Novel
Where The Crawdads Sing
Where The Crawdads Sing poetically weaves abandonment and isolation into a swampland setting. Perhaps even more lyrical are the things inferred yet unsaid and the subtle trail of hints of unseen events. Even still, the concept of Man's justice as opposed to the laws of nature is the most epic.
By Marilyn Glover2 years ago in Critique
"Woom" by Duncan Ralston
A work of implausible anatomical assertions and insertions, Duncan Ralston's "Woom" had this reader scratching his head and reaching for the institutional hand sanitizer. Perhaps in this mess of shock and shlock there is a point … somewhere, but meaningfulness seems woefully absent from this gratuitous and hastily written tome.
By Mack Devlin2 years ago in Critique
"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
In this retelling of The Jungle Book, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a thrilling and frightening adventure through the realms of the living and the dead. The way Gaiman writes makes readers feel like they are enfolded in a warm, comfy sweater, even when he's scaring them half to death.
By Mack Devlin2 years ago in Critique
Fairy Tale
Fairy Tale is a great new book from Stephen King. There’s already a movie being made based on the book. It’s really detailed and has descriptions of the other world the main character walks into that are vivid and bring the story to life, making it all feel very real!
By Alex H Mittelman 2 years ago in Critique
A Critique of George Orwell's "1984"
"1984" has one glaring aspect that lies in its relentless bleakness, which at times can overshadow the depth of its social commentary. The exaggerated portrayal of totalitarian control, while serving as a cautionary tale, occasionally verges on the melodramatic, potentially distancing readers from engaging with the narrative and it's characters.
By James Robinson2 years ago in Critique
Who even cares who John Galt is?
Rand’s masterpiece of the human spirit, “Atlas Shrugged,” demonstrated that I can both appreciate the strength of writing while fundamentally disagreeing with the core philosophy of the work. The brutal entanglement of individual happiness and productivity miss the mark on the true beauty of the human spirit - boundless kindness.
By Colton Babladelis2 years ago in Critique
What to expect of "Great Expectations"
A timeless story, told through the perspective of our protagonist Pip, about how are actions, no matter how small or large have lasting consequences. This classic reminds us, to great effect, how small the world can be and how inextricably woven all of stories are to our everyone around us.
By Tyler C Douglas2 years ago in Critique
Vocal
You weren’t my first. Probably not my last. But of all the others' past, you’re the one that’s lasted. Vocal, you’re the best writing platform I have found so far. You’ve helped me grow. You’ve made me mad. You’ve made me smile. You’ve made me the writer I am today.
By Atomic Historian2 years ago in Critique
A Song of Ice and Fire - A Throne in My Side
The enormous popularity of HBO’s Game of Thrones led many to believe that the source material — the book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin — must be even better. It's not. All subtlety and character depth were creations of the show’s writers and actors.
By Scott C Lillard2 years ago in Critique
The Lord of the Rings and Women
It changed the course of fantasy representation and story telling with beautiful scenes and compelling heroes in a traditional tale of good conquering evil. It was the story of a great quest, best friends, and war. It had everything yet still lacked strong female characters and representation. Another Bechdel failed.
By Laura Lann2 years ago in Critique
