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jersy's reviews
643 reviews
Time Enough For Love by Robert A. Heinlein
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
First of all, some of Heinlein's views and ideas are pretty progressive and liberal, others terribly outdated and unlikable for a modern audience, and some just weird. It's not for everyone, but if you're along for the ride you'll see that he puts so much more effort into his characters than his contemporaries (I deeply cared for them), tells entertaining stories that are more than what you expect from the simple premise (or at least just kind of different), describes an interesting future and questions the understanding of right and wrong.
This book isn't really what I expected from it, it's actually mostly 4 stories with some extras: The framework is Lazarus basically sitting around, discussing concepts and forming a relationship with some people, then there is a story of two slaves he frees that become like children to him, next one were he raises an orphan until she proposes to him and they start a colony on a far off planet (that story was much sweeter than it had any right to be) and lastly Lazarus revisits his childhood family. Some of Heinlein's "quirks" may seem inexcusable, but he sold all of the relationships so well to me. The whole story just fellt convincing and impressive, especially since it was a quiet, relationship-focused story where I could feel how everyone deeply cared for each other and enjoyed their time around. Sure, it reads like Heinlein's power fantasy, but it embraces it and I had a way too good time to have contructive critiscm drag my rating down. If you can sell that shit to me and make me almost buy your justifications, you deserve 5 stars. Also, great settings.
This book isn't really what I expected from it, it's actually mostly 4 stories with some extras: The framework is Lazarus basically sitting around, discussing concepts and forming a relationship with some people, then there is a story of two slaves he frees that become like children to him, next one were he raises an orphan until she proposes to him and they start a colony on a far off planet (that story was much sweeter than it had any right to be) and lastly Lazarus revisits his childhood family. Some of Heinlein's "quirks" may seem inexcusable, but he sold all of the relationships so well to me. The whole story just fellt convincing and impressive, especially since it was a quiet, relationship-focused story where I could feel how everyone deeply cared for each other and enjoyed their time around. Sure, it reads like Heinlein's power fantasy, but it embraces it and I had a way too good time to have contructive critiscm drag my rating down. If you can sell that shit to me and make me almost buy your justifications, you deserve 5 stars. Also, great settings.
Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am in love of the short stories that are emotional, full of themes and meaning, creative and still highly relevant. While most of them are from the 70s and 80s they can compete with, and read like some of the, award winning SF stories of today. They combine world changing events with the consequences for and feelings of individuals, well known SF tropes (e.g. aliens, apocolypses) with highly creative twists to them, and are told so effectively. They are all a bit dark but never hopeless.
The two essays about becoming an author were also really personal and stimulating and the afterword to every piece of writing gave context as well as more food for thought.
The two essays about becoming an author were also really personal and stimulating and the afterword to every piece of writing gave context as well as more food for thought.
The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
3.0
I enjoy the concept of solving the case in the first half and discovering the backstory in the second, but I liked one more than the other.
In the Holmes-focused part, there was an interesting mystery with a nice twist and Sherlocks's chemistry with the other detectives was delightful. The second half focused pretty much on a crime syndicate - not a favourite premise of mine - and featured no characters that really aroused my interest. Still, I was never bored. The freemen lodge Idea was kind of unique and I like that in Doyle's stories, America really feels like such a far off place, so different from England. The atmosphere is spot on in both parts, but this is my least favourite Sherlock Holmes book so far.
In the Holmes-focused part, there was an interesting mystery with a nice twist and Sherlocks's chemistry with the other detectives was delightful. The second half focused pretty much on a crime syndicate - not a favourite premise of mine - and featured no characters that really aroused my interest. Still, I was never bored. The freemen lodge Idea was kind of unique and I like that in Doyle's stories, America really feels like such a far off place, so different from England. The atmosphere is spot on in both parts, but this is my least favourite Sherlock Holmes book so far.
