the age of innocence

| nicole
The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

Wharton’s style of writing reminded me subtly of Jane Austen’s, in that both convey subliminal messages about society through the narratives of fictional characters, plus both have amazing language and wit! I really love the relationships she draws out here, and the very measured and nuanced considerations of each person that just shows how fleshed out each character is. The ending was so poignant and sad, and it made me think of all the people we pass by each day, each with their own stories and secrets, and how fiction and reality is constantly blurred at the edges as we grapple with our own truths. It was definitely worth the read!

🌹date read: 14 jul 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews

the song of achilles

| nicole
The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

✨ my rating: 5 of 5 stars✨

I loved reading this book. It’s so heartbreaking and so beautiful at the same time, and written in lyrical and sombre words that convey the magnitude of love in their relationship. She compressed the narrative really well and fleshed out each of the characters so vividly and realistically. I loved, loved, loved it and this doesn’t usually happen to me but I got a little teary at the end because it was just so tragic 😥 I’d definitely recommend this but prepare yourself for the sobbles!

🌹date read: 8 jul 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews

wasabi for breakfast

| nicole
Wasabi for Breakfast (Japanese Literature (Dalkey))

Wasabi for Breakfast (Japanese Literature by Foumiko Kometani


✨ my rating: 2 of 5 stars✨

I really liked the second story! The first one was a bit rambly and pointless to me, but the second one captured the protagonist’s fears and feelings really well. It’s definitely pessimistic and cynical, and the characters aren’t very endearing, but it’s a very hardened outlook on life that I think discrimination and disempowerment tends to produce. Overall, it’s not a bad read, but not extremely great either.

🌹date read: 5 jul 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews

happiness is possible

| nicole
Happiness is Possible

Happiness is Possible by Oleg Zaionchkovsky


✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

I really enjoyed it! It’s quite witty and whimsical, and reminds me a little bit of Murakami’s style. Through little anecdotes and tales of Moscow’s inhabitants, we get to see how universal the speaker’s condition – his search for contentment – is in relation to those around him. All the while, even as he narrates stories of loss and hurt, there is never any self-pitying or victimisation, but rather an acceptance of the inevitable and a determined optimism to keep living. It ended on a surprisingly tender and heartwarming note, and it was a real breeze to read through.

🌹date read: 3 jul 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews

paradise lost

| nicole
Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost by John Milton
✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

To be honest, it wasn’t the easiest read for me (especially since I read the ebook version as I couldn’t get my hands on a physical copy). Reading it on the screen somehow made the thick blocks of text even chunkier and sometimes difficult to follow. However, that being said, I enjoyed it immensely. In the first few books, I even felt kinda guilty for feeling bad for Satan – I suppose it’s a testament to Milton’s evocative power that he can make literally the devil somewhat pitiful and humane. Moreover, I think it’s pretty genius how he pulled together strands of orthodox Christian doctrine and put his own imaginative spin to it – like Adam seeing the visions of the future generations, the demons having some democratic convention in hell, etc. It’s really incredible and I can see why it’s a classic. It’s also interesting to consider how much of Milton’s imagery has shaped our modern understanding of heaven and hell. I’m definitely going to re-read this in hardcopy, and I would recommend it though with the caveat that it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and you’d need a fair amount of focus and determination to finish this long epic poem, but it’s worth it!


🌹date read: 18 jun 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews

the iliad, the trojan war

| nicole
The Iliad, The Trojan War (Stephanides Brothers' Greek Mythology, Vol 6)

The Iliad, The Trojan War by Menelaos Stephanides


✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

This abridged version made it easier to follow the story, and I really enjoyed the read! There’s a lot of violence but also moments that make you realise the complexity of being human. The story is very character-driven which is I think what made it so compelling to me because I generally don’t really read war or action books. Would definitely come back to re-read it, and I’m looking to read The Odyssey soon! 🙂


🌹date read: 17 jun 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews

lyrical ballads

| nicole
Lyrical Ballads

Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth

✨ my rating: 4 of 5 stars✨

I’m happy to say that I liked this collection of poetry! Their call to go back to the basics and back to nature is important even in today’s context, though they do sometimes come across as slightly self-indulgent; but I think it’s countered by their self-awareness of the pitfalls or ironies of being a poet embellishing meaning to romanticise life. It was a lovely read 🙂


🌹date read: 10 jun 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews

the night circus

| nicole
The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

✨ my rating: 3 of 5 stars✨

Enchanting prose and very rich imagery abounded, but I found the plot very weak. There is a lack of real purpose to the story, and the various narratives weren’t pulled together tightly enough to make it convincing. Furthermore, the world building – while evocative and imaginative – fails to create its own rules and abide by them, creating a world that, once again, does not persuade the reader’s belief, but rather skepticism.


🌹date read: 19 may 2019 🌹

view all my goodreads reviews