Salar's bookshelf: all en-US Sun, 20 Apr 2025 01:03:17 -0700 60 Salar's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Never Let Me Go 6334 288 Kazuo Ishiguro 1400078776 Salar 0 currently-reading 3.85 2005 Never Let Me Go
author: Kazuo Ishiguro
name: Salar
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> Dreaming of Babylon 1131032 236 Richard Brautigan 0440021464 Salar 2 3.88 1977 Dreaming of Babylon
author: Richard Brautigan
name: Salar
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1977
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves:
review:
The story is neither coherent, nor complete, which is most probably on purpose. But it's just not for me! The comedy isn't my type either. I did find a few of the jokes amusing and clever, but that was it.
]]> Aura 56899 118 Carlos Fuentes 9580469717 Salar 3 3.87 1962 Aura
author: Carlos Fuentes
name: Salar
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1962
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/04
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves:
review:
Interesting and very confusing!
]]> Flowers for Algernon 18373 Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, the powerful, classic story about a man who receives an operation that turns him into a genius...and introduces him to heartache.
Ěý
Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence � a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon.

As the treatment takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance, until Algernon suddenly deteriorates. Will the same happen to Charlie?]]> 311 Daniel Keyes 015603008X Salar 5
It's one of those books that you just can't put down and want to keep reading. It's very engaging, the ideas behind the story are fascinating, it's thought-provoking on many different levels, and most importantly, it's very emotionally captivating! Honestly, I might even go as far as to say it's the best book I've ever read!

There are many aspects of this story to ponder. The effect of intelligence on one's maturity or even wisdom, the influence of our past experiences (even if we've consciously forgotten them) on our drives and incentives, the way we condescendingly look at those who are less capable than us and might see them as inferiors, as well as the impact of humiliation, parenthood, love, and shame.
But for me personally, the process of growth, with all its pains and gains, was the most fascinating and what I most empathized with. In addition, the fear of the fall after this massive rise was very emotionally intense!

I recommend this book to everyone, not only because it's an awesome read but also because it teaches you a lot!

I want to finish this with a few quotes from the book and the parts that I liked, so feel free to stop reading if you don't want spoilers:
[spoilers removed]]]> 4.19 1966 Flowers for Algernon
author: Daniel Keyes
name: Salar
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1966
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves:
review:
An absolute masterpiece!

It's one of those books that you just can't put down and want to keep reading. It's very engaging, the ideas behind the story are fascinating, it's thought-provoking on many different levels, and most importantly, it's very emotionally captivating! Honestly, I might even go as far as to say it's the best book I've ever read!

There are many aspects of this story to ponder. The effect of intelligence on one's maturity or even wisdom, the influence of our past experiences (even if we've consciously forgotten them) on our drives and incentives, the way we condescendingly look at those who are less capable than us and might see them as inferiors, as well as the impact of humiliation, parenthood, love, and shame.
But for me personally, the process of growth, with all its pains and gains, was the most fascinating and what I most empathized with. In addition, the fear of the fall after this massive rise was very emotionally intense!

I recommend this book to everyone, not only because it's an awesome read but also because it teaches you a lot!

I want to finish this with a few quotes from the book and the parts that I liked, so feel free to stop reading if you don't want spoilers:
[spoilers removed]
]]> Piranesi 50202953
There is one other person in the house—a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.]]> 272 Susanna Clarke 163557563X Salar 0 to-read 4.22 2020 Piranesi
author: Susanna Clarke
name: Salar
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> It's OK That You're Not OK 34261775
With It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we help others who have endured tragedy. Having experienced grief from both sides―as both a therapist and as a woman who witnessed the accidental drowning of her beloved partner―Megan writes with deep insight about the unspoken truths of loss, love, and healing. She debunks the culturally prescribed goal of returning to a normal, "happy" life, replacing it with a far healthier middle path, one that invites us to build a life alongside grief rather than seeking to overcome it.

