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sagabrodersen's reviews
58 reviews
Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Fun and lighthearted! Some really beautiful moments, but a little bit too much of “hot girl summer”-vibes idk got a little bit annoyed after a while
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One of the best books I’ve ever read. It will stay with me forever.
Gosh I hate patriotism and how it really demolish people. A whole generation- lost - because of war. And Remarque is describing it so incredibly hauntingly well.
Also I’ve never read a book that describes PTSD and what it does to you better than Remarque does in this one. The amount of times I cried during this read…. Can’t even count.
Gosh I hate patriotism and how it really demolish people. A whole generation- lost - because of war. And Remarque is describing it so incredibly hauntingly well.
Also I’ve never read a book that describes PTSD and what it does to you better than Remarque does in this one. The amount of times I cried during this read…. Can’t even count.
You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here by Frances Macken
dark
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved it! Evelyn was immensely annoying though.
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
“I’m sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody”
Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, the Flesh, and L.A. by Eve Babitz
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Incredibly witty and smartly written. Loved the feeling Babitz captured throughout the whole book and it made me feel nostalgic over a time (even though I wasn’t even born then). I also really enjoyed the feminist touch ~ that even though Eve herself reduces women to looks and popularity at times, you could read her feminist views between the lines through her way of expressing herself in her writing. Her language is incredibly powerful!
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Short Stories by Hjalmar Söderberg
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Tremor by Teju Cole
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
2.75
okay so an important thing to know before reading this book is that he unexpectedly shifts the narrative !a lot!, and without warning or reason. it gets highly confusing if you are not prepared for this. the protagonist is a man called tunde, and the first 5 chapters you get really invested in his storyline and storytelling (with only a quick shift of perspective in chapter 2 or so if i remember correctly). but then chapter 6 arrives - and you are thrown into a whole other story with another protagonist. it also changes perspectives multiple times after that in very short intervals. (Smart choice of title though lol). Cole could have skipped chapter six completely and i would have rated the book 4/5 stars, but this really threw me off. In chapter six he also has a storyline with someone “engaging in sex work” and this really threw me off as well.
moving forward and focusing on the greater parts though - Cole’s language is incredibly beautiful, almost meditative, as he walks the reader through the history of art, music, and societal dynamics and issues. using artifacts from history’s past, he thoroughly examines racial injustices and colonialism, whilst also exploring the simplicity and complexity of life. there is a quote that reads “Life is hopeless but it is not serious. We have to have danced while we could and, later, to have danced again in the telling.” and i think it really captures the essence of the meaning of life.
moving forward and focusing on the greater parts though - Cole’s language is incredibly beautiful, almost meditative, as he walks the reader through the history of art, music, and societal dynamics and issues. using artifacts from history’s past, he thoroughly examines racial injustices and colonialism, whilst also exploring the simplicity and complexity of life. there is a quote that reads “Life is hopeless but it is not serious. We have to have danced while we could and, later, to have danced again in the telling.” and i think it really captures the essence of the meaning of life.