Log > Recent Status Updates

spoilers and S/A mention -

okay my god, this book can’t pick a tone and it has violently shifted into bloodshed, graphic rape depictions, and mythic quests of destruction… I feel deeply uncomfortable reading parts of this, and like it’s a YA novel others. It’s an amalgamation of a war story and a fantasy world and an angry bunch of teenagers covered in blood and cuss words. It’s a bizarre experience.

spoilers - Main character remains very brutish and argumentative throughout the book (3 yrs now), and the plot points are sometimes contradictory - ie “no drugs on my campus” and blatant growing of multiple drugs in a public setting readily available to students. The war erupts suddenly, the first battle is full of convenient timings, and then boom - new race drop! Overall it’s been a disjointed experience.

So far I am not very enticed by the protagonist. I find her whiny, bombastic, and quick to anger. I suppose there are benefits to a character of this kind, and I do think it’s realistic as she is a 16 y/o girl, but it grinds my brain a little to have her IMMEDIATELY enter a childish rivalry with the rich princely character almost Draco style… actuallythe whole book sniffs of Harry Potter. I hope she grows on me.

Enjoying the read as it’s a very well-written and insightful critique of religion as a whole. The author is very knowledgeable and it’s obvious he’s spent his life grappling with this topic, However I find his voice somewhat haughty at times, and he tinges on condescending in places. I appreciate how he justifies his attitude on religion, but i’m not always stoked on that attitude.

I’m enjoying the slow progression of the plot and the simultaneous developments of the main character creating a family and uncovering revolutionary sentiments. The reader can sympathize with both worlds the protagonist has a foot in, and leaves us just as confused as Robin as to what to do. I love the way Oxford is defined as both beautiful and unjust.

Enjoying this so much - what an engaging way to explore class, colonialism, and social bonds. The plot is fascinating and complex, but easy to follow. I think the pacing is great, and the main character is fleshed out and believable. I’m excited to see what happens next and watch the plot fold and fold and fold in on itself.

I appreciate the time dedicated to merry and pippin in these initial chapters, and how tolkien extrapolates on their feeling useless. It’s a take on imposter syndrome that I find has many parallels in day to day life - maybe not to these extremes, but symbolically - I relate to how they simultaneously express a want to be involved and feeling inadequate to do so meaningfully.

I’m intrigued by the story so far, though I find the pace to be slow - which may be intentional as it forces one to experience the same monotony as Ove, and thus sympathize(?) with his anger, and his attempt to end his life. It’s a bold premise to ask someone to follow along with, but the matter-of-factness which Ove asserts makes it hard to see the situation any way except how it’s presented.

It’s an engaging story with lots of variety. It feels casual and laid back in one moment and life threatening, chaotic, and frantic in the next. The synopsis pitches this book as a romance, but I’ve found that’s the B-plot to what reads as a man’s play by play of his experiences on the front lines of WW1 Italy. The dialogue is intriguing and witty, and the characters feel sharp. It’s a snippet of time.