On this unabridged audio recording read by the author, Megan offers stories, research, life tips, and creative and mindfulness-based practices to guide us through an experience we all must face. With Megan’s gentle but direct guidance, you’ll

� Why well-meaning advice, therapy, and spiritual wisdom so often end up making it harder for people in grief
� How challenging the myths of grief―doing away with stages, timetables, and unrealistic ideals about how grief should unfold―allows us to accept it as a mystery to be honored instead of a problem to solve
� Practical guidance for managing stress, improving sleep, and decreasing anxiety without trying to "fix" your pain

Many people who have suffered a loss feel judged, dismissed, and misunderstood by a culture that wants to "solve" grief. Megan writes, "Grief no more needs a solution than love needs a solution." It’s OK That You’re Not OK is a book for grieving people, those who love them, and all those seeking to love themselves―and each other―better.]]> 0 Megan Devine 1683640365 Salar 0 to-read 4.37 2017 It's OK That You're Not OK
author: Megan Devine
name: Salar
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Kokoro 762476 The New Yorker as "rich in understanding and insight,"

Kokoro�"the heart of things"—is the work of one of Japan's most popular authors. This thought-provoking trilogy of stories explores the very essence of loneliness and stands as a stirring introduction to modern Japanese literature.

What is love, and what is friendship? What is the extent of our responsibility to ourselves and to others? A trilogy of stories that explores the very essence of loneliness, Kokoro opens with "Sensei and I," in which the narrator recounts his relationship with an intellectual who dwells in isolation but maintains a sophisticated worldview. "My Parents and I" brings the reader into the narrator's family circle, and "Sensei and His Testament" features the eponymous character's explanation of how he came to live a life of solitude.

Natsume Soseki (1867�1916), perhaps the greatest novelist of the Meiji period, remains one of Japan's most widely read authors. He wrote this novel in 1914, at the peak of his career, and it remains an excellent introduction to modern Japanese literature.]]> 256 Natsume Sōseki 0809260956 Salar 4
"A man lives three lives. The first ends with the loss of naivete, the second with the loss of innocence, and the third with the loss of life itself. It's inevitable that we go through all three stages."]]> 4.05 1914 Kokoro
author: Natsume SĹŤseki
name: Salar
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1914
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves:
review:
Reminded me of this line from the series "Dark":

"A man lives three lives. The first ends with the loss of naivete, the second with the loss of innocence, and the third with the loss of life itself. It's inevitable that we go through all three stages."
]]> David Copperfield 58696 882 Charles Dickens Salar 0 currently-reading 4.02 1850 David Copperfield
author: Charles Dickens
name: Salar
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1850
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays]]> 11987 212 Albert Camus Salar 0 to-read 4.23 1942 The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays
author: Albert Camus
name: Salar
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1942
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Cloven Viscount 20892444 106 Italo Calvino Salar 3 Meh! 3.79 1952 The Cloven Viscount
author: Italo Calvino
name: Salar
average rating: 3.79
book published: 1952
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/03
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves:
review:
Meh!
]]> The War of the Worlds 8909
Inspiring films, radio dramas, comic-book adaptations, television series and sequels,The War of the Worlds is a prototypical work of science fiction which has influenced every alien story that has come since, and is unsurpassed in its ability to thrill, well over a century since it was first published.]]> 192 H.G. Wells 0375759239 Salar 1
I'm not sure what's so popular about this book. Maybe it's the fact that it's very old and is considered as a classic, or maybe I'm just not the target demographic here!

I must confess that the main reason why I started listening to this audiobook was that 2024 was almost over and I had to finish a quick one to complete this year's reading challenge. However, in my defense, all the top reviews on this book passionately praise the book. So how was I to know?!]]> 3.84 1898 The War of the Worlds
author: H.G. Wells
name: Salar
average rating: 3.84
book published: 1898
rating: 1
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:
Evil Martians attack the Earth (Britain). People run away. The Martians get sick and die. That's about it. I saved you 192 pages of reading / 7 hours of listening. Sorry for the spoilers!

I'm not sure what's so popular about this book. Maybe it's the fact that it's very old and is considered as a classic, or maybe I'm just not the target demographic here!

