http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/342665 en-US Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:21:46 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 21181387 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:21:46 -0700
As a whole,I enjoyed very much the novel.It was not a light read and during the reading,I was browsing through my flat looking for dead corpses everywhere,LOL. But I like to be drawn into past times and for me this book was good. ]]>
author: Sheri Holman
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at: 04/08
date added: 04/28/08
shelves:
review:
I love historical fiction of exactly that type when you can feel and smell and hear the thoughts,wearings and attitudes of people of that period. Well,this may be an illusion but a well created illusion:-)).In the story of Henry Chiver and Gustin I see the clash between science and ethics.United by ambition but of different kinds,they both embark on a dangerous relationship.Henry Chiver is not devoid of moral sense but his professional ambitions and scientific curiosity drive him to handle the people as mere objects for attaining his goals. Perhaps the revenge of Gustin at the end was a bit too simple way to show the moral remorse of Henry but still,justified by the events before.

As a whole,I enjoyed very much the novel.It was not a light read and during the reading,I was browsing through my flat looking for dead corpses everywhere,LOL. But I like to be drawn into past times and for me this book was good.
]]> 19628622 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:16:50 -0700
This is the second book of Cetin Ikmen series. As I have read almost all books,I love to see the characters in development. Along with the crimes they solve,we get a glimpse of their personal lives and stories which evolve with the time. So the reader gets the feeling that those characters are people familiar to him.

The writing is excellent,the plot development-masterly. Last but not least,there is one constant character in each novel,and that is Istanbul- the enormous,mysterious city,of which the writer is obviously very fond. There is always a nice piece of history and a glimpse into ancient Turkish society and traditions which gives the plot a rich background.]]>
author: Barbara Nadel
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 04/08
date added: 04/12/08
shelves:
review:
I just love Barbara Nadel`s books. She builds always an intriguing plot- a mystery riddle,almost impossible to solve but of course,not for the talented officers from the Istanbul police.

This is the second book of Cetin Ikmen series. As I have read almost all books,I love to see the characters in development. Along with the crimes they solve,we get a glimpse of their personal lives and stories which evolve with the time. So the reader gets the feeling that those characters are people familiar to him.

The writing is excellent,the plot development-masterly. Last but not least,there is one constant character in each novel,and that is Istanbul- the enormous,mysterious city,of which the writer is obviously very fond. There is always a nice piece of history and a glimpse into ancient Turkish society and traditions which gives the plot a rich background.
]]> 19396813 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:40:37 -0700
First of all,"Stuart" is a precious document of a human life. It is also a valuable document on how homeless people think and why many social benefits don`t work. For me this information side of the book was the most interesting part. I found it difficult to define my own feelings toward Stuart.The sympathy of the writer was evident through all the writing but he knew him personally and we don`t.It seems there was a lot of good in him,but also a lot of aggression and violence.

The book doesn`t give an answer to the main question- what exactly drives a man to deviate from the normal life and choose the path of violence and anger? Of course, a troubled childhood,sexual abuse are enough to drive one outside the boundaries of the normal but as Stuart says himself,a lot of people have been through the same and yet turned as good citizens.Perhaps after all,it is a matter of personal choice?

All this said,I liked the book very much.It was touching,human and written from the heart. It is such a pity that Stuart`s life was too short to be changed for good]]>
author: Alexander Masters
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 04/08
date added: 04/07/08
shelves:
review:
It was an unusual book. The phenomenon of homelessness has been always a mystery to me;I have been always asking myself how it happens,is it only poverty or something else; why people used to living in the streets,cannot return their lives to normal even if given the opportunity? The book says a lot about all these things but also,it doesn`t and can`t answer all the questions.

First of all,"Stuart" is a precious document of a human life. It is also a valuable document on how homeless people think and why many social benefits don`t work. For me this information side of the book was the most interesting part. I found it difficult to define my own feelings toward Stuart.The sympathy of the writer was evident through all the writing but he knew him personally and we don`t.It seems there was a lot of good in him,but also a lot of aggression and violence.

The book doesn`t give an answer to the main question- what exactly drives a man to deviate from the normal life and choose the path of violence and anger? Of course, a troubled childhood,sexual abuse are enough to drive one outside the boundaries of the normal but as Stuart says himself,a lot of people have been through the same and yet turned as good citizens.Perhaps after all,it is a matter of personal choice?

