Indian Readers discussion
READING PROGRESS 2017
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Jayanth's Mission Impossible 2017
Log entry, January 11:1. Assassin's Apprentice (finished)
Ebook
Pages read: 390/390
Pages read today: 90
Rating: 4/5
2. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (finished)
Ebook + Audiobook
Pages read: 81/81
Pages read today: 81
Rating: 4
3. The Color Of Magic by Terry Pratchett (ongoing)
Ebook
Pages read: 12/213
Pages read today: 12
Rating: TBD
Total pages read today: 183
Notes:
09:36: Stayed up late to finish the book as the story got very very interesting in the final stages, couldn't put it down. So I'm sleep deprived as usual and now I've go to work and......work. Sucks!!
I will listen to 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' audiobook from Librivox during my commute to work.
17:47: Done with this strange book. It was a short read but a pretty suspenseful and interesting one.
Wondering what book to take up next, Small Great Things is lying untouched for 4 days or so. Hmmmm.
21:44: Started my first Terry Pratchett book, Discworld #1. I'm clueless as to what I'm reading. :O
Mod
Have shelved Small Great things for the time being. :/
Em wrote: "Assassin's apprentice was a blockbuster fantasy. Have shelved Small Great things for the time being. :/"
Oh, it is! I loved it completely. :)
I think I still have some motivation to try and finish SGT in a week or two :D I will try to. :D
Review of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - Rating: 4/5When I reached years of reflection, and began to look round me and take stock of my progress and position in the world, I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of me.
Intriguing plot and a suspenseful narrative. This has a very unique premise(for a classic of its time).
All online book sellers, Librivox and Goodreads be damned for having blatantly put out MAJOR SPOILERS in the description of the book. I want to warn readers about reading the description, but it will only be in vain as everybody wants to know what they are getting into and thus getting the story partly spoiled for them.
But to be frank, in spite of the spoilers, I enjoyed reading this book, very much.This is not a huge story. It is a very simple story with a unique premise that has been written wonderfully, the suspense and mystery grow with each page. I love classics and the last chapter of this book is one of the reasons why. This book reminded me of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, a book I love and cherish and have a strange temptation to re-read every time I'm reminded of it.
The prose can be tough to read as the plot advances due to the nature of the narrative, but I enjoy such prose, especially when it is tackling themes like human nature and the like, which, in my opinion, completely justify the complexity of the resulting prose. Such prose, as is found in many classics, gives me immense pleasure and fascination like no other style of writing does. As I said, the last chapter of this book was such.
Log entry, January 12:1. The Color Of Magic by Terry Pratchett (ongoing)
Ebook
Pages read: 26/213
Pages read today: 14
Rating: TBD
2. The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs (DNF)
Ebook
Pages read: 64/113
Pages read today: 64
Rating: 2
3. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (finished)
Ebook
Pages read: 68/68
Pages read today: 68
Rating: 4
4. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Ebook
Pages read: 30/135
Pages read today: 30
Rating: TBD
Total pages read today: 176
00:24 - Started 'The Land Time Forgot', it is a short read. Hopefully will complete it in a day.
11:46 - That's it! 'The Land Time Forgot' becomes the first book I abandoned this year.
15:11 - Started 'Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka. Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself turned into a giant bug, interesting premise. This short classic is a popular book and has been on my tbr for a while. I will probably like it, it will have a lot of existential thoughts written into the narrative, right up my alley.
19:41 - Wow, that was a weird story. I need to gather my thoughts about what I just read.
23:36 - Listening to 'The Importance of Being Earnest' dramatic narration audiobook.
Review of The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice BurroughsRating: 2/5 (Did not finish)
Abandon ship! I can't read this any further. The author literally takes half of the book to come to the actual plot that's hinted in the title, that's unacceptable for a book of hardly 115 pages. And when the main plot did start, the narration became sloppiler than before.
I loved the title of the book and hoped for more.
Mod
Brilliant reviews The assassin and Dr Jekyll. Did you listen to it from Librivox?
Em wrote: "Congratulations on the first DNF of the year. :P"Thank you so much! :P :P Hahhahaha!
Rebecca wrote: "Brilliant reviews The assassin and Dr Jekyll. Did you listen to it from Librivox?"Thank you! :)
Yes, from Librivox. Narrated by David Barnes :)
congratulations J on first DNF .still given two stars to the book .you are generous with your stars 'O' Jayanth :) May your thread and glory reach the horizon :P
Mod
Tarinee wrote: "congratulations J on first DNF .still given two stars to the book .you are generous with your stars 'O' Jayanth :) May your thread and glory reach the horizon :P"Hahaha! :P Thanks :P I'm not usually very critical with rating. Unless the book is completely disappointing, I usually rate them 4 or 5. This one was so disappointing. :D
Manju wrote: "yes, why two stars to a DNF?"It let me down so much, I felt cheated into reading half the book. So 2 stars, I'm quite positive even if I finish the book, even the thee rating would likely be same.
