Roisin
I have to say, I am definitely one of the people who think there was some form of child abuse going on in this book!
I started this short story thinking the ghost stuff was not scary and everyone makes a big deal out of nothing with this book but then I got to the first climax of the story and I just immediately got cold with terror as I felt like this was a story specifically about a kind of haunting that is more psychological than supernatural. That the children are haunted by past abusers of some sort. Then the nurse keeps going on about some evil and saving the children from evil and how the ghosts want to drag the children over to evil and...being dead is not evil, okay? The evil had to be more than just that! I also wonder if the nurse might've projected her own issues on the children...
Right now, I am too pumped up with adrenaline that I can't make sense of all that I thought about it.
What I do know for sure, is that this story is scary for reason not entirely supernatural.
Also, I might like to punch Henry James in the face. I'm not entirely sure about that. Remains to be seen.
Holy sht this book! It really impressed me. I know a lot of people talking about this book focus on the non-con/dub-con factor and the general sexy stuff, which is a huge disservice to the book not because there's anything wrong with erotica (not a personal fave genre but each to their own I guess?), but because the book is not actually just about the sex and the rpe stuff are actually:
1. Treated as something really bad, done by the bad guys and the characters falling on the darker side of the morality spectrum.
2. Physical and sexual agency and autonomy are both a part of the love interest's character arc and it is in exploring this that the non-con stuff find context and are explored. It'll make no sense if the story didn't have the conflict without actually having this nuance.
3. After everything, this is a work of fiction and one should not treat its content as a guideline for how to maintain relationships or how to treat survivors of traumatic situations. It's fiction. About characters who fly on swords. I mean...
(That said, if you are uncomfortable with reading about sexual abuse or interactions between former abusers and their victims in any capacity, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! Just don't do it! Seriously, read something else. Love yourself and take care of your mental well-being. )
And my personal takeaway from the book and its handling of the subject was that rape is bad and you are a fool to think it's hot because consensual, mutual relations are way hotter and more fun! Idk, maybe that's just me?
Anyway, now that I have dealt with that, I want to name some of the other themes explored in the book which are most unfairly undervalued and dismissed but are seriously well done in the book, and credit is due.
1.Xianxia/fantasy martial art world: the book is obviously xianxia and it's a damn good one! The world-building is rich and the fantasy elements are interesting. The world order makes sense and operates in a logical (magical ) way.
2. Classism, elitism, and the villains the social hierarchical order makes: both the main character and the main villain who operate as foils, are the results of a defective social system that repeatedly creates undesirable outcasts then abandons them to fester into little villains. Actually, quite similarly to mxtx's the grandmaster of diabolism, this book also represents and shows the aftermath of a highly classist system but takes it to an extreme. It's very well done and funny enough, that's something I think comes across even in the naming of the novel, but you'll only get that if you read it.
3. Agency/body and mind autonomy: on top of the thing I said about the main love interest, the other key characters, the main character, the main villain, and even some of the less prominent supporting characters, all struggle with agency to different degrees. They either have their control over their lives and themselves forcefully taken away or are put in tragic situations where it becomes inevitable. Moreover, the book takes the initiative to actually present this loss in nuanced ways; sometimes it's done without ill intentions but out of ignorance. It's fascinating and the book takes a roundabout, subtle way to do it but oh boy is it effective.
4.Redemption/guilt/forgiveness: the book asks a lot of questions about a lot of things. One of those is asking about what it takes to redeem oneself. It asks, what if, there was a different life, and during that, you were evil and did really unforgivable things to your loved ones, and then those things became known by those loved ones. Are responsible for those actions? What does it take to redeem oneself? What about personal guilt? Is it enough if those loved ones forgive you and what happens to one's own feelings here? Does redemption only include what one owes to others? What about what we owe to ourselves? It's just...SO GOOD! the book really goes for it. It just really asks the hard questions but what answers you give to them and what answers the book gives to them don't have to coincide for the effect to be fully experienced. I just loved how the book explores the concept of forgiveness. What we are willing to forgive and forget and if that's enough. chef's kiss truly.
