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perthalus's reviews
16 reviews
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
It’s a testament to how incredible this book is that I managed to jump right back into it after over half a year of having not continued reading it, for no other reason than I got distracted. It is such a memorable story that stands on its own from Ridley Scott’s iconic adaptation, Blade Runner. While his film is far more focused on the dreamy aesthetics of the story’s cyberpunk world, the book is more so involved with its characters and themes, tackling empathy between natural and artificial beings alongside human nature and whether something being authentic and “real” makes it any less important or effective.
I won’t lie and say that I fully understand the implications of the narrative threads and their endings, but I was definitely emotionally impacted by them. It sounds silly on the surface, but having autism I deal a lot with hyper empathy when it comes to animals and even inanimate objects, which definitely can affect me negatively and add to bouts of depression.
Due to my own experience, the whole element of the story around the material worth of natural and artificial animals and the relationship between them both had a profound effect on me. The chapter where Isidore became upset over the androids pulling the legs off of the spider he found was a standout moment for how relatable it was, especially when you feel the rarity of natural life as small as a spider in such a desolate, unnatural world so obsessed with destroying anything else that’s deemed unnatural.
I appreciated how many if not all of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi concepts and contraptions all work in tandem with the themes, like the mood organ or the empathy box, both of which adding even more layers to artificial thought past even the presence of androids. It never feels too complex of a world either, using easily understandable concepts to create a layered and nuanced conversation with.
The story doesn’t resemble that of the film’s at all by the end, and the direction it eventually takes will stick with me for a good while. It’s more than worth reading if you’re a fan of the film or just a fan of sci-fi, and it’s imagery will be sure to strike you, especially those involving animals and Mercer. Justice for the goat.
Also, am I making shit up or did the mood organ kind of predict social media and their algorithms?
I won’t lie and say that I fully understand the implications of the narrative threads and their endings, but I was definitely emotionally impacted by them. It sounds silly on the surface, but having autism I deal a lot with hyper empathy when it comes to animals and even inanimate objects, which definitely can affect me negatively and add to bouts of depression.
Due to my own experience, the whole element of the story around the material worth of natural and artificial animals and the relationship between them both had a profound effect on me. The chapter where Isidore became upset over the androids pulling the legs off of the spider he found was a standout moment for how relatable it was, especially when you feel the rarity of natural life as small as a spider in such a desolate, unnatural world so obsessed with destroying anything else that’s deemed unnatural.
I appreciated how many if not all of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi concepts and contraptions all work in tandem with the themes, like the mood organ or the empathy box, both of which adding even more layers to artificial thought past even the presence of androids. It never feels too complex of a world either, using easily understandable concepts to create a layered and nuanced conversation with.
The story doesn’t resemble that of the film’s at all by the end, and the direction it eventually takes will stick with me for a good while. It’s more than worth reading if you’re a fan of the film or just a fan of sci-fi, and it’s imagery will be sure to strike you, especially those involving animals and Mercer. Justice for the goat.
Also, am I making shit up or did the mood organ kind of predict social media and their algorithms?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Deportation
Dracula by Bram Stoker
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I originally read this in anticipation for Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, watching both the previous 20s and 70s versions of Nosferatu as well, and after seeing all three versions I’ve found myself appreciating Bram Stoker’s Dracula more than I initially did. It’s dense descriptions and poorly aged gender roles do make it a difficult read at times, but at its core the dense descriptions actually add to the thick world-building that makes Dracula such an enthralling, mystical read.
It’s cast of characters are so close and intertwined in the face of villainy, and it’s villain has stood the test of time for a reason. Whether he’s played by Gary Oldman, Bela Legosi, or Bill Skårsgard, he’s always incredibly effective in his presence, power, and the stakes he raises. The use of horror through his otherworldly effects in the world is one of the standout elements of the book, the use of diaries and news stories creates a fragmented, anecdotal depiction of the Count and his abilities. Particularly, his effect on Lucy and the whole section of her as a vampire, haunting children in the area was especially creepy as Dracula’s power often extend beyond himself.
There’s just so much to love about it, and it’s so ripe for adaption due to the different elements and sections or characters of the book that can be swapped out, combined, or even subverted due to the age of the story. Quincey is rarely used in adaptations as well as Lucy’s section as a vampire, often times Nina is given Lucy’s role, and more. All these specific little details make the book worth reading for the complete experience, as after over 100 years, Bram Stoker’s book is still the definitive version of itself. As challenging as it was, it’s more than worth getting through the lighter chapters of little consequence and even finding some enjoyment in them (don’t skip chapters!) because the story wraps up in such a satisfying way.
It’s a wholesome story of love and friendship as much as it is a horrifying story about an invasive force of evil. It has solidified Van Helsing as one of my favourite characters in literature and only strengthened my love for Dracula as a villain. No amount of monologues by thick northern accents could ruin what makes this book such a classic.
It’s cast of characters are so close and intertwined in the face of villainy, and it’s villain has stood the test of time for a reason. Whether he’s played by Gary Oldman, Bela Legosi, or Bill Skårsgard, he’s always incredibly effective in his presence, power, and the stakes he raises. The use of horror through his otherworldly effects in the world is one of the standout elements of the book, the use of diaries and news stories creates a fragmented, anecdotal depiction of the Count and his abilities. Particularly, his effect on Lucy and the whole section of her as a vampire, haunting children in the area was especially creepy as Dracula’s power often extend beyond himself.
