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rebeccazh's Reviews (2.89k)
Reread this, Written in Red and Vision of Silver.
I really liked Written in Red because of the interactions between Meg and Sam. Was disappointed to realize that Sam doesn't make much of an appearance in the second nor third books. Meg's kindness and guilelessness is really sweet. My favourite parts of the book was where she chose to be generous and kind, unknowingly winning others over. The arc focused on her coaxing Sam out of his shell is wonderful. Really great to read. I love stories about healing.
Unfortunately, the subsequent books are very heavy on the narrative about gender and romance and all that that the story felt bogged down by it. Should've expected that since this is primarily a series about romance.
Also couldn't ignore the parts that I really didn't like - I have some major problems with this series so far. It's intensely gendered. I've read Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series and I see the similarities. Intensely heteronormative, lots of gender stereotypes (men are protective, dominant, strong, aggressive, dangerous, etcetc; women are precious, need to be looked after, sweet, etcetc), all the men in the series are focused on a single woman who is Immensely Important, characters are referred to by their gender more often than not as though gender predominates everything. Left me with a faintly icky feeling. It also causes the characters to be quite indistinguishable from each other - all the men are similar to each other, and all the women are similar to each other.
Soo. First book was good. Second and third, not so good at all.
I really liked Written in Red because of the interactions between Meg and Sam. Was disappointed to realize that Sam doesn't make much of an appearance in the second nor third books. Meg's kindness and guilelessness is really sweet. My favourite parts of the book was where she chose to be generous and kind, unknowingly winning others over. The arc focused on her coaxing Sam out of his shell is wonderful. Really great to read. I love stories about healing.
Unfortunately, the subsequent books are very heavy on the narrative about gender and romance and all that that the story felt bogged down by it. Should've expected that since this is primarily a series about romance.
Also couldn't ignore the parts that I really didn't like - I have some major problems with this series so far. It's intensely gendered. I've read Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series and I see the similarities. Intensely heteronormative, lots of gender stereotypes (men are protective, dominant, strong, aggressive, dangerous, etcetc; women are precious, need to be looked after, sweet, etcetc), all the men in the series are focused on a single woman who is Immensely Important, characters are referred to by their gender more often than not as though gender predominates everything. Left me with a faintly icky feeling. It also causes the characters to be quite indistinguishable from each other - all the men are similar to each other, and all the women are similar to each other.
Soo. First book was good. Second and third, not so good at all.
Such a good book of poetry. The poems were soft, lyrical, evocative, tender/yearning/wistful. What a pleasure it was to read.
Really enjoyed this. I've finally read this classic novel. Random thoughts: it's remarkable how casually and vindictively cruel Heathcliff is. He's a matched pair with Catherine. It's satisfying that the children represent a chance of redemption and a better future.
I loved reading this so much. I can't believe it took me so long to read it.
It is rebelliously feminist; way ahead of its time. My favorite thing was the realism with which the novel is written. Jane's emotions/feelings/thoughts are so realistic and detailed. It was so enjoyable to read. I grew to really like, admire, and esteem Jane. She sticks to her morals no matter how hard it is -- the setbacks and misfortunes that she encounters don't knock her down, but refine and strengthen her beliefs. I was overseas when I read the last part where Jane had to go around and beg, and I couldn't help shuddering in sympathy. I found Rochester to be an arrogant asshole but he is a character who is so very intriguing to read about. LOL he's a Byronic hero -- the Byronic hero is the original 'bad boy with a heart-of-gold' trope amirite. Bertha, though. I just did a postcolonial mod this semester and I can almost hear the postcolonialists pouncing on her character -- I'm looking forward to reading [b:Wide Sargasso Sea|25622780|Wide Sargasso Sea|Jean Rhys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453021061s/25622780.jpg|142647].
I was talking to my friend about this book, and I was surprised to find that she disagreed with Jane's decision to leave Rochester. My friend thinks that Jane is hypocritically and unrealistically clinging to some perceived moral high ground, because in the end, she goes back to Rochester. Her reasoning is this: no one knows Bertha exists, Rochester is rich and able to support the both of them, and both Rochester and Jane love each other, so there is no reason for Jane to leave him, and that it is kinda stupid of her to, really. What if they both change and can no longer reconcile? He'd be the one that got away, since he was so perfect for her. She's foolish to uphold some perceived moral high ground when she should seize the opportunity/reality.