5. Judge, jury, and executioner: this relates back to a lot of the formerly mentioned themes. The book explores what it means to punish a criminal, who is allowed to do this, and to what extend. It questions motivations and inherited punishments and fair judgment. This is a serious theme in a lot of religious stories and this book brings it to an almost secular situation (almost being the operative term). The hypocrisy of the masses, personal biases, and gains, the unfair punishment traditions of conventional societies, etc. all of these are considered and factored in which create a nuanced experience in reading the book and really make the reader think.
Honestly, these are just some of the great stuff in the husky and his white cat shizun which when people bring up this book don't mention. It's such a controversial and daring act to tackle these themes and I really applaud the author for braving it.
At this point, these nuanced and complex storytellings are becoming expectations for me when I read Chinese novels though I have heard this one is the most complex one.
There are less thought-provoking themes in it too which are still fun: time travel, doppelgangers, dragons, farming, weddings (though the weddings are kinda like the ones in asoiaf so don't get too excited...), lots of food descriptions that make you hungry, and so on.
I'm gonna be fair, there was still stuff I didn't like. For example, after chapter 279 (a most traumatizingly memorable chapter) the plot really slows that to the point that certain actions keep repeating and I was bored a little. There were also certain narrative choices that were not my personal favorites but I recognize that the writer chose to tell them like this and that is valid.
Overall, I loved this book and I only recommend it to people who have very high tolerance for reading upsetting, heavy, triggering content. With critical reading abilities. Because there's a lot of separation from reality required in enjoying this novel and absorbing what it has to offer.
Holy sht this book! It really impressed me.I know a lot of people talking about this book focus on the non-con/dub-con factor and the general sexy stuff, which is a huge disservice to the book not because there's anything wrong with erotica (not a personal fave genre but each to their own I guess?), but because the book is not actually just about the sex and the rpe stuff are actually:
1. Treated as something really bad, done by the bad guys and the characters falling on the darker side of the morality spectrum.
2. Physical and sexual agency and autonomy are both a part of the love interest's character arc and it is in exploring this that the non-con stuff find context and are explored. It'll make no sense if the story didn't have the conflict without actually having this nuance.
3. After everything, this is a work of fiction and one should not treat its content as a guideline for how to maintain relationships or how to treat survivors of traumatic situations. It's fiction. About characters who fly on swords. I mean...
(That said, if you are uncomfortable with reading about sexual abuse or interactions between former abusers and their victims in any capacity, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! Just don't do it! Seriously, read something else. Love yourself and take care of your mental well-being. )
And my personal takeaway from the book and its handling of the subject was that rape is bad and you are a fool to think it's hot because consensual, mutual relations are way hotter and more fun! Idk, maybe that's just me?
Anyway, now that I have dealt with that, I want to name some of the other themes explored in the book which are most unfairly undervalued and dismissed but are seriously well done in the book, and credit is due.
1.Xianxia/fantasy martial art world: the book is obviously xianxia and it's a damn good one! The world-building is rich and the fantasy elements are interesting. The world order makes sense and operates in a logical (magical ) way.
2. Classism, elitism, and the villains the social hierarchical order makes: both the main character and the main villain who operate as foils, are the results of a defective social system that repeatedly creates undesirable outcasts then abandons them to fester into little villains. Actually, quite similarly to mxtx's the grandmaster of diabolism, this book also represents and shows the aftermath of a highly classist system but takes it to an extreme. It's very well done and funny enough, that's something I think comes across even in the naming of the novel, but you'll only get that if you read it.
3. Agency/body and mind autonomy: on top of the thing I said about the main love interest, the other key characters, the main character, the main villain, and even some of the less prominent supporting characters, all struggle with agency to different degrees. They either have their control over their lives and themselves forcefully taken away or are put in tragic situations where it becomes inevitable. Moreover, the book takes the initiative to actually present this loss in nuanced ways; sometimes it's done without ill intentions but out of ignorance. It's fascinating and the book takes a roundabout, subtle way to do it but oh boy is it effective.
