C'est relativement bien écrit, quoique les dialogues essaient de faire "jeune" et ne réussit pas tout le temps. J'imagine que je serais...moreQue de drama!
C'est relativement bien écrit, quoique les dialogues essaient de faire "jeune" et ne réussit pas tout le temps. J'imagine que je serais plus intéressée si j'avais pas commencer par le numéro 10…(less)
The most frustrating thing about this book (and this series so far) is that there is so much potential, yet the entire thing feels flat, like it does...more
The most frustrating thing about this book (and this series so far) is that there is so much potential, yet the entire thing feels flat, like it doesn't quite understand itself. The world-building still makes no sense and it is frustrating, because it keeps me removed from the emotional stakes about it being about to end...
As for the characters, it didn't get much better than in the first book. I believe it could have benefited from having fewer characters, or baring that to develop them more. As it now stands, the characters are both too numerous AND underdevelopped. I find it very difficult to relate to Tris and I find her thought-process to be jarring and nonsensical. I did enjoy that unlike other YA novels in the same style, there was no unecessary love triangle added for dramatic effect, though I still would have prefered it if Tris and Tobias had just talked and saved us the angst.
Having said all that, the story itself captivated me, and I will read the next book when it comes out to see where it goes. Though the each-chapter-needs-to-end-with-a-cliffhanger trope is overused these days, it is still very effective in Insurgent. The book isn't bad, far from it, but it had the potential to be so much better that I can't help but be a bit disappointed.(less)
There are some very good things about this book, which can explain its popularity: the pacing is fast and made to keep you on your toes (a now classic...moreThere are some very good things about this book, which can explain its popularity: the pacing is fast and made to keep you on your toes (a now classic technique, especially in YA), there's a dystopian world, romance, etc.
Yet I did not fall in love with Divergent, and here are two reasons why:
- the main character: I simply did not believe in Tris as a character. She felt like the template of a YA heroine to me, rather than her own person. I could not get behind her complete dismissal of her family, and to be frank, some of her commentary felt wrong to me. I disliked this whole "crying means you're weak" and "bravery means more to me than anything" attitude. It's more damaging than anything. I do have to admit that near the end of the book, when she realises that she must combine her character traits rather than forget one completely, made things a bit better. Hopefully this will continue in Insurgent. Also, maybe it's because I've read many books with this storyline, but the whole "I am plain and no one cares about me, but LOOK, suddenly I'm the best at everything without barely trying" trope isn't as engaging as it used to be.
- The world of Divergent: it makes absolutely no sense whatsover. I do not understand how this world would even work. The way the system is explained just doesn't hold up to scrutiny. The idea of a world divided into factions that barely interact with each other is a very interesting one, but the execution of that idea was a bit weak. I feel like the book could have benefited from a more thorough explanation of its world system.
Despite all this, I still liked Divergent. Despite some of its failings, it's an enjoyable read, especially in the last third of the book, which was action-packed and finally made Divergence something essential to the plot, rather than just serve as a plot device for Tris. I'm hoping that the sequel will continue in that vein. (less)
I'll be honest: I had read The Hobbit once before (probably in French), but it made such a small impact on me that this reading felt like a first tim...more
I'll be honest: I had read The Hobbit once before (probably in French), but it made such a small impact on me that this reading felt like a first time.
Though, as many have said before, this story lacks the depth and scope of the trilogy that followed, it is still a very enjoyable introduction to Middle Earth, its races and to Tolkien's marvelous use of language. Joining on Bilbo's adventures is a delight, despite the at times jarring narration and its annoying tendency to skip on the "good stuff" (ie the action sequences) to concentrate on descriptions.
