Margaux

This was all flash without much depth. In other words—the art was gorgeous, but the story was just MEH... They could have done so much with the basic premise but the characters all ended up being caricatures without much personality. Such a shame really, considering all the possibilities the writer could have explored with the awesome concept, like the various mythologies and back-stories of the gods introduced in the volume. I guess I just did not expect it to be a whodunnit mystery with an unsatisfying resolution. It did not help that we were following the story through the eyes of a vapid fangirl who wants her own slice of fame by playing mediator among the gods. This is the first disappointing Image title I've read, but I guess not everything lives up to the hype.

This is such an emotionally draining book to read at 5 AM. Everyone is either dead or irretrievably broken. No one is unscathed well probably except Plutarch Heavensbee, come to think of it. I just feel so hollow and spent after reading it. Mostly because of how messed up the world is, how everyone is just a pawn in the political machinations of those in power throughout the whole book that I'm left wondering about the point of it all. Also, the fact that Peeta will never be the same again was extremely upsetting. I think I'm going to be depressed for awhile.

I think I might have enjoyed this better if I read it before The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Like one reviewer has pointed out, I feel like this is a second rate version of that work even though this has been published later. They do have similar themes and plot devices like missing people, the separation of reality and dreams, even the setting of Greece! The narrative also felt a somewhat disjointed at times, especially when switching points of view from K to Sumire. Although this doesn't take away from the poignancy of the emotional themes explored in the novel, the writing did feel a little clunky in some parts.

On a positive note, the story did end up in hopeful and (more) concrete way than the rest of the Murakami books I've read so far (and there were a lot less sex scenes which quite bothered me while reading Norwegian Wood).

As with any book he writes, Murakami never fails to capture the feelings of alienation and loneliness that has been the trademark of his writing. My particular favorite is the following

“So that's how we live our lives. No matter how deep and fatal the loss, no matter how important the thing that's stolen from us—that's snatched right out of our hands—even if we are left completely changed, with only the outer layer of skin from before, we continue to play out our lives this way, in silence. We draw ever nearer to the end of our allotted span of time, bidding it farewell as it trails off behind. Repeating, often adroitly, the endless deeds of the everyday. Leaving behind a feeling of immeasurable emptiness...

will be a real treat!

I guess I fall into the majority of readers who love the buildup in the first part, saw the “twist” coming miles ahead in the second part and absolutely despised the ending. Seriously, I wish the book could have ended right after the “shocking reveal” instead of having a very anticlimactic and inconsistent ending. I guess my personal bias in wishing for Amy's punishment for her despicable acts is a major reason for my disliking the ending. This is also the reason why "Sharp Objects" remains to be my favorite of Gillian Flynn's books because the ending in that book was just so satisfying.

This is a brilliant book. It is so subtle and complex at the same time that it's hard to appreciate it after a cursory reading. The watercolour art is also absolutely gorgeous and the amount of detail in every panel just blew my breath away.

I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars because I felt the ending was a bit rushed and also because some of the references just flew over my head. However, after reading this excellent guide: The Nao of Brown Study Guide, I'm just amazed at all the subtle themes and references weaved throughout the story.

I think this will definitely benefit from a reread.

I loved the first half perfectly well... the second half not so much.

This would have been a five if not for the tediousness of Chapter XI.

I really enjoyed reading this book although I think the whole concept and world building was better than the writing/execution. I don't really understand the philosophical underpinnings meant by the author either, but I was completely immersed in the world that it hardly mattered while I was reading it. I deem it a mark of a good writer when I'm able to empathize with characters without fully understanding the motivations for their actions (I don't get their fascination with animals, but I still root for them anyhow)

I did not really expect to like this book because of the mixed reviews I read so I was happily surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I'll definitely be checking out more of this author's works in the future.

This story just hurts so good. I can't believe I waited so long to finally read this novel. It's funny what spurred me to read this now was because it was mentioned a couple of times in the last book I read which was Norwegian Wood, which I did not even like that much. Contrary to that though, this book is so well-deserving of all the praise.

I do think I'll be needing time to process my thoughts on this one, but I would really love to re-read it just to see how my perception of it changes, knowing the events leading up to the end. Right now I just feel too dejected to write a level-headed review except to say that I'm really glad I read this now in my 20's. I probably would not have appreciated it as much if I read it in my teenage years.