All this said,I liked the book very much.It was touching,human and written from the heart. It is such a pity that Stuart`s life was too short to be changed for good
]]> 19397439 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:06:17 -0700 I liked the father,Eddie. He was really caring and loving,and bore with his wife`s mood shifts.

Susan seems like the one who suffered most from her mother`s difficult character. She didn`t benefit much from this troubled daughter-mother relationship but perhaps when she grows up, she may become to understand her mother better and appreciate her efforts and strength.

Somehow the reader closes the book hoping for a better future for this family.]]>
author: Susan Lewis
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/03/08
shelves:
review:
The book was definitely well written. I became absorbed in the shifting narration through the voices of mother and daughter. The characters were very lively. I could easily picture Susan and her family. I felt sorry for everyone of them, including Eddress, who had a lot of good in her in spite of her stubborness and harshness towards her Eddie and Susan. She seemed a tough woman,from the older generation when feelings were something to be kept deep underneath,and growing soft was not encouraged. She definitely had problems with sharing her emotions. She isolated herself from the family,denying the truth of her illness,unwilling to speak to anyone about it,trying to pretend it was not there. So she devoided herself and her children of sharing and proper grieving in the last months. Eddress was seeing her role as housewife and was feeling unadequate and useless when she became too weak to do anything in the house.
I liked the father,Eddie. He was really caring and loving,and bore with his wife`s mood shifts.

Susan seems like the one who suffered most from her mother`s difficult character. She didn`t benefit much from this troubled daughter-mother relationship but perhaps when she grows up, she may become to understand her mother better and appreciate her efforts and strength.

Somehow the reader closes the book hoping for a better future for this family.
]]> 19397296 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:05:18 -0700
author: Philippa Gregory
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.00
book published: 0
rating: 5
read at: 03/08
date added: 04/03/08
shelves:
review:
I truly,truly enjoyed this book,as much,as other books from the series! Philippa Gregory is simply a wonderful writer. I like her manner of telling one story from different angles and how characters act and look differently in each book depending of the point of view. Above all,she makes you live and imagine so vividly the time,the plots,the sighs,the looks,the intentions and ambitions of the characters. This novel was a page turner and I couldn`t wait to see what happen next.I liked very much Anne of Cleves. She was so innocent,so serious,responsible and honest! I was glad that her life was spared:-)).
]]> 19397062 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:02:52 -0700
author: Kim Edwards
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at: 11/07
date added: 04/03/08
shelves:
review:
Good story-teller but characters were a bit thin.Psychologically things were described a bit in black-and-white. The good thing was that the book was a page turner,the story flowed easily,and despite the "sugar",I liked the positive image of raising a child with Down. It feels good that the message of the novel is that no one should be denied a chance to live and to be properly raised with love.
]]> 19396860 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:00:42 -0700
When I started reading the book,I thought "OMG,this is the male version of Devil Wears Prada!!!". In a certain sense,Toby Young is far far away from the easiness of Weinsberger`s writing,and certainly not so entertaining. But his merits are honesty and intelectual analysis. This is one of the best analysis of US society I have read. It seems the writer has inherited his father`s talant for social thinking. Those were for me the most interesting pages.

As a whole,it was a good read,a bit boring when it came to the personal matters but intelectually brilliant.

I`m organising a bookray for this book,for details look here:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/jo...]]>
author: Toby Young
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2002
rating: 2
read at: 03/08
date added: 04/03/08
shelves:
review:
One of the reviews for this book describes it as 'funny,clever and touching". Personally I wouldn`t apply "funny" and "touching". It needs a certain kind of masochism to write about your own failure unless you have a very good sense of humour to write a very funny book. To me Young`s stories didn`t sound particulary funny.It`s difficult to grasp why he was so eager to enter the world of celebrities and at the same time he always acted in the worst possible way.The problem with his behaviour,IMO,was that he was desperate to be accepted by them but at the same time he wanted to show them that he was something more than that.

