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Out of all Neil Gaiman books I've read, I have to say that this is the least interesting. His fiction is just WAY better than his non-fiction (most of which I already read on the internet at some point anyway).
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
DID NOT FINISH
I stopped reading this book at 30% because it was super boring to read about archaeological stuff in minute detail. Might be interesting for archaeologists, but not for me.
I stopped reading this book at like 60% because it got way too depressing.
This book was so boring that I stopped about about 3 chapters
I'm afraid to admit that this was my first Discworld book, though not my first go at it. I tried reading The Colour of Magic about ten years ago, but apparently for some unfathomable reason I was unsuccessful.
Now that Death has finally collected his creator, I couldn't help but learn more about both of them.
Mort was quite a delightful read. I enjoyed reading it altogether and I think I will continue with Reaper Man and pave my own path through the Discworld.
Now that Death has finally collected his creator, I couldn't help but learn more about both of them.
Mort was quite a delightful read. I enjoyed reading it altogether and I think I will continue with Reaper Man and pave my own path through the Discworld.
Sadly I was rather disappointed by this book after the great Mort. For some reason, I just couldn't really get into this book. In particular, i found the whole plot line with the wizards a bit of a drag and found myself just skimming most of that. This might also explain why it took me 4 months to actually finish reading this book.
Felt about this pretty much the same way I felt about the previous one – it's got some fun elements, but I'm still not as convinced as I was with Mort...
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The second part of the trilogy shows us how Katniss was affected - and traumatized - by her experience in the Hunger Games. About 2/3 of the book deal with topics related to this, plus the growing unrest in the districts. She has a lot to process, becoming increasingly angry at the capitol for the incredibly unfair world that she lives in.
The last third of the book is set in the 75th Hunger Games, which no doubt the Capitol devised to quiet the sparks of rebellion, but achieved the exact opposite. It's so well written with such great characters. It's an emotional roller-coaster for sure, especially Mags.
Speaking of emotion, Katniss is also dealing with her feelings for not one, but two men in this book. It's been 12 years since I read this the first time, and reading it from my present point of view, it's just so obvious to me that Katniss is polyamorous. Why decide for one man, if she needs both, as each of them fulfills a different need for her? But alas, this book is set in a black and white world where I doubt polyamory is a thing. But honestly, it makes this love triangle kinda unnecessary for me.
At the same time she also seems to be somewhat asexual and/or aromantic. She clearly has feelings for both Gale and Peeta, but her feelings don't seem particularly sexual to me. I think she struggles a lot with romance and commitment in general, and sometimes I can recognize myself in her. I think losing her father early, and the losing the affection of her mother to depression, can partially explain this, as not having emotional needs met by your parents can scar you for life. It's so refreshing to have a protagonist like this, because most protagonists that I've encountered are not this emotionally complex.
A great sequel that sets the scene for the finale perfectly, which I enjoyed reading a lot more the second time I read it.
The last third of the book is set in the 75th Hunger Games, which no doubt the Capitol devised to quiet the sparks of rebellion, but achieved the exact opposite. It's so well written with such great characters. It's an emotional roller-coaster for sure, especially Mags.
Speaking of emotion, Katniss is also dealing with her feelings for not one, but two men in this book. It's been 12 years since I read this the first time, and reading it from my present point of view, it's just so obvious to me that Katniss is polyamorous. Why decide for one man, if she needs both, as each of them fulfills a different need for her? But alas, this book is set in a black and white world where I doubt polyamory is a thing. But honestly, it makes this love triangle kinda unnecessary for me.
At the same time she also seems to be somewhat asexual and/or aromantic. She clearly has feelings for both Gale and Peeta, but her feelings don't seem particularly sexual to me. I think she struggles a lot with romance and commitment in general, and sometimes I can recognize myself in her. I think losing her father early, and the losing the affection of her mother to depression, can partially explain this, as not having emotional needs met by your parents can scar you for life. It's so refreshing to have a protagonist like this, because most protagonists that I've encountered are not this emotionally complex.
A great sequel that sets the scene for the finale perfectly, which I enjoyed reading a lot more the second time I read it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read these books for the first time 12 years ago, just before the first movie came out. I re-read this now after reading the prequel novel.
This book is still an incredible pageturner. Both times I read it, I finished it within about 24 hours. And honestly, it's a brilliantly written, highly entertaining read that makes you think about themes such government, injustic and even love.
Sometimes it gets a bad rep because of the hype, but IMHO the hype is justified. Because unlike many other similar works of the genre, it works because Katniss is an anti-hero who does not want to embrace her role. And she is not even interested in the love triangle that the book presents her with. But more on that in the later books.
The only thing I had issues with is the coal. How does a post-apocalyptic utopia/dystopia that seems to have crazy advanced technology still rely on coal? Seems odd.
This book is still an incredible pageturner. Both times I read it, I finished it within about 24 hours. And honestly, it's a brilliantly written, highly entertaining read that makes you think about themes such government, injustic and even love.
Sometimes it gets a bad rep because of the hype, but IMHO the hype is justified. Because unlike many other similar works of the genre, it works because Katniss is an anti-hero who does not want to embrace her role. And she is not even interested in the love triangle that the book presents her with. But more on that in the later books.
The only thing I had issues with is the coal. How does a post-apocalyptic utopia/dystopia that seems to have crazy advanced technology still rely on coal? Seems odd.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't really know what to make of this book. The biggest problem I have with it is that its protagonist is an entitled narcissist who treats people like possessions. We watch him mature from a slightly insecure teenager into a despicable tyrant. It is utterly unfathomable to me how anyone could fall for this guy, but maybe *she* was playing him the entire time?
So why would you want to read this? It's a nice book to learn more about the admittedly fascinating world of Panem, and how the Hunger Games developed as an event. All this book did was making me really want to read the Hunger Games books now. Damnit.
So why would you want to read this? It's a nice book to learn more about the admittedly fascinating world of Panem, and how the Hunger Games developed as an event. All this book did was making me really want to read the Hunger Games books now. Damnit.