Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (2104)

Content

Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Secret History in Books

Jan 3, 2018

The Secret History

Donna Tartt | 1993 | Fiction & Poetry

7.7

(9 Ratings)

Book Rating

Engrossing at times but overall disappointing

This novel left me with mixed feelings, as sometimes the prose was wonderful while other times, there were glaring flaws.

Surrounding a misfit at an exclusive New England college, Richard finds kindred spirits in the five eccentric students of his ancient Greek class. He becomes engulfed in their dark secrets and things spiral out of control.

The atmosphere surrounding this group of elitist college students smacks of a wannabe Great Gatsby - there's a sense of self-importance, entitlement, and grandeur, of self-indulgence and pretence. While this worked to an extent in terms of characterisation, it also made for a great exasperation for the reader. The characters are so unlikable that you don't even care about what happens to them. And they do appear to be grotesque caricatures of 19th century archetypes bolted on to an otherwise standard 1980's drink and drugs college environment.

The characters lacked depth, although Tartt attempted to mirror them in the Greek stories they studied. In essence it is a good story with some stylish writing but also some dull and tedious conversations and descriptions. Disappointing.

Kudos

Connor Sheffield (293 KP) created a post

May 24, 2017

Wonderland

Lost in a world of Hatters and Hares
Tea cups and tea pots
And different size chairs
Rabbits in waistcoats
Madness looms near
You're late young Alice
Sit down my dear

Curiouser and curiouser
And who would ever think
That a cake could make you grow
And a liquid could make you shrink!

Cats can smile
And vanish without a trace
Every creature can talk
Every flower has a face
This is the place
Where nothing is more exciting
Than a jolly caucus race!

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
They just want to have fun
They're two of a kind
Both have lost their minds
But then again...
We're all mad here
That's the way it should be
So come and join the party
Sit down and drink some tea!

- Connor J Sheffield

This is one of my happier poems. A lot of my poetry is dark and Gothic horror but I am trying to write more upbeat poetry and the first one I ever really wrote that wasn't horrifying or dark was this. Inspired, as if it isn't obvious, by Through The Looking Glass/Alice In Wonderland.

Kudos Comment

Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated North: How to Live Scandinavian in Books

Jun 14, 2018

Nørth: How to Live Scandinavian by Brontë Aurell is a fun introduction to Scandinavia. This book is filled with recipes, instructions and playful sideways satirical jabs at each of the three Scandinavian countries. From the OCD "it has to be white, all white," to the absolute gaucheness of taking a knife to a beautiful Danish cheese, use a slicer is proper and easier, to the proper way to smörgåsbord and how to drink aquavit, this book covers many aspects of living, dressing and eating in Scandinavian culture. The quirky idioms will make you laugh and the Janteloven (Law of Jante) will give you insight into the Scandinavian psyche.

I was excited to read this book. I lived for a year in Denmark and the year impacted the way I live my life. I knew Denmark and Danes impacted my life greatly but this book helped me realized just how much.

I highly recommend this book to people who want to learn about Scandinavian culture, or are Scandinavian.

I received this book from NetGalley via Quarto Publishing Group - Aurum Press and Aurum Press Ltd in exchange for an honest review.

Kudos

Merissa (13765 KP) rated Scion's Surrender (Seven Seals #2) in Books

Jul 23, 2018

Scion's Surrender (Seven Seals #2) by Traci Douglass

Scion's Surrender is the second book in the Seven Seals series, and we meet Chago. He is the Scion of War, and has moved to be close to his host, Irena. She has fallen in love with Chago over the period of three years, but doesn't think she has a chance. That is, until Chago has a bit too much to drink, and confesses his feelings, and what he is.

Like the first book, this is a fast-paced novella that still has plenty of story for you sink your teeth into. Kagan and Mira's story is also involved with this (as the overall story arc) so we see progression with that too, plus appearances by them.

A very good continuation of the series, with a great story for Chago and Irena, a catch up for Kagan and Mira, and an introduction to Wyck. Absolutely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!