But if you meant why even rate a book I did not finish, you have a point there. Is that what you meant? I have to admit I did not see it like that, reading 60% of the book and not feeling rewarded at all in terms of the story and writing is frustrating, so rated it 2 :D
Mod
:)
Mod
:)"
yeah. I always rate 1 when I DNF a book...
Mod
And congrats on that DNF. Good to see that DNF even on such a small book. I'd have continued just for the sake of finishing it.
What are you picking next?
Manju wrote: "Em wrote: "I guess what they both mean is why not 1 star if you didn't like it..:)"
yeah. I always rate 1 when I DNF a book..."
:D Idk, I felt this book was worth 2 ;)
Gorab wrote: "You are very generous indeed. I rate 3 stars to the books I like :PAnd congrats on that DNF. Good to see that DNF even on such a small book. I'd have continued just for the sake of finishing it.
W..."
Hahaha. I'd pick it up again soon, there's a free audiobook version, so I'll finish it. :D
I've started reading Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka just now :) I'm in the mood for short classics :D
Hey, all the best with Kafka :D .You like him?
Lovesfrost wrote: "Hey, all the best with Kafka :D .You like him?"This was the first Franz Kafka book I read. Still not sure about his writing, I need to read a complete novel. This book was so weird. :D Why, do you like his books?
Nope I don't get him at all -I have read 2 of his stories -The Trial and The Castle:P(a weird man)Not Metamorphosis though -but I always thought metamorphosis was better because it's mostly developed from the way he was treated by his family at least that's what I had read about the book.
You could ask Dely if you want to read more Kafka :)She could help you .
Mod
Stranger is by Albert Camus I think :)
Haan @Em even I sincerely believe it is no use spending time and money:P on books and authors I don't understand:)but I may give some books a try in the future:P
Mod
Oh, yes.. Camus it was.
Kafka ... yet to read. But I feel slightly repelled by the blurb of Metamorphosis.
Lovesfrost wrote: "Nope I don't get him at all -I have read 2 of his stories -The Trial and The Castle:P(a weird man)Not Metamorphosis though -but I always thought metamorphosis was better because it's mostly develo..."
The book is weird, there's no denying that. But I find such books interesting for their symbolism and underlying themes that are left for the reader to contemplate on, if done correctly that is ;) :D
Em wrote: "I read Stranger ( whether it was Kafka or not ...am not sure...) and then decided my brain is not formulated to absorb abstract ideas as his."I have Stranger by Camus on my tbr for the year :D I hope I enjoy it.
Em wrote: "Lovesfrost wrote: "Stranger is by Albert Camus I think :)"Oh, yes.. Camus it was.
Kafka ... yet to read. But I feel slightly repelled by the blurb of Metamorphosis."
On contrary, it made me very curious. Reading the book was tough and it made me uncomfortable, but I think it was worth it, personally :)
Review of The Metamorphosis by Franz KafkaRating: 4/5
One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous vermin.
Don't worry, that's not a spoiler, it's the first line of the book. :P
This is the WEIRDEST BOOK I've ever read. And 'weird' is an understatement here. But I liked it very much.
This is a story of Gregor Samsa who wakes up in his bedroom to find himself turned into a giant bug. He then struggles to live his life normally(duh?). He tries to get accustomed to his new body, one that of a bug, while his mind and consciousness was still human. What follows is weird, whimsical, depressing, devastating, disgusting, perplexing and questionable.
Never is there a direct commentary on the existential crisis that so obviously will occur in a scenario such as this, not only for Gregor but also for his father, mother and sister. But nevertheless, reading the book, I couldn't help but harbor existential thoughts all through the book as I felt the author was using symbolism to hint at a deeper theme that is not apparent on the outline.
The way the family deals with this strange change in Gregor is very curious and a struggle to read through. As a result, the entire family and the relationships between them also change over time as each deal with the reality of having a giant bug as their family member their own way.
I particularly sympathize with Gregor and could relate with his character as it is revealed who he was and his relationship with his family was before the metamorphosis.
If seen in another light, it might be a stretch according to some, this story can be an allegory about a person with an illness, like depression or AIDS, that transforms them, either mentally or physically or both and how the person's life changes along with his family's, usually for the worse.