When I started reading the book,I thought "OMG,this is the male version of Devil Wears Prada!!!". In a certain sense,Toby Young is far far away from the easiness of Weinsberger`s writing,and certainly not so entertaining. But his merits are honesty and intelectual analysis. This is one of the best analysis of US society I have read. It seems the writer has inherited his father`s talant for social thinking. Those were for me the most interesting pages.

As a whole,it was a good read,a bit boring when it came to the personal matters but intelectually brilliant.

I`m organising a bookray for this book,for details look here:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/jo...
]]> 12949922 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:54:59 -0700
I liked the notes of visitors and their stories.The whole idea was wonderful,only that some stories were boring to me.]]>
author: Bill Richardson
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1993
rating: 2
read at: 02/08
date added: 04/03/08
shelves:
review:
Nice little book.The story is situated in an unusual place.The B&B is described as a fantastic place. It`s hard to believe it exists only in fiction.

I liked the notes of visitors and their stories.The whole idea was wonderful,only that some stories were boring to me.
]]> 19394484 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:48:49 -0700
The book reads very well and is recommended for everyone interested in good woman fiction.]]>
author: Amulya Malladi
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 03/08
date added: 04/03/08
shelves: good-books
review:
It was a good story of generations and women relationship. I like Malladi`s books because of the easiness of writing and interesting women characters.The process of Devi`s healing was going through food and silence, and also learning to accept help from her family. The incident with her suicide attempt shuttered the everyday life of her parents and also her sister. It`s not only Devi who has problems to deal with.The women in her family have to face the need of change.

The book reads very well and is recommended for everyone interested in good woman fiction.
]]> 12949917 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:52:16 -0800 ]]>
author: Marlena De Blasi
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at: 01/08
date added: 01/20/08
shelves:
review:
I throughly enjoyed this book. It started a bit like a romance novel but Marlena de Blasi writes very inteligently and page after page I discovered something more than that. It`s a really beautiful story about love in a mature age. I loved the light-hearted way of telling it. I was impressed by what she said about the tower of pain-how we accumulate pain and keep it within ourselves to show off. That was exactly the thing she managed to avoid in her story.It sounded fresh and light,as a real new beginning. I am in love with Italy myself having visited it many times (incl.Venice:-)),and it was a pleasure to plunge once again into its unique atmosphere. I liked the witty observations about Italian character and way of life. I would be interested in the sequel.

]]> 7498271 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:48:08 -0800 I liked the way religion was woven into the fabric of the story. It`s as much religion,as it is spirituality,family values and bonding.
]]>
author: Terry Tempest Williams
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1992
rating: 3
read at: 01/08
date added: 01/20/08
shelves:
review:
My mother died from cancer 6 years ago,so I took the story in a very personal way. I envied a bit that Terry and her mother had time to communicate and experience together the illness. We were robbed of this opportunity,as my mother was unexpectedly admitted in emergency and died few days after surgery. Terry`s mother seems to have been a remarkable woman.I think the writer managed to convey in a very honest way the lessons learnt during difficult time. The idea of combining life experience with experience of nature was very interesting,only I have to admit,that the story of the lake didn`t attract my attention so much.
I liked the way religion was woven into the fabric of the story. It`s as much religion,as it is spirituality,family values and bonding.

]]> 9144147 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:09:33 -0800
author: Robert M. Pirsig
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 11/15/07
shelves: favorites
review:
One of the most brilliant and lucid philosophical books I have ever read. It has guided and continues to guide my inner life through the years.
]]> 9143944 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:49:11 -0800
author: Jeanette Winterson
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.77
book published: 1987
rating: 0
read at: 01/02
date added: 11/15/07
shelves: good-books
review:
It has been a long time since I read "Oranges...." but it is still with me and I think it is a very good,moving and brilliantly written book.
]]> 7028225 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:39:10 -0700
author: Tim Parks
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.74
book published: 1996
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/30/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 7028223 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:39:08 -0700
author: Amulya Malladi
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/30/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 7028220 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:39:05 -0700
author: Raymond A. Moody Jr.
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/30/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 7028219 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:39:04 -0700
author: Judith Warner
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 2.82
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/30/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 7028218 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:39:03 -0700
author: Hannah Hinchman
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.55
book published: 1999
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/30/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 7028217 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:39:02 -0700
author: Paul Auster
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 09/30/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 6913485 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:36:31 -0700
]]>
author: Vikram Seth
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 09/07
date added: 09/30/07
shelves:
review:
I liked the book very much inspite of some shortcomings in its structure. There were some pages which sounded a bit like a rough material or sketches and one may wish they were smoother in pure stylistic sense but all of this doesn`t diminish the least of the importance and deep meaning of the book. It`s a fascinating look into the lives of two ordinary but very decent people. It reveals the hidden beauty of their characters and the wonder of everyday chores. Vikram Seth writes with great psychological skill and desribes the relationship of his great uncle and aunt in a very honest,but at the same time,delicate way. I liked both characters,and it seems to me that the writer was secretly fascinated most by his aunt. For me the part of the book which tells Henny`s story,is the most wholesome and impressing part. It gives a very intimate view on Holocaust.It was interesting to see the Holocaust through the eyes of a non-European.I found the writer`s views well-balanced and profound.