I must confess that the main reason why I started listening to this audiobook was that 2024 was almost over and I had to finish a quick one to complete this year's reading challenge. However, in my defense, all the top reviews on this book passionately praise the book. So how was I to know?!
]]> <![CDATA[Sex: An Uncensored Introduction]]> 22825479
Be forewarned: this is a revised edition of our previous publication, Sex: A Book for Teens!]]> 192 Nikol Hasler 1936976846 Salar 2 some things to be taken away from reading this, but I'm sure there are much better sources out there.]]> 3.91 2015 Sex: An Uncensored Introduction
author: Nikol Hasler
name: Salar
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:
I expected more of a scientific introduction to the ins and outs of sex (pun intended). But this book is more like a parent giving general advice to their children. More specifically, it's like a mother giving advice to her teenage daughter. Even more specifically, it's about an open-minded American mother, giving advice to her teenage daughter. It's very opinionated, has a lot of redundancy and irrelevant content, and most of the time it's not at all scientific. There are some things to be taken away from reading this, but I'm sure there are much better sources out there.
]]> <![CDATA[The Presence Process: A Healing Journey into Present Moment Awareness]]> 61315 Through an experiential procedure, The Presence Process reveals to us that we all haveĚýdeeply suppressed emotional imprints programmed into us through personal experience and observing other's behaviors. This emotional imprinting unfolds automatically, like an energetic osmosis, throughoutĚýthe first seven years of our childhood. Until theseĚýemotional charges are consciously identified and integrated, whenever upset, like programmed organic machinery, we automatically resort to reactiveĚýbehaviors.
The Presence Process procedure invites us to aspire to 'conscious emotional response'Ěýas a way of life, not just as a means to an end. Reading and applying the simple procedureĚýin this bookĚýmakes it possible for anyone, anywhere, to transform the quality of their life experienceĚýfrom one of uncontrollable, reflexive re-activity, to deliberate, considered responsibility.
We all long to be free of our emotional outburstsĚýand to insteadĚýexperience increased inner calm responsiveness in the face of unexpected difficulty. What The Presence Process procedure reveals through direct experience, is thatĚýanyĚýattempt on our behalf toĚýget rid ofĚýour emotional discomfort throughĚýreaction is futile. Instead, it experientially reveals toĚýus the miraculous transformation whichĚýunfolds when we embrace the lifestyle ofĚýconscious emotional responsibility.Ěý
The Presence Process is an intimately guided journey into embracingĚýfull responsibility for our imprinted emotional condition. It is a simple, step-by-step pathwayĚýfor us to rescue and renew the unhappy child within us. It empowers us to grow up emotionally.]]> 325 Michael Brown 0825305373 Salar 0 to-read 4.29 2005 The Presence Process: A Healing Journey into Present Moment Awareness
author: Michael Brown
name: Salar
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Man’s Search for Meaning 4069 Man's Search for Meaning has become one of the most influential books in America; it continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living.]]> 165 Viktor E. Frankl 080701429X Salar 4
Funnily enough, I unintentionally started to read this—a book about the meaning of life—alongside Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus—a book about the absurdity of life! Comparing these two books, even though Camus' book is much much more difficult to understand, I find the notion of accepting the absurdity of life more appealing than trying to define a meaning for life on shaky grounds.

But, like I said, this book doesn't dictate pre-defined meanings. Its main point is that if you want to go on living, you have to have a reason to do so, which makes sense, at least as long as I haven't fully grasped Camus' absurdism. The book also encourages you to put your life into perspective. Firstly, you get a firsthand description of the events in Auschwitz and the possibility of a human being's endurance, nobility, and determination even through the toughest possible circumstances. Secondly, you get to learn about logotherapy, through which, one can learn to change their outlook on the problems posed by life, and accept life as it is, albeit through assigning an arbitrary meaning to it.]]> 4.39 1946 Man’s Search for Meaning
author: Viktor E. Frankl
name: Salar
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1946
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/27
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves:
review:
Assigning arbitrary meanings to a life that seems to be inherently meaningless, is just absurd! For this reason, I've always kept my guard up against reading this book. But now that I have read it, it seems like it's not as simple as that. While it is still trying to help you assign arbitrary meanings to life, if you think about it more deeply, we are already doing that in our day-to-day lives one way or another!

Funnily enough, I unintentionally started to read this—a book about the meaning of life—alongside Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus—a book about the absurdity of life! Comparing these two books, even though Camus' book is much much more difficult to understand, I find the notion of accepting the absurdity of life more appealing than trying to define a meaning for life on shaky grounds.