Solitude by Víctor Català
4.0
Dieses Buch wechselt hin und her zwischen besinnlichen, bewegenden und deprimierenden Szenen. Obwohl es von 1905 hat es in den Jahren nichts eingebüßt, in der heutigen Zeit könnten die Gefühle und Erlebnisse der Protagonistin noch immer die selben sein. Es geht um Einsamkeit und deren Folgen, der Suche nach Zugehörigkeit aber auch um die Liebe zur Natur und dem Erwachen von Gefühlen. Es ist ein sehr ruhiges Buch, das von Milas Alltag in den Bergen und ab und zu von Sagen und Legenden berichtet. Es vermittelt die Gefühle der Protagonistin sowie ihre Beziehungen unglaublich gut und es war eine Freude, es zu lesen.
The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A quirky fairytale that is spooky in a really lighthearted way. I enjoyed the humorus tone and the protagonist's voice a lot and the characters were a lot of fun to be around.
T. Kingfisher included some awesome ideas that I think can be fun for every age group. The story worked perfectly with the short page count but I wouldnt have minded exploring the world including the house and the history of the wifes more. Can't complain, though, since listening to the audio book made me really happy.
T. Kingfisher included some awesome ideas that I think can be fun for every age group. The story worked perfectly with the short page count but I wouldnt have minded exploring the world including the house and the history of the wifes more. Can't complain, though, since listening to the audio book made me really happy.
Traum der Wintersonne by Uschi Zietsch
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Nachdem die Prinzessin Menwy von ihrer Stiefmutter eine Bürde auferlegt bekommen hat begibt sie sich in dieser Geschichte, einer Mischung aus Traum und Sage, auf eine Suche nach Wissen und Selbsterkenntnis. Es gibt hier viel Kreativität, tolle Begleiter und eine schöne Sprache, aber durch den Stil immer eine Entfernung zwischen Leser und Figuren, die sowieso nicht so vielschichtig angelegt sind, wie man es heute erwartet. Man merkt an vielen Stellen, dass es aus den 80ern ist, und das bietet sowohl einen Reiz als auch Tücken.
Ich kann mir vorstellen, dass es etwas für Fans von Das letzte Einhorn und der Erdsee-Reihe ist, für mich war da aber etwas zu viel Distanz um mich in der Geschichte zu verlieren.
Ich kann mir vorstellen, dass es etwas für Fans von Das letzte Einhorn und der Erdsee-Reihe ist, für mich war da aber etwas zu viel Distanz um mich in der Geschichte zu verlieren.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
5.0
I'm probably the last person to read this book and watch the TV show for the first time but it was the perfect moment to do so for me.
The Langoliers by Stephen King
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
While this was quite a good desaster story, I'm still a bit dissappinted. I just expected more.
More complex characters, a more detailed and earlier explanation of the event, so it can be explored further and be more of a focus, and a story that hasn't been done so often.
It is what it wants to be and does it's thing well, the characters are fun if a bit one-dimensional it creates stakes that feel meaningful and keeps you guessing. It just didn't focus on what I was interested in.
More complex characters, a more detailed and earlier explanation of the event, so it can be explored further and be more of a focus, and a story that hasn't been done so often.
It is what it wants to be and does it's thing well, the characters are fun if a bit one-dimensional it creates stakes that feel meaningful and keeps you guessing. It just didn't focus on what I was interested in.
The Reindeer People by Megan Lindholm
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A historical novel with fantasy elements mostly about a woman protecting herself and her mentally handicapped son. The style and tone is typical of older fantasy and fits this story perfectly. The book is calm and character-focused but there is always a sense of threat. I love how the main characters aren't the typical protagonists we get in modern fantasy books: a single mum varry of posessive men, unsure how to raise her son best, and a reindeer herder struggling with societies expectations and developing a fondness for said son. The atmosphere and setting is on point, the characters well done, though the overall writing isnt as strong as in later books by the author.
The Sea Wolf by Jack London
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The highlight of the book is without a doubt its antagonist: Wolf Larsen is brutal and without moral but also intelligent and self-educated, feared and hated by all but looking for intellectual companionship. He is complex and I enjoyed his interactions with the protagonist, Humphrey, a lot. Hump has the typical ark of never having sailed before and learning to live the rough life on a ship, which also really appeals to me. The writing is quite beautiful as well.
Unfortunately, none of the other characters, including another main one joining the cast later on, ever came near to being that interesting, but they fulfilled their role well.
Unfortunately, none of the other characters, including another main one joining the cast later on, ever came near to being that interesting, but they fulfilled their role well.