White Oleander by Janet Fitch - My Book Review on Goodreads

White Oleander by Janet Fitch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the best books I have ever read. Even though I watched the movie before I found the novel, I was excited all throughout the book. Fitch's style of writing is simply unique: although she tends to stack similes, all of them along with the descriptions of objects, places, people and memories are breath-taking. I marked many amazing passages.
This is a book to sink your soul into. I couldn't stop turning the pages. Yes, it is depressing but also enlightening in its own way. Astrid's evolution and her relationships with the people she encounters are very interesting and intriguing. All the characters in the book are unique and wonderfully elaborated.

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The Monk by Matthew Lewis - My Book Review on Goodreads

The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(Contains minor spoilers.)

I had heard little about this book when I started to read it so it was one of those literary journeys that I undertake on my own. At first, it started off in an interesting and attracting way. As the narration continued, I got bored (there was a lot of mediation by one of the main characters on past events). Once I finished the first 60 pages, the true suspense started. I was unable to put the book down as the events rose to a climax. Lewis' imagery and writing style are unique and amazing and absolutely befit his literary genre. Of course, there is a great load of criticism towards the church as Lewis' implementation of the tragic twist at the end shows.

All in all, this book deserves the 5 star rating I attributed to it not only for the wonderful gothic mood and atmosphere Lewis elaborately creates but also for the excellent way of arousal and suspense, and the alarming message behind the story for which his work has been censored during his lifetime.

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