But, like I said, this book doesn't dictate pre-defined meanings. Its main point is that if you want to go on living, you have to have a reason to do so, which makes sense, at least as long as I haven't fully grasped Camus' absurdism. The book also encourages you to put your life into perspective. Firstly, you get a firsthand description of the events in Auschwitz and the possibility of a human being's endurance, nobility, and determination even through the toughest possible circumstances. Secondly, you get to learn about logotherapy, through which, one can learn to change their outlook on the problems posed by life, and accept life as it is, albeit through assigning an arbitrary meaning to it.
]]> <![CDATA[Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence]]> 34272565 How will Artificial Intelligence affect crime, war, justice, jobs, society and our very sense of being human? The rise of AI has the potential to transform our future more than any other technology--and there's nobody better qualified or situated to explore that future than Max Tegmark, an MIT professor who's helped mainstream research on how to keep AI beneficial.

How can we grow our prosperity through automation without leaving people lacking income or purpose? What career advice should we give today's kids? How can we make future AI systems more robust, so that they do what we want without crashing, malfunctioning or getting hacked? Should we fear an arms race in lethal autonomous weapons? Will machines eventually outsmart us at all tasks, replacing humans on the job market and perhaps altogether? Will AI help life flourish like never before or give us more power than we can handle?

What sort of future do you want? This book empowers you to join what may be the most important conversation of our time. It doesn't shy away from the full range of viewpoints or from the most controversial issues--from superintelligence to meaning, consciousness and the ultimate physical limits on life in the cosmos.]]> 384 Max Tegmark 0451485076 Salar 5 4.02 2017 Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
author: Max Tegmark
name: Salar
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/12
date added: 2024/12/12
shelves:
review:
AI has come a long way since the publication of this book. The exponential progress has recently turned so rapid that even some text about AI from a year ago feels ancient! Nevertheless, the book is a very well-packaged collection of useful insights on AI and the directions that we can go towards in the future, regarding AI.
]]> <![CDATA[The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)]]> 16181775
Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful� husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel for anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of overwhelming challenges.]]> 292 Graeme Simsion 1476729085 Salar 0 to-read 4.00 2013 The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)
author: Graeme Simsion
name: Salar
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Sophie’s World 10959 An alternative cover for this ISBN can be found here

One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: "Who are you?" and "Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, Sophie becomes obsessed with questions that take her far beyond what she knows of her Norwegian village. Through those letters, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use the philosophy she is learning—but the truth turns out to be far more complicated than she could have imagined.]]> 403 Jostein Gaarder 1857993284 Salar 0 to-read 3.94 1991 Sophie’s World
author: Jostein Gaarder
name: Salar
average rating: 3.94
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> درخت نام اŮست 160946627 پرسیده باشد چه کسی
صحرا Ů…ŰŚ Ůزد:
درخت، نام اŮست

Ú†Ůن Ú©Ůه
که در Ř®ŮŘŻ تکرار Ř´ŮŘŻ.]]> 66 سپیده رشن٠6009882796 Salar 0 3.59 2023 درخت نام اŮست
author: سپیده رشنŮ
name: Salar
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/05
date added: 2024/08/14
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman]]> 59808451 Madly Deeply is a rare invitation into the mind of Alan Rickman—one of the most magnetic, beloved performers of our time.

From his breakout role in Die Hard to his outstanding, multifaceted performances in the Harry Potter films, Galaxy Quest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and more, Alan Rickman cemented his legacy as a world-class actor. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate audiences today.

But Rickman’s ability to breathe life into projects wasn't confined to just his performances. As you'll find, Rickman's diaries detail the extraordinary and the ordinary, flitting between worldly and witty and gossipy, while remaining utterly candid throughout. He takes us inside his home, on trips with friends across the globe, and on the sets of films and plays ranging from Sense and Sensibility, to Noël Coward's Private Lives, to the final film he directed, A Little Chaos.

Running from 1993 to his death in 2016, the diaries provide singular insight into Rickman's public and private life. Reading them is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close companion. Meet Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveler, the fan, the director, the enthusiast; in short, the man beyond the icon.

Madly, Deeply features a photo insert, a foreword by Emma Thompson, and an afterword by Rima Horton.]]> 469 Alan Rickman 1250847958 Salar 2
First of all, judging by my knowledge of Alan Rickman's personality and what the book suggests, he was an extremely private person. Just because he kept a diary at hand and wrote down the events in his life doesn't mean that he wanted them to be published! But then again, one might bring up the same argument about Kafka, except he did explicitly say that he wanted all his works to be burnt and destroyed and if they were, we would have been robbed of many great literary works.

