Search
Perpetual Disappointments Diary
Book
'Best. Diary. Ever' Metro 'Cheeringly depressing' Guardian 'Abandon all hope, ye who buy it' New...
Ali Abbasi recommended The Road (La Strada) (1954) in Movies (curated)
David Cross recommended Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) in Movies (curated)
An uncomfortable, yet compelling, novel
On the face of it, you would think that Adèle has it all: a good job as a reporter, a handsome surgeon husband, a young son, she’s slim and she’s beautiful. But this all masks another side to Adèle. She’s dissatisfied with her life: she controls what and how much she eats, and she engages in risky sexual behaviour with strangers. The sex is an addiction. When she’s not doing it, she’s thinking about it, and she wants a lot of it. There’s no eroticism in the telling of these encounters - it’s function, pure and simple, and quite violent sometimes. It’s like the drug addict getting their hit. You can feel the self-loathing emanating from the pages.
This is a dark, uncomfortable to read book, but it’s also compelling. There’s nothing voyeuristic about this book, no titillation, it’s just sad. And if you’re into books with a final resolution, then this is not the book for you.
It sounds as though no one could possibly enjoy this book, but strangely enough, I really did. I thought that the atmosphere of the book was really well written (and kudos to the excellent translator, Sam Taylor), and the main characters feelings of being trapped made for a really claustrophobic read. I think it’s definitely worth a read, if you’re in the mood for something as, dare I say, depressing, as this. I use the word ‘depressing’, but honestly, it was a good read!
This is a dark, uncomfortable to read book, but it’s also compelling. There’s nothing voyeuristic about this book, no titillation, it’s just sad. And if you’re into books with a final resolution, then this is not the book for you.
It sounds as though no one could possibly enjoy this book, but strangely enough, I really did. I thought that the atmosphere of the book was really well written (and kudos to the excellent translator, Sam Taylor), and the main characters feelings of being trapped made for a really claustrophobic read. I think it’s definitely worth a read, if you’re in the mood for something as, dare I say, depressing, as this. I use the word ‘depressing’, but honestly, it was a good read!
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) in Movies
Jan 18, 2018
Frances McDormand (2 more)
Sam Rockwell
Comedy
Darkly funny and depressing
I went into this film with a lot of preconceptions, having seen earlier reviews and loved Martin McDonagh’s previous films. I’m not entirely sure for me that it quite lived up to the hype.
Don’t get me wrong, it was a very good film. There are some fantastic performances in it from Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell and they deserve every accolade that gets thrown at them. The rest of the supporting cast too are great, with the exception of Abbie Cornish who I really don’t rate. I know she’s Australian but her accent in this seems very changeable and atrocious.
The cinematography itself is beautiful and the plot takes some very good and unexpected twists and turns. The bits of dark humour throughout really help lift what would otherwise be a very depressing and sad film. My issue is that for me it seemed very slow paced. For me it felt like it had been on for far too long and dragged a little, but I was surprised when it finished that it had been on for less than 2 hours.
I’ll happily acknowledge that this will likely be one of the best films I’ll see in 2018, impressive as it’s only January. But I feel like I need to reserve a final judgement until after a second viewing (preferably in a nice peaceful environment - not a noisy cinema screen).
Don’t get me wrong, it was a very good film. There are some fantastic performances in it from Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell and they deserve every accolade that gets thrown at them. The rest of the supporting cast too are great, with the exception of Abbie Cornish who I really don’t rate. I know she’s Australian but her accent in this seems very changeable and atrocious.
The cinematography itself is beautiful and the plot takes some very good and unexpected twists and turns. The bits of dark humour throughout really help lift what would otherwise be a very depressing and sad film. My issue is that for me it seemed very slow paced. For me it felt like it had been on for far too long and dragged a little, but I was surprised when it finished that it had been on for less than 2 hours.
I’ll happily acknowledge that this will likely be one of the best films I’ll see in 2018, impressive as it’s only January. But I feel like I need to reserve a final judgement until after a second viewing (preferably in a nice peaceful environment - not a noisy cinema screen).
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Light Between Oceans in Books
Aug 14, 2017
A thought provoking & moving morality tale
I'd already seen the film prior to reading This, so I may have spoilt the book for myself a little. However that said, the book is much better than the film. It's a moving and thought-provoking tale of love, loss and morality. It really gets you questioning right and wrong, and I found myself getting frustrated at characters for not doing what I personally believed was right. It's not a pleasant book to read for the most part as it's quite sad and depressing, although the ending does at least give you some hope. Can be a little too long winded at times but still a great easy read.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated The single parent's handbook in Books
Nov 14, 2018
2.5 stars! I was going to give this 2 stars until I got to the end. I just found this so depressing...I am currently pregnant with my first child and I will be a single parent...my first thought was help! I need support! So I picked this up from the library. I must say...if this is what single parenthood is going to be like I am not looking forward to it. There seemed to be no upside to any downsides listed on every page...very one sided.
I gave a 0.5 star for the list of resources at the end of the book, very helpful websites and phone numbers.
I gave a 0.5 star for the list of resources at the end of the book, very helpful websites and phone numbers.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Great Expectations in Books
Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)
Not as classic as some of Dickens' other tales
As much as I love Dickens' left-wing plots, his novels are depressing, and this is no different.
From orphans, to children living in danger, protagonist Pip falls in love with a young girl named Estella while visiting the home of the wealthy dowager Miss Havisham. Pip attempts to win her love by attempting to become a gentleman, but instead is made a common labourer in the Havisham household. After many trials and tribulations, he returns to the house and to Estella.
There are a lot of deaths, and it is a melancholic novel. However, I do prefer some of his other works because I find the unrequited love story rather tedious.
From orphans, to children living in danger, protagonist Pip falls in love with a young girl named Estella while visiting the home of the wealthy dowager Miss Havisham. Pip attempts to win her love by attempting to become a gentleman, but instead is made a common labourer in the Havisham household. After many trials and tribulations, he returns to the house and to Estella.
There are a lot of deaths, and it is a melancholic novel. However, I do prefer some of his other works because I find the unrequited love story rather tedious.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The First City in Books
Dec 19, 2017
A great final chapter
This is such a good final chapter in the Dominion trilogy. It’s such a rollercoaster ride throughout, I could barely put it down and it’s very well written. It almost had me in tears towards the end and there are some very good twists and surprises throughout.
My main issue is still with Zoey. She’s grown on me a little in this final book, but I still find her very frustrating at times, doing things that just don’t make sense. I’m also not entirely convinced about the ending of this book, it’s almost a little too happy and fairytale. Although this is just my opinion, as I tend to prefer depressing endings as opposed to happy ones...
My main issue is still with Zoey. She’s grown on me a little in this final book, but I still find her very frustrating at times, doing things that just don’t make sense. I’m also not entirely convinced about the ending of this book, it’s almost a little too happy and fairytale. Although this is just my opinion, as I tend to prefer depressing endings as opposed to happy ones...