drplantwrench's reviews
129 reviews

The style of this book is unlike anything I had ever read before. There something so poetic, lonely, and crushing in this book that I have never seen in any book before this (granted I don't have the largest library in the world). Either way, this book has plenty to stand on its own. It really captures loneliness, isolation, coziness, connection, alienation, cold bittersweet redemption. I only have some minor complaints, like sometimes it seem a bit unrealistic, other parts drag, but overall a fantastic book. Highly recommend it.

I read this in high school, probably trying a little too hard. But this book started a lifelong appreciation for Russian literature, and that alone will warrant this book a five star rating. Never had I read a book that so enjoyably mixed several pages of philosophy in with its characters that so enraptured me. Parts of this book dragged, but it really felt epic and accomplishing to take the trek with these characters.

I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez. As a corollary to the comedian so funny they could just read a phone book, Marquez could write anything and have it be beautiful. Love in the Time of Cholera is no different, and you'll find dozens of quotes on this page that showcase the depth and humor of his writing. This book is super well-written and is about love, what isn't there to like?

Well, a few things. I don't think this is as good as A Hundred Years of Solitude. It lacks the magic realism that took that book and made it a masterpiece. Likewise, the grand vision is also comparatively lacking in Love in the Time of Cholera, and it definitely drags, especially near the end. The main characters can be endearing at times, but sometimes I paused and wondered why I cared about any of them. The worst though is that there are disgusting streaks of racism, pedophilia, and rape apologizing. Add on top of this a implicitly misogynistic undercurrent to the whole book, and it's like finding out some of the chocolate chips are actually rotten, pretty racist, raisins.

Still, Marquez is such a great writer that there's some buoyancy to this book that survives the worst parts of it. That said, I would go read A Hundred Years of Solitude instead.

There a lot of parts of the book, where you smile and think "yes, this is funny". On the other hand, I don't think I actually ever laughed while reading this. It's all very amusing and fun, a lot of situations that made me think "oy yoy yoy, how will they get out of this??" And I mean that both as a compliment and an insult to the book. Likewise, though some of the characters are interesting, most of it is a little pointless and the premise starts to drag a little. Overall mostly harmless.

It's too bad that this is Nabokov's best known novel. In my opinion Pale Fire is actually much better, and deserves to be known more. Lolita is also a very good book, but one hose reputation precedes it. It has become that one book that is about pedophilia, instead of the book that brings you face to face with a monster, so close that you can feel his breath and almost understand him even as you despise him. The way Nabokov frames this book is fascinating, and should be discussed much more than the subject matter. It's not just a simple story lionizing pedophilia, as it seems society thinks it is, instead it's more like seeing a shark swiftly swim by you in murky waters.

I'm not much of a True Crime person. I watched the first season of Making a Murderer, and that's where my experience with the genre all started and ended. To be honest, I think we as a society are too interested in the grisly details and consume peoples misfortunes as popcorn-laden content. Since then I have actually started to avoid a lot of the genre with purpose. As I made my way through my top books to read before you die book bucket list (a booket list, if you will. you wont? okay), I saw this and was wary for those same reasons. But Capote is a genius, right? And this book is supposed to be great, right?

So I read it, and man what a thrill-ride. It is so impeccably written you can see why True Crime took off as a genre. It is a compelling adrenaline pumping book you cannot put down. Even better is that it is not the glorification of crime and dirty gossip a lot of the genre has since evolved into. I literally read it in 5 days, and could not put it down. That said, the only demerit is that it does feel like a sugar rush, both in a good and a bad way - cannot stop once you start, but does have a bit of a hangover and feel a little empty afterwards. I'd give it a 4.75 out of 5 if I could.

This is the first Dickens book I have read, and I had pretty high expectations (semi-pun intended). I was immediately enthralled by Dickens' writing style, and many times though to myself "ah yes, this is why he is such a famous author". The story has twists and turns that I was not expecting in any way, and the whole thing is an interesting allegory for the readers expectations of where a novel is going versus where it does. This book has the rare trifecta of being well-written, having a compelling premise/plot, and having a deeper almost metafictional undercurrent that increases its staying power. I am looking forward to reading more of his work in the future.

I've always heard how good Watchmen is, and how the movie doesn't fully capture it, it has to be read. I decided to read this after Ulysses, and was desperate for something a bit more direct and easy to read. Thought it was a perfect time to read my first graphic novel. Of course, you can read in the other reviews how great this book is, but I was also shocked how much of a cultural impact it has had. maybe ever 15 pages or so, I was like OH! that's what that trope/quote/whatever is from! Of course, it's a fascinating plot and well-drawn, but I highly recommend it just for people to get a better understanding of how it has influenced the current cultural zeitgeist.