4.Redemption/guilt/forgiveness: the book asks a lot of questions about a lot of things. One of those is asking about what it takes to redeem oneself. It asks, what if, there was a different life, and during that, you were evil and did really unforgivable things to your loved ones, and then those things became known by those loved ones. Are responsible for those actions? What does it take to redeem oneself? What about personal guilt? Is it enough if those loved ones forgive you and what happens to one's own feelings here? Does redemption only include what one owes to others? What about what we owe to ourselves? It's just...SO GOOD! the book really goes for it. It just really asks the hard questions but what answers you give to them and what answers the book gives to them don't have to coincide for the effect to be fully experienced. I just loved how the book explores the concept of forgiveness. What we are willing to forgive and forget and if that's enough. chef's kiss truly.
5. Judge, jury, and executioner: this relates back to a lot of the formerly mentioned themes. The book explores what it means to punish a criminal, who is allowed to do this, and to what extend. It questions motivations and inherited punishments and fair judgment. This is a serious theme in a lot of religious stories and this book brings it to an almost secular situation (almost being the operative term). The hypocrisy of the masses, personal biases, and gains, the unfair punishment traditions of conventional societies, etc. all of these are considered and factored in which create a nuanced experience in reading the book and really make the reader think.
Honestly, these are just some of the great stuff in the husky and his white cat shizun which when people bring up this book don't mention. It's such a controversial and daring act to tackle these themes and I really applaud the author for braving it.
At this point, these nuanced and complex storytellings are becoming expectations for me when I read Chinese novels though I have heard this one is the most complex one.
There are less thought-provoking themes in it too which are still fun: time travel, doppelgangers, dragons, farming, weddings (though the weddings are kinda like the ones in asoiaf so don't get too excited...), lots of food descriptions that make you hungry, and so on.
I'm gonna be fair, there was still stuff I didn't like. For example, after chapter 279 (a most traumatizingly memorable chapter) the plot really slows that to the point that certain actions keep repeating and I was bored a little. There were also certain narrative choices that were not my personal favorites but I recognize that the writer chose to tell them like this and that is valid.
Overall, I loved this book and I only recommend it to people who have very high tolerance for reading upsetting, heavy, triggering content. With critical reading abilities. Because there's a lot of separation from reality required in enjoying this novel and absorbing what it has to offer.
This book was so wonderful. A lot of people say this is a very sad and torturous reading experience but I only cried twice and I cry easily so they are exaggerating.
I really liked the lore behind this story.
It's official! easter fantasy is just better!
Although if you look at it with western standards you are definitely going to misunderstand the book and you won't enjoy it.
warning for major violence and horror themes.
I've been fighting with myself over what to rate this book. In truth, this is a 4 out of 10 stars for me but Goodreads has failed me and I wanted to give this 2 stars, I really do, but I don't think the book is so bad that it requires a 2.
Mostly, this book was marketed wrong, I think. Or at least from what I got, it was marketed as a rom-com or a chick-lit or a romance novel. It's not. This is a sick-fic. I think everyone should know because I really didn't want to pick a cancer book, this was the first book I picked during corona and I was so upset that it turned out to be grief-porn that I went and read catcher in the rye instead! (and I hated that one so go figure!
Anyway, the book didn't even deliver emotionally. It has that pretentious New York aesthetic and it mentions too many brands and addresses all around NY that it was irritating. The chemistry between the characters is off. I just didn't have any emotional stake in the story. Even the sad stuff that are there to emotionally manipulate you fell flat for me.
It wasn't a horrible book. It's readable enough. It's actually a fast read if you aren't one of those people who mind reading about fictional characters slowly dying from terminal cancer . I'm not. I think it's not cool when stories do this.
If this was 2014 I would have loved this book but I'm not who I was in 2014.
This was a wonderful read. I made the huge mistake of reading the description here on Goodreads before reading the book which I think almost ruins it as it gives important information away. Because I knew, I was chasing it throughout the book and it affected my reading BUT it was still a great read and I was wholely unsettle by the end.
I really enjoyed reading this novel and now I need a break!
This was an okay novel.