]]> 5623607 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:33:50 -0700
author: Norman Lebrecht
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1992
rating: 3
read at: 09/07
date added: 09/17/07
shelves:
review:
Very good and critical book which unveals the real face of conductors` myth. The writer preserves its professional dignity and avoids gossip but at the same time without losing his bite.The only shortback for me was that the book was written 15 years ago and more many things have changed since.I would be interested in some of his fresh writings.
]]> 6029709 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:50:26 -0700
author: Ian McEwan
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 09/07
date added: 09/11/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 6004825 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:52:24 -0700
author: Marilyn Bowering
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1999
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/10/07
shelves: good-books
review:

]]> 6004450 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:45:49 -0700
author: Gail Anderson-Dargatz
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.59
book published: 1998
rating: 3
read at: 08/07
date added: 09/10/07
shelves: good-books
review:

]]> 5856491 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:40:23 -0700
I enjoyed the story and the characters. The novel was very well build,the tension was growing with the development of the story and brought finally a very sensible and conclusive ending. ]]>
author: Adele Geras
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 09/07
date added: 09/10/07
shelves: good-books
review:
I quite enjoyed this novel. The action is set around the extended Walsh family which is gathering together to celebrate the 75th birthday of its matriarch, Leonora, at the family home, Willow Court, home also to the beautiful paintings of Leonora's artist father, Ethan Walsh. But all families have secrets, and the Walshes are no exception--and in the course of the visit, many hidden things will come to light, and darkness lifted from many hearts.

I enjoyed the story and the characters. The novel was very well build,the tension was growing with the development of the story and brought finally a very sensible and conclusive ending.
]]> 5626713 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 08:21:24 -0700
author: Anne Tyler
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2001
rating: 3
read at: 07/06
date added: 09/09/07
shelves:
review:
Nice read but poor ending.
]]> 5626704 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 08:19:29 -0700
This is another quality fiction by Anne Tyler.I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. However,I would say that I found the story a bit more trivial than usual,and the message too obvious and direct.Anyway,it`s good to read.
]]>
author: Anne Tyler
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 04/05
date added: 09/09/07
shelves:
review:
In this novel we follow the relationship of two young people,from their first meeting until old age.Michael and Pauline jump into marriage during the war,because everyone wanted them married and everyone said they were for each other. But the enthusiasm of the honeymoon vanishes soon and they have to face their differences. Michael cannot understand the sudden changes of mood and the devouring spells of anger and hate of his wife,Pauline. He expected their marriage should go well by itself. Pauline and Michael don`t communicate;they fall into playing traditional roles and to keep the habit of coexistence. Then after 30 years,everything falls apart and they separate.Michael marries for second time but the feeling of failure never leaves him.

This is another quality fiction by Anne Tyler.I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. However,I would say that I found the story a bit more trivial than usual,and the message too obvious and direct.Anyway,it`s good to read.

