Sammy M > Recent Status Updates

I want to crawl into the pages of the book and personally introduce each narrator to the psychologytoday.com find-a-therapist tool.

The world building here is most definitely…questionable however

This book is very explicitly about academia and all its pitfalls and will definitely deliver a certain catharsis to anyone who’s spent 1+ year in academia

Me (a chronic dweller and over-thinker in my 20s) when a book mainly consists of over-thinkers in their 20s ruminating (but in the underworld!): 😁😍🔥

I can see where the criticisms for this book are coming from, but I’m having a blast. Also, it does seem that Kuang has listened to the criticisms of Babel and done less info-dumping here (or maybe is doing more engaging info-dumping here?)

“Was that a compliment? What the fuck is going on?” Lolllll not Dain being in actual distress over Xaden giving a genuine compliment

General thoughts so far:
-excited to explore more of the map
-Xaden is more likable in this book (maybe it’s because he’s going through it???)
-I’m trying to support my girl Violet, but changing the runes on the stone was objectively a super risky and somewhat rash decision that I doubt would have panned out as intended outside of this universe

Not Yarros dipping her toes into the professor x student trope 😭

Okay, not to ramble too much before I actually finish this but Carmilla’s dialogue alternates between being purposefully archaic and accidentally(?) sounding like an edgy teenager on Stan twitter…she’s just timeless like that I suppose

Have mixed opinions on the book’s portrayal of the Victorian era/relationship to Victorian canon but am thoroughly enjoying reading about Carmilla making mischief

Carmilla you are so off-putting and strange (complimentary)

Also…this book has made me audibly laugh so many times. I do think one of Emily Henry’s biggest strengths is writing dialogue (banter in particular)

Gus…you avoidant attachment style diva you…

Why is this kind of the best book ever? Emily Henry might have done it again…

Favorite character so far is for sure the scheming, depressed eunuch.

Final stretch.

😒

Aw man…I’m trying very hard to keep an open mind. Earlier today, my roommate told me it’s okay to DNF bc I kept sighing from my side of the couch, and I think that’s an accurate summation of how this is going. I do appreciate the emphasis on friendship and writing style (in moderation) but I realllllly don’t like Yanagihara’s character writing or thematic work. But, whatever it takes, I will finish this!!

3.5 stars

Ghost Bird = one of the best characters of all time

He uses so many words….and yet says so little

Making myself post updates as a form of accountability bc I fear I’ll abandon this book otherwise