Reading,for me,is like watching TV and I wanted to be entertained by series of books, well, for a while.. So I picked up 5 books; The Growing Pains of...moreReading,for me,is like watching TV and I wanted to be entertained by series of books, well, for a while.. So I picked up 5 books; The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4, Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years, Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years, Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years.
- I quite enjoyed reading his diary and the way he describe people, and of course, his poems! I am now onto "The secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4".(less)
Used to be one of my daughter's favourite books, and mine! I read to her every night, over and over, for a coulple of years.. ..Feels like yesterday tho...moreUsed to be one of my daughter's favourite books, and mine! I read to her every night, over and over, for a coulple of years.. ..Feels like yesterday though. Every time I see the moon in the sky, I remember this book.(less)
This was my first Ann Tyler's book which I picked up at the International center where I trade the books time to time. I thought the characters were un...moreThis was my first Ann Tyler's book which I picked up at the International center where I trade the books time to time. I thought the characters were underdeveloped, the story dragged and I several times considered not finishing, but I have a pathetic need to finish almost all books I started in hopes there might be a silver lining. In this case, there was none. I might have another go at her book as she is highly recommended here but I couldn't even give two stars on Noah's Compass and wouldn't buy her books on Amazon to risk disappointment. (less)
I have seen so many bad reviews of this book, and I did not understand why. Because I quite liked the story and enjoyed her experiences as if it was...more I have seen so many bad reviews of this book, and I did not understand why. Because I quite liked the story and enjoyed her experiences as if it was mine: the only difference between E.Gilbert and myself is I am so much tougher than her. I didn't have to travel around the world to discover the true happiness. I, however, agree that traveling changes you; meeting with new cultures, peoples, and testing our own ideas of what life means and how we fit into it.
-Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it.... And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.-
I shall save this book for my 14 years-old daughter who will experience all the bitterness as well as the sweetness of love.(less)
**spoiler alert** This book was a total surprise, really!! I thought the book was a very flat and shallow and it continues on till Hanna's trial. At one...more**spoiler alert** This book was a total surprise, really!! I thought the book was a very flat and shallow and it continues on till Hanna's trial. At one point, I blamed the translation. But when I finished it, I realized it had left me so many questions than its answers and that also made me uneasy. The Oskar Schindlers make us feel good about humanity and the Hannas make us face up to the realities -- that was why I did enjoy 'The Reader' so much!!!
This is a novel about guilt and complicity, fear and ignorance and all the things that make people do evil things. I know that not everyone will love this book as his writing style is distancing and off-putting, but I highly recommend this book!!! (less)
It was the first time in fifteen years since I read and enjoyed W.Smith novel and he did not let me down. I like the way he ends his story.
The setting...moreIt was the first time in fifteen years since I read and enjoyed W.Smith novel and he did not let me down. I like the way he ends his story.
The setting is the Sudan in 1884, the self-proclaimed voice of Allah, the Mahdi who rallied fanatical Muslim war Lords of the desert into holy war against the infidels. The novel combines fictional characters with historical figures like the Mahdi, Khartoum's commandant General Charles "Chinese" Gordon and Lord Kitchener who destroyed the Dervish hordes in establishing absolute British rule.
Smith is a master of providing rich layers of historical and background detail and painting panoramic action sequences.
The one thing which bothered me; Rebecca's twin sisters Amber and Saffron who have innocent crushes on Penrod and Ryder who both slept with Rebecca which develop into romantic obsession and by the time they reach 14, the twins get m arried to much older men of the world Ryder and Penrod — it is creepy. (less)
**spoiler alert** Susie Salmon was 14 years-old when she was raped and murdered. She spends the rest of the novel narrating from the heaven. She watche...more**spoiler alert** Susie Salmon was 14 years-old when she was raped and murdered. She spends the rest of the novel narrating from the heaven. She watches her family deal with the fact of her death, watches her killer and his bizarre sociopathic rituals, and spends time with the boy on whom she had a crush and kissed one time.
I am very surprised that there was so much animosity towards this book. I didn't find in it so much to hate the story. I actually enjoyed it and Sebold's writing style. -O.K, I admit that I was rather disappointed with the ending. There are two things I didn't like; 1. Susie's body is never found. 2. Why Sebold chose not to have Mr. Harvey apprehended by the police?
Loading...
