Introworded

The Lady of the Camellias — Alexandre Dumas fils ⭐️⭐️ (2/5)

“𝘈 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘴𝘦.”

The Lady of the Camellias, the story that inspired Verdi’s opera La Traviata and the musical Moulin Rouge!, was inspired by Marie Duplessis, who was the author’s mistress.

Dumas fils was not as talented as his father (whose works include The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers). The writing was “all right” at most, but most of the time quite dull. I think the author’s strength lies in observing details and writing out conversations.

What bothers me, though, is that this story is hailed as one of the greatest love stories ever while it is nothing more than an abusive relationship between two psychopaths. I, of course, realize we’re talking nineteenth century here, but come on.... really?

Tell the Wolves I’m Home — Carol Rifka Brunt

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

This book started off really great, but became a bit dull for me halfway through. There are some good elements to it; the exploration of June’s taboo love for her dead uncle, for instance, which I found very refreshing for a YA book. But while the book seemed to warm me up for some big climax on several occasions, it really didn’t come (the story line of Greta comes to mind).