Gabi's Updates en-US Wed, 26 Feb 2025 03:34:46 -0800 60 Gabi's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7356521409 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 03:34:46 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi added 'Vem dödade bambi?']]> /review/show/7356521409 Vem dödade bambi? by Monika Fagerholm Gabi gave 1 star to Vem dödade bambi? (Hardcover) by Monika Fagerholm
Truly not an enjoyable read, because of the writing style. I thought maybe Lithuanian translation was bad, but apparently it was just writing style that was messy and included POV characters that weren't needed. ]]> UserQuote89145813 Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:57:17 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi Existing liked a quote by Tomasz Jedrowski]]> /quotes/10276087
Gabi Existing liked a quote
45169231. sx98
� No matter what happens in the world, however brutal or dystopian a thing, not all is lost if there are people out there risking themselves to document it. Little sparks cause fires, too. � � Tomasz Jedrowski
]]> Review6162761665 Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:54:00 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi added 'Punk Samurai Slash Down']]> /review/show/6162761665 Punk Samurai Slash Down by Kou Machida Gabi gave 2 stars to Punk Samurai Slash Down (Anthem Cosmopolis Writings) by Kou Machida
This book may have benefited from translation notes. Because I was at a loss for references and dialogue that must've been comedic, but it fell flat due to my ignorance. The writing was reminiscent of NisioIsin, but at least in his writing I know references, parodies and-

If you are a fan of samurai movies (so you would pick out cliches of narratives and see how this parodies said movies), and have adequate knowledge of 80s pop-culture, then this book is for you. It wasn't for me. ]]> UserQuote89145784 Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:47:35 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi Existing liked a quote by Patrick Ness]]> /quotes/404237
Gabi Existing liked a quote
8621462. sx98
� Stories are important, the monster said. They can be more important than anything. If they carry the truth. � � Patrick Ness
]]> Review6162750044 Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:45:52 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi added 'A Monster Calls']]> /review/show/6162750044 A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness Gabi gave 5 stars to A Monster Calls (Paperback) by Patrick Ness
It made me cry. Beautiful story about grief and learning that people can hold various contradictory emotions, thoughts inside them, yet still be good. ]]> Review6160619264 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:45:18 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi added 'Masks']]> /review/show/6160619264 Masks by Fumiko Enchi Gabi gave 3 stars to Masks (Paperback) by Fumiko Enchi
Foolish men that fault mysticism for their desire. Women who use said the desire to get what they want. Even if it was a short novel, it felt quite long (not sure why, maybe because of translation), but in the middle, it picked up, because the plotline became clearer.
Afterall the beginning was an artful depiction of our character's inner feelings.
I'm quite bad with ratings, I don't know how to rate them properly, but this - I can't recommend, not would I read it again, but I do believe this one was referenced in other literature I read, so perhaps? ]]> Review6020462533 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:38:33 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi added 'Magical Girl Raising Project, Vol. 1']]> /review/show/6020462533 Magical Girl Raising Project, Vol. 1 by Asari Endou Gabi gave 4 stars to Magical Girl Raising Project, Vol. 1 (Magical Girl Raising Project Light Novel, #1) by Asari Endou
The beginning was quite slow, but then it picked up. Genuinely, it was a bit hard to remember what some characters looked like (they all had their distinct aesthetic), so my mind was confused about how to imagine them.

The author in his end note informed readers that this book was gruesome and he felt regretful for such a messed up story, but for me - gruesome? not at all, it was like a battle royale but with magical girls. We didn't explore the horror of their sacrifices, or at least I didn't feel the horror of it. More like the absurdity of their situation.

The action scenes were fun and the ending was unexpected.

Will I read the second part? Well- I'm not sure. ]]> Review6160591719 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:35:31 -0800 <![CDATA[Gabi added 'Swimming in the Dark']]> /review/show/6160591719 Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski Gabi gave 4 stars to Swimming in the Dark (Hardcover) by Tomasz Jedrowski
For me it felt like the plotline picked up in the second part, it felt like we were going into rebellion, more melodrama more something! BUT the conclusion was realistic for the character, running away from pain, from being in the cage. This story resonated with me, at least the ending.
I read it in Lithuanian, thus it inspired me, perhaps I too can write LGBTQ+ stories in my country, about these specific experiences, even historical fiction.
Thank you! ]]> UserChallenge50641682 Sat, 06 Jan 2024 11:15:14 -0800 <![CDATA[ Gabi has challenged herself to read 24 books in 2024. ]]> /user/show/156986202-gabi-existing 11634
She has read 5 books toward her goal of 24 books.
 
5 of 24 (21%)
Create your own 2024 Reading Challenge » ]]> UserChallenge46440435 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:07:33 -0800 <![CDATA[ Gabi has challenged herself to read 15 books in 2023. ]]> /user/show/156986202-gabi-existing 11633
She has completed her goal of reading 15 books in 2023!
 
26 of 15 (173%)
Create your own 2023 Reading Challenge » ]]>