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maahi's Reviews (241)
“If you asked most people whether they believed in love or not, they’d probably say they didn’t. Yet that’s not necessarily what they truly think. It’s just the way they defend themselves against what they want. They believe in it, but pretend they don’t until they’re allowed to. Most people would throw away all their cynicism if they could. The majority just never gets the chance.”
- Essays in Love by Alain de Botton
- Essays in Love by Alain de Botton
I’ll admit, I didn’t think I was going to like this book. I don’t have much luck with popular books and I thought this was going to be the same. When I started the book, I wasn’t ready to be gripped the way I was. I couldn’t put it down. The first few pages were a little dull, but the rest of the book was totally bewitching. I was in tears.
It’s an exceptionally well-written tale of love, loss, glamour, fame, pride and courage. Towards the end of it, I simply couldn’t stop crying. I don’t want to give any of it away. All I can say it, read it. You’re in for a treat.
It’s an exceptionally well-written tale of love, loss, glamour, fame, pride and courage. Towards the end of it, I simply couldn’t stop crying. I don’t want to give any of it away. All I can say it, read it. You’re in for a treat.
3.75 stars.
I love Arundhati’s unwavering resolve in writing about the often neglected issues of India. Her writing has landed her in legal problems and social boycotts, yet she continues to fight. Her writing is compelling, educating and provoking. Never one to mince words, she paints an accurate albeit grim picture.
Azadi is a collection of nine enlightening speeches and essays. Her writing is wonderful but here’s my problem : it contains an unnecessary and monstrous amount of information about her two novels. Literal passages were copied where they weren’t needed, and it ruined the whole essence of the point she was actually making. Any issue she was stating had to referenced with characters and plots from her novels, which was an eye-sore. Towards the end, I got so fed up that I skipped entire paragraphs.
Secondly, a lot of the same information is written verbatim across essays. I understand this was necessary when she was giving individual speeches or writing separate essays, but this should really have been edited out from the book. The book would have been a much better read had it been freed of these redundant and repetitive parts, and condensed by a third.
It’s a shame because the points she makes are quite compelling but end up being overpowered by the minutiae.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely.
Would I also recommend that you skim through about a third of the book? Absolutely.
I love Arundhati’s unwavering resolve in writing about the often neglected issues of India. Her writing has landed her in legal problems and social boycotts, yet she continues to fight. Her writing is compelling, educating and provoking. Never one to mince words, she paints an accurate albeit grim picture.
Azadi is a collection of nine enlightening speeches and essays. Her writing is wonderful but here’s my problem : it contains an unnecessary and monstrous amount of information about her two novels. Literal passages were copied where they weren’t needed, and it ruined the whole essence of the point she was actually making. Any issue she was stating had to referenced with characters and plots from her novels, which was an eye-sore. Towards the end, I got so fed up that I skipped entire paragraphs.
Secondly, a lot of the same information is written verbatim across essays. I understand this was necessary when she was giving individual speeches or writing separate essays, but this should really have been edited out from the book. The book would have been a much better read had it been freed of these redundant and repetitive parts, and condensed by a third.
It’s a shame because the points she makes are quite compelling but end up being overpowered by the minutiae.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely.
Would I also recommend that you skim through about a third of the book? Absolutely.
Loss is a meditation on death, grief, love, loss and moving on. Spanned across three essays, each describing the death of a loved one, Loss is a poignant and evocative work of art. Accompanied with beautiful photos and words of wisdom from writers and intellectuals across centuries, Loss is heartfelt and thoroughly gripping.
Siddharth’s writing is succinct and moving. I felt as if I was the one experiencing his loss, instead of witnessing him experience it. His words invoke a multitude of emotions. I absolutely love the point he makes about showing up when someone has passed away. People will forget if you skip birthday parties, as he rightly says, but never forget if you don’t show up to a funeral.
Siddharth’s writing is succinct and moving. I felt as if I was the one experiencing his loss, instead of witnessing him experience it. His words invoke a multitude of emotions. I absolutely love the point he makes about showing up when someone has passed away. People will forget if you skip birthday parties, as he rightly says, but never forget if you don’t show up to a funeral.
First off, I have to say that I'm utterly in awe with the writer. The hardships he's had to face because of his religious views and the way he's been boycotted from the literary world is extremely upsetting.
Therefore I really wanted to like this book. The concept was thoroughly intriguing. I found Bedrettin's thought process utterly fascinating. His views on love in particular were absolutely ground-breaking.
However, I couldn't stand the writing. Dry humour mixed with misogyny really ruined the book. I enjoy mythological fiction yet I found this book to be too burdensome. Many biblical references were drawn without providing adequate references. The writing was sporadic, jumbled and tiresome.
That being said, I'm still looking forward to reading some other work of this writer. I think he has originality of thought and I'm hoping that this one book won't discourage me (or others who might not have enjoyed this book) from giving him another shot.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Therefore I really wanted to like this book. The concept was thoroughly intriguing. I found Bedrettin's thought process utterly fascinating. His views on love in particular were absolutely ground-breaking.
However, I couldn't stand the writing. Dry humour mixed with misogyny really ruined the book. I enjoy mythological fiction yet I found this book to be too burdensome. Many biblical references were drawn without providing adequate references. The writing was sporadic, jumbled and tiresome.
That being said, I'm still looking forward to reading some other work of this writer. I think he has originality of thought and I'm hoping that this one book won't discourage me (or others who might not have enjoyed this book) from giving him another shot.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.