I still can't completely grasp and gather my thoughts on what I've read, I will look up a lot on this book and read discussions and dissections of this story because I feel there is a lot more I do not yet understand and comprehend that has been said in the book.
Lovesfrost wrote: "Haan @Em even I sincerely believe it is no use spending time and money:P on books and authors I don't understand:)but I may give some books a try in the future:P"
Hey but if you know of any such books, do tell me. I'm all for them :D
Mod
You may like "the stranger" then...it is weird.
Another weird book is "the vegetarian" which I enjoyed reading but was totally gruesome.
Mod
Sadness of the lemon cake. ..not a very good kind of weird
100 years of solitude - almost turned me.i to a mad woman
Norwegian wood - good kind of weird
Lonely Polygamist - good kind of weird
Mod
last one was Windup bird chronicle by Murakami ( not Norwegian wood again)
@Em I like weird but not gore or gruesome. But The Vegetarian has an interesting theme :D So maybe I'd dare to read it someday. Murakami, I'vent yet read his works. 100 years of solitude has long been on my tbr. Thanks a lot for your recommendations, I'm going to try them out in future :)
Jayanth wrote: "I need to read a complete novel. This book was so weird. :D"*cough cough* Complete novel by Kafka is an oxymoron. His novels have never been finished and this is to go insane. The reader arrives at the end and is waiting for more or thinks that some pages are missing.
The best story I've read by him is In the Penal Colony (that I would recommend also to Smitha!)
Em wrote: "100 years of solitude - almost turned me.i to a mad woman"Don't listen to Smitha, 100 Years is a wonderful book!
Mod
Now you are planning to turn me I to a raving mad woman....recommending Kafka to me. :P
@Dely- Penal colony was mentioned in "Kafka on the shore" too I think :).Is it good?
I have tried Love in the time of Cholera-I don't think I like Marquez
dely wrote: "*cough cough* Complete novel by Kafka is an oxymoron. His novels have never been finished and this is to go insane. The..."Ooh, I didn't know that :D Haha, I can only imagine how it be like to read a book that's so weird only to end up feeling like there are missing pages in the end. :D
Penal Colony is going on my TBR, thanks for the recommendation :)
@Dely, What are your thoughts on The Metamorphosis? :D :O
@Em, @lovesfrost, @delyCommom question to all who have read Murakami. How is Kafka on the shore? :P Would it be a nice read for a first time Murakami reader?
@Jayanth you could try The Trial-it's got a dangerous suspense! :)you may like it:)
I liked it !It was my first read as well and it won't be the last:)
Em wrote: "Now you are planning to turn me I to a raving mad woman....recommending Kafka to me. :P"You could be surprised and like it!
Lovesfrost wrote: "@Dely- Penal colony was mentioned in "Kafka on the shore" too I think :).Is it good?"It is! I liked it a lot. I think it's one of his best short stories. Of course he has written a lot of short stories and I didn't read them all, but Penal Colony is really worth.
Indian Readers
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Rating: 4/5
I loved this book and I will probably read the sequels and then more of Robin Hobb's books. That's the impression this book made, the writing is delightful, the storytelling is captivating and the world-building is so well done. And the characters in the story were just so wonderfully presented and developed. This book is heavily character-driven, the characters' development in turn takes the story forward. By the time I reached the last page, I felt myself cherish and care for some of the characters.
Even though it is a slow paced book, I hardly lost my interest in the book. See, the problem with large books is that they tend to be slow and the writer must compensate this by other things that keep the reader's interests. Robin Hobb doesn't fail to do so. And the other problem with fantasy books is that they need to have heavy magical or magical realism elements that play a significant, if not the central role in the story. This book doesn't fit such a description of fantasy books. The magical elements are very few and they don't play a significant part until the latter stages of the book. But that takes away nothing from the awesomeness this book is. This books sets up a ground for the next book in the series to have more of the magic and fantasty elements that were introduced in this book and I can't wait to read it.
The protagonist is a very curious character and a very well developed one, as are most of the other characters whose relationships and motivations for one another weave the story that is told. I loved the way animals have a significant role in the story and how their relationships with humans are depicted. I love this book even more because of that.
The only reason I highlight the slow pace and lack of heavy magical elements is to inform prospect fantasy readers to know what they are getting into. These two factors did make me skeptical initially after I stated reading. But they did not eat away one bit of fun I had reading this book and when I finished the book, I was thoroughly satisfied and have been left wanting more. I want more of the world that was setup, I want more of the magical elements that were introduced, I want more of the characters and more than them all, I want more of Robin Hobb's writing because I loved the narrative style in this book.