GOODREADS
GOODREADS
Reviews
What they are:
short and sweet
What they aren’t:
pieces of literary criticism
Atalanta by Jennifer SaintMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
"I am wild, I am free. I am Atalanta."
The excellence of this myth retelling was wholly unexpected. It combined the lyricism of Homer's literary world with standard and well-arranged modern literary devices, making the novel gripping and beautifully written.
I've read Ovid's Metamorphoses a few times, but luckily, I forgot Atalanta's full story. The ending was gut-wrenching and rewarding. Why? Because of the journey that Jennifer Saint built for Atalanta and carried me, the reader, on.
One small complaint of mine: Saint's use/rephrasing of "rosy dawn" throughout her work (I'm thinking of this novel and Ariadne) feels ungenuine. Many of her readers have read The Odessey, so the attempt at reusing that phrase is irksome to me, even condescending. When I read Ariadne, it cheapened the reading experience for me, but I may have misjudged. The frequent use of this phrase, and others, could be an attempt at placing these myth retellings within Homer's poetic universe.
However, that's really my only complaint.
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War and Peace by Leo TolstoyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
“If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed.”I am SO happy that I finally dove into this classic (via audiobook because reading it page-by-page would've tried my patience on a whole new level).
War and Peace should be required reading/listening at this particular time and political environment. The conversations around the theme of "war and peace" were not just literal, but tackled the "war and peace" of the soul, one's context within the world, and the building blocks of society.
Tolstoy masterfully weaves together plot and character, a history lesson, and his own musings and philosophies. Yes, there were parts that, had I been reading a physical copy, I would have skimmed. However, Tolstoy's ability to pull his reader in shows its strength in this masterpiece.
Frankly, I disliked most of the characters and was particularly frustrated by Pierre and Mary (honestly, they should've ended up together). However, Natasha and Prince Andrew are now some of my most beloved characters of all time.
When it comes to Tolstoy's writing style--never have I booked mark so many passages in an audiobook. Someday, I will buy a physical copy just to have the satisfaction of highlighting said passages and being able to turn to them more readily.
Someday, I will surely return to War and Peace. One reading cannot possibly do it justice.
Also, probably not a news flash, Tolstoy was NOT a fan of Napoleon.
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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth RussellMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not to make light of trauma, but who traumatized who in the writing and reading of this novel?
Never has a book frustrated me as much as this one—and I don't mean that in a bad way. Russell brilliantly recreates teenage angst and despondency, as well as the realities and alternate experiences of abuse.
At first, Venessa's petulance was relatable and understandable, but then, page by page, it nearly became unbearable. Yet, Vanessa is unpacked beautifully in the reflections of other characters, especially as she grows up.
On a craft level, the writing was beautiful, and every moment of dialogue was necessary.
Will I ever reread this? Probably not. But with that said, there are descriptions and scenes in this book that will stay with me for a long time.
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Romola by George EliotMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novel has me convinced that human nature hasn't changed, and probably won't. Romola, in many ways, is a tragedy.
Despite some meandering descriptions and dialogue, the character-driven plot had me entrenched. Eliot obviously researched the era and it was clear that her time in Florence had a great impact on the novel itself.
I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for a classic, moody, autumnal read.
Also, Tito can go straight to He**.
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The Color Purple by Alice WalkerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is an education. It’s heart wrenching, briefly heart warming, and does not feel like fiction. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for a reason. I’m glad I finally read it and will be thinking about it for a long time.
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