As we were discussing, I started thinking of Jane Austen's novels. [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639] is written about 30 years after [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926]. I'm amazed. I couldn't think of two novels more different. Aside from the writing and the focus of the authors and everything, I was thinking that in Austen's world, wealth/money/property is a big a reason for marriage -- I mean, Lizzie seeing the Pemberley estates was part of her process of transformation/falling in love with Darcy. Austen also supports social structure, to some extent; she critiques it, but ultimately, she thinks we should keep to it, because it is flawed, but there is still value to it. It made me really appreciate how ahead of its time [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639] is. Jane doesn't care about Rochester's money, and the novel criticizes the social structure in a way that suggests there's little worth in it.
Soooo I really loved reading this book. It was so good.
It is rebelliously feminist; way ahead of its time. My favorite thing was the realism with which the novel is written. Jane's emotions/feelings/thoughts are so realistic and detailed. It was so enjoyable to read. I grew to really like, admire, and esteem Jane. She sticks to her morals no matter how hard it is -- the setbacks and misfortunes that she encounters don't knock her down, but refine and strengthen her beliefs. I was overseas when I read the last part where Jane had to go around and beg, and I couldn't help shuddering in sympathy. I found Rochester to be an arrogant asshole but he is a character who is so very intriguing to read about. LOL he's a Byronic hero -- the Byronic hero is the original 'bad boy with a heart-of-gold' trope amirite. Bertha, though. I just did a postcolonial mod this semester and I can almost hear the postcolonialists pouncing on her character -- I'm looking forward to reading [b:Wide Sargasso Sea|25622780|Wide Sargasso Sea|Jean Rhys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453021061s/25622780.jpg|142647].
I was talking to my friend about this book, and I was surprised to find that she disagreed with Jane's decision to leave Rochester. My friend thinks that Jane is hypocritically and unrealistically clinging to some perceived moral high ground, because in the end, she goes back to Rochester. Her reasoning is this: no one knows Bertha exists, Rochester is rich and able to support the both of them, and both Rochester and Jane love each other, so there is no reason for Jane to leave him, and that it is kinda stupid of her to, really. What if they both change and can no longer reconcile? He'd be the one that got away, since he was so perfect for her. She's foolish to uphold some perceived moral high ground when she should seize the opportunity/reality.
As we were discussing, I started thinking of Jane Austen's novels. [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639] is written about 30 years after [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926]. I'm amazed. I couldn't think of two novels more different. Aside from the writing and the focus of the authors and everything, I was thinking that in Austen's world, wealth/money/property is a big a reason for marriage -- I mean, Lizzie seeing the Pemberley estates was part of her process of transformation/falling in love with Darcy. Austen also supports social structure, to some extent; she critiques it, but ultimately, she thinks we should keep to it, because it is flawed, but there is still value to it. It made me really appreciate how ahead of its time [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639] is. Jane doesn't care about Rochester's money, and the novel criticizes the social structure in a way that suggests there's little worth in it.
Soooo I really loved reading this book. It was so good.
finished reading this series and it is so good. I love how unapologetic Meda is; she can be so indifferent and even mean, and yet she's not evil. loved all the relationships.
I'm glad I gave this book a try. Despite the typical premise/setting of the novel (the YA dystopia genre is filled with books with the same setting/plot/relationships), the author writes in a way that makes this book quite engrossing and fun to read.
I actually got all the way to about 60-70% before I stopped reading. I stopped mainly because of that damn love triangle/quadruple which I spotted the minute Elias's pov was introduced. When they started really laying groundwork for it I just noped my way out. I hate love triangles/quarduples/etc.
The things that kept me reading was actually the plot. The author seems to have planned the book well; there are lots of characters who are introduced who have hints of backstory peeking out through the things they say, and it made me so curious who was who. The main driving force that got me all the way through three quarters of the book was because I was so curious how the Commandment, the Cook, Keenan, and Izzi (just to name some) tie to Laia and the Rebellion and her parents.
