Lashaan Balasingam (Bookidote)

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin is an exquisitely-written and thought-provoking classic that explores themes of gender norms and loyalty through a treacherous tale of self-discovery and survival. Published in 1969, the novel receives both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel. This 50th anniversary paperback edition also comes with an introduction by David Mitchell and an…

The Wonderful O by James Thurber is a lovely and whimsical fairy tale denouncing the absurd terror imposed by autocratic regimes. Entertaining for both children and adults, it dives into the ambitious adventures of two villains in their search for treasure on a lonely island. As their reign of terror grows with the banishment of the letter O from the people’s vocabulary, a wave of resilience…

The Wizard of the Kremlin by Giuliano da Empoli is a decent exploration of the Tsar’s regime through the eyes of his mysterious spin doctor. It explores the notion of power within the Russian political landscape, and the crucial role of control through information. From the early 1990s to the early 2020s, the story gives a unique look at how the current Russian regime came to be through the…

The Punisher (2004) is a tentatively gritty crime thriller, that overindulges in its comical notes, as it offers a predictable and flawed, but surprisingly entertaining, origin story. Being the first take on the character where Marvel was among the production companies, it introduces viewers to the tragic past of the titular antihero and the violent punishment he deals out on the Saints mafia…

Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis is an honorable sequel that sends the four Pevensie children back to Narnia to help a prince denied of his rightful throne by a false king. Full of wonderful description and a healthy dose of political intrigue, the story explores the courage of the young before a world of corruption. Despite an anticlimactic final act, the story remains charming and builds upon the…

Berserk (1997-1998) is a classic anime TV series that adapts the Black Swordsman story arc by introducing Guts and his journey amidst the Band of the Hawk. Alongside new allies, he journeys across Midland to help the band’s leader achieve his ultimate dream to rule a kingdom. What follows is a trechearous adventure, filled with insane and gory battles where only the strongest survive. While…

Hi there ! Only a few hours left before the awards ceremony, but here I am with the last post on the matter, this time, for the best animated feature film! Having grown up with these in my life, I still marvel in awe at all the incredible hardwork put into bringing these animated movies to life. The amount of creativity that it takes to do these is absolutely incredible and some of the best…

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace is a fascinating collection of short stories, brimming with dark humour and provocative reflexions, that explores broken and hideous minds. Through transgressive and stylistic writing experimentation, the author delves into the psyche of his characters to explore their tormented selves, while depicting unequivocal thought-provoking issues…

Hi there ! Only a week left before the Oscars, so here I am with another prediction, this time, for the best international feature film! I’ve always found it refreshing to delve into these nominees since they tend to steer clear of formulaic narratives that plague Hollywood, and focus on cultural heritages more often than not. 2025 saw some very solid international film releases and all of them…

Batman (Vol. 3): The Joker Year One by Chip Zdarsky is a mediocre collection featuring two stories, “Mind Bomb” and “The Joker: Year One”. It picks up right after the forgettable Gotham War with Batman now alone in his war against crime, isolated from the Bat Family after recent events. The story thus focuses on Batman’s inner psyche, through the imprisoned persona of Zur-En-Arrh who seeks his…

The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov is a classic science-fiction novel split into three parts that explores the discovery of a limitless, free energy that could change Earth forever. Through a mysterious process involving a parallel universe, this exchange, however, comes with a hefty price speculated by only a few individuals. Earth’s survival thus lies in proving these assumptions before it’s…

My first ever blog post dates back to July 21st, 2015 and I’m quite happy to remind myself that it was Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One. A comic book that I’ll always remember fondly and that rekindled a whole love for reading in general. It was on February 28th, 2022 that I created this specific blog, and funnily, the first review I posted on Roars and Echoes is a movie review for The Batman…

Hulk (2003) is an unfocused and raging origin story, with impressive CGI effects and a narrative shaped by the repressed anger towards power-obsessed fathers, as one man embraces his humanity in a world that only sees a monster within him. With a unique stylistic tone and an underlying flair for tragedy, it offers the first live-action movie incarnation of the green hulking brute and goes on to…

The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis is an unremarkable story set within The Chronicles of Narnia that follows a young boy’s journey towards emancipation. Supported by an atypical cast of characters, he travels across strange lands and discovers numerous bizarre folks. While his search for a place where he can feel belonged continues, the world around him steers dangerously towards a devastating…

Hogwarts Legacy (2023) is a marvelous open-world fantasy game, full of powerful magic and ancient secrets, inviting players on an exciting adventure into the wizarding world. Drawing upon the wondrous ambience first introduced through the Harry Potter franchise, this game compels players to explore beautifully-designed regions, brimming with dangerous creatures and foes, where your choices matter…

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is an enthralling Gothic masterpiece that delves into the darkly passionate relationships between the Earnshaws and the Lintons. Exquisitely written, it presents troubled souls tormented by their loneliness and misery, with only a twisted form of love to hang onto. This classic piece of literature invites readers into a gloomy, brooding landscape where morality…

Hi there ! It’s that time of the year again: awards season! As huge movie buff, I’ve been annually watching the Oscars and made it a side-quest every year to check out all the nominees for a couple of key categories (best picture, best director, best animated feature film), just to see what the critics are praising nowadays and see for myself if these nominees are any good. This year,…