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pineconek's Reviews (816)
This was very enjoyable to listen to. While it's not quite the tour de force that "seven husbands" was, I found myself continuously curious about what happened next. I'm a sucker for a good family saga, even if it only details two generations. I loved the way it was framed here, with alternating chapters of past and present eventually fusing into one night full of context and intensity.
If you enjoy explorations of relationships (especially sibling relationships), poverty and wealth, and a backdrop of late the 20tg century, I recommend this as a beach read.
If you enjoy explorations of relationships (especially sibling relationships), poverty and wealth, and a backdrop of late the 20tg century, I recommend this as a beach read.
I had trouble resonating with this. There were passages I enjoyed but overall this was a book I needed to push myself through. I generally struggle with epistolary novels as I find they don't build up narrative tension or characters as much as I'd like them to. They're a bit like jazz - the words not said are are almost more important than the words that are, and that leaves me wanting.
It feels sacrilegious to give this classic a low rating, so I do want to go on record and say that I think it has remarkable literary merit. It's a groundbreaking and hardhitting book that definitely set a foundation for later works that I absolutely love. While it wasn't for me, I'm very glad I read it and do recommend it if you want to connect with modern classics centering explorations of abuse, race, sexuality, and gender within families.
It feels sacrilegious to give this classic a low rating, so I do want to go on record and say that I think it has remarkable literary merit. It's a groundbreaking and hardhitting book that definitely set a foundation for later works that I absolutely love. While it wasn't for me, I'm very glad I read it and do recommend it if you want to connect with modern classics centering explorations of abuse, race, sexuality, and gender within families.
This is a Yoko Ogawa appreciation zone.
The writing in this was so delicate and moving. I may be biased since I minored in math and absolutely love number theory, but I found the description of math incredibly charming. I identified with all three main characters deeply, and consequently even liked the baseball bits (and I don't care for baseball). This book made my heart happy.
Recommended if you want to ponder on themes of beauty of the natural world (including numbers), friendship (between generations), and the importance of memory.
The writing in this was so delicate and moving. I may be biased since I minored in math and absolutely love number theory, but I found the description of math incredibly charming. I identified with all three main characters deeply, and consequently even liked the baseball bits (and I don't care for baseball). This book made my heart happy.
Recommended if you want to ponder on themes of beauty of the natural world (including numbers), friendship (between generations), and the importance of memory.
File under: books I really wanted to like but it just didn't work out.
It's not you - it's me? Maybe. I fell asleep twice while reading this novella and had to stagger it over many days which is not at all what I expect out of a short horror story.
Nothing landed right for me in this book. I agree a lot with the one star reviews: why do all these people hate each other? Also, why did the two people getting married invite only three guests who they have past romantic history with and/or despise? The weirdness of that premise and all the dialogue that followed distracted from the actual setting and plot so profoundly that I honestly feel like a chunk of the book was missing. I'm left underwhelmed, confused, and frustrated, so a one star it shall be.
It's not you - it's me? Maybe. I fell asleep twice while reading this novella and had to stagger it over many days which is not at all what I expect out of a short horror story.
Nothing landed right for me in this book. I agree a lot with the one star reviews: why do all these people hate each other? Also, why did the two people getting married invite only three guests who they have past romantic history with and/or despise? The weirdness of that premise and all the dialogue that followed distracted from the actual setting and plot so profoundly that I honestly feel like a chunk of the book was missing. I'm left underwhelmed, confused, and frustrated, so a one star it shall be.
Listen, I'm a simple woman. I read a sad narrative about multiple characters whose lives intertwine and echo over time? I give it five stars.
It took me a solid 100 pages to actually get hooked on this book. This was the definition of slow-burn. The payoff, however, was absolutely stellar and led to me staying up late to wrap up this book. The complexity of human relationships - siblings, lovers, parents, benevolent strangers - explored here forced me to reflect on my own difficult relationships and that's exactly the kind of emotional challenge I look for in books like this.
In short, as predicted (and as usual for Khaled Hosseini), this book wrecked me. Highly recommended if you enjoy literary fiction, multiple competing perspectives, and character studies.
It took me a solid 100 pages to actually get hooked on this book. This was the definition of slow-burn. The payoff, however, was absolutely stellar and led to me staying up late to wrap up this book. The complexity of human relationships - siblings, lovers, parents, benevolent strangers - explored here forced me to reflect on my own difficult relationships and that's exactly the kind of emotional challenge I look for in books like this.