Still, The Hobbit is a lot of fun without being confusing or complicated. Sometimes, that's exactly the kind of story I want to read(less)
What a strange story, but then again, I shouldn't be surprised. Zafon's books always have this slightly unreal and fantastical quality to them, and Ma...moreWhat a strange story, but then again, I shouldn't be surprised. Zafon's books always have this slightly unreal and fantastical quality to them, and Marina is no exception. A slightly chilling read, but lacking the emotional quality necessary to truly raise the stakes. (less)
Definitely my favourite of the series. I felt that the mix of personal stories and historical moments was done extremely well. Every entry seemed to...more
Definitely my favourite of the series. I felt that the mix of personal stories and historical moments was done extremely well. Every entry seemed to bring out its moment of truth where the characters must face a reality that's even tougher than before. What a great read!(less)
I really loved this book, though I did feel the loss of Montmaray as a setting. Much like the characters, I longed for the home that was lost.
As a lo...moreI really loved this book, though I did feel the loss of Montmaray as a setting. Much like the characters, I longed for the home that was lost.
As a lover of history, I enjoyed seeing the lead-up to WWII from the perspective of a young, high-society girl. It was interesting to see how Sophie's own status influenced her view of these events.
Cooper's writing style is very easy to follow and her choice of narrative device, though it could have felt a bit limited, becomes one of the novel's strength. (less)
Between school and work and other time-consuming activities, it took me a ridiculously long time to finosh this book, but that's not to say that it w...more
Between school and work and other time-consuming activities, it took me a ridiculously long time to finosh this book, but that's not to say that it wasn't excellent. It does take a bit of time to get started, but when it does, nothing compares to GRRM' writing. The best thing about the way he structures his books is that despite the magnititude of the different events each character has to face, our point of view on them always remains deeply personal, meaning that it's much easier to remain emotionally involved as a reader.
Malgré le caractère un peu lourd des explications scientifiques, je crois que c'est l'album qui me fait le plus rire de toute la série. Merci au Capit...moreMalgré le caractère un peu lourd des explications scientifiques, je crois que c'est l'album qui me fait le plus rire de toute la série. Merci au Capitaine Haddock d'avoir toujours la bonne réplique pour alléger l'atmosphère!(less)
Simon Pegg is an excellent storyteller: funny, engaging and very good at finding the perfect turn of phrase.
His life story from young to adult nerd (w...moreSimon Pegg is an excellent storyteller: funny, engaging and very good at finding the perfect turn of phrase.
His life story from young to adult nerd (who gets to make a living from said nerd quality) is fascinating is that, in and of itself, it's not out of the ordinary. Like many of us, he fell in love with popular culture at a young age. What is interesting to see is how, through various actions of fate and personal choices on his part and on the part of others, he managed to slowly but surely make his way in this world he's always loved so much.
There is a genuine love for culture in this book and that is what resonates the most with me. I also very much enjoyed his musings on fate, on how much of our future depends on choices we make without knowing their outcome, on the people we meet and don't meet and how we are somehow drawn to people who share our idiosyncrasies. It's a very interesting outlook on life.
My feelings for this book are conflicted: on the one hand, it is a lot of fun and Hawkins' style is perfect for the genre. I found myself engrossed in...more
My feelings for this book are conflicted: on the one hand, it is a lot of fun and Hawkins' style is perfect for the genre. I found myself engrossed in the mythology of this world and wanting to know more about its society. On the other hand, can we please stop it with the unecessary love triangles? It slows down the story and, to be honest, really bored me. There are so many interesting stories to tell and mysteries to solve and I just wish the book could focus on those instead.(less)
J'ai beaucoup aimé cette nouvelle enquête du commissaire Brunetti. Contrairement à beaucoup d'autres romans policiers, les romans de Donna Leon sont a...moreJ'ai beaucoup aimé cette nouvelle enquête du commissaire Brunetti. Contrairement à beaucoup d'autres romans policiers, les romans de Donna Leon sont au rythme de l'Italie: l'auteur prend le temps de nous décrire non seulement l'enquête, mais la vie de ses personnages. Il peut être difficile pour un nouveau lecteur d'apprécier, mais on en vient vite à l'adopter. (less)
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