Nguyet Tran
Interesting read. I watched the movie 8 years ago and it was one of my favorites. I'm not sure if something is lost in translation or I simply grew up and had higher expectations, but the book is not as moving as the movie. I also dont really like the narration of the audiobook, which also might have impacted the experience
I feel embarrassed writing this review because now the internet and all my friends will know I read this book. However, I feel a deep sense of duty to warn society against this mess and a strong desperation to vent. If any friend of mine read this, in my defense, I read the Dutch translation to improve my Dutch as the chapters are short and the writing seems simple, not because I like this kind of thing. And I even had to turn to the English version for the last half because I could not prolong the torture to myself.
First, why isn't this book cancelled? It's literally promoting misogyny. Belly literally slut shamed her best friend and there's one freaking chapter to talk about two best friends competing for male gaze. Okay I would expect that if Belly and Taylor were just teenagers, they might have that phase and they would grow up. However, it was not resolved at all by the end of the book, which clearly shows that Jenny Han is definitely not a girl's girl. Additionally, the whole book revolves around Belly becoming pretty and everyone loving her for being pretty. Isn't that super shallow? It would be a hundred times better if Jenny Han can write more about her other qualities. Instead, she made this super selfish, self-centred character that is so annoying, obnoxious, and delusional, but somehow, everyone falls for her. Do people really buy this?
Second, Jenny Han, I really question your ethics. Why are you violating the bro codes? Why is your protagonist mingling with TWO BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS?????? AND EVEN TWO OTHER BOOKS TO CONTINUE MINGLING WITH TWO BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS?????
Third, I think Jenny Han has some unhealthy fantasies. Belly disliked Cam because he asked for her permissions before kissing and he respected her boundaries and he didn't smoke, drink, or do anything crazy. Belly fell for Conrad who was mentally unstable and emotionally unavailable, who was constantly toying with her emotions. Guess who's the chosen one. I'm really concerned that teenagers might have the wrong perception because of Jenny Han. Respecting others' boundaries is a good thing, you shouldn't discourage it Jenny Han!
The book is so bad that it makes the tv series look like an Oscar-worthy material.
Insightful read. The book attributes Poverty in the States to systemic reasons.
1. Lacking labor rights. Many people have to work for subminimum wages and can be fired easily without compensation.
2. Misused funding. Different states are using funding for the wrong purposes instead of directly supporting people in need.
3. Lacking banking support. Many high fees or high minimum balance required. Many low-income people have to use a third-party service to receive their salary, and lose a part of their income for it. Additionally, they cannot get access to certain loans, mortgages, and have to subject themselves to excessive rent (much higher than mortgages) or loan sharks.
4. Segregated communities prevent low-income people from receiving the same benefits as the other groups, which impacts their education, lifestyles, etc.
5. Inaccessible support. Many supports are difficult to get, costly, or unbeknownst to people in need.
The author convincingly argues that poor people stay poor due to the system. He also provides research results showing that if these are changed, many benefits are reaped. However, the solution is a bit naive, in my opinion.
The book would have been worth 5 stars if he could argue that investment in poverty abolishment could bring better economic impact than other investments.
Additionally, a non-segregated community is difficult to achieve. As a middle-class woman growing up in a developing country and currently living in a poorer part of a developed country's capital, I understand why segregation exists. Even the author agrees that in the non-segregated community where he used to live in, there were day crimes in the park. The author says the benefit is a welcoming and diverse community, but I would rather live in an aloof but safer community.
- Kuang's writing skill is solid, natural and super engaging. It's been a while since I've read a fiction that is so well written by young authors.
2. Helen Laser's versatile narration makes the story much more vivid. I believe that if I had read the book instead of listening to the audiobook, I might have given a lower rating.
3. Although Kuang has provided many interesting discussions, some of them are quite superficial. It would be interesting if she had dug deeper into the dynamics between race and class.
