Charlotte
“All I ask of you” (hah) is that you read this book whilst listening to the 25th celebration recording of phantom of the opera, played at the royal albert hall. It has no impact on the story but I just want you to listen to it anyways as it is one of my favourites.
This book was both amazing and sometimes confusing. It was a really enticing read but also confusing at some points. It was written as if someone 50 years later was retelling a historical story but we have no idea who the narrator is. This made it all very confusing when trying to understand who was speaking as sometimes they used “we” and other times “I” and then there was excerpts from character's memoirs scattered about. This was especially apparent towards the end when I had no idea what the setting even looked like nor what was going on. Perhaps this is due to being translated from French but it made it a little hard to follow.
I found myself wanting to side with Erik only because Raoul was the most egotistical and misogynistic man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. It was all in all a bit dramatic when he said he would rather die if Christine could not love him and that Christine couldn't possibly have her own feelings towards other people and that she must remain pure and innocent. I guess that is the product of the early 1900s but it still didn't sit well with me.
As a note, a 3 star rating means I did enjoy the book and I wanted to rate it a 4 star right up until the end so it's really a 3.5 rating. This is probably my only classic for the year and I am glad it was as phantom is my all time favourite musical and it means I can appreciate the few retellings I own that I plan on reading this year! I, like all, am enchanted by the angel of music
This book reminds me of my mathematical concepts teacher, Niel. However, unlike Niel the professor actually taught me something.
Now I love maths, and I also love reading. So combining those two topics is honestly the best thing imaginable. I loved how, like the main character, it gives you an appreciation for the hidden numbers that govern our lives. Who knew that the numbers 220 and 284 were so universally combined? I especially liked the bit about 0 because to me it truly shows how intelligent 0 is. It both exists and does not exist at the same time and yet is critical to the universe's function.
The characters are loveable and the ending was honestly one of the best endings I've read in a while. There were a few unanswered questions like the whole widow thing and a few translation errors but I'm happy enough that I won't lose sleep over it xD. This is definitely one of my favourite reads and I need to go and find my own copy just so I can own this masterpiece of a creation.
After the mess that was the last book I read, Lore was a much needed breath of fresh air. It truly is the Greek mythology version of hunger games and my younger self was very happy. The ending was almost perfect, though I do wish there was a sequal or even a prequal. I loved the story and it definitely kept me on my toes (looking at you athena). All in all a really nice read
the entire book went through one ear and out the other. I enjoyed the little mocking (?) between the two characters but that's about it. Don't get me wrong it was elequantly written but I found it had no foundations for me to grasp on to. I had no idea what was going on at all and the ending was even more confusing. They're all just a bit dramatic.
Maybe it's not my reading style or you're not supposed to get it but an entire book that just made me more confused as to what was going on isn't my cup of tea
this was certainly something of a book. I really enjoyed it and it had a really comforting vibe. I loved the characters and the language was very delicate and overall such a nice read. At times I had to go back and read because I couldn't tell who was actually speaking but the translation note cleared that up a bit as to why. The end was all nicely wrapped up in a bow which is hard to get right so I'm really impressed. I now have so many quotes about books and all in all a lovely short read that brings lots of comfort
so many plot twists in this one and that vision scene made me pissed. One of my theories is coming true hahahaha but there were some things that was completely unexpected. Its so cute to see the kings get along and Leo is so damn cute when he gets all excited over it. Really curious to see how this is going to end
oh my fucking shit that ending. That gave me legit goose bumps, something that rarely happens in a book. I'm just in awe at the authors' writing. I'm so invested in all. of the boys. The way Leon makes everyone smile, the way Dante protects his own, the way Gabrial is slowly learning that he doesn't have to run forever and the way that Ryder is slowly breaking down his walls. I'm scared to find out about Gareth, because I'm not sure how Elise will react. And Elise is just an amazing character. She's been through so much and somehow finds the best in some truly horrible people (through no fault of their own). Holy fucking shit
My Dark Vanessa - 4.5/5 stars
This was a really uncomfortable read, and that's what makes it so good. It tells the story of Vanessa and her struggles to battle adulthood after traumatic experiences of a child. It flips between telling the story of her teacher grooming and SA-ing her and the repercussions she now faces in adult hood. We see her deny the reality of what happened to her and it ends up with some really amazing quotes.
The author does well to make us hate the teacher character. I do worry that it make romanticise the horrors, so I think it depends on the reader
Overall, really powerful book that makes you uncomfortable when reading. Please read the trigger warnings if you want to read this anytime in the future because it is very graphic
I really enjoyed the writing style, it was both silly and engaging. Unfortunately I did not finish the book. The whole plot point with Callen listing over 17 year old Aria just felt too uncomfortable for me to continue reading. If she had been 18 then it would have been fine but it just felt too wrong