]]> 5626731 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 08:18:17 -0700 In "Breathing Lessons" a middle-aged couple- Maggie and Ira, are headed to attend the funeral of Maggie`s best friend`s husband. Meeting Serena- her best schoolmate, and other schoolmates as well, makes Maggie think about the years that have passed by. The couple has to reconsider their relationship once again now when their daughter is going to the college, their divorced son lives on his own, and they haven`t seen their granddaughter for years. After years of child rearing,the birth of a grandchild,the broken marriage of his son,Maggie seems to have difficulty coping with nobody left at home to take care of. For Ira, on the contrary, this is the long-awaited moment of shaking off parenting responsibilities and having time for themselves. Maggie makes a final attempt to save the dead marriage of her son and to have once more her grandchild at home. She understands finally that her motivation for arranging lives of others is derived from her fear of loneliness.What can a mother do when her children fly away? What to do when you grow old? What to expect when you realise life has not been exactly the same you dreamed of?

This is story about love and friendship, marriage and children,loneliness and agying.It is wonderfully told. A very good book.
]]>
author: Anne Tyler
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.59
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at: 12/03
date added: 09/09/07
shelves:
review:
Anne Tyler is a master of making stories of those boring, tiny,daily things which irritate you, make you laugh or cry but are part of the life that happens every day.So you always feel very cosy with any of her novels. Her characters are ordinary people, with ordinary emotions, problems, rows. But the stories radiate a captivating humor, warmth, love.
In "Breathing Lessons" a middle-aged couple- Maggie and Ira, are headed to attend the funeral of Maggie`s best friend`s husband. Meeting Serena- her best schoolmate, and other schoolmates as well, makes Maggie think about the years that have passed by. The couple has to reconsider their relationship once again now when their daughter is going to the college, their divorced son lives on his own, and they haven`t seen their granddaughter for years. After years of child rearing,the birth of a grandchild,the broken marriage of his son,Maggie seems to have difficulty coping with nobody left at home to take care of. For Ira, on the contrary, this is the long-awaited moment of shaking off parenting responsibilities and having time for themselves. Maggie makes a final attempt to save the dead marriage of her son and to have once more her grandchild at home. She understands finally that her motivation for arranging lives of others is derived from her fear of loneliness.What can a mother do when her children fly away? What to do when you grow old? What to expect when you realise life has not been exactly the same you dreamed of?

This is story about love and friendship, marriage and children,loneliness and agying.It is wonderfully told. A very good book.

]]> 5626718 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 08:17:14 -0700 ]]>
author: Anne Tyler
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.72
book published: 1996
rating: 3
read at: 08/06
date added: 09/09/07
shelves:
review:
The novel is a story about Peck family and the rebels,Justine and Duncan- first cousins who married against the will of their parents. It is also a novel about pride,family roots,and growing up. There is a nice story line about searching for Caleb Peck,the brother of Justin`s grandfather- yet another rebel from this family. This line goes through the whole novel and nicely keeps things together. I liked very much Justine and also her grandfather. I felt sorry at the end that he and Caleb could not reach each other but I suppose that finding Caleb in fact was never a goal in itself. Very good reading.

]]> 5625651 Sat, 08 Sep 2007 04:26:09 -0700 ]]>
author: Mark Salzman
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at: 01/05
date added: 09/08/07
shelves: good-books
review:
Through the boys` writings a whole new universe of feelings opens before the eyes of the reader. The boys share their most worst nightmares,their best memories,their feelings of guilt,despair,remorse.They write with amazing clarity and power of emotions. Although the purpose of the book is not directly to critisize the judiciary and penalty system, Mark Salzman doesn`t hide his regret and outrage that almost no work is done to help those boys realise their feelings and cope with them. In fact,his writing class turns to be a kind of creative psychotherapy. Salzman asks a very important question:"Is there any sense of creating a positive experience when the things go bad anyway? Doesn`t it bring a false hope? Doesn`t it make the life more difficult for the boys afterwards?". I think that as long as life should be a continious process of learning (in every sense), there is always sense to experience something good,something precious.A good memory may remain like a beacon of light in the life of many.A good experience may change them for better and although it cannot help to get them out of prison ,it can help them to be on better terms with themselves.