In short, as predicted (and as usual for Khaled Hosseini), this book wrecked me. Highly recommended if you enjoy literary fiction, multiple competing perspectives, and character studies.
I'm somewhat speechless at this novel.
First, let's touch on structure: the novel is divided into three sections (mind, body, and spirit) and I really only knew about the first one going in. The book opens with death and, as our main characters brain activity fizzles out, we follow a non linear journey through her memories. These are harrowing and depict a patchwork of horrific abuse and tragic circumstances.
I appreciated how unabashedly the novel explored feminist issues in Turkey. It's a difficult book - it doesn't shy away from exposing violence against women in many forms. Recommended if you enjoy character studies, nonlinear narratives, and are in a headspace where you can read about heavy topics.
First, let's touch on structure: the novel is divided into three sections (mind, body, and spirit) and I really only knew about the first one going in. The book opens with death and, as our main characters brain activity fizzles out, we follow a non linear journey through her memories. These are harrowing and depict a patchwork of horrific abuse and tragic circumstances.
I appreciated how unabashedly the novel explored feminist issues in Turkey. It's a difficult book - it doesn't shy away from exposing violence against women in many forms. Recommended if you enjoy character studies, nonlinear narratives, and are in a headspace where you can read about heavy topics.
Hi I'd love to write a coherent review but I'm crying so uh. I recommend it if you like character studies and having your heart grow three sizes
I've been freed from the perpetual ball and the thistledown hair. I've been freed from the eternal darkness and the man who is also a book. I've been freed from speaking statues and diverted rivers.
This is a Chonk of a book. I can see how it flies by for some people but I am very much not one of those people. I primarily read for character study or plot, and both were pretty shallow in this book (I honestly couldn't tell Drawlight, Childermass, Lascelles, etc... From one another without thinking a bit each time they appeared). The writing, however, is so lush. I adored the descriptions of magic and the rich world building. This is a tome to get lost in and enjoy a cinematic experience, if you're into that.
Recommended for slow paced readers who find the idea of a multiple page footnote (how could I forget the footnotes!) in a slow-paced novel enticing.
This is a Chonk of a book. I can see how it flies by for some people but I am very much not one of those people. I primarily read for character study or plot, and both were pretty shallow in this book (I honestly couldn't tell Drawlight, Childermass, Lascelles, etc... From one another without thinking a bit each time they appeared). The writing, however, is so lush. I adored the descriptions of magic and the rich world building. This is a tome to get lost in and enjoy a cinematic experience, if you're into that.
Recommended for slow paced readers who find the idea of a multiple page footnote (how could I forget the footnotes!) in a slow-paced novel enticing.
Some mixed feelings on this one.
Firstly, I loved the content/story, message, and purpose behind writing the memoir. I learned a lot and definitely know people in my life that I would highly recommend this book to.
Where it felt short for me: I feel like this read more like an extended essay rather than a memoir. Many life events were quite compressed in places I would have wanted to know more. I really enjoy confessional art, so being kept at arm's length by the narrator when it came to their inner world didn't resonate with me.
Recommended if you're interested in the intersection of race and sexuality as well as reflections on family and immigration.
Firstly, I loved the content/story, message, and purpose behind writing the memoir. I learned a lot and definitely know people in my life that I would highly recommend this book to.
Where it felt short for me: I feel like this read more like an extended essay rather than a memoir. Many life events were quite compressed in places I would have wanted to know more. I really enjoy confessional art, so being kept at arm's length by the narrator when it came to their inner world didn't resonate with me.
Recommended if you're interested in the intersection of race and sexuality as well as reflections on family and immigration.
While there are a few skips in here, there's just something about Keret's writing that really resonates with me.
If you pick up this volume, expect a lot of "nothing happens but somehow you feel very lonely and are faced with the absurdity of life". A lot of the stories are experimental snippets but a few are more complete. My favourite, by far, was tabula rasa.
Recommended if you enjoy modern fiction, are comfortable reading with stories seeped in loneliness as well as intergenerational trauma due to the Holocaust, and don't mind some existential absurdity to wrap it all up.
If you pick up this volume, expect a lot of "nothing happens but somehow you feel very lonely and are faced with the absurdity of life". A lot of the stories are experimental snippets but a few are more complete. My favourite, by far, was tabula rasa.
Recommended if you enjoy modern fiction, are comfortable reading with stories seeped in loneliness as well as intergenerational trauma due to the Holocaust, and don't mind some existential absurdity to wrap it all up.