feedingbrett's reviews
187 reviews

Asa takes to the skies! The pulsating tension of the previous volume is retained here, as we witness the experience begin to shape Asa, and sets the scene of what is to come ahead. The human relationships, the feats of determinations, and the grip of hope sit firmly behind the plot but anchor the reading experience. I can only anticipate great things.

Asadora!, Vol. 1 by Naoki Urasawa

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hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A story that centres on the humans who act amid tragedy, rather than priority on the tragedy itself. Its titular character and a stumbled-upon burglar find themselves morally confronted and putting themselves into action. Naoki Urasawa demonstrates the capability of trauma to freeze individuals as they face the truth of the matter, but eventually driven to act once a need is recognised as priority starts to expand away from just their own. This is a story that rests on the appeal of its characters to anchor one’s interest, and I can say that through the combination of his storytelling and art style, I found myself invested.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

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adventurous sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

In the depths of abandonment, ambiguity, confusion, and loss breed self-infliction and angst in our protagonist, Meg. Her journey that we share, traces her growth out of this rut, with the author doing so through a blended means of fantasy and science, the logical and the emotional, the literal and the metaphorical. Conceptually, I was on board and eager to see how all would unfold, however, there is a momentum rush in its final few chapters that finds its point arriving at a flurry, which may add to its needed tension but dampened its overall impact - notably post-read. It felt like it was a journey that demonstrated its appeal and value as I was riding through it, but less so once in retrospect. That being said, it was quite a ride.

The Trial by Franz Kafka

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challenging informative mysterious 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

4.0

Oppressed, manipulated, and disorientated, is the world that Josef K. finds himself trapped under. Obscured from the truth that sits behind the forces that hold him stagnant, Kafka gives a window into a world distorted by smokescreen bureaucracy, slowly chipping away at the concept of true liberty whilst under the scrutiny of suspicion. Intelligently assembled with its readers kept, similarly to Josef, deprived of true insight, always in step with Josef’s own pace as we travel through this systemic maze together. This led to a reading experience incapable of accurate foresight, stripping away my control and power over the story. What I was left with was perspective and logic to assemble meaning in the protagonist’s experience. Yet, despite all efforts, attaining complete clarity of its various world systems remains punishingly elusive. While I state this, Kafka has still crafted an experience that is stimulating, a nudge to look back into our own realities and whether such require the same review and scrutiny as I had given for this novel.

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The author’s attempt to usher us into a familiarly unique world, while assembling the building blocks that would propel its characters and, potentially, the world forward, is a rather successful one. A hunger for understanding of its building blocks and mechanics was satisfied through its larger and interwoven canvas of characters, and its core mystery that relates to its titular character finds its way to relevance by its end. It speaks on the idea of truth, meaning, and significance, all explored within the domains of spirituality, socioeconomics, politics, and culture. We are treated to a world different from our own, yet it desires to explore why an alternative exists, how it could exist in relation to our own, and knowing of that knowledge and what can be done about it. The clarity of its response to such questions will not satisfy particular readers, but for those that are happy to simply have such questions be pondered and formed towards one’s own hypothesis and impressions, then Philip K. Dick has successfully produced a housing for such rumination.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

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adventurous hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Mark Twain places his readers in a state of empathy towards a child that, from the outside looking in, can be easily misunderstood by society and its adult members. While he yet recognises the value of labour, a perceived requirement of maturity in society, he counters such through his innovative ways of assuring completion of his given tasks, as he barters or delegates that would allow protected time for his personal priorities. Speaking of priorities, we get a glimpse of the various passions of his life, whether it may be the heart of Becky Thatcher or the alluring promise of glory through piracy, robbery, or treasure hunting, with these professions marking themselves as more of an aspirational identity rather than just a mere ‘occupation’. Throughout, Twain provides a critique of society and its comprised adults through their impact on our protagonist, while also leaving subtle character parallels in its account, with Injun Joe’s tendering to his wounded pride and thirst for loot being a key contrast for one to ruminate. This was an achievement due to its intention to be unrestricted by plot and provide a focused review of its titular character. We experience its tale like a wayward spirit alongside its characters as we perceive these regular but significant moments of the boy's life as if with an air of coincidence.

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

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adventurous mysterious reflective medium-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

4.5

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feedingbrett's reviews 187 reviews

feedingbrett's reviews
187 reviews