But even if we somehow justify the publication of these diaries, putting them all in one book in the same format as they were just doesn't comprise a good read! If someone had put in the required time and effort to gather these memories alongside other information from cinema history, Alan's interviews, or his family and friends, they could have created an amazing biography, given all this valuable information. But instead, we are given this incoherent and discrete set of lines from disjointed memories which is quite difficult to follow!

And finally, the audiobook is just THE WORST! I already mentioned how difficult to follow this book is. Now imagine listening to it, instead of reading. It's impossible to follow the narrative for a minute without distraction! Now add to this an appalling narration! This is my last time listening to anything by Alan Taylor! He reads the whole book with a single monotonous narration which is not even neutral. The whole book is read with a nonchalantly amused and sarcastic tone, which makes absolutely no sense at all! Imagine Alan Rickman being in awe of a piece of art he has witnessed and writing about it in his diary. Now imagine Alan Taylor reading it with an amused and mocking tone! It's absolutely frustrating! For the first few hours of the book I just tried to tolerate it and kept gritting my teeth. I even gave up listening to it altogether for a while, but then couldn't resist coming back to it, since it's Alan Rickman we're talking about. But fortunately, I learned to ignore it after a while.

In the end, I'm glad I could get to know about Alan's life a little bit more. But I wouldn't recommend the book, especially not the audiobook. The sheer annoyingness is not worth it!]]> 3.54 2022 Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman
author: Alan Rickman
name: Salar
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2024/08/07
date added: 2024/08/14
shelves:
review:
There's so much wrong with this book!

First of all, judging by my knowledge of Alan Rickman's personality and what the book suggests, he was an extremely private person. Just because he kept a diary at hand and wrote down the events in his life doesn't mean that he wanted them to be published! But then again, one might bring up the same argument about Kafka, except he did explicitly say that he wanted all his works to be burnt and destroyed and if they were, we would have been robbed of many great literary works.

But even if we somehow justify the publication of these diaries, putting them all in one book in the same format as they were just doesn't comprise a good read! If someone had put in the required time and effort to gather these memories alongside other information from cinema history, Alan's interviews, or his family and friends, they could have created an amazing biography, given all this valuable information. But instead, we are given this incoherent and discrete set of lines from disjointed memories which is quite difficult to follow!

And finally, the audiobook is just THE WORST! I already mentioned how difficult to follow this book is. Now imagine listening to it, instead of reading. It's impossible to follow the narrative for a minute without distraction! Now add to this an appalling narration! This is my last time listening to anything by Alan Taylor! He reads the whole book with a single monotonous narration which is not even neutral. The whole book is read with a nonchalantly amused and sarcastic tone, which makes absolutely no sense at all! Imagine Alan Rickman being in awe of a piece of art he has witnessed and writing about it in his diary. Now imagine Alan Taylor reading it with an amused and mocking tone! It's absolutely frustrating! For the first few hours of the book I just tried to tolerate it and kept gritting my teeth. I even gave up listening to it altogether for a while, but then couldn't resist coming back to it, since it's Alan Rickman we're talking about. But fortunately, I learned to ignore it after a while.

In the end, I'm glad I could get to know about Alan's life a little bit more. But I wouldn't recommend the book, especially not the audiobook. The sheer annoyingness is not worth it!
]]> <![CDATA[اشک‌هŘ� در بهشت: ۵۱ ترانه از رŮیدادهای Ůاقعی]]> 216681202 شمار چنین ترانه‌هائŰ� زیاد است ŮŮ„ŰŚ در این مجمŮعه سعی بر آن شده تا از میان آنان به عناŮینی اشاره Ř´ŮŘŻ که در خلال سال‌هŘ� تحسین همگان را برانگیخته‌انŘ� ٠آثار کلاسیک Ů…Ř­ŘłŮب می‌شŮنŘ�.]]> 198 محسن گلتاش 6008964667 Salar 0 0.0 اشک‌ها در بهشت: ۵۱ ترانه از رŮیدادهای Ůاقعی
author: محسن گلتاش
name: Salar
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/20
shelves:
review:
این کتاب٠خŮŘŻŮ… به دیتابیس ÚŻŮدریدز اضاŮه کردم، Ůاسه همینم رŮŮ… نمیشه اŮلین امتیازی که براش ثبت میشه ر٠خŮŘŻŮ… ۲ ستاره بدم!
]]> <![CDATA[Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard]]> 61062194 From the magical moments on set as Draco Malfoy to the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, get a backstage pass into Tom Felton’s life on and off the big screen in this #1 New York Times bestseller.

Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame in beloved films like The Borrowers catapulted him into the limelight, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come after he landed the iconic role of the Draco Malfoy, the bleached blonde villain of the Harry Potter movies. For the next ten years, he was at the center of a huge pop culture phenomenon and yet, in between filming, he would go back to being a normal teenager trying to fit into a normal school.

Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience growing up as part of the wizarding world while also trying to navigate the muggle world. He tells stories from his early days in the business like his first acting gig where he was mistaken for fellow blonde child actor Macaulay Culkin and his Harry Potter audition where, in a very Draco-like move, he fudged how well he knew the books the series was based on (not at all). He reflects on his experiences working with cinematic greats such as Alan Rickman, Sir Michael Gambon, Dame Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes (including that awkward Voldemort hug). And, perhaps most poignantly, he discusses the lasting relationships he made over that decade of filming, including with Emma Watson, who started out as a pesky nine-year-old whom he mocked for not knowing what a boom mic was but who soon grew into one of his dearest friends. Then, of course, there are the highs and lows of fame and navigating life after such a momentous and life-changing experience.

Tom Felton’s Beyond the Wand is an entertaining, funny, and poignant must-read for any Harry Potter fan. Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.]]> 288 Tom Felton 1538741369 Salar 5
I loved the book and the narration. I also loved the character of Tom Felton himself. He is obviously a very good-natured human being. In fact, if I were to complain about one thing in this book, it would be the fact that he seems too nice to complain about or criticize anyone in his life story.

I was also quite shocked to hear about his struggle with substance abuse and what he had to go through!

Love you Tom! Hope you can always find a way to overcome challenges in your life.]]> 4.28 2022 Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard
author: Tom Felton
name: Salar
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/28
date added: 2024/07/08
shelves:
review:
Amazing character and amazing life story!

I loved the book and the narration. I also loved the character of Tom Felton himself. He is obviously a very good-natured human being. In fact, if I were to complain about one thing in this book, it would be the fact that he seems too nice to complain about or criticize anyone in his life story.

I was also quite shocked to hear about his struggle with substance abuse and what he had to go through!

Love you Tom! Hope you can always find a way to overcome challenges in your life.
]]> This Much is True 58604389 Monkey to the Cadbury's Caramel Rabbit, creator of a myriad of unforgettable characters from Lady Whiteadder to Professor Sprout, Miriam Margolyes, OBE, is the nation's favourite (and naughtiest) treasure. Find out how being conceived in an air-raid gave her curly hair; what pranks led to her being known as the naughtiest girl Oxford High School ever had; how she ended up posing nude for Augustus John as a teenager; why Bob Monkhouse was the best (male) kiss she's ever had; and what happened next after Warren Beatty asked 'Do you fuck?'

From declaring her love to Vanessa Redgrave to being told to be quiet by the Queen, this book is packed with hilarious stories. With a cast list stretching from Scorsese to Streisand, a cross-dressing Leonardo di Caprio to Isaiah Berlin, This Much Is True is as full of life and surprises, as its inimitable author.]]> 427 Miriam Margolyes Salar 3
She is quite comfortable with spilling out all her craziness, her secrets, and her weaknesses. This is quite admirable! I like her transparency, courage, and brutal honesty. But, of course, once you start revealing all the madness inside, without any filter, the ugly sides of your character come to the top as well! I don't want to be specific here, but some aspects of her character did make me uncomfortable.

One other disturbing thing was the amount of gossip in this book! I'm not sure if autobiographies generally tend to be like this since it was my first autobiography. But the amount of gossip in it was not at all for my taste!]]> 4.08 2021 This Much is True
author: Miriam Margolyes
name: Salar
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/16
date added: 2024/05/23
shelves:
review:
She is mad and not afraid to show it!

She is quite comfortable with spilling out all her craziness, her secrets, and her weaknesses. This is quite admirable! I like her transparency, courage, and brutal honesty. But, of course, once you start revealing all the madness inside, without any filter, the ugly sides of your character come to the top as well! I don't want to be specific here, but some aspects of her character did make me uncomfortable.

