theelliad's Reviews (291)

I love Euripides- while this lacks the beauty and power of medea, this translation of Bacchae conveyed the importance of power and disillusionment very well and was easy to understand and analyse 

Despite the slight over-dystopian week I have had it was very interesting to read this and 1984 simultaneously- the differences and yet terrifying similarities were overwhelming and if I wasn’t afraid enough of the future before I must be now… In contrast to Orwell, Huxley focused a lot more on the scientific and genetic elements of his imagined future with an open attitude towards sex and eroticism and an abhorrence surrounding familial values which was very interesting as someone who thoroughly missed A level biology (the occasional biological/genetic spirals were honestly so good)! Despite Ed’s warning I liked the ending of this one just as much as the beginning and so for now Orwell and Huxley can share the rating :))

Safe to say it’s THE dystopian for a reason… this book is far from perfect and I can and probably will rant about the parts I didn’t like and could have been removed in the coming months however overall it’s an engaging, terrifying and brainwashing experience. As a reader you are continually confused and questioning systems, trust loses all its meaning and you catch a glimpse of just how terrifying it would have been for this to have been a prediction of your livable future! I especially loved the 1940s psychology elements- Freudian and post war psychological methods dominate the latter half of this book and these are the elements that had me most engaged and raised the overall book by about a star! The ending is predictable and mundane and yet awfully fitting - i do love a theory of cyclicality within literature so will likely ramble about that element of this as well! Is this book revolutionary to me? No, however I completely see its appeal and how revolutionary it would have been within its context🕺

Well that was a wild ride!? While this book played into tropes i enjoyed and sported a twist which i didn’t fully guess, i feel like it was unsure of what it wanted to be- flitting uncomfortably between a murder mystery, a cult novel, a psychological/therapy book and a dark academia?! There was elements i enjoyed however I feel like the campus nature and maidens/mythology elements were almost entirely irrelevant in the long run.

Nécromancers in space? This was actually a really interesting plot and had a lot of twists as well as a look at the complexities of guilt and gay people… I definitely need to reread this as a paper copy before I read the next one though as I am so confused 

I like the narration but why is the plot various people just complaining with a sprinkle of racism? 

Before my 19th birthday I wrote down all the things I had learned about life, and I think if i hadn’t been such a teary mess at the time, the outcome would have mirrored this (but likely written way less eloquently). If you need a reminder that you are so surrounded by love, and that there is so much to be grateful for through life’s shits and stones read this one :))

Freud, giving sex ed: his opinions are moronic but his vibes are iconic 

Im usually not a fan of romances, but Olivie Blake’s writing is so beautiful I couldn’t put this down. The love story is very Orpheus and Eurydice coded (am I biased because of seeing hadestown yes but their personalities are so perfect) (also side not saying that isn’t a spoiler as it’s not orpheus and eurydice in plot but characters) and such a beautiful depiction of love and mental health and choosing to be together. love love love 

Wow. Where do I begin. This one is dancing around the 4.5/5* mark for me but I will not give in and use the .75 button so while I process my thoughts it can stay as this. This book is such an elegant and powerful exploration of colonialism, industry, education, discrimination, friendship, betrayal, war and politics- huge themes that are addressed in such a though provoking way. The lines between what is right and what is wrong, and who is the villain vs the hero are become so blurred you find yourself rooting for everyone and no one simultaneously. Of course there is a right group to support, yet this revolution is handled so eloquently, and the characters made so real that their own moral corruption drives them mad, that supporting all their choices becomes impossible. Similarly, those in power are made so perfectly manipulative that at points you too are convinced of the British empires morality?! Kuang somehow simultaneously portrays one of the most incredible forms of world building, while also situating this book so far into the tangiable; a magic system so fascinating and yet so plausible. I want words from this book imprinted upon my heart, and to write essays on its meaning and impact. The only thing that makes giving this 5* hesitant, is how long this took me to read (entirely my own fault) and thus details went amiss and the experience was partially ruined.