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bennysbooks's Reviews (668)
Not nearly as good as what I have read of the Neapolitan series, but a decent coming-of-age novel. I didn't connect with the story much, but Ferrante captures so well how things feel at that age - the angst and the yearning to be treated like an adult, but simultaneously to return to the simplicity of childhood.
Some fun stories in here, but I'm realizing that erotic short stories aren't enough for me. I need more build-up. Which is hilarious because I often skim the filler scenes in longer erotica. I'm human and my tastes are nonsense.
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The kid and I have re-read this at least 5 times by now. It's genuinely hilarious.
Not nearly enough tension. They aren't physically attracted to one another, but it's clear from the moment they meet how their relationship will develop. I totally understand why this works for people - it's a wholesome and emotionally mature romance story - but I just need more "will they/won't they". This is more like...when will they. Not for me.
My least favourite novel by Erdrich yet, but had enough moments that were either captivating or beautifully written that it kept me going. The Nanapush chapters were much more interesting than the Pauline chapters.
Honestly, I read this because my mom heard the author talking about the subject of the book on a podcast and bought it for me. I wasn't necessarily excited to read it because I haven't been in the mood for this sort of book for a while, but I wanted to honour her excitement and give it a try. I enjoyed the set-up. I relate to the topic as someone who has always tended toward the melancholy/sensitive/emotional, and definitely passed the test she created (by a lot). But as I got deeper into the book, it didn't feel that interesting or illuminating. Most of it seems like you would easily pick up elsewhere in smaller works, or just intuitively if you're so inclined, and I didn't find the connective tissue of the book added much or even connected the ideas the way they were intended to. Not going to rate it because it's entirely possible I just should have picked this up at a different time.
The kid and I read this in one sitting. We both loved it, I think equally. Definitely going to pick up the next one.
This was fine, but didn't interest me. Demons might not be my thing.
Temporary dnf. I've been struggling to decide if I wanted to continue at this time, flip-flopping daily. It's not horrible, and I think I will enjoy the series. But the formulaic start + melodramatic/purple prose + angsty teen beginning for the protagonist is sending me into a slump.
Attempt #2 - I wanted to like this so badly, but I truly, TRULY hated it. The writing was overwrought and riddled with nonsensical word choices (at one point Had stumbles upon someone crying in a shower stall and it's described, among other things, as a "scuffling, snuffling" sound. Snuffling makes perfect sense, but unless it was a fairly active crying fit, scuffling was a bizarre choice. It may seem nitpicky but this is just one example of many). The flow of the story was unbearable as well. Things would happen to Hadrian that seemed to be setting him up for something, but then peter out to nothing. Characters would be introduced, but then die or seemingly disappear, so that in the end their impact on the plot, or on Hadrian's character arc, or on me as a reader, were nil. It was disorienting, and because nothing seemed to matter much, it was boring. I enjoy a slow pace - Robin Hobb is one of my favourite writers. But there still has to be something going on to push the story forward during the slow moments, and I didn't feel that was the case here.
The final kicker was Hadrian himself. He's obviously modeled on characters like Paul Atreides and Kvothe, but wasn't nearly as eerie/unsettling as Paul, or as charmingly mischievous (/impulsively dumb) as Kvothe. I couldn't connect with him at all.
I can imagine enjoying the overall plot of this series, but if I'm not enjoying the writing style or the characters, plot isn't enough to get me through these 800 page tomes.
Least favourite quote from the book:
"I may be a lot of things, but left handed isn't one of them".
😑
Attempt #2 - I wanted to like this so badly, but I truly, TRULY hated it. The writing was overwrought and riddled with nonsensical word choices (at one point Had stumbles upon someone crying in a shower stall and it's described, among other things, as a "scuffling, snuffling" sound. Snuffling makes perfect sense, but unless it was a fairly active crying fit, scuffling was a bizarre choice. It may seem nitpicky but this is just one example of many). The flow of the story was unbearable as well. Things would happen to Hadrian that seemed to be setting him up for something, but then peter out to nothing. Characters would be introduced, but then die or seemingly disappear, so that in the end their impact on the plot, or on Hadrian's character arc, or on me as a reader, were nil. It was disorienting, and because nothing seemed to matter much, it was boring. I enjoy a slow pace - Robin Hobb is one of my favourite writers. But there still has to be something going on to push the story forward during the slow moments, and I didn't feel that was the case here.
The final kicker was Hadrian himself. He's obviously modeled on characters like Paul Atreides and Kvothe, but wasn't nearly as eerie/unsettling as Paul, or as charmingly mischievous (/impulsively dumb) as Kvothe. I couldn't connect with him at all.
I can imagine enjoying the overall plot of this series, but if I'm not enjoying the writing style or the characters, plot isn't enough to get me through these 800 page tomes.
Least favourite quote from the book:
"I may be a lot of things, but left handed isn't one of them".
😑