One other disturbing thing was the amount of gossip in this book! I'm not sure if autobiographies generally tend to be like this since it was my first autobiography. But the amount of gossip in it was not at all for my taste!
]]> Catch-22 168668
Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved.

This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction by Christopher Buckley; a wealth of critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos from Joseph Heller’s personal archive; and much more. Here, at last, is the definitive edition of a classic of world literature.]]> 453 Joseph Heller 0684833395 Salar 5
The comedic genius in this is an absolute work of art. How do you make jokes about a phenomenon so horrendous and gruesome as war, without any sugar-coating? This book is the answer! It's vulgar, shocking, disgusting, and infuriating, yet quite surprising with its unexpected and funny jokes. The author's style is very unique and refreshing, which makes it very engaging and fun to read.

The part near the end, where Yossarian is walking around in the streets of Rome, seems a bit preachy and out of character for the story. Which worried me a lot about the way the story was going to end. The ending is of course, very influential on one's view of a book. But, fortunately, I was quite content with the actual ending.]]> 3.99 1961 Catch-22
author: Joseph Heller
name: Salar
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1961
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/23
date added: 2024/05/23
shelves:
review:
One of the best books I have ever read!

The comedic genius in this is an absolute work of art. How do you make jokes about a phenomenon so horrendous and gruesome as war, without any sugar-coating? This book is the answer! It's vulgar, shocking, disgusting, and infuriating, yet quite surprising with its unexpected and funny jokes. The author's style is very unique and refreshing, which makes it very engaging and fun to read.

The part near the end, where Yossarian is walking around in the streets of Rome, seems a bit preachy and out of character for the story. Which worried me a lot about the way the story was going to end. The ending is of course, very influential on one's view of a book. But, fortunately, I was quite content with the actual ending.
]]> بŮŮ Ú©Ůر 171942 120 Sadegh Hedayat 9188296326 Salar 0 to-read 4.02 1937 بŮŮ Ú©Ůر
author: Sadegh Hedayat
name: Salar
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1937
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse]]> 43708884
Here, you will find them together in this book of Charlie's most-loved drawings, adventuring into the Wild and exploring the thoughts and feelings that unite us all.]]> 128 Charlie Mackesy 1529105102 Salar 3 4.56 2019 The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
author: Charlie Mackesy
name: Salar
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/30
date added: 2024/04/02
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death]]> 43785830
In Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, Doughty blends her mortician’s knowledge and the intriguing history behind common misconceptions about corpses to offer factual, hilarious, and candid answers to thirty-five questions. In her inimitable voice, Doughty details the lore and science of what happens to, and inside, our bodies after we die. Why do corpses groan? What causes bodies to turn colors during decomposition? And why do hair and nails appear longer after death? Readers will learn the best soil for mummifying, whether you can preserve your best friend’s skull as a keepsake, and what happens when you die on a plane. Beautifully illustrated by Dianné Ruz, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? shows us that death is science and art, and only by asking questions can we begin to embrace it.]]> 200 Caitlin Doughty 039365270X Salar 0 to-read 4.13 2019 Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death
author: Caitlin Doughty
name: Salar
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Wisdom of Crowds (The Age of Madness, #3)]]> 40701780
The Great Change is upon us...

Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds.

With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch. And in the bloody North, Rikke and her fragile Protectorate are running out of allies... while Black Calder gathers his forces and plots his vengeance.

The banks have fallen, the sun of the Union has been torn down, and in the darkness behind the scenes, the threads of the Weaver’s ruthless plan are slowly being drawn together...

]]> 520 Joe Abercrombie 0575095970 Salar 2
All things considered, it was an entertaining journey to listen to the interesting stories with Steven Pacey's brilliant narration. But it just kept getting more and more boring and repetitive! At this point, it just feels like those TV/internet series where they keep stretching it just to make more money and keep the fans happy.

I was too invested in the story to let go in the middle, but now that I've reached one of the endings, I don't think I'll ever get back to it, even if the series continues yet again (which I'm pretty sure will)!]]> 4.58 2021 The Wisdom of Crowds (The Age of Madness, #3)
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2024/03/14
date added: 2024/03/16
shelves:
review:
I'm done with this series!

