Ash
4.5 stars
In 1692, nineteen people were executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.
The events described in Miller's play are true and historically documented. Yes, Miller took some artistic liberties with some of the people (such as ageing Abigail and having her be in an affair with Proctor), but the core of the play reflects the very real and horrible events of the witch trials.
The play takes place in a small farming community outside of Salem and centres around a group of young girls who accuse their neighbours of witchcraft and of cavorting with the devil. By the end of act I, we clearly see how the accusations and subsequent trials are pure conjecture and nonsense, which women being accused of “sending their spirits” forth to harm others, women killing babies through “supernatural means,” and plain, old-fashioned hearsay and rumours born out of superstitions and ignorance. In this town, the fear of God is ingrained into everything, and people are found guilty based on their level of belief or how many times they go to church. Here, the law is not separate from the Church, which creates a conflict in how people are judged for their alleged crimes. This theocratic society caused pain, torture, and death to its inhabitants because of a mass hysteria brought on by a group of scared and misguided children.
Because of the nature of this play, one should not expect a happy resolution to the problems and, indeed, the conclusion to the play is as bleak and heart wrenching as what you can imagine. To me, Giles Corey's death was the most poignant. Giles had never done anything other than try to protect his land from those who would have him murdered for it; and yet, he was still killed during questioning because he refused to admit to something he didn't do. Giles' line of "more stones" as a response to his torture was, in my opinion, the saddest part of the whole play.
Miller's retelling of this horrific event is masterful in both its execution and the affects it creates. Miller wrote this play during a time of unrest in the United states, and it was originally meant to draw parallels between the witch trials of old and McCarthyism. This shows that “witch hunts” are still very much present in our society, only that they take on different forms each time they appear.
I first read this book in the original Japanese back in 2016 because the movie adaptation was coming out that same year. One of my favourite actors, Sato Takeru, played the lead role in the movie, which is why I picked up the book in the first place. Honestly, I don't remember much of the plot other than it revolves around a terminally ill MC. Now that it has an English translation, I should probably reread it and see if my rating still stands.
Wow, I'm clearly in the minority here, but why the heck do people adore this book/series? I honestly don't get it, and I guess I never will. There are tons of great YA fairy-centric stories, so why waste your time on this one?
DNFed at less than 20%... yikes.
3 ½
Summary
Hester Prynne, the wife of a man long-presumed dead, is found guilty of adultery and sentenced to wear a scarlet badge featuring the letter A on the front of her dress. Upon exiting the jail in which she spent the last few months of her life, pregnant, Hester is made to stand on a platform in the town square with her newborn daughter in her arms, and is heckled by the villagers for a day and a night. They try to convince her to name the father of the child so that he may suffer his penalty alongside her, but Hester refuses and keeps the knowledge to herself.
Set only a few years prior to the Salem Witch Trials, Hester's story is peppered with mentions of witches, witchcraft, and Satan. Her husband, who mysteriously finds his way back to the settlement where Hester lives, takes on a new name, Roger Chillingworth, and makes it his life's mission to unmask Hester's lover.
Chillingworth, a physician by trade, befriends the town's pastor, a young man named Arthur Dimmesdale, and tries to ‘heal' him from his affliction—a heart problem and overall unhealthiness. Chillingworth has a sixth sense when it comes to the pastor and gradually uncovers the secret that Hester guards so fiercely.
I have laughed, in bitterness and agony of heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am!
Review
The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter
Hester and Pearl on the scaffold.
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 2 hours
Tags: historical, war, female agency, proto-feminism, politics, ancient Greece, theatre, comedy
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 8/10
Summary
The Peloponnesian War has been going on for too long, according to the women of Sparta and Athens, the two warring city states. Lysistrata, a young Athenian woman, decides one day that enough is enough; the war must end, and the women are the ones who will stop it. To achieve this, Lysistrata comes up with a brilliant plan that will drive the men to their knees: withhold sexual favours until they give up on the war. At first, the women are unsure of whether this will actually work, but, as Lysistrata and the others seize the Acropolis, the seat of power in Athens, they come to realize that they hold much more power than what they originally thought. Through a battle of wills, the women of Sparta and Athens prove themselves capable of ruling the city and, if men aren't happy about it, they can just leave.
