Aamna

3.8

3.5

This was very hard to read (emotionally). But it must be read.

Started with the audiobook. While my interest was piqued it wasn't a great listening experience because of the multiple POVs so picked up the ebook instead. Would have finished it in one sitting if I could.

What a fantastic plot. I'm enthralled. Also made me feel homesick for my own city, Bombay. Because I am Bombay in so many ways & Bombay is me.

So weird. So wonderful. If Murakami was American, he'd write something like this. And in my world, there is no higher compliment.

3.8

Smiled a lot, cried a little bit. Found the second half hurried, as the author quite literally fast forwards to his present or something close to it. Realised later it's actually a collection of his essays in The New Yorker written years apart.

Lots of exquisite sentences in here.

Abandoned at 25%

Started off very promising but the narrative eventually turned my brain to jelly. Life's too short so giving up on this.

TLDR: I wouldn't bother

Wouldn't bother to write a review at all had this book been only disappointing. But no, it wasn't just disappointing, it was fucking enraging. The sexism & chauvinism of this book is overwhelming. The general opinion on the web is that this book is a product of its time, the sexist 60s. Even if you manage to block out the fundamental sexism of the book, you start to realise how all of it was probably meant to thrill the minds of the time with ideas that were ‘radical'. Its ideas of the future, aliens etc start off feeling merely dated & quickly become downright annoying. Such sensationalist drivel. Nothing profound here. This one's not lasting the test of time.

2.8 stars

The editor went seriously AWOL on this one. The writer couldn't decide what exactly to write about so wrote about everything & everyone. The narrative is part biography (of multiple people, mind you), part investigative journalism and part death registry. And that doesn't even include the parts when I was spaced out.

Such wasted promise.

Rating: 3.8

[Audiobook]

This started me on my yet another attempt to ‘fix' my sleep. Now that I understand it so much better, I feel a lot more optimistic.

I've also read stuff disputing some of the ‘facts' & research cited in the book & I encourage readers to not take everything in the book at face value, especially if it doesn't agree with your personal experiences.

Fast-paced. Well researched but has the quality of a narration that lacks input from key people who were in the room. This has a short shelf life so has anyone bought the movie rights yet?

Oh and yeah, Uber has problems.

Would have finished this in one sitting if I could. A well-written glimpse into the mind of an unlikely ‘drug lord' & what it takes to run an online drug empire. Surprisingly nuanced. Unputdownable.

So much food for thought. This one's going to be relevant for, what appears to be, a long time.

Terrific. The word “Afterlife” in the title might repel cynics but I assure you, it's nothing you'd imagine it to be. And therein lies the appeal of each story. Highly recommend.

Going unprepared into the wilderness can surely add up to a whole lot of writing material. She comes across as Alexander Supertramp but without the depth.

Looked at reviews to try and understand why this is so highly rated to find them neatly divided between people with whom Cheryl resonates & those she irritates.

I am very irritated.

I have developed a lot of respect for Gawande in the past year. Love his interdisciplinary tendencies & writing style.

An outstanding book, which I ended up picking at a great time. This will stick.

Great book if you're just getting started with product management. Not as useful if you've been in the field for a few years

[Audiobook]
3.4 stars

Super interesting premise. Was absolutely hooked for the first & last 30%. Middle felt dragged.

[Audiobook]

3.9

So good. Looking forward to the movie.

[Audio book]

3.8 stars

Actually looked forward to all commute this past week because I'd listen to this. Starts to decline after 70% though. Would have loved to see more of the Demosthenes/Locke storyline - it's introduced yet hardly built upon.

Found the author's note at the end very engaging as he talks about the origins of the story.

3.8

Distinctively Vonnegut.

The writing is exquisite. The plot though. Second half drags quite a bit & tested my patience. The language kept me going I guess. Also as someone whose olfactory functions are majorly impaired by severe allergy, the plot was a bit too much of a stretch for me, may be.

3.5. Why Goodreads doesn't allow for non-whole ratings is beyond me. There's so much that lies between a 3 & a 4.

The writing is beautiful. The plot didn't thrill me.

Will need to re-read this twice more. So much tangible advice I need to try out.

Why did I not read this growing up?! Easy non-trivial reading. Bonus: Indian travel trivia.