The main character was very likable but the book has this vibe that reminds me of the Anita Blake series which makes me slightly hesitant in moving forward with the series.
I did enjoy it. It wasn't a life-changing read but it was very entertaining. The world-building and the lore confused me a bit and the ending's action sequence ran a bit too long but as a whole, a good book.
This book...wow. It might just be the best book I've read so far this year!
I have to say, there were moments that I asked myself “...is this book homophobic? Or is it just the characters?!” I'm still processing; I changed my answers several times!
I really loved this book! It was basically perfection. Just so good!
The characters, the plot, the twists (I mean I figured it out super fast but that was because it made sense so it's still good!), the arrangement of it all.
It's one of those books that is exactly what you want it to be.
Sure, I did want Oliver and James to get their heads out of their butts and realize they had feelings for each other and that did drive me nuts for half the story but still.
I think this book has a lot of space for rereads and interpretations. Was James manipulating Oliver all along? Was it all just internal homophobia? Did James live or not?
I loved this book! And I think it's an actual book worth writing articles about!
Just...loved it! It's been a while since I got so hyped by a book! And I had no idea what it was about before I read it!
I really liked this book and I think 3 stars might be a bit too low a rating for it but it wasn't really a 4 star for me. If this was a ten-star scale, it would have been a 7. The reason I can't give this a higher rating is mainly the format. It wasn't really doing it for me.
Important: The Acknowledgment of this book should be read! It's really helpful in getting the vibe of it.
A quick look at the cast of characters:
Pete Loving: Basically non-existent. He's the most passive, cardboard character of the story.
Eddie Loving: Sounds like a jerk, is occasionally a jerk but I actually liked his character. He's the alternative character to the holy and mighty Billy (Who I'll get to)
Camilla Dunne: For me, her character was flat and uninteresting and maybe that's a bit of pushback because the book relies so much on her and keeps pushing this idea that she's amazing and ... it wasn't happening for me.
Waren: My favorite character. He is funny, completely out of the main narrative. Everyone would be telling this cohesive dramatic story and he'll just be there counting how many boobs he signed. He was just hilarious and he added this layer to the story of how other things were happening while the main(er) characters were busy swimming in their angst.
Karen: A bit of a polarizing character. She has some very interesting nuance to her that kind of saves her character from being the trophy female member of the band.
Graham Dunne: Not my favorite character and less and less tolerable as the story moves forward but I guess he's my favorite Dunne brother...
Which brings me to:
Billy Dunne: I just hated this guy! And the main reason is that I didn't vibe with him! But also as the author mentions, the music scene in the 70s was a man's world and Billy Dunne just embodies that self-centered, bulldozer attitude that just really pisses me off. He “plays” the nice guy in the entire story but for me, it was all so transparent. I disliked his character and I'll say that he is a grey character, not a black-and-white good or bad but the combination that he was, is something I hated and I couldn't stand him.
Daisy: I loved Daisy! And she was a mess! She's a mess! But the way her character was written was just beautiful and so harmonious. I could totally grasp her character and she's another grey character but it really worked with her and while I got frustrated with her at some points in the story, I still really liked her.
A great ending might change a 4 star book to a 5 star one. A terrible ending might change a 3 star book to a 2 star one. But a mediocre ending, would never harm the rating. The 4 stays a 4. So if you were a writer, would you risk writing a great ending that might end up terrible or will you rather write a mediocre ending and keep your book reliable?
I loved this book. It sneaked up on me. And that ending...
I decided to end my decade with hope!
Even though I really read the rest of this trilogy and most of this book many years ago, I never finished this because I didn't want it to end but I thought the end of this decade was a good place to finish this journey.
I am too speechless to really review this book. This entire universe is so perfect and well crafted that I'm just left without words that can describe it!
I do have one thing to say though, Eliza is awesome! She's really cool!!!!
This was such a beautiful book and despite being a hefty one, it's actually an incredibly fast read. Once you get into it, it's really hard to put down.
There's barely a plot that you need to get through. It's mostly about the journey and I think that's not for everyone?
