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fernfuentes's reviews
354 reviews
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“I could not feel the joy of hope a man experiences when he opens his eyes on young leaves.”
This book goes right up there on my pedestal of incredible works of art alongside A Little Life, The Painted Bird, and House of Leaves. What a masterpiece of sad literature. My heart breaks for Osamu Dazai and all the pain he suffered before eventually taking his own life. I feel bad for anyone who doesn’t understand the raw emotional beauty of this book. Dazai was a masterful writer with beautiful prose. I’m grateful his work exists.
This book goes right up there on my pedestal of incredible works of art alongside A Little Life, The Painted Bird, and House of Leaves. What a masterpiece of sad literature. My heart breaks for Osamu Dazai and all the pain he suffered before eventually taking his own life. I feel bad for anyone who doesn’t understand the raw emotional beauty of this book. Dazai was a masterful writer with beautiful prose. I’m grateful his work exists.
The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Back at it again with another Japanese short story collection about cats. This one was told through the eyes of the cats themselves. These stories have that iconic Japanese sadness to them. A mix of whimsy with depression. I thought the stories were entirely disconnected, but there were a couple that tied together. This was a good, short read. I enjoyed it!
We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was such a sweet, heartfelt book. I love the whimsical fantastical vibe to it. The stories are weaved together beautifully, and I’m just a sucker for Japanese cat stories. I’m glad to hear a sequel was written, and I can’t wait for it to be translated!
Strega by Johanne Lykke Holm
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Strega is a beautifully written debut, with a fantastic translation by Saskia Vogel. Almost nothing happens throughout this entire novel. To call it a slow burn is an understatement, but the writing is so beautiful you can’t help but to get lost in this wonderfully crafted dark world of Strega and the Olympic Hotel. The theme of the expected violence against women throughout the book really hit home with what’s going on in the United States today. This was a short read, but one packed with so much imagery.
Does This World Want Me to Have Problems? by Douglas Piccinnini
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
This was a great collection of new and old poems from Douglas, and as always, he just scratches a certain itch with his words. Vanilla was probably my favorite in this collection, which is unusual for me since I’m usually more partial to his longer poems.
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The cover is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, the story is beautiful. This is easily the best novel I’ve read this year. I could see this being an A24 original movie and I’m kind of surprised they haven’t jumped on it already. I immediately want to see what else Kelly has written. Absolutely wonderful book, and so haunting.
The Stoned Family Robinson by Joselin Linder, Johann David Wyss
slow-paced
0.25
This is, without a doubt, one of the worst books to ever be written. So bad I really don’t want to waste more time on it than I already have by writing a long review. Horrible writing, weirdly religious, heavily homophobic??? Anyways, I found this in the “little free library” on my block and thought maybe I’d like it given my career in cannabis. I threw this in the trash after I read it. It’s one of those books that fills you with sadness at the thought of paper being wasted to print this nonsense.
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
[Slight Spoilers]
I can’t believe I’ve done it! The journey I began on January 1st, 2024 is now completed. Even though I’d read ACOTAR a few years ago, I set out at the beginning of this year to read it again, followed by ToG and now CC. I can say with confidence that the Crescent City trilogy was definitely my favorite. In fact, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m not sure how ACOTAR is the most famous of her series’ as it’s easily my least favorite (I love ACOTAR, not bad mouthing it, it’s just at the bottom for me).
HOFAS was in my opinion, a fantastic end to this trilogy. It was all the things I loved about all of SJM’s series’ packed into one book. I can’t think of one single character who I thought was badly written. Pollux was such a good villain it’s hard to even consider him a B villain. I’d say he’s just as evil as Rigelus. Just beautifully done. My only complaint with this book is that the spice scenes seem soooo forced. Remember that one scene in the ACOTAR series where Feyre and Rhys did the deed in a camp surrounded by dying people? I feel like SJM tripled down and threw scenes like that all over the place, to the point where I found myself skimming over those parts because it was a bit cringe.
But on that topic, holy crossover, Batman!! Seriously, SJM was able to turn me into a full on Nesta fan with a couple of chapters here better than she ever did in a whole ass Nesta book! That final exchange between Nesta and Ember? Absolutely heartbreaking. I NEEEEEEED the chapters showing what happened while Bryce’s parents were in that world.
I’m really happy I read all these books back to back. Did it take me 11 months? Yes. Was it worth it? That depends. I thought so. I feel like these books are family at this point and I can’t wait for the next one, whatever it may be 🖤
I can’t believe I’ve done it! The journey I began on January 1st, 2024 is now completed. Even though I’d read ACOTAR a few years ago, I set out at the beginning of this year to read it again, followed by ToG and now CC. I can say with confidence that the Crescent City trilogy was definitely my favorite. In fact, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m not sure how ACOTAR is the most famous of her series’ as it’s easily my least favorite (I love ACOTAR, not bad mouthing it, it’s just at the bottom for me).
HOFAS was in my opinion, a fantastic end to this trilogy. It was all the things I loved about all of SJM’s series’ packed into one book. I can’t think of one single character who I thought was badly written. Pollux was such a good villain it’s hard to even consider him a B villain. I’d say he’s just as evil as Rigelus. Just beautifully done. My only complaint with this book is that the spice scenes seem soooo forced. Remember that one scene in the ACOTAR series where Feyre and Rhys did the deed in a camp surrounded by dying people? I feel like SJM tripled down and threw scenes like that all over the place, to the point where I found myself skimming over those parts because it was a bit cringe.
But on that topic, holy crossover, Batman!! Seriously, SJM was able to turn me into a full on Nesta fan with a couple of chapters here better than she ever did in a whole ass Nesta book! That final exchange between Nesta and Ember? Absolutely heartbreaking. I NEEEEEEED the chapters showing what happened while Bryce’s parents were in that world.
I’m really happy I read all these books back to back. Did it take me 11 months? Yes. Was it worth it? That depends. I thought so. I feel like these books are family at this point and I can’t wait for the next one, whatever it may be 🖤
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The whole way through this book I loved it but thought it was just slightly less amazing than Book 1, but then I read that last chapter and I wish I could give it 10 stars 😭
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
NOW 👏🏻WE’RE👏🏻TALKING👏🏻
It took 13 SJM books but it seems she finally got down the formula. This book was PHENOMENAL!! Her best one yet. I swallowed this book whole! The characters were fantastic, I loved the plot, and honestly did not see the twists coming. I feel like all the things I hated from ACOTAR and ToG are gone, and she just wrote a near perfect book. I honestly didn’t expect to love this so much. I bash SJM for not sticking to her choices and always back tracking but she really stuck to her guns here. There are ACTUAL consequences to actions in this one. Didn’t see that coming at all. My faith in her is fully restored, and I can’t believe ACOTAR is more popular than CC. Immediately diving into the next one 🫡
It took 13 SJM books but it seems she finally got down the formula. This book was PHENOMENAL!! Her best one yet. I swallowed this book whole! The characters were fantastic, I loved the plot, and honestly did not see the twists coming. I feel like all the things I hated from ACOTAR and ToG are gone, and she just wrote a near perfect book. I honestly didn’t expect to love this so much. I bash SJM for not sticking to her choices and always back tracking but she really stuck to her guns here. There are ACTUAL consequences to actions in this one. Didn’t see that coming at all. My faith in her is fully restored, and I can’t believe ACOTAR is more popular than CC. Immediately diving into the next one 🫡