Review
If you've never read Aristophanes, get ready. As the father of Greek comedy, he is, of course, very witty and funny, but his brand of comedy is bawdy and crude throughout the play. However, even though it seems as though this story isn't very deep because of its language, the bawdiness hides a very important political and social critique: women are capable politicians and strategists, and society has done them wrong by assuming that they cannot accomplish what men do.
Written over 2000 years ago, this play presents ideas and themes that are still very much relevant today. Why can't women be allowed to be in positions of power? Why should war be a man's undertaking? How can countries listen to and respect all of their citizens' voices? These, and more, are things that are developed in this play, but they are camouflaged by comedy.
Aristophanes weaves these ideas throughout the play, and his main character, Lysistrata, is a true politician and war general in how she rallies her troops, takes command of the city, and ultimately gets the men to bow down and give up on the war. She is, of course, a pacifist who does not believe in bloodshed for the sake of gaining territory or power. She is also an idealist who wishes for her city to be more embracing of the different people who make up its numbers. Lysistrata is a hero for her people; she wields a weapon–that of men's sexual desires–to obtain what she wants, which is peace.
By comparison, the other characters in the play pale significantly. The other women are not as brave and clever as Lysistrata; they nearly abandon her plan entirely because they, too, need to have their sexual needs fulfilled. However, Lysistrata rallies them all under the promise that if they stick together, they have a chance at having a better future.
By the end of the play, we have a happy resolution for Sparta and Athens, and men and women alike. The chorus, which had previously been split into a men's chorus and a women's chorus, is united as a single entity of Athenian citizens, showing that the city is also united, unlike before. The soldiers on both sides of the war come to a peaceful arrangement, and the men are permitted to return to their wives and their homes.
Ultimately, Lysistrata proves herself to be a true heroine, a mortal Pallas ruling from beneath the great goddess' shadow at the Acropolis.
It was okay, not as good as the main story. The romance was too much “in your face” and didn't have any kind of build up to it. I was reading through it and thought “yeah, this is a gooey teenage romance. No substance”. On a side note, why did the author choose to switch to a 1st person narrator? It made the story sound even more juvenile than what I would have liked.
What can one say about P&P that hasn't already been said a thousand times? It's a literary classic of epic proportions, a romance story for the ages, and a tour de force in artistic genius. Out of Austen's novels, this one is probaly the best known and loved one, and for good reason. I keep coming back to this novel (and its film adaptations) as it remains one of my most favourite stories above all others.
5 stars for the golden hero, -1 star for having heard all of it through Patroclus' fanboy voice.Aristos AchaionWow, what can I say, I love me some Greek mythology, all day, any day. It just so happens that the story around Troy is one of my favourites (even though it is pretty stupid to start a war out of pride). I thought that this book would be really heavy on the war narrative but surprisingly, it really wasn't. I enjoyed reading about Achilles and Chiron the most and seeing how he grew into being a hero, albeit a bloodthirsty one. For all of Patroclus' praises, Achilles was still a vicious man in the war, completely losing himself over vanity and pride. Like a true Greek god, nothing good ever comes from being one of them and Achilles was no exception. The Pat/Ach romance was cute and I was 100% on board with it. Let's be honest, it wasn't historically accurate, but it was lovely just the same. I would have liked to see Patroclus being more manly and a better fighter as Homer intended, but the ‘switch scene' was pretty epic. All of a sudden, Patroclus is aristos achaion, showing that anyone brave enough can become “the best of the Greeks.” Regardless of what others think, he was always the best to Achilles anyway. Credit to the artist for this super cute fanart.Now that I've read my first Miller novel, I really want to dive into [b:Circe 35959740 Circe Madeline Miller https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508879575s/35959740.jpg 53043399] and see how the author improved (although don't get me wrong, I think that TSOA was wonderful).