There’s just so much to love about it, and it’s so ripe for adaption due to the different elements and sections or characters of the book that can be swapped out, combined, or even subverted due to the age of the story. Quincey is rarely used in adaptations as well as Lucy’s section as a vampire, often times Nina is given Lucy’s role, and more. All these specific little details make the book worth reading for the complete experience, as after over 100 years, Bram Stoker’s book is still the definitive version of itself. As challenging as it was, it’s more than worth getting through the lighter chapters of little consequence and even finding some enjoyment in them (don’t skip chapters!) because the story wraps up in such a satisfying way.
It’s a wholesome story of love and friendship as much as it is a horrifying story about an invasive force of evil. It has solidified Van Helsing as one of my favourite characters in literature and only strengthened my love for Dracula as a villain. No amount of monologues by thick northern accents could ruin what makes this book such a classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Xenophobia
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Velociraptors are fucking terrifying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Fatphobia, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexism and Colonisation
Jaws by Peter Benchley
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
Fashioning a mean grin like a knife, Jaws is a jagged toothed beast that carves through each page with ease. It perfectly balances character driven drama with its unforgivingly gory horror. Each page feels grimy and dirty with peak summer heat, so much so that you’d think you could smell the fish guts coming from the words. I can see why this is a classic, and why Spielberg chose to adapt it to screen, I would too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Police brutality
Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
The writer tries way to hard to make his main character an iconic badass horror protagonist to the point where it becomes eye-rolling. Instead of focusing on character dynamics and relationships you just get mostly pointless snapshots of random character’s lives before they die a few pages after.
The antagonist somehow also feels incredibly undercooked despite the book being 500 pages long, and the prose is so confusing at times that I honestly can’t tell what is where and how something is happening. You think you’re in one place and then bam you’re on the opposite side of where you thought you were.
Made me miss the first book, which wasn’t too great in the first place.
The antagonist somehow also feels incredibly undercooked despite the book being 500 pages long, and the prose is so confusing at times that I honestly can’t tell what is where and how something is happening. You think you’re in one place and then bam you’re on the opposite side of where you thought you were.
Made me miss the first book, which wasn’t too great in the first place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing and Car accident
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Incest, and Police brutality
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Brutal, intelligent, and politically biting, Battle Royale absolutely flies by with its fleeting snapshots of different lives and deaths. It connects you to characters you may only stick with for a few pages, yet it all feels relevant to the themes, story-world, and overall narrative.
I’ve seen the film adapt more than once before, and reading the original book provided so many pieces of context and extra character bits that made reading it entirely worth it. Koushun Takami absolutely nails the action. Even knowing what happens doesn’t remove from the intensity and suspense provided by each encounter, and god, what a premise.
I especially love Kazuo Kiriyama’s gang, though I wish Kazuo himself got a little more background towards the end, but that may just be my bias talking. And I also love Shogo Kawada because… I don’t know, I just love him, okay? 🫶🏻 Now that I think about it, there isn’t a character I don’t really like, maybe besides Shinji, though even he has his moments. But Mitsuko, Kazuo, Shogo, Shuya, Hiroki, Chigusa, and Noriko are all characters I absolutely love.
I will say that the action can ride the edge between believable and ridiculous, especially when characters do somersaults mid-fight. And on top of that, Shinji’s computer jargon and his exposition on pre-established information made his chapters a little repetitive, but other than that I can’t pick out any glaring problems with the book or it’s story.
Overall, it’s a book that is still incredibly entertaining, shocking, and politically powerful as it was when it was first released, and it only made my appreciation grow for the story and the film adaptation.
I’ve seen the film adapt more than once before, and reading the original book provided so many pieces of context and extra character bits that made reading it entirely worth it. Koushun Takami absolutely nails the action. Even knowing what happens doesn’t remove from the intensity and suspense provided by each encounter, and god, what a premise.
I especially love Kazuo Kiriyama’s gang, though I wish Kazuo himself got a little more background towards the end, but that may just be my bias talking. And I also love Shogo Kawada because… I don’t know, I just love him, okay? 🫶🏻 Now that I think about it, there isn’t a character I don’t really like, maybe besides Shinji, though even he has his moments. But Mitsuko, Kazuo, Shogo, Shuya, Hiroki, Chigusa, and Noriko are all characters I absolutely love.
I will say that the action can ride the edge between believable and ridiculous, especially when characters do somersaults mid-fight. And on top of that, Shinji’s computer jargon and his exposition on pre-established information made his chapters a little repetitive, but other than that I can’t pick out any glaring problems with the book or it’s story.
Overall, it’s a book that is still incredibly entertaining, shocking, and politically powerful as it was when it was first released, and it only made my appreciation grow for the story and the film adaptation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, Trafficking, and Classism
Running Wild by J.G. Ballard
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Though quite predictable in its mystery, Ballard presents a bleak message with the narrative. He takes the reader through the dirt filled underground of a perfect neighbourhood, written in the style of a police evidence video. Perfectly polished surfaces are covered in blood, and something thought to be entirely insignificant is truthfully the key to the truth. An interesting introduction to Ballard’s work, and one I enjoyed my time with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Will write review later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Will write review later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion and Cultural appropriation
Junky by William S. Burroughs
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
An unflinching look into a life with no purpose finding purpose in junk. It’s a wave of nausea that takes you down the rapids of addiction and the lifestyle that comes with it. If the shoe fits, wear it, if it doesn’t, sell it for junk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death, Homophobia, and Sexual content