequel and I expect even less from Still Me, because the first novel had the reedemable quality of a stirring premise whilst the sequel novel has a clichéd coming-of-age plot that appropriates almost every troupe in the proverbial book.

After You introduces a new character as a tired and unoriginal plot device to induce some sort of shock at the revelation, but sadly I was not impressed.

Deeply philosophical and poetic. A step above it's time in the way it challenges the social norms of it's day. It has chilling and creative premise that has seen it preserved through the ages. However, Dorian Gray is a very verbose read that constantly preaches one philosophy or another, of which the main culprit is Lord Henry Wotton who is very funny but equally as overbearing, whilst the eponymous protagonist is wholly the latter.

Very imaginative concept that was rich in symbolism and allegory. The start of the story developed very slowly but otherwise I loved the way the plot unravelled and the way it dealt with loss, addiction and abuse.

A very raw and demented novel in the way it handles such themes as sexual perversion and masochism. The ending was a bit disappointing in that it was far too vague but otherwise a deeply enthralling novel that I applaud for its boldness.

Loved the voluptuousness of these stories and the gothic excess that were subverted derivatives of classic fairy tales. I loved the concept behind The Bloody Chamber and The Lady Of The House Of Love which were both rich in motifs and delectable imagery.