Shreya Chandwadkar
Editor : So Franz, How how difficult should this book be to read?
Franz : Yes
Was reading this book easy?
Lol. Nope.
Nonetheless, I was a little familiar with his writing style from reading the metamorphosis, earlier in the year.
But this? Damn!
Felt like it dragged on for ages, despite having 250 pages.
Maybe its because of the fact that the readers aren't being told what the protagonist was being accused of. Maybe to make us understand the perspective of the protagonist? The frustration?
We'll never know.
This book really tested my will power. There were times during reading this book, that I would get physically repulsed. Then again, that could be because of the crowded train journey.
You know how, when you're reading some difficult text, and the environment in which you're reading it doesn't make the job any easier? Yeah, perhaps I need to read this again in a calmer setting. Just to get tortured again? Sure.
Sorry, but not reading another Kafka book, ever.
This book is hilarious from its witty one liners, to its multiple ways of killing Hitler - a joy ride.
Also, its surprisingly very well researched, and provides an insight into why Hitler was the way he was. Has a great deal of information about Hitler's life and his lead up to becoming Germany's dictator, about his parents, early life, WWI struggles, frustrated artist among other things.
This made my daily commute to work a little less boring, at the cost of some very judgmental stares from fellow passengers - at my laughing fits.
Here's a glimpse :
Lethal Takedown #2 : The Never-Was Approach.
In Brief : Kill Baby Hitler or one of his parents, thereby preventing Hitler from over existing at all.
Proceeds to provide a photo of baby Hitler with the caption : Use this photograph of Adolf Hitler as a baby to identity him. Do not kill the wrong baby.
I personally loved the part where he debates weather it is morally justified to kill Hitler, for every scenario. Genius.
Added Bonus? It has pictures. Have been reading novels since 10 years. Anyone would get excited to read a book with pictures in it.
A must read, for time travel enthusiasts and Nazi denouncers alike.
Favorite line from the book :
What to tell Hitler while killing him
(While wearing stylist denim)
” I guess it just goes to show you -
Kill Hitler
“I have superior jeans”
Okay, this did make me recollect a lot of season one :)
Forgot that Danny had killed Drogo herself. Fierce.
Thought I would be bored to read about a show I've already watched, but nope.
The books are always better than the movie, or in this case, the TV show.
Very interesting to read from character's perspective. To know more about the Robert's rebellion and Rhaegar. Although the dialogue was the same, what the character is thinking and going through was described, which the show couldn't capture.
Can only wonder how amazed D&D would have been to read this story, and to want to make a series on it. Then again, who wouldn't.
The Indian version of the Alchemist.
But not in a good way.
Sure, the story is quite similar to The Alchemist, with following your dream and all, but the writing is not up to the mark.
While reading, it just felt like the work was translated from good hindi into bad English.
Still, a good effort. Won't recommend reading.
Overall reaction to the reading experience can be summarized in one glorious GIF :
Well that hurt.
First off WOW. I did not expect this book to be even half as good as it actually was.
Thought it would just another sappy young adult story with a very predictable ending.
Mind you, the book was just that, but MORE.
An incredibly good premise, small chapters and switching between character's perspectives gave the story a strange momentum toward the climax which could be figured out just by the title of the book, but still managed to get me to the edge of my seat.
Tears were freely flowing for this one :')
This book's going to be in my thoughts for a while.
“So, do you feel like playing God ?”
The story follows Joe Pearson, an old pathologist who has been getting a few complaints about his department from the rest of the hospital, but still refuses to accept extra help and is adamant on running the department alone.
A heartwarming story of how a decision can make or break some one's life.
Aptly called the final diagnosis, the book keeps you engaged with short chapters and brisk changes between the many character's story lines.
Would recommend!
Why do I discover masterpieces so long after they are written?
God damn Orwell.
Ingsoc and its cruel ways of ensuring a regime which discourages you to think anything against the party and the big brother, made me question a lot of things I did believe in and weigh them against whether a regime based on these principles would work in the long run.
Loved reading/listening to this one.
War Is Peace
Freedom Is Slavery
Ignorance Is Strength
2 + 2 = 4
:p
“We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection, but regret is the thing we should fear most.
Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is the eternal question you will never have the answer to, what if.”
Really Trevor?
You keep the whole book light and hilarious and end on such a gut wrenching note?
The last chapter was heartbreaking.