All things considered, it was an entertaining journey to listen to the interesting stories with Steven Pacey's brilliant narration. But it just kept getting more and more boring and repetitive! At this point, it just feels like those TV/internet series where they keep stretching it just to make more money and keep the fans happy.

I was too invested in the story to let go in the middle, but now that I've reached one of the endings, I don't think I'll ever get back to it, even if the series continues yet again (which I'm pretty sure will)!
]]> The Midnight Library 52578297
When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.

The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren't always what she imagined they'd be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger.

Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?]]> 288 Matt Haig 0525559477 Salar 0 to-read 3.96 2020 The Midnight Library
author: Matt Haig
name: Salar
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/01/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Spinoza Problem 12715691
Spinoza himself was no stranger to punishment during his lifetime. Because of his unorthodox religious views, he was excommunicated from the Amsterdam Jewish community in 1656, at the age of twenty-four, and banished from the only world he had ever known. Though his life was short and he lived without means in great isolation, he nonetheless produced works that changed the course of history.Ěý

Over the years, Rosenberg rose through the ranks to become an outspoken Nazi ideologue, a faithful servant of Hitler, and the main author of racial policy for the Third Reich. Still, his Spinoza obsession lingered.

By imagining the unexpected intersection of Spinoza’s life with Rosenberg’s, internationally bestselling novelist Irvin D. Yalom explores the mindsets of two men separated by 300 years. Using his skills as a psychiatrist, he explores the inner lives of Spinoza, the saintly secular philosopher, and of Rosenberg, the godless mass murderer.]]> 321 Irvin D. Yalom 0465029639 Salar 0 to-read 4.28 2012 The Spinoza Problem
author: Irvin D. Yalom
name: Salar
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/01/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Trouble with Peace (The Age of Madness, #2)]]> 40701777 Peace is just another kind of battlefield...

Savine dan Glokta, once Adua’s most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.

For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye... before it kills her.

The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.

The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever.]]> 506 Joe Abercrombie 0575095911 Salar 3 4.59 2020 The Trouble with Peace (The Age of Madness, #2)
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.59
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/31
date added: 2023/12/31
shelves:
review:

]]> The Grand Design 8520362
When and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the nature of reality? Why are the laws of nature so finely tuned as to allow for the existence of beings like ourselves? And, finally, is the apparent “grand design� of our universe evidence of a benevolent creator who set things in motion—or does science offer another explanation?

The most fundamental questions about the origins of the universe and of life itself, once the province of philosophy, now occupy the territory where scientists, philosophers, and theologians meet—if only to disagree. In their new book, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow present the most recent scientific thinking about the mysteries of the universe, in nontechnical language marked by both brilliance and simplicity.

In The Grand Design they explain that according to quantum theory, the cosmos does not have just a single existence or history, but rather that every possible history of the universe exists simultaneously. When applied to the universe as a whole, this idea calls into question the very notion of cause and effect. But the “top-down� approach to cosmology that Hawking and

Mlodinow describe would say that the fact that the past takes no definite form means that we create history by observing it, rather than that history creates us. The authors further explain that we ourselves are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe, and show how quantum theory predicts the “multiverse”—the idea that ours is just one of many universes that appeared spontaneously out of nothing, each with different laws of nature.

Along the way Hawking and Mlodinow question the conventional concept of reality, posing a “model-dependent� theory of reality as the best we can hope to find. And they conclude with a riveting assessment of M-theory, an explanation of the laws governing us and our universe that is currently the only viable candidate for a complete “theory of everything.� If confirmed, they write, it will be the unified theory that Einstein was looking for, and the ultimate triumph of human reason.

A succinct, startling, and lavishly illustrated guide to discoveries that are altering our understanding and threatening some of our most cherished belief systems, The Grand Design is a book that will inform—and provoke—like no other.']]> 199 Stephen Hawking 0553805371 Salar 2 I remember that I had quite liked A Brief History of Time. But it was rather difficult for me to keep motivated to finish this one. Maybe one reason is that most of this book's content was already covered in more detail in the other one. Another reason is the lack of details itself. When the authors try to summarize and simplify extremely complicated subjects, such as cosmology and quantum physics, in a relatively short book intended for the average person, they have to cut out some important explanations, without which the rest of the book can seem very confusing and