Nic > Recent Status Updates

Book I, Chapter III finished (3/364 chapters completed)

"There's nothing now to go on living for."

Book I, Chapter II completed today (2/364 chapters remaining)
Pierre’s social awkwardness is too real for me lol (expect spoilers from some of my notes throughout!)

One of my New Year’s resolutions: re-read War and Peace. But this time, read aloud one chapter per day! With War and Peace consisting of 364 chapters, I should be able to finish by 31 December 2026!
Part I, Chapter I read today (1/364 chapters complete)

harrowing and just as disturbing as its reputation suggested, yet i can’t help questioning the approach here? amidst the unflinching details of child abuse, I finished this in two sittings, and all the more power to Pelzer in reclaiming his narrative, but it feels rushed, never providing insight into his relationships, which I feel the trilogy may later reveal? impossible to rate, which didn’t feel right anyways.

Compelling first half and interesting setup for its social commentary on white privilege and corruption, with its predicament being an effective allegory. Less interesting later half, where the narrative turns into a slog. Killer ending, tho, and classic King (or Bachman?) stuff.

Compelling premise and not without its grisly, bleak moments, with Felker-Martin’s sense of atmosphere shining throughout, but beyond the (intentionally?) unsubtle social commentary on transphobia and gender, I just found this too messy for its own good, with the characterisations and narrative become increasingly disengaging throughout. Something like this is my vibe, yet I ended up feeling cold and unsatisfied.

Some undeniably cosy, low-stakes Summer vibes in Emily Henry’s prose, which taps into a truth surrounding millennial ennui, but the non-linear structure genuinely kills most of the momentum for me. I tried caring for these character beyond the romance clichés, but there isn’t really much of a spark I felt, which only makes the expected resolution underwhelming to read. Frustrating!