4. I really like the book. I've listened to 5-6 audiobooks and this is the first time I could focus throughout 12 hours because it was just so captivating (except for the last few chapters when June had a major meltdown)
nothing special, neither good nor bad
but
as someone who always dreams of having her own bookstore, I'm very disappointed because the book did not revolve around the bookstore like the title suggested
the book should have also been “moving”, “about human connection”, but tbh I only saw the spark once when the uncle helped the niece face her issues. the other half of the book about the aunt was not as touching as the author strived to show. i really wonder if it's a translation/language problem, or it's me, or it's actually the book's lack of depth.
The last 30% of the book is really good. Beside from the mass surveillance topic, I really admire Snowden as a person. He has strong integrity and conviction. Every decision he makes is consistently aligned with his beliefs. It's pretty insane that he exposed the whole system and risked his whole life when he was under 30 to live in accordance with his values.
I'm also happy for him and Lindsay. I'm also amazed that she decided to move to Russia for him, which must be a huge sacrifice to her.
It took me three attempts in 7 years to finish this book for a reason: the dull writing of multiple extraneous passages.
The premise is very promising, the solution is somewhat intriguing. However, they are negated by the writing quality. (1) there are many extraneous parts that divert the audience's attention. (2) there are many unsolved mysteries, and the practicality is lacking. If the writer can fix this, this can be a hit.
This book left me with mixed feelings.
The book is a collection of weekly conversations between Mitch - the narrator and the former student - and Morrie - the former professor struggling with ALS.
I think Morrie was a wise and funny man from the stories. However, it was shadowed by the shortfall of the book - the narration. First, I find the narrator a bit... narcissistic and pretentious. The discussions were written as if they were meant to preach something very deep while they actually didn't (will be elaborated in point 2). It lacks authenticity and often sounds pseudo-intellectual, so it's difficult for me to relate.
Second, the ideas were discussed very superficially. A chapter is only a few pages, briefly discussing an idea that is actually very common in Buddhism: being content, living in the present, forgiving, etc. As the ideas are very conventional and the discussion is shallow, I didn't gain new insights. Hence, I think the book is a waste as Morrie seemed to be a very interesting person who I could learn a lot from.
However, I think people who struggle with sickness and their families will find consolation in the book, so I give it a 3-star instead of 2. My teenage self might also find the book insightful. However, by the time I read this book (23), I didn't see any NEW valuable lessons.
I would recommend everyone to read The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh instead. They discuss similar ideas with much more concrete reasoning and profound depth.
A comprehensive overview of McKinsey history and its impact on modern businesses. The book definitely has its moments with many interesting facts and insights. However, overall, it can be written more concisely and structured more coherently. Some chapters are super confusing as the author keeps jumping back and forth in time. Some chapters have lengthy repetitive ideas and a monotonous tone. I personally believe that this book can be re-written to be 30% shorter.
a sensational and vicarious story about post-war trauma - a topic rarely touched upon in vietnamese literature - and a fair, unbiased, and thorough portrayal of all kinds of lives impacted by the war. bao ninh's diction is simple yet immensely touching and vivid. the nonchronological narrative seemed confusing at first, but it was definitely the only way to accurately depict the thoughts of a mind ruined by the war
i simply don't get the hype
the stories are very absurd
the doctrine/teaching is not entirely accurate, the audience should read Buddhism books directly to understand the concepts more accurately
many parts are repetitive and verbose which really put me off
the writing is also very dry like it was written by a robot
Quite a surprising twist, but the twist is unexpected because the plot is so unconvincing. All characters are overdramatized like in a soap opera. The male protagonist is irrational and lacks common sense. The female protagonist is way too reckless provided her experience. The romance is superficial. The cops are easily persuaded. Sometimes people act like they have nothing to do except for supporting the protagonists. Maybe Central Park is an okay-ish romantic book (and it is not even that romantic, the romance material does not appeal to me at all), but it is definitely a detective bummer.
Brilliant method but so-so key takeaways. While Naoko elegantly depicted feminism, Hollow Cross refreshingly discussed atonement and the death penalty, Namiya narrated a wholesome story about humanity, Salvation of a Saint conveyed a very... bland lesson. No new ideas or interesting thoughts were discussed.
