the prelude

August 30, 2019 | nicole

The Prelude: The Four Texts by William Wordsworth

It took me a looooong time but I’ve finally finished this lengthy poem. The thing is, he does have some lyrical lines in there and insights that ring true; but the sheer density of the words, the repetitiveness and his dire need of an editor – these all obscure those kernels of goodness, making the entire poem all too lengthy and tedious to get through. It’s not painful to read because he’s clear in his writing and takes us smoothly along his poetic growth, but it’s just too chunky for my liking.

🌹date read: 30 aug 2019 🌹

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hamlet

August 30, 2019 | nicole

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

✨ my rating: 3 of 5 stars✨

Okay so I get that this is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, some even say it’s his best, but I didn’t love it thaaat much. I enjoy pretty much anything from Shakespeare but Hamlet wasn’t super spectacular to me on the first read, perhaps because the protagonist wasn’t very compelling to me. I’ll definitely be reading it again though!

🌹date read: 23 aug 2019 🌹

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the beauty myth

August 30, 2019 | nicole

The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

It was a really enlightening book, and articulated the effects of a narrow and limited beauty standard pretty well! However, I wish that she’d been more consistent in expounding on each section in detail (some chapters were significantly shorter than the others and lacking in substantiation). Moreover, she never really explains who the “oppressors” are, but uses blanket statements loosely pointing a finger at the “patriarchy”. This is a little problematic to me because I think she should have really explored in detail who exactly perpetuates it instead of pitching a rather vague conspiracy. Overall, still very worth the read that I think both men and women would benefit from!

🌹date read: 20 aug 2019 🌹

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much ado about nothing

August 16, 2019 | nicole

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

✨ my rating: 5 of 5 stars ✨

I really enjoyed this!! Admittedly I love Shakespeare in general, but this was one of the most entertaining comedies I’ve read with some really funny bits in it. I liked the dynamic between Beatrice and Benedick in particular, with all their witty sparring. Dogberry and Verge are also hilarious because of how ridiculous they are. Yet for all its lighthearted banter, Much Ado About Nothing also takes darker turns in exploring the dangers of miscommunication and perhaps also questioning the basis for the institution of marriage as well as gender stereotypes of the time.

🌹date read: 16 aug 2019 🌹

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the waste land

August 16, 2019 | nicole

The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot

✨ my rating: 5 of 5 stars ✨

I think that this is such a profound work with so many layers of meaning! It’s definitely not easily understood, and on first read, it comes across as bizarre and incomprehensible. However, in taking the time to analyse the work’s meaning, I really came to appreciate Eliot’s ability and the message he’s trying to convey. The Waste Land is like a doorway to so much knowledge and it prompted me to explore and learn more about literary culture. Definitely a really enriching and thought-provoking read, one that I think will stay with me for a long time 🙂

🌹date read: 14 aug 2019 🌹

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a doll’s house

August 14, 2019 | nicole

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

I really enjoyed reading this play, and finished it in one sitting! The sense of dread and heightened suspense is really conveyed through the language and tone; and I was pretty fascinated by the relationship between Nora and Helmer, because neither are wholly good or bad, both are figures trapped within their perceived societal roles. One thing that bothered me a bit was the sub-plot between Mrs Linde and Krogstad, because I felt that their back-story was added in a bit too late and not fleshed out sufficiently to make it believable. Overall, a real great read 🙂

🌹date read: 12 aug 2019 🌹

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jazz

July 27, 2019 | nicole

Jazz by Toni Morrison

✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

I can’t say I know much about the context, not having had the lived experience of the characters, but Toni Morrison is really good at pulling the reader into the narrative she spins, layering plot with intricate characterisation and heightening suspense as she goes along. The language is lyrical and rhythmic, and the story itself is so compelling and interesting! It was also a bit discomforting because as I read, I felt that there was this overarching and looming sense of violence and disorder hanging above all the stories and connecting all their lives. My only qualm is the punctuation and switching of POVs – which I guess is supposed to add to the rhythm, but didn’t appeal that much to me. Overall, a great read!

🌹date read: 26 jul 2019 🌹

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a parisian affair

July 25, 2019 | nicole

A Parisian Affair and Other Stories by Guy de Maupassant

✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars ✨

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection! Maupassant has a way with words – he writes in an extremely compelling way and every story is so concise, tight-knit and put together really well. The stories reminded me of James Joyce’s “Dubliners”, but much more light-hearted and witty. I would definitely recommend giving it a read! 🙂

🌹date read: 23 jul 2019 🌹

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all that she can see

July 17, 2019 | nicole

All That She Can See by Carrie Hope Fletcher

✨ my rating: 1 of 5 stars✨

Mmm… nah. I was intrigued by the blurb and the concept, but the execution was kind of sloppy. Many times it felt like the author was “telling” instead of “showing”, as seen in ridiculous chunky dialogues which sounded like they were ripped out from therapist flyers. The plot in the second half of the book also gets increasingly ridiculous and there’s insufficient world-building to make it compelling. Also, the relationship between the two main characters is so, so forced – they go from hating each other to being absolutely in love without any substantial character growth at all! What annoyed me was also the inconsistencies in writing in terms of plot holes and weird POVs. It was easy to read through, but it wasn’t a good story in my opinion.

🌹date read: 16 jul 2019 🌹

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