I also really appreciated Laia's cowardice/caution. I really hate physical pain, and high-tension situations (like being in danger of getting caught). It's reassuring/validating to see a main character struggle with cowardice/caution, and the resulting self-censure.
So, a pretty decent book, despite the familiar trappings.
I actually got all the way to about 60-70% before I stopped reading. I stopped mainly because of that damn love triangle/quadruple which I spotted the minute Elias's pov was introduced. When they started really laying groundwork for it
Spoiler
(Laia and Elias start spending more time, Laia and Keenan also start sharing scenes where they connect/understand each other, Helene getting jealous because of Laia)The things that kept me reading was actually the plot. The author seems to have planned the book well; there are lots of characters who are introduced who have hints of backstory peeking out through the things they say, and it made me so curious who was who. The main driving force that got me all the way through three quarters of the book was because I was so curious how the Commandment, the Cook, Keenan, and Izzi (just to name some) tie to Laia and the Rebellion and her parents.
I also really appreciated Laia's cowardice/caution. I really hate physical pain, and high-tension situations (like being in danger of getting caught). It's reassuring/validating to see a main character struggle with cowardice/caution, and the resulting self-censure.
So, a pretty decent book, despite the familiar trappings.
This was fantastic. Intisar Khanani has quickly established herself as one of my favorite authors after the awesome [b:Sunbolt|18075001|Sunbolt (The Sunbolt Chronicles, #1)|Intisar Khanani|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371269696s/18075001.jpg|23985976] and now Memories of Ash.
This book was SO good. Everything was good. The world was intriguing and complex; I loved seeing more of it. In this book, Hitomi travels to other regions and it's SUCH a pleasure learning about the rich and varied cultures in the book. You could easily tell which real world culture the author drew inspiration from, and it was really respectful and careful. I really loved that. The writing was good -- certain descriptions were particularly lyrical; the descriptions of working magic in particular are so evocative. (I love the magic system in this world.)
And the characters and the relationships!! I love Hitomi. She's moral, soft, firm, kind. There's a strength to her that lies in her firm morality and compassion. Hitomi reminded of [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219436898p2/21748.jpg]'s Kate Daniels because of how they are both protectors and rescuers, and how they cleave to their morals and compassion when tested. I love reading about characters like that. She also reminds me of the narrative arc of [b:The Goblin Emperor|17910048|The Goblin Emperor|Katherine Addison|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373039517s/17910048.jpg|24241248]'s Maia -- it's less about learning to become a better person, and more about finding a place in the world, forming relationships, gaining a found family. And that's exactly what happens to Hitomi. I really love narratives like that. Hitomi's growing relationships are wonderful to read. I'm especially curious about Val. I wonder where the author is going with it.
Anyway, this was a great book and I felt so happy reading this. I can't wait for the last book.
This book was SO good. Everything was good. The world was intriguing and complex; I loved seeing more of it. In this book, Hitomi travels to other regions and it's SUCH a pleasure learning about the rich and varied cultures in the book. You could easily tell which real world culture the author drew inspiration from, and it was really respectful and careful. I really loved that. The writing was good -- certain descriptions were particularly lyrical; the descriptions of working magic in particular are so evocative. (I love the magic system in this world.)
And the characters and the relationships!! I love Hitomi. She's moral, soft, firm, kind. There's a strength to her that lies in her firm morality and compassion. Hitomi reminded of [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219436898p2/21748.jpg]'s Kate Daniels because of how they are both protectors and rescuers, and how they cleave to their morals and compassion when tested. I love reading about characters like that. She also reminds me of the narrative arc of [b:The Goblin Emperor|17910048|The Goblin Emperor|Katherine Addison|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373039517s/17910048.jpg|24241248]'s Maia -- it's less about learning to become a better person, and more about finding a place in the world, forming relationships, gaining a found family. And that's exactly what happens to Hitomi. I really love narratives like that. Hitomi's growing relationships are wonderful to read. I'm especially curious about Val. I wonder where the author is going with it.
Anyway, this was a great book and I felt so happy reading this. I can't wait for the last book.
I actually read this last year. or last last year, I can't remember. had to reread again for class.
Atwood's dystopias are always terrifying because of how plausible they are. I enjoyed this one.
Awesome book. Wish there were more books that were collaborations between Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.