All in all a good listen, especially if you're sick, after all laughter is the best medicine!
This one was a trip down memory lane!
The eyes have it, The night train at Deoli, The woman on platform 9 were and still remain some of my favorite short stories. Reading them again just transferred me back to school days, reading these stories for the first time.
Ruskin Bond's stories are beautiful and are almost always filled with nostalgia, you get lost in the prose from the very first line :)
Men without women is a collection of stories about men who have in one way or another lost an important woman in their lives, not what I believed the book would be about - A world without women at all.
Which author do you read if you want a story high with emotion and ends abruptly?
Say it with me - Mura effing kami.
A 40 page short story without a definitive ending? wew
His work HAS to be enjoyed through novels. Short stories are great BUT in my opinion, you need to be engrossed in a story for a while to care about the characters, and 40 pages doesn't do it for me.
“You know there's trouble, when a black woman starts repeating her words. You better clean up yo act then!”
Now, let me be frank, I loved this woman way before I heard her audio book. She is effortlessly funny, and has an aura which just makes you want to be her friend.
Everybody has their demons, but most of them are afraid to talk about them, but not Tiffany! She went all out in this one, about how she grew up in foster care, abusive relationships and how comedy kept her positive through all the pain.
Funny as hell, with some moments which could make you cry.
Tiffany, take a bow.
Haven't read the brief history of time, so this one was Stephen's first book I read.
The book offers brief (profound nonetheless) answers to possibly the ten biggest questions we as humans could ask.
He does not waiver when conveying his thoughts about God, and just states the facts for what they are, plain old science.
Am not the only person who has admired this genius for a long long time.
I may not have understood all that he has said in his documentaries or his book, but just the fact that a human being, despite all the odds not being in his favor, has contributed to understanding the universe and is considered Newton and Einstein's peer all done in borrowed time, is a super hero.
To quote Obama, Have fun out there among the stars.
Was craving some Dan Brown since last year, had to start 2019 with him!
This one was different as it didn't have the central character of Robert Langdon, that am used to.
The book latches on right from the prologue, and the plot stays that way till the last full stop.
I was surprised to see that this book had a scientific turn, since the author had removed his symbology, allowing him to tread new waters wink wink
Overall a thrilling read, would definitely recommend!
Set in a dystopian world, in the not so distant future, where due to the advancements in technology, and the frequent disposal of radioactive waste, infertility rates have skyrocketed.
The government decides to take the matters into their own hands to secure the future of the country by making sure, they get a next generation, from viable “resources”
A scary premise, and well executed.
Reading this was a true pain till about one forth of the book, did not know what was going on that much, until Offred talks about the ceremony : the purpose of a handmaid is revealed, oh what horrors follow!
Shocking how just a few lines from an old teachings of a religion could be used to write down new laws, regressive, but laws nonetheless, to make citizens obey.
Even if they disregard the law, they surely won't disrespect God. And if that doesn't help, there's nothing regular tasering can't fix eh?
A society where, if a woman cannot produce children after trying repeatedly, there must be something wrong with the woman, the man can do no wrong.
There's a sequel to this and it comes out in 2019. Cannot WAIT.
P.S.
This isn't a page turner. The prose takes time to grow on you. Had hard time imagining the red center and the salvaging.
HULU's adaptation of Handmaid's tale is riveting and every bit as scarring, has some well deserved Emmy winning performances, a must watch.
There are only two other authors who would make me want to read more than half a book in one night. These gems are rare to find. Sidney Sheldon, Lisa Gardner and Dan Brown
Fast paced, no bullshit, right to the point.
Just how a thriller novel should be.
Story's about a girl who was abducted many years ago, and held captive for the pleasure of one Jacob Ness. A survivor's got to survive.
Kudos to the audio book too! Did listen to a few chapters, great narration.
“Whatever distinguishes one lump of flesh from another when we're alive, we're all the same once we're dead, just used-up shells.”
You know it's Murakami, when the characters stay with you long after you've finished reading the book.
After the Quake is a collection of short stories, about lives of some people and how differently they were all affected by one incident - The Earthquake at Kobe.
My personal favorite was Super-Frog Saves Tokyo, starts all dreamy and vivid, but ends on a very disturbingly horrid note.
Murakami isn't like any author I've read. He has a way of storytelling, which forces you to think about the characters and their lives, even after the story has ended.
