alisarae's Reviews (1.65k)

Poetics and Interpretation of Biblical Narrative

DID NOT FINISH: 30%

DNF @ 30%

I wanted to read this book because a lot of contemporary Christian teachers I like have cited it re: exploring biblical narratives through the literary lens, looking at narrative techniques and literary devices, what the point of view and repetitive phrases intend to signal the reader, etc. The Bible Project has been credited in a renewed interest in the Old Testament because of their teachings in this line. This book is short and accessible, for an academic work, but I was hoping for more discussion on repeated motifs and their meaning than an explanation of literary techniques such as characterization and POV.

Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal

Esau McCaulley

4.0

informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

A light and easy intro to Lent for people who are new to practicing the liturgical seasons. It gives a bit of history and context into some common practices around the world. I wanted to read it as I was thinking about how I would like to observe Lent this year, and it helped me think of some ideas.

Watership Down

Richard Adams

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I have tried and failed to read this book in the past. The start of the book is helping no one. But once I got past that first 10%, the characters grew on me and I felt invested in their drama and I was rooting for their success.

I liked how this book was not just humans masquerading as animals, but the rabbits really do have their own lupine culture that affects how they make decisions and interact.

Someone described this as LOTR, Rabbit Edition, and that is spot on. Same vibes, for sure.

Africa's Tarnished Name

Chinua Achebe

4.0

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

"A human is a human because of other humans. Our humanity is contingent on the humanity of our fellows. No person or group can be human alone. We rise above the animal together, or not at all." -- Africa is People

The Viscount Says Yes: A Meddle & Mend Epilogue

Sarah Wallace

5.0

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

THE HEA WE NEEDED FOR BERTIE AND PIP!!!!

This series has brought me so much happiness. Honestly I just sit there and grin the whole time. This was a fantastic ending for now, though the author mentioned there are 2 more stories planned 👀👀👀

I always say that it is easy to write a sad story, or a horror story: all we have to do for inspiration is look outside. But it is very difficult to write a story with characters who love, admire, and respect each other. I am glad I found the Meddle & Mend series and I hope the author finds a lot of success.

The Haunted Boy

Carson McCullers

4.0

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My first Carson McCullers - an author whom I always suspected I would like. Women who wrote about darker undercurrents during the white and rosy 1950s always intrigue me.

I found it quite interesting to read this back to back with The Problem That Has No Name by Betty Friedan, another book from the Modern Classics set. In two of the stories, middle class housewives are dealing with mental illness, perhaps part of their problem is "the problem that has no name." The other story, The Sojourner, paints a picture of a man who is unsatisfied, melancholic, and lonely, in spite of having many opportunities to not be those things. It questions the rosey midcentury American experience.

Mickey7

Edward Ashton

5.0

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Such a fun read! I like when sci-fi doesn't take itself too seriously. I hereby submit my petition to have more average intelligence characters and gallows humor in sci-fi. I am really hoping the movie plays up the comedy aspect.

P.S. the protein paste made me reconsider having a protein shake for breakfast every day lol

--

"I've always believed it's important to accept the people in your life for what they are. There's no such thing as a perfect friend, any more than there's any such thing as a perfect anything, and if you slag everyone in your life for their many and varied failings, you're going to miss appreciating the good stuff they bring to the table."

The Ministry of Time

Kaliane Bradley

3.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Creative and imaginative storywith a fun concept! I enjoyed it enough to read in one day.

Graveyard Shift

M.L. Rio

3.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A book about a bunch of insomniacs trying to solve a mystery in the middle of the night honestly sounds like it was written about me. The irony of my checking out this book at 3am was not lost.

The characters were good but I had hoped for more from the thriller/horror aspect.