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nere's reviews
82 reviews
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
dark
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wednesday, june 7, 2023
maybe it’s a little ridiculous to be like: oh this book about the creation of human life?… that pioneered Science Fiction as a genre?.. its commenting on the morality behind creation for creations sake. and the responsibility associated with bringing forth life against its will. but it IS! AH the pitfalls of man’s hubris to play god!
having one of those moments where you read a classic and you’re like oh! this is Good. does anyone know? are people aware of this?
maybe it’s a little ridiculous to be like: oh this book about the creation of human life?… that pioneered Science Fiction as a genre?.. its commenting on the morality behind creation for creations sake. and the responsibility associated with bringing forth life against its will. but it IS! AH the pitfalls of man’s hubris to play god!
having one of those moments where you read a classic and you’re like oh! this is Good. does anyone know? are people aware of this?
“You throw a torch into a pile of buildings, and when they are consumed you sit among the ruins, and lament the fall.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Incest, Mental illness, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Babel by R.F. Kuang
this is everything dark academia was always SUPPOSED to be. critique of: academia as an institution, the centering of the white male perspective, and the gatekeeping of education. the message is not left to subtlety or negotiation. it tells you in no uncertain terms that revolution requires violence—to reap benefits we will not sow.
also, this book does a pretty fantastic job of depicting the unspoken allegiances and fraught relationships present in young adult friend groups.
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
thursday, march 2, 2023
one major selling point of this for me is that i totally forgot i’ve ALWAYS been obsessed with the etymology of words. just something innate in my interests like shakespeare and the history of medicine. so this totally scratches a niche itch for me.
one major selling point of this for me is that i totally forgot i’ve ALWAYS been obsessed with the etymology of words. just something innate in my interests like shakespeare and the history of medicine. so this totally scratches a niche itch for me.
this is everything dark academia was always SUPPOSED to be. critique of: academia as an institution, the centering of the white male perspective, and the gatekeeping of education. the message is not left to subtlety or negotiation. it tells you in no uncertain terms that revolution requires violence—to reap benefits we will not sow.
also, this book does a pretty fantastic job of depicting the unspoken allegiances and fraught relationships present in young adult friend groups.
“But that’s absurd,’ said Letty. ‘Language is just words, just thoughts – you can’t constrain the use of a language.’
‘Can’t you?’ asked Anthony.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
thursday, february 23, 2023
really love the concept, not entirely a fan of the execution
friday, june 30, 2023 (reread)
past me doesnt know what shes talking about. this shit FUCKS. (this series to meant to be reread)
really love the concept, not entirely a fan of the execution
friday, june 30, 2023 (reread)
past me doesnt know what shes talking about. this shit FUCKS. (this series to meant to be reread)
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
challenging
dark
slow-paced
3.0
monday, january 22, 2023
its hard to say anything that doesn’t feel like a personal affront to the experience. it isn’t. i’ve heard praises and back about this book and unfortunately, for me, it didn’t live up to the hype. though, it is no doubt an important work of nonfiction given its scarcity in the current climate.
“What is the value of proof? What does it mean for something to be true? If a tree falls in the woods and pins a wood thrush to the earth, and she shrieks and shrieks but no one hears her, did she make a sound? Did she suffer? Who’s to say?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Homophobia
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
informative
fast-paced
4.0
wednesday, january 18, 2023
method: audiobook, ebook
rigorously researched and also happens to admit to the shortcomings of research in medicine, as well as the naturalistic realm. without dismissing either one outright. it’s rare i leave a nonfiction book of this type actually feeling like i looked at a topic from all sides. a breath of fresh air… so to speak
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
lots of fun and splendidly written. prose to seek to emulate.
my major complaint is that though this book is character driven (which i love. i'm a character driven reader first and foremost) the characters aren’t nearly as developed as you would expect them to be. or at least not to my liking.Magdalena never progresses past her political savy and bouts of depression. Alexi is never more than a young boy. the unnamed You is yes, cruel, abusive, charismatic. but i didn't fall in love with him in a way that would be expected in a novel of this nature, gutted to be betrayed by his cruelty. it results in the feeling of being held at arms length, not quite the whole picture but not the minute details either.
there are moments of reprieve where we do see bits of their daily lives beyond just summary of it. i just wish they weren't as scarce.
this really had every potential to be a five star for me but chipped its way down to four. still a delightfully fun time i will admit, and exquisitely written as i mentioned. it gives me such an urge to write and thats one of the highest compliments i can give it.
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
thursday, january 5th, 2023
lots of fun and splendidly written. prose to seek to emulate.
my major complaint is that though this book is character driven (which i love. i'm a character driven reader first and foremost) the characters aren’t nearly as developed as you would expect them to be. or at least not to my liking.
there are moments of reprieve where we do see bits of their daily lives beyond just summary of it. i just wish they weren't as scarce.
this really had every potential to be a five star for me but chipped its way down to four. still a delightfully fun time i will admit, and exquisitely written as i mentioned. it gives me such an urge to write and thats one of the highest compliments i can give it.
"I still wake to the smell of smoke sometimes."
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh
dark
informative
medium-paced
2.0
Thursday, December 22, 2022
"I often have to cut into the brain and it is something I hate doing."
unfortunately this very much reads like someone who loves to hear themselves talk
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail