Read in July 2021Donna Tartt, The GoldfinchLiu Cixin, La Forêt sombreSo we finished the second
Read in July 2021Donna Tartt, The GoldfinchLiu Cixin, La Forêt sombreSo we finished the second volume of the Three-Body Problem trilogy. It was all right I suppose. Really I find the writing style, even in translation, to be completely mawkish in places, and the treatment of female characters is sub-zero awful. What about the plot? It’s all right, but since none of the characters have much of a personality, I really couldn’t care less. My bf enjoys it a lot more than I do though, so we’re starting the third book shortly. I hope this is the book in which something finally happens.I spent most of my reading time in July reading The Goldfinch and I do not regret a single second of it. It has become my favourite read of 2021 so far. I read The Secret History and enjoyed it a lot. I was… let’s say I was confused by The Little Friend, but did not dislike it. But I don’t think either book could have prepared me for this. The Goldfinch is so much more accomplished in every way. The writing style, as usual for Tartt, is perfect, literary but never too ornate. The main character is a little too relatable for comfort, which makes him perfect. There’s a love story that is not a love story at the heart of the plot. Things happen at a good pace, and yet the focus of the story is not on the plot. I don’t know what I can say to convey my love of this book. I know Tartt is not without her shortcomings and I do hate her obvious privilege, but this book talks about trauma without ever being about trauma, and through Theo’s story it conveys something that can really only be conveyed in the form of a novel, which I think is the highest thing a novel can aspire to. I think I’ll come back to this book.Just after I finished The Goldfinch I started Hollowpox, the third Nevermoor book, and I am having the time of my life. The Nevermoor books are for sure going to be near the top of my top ten books of 2021. I bought a few other books as well, though I still haven’t placed that big order I was talking about last month. And I have three books set aside to be read together with my bff basically whenever he’s available (and they are Hamnet, The Well of Loneliness, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X). I’ve got no idea what I’ll read next. Hopefully more shorter books, to make a change after July’s two chonkers.* Be my friend on Goodreads! -- source link
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