Cinder's Updates en-US Wed, 07 May 2025 05:11:00 -0700 60 Cinder's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7550072110 Wed, 07 May 2025 05:11:00 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder added 'Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair']]> /review/show/7550072110 Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda Cinder gave 4 stars to Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (Paperback) by Pablo Neruda
“I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.�

Upon my first reading of the book, I’ll admit, I didn’t enjoy it very much. I was confused by the man’s obsession with pines and sea-faring imagery. I was genuinely befuddled by the incessant praise this collection had received. But on one smouldering summer day, I picked up the book again and surrendered myself to Neruda’s magic, and something as grand as a tectonic shift began to stir in my heart.

Neruda’s imagery is vast, and deliciously dripping with intimate detail. He dances between the macro (the sky, the stars) and the micro (the smoothness of her skin) with almost sacred reverence. He worships silently. He romanticises the quiet spaces between the words.

I love how sorrow hounds him, even when his heart is ablaze. A true savant, Neruda transforms feeling into architecture, his verses become places you inhabit. ]]> Review7549045382 Tue, 06 May 2025 17:56:42 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder added 'An Ember in the Ashes']]> /review/show/7549045382 An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir Cinder gave 4 stars to An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1) by Sabaa Tahir
This was an unexpectedly pleasant read! I was drawn in within the first few chapters, and it kept me engaged for quite some time. The world-building was immersive, the pacing well-balanced, and the plot twists hit just right. We had enough time to truly delve into the minds of our protagonists and their companions.

That said, I’m a bit over the love triangle trope. It feels overdone and rather blasé at this point. But it didn’t ruin the journey.

Still, I’m genuinely excited to see what the next installment holds. I can’t wait to watch Laia blossom through her adventures! ]]> Review7537774451 Fri, 02 May 2025 15:31:10 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder added 'The Tao of Pooh']]> /review/show/7537774451 The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff Cinder gave 3 stars to The Tao of Pooh (Paperback) by Benjamin Hoff
3.5 stars!

I stumbled upon The Tao of Pooh while searching for a calming audiobook, and I’m glad I did. It’s a sweet little read, perfect for anyone curious about Eastern philosophy.

Now, was it entirely accurate? Not particularly. Was some of the advice a bit iffy? A little bit. But did it keep me engaged long enough to pick up a few pearls of simple, thoughtful wisdom? Absolutely.

One quote that stuck with me was:
“The play-it-safe pessimists of the world never accomplish much of anything, because they don't look clearly and objectively at situations, they don't recognize or believe in their own abilities to overcome even the smallest amount of risk.�

It hit a nerve. I realised I was very much that play-it-safe pessimist, and this book gave me the nudge to start shifting out of that mindset. In moments of anxiety or indecision, I often find myself asking, “What would Pooh do?� Surprisingly, the answers tend to be gentle, patient, and oddly effective. All in all, a fun and calming read that left me with more than I expected. ]]> Review7537717841 Fri, 02 May 2025 15:03:03 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder added 'The Woman in the Dunes']]> /review/show/7537717841 The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe Cinder gave 4 stars to The Woman in the Dunes (Paperback) by Kōbō Abe
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that made me feel more claustrophobic than this one. Abe doesn’t just describe sand, he suffocates you with it. The plot? Ambiguous. The details? Withheld. The answers? Nowhere in sight. The book is riddled with strange silences and unexplained moments that feel like plot holes, but maybe that’s part of Abe’s brilliance: you’re never quite sure what’s deliberate and what’s just� weird.

There were so many times I wanted answers, just one solid explanation would’ve been nice. Why was Jumpei taken? Why is the woman so calm? Why is everyone acting like shovelling sand is a normal way to spend eternity? But nope. Instead, you get a slow psychological spiral that normalises absurdity. Existentialism oozes out of every page just as much as the sweat oozes out of every pore of Jumpei’s poor body.

A great yet challenging read. Reminded me of my beloved Kafka.
]]> Rating837898074 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:26:08 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder liked a review]]> /
Cinder liked Simon's review of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1):
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
"“People can do terrible things when they feel safe and powerful.�

The two books I read before this one were full of hate, prejudice and misery, so this was this perfect antidote to that. I guess three words to describe this book would be.

Really really lovely.

Everything is lovely, the crew are lovely (ok there’s a miserable one who works with algae but in the end even he’s quite lovely). the people they meet and the planets they visit are all really quite lovely. When the ship gets raided, the raiders do it in a lovely agreeable way. Even the ships computer is lovely and is actually called Lovelace (shortened to lovey).

Ok, so why I didn’t give this 5 stars. First off, I did love these great fables about morality and tolerance that are told by the characters, and I don’t think I've come across a sci-fi book, or any book for that matter, that is so easy to read. However, when I got towards the end, the cuddliness did start to wear a bit thin and that’s only because it makes the sci-fi elements feel a little superficial.

Overall, really enjoyed it, really really lovely. It's like being wrapped a huge blanket, and I’m ordering the next one right now, and I really hope its really really lovely like this one was."
]]> UserFollowing323888650 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:18:46 -0700 <![CDATA[#<UpdateArray:0x000055557d8a4328>]]> Review7417065538 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:31:36 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder added 'Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop']]> /review/show/7417065538 Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop by Kenji Ueda Cinder gave 3 stars to Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop (Paperback) by Kenji Ueda
As someone who enjoys writing letters and collecting postcards, I was irresistibly drawn to this cosy book. A quick look at my ŷ page will tell you that I’m an unapologetic lover of slice-of-life novels, but I’m beginning to think the genre is becoming a little too saturated. Somehow, people are trying to push more of these slow-moving plots without any of their charm. This book was completely okay, and therein lies the problem: it was just okay. I wasn’t moved or inspired by it. It was cute, sure, but I think a powerful instrument like a letter deserves more than just ‘cute.� ]]> Review7406091342 Sat, 15 Mar 2025 15:20:16 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder added 'The Rebel Angels']]> /review/show/7406091342 The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies Cinder gave 4 stars to The Rebel Angels (The Cornish Trilogy, #1) by Robertson Davies
Quite honestly, I find myself at a loss for how to review this book. The Rebel Angels has been an utterly cerebral experience, one that has left me both exhilarated and humbled. This was my first encounter with Robertson Davies, and it’s safe to say my world has been (forgive my language here) rocked. Shooketh, as the kids say it. His prose is dazzling, his wit razor-sharp, and his ability to present ideas so flawlessly is astounding!

Davies makes me feel like an ill-read, woefully provincial fool, yet I relish it. Every page seemed to stretch the boundaries of my intellect, demanding more of me as a reader. Only he could make the insular, self-important world of academia feel like high drama, laced with humour and philosophical weight. I found myself underlining passage after passage, already scheming how best to pass them off as my own in conversation.

Parlabane’s chaos was a delight, and I can hardly wait to continue this journey with the next book. I’m so glad that my hoarding has finally paid off! For once, I’m absolutely chuffed I bought the whole trilogy in one go! Haha! ]]> Review7403417989 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:05:28 -0700 <![CDATA[Cinder added 'Regrettably, I am About to Cause Trouble']]> /review/show/7403417989 Regrettably, I am About to Cause Trouble by Amie McNee Cinder gave 4 stars to Regrettably, I am About to Cause Trouble (Paperback) by Amie McNee
This was my first audiobook of the year, and I really enjoyed it! The author did a fabulous job with the narration. I especially loved their inviting and warm voice. The story was engaging, and Maude was a refreshingly fun character to follow. She blossomed beautifully as the story progressed. The book was fun, witty, and funny. I’ll miss these characters so much, they used to gently lull me to sleep. ]]>