allyjshand's reviews
208 reviews

Dream Psychology by Sigmund Freud

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challenging reflective slow-paced

2.75

One off the psychology bucket list. The fundamental issue with studying dreams is that we cannot directly observe this unconscious experience. As a result, this book is completely pseudoscientific. That being said, some elements of Freud’s may hold true - particularly regarding the argument for wish-fulfilment. Sadly, unsurprisingly for Freud, he often takes his examples down the sexual route.
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The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Enjoying going through Poe’s catalogue of short stories.
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The Embassy of Cambodia by Zadie Smith

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emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I’ve been meaning to read Zadie Smith’s work for a long time, particularly after reading Open Water. This short story certainly did not disappoint. I was surprised at how attached I felt to the protagonist and how moved it was by her journey. Incredible writing. 
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The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A haunting short story that delves into human psychology. A quick read and engaged throughout. 
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Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood

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dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

So much for endings. Beginnings are always more fun.

An un-traditional short story packed with dark humour and twists. Really memorable.
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Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata

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dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Social norms and taboos explored through a collection of short stories.
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They by Kay Dick

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I loved the premise of this book and was took in by Margaret Atwood’s review. A dystopian novella, similar in concept to 1984, that discussed the suppression of art, love and emotion by an anonymous group. Some of Dick’s short stories had me gripped, particularly the first few. Although after that, the characters lacked distinguished personalities and I lost interest in the story slightly and failed to understand some of the nuances of the plot.
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Third Girl by Agatha Christie

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mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A return to YA book series to get me out of my reading slump! I always enjoy a dystopian book and Divergent was no exception. It was nothing ground-breaking and there are definitely some questionable sections about sensitive topics (e.g., body image, sexual assault, suicide). But, regardless, it is definitely a page-turner packed full of action. 
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Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The concept behind the novel is brilliant. I was so intrigued by kentukis and their depicted global popularity. Whilst some argue that kentukis are unrealistic, I would disagree. Given the rate at which we have absorbed technologies into our homes that utilise voice recognition and cameras, I'd argue that the us machines like kentukis is not unlikely. The whole novel was reminiscent of the dystopian TV show Black Mirror which, like Little Eyes, uses futuristic technologies to reflect human nature. To top it off, the writing was extremely fluid and engaging - making it easy to fall into Schweblin's world. However, I found the novel quite dark and graphic at times (although, this is a matter of reader preference). Also, whilst the use of multiple perspectives was seamless, I felt that less POVs could have been included to allow for the remaining narratives to be developed more. Regardless, Little Eyes is a though-provoking novel that will definitely stay with me.
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