]]> 5623448 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:30:02 -0700
author: Audrey Niffenegger
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 09/07/07
shelves: favorites
review:
One of the best love stories I have ever read,about love which trascends time and space.
]]> 5825069 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:30:56 -0700
author: Orhan Pamuk
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 08/07
date added: 09/07/07
shelves:
review:
Somehow this speech moved me very much. I find it very unusual for a Nobel lecture. It is so typical for Orhan Pamuk,that seems like another story coming under his pen. I think it was great that at this solemn moment he paid tribute to his father in this gentle,loving and thankful manner.
]]> 5625979 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:28:02 -0700 Is it possible to live another`s life? Is it possible to understand someone fully,as if he is you? What is identity and what defines personality and uniqueness? Those are some of the questions the writer plays with in his book.
It is interesting to pounder over the meaning of the title,"The White Castle".In the story,this is the castle which the sultan cannot succeed to overthrow,even with the new machine designed by the two scholars.What does is symbolise? Is it the core of personality which cannot be touched,cannot be exchanged?

I have to admit,though,that inspite of the interesting story,pregnant with multiple meanings and enigmas, I prefer "Snow","The Black Book" and "My Name Is Red",compared to this one....
]]>
author: Orhan Pamuk
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2001
rating: 2
read at: 11/04
date added: 09/07/07
shelves:
review:
As always,in this book Pamuk is a great storyteller. Here he meets an Italian and a Turkish scholars who resemble so much each other that in fact they are identical.The mysterious "Hoja" wants to understand what makes the individuality of a person. He undertakes various experiments and his final goal is to be totally transformed into his Italian twin.
Is it possible to live another`s life? Is it possible to understand someone fully,as if he is you? What is identity and what defines personality and uniqueness? Those are some of the questions the writer plays with in his book.
It is interesting to pounder over the meaning of the title,"The White Castle".In the story,this is the castle which the sultan cannot succeed to overthrow,even with the new machine designed by the two scholars.What does is symbolise? Is it the core of personality which cannot be touched,cannot be exchanged?

I have to admit,though,that inspite of the interesting story,pregnant with multiple meanings and enigmas, I prefer "Snow","The Black Book" and "My Name Is Red",compared to this one....

]]> 5625958 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:12:59 -0700
I also felt like this was a book about Istanbul. You get so intimate with the city,that you start thinking you may recognise every stone,every crack,every step.]]>
author: Orhan Pamuk
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 09/02
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: favorites
review:
It was the first novel by Orhan Pamuk that I read. It absolutely enchanted me. A lawyer is looking for his wife and his brother,who disappeared under strange circumstances. Slowly his search leads him into more and more mysteries. The search for his relatives transformes into search of identity. Pamuk switches the view points in every chapter,he doesn`t leave the reader to sit still even for a moment.He goes deep into the mystery of everyday life and displays a masterly woven fabric of hidden symbols and secrets.I was completely absorbed in the layers of meanings in this book. It creates a weird,magical world,and this world intoxicated me.

I also felt like this was a book about Istanbul. You get so intimate with the city,that you start thinking you may recognise every stone,every crack,every step.
]]> 5646291 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:37:55 -0700
author: Augusten Burroughs
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2007
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 5626727 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:17:36 -0700
author: Anne Tyler
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.62
book published: 1996
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: good-books
review:

]]> 5626699 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:17:03 -0700
author: Anne Tyler
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.83
book published: 1996
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: good-books
review:

]]> 5626691 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:16:57 -0700
author: Anne Tyler
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 5625950 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:59:31 -0700
author: Orhan Pamuk
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 5625938 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:59:22 -0700
author: Orhan Pamuk
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: favorites
review:

]]> 5625928 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:59:15 -0700
author: Orhan Pamuk
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: favorites
review:

]]> 5625843 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:57:38 -0700
author: Michael Cunningham
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.71
book published: 1990
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: good-books
review:

]]> 5625836 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:57:30 -0700
author: Michael Cunningham
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1998
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 5625780 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:56:44 -0700
author: Jennifer Weiner
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: chick-lit-womens-literature
review:

]]> 5625770 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:56:34 -0700
author: Jennifer Weiner
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 5625761 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:56:26 -0700
author: Jennifer Weiner
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 5625663 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:54:51 -0700
author: Mark Salzman
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1987
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 5625657 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:54:45 -0700
author: Mark Salzman
name: Bookmaniac70
average rating: 3.53
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 09/04/07
shelves: good-books
review:

]]> 5623535 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:39:17 -0700