Karolina
2.5 🌟 and I'm being generous. Here's most of the issues I see in this story: 🔫 Domenico being a judgemental conservative GAY man. Make it make sense. Some will say “oh it's his upbringing” well he seems pretty liberal in taking life or taking what he wants sexually. 🔫 Seth has air instead of a brain. It goes beyond being sheltered. 🔫 Seth described how hot Dom is like 10 times. Once is all you need. 🔫 At the end, Salieri didn't lie one bit. I agree with her. 🔫 Wtf is this disgusting comment from Domenico? “Seth munching on meaty pastries as if he hadn't eaten in a week. Domenico sure hoped he wouldn't get fat too soon because it would be a shame to lose such a delicious piece of lean bacon.”
4.5⭐ Pleasantly surprised. As an agnostic, I enjoyed how the book humanizes these historical figures, giving them depth and intelligence. This remaining was provocative, interesting and well done. For example, 🚨The explanation of Yeshu's miracles as basically first aid manouvers or basic human psychology is refreshing🚨
My favorite quote was this: “God is perfect love and in God there is nothing but the perfection of acceptance for all of life. There are none God loves more than He loves the all. There are no people chosen, for all are chosen. I would have them see they are not different than God, Or separate from God, or need somehow to placate God. Or please Him or fear Him -that they are God, and of God, and in God, I would show them the Kingdom of God that is in them and of them. It does not come–it is.”
‼️Brad Leithauser's introduction spoils the whole book, read it at the end‼️
🐑It's a 3.5 ⭐ read for me. 🐑Take a shot every time he says he's an independent man. 🐑This was my Island pick for the “reads the world” challenge but I had such a hard getting through this book. 🐑The author manages to portray the harsh state of the world in the early 20th century in a way that blends the folklore of Island into it. Bjartur's stubbornness is tragic to him and all those around him.
The concept of the cloud is straight up terrifying but as the story progresses it becomes fascinating. But what's even more terrifying than the idea of the cloud? Politicians meddling in affairs they know nothing about. Kingsley's disdain for politicians is so real and relatable 😭 Anyways, I loved reading the train of thought of scientists and how they hypothesize, calculate and come to conclusions. It's Science Fiction but ~to a regular non-scientific person like me~ it feels so probable. The ending is the most realistic ending that could've happened.
3.75 🌟 Another book with a 30 year-old man with the emotional intelligence of a 5 year-old. Not a fan. I guess that fact reinforces the idea that some people just live in the past. Grief is another key theme here: it just never goes away. I would've preferred Marcellus to narrate the whole book tbh.
I'm so overwhelmed but amazed at the courage of sexual assault victims. They're so goddam brave. Tessa's train of thought throughout the book was so real and relatable. I feel like almost every woman in this planet can relate to her. I'm still crying while writing this review. On a lighter note, who could have thought reading about a barrister (I had to google what that was) would be interesting?
It's so wholesome but critical of Prejudice and ignorance at the same time. It reminds us of the importance of mindfulness, of doing things with care, of listening to other's stories, and of making life our own.
I love that the purpose of life is being seen through the lens of disability instead of a capitalist one:
“Anyone is capable of making a positive contribution to the world through simple observation, irrespective of circumstance.”