Fortunately, I love these types of “life through the years” books but I can easily imagine people who become restless and bored by this. People who will find it pompous or pretentious. I don't think reading something that is out of our comfort-zone should immediately inspire resistance and defense? So I don't find it pretentious. There's such a simple and genuine undertone to the story that is anything but and I loved that.
I'm also really impressed with the author's knowledge of so many different things! It was almost distracting! I kept wondering how they have researched all this in a way that feels so natural and autobiographical. It was amazing.
My only hang-up is the end and I actually like how everything went down in the story but the thesis at the very end was a bit too much for me? Even though I did like it and I did enjoy the concept that was explained, it was a little too much like just a speech and I'm a little iffy about that.
Otherwise great book!
I did not enjoy this book and the reasons are complicated!
It wasn't a bad book, I don't want to say I hated it but the general feeling I got from it was like reaching out to grasp something only to realize it was a hologram. Almost everything fell just a bit short of satisfying.
I wish I had liked it. I wanted to like it...but
So
There's this new trend? Writers are going back to finished stories and writing sequels. I wonder if we'll look back at this era down the line and think, “Yeah, the age of remakes and reboots and sequels. This is how imaginations died!”
I LOVED Vicious. It was a book I truly loved when I read it. It was complex and subtle and nuanced. The main character was mysterious and you felt a sense of duality when you realized you liked him; because it felt like you shouldn't have. When I heard there was going to be a sequel. I was excited! I couldn't wait to get back to Victor Vale.
But I think this book is a good example of why it's not a good idea to do this restart that a lot of fictional universes are getting.
This frustrated me. Nothing was as I wanted it to be. Character developments and arcs from the first book were reworked and dismantled.
The biggest thing this book did was to create sympathy for Eli? Or it tried. I did feel bad for the child he was but I still think he's a decidedly unsympathetic character.
Anyway, I didn't like the new characters. I just...don't like this book.
The writing is very good, obviously but at some point, the time and pov jumps got too much. It was more action than substance.
Vicious while still very much a superhero story full of action had a sense of a personal story. It was personal. It had character. This was not like that. It was all action and very little character development. The best character in the story is still Victor and a huge portion of this book was not his POV or even related to him. I just didn't care about these other characters! I just wanted more of the (proven) interesting character.
So yeah. Very disappointed.
Also That ending...did Victor die? wtf?!
“The drowning pool is where they get rid of troublesome women.”
This book is, I'm thinking a psychological thriller? The second one I read this year, in fact! But I have already realized that I prefer Paula Hawkins' writing to most writers of the genre. It was a very fast read. Every enjoyable.
The story is told through a series of perspectives and what I really liked about it was how the story carried between these narrators. Between present and past, man or woman and, third or first-person.
As a whole though, it wasn't a really remarkable story. It was good but not wonderful? It comes across as character-driven but it's actually very plot-driven or really, theme-driven. I have a habit while reading mystery novels in which I fixate on one secret/vice/plot twist and then it feels like everyone has that problem. Everyone is a killer or everyone is a rapist and such. Weirdly, in this book, I was right. there's a pattern here It's pedophilia! Or rather older men taking advantage of younger women. The writer was very good at working in the theme into the story. Every death, every "suicide" in the story is perfectly unjust and it's palpable It keeps repeating in different timelines of the story and it's very pivotal to the whole plot.
As for the mystery, it's pretty easy to guess. The characters are all very predictable. While they're not one-dimensional, almost every character is the status quo. They all have very realistic reactions to events but they are all expected reactions, as well.
If you like psychological thrillers, books about women dying unfairly or just The Girl on the train, this is a very interesting and engaging read.
This has to be the best book that I have read this year (so far but also most probably will hold not just as the best book I read this year but one of the best books I have ever read)
Based on history and folk tales of Russia, this book is a magical, poetic, dark and twisted journey.
It's not the kind of book you only read once but the kind that needs to be read over and over again.
There's so much to be said about this book. Maybe it was because the stories were so familiar but also not the stories I grew up with, maybe it's the gripping writing, whatever it is, this book was a heavy, hard yet wonderful read for me and I think I'm going to carry it with me for years to come.