Roar. Roar. Roar.
My heart, I can't. I feel like I'm tethered to Roar the same way Perry is to Aria. Honest to god, I hate Liv. She's so flat and unidimensional. I wish he'd gone through and married Sable, I would have had more respect for her if she had.
I couldn't stand Perry's whining anymore. I was really disappointed with him. He was really cool and strong in book 1, and here he was reduced to a whimpering, sniveling pile of anxieties. He's Blood Lord for god's sake! I wanted the boy to shape up and show everyone why he deserves to be Blood Lord. Ultimately, everything that he “accomplished” was because of either Reef, Marron or Kirra. He didn't actually do anything on his own... I'm so frustrated with how his character developed. Come on bro,
Aria was pretty cool, I love how she supports Roar like he's the most precious being in her life. I kinda ship it more than Aria/Perry. Roar and Aria understand each other and have more moments of tenderness than with their “destined” partners. Aria/Perry and Roar/Liv are both very physical relationships in my opinion. Whereas Aria/Roar actually has weight and meaning. Obviously this ship is never going to happen, but I still think it makes more sense. I'll proudly steer this ship down to it's watery grave.
BUT ANYWAY,
Where was the sense of danger? I din't feel that there was any real threat to their lives. The Aether is vaguely worrisome, but Sable and Hess are as evil as newborn babies. I guess they didn't get the memo on how to be a successful villain. Soren is neat, I liked him in the first book and I'm happy he's become an ally.
I'm pretty sure I can predict the plot of book 3 but, I'll give it a shot anyway. My predictions: Liv is still alive and will miraculously be sparred from marrying Sable. Sable will probably die (at Roar's hand most likely), apparently there are a bunch of kids like Cinder from another pod, Perry and Aria will possibly go after them. I'm sensing that Brooke and Soren are going to hook up. They're compatible in how cray they are. Let's see how right (or wrong) I am in my predictions.
Read more on my blog here :)
Still one of my favourite books, and a very good ne, even though my peers in the lit department tend to disagree haha
Format read: Paperback
Reading time: 4-5h
Tags: mystery, adventure, translation, friendship, found family, lgbt (bi, m/m, ace)
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 8/10
Summary
Vol. 5 features four cases and two short extras:
1. Citrine Undaunted: Seigi prepares for his post-graduation work and attends seminars with his classmates. One of his friends, Shinomura, asks him to help him move, and Seigi learns en route to the airport that Shinomura is leaving for Spain. After his departure, a lady approaches Seigi on the platform and asks for help carrying her bags, too. This lady turns out to be a famous jewellery designer, and Richard's work frenemy.
2. A Visage in Sardonyx: Richard and Seigi are visited by an old client, Mr. Otomura, who brings them a cameo with the face of a Japanese lady sculpted into it. Otomura explains that the lady is someone he loves deeply, but she doesn't feel the same way, yet she gifted him this portrait of her anyway. Otomura asks Richard and Seigi to uncover the meaning behind this strange gift.
3. The Majesty of Zircon: While Richard is away on business, Saul takes over the shop for the day and decides to tell Seigi all about his boss' past. Saul tells Seigi how he met Richard in Sri Lanka, and how Richard became his reluctant apprentice.
4. The Grade of Peridot: Seigi befriends a nice older lady at a coffee shop, and he ends up carrying her bags to her house. As a thank you, she invites him in and serves him a flan that immediately rings bells in Seigi's head. He puts two and two together and realises that the lady is in fact Chieko, Richard's nanny from when he was a child in England. However, Chieko quickly expresses her wish to remain anonymous, lest “Young Master” Richard hear about her.
Extra 1 - Andalusite on Christmas Eve: Richard and Seigi work at Étranger on Christmas Eve and share their family and love concerns during a downtime at the store.
