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iseefeelings's reviews
327 reviews
101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
2.0
Interesting topic, half-heartedly done.
If you’re looking for a table book that your house guests can browse through or that will spark engaging conversation rather than small talk, this could be it. Otherwise, it seems to be a compilation of lists that you possibly find somewhere on the internet, something to share & quickly move on from. Claiming each chapter is an essay feels misleading, it merely grazes the surface of what was represented. The author invited readers to explore their inner worlds, attempting to delve into the complexity of the emotional and mental aspects of our lives, only to leave the readers adrift when the long-buried issues resurfaced.
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I had set aside this book more than two years ago, feeling frustrated with the sluggish pace of the story and got lost in the number of characters introduced in the first few chapters. I decided to revisit The Voyage Out in early January, drawn by my current interest in modern classics. As if Woolf had picked up the momentum as she wrote on, the story started to captivate me this time. With the insightful interior monologues, Woolf allows me to delve into the inner life of each character and recognised their differences. Every time Terence and Rachel appeared on the page, I felt a spark of anticipation, sensing their relationship could develop into something more profound. Just as I became invested, the story took an unexpected turn. There are simply too many characters in The Voyage Out, which diverts focus from the central figures and leaves the narrative feeling fragmented. I had high hopes for this novel but it ultimately fell short, leaving me somewhat disappointed in its execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death
Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
What a sheer delight for me to get such a treat from D.H. Lawrence’s work. I had previously read The Rainbow, which intrigued me so much that I finished the last half of the book in one sitting during a bus ride. However, Women In Love elevated my experience further. Throughout the course of fewer than five hundred pages, I laughed, I praised, I loathed, I sighed. I deeply sympathised with Ursula, profoundly conflicted about Birkin, completely devastated by Gerald and found myself despised Gudrun as all is unravelled. Though D.H. Lawrence often veered into lengthy ruminations on death, hate and love that tested my patience, the pull of his narrative was too strong to resist. Each chapter left me hungry for more, and before I knew it, I was staying up past midnight to finish the last hundred pages. With Women In Love, D.H. Lawrence has once again woven his spell, winning a devoted admirer for his timeless works.
Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first book of 2025! Excellent as it is: great composition, plot & colour palette. It’s dark, cutesy and humorous—everything you could ask for in a good graphic novel.
The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5/5
The first book by D.H. Lawrence that I ever read left me surprised by how unconventional his work is, especially for his time. His prose is rich with imagery and poetically layered. Initially, I found the complex relationships among the Brangwen couples to be somewhat ridiculous; they all love each other deeply yet constantly cause each other pain & caught in their inner turmoil. There are several pages filled with religious musings that I had little interest in. However, as Ursula enters the story, there is a noticeable shift in Lawrence’s writing—it becomes more sensual and sensitive than before. He deliberately writes about sexual desire, yet it all seems abstract and aesthetically pleasing, which I genuinely admire. Despite the plot's shortcomings, D.H. Lawrence reignited my love for twentieth-century English literature after a long hiatus from reading it.
The first book by D.H. Lawrence that I ever read left me surprised by how unconventional his work is, especially for his time. His prose is rich with imagery and poetically layered. Initially, I found the complex relationships among the Brangwen couples to be somewhat ridiculous; they all love each other deeply yet constantly cause each other pain & caught in their inner turmoil. There are several pages filled with religious musings that I had little interest in. However, as Ursula enters the story, there is a noticeable shift in Lawrence’s writing—it becomes more sensual and sensitive than before. He deliberately writes about sexual desire, yet it all seems abstract and aesthetically pleasing, which I genuinely admire. Despite the plot's shortcomings, D.H. Lawrence reignited my love for twentieth-century English literature after a long hiatus from reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I appreciate how it presents various theories and summarizes different research; the anecdotes are also moving and inspiring on different levels. On the other hand, I’m not a fan of its incoherence and repetitiveness. Reading this book made me realize that I’m not alone in my belief that people with chronic mental illness should be listened to and regarded as human beings seeking connection and societal change, rather than being liberally medicated without additional support.
Half in Love: Surviving the Legacy of Suicide by Linda Gray Sexton
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
This is an intimate yet challenging read. Linda Gray Sexton comes across as a loving and highly self-aware woman who simply needs a little more love and understanding in her life. Her life is overshadowed by a legacy of suicide, which feels even more heartbreaking considering the loss she has endured since this book was published. Despite the difficulties she has faced over the years, I admire her for maintaining such a warm heart after all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
The Silent Woman: Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes by Janet Malcolm
informative
medium-paced
4.0
"The suicide "goes away", and the survivors are forever in the wrong. They are like the damned, who can never make amends, who have no prospect of grace."
-
Janet Malcolm vividly illustrated how biography comes to life, focusing on Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes—or rather, on the biographers who pursued their stories. Malcolm evidently draws to the magnetic force of Hughes as many women did in his lifetime and also reveals her fascination with Hughes's letters. However, she dissected the complicated narratives surrounding Plath and Hughes skillfully. The author engaged with various witnesses, extracting essential elements for her writing and reconstructing their conversations in such a fascinating way. I devoured, swallowed each chapter with passion. My only criticisms are that the final chapter did not provide much insight into the essay, and she abruptly questioned the reliability of the evidence regarding Hughes's abusive actions toward Plath, a topic that resurfaced in the recent book by Emily Van Duyne (Loving Sylvia Plath). Thus she proved her stand but did not make me sympathize more with Hughes in this literary feud.
-
Janet Malcolm vividly illustrated how biography comes to life, focusing on Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes—or rather, on the biographers who pursued their stories. Malcolm evidently draws to the magnetic force of Hughes as many women did in his lifetime and also reveals her fascination with Hughes's letters. However, she dissected the complicated narratives surrounding Plath and Hughes skillfully. The author engaged with various witnesses, extracting essential elements for her writing and reconstructing their conversations in such a fascinating way. I devoured, swallowed each chapter with passion. My only criticisms are that the final chapter did not provide much insight into the essay, and she abruptly questioned the reliability of the evidence regarding Hughes's abusive actions toward Plath, a topic that resurfaced in the recent book by Emily Van Duyne (Loving Sylvia Plath). Thus she proved her stand but did not make me sympathize more with Hughes in this literary feud.
Forty-Five: Poems by Frieda Hughes
sad
fast-paced
3.75
The ambiguity often associated with poetry allows Frieda Hughes to express herself freely while sharing the story of her life, ensuring her privacy remains intact. Although I enjoyed reading the book, it is a brief work that only touches on the surface of her experiences. I found myself wishing for a deeper exploration and connection within each poem, as none truly stood out, despite her beautifully handpicked words.
I was also surprised by the insights into Hughes's relationship with her stepmother, which I had not encountered elsewhere. However, the collection seems to lack self-reflection and offers little resolution to the various issues she presents from her life.
I was also surprised by the insights into Hughes's relationship with her stepmother, which I had not encountered elsewhere. However, the collection seems to lack self-reflection and offers little resolution to the various issues she presents from her life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Terminal illness