3.5 stars

I would have given this book a higher rating if only the last couple of pages have been different. I really love Murakami's writing especially through the lens of Alfred Birnbaum's translation, but I just could not understand why the story ended as it did (with the happenings between Toru and Reiko I mean). Damn, I was ready to give it 5 stars up until the ending killed it.

Be that as it may, I still really enjoyed the story especially the parts with Midori as well as when Toru was just living inside his head. As expected I can best relate to characters going through loneliness and isolation so it wasn't surprising that I like this book. However, my favorite Murakami book remains to be The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. It was just more fluid, more dream-like, more resonant for me than any of his other works. It's also one of those books that I constantly think about and vividly remember reading. I guess I was expecting more along the same lines when I read Norwegian Wood even though I knew beforehand that it does not really have magic realism elements. I should really learn to manage my expectations. After all, I really enjoyed reading it and was really hooked by the beautiful writing. It just did not hit the spot for me.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I love the very atmospheric writing which details the setting and forms a very clear picture of a character's surroundings. I also love how each mystery is resolved in a chapter or two and are quite realistic unlike other books in the same genre. However, what kept it from being a 5-star book for me was the ending. I just felt that everything was tied so neatly at the end that the resolution to the overarching mystery felt kind of a cop out. Despite this however, I still want to read more about Mma Ramotswe's life and adventures as a lady detective. Now, if only I could find the next book in this series...

So I finally finished this book... after putting it down for more than 3 months. I read it because Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea was one of my unexpected favourites this year and I wanted to read some of his short stories. I could say that it was well worth the read, if only for the story “A Clean, Well-lighted Place” which really struck a chord with me. I also liked “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” which are actually quite similar since they have the same setting and even share some plot devices.

So, what took me so long to finish this book when it was only a mere 154 pages? Well, I did not particularly like the Nick Adams stories and I was practically falling asleep every time I read one. In fact I would have forgotten that I was still reading this if not for my goodreads list.

In sum, the stories in this collection are a hit-and-miss for me which explains the 3-star rating. I find that I love when Hemingway writes about loneliness and desolation as portrayed so succinctly by the following quote:

“...It was not fear or dread. It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all a nothing and a man was nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order. Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it was all nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada...”

Needless to say I'll definitely be reading more of Papa's works in the future.

This graphic novel is just pure perfection—from the gorgeous watercolor art to the quietly evocative stories which form the (somewhat unconventional) narrative.

The story is about Brás de Oliva Domingos, the son of a famous Brazilian writer, who writes obituaries as his day job while dreaming of becoming a novelist like his father. The narrative is told in short snapshots interspersed during different times in his life: age 32, age 21, age 47, age 76... What makes it really compelling is the way in which each story ends. But you will have to read the book to be able to fully appreciate what the authors (who are twin brothers!) have done with the structure of the whole story. Although it seems likely that you would have been spoiled already if you dig around enough before you read the book.

I could not recommend this highly enough, and I will surely be re-reading this soon.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and is the very definition of a riveting read. I really like the author's writing style, with just how clearly she paints a picture in my head and make me squirm in my seat during the most intense scenes. I never felt so squeamish while reading a book as when reading the more graphic scenes in this one. However, this is not your straight-up crime novel, as it is also a biting social commentary on the darker side of Japanese society, particularly gender inequality and the life of the urban poor. Though the last chapter left me cold, I could not help but feel spent and emotionally exhausted after finishing the book. It was really a fascinating read and I'll definitely be checking out more of Natsuo Kirino's works.

This is more of a 3.5 stars read than 4 (I'm pretty stingy with my ratings). Don't get me wrong though, I really enjoyed this book. The writing was SUPERB and the characterization of the two main characters was also very good and sympathetic that I was fully invested a couple of pages into the story. However, I would not consider it a GREAT whodunnit mystery. The twist at the end was wholly unexpected but does not totally make sense in the greater scheme of the story. So yeah, it's a good book and I look forward to more of Cormoran and Robin's adventures but I hope the second book is better.

I am predisposed to agree with the author on the subject of climate change and am very interested in learning more about the regulations (or lack thereof) in our current system and about what we can do as individuals to help alleviate the impending crisis. However, Naomi Klein overstates her case and it is very easy to get bogged down by all the gloomy prognostications with no real solution in sight. Granted, I am just a few chapters in, but as a puny individual living in a third-world country, it just got me enraged and practically hopeless.

I might just check out the accompanying documentary instead.