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bennysbooks's Reviews (668)
Re-read aloud with my partner, this series held up to my childhood obsession. The relationships! I did not appreciate as a child how well Pierce wrote Alanna's love interests.
Didn't agree with everything he wrote, and wasn't interested in everything he wrote, but I enjoyed reading Kenkō's thoughts regardless. I've had Essays in Idleness on my TBR for years now, can't decide if this was enough for me or if I will pick up the full edition - maybe in a few years when I have some distance from this sampling. It is always amazing to read old texts and find yourself confronted with how little humans change through the centuries. (Heartening? Disheartening? Yes.)
Very well-written. Does a lot with a little. I think without Smith's introduction I wouldn't have gotten quite as much out of it. Would work very well in a school setting as analysis of the text is what makes it a worthwhile reading experience.
Review to come, but for now I'm just sitting here with a bewildered smile on my face repeating "oh my god" endlessly so...
Took me forever to circle back and write a review, so I won't bother with a full one until I have re-read the book. For now, I will just say this: the book keeps you at a distance, and for some this will work, for others it will not. As someone who typically loves character depth, I can understand why people might struggle to connect. I think after reading this, and working my way through the Dandelion Dynasty (which is similar in a few key ways, though decidedly more epic in scale), I think what I love about these characters is the roles they play, rather than who they are. They feel like characters rather than real people, but in a good, soapy, Shakespearean sort of way. Not for everyone, but the impact can be incredible when done well. They're more than archetypes, but their place in the story is more important than a sense of interiority.
Pair this with the swelling action, the complex political scheming, the operatic moments - I perish. I love what Parker-Chan pulls off here. It feels fresh and ancient, all at once.
Took me forever to circle back and write a review, so I won't bother with a full one until I have re-read the book. For now, I will just say this: the book keeps you at a distance, and for some this will work, for others it will not. As someone who typically loves character depth, I can understand why people might struggle to connect. I think after reading this, and working my way through the Dandelion Dynasty (which is similar in a few key ways, though decidedly more epic in scale), I think what I love about these characters is the roles they play, rather than who they are. They feel like characters rather than real people, but in a good, soapy, Shakespearean sort of way. Not for everyone, but the impact can be incredible when done well. They're more than archetypes, but their place in the story is more important than a sense of interiority.
Pair this with the swelling action, the complex political scheming, the operatic moments - I perish. I love what Parker-Chan pulls off here. It feels fresh and ancient, all at once.
fast-paced
Charming, clever, creative. Quick read. Good representation of depression (and compartmentalization) that resonated with me.