I was hooked from the very first line. No warm-up needed. It was hypnotic. Cerebral. Analytical. Unputdownable. Although I also put it down every couple of pages to absorb and digest what I had just read. The writing style made me reflect and actively engage the left side of my mind. I was constantly underlining phrases. I felt like I was working alongside the author. At one point, I could taste the sea salt in my throat. One image that keeps returning to my mind… Read More »Outline
I liked the cover and title, and I started fantasising about the story before reading it (I don’t recommend doing this because it sets up expectations that are clearly going to be disappointed!). That’s why I picked it up. However, I read it right after DNFing a Murakami book because I wasn’t in the mood for violence, and just a few pages in, I hit a very disturbing rape scene (and I had a déjà vu moment thinking back to when I read Magpie). I… Read More »The Dressmaker of Paris
Sorry Haruki, it’s not you, it’s me. When I started reading this book, I was immediately hooked by the richness of the scene descriptions. I usually don’t like long descriptions, but Murakami is magnetic in this. I still remember details of scenes from 1Q84, which I read a very long time ago, and this is not typical for me. It was getting absorbing. I was even enjoying reading in a methodical way because there are two stories, so I was reading two episodes of each… Read More »Kafka on the Shore
This is one of those books that you cannot spoil because the prologue, and even the back cover, tell you how it ends. I felt robbed of my sense of discovery and wondered: I already know the plot, why read it, then? Driven by curiosity, it was only at the end, after reflecting on my read, that I thought perhaps the point isn’t discovery. Instead, it’s a reflection on how the protagonist writes about her past to show who she was and who she has… Read More »Pages for You
This was my first amazing experience with an audiobook and it has set the bar very high! Although I later realised not all audiobooks are the same, and that this was a “full cast” audiobook, which means multiple voices (one for each character), music (the chant of the den was simply the best!), sound effects, etc., a midway point between a book and a film. It’s an imaginary modern sequel to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, who I think would have been delighted and proud to… Read More »Becoming Meg Dashwood
Despite fantasy not typically being my cup of tea, it was easy for me to see why Harry Potter is so well-loved. It’s descriptive, immersive, and has a remarkable ability to ignite the imagination. As someone who usually finds it hard to engage with fantasy worlds, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself affected by this book. Once, in the period I was reading it, I even had dreams about magic! I don’t think I’ll read the rest of the series, but it was still… Read More »Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
This book is about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing is fantastic and makes it super easy to imagine everything in your mind as you read. She’s so good at making the characters feel real that the story is vivid. From start to finish, it’s like you’re watching a movie. Speaking of which, I think they’ve just released an adaptation of this book. But, even though the writing is clever, I didn’t get deeply into the story and unfortunately, I didn’t… Read More »Daisy Jones & The Six
I read more non-fiction, and when I do read fiction, I expect the words to evoke emotions in me. I want to feel emotionally engaged. This didn’t happen right away when I started reading this book. In fact, it wasn’t until the last quarter of the story that the narrative truly gripped me, turning the reading experience into an emotional and reflective one. It’s a blend of sadness and empowerment. It isn’t merely a work of fiction; it brings to light the muted perspectives of… Read More »Songbirds (by Christy Lefteri)
This is an introspective novel and the story is centred around two old friends, Henrik and Konrad, who have a reunion after 41 years. It is primarily a long and intense soliloquy by Henrik, exploring the meaning of life, love, and above all, friendship. The other character, Konrad, is allowed to speak only occasionally, which kept me frustrated. In fact, while Henrik’s monologue is eloquent and thought-provoking, it would have been intriguing to hear Konrad’s perspective and insights as well. Another aspect that disappointed me… Read More »Le braci (di Sándor Márai)
I’m glad I finally read this book given that there is so much hype about it. I loved getting into the head of the main character. The writing style is absolutely engaging and the dialogues are well developed. The author has done an excellent job of making the reader feel like they are right there with the characters, experiencing all of the ups and downs of their journey. However, rom-com novels are not my cup of tea so at times I found myself yawning and… Read More »The Love Hypothesis (by Ali Hazelwood)