Bookshelf

To be completely honest this was underwhelming. Yes, it is a classic with significant thematic depth, etc, but it was incredibly dry, the prose was boring, and there was little in terms of story to latch on to. It's one of those things that's good to have read, but not necessarily worth taking the time to read.

It is a simple story about simple men. It seems to me that while the skill at the craft of writing is there, little in terms of depth of story is present. The "novella-play" dynamic is interesting, and makes for a good read, but Steinbeck is, in general, overhyped. To summarize: great narrator, boring story.

Far be it from me to criticize the most famous work in the English language. The sheer depth and breadth of thematic detail is incredible, leaving much room for speculation, argument, and a wealth of literature.

A significant improvement on Plato. Of course, given the nature of the material, it is rather difficult to parse, and careful reading is required. However, the ideas presented seem far more in line with reality, and are explored in much greater detail. It is especially enjoyable to see him politely destroy the Forms. Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas.

While much of the later dialogues, relating to the Forms, learning, knowledge, and rebirth, was untrue, the initial dialogues (especially Euthyphro and Crito) were fascinating as my first foray into classical philosophy. It was especially helpful to see how the arguments are formulated, and genrally speaking understand how philosophy is done.

Largely not worth my time. Occasionally, he said a few very thought-provoking things about the nature and ethics of art but as far as being actively useful in the creative process, not really worth the paper it's printed on. Most of it is just pseudoscience and weird eastern philosophy.

Shallan, the main POV, is an incredibly complex character. I fear that her arc was left slightly unfinished, in that we still do not entirely understand her direction. I imagine she will continue to develop later in the series but I would have liked a better understanding from her own flashbacks. Her moral conflicts are incredibly interesting and made the world-spanning plot seem secondary.

This was a very strong, very dense opening book. I can imagine that the scale, scope, and length would scare away new readers but it is an excellent entry in the world of modern epic fantasy. Of course, my observation about Sanderson continues; he is a master of character development. Strong use of flashback to develop Kaladin. While it feels slow at first, it is trying to set up the rest of the series. Consider it a prologue to Stormlight as a whole.

This should have been a novella. A part of me wants to like this book but I cannot. It is just so full of entirely unnecessary filler, a meandering plot, a much too large supporting cast, and the most anticlimatic ending in all of modern epic fantasy.

This is Sanderson at his worst. The jarring tone shift from the first era to this took a full book to get used to, the plot is meandering, disconnected, and dry, and even Sanderson's famous characters simply fall flat. It's crude, boring, etc. On the bright side, however, it is incredibly exciting to see how the old characters have been immortalized, how the religions of the Elendel Basin interact, and the myriads of easter eggs.

This is easily the best trilogy I have ever read, barring of course the Lord of the Rings itself. The character development is incredible, the plot is almost secondary to the sheer emotional weight of the character arcs, and the cohesion of the whole story despite the scale is masterful. Despite the time it took to fully recover from the Sanderlanche in each, it is a trilogy worth putting on a pedestal.

As my first Sanderson book I found it quite nice. Read it in two sittings, incredible character development. It's classic Sanderson in that it basically defines the Sanderlanche.

As my initial taste of Shakespeare, I thoroughly enjoyed this play. in retrospect it has become clear that what I enjoy is Shakespearean tragedy in general, of which this is only a small taste. Does not compare to Hamlet, Macbeth.

A strong entry into the world of epic fantasy, the quintessential Nobledark. While he takes significant influence from the major works in the genre (ie Tolkien and Martin), Jordan is able to weave a world that is impressive beyond its sheer scope. Well worth reading through to the bitter, 4.4 million word end.

One does not simply "review" the founding work of modern fantasy.

Simply not a good novel in any regard. It is trying too hard to carry on the glory of its predecessors, but it is too far removed to be successful. Not worth reading.

This is the absolute last Dune book worth reading. It is riding on the incredible quality of its predecessors but does nothing to add to it. Characters are flat, plot is meandering. Themes are strong and compelling but they do not make up for a lackluster novel.

This is the last good Dune book. Dune is the tragedy of Paul Atreides, and now that he is gone, we see the lasting effects of his corruption and fall through his children. The ending, however, is largely over dramatized and unnecessary given the tone thus far. I'd advise stopping here and not continuing to God Emperor.

A classic sci-fi comedy. Not much meat on the bone. Of course, like the Matrix, there is only one book.

Contrary to the public opinion, I found this book very interesting as we got to see the dark side of Paul Atreides and find that even the greatest hero is not infallible. The tragedy is even stronger given the later books in the series. I would go so far as to say that this is one of the most underrated sequels I'm acquainted with.

Absolutely incredible. It is very long. It is very dense. It is a political behemoth of a book. But through the immensely powerful arcs and strong themes, it's coherent, powerful, and masterfully written. In my eyes, Herbert is the Tolkien of sci-fi.

A wonderful fanfic, which put me permanently on team Tetraforce Is Real. Compelling characters, and the best epilogue I've ever read.

Classic book, strong themes and characters.

Much better than expected. The psychological development of the protagonist is, of course, the key part, but it is also useful for learning to write about revolutions, propaganda, and mob mentality.

A very good example of low-magic, epic, grimbright fantasy. Surprisingly well written, with incredible dialogue, though the plot was not exciting.

A solid YA, one of the better ones in the sci-fi dystopia YA scene.

Unfortunately, my relationship with this book will forever be that it hastened the inevitable end of my childhood dreams of being an astronaut.

Narnia is easily one of the most overrated pieces of literature in the genre. It's spent entirely in ridiculous, nonsensical worldbuilding with no attention for any true story other than the allegory thrust down your throat.

Classic. Not much to be said.

Incredible breadth of myth and legend from the early stages of the legendarium. As a writer it's fascinating to get a glimpse into his process and revisions of what later defined the genre.

See 'The Book of Lost Tales'

Classic Holmes; nothing to write home about.

This is, of course, the creation story and First Age of Middle Earth. It is an absolute must-read for any serious fan. While it reads more like a history book than a simple narrative like the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, the elevated, elvish register gives it an incredibly sophisticated feel.

This particular Great Tale is often compared to ASoIaF, but what it really is is a tragedy, similar to Oedipus Rex. Unlike Beren and Tuor (the protagonists of the other two Great Tales), Turin seems more real, personal, and deeply flawed until his eventual and inevitable fall.

This is an excellent modern reinterpretation of all the major tropes. It's a near-perfect synthesis of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, centered around a young man with little understanding of the outside world thrust on an adventure to save it. The later books turn decidedly more epic (rather than heroic), and the young author's maturation is very clear. Given Paolini's youth, it is certainly commendable.

Arguably the beginning of modern heroic fantasy, this children's book touches deeper themes of greed and redemption while still being accessible for most audiences. It is a cornerstone in the genre for a reason.