Extra 2 - Tiger's Eye Lookback: Seigi explains the origin and meaning behind the tiger's eye after Seigi sees one of their clients wearing a bracelet made with the stone.
Review
“Don't worry, I'm not about to die or disappear. ... I would never see you again if either of those things were to happen. And I wouldn't care for that very much,” Richard said, bringing a quarter of the cake slice to his mouth. ... His blue eyes looked at me as if to ask if I wanted something, but the color of his eyes was so incredibly rich in that moment that I completely forgot what I wanted to say. (p.97)
Melville presents complex ideas about society, the work force, and humanity in a short and simple format. The narrator's wavering feelings between affection and exasperation towards his listless employee, Bartleby, makes the narrative all the more compelling as it makes the reader question himself on the right course of actions to deal with a person like Bartleby.
Does one throw him out on the streets based on the fact that he refuses to work, knowing that he has no family, friends, or a home to return to; or does one keep him regardless of his inefficiency, for charitable reasons? The narrator's inaction is ultimately Bartleby's downfall, but can the narrator be blamed for his employee's death? By moving his offices to another location, the narrator effectively condemns Bartleby to the cruelty of society, but the narrator cannot be blamed for trying to restore order to his office and rid himself of a "millstone... a useless necklace" (40).
This novella is an excellent social commentary on what it means to be human, to have compassion and sympathy, as well as the application of the law. Bartleby stands as a symbol of the workforce and how it can be soul-sucking and destructive. Furthermore, the novella touches on the topic of mental illnesses and depression, albeit indirectly, through Bartleby's continued refusal to work and his overall demeanor, such as standing for hours on end in front of a window that faces a brick wall.
Credit to Bill Bragg, foliosociety.com (2012)
I am of the opinion that Bartleby must be pitied and looked after, and that the narrator did all he possibly could to help him. The narrator's generosity, gentleness, and caring attitude are credits to his nature as a compassionate man. Melville's commentary tells us that we need to be more attentive the the woes of those around us, lest they stand “like the last column[s] of some ruined temple” (41).
Tl;dr
- Caesar and Antony are bros, until they're not, because war/greed/Cleopatra.
- Eno has a tragic, senseless death because of his misguided interpretation of events.
- Eros has a tragic, senseless death because Antony is an idiot.
- Cleopatra betrays Antony, twice, so she kills herself, but not really. However, Antony thinks she did, so he (tries to) kill himself too, à la Romeo & Juliet.
- Meanwhile, Caesar rules pretty much the whole world because he's gotten rid of all of his friends and taken their lands.
“It's alright, talí”
Well damn, guess I didn't need my heart anymore from the 70% mark and onwards... what a roller coaster of events.
I knew things would go terribly wrong, but I didn't anticipate that all the best characters would go through hell and back. While I can't say that I'm surprised by Nysander's actions, it was still really sad because of what it did to Seregil. As a consolation though, I'm happy that my boy Thero made a glorious comeback, and I can't wait to see what he does next!
As for Micum, I wasn't a huge fan of him in the first book, but he definitely grew on me in this one. His unwavering loyalty and “mother hen” attitude towards Seregil and Alec made him all the more endearing. This time, however, I had a problem with his daughter Beka. I'm not sure why she was made such a prominent character in this book (nor why there were two Vanguards at the same time?? Wasn't there supposed to be just one set of Four at a time?), But maybe she'll grow on me in the next book like her father did in this one.
Now for Alec. Oh my god, I love him so much. He was so brave and selfless during the whole book, and I love how he went to Seregil and initiated rather than the other way around. Even though Seregil realized he was in love with him from early on, he never acted on it, and Alec's slow realization of his own feelings was beautifully crafted. I love them!! I almost wish that Seregil had managed his escape at the end. I think that would have provided a great opening for the third book, but I'm glad that Alec caught up and knocked some sense into him.
In the end, I'm going to be thinking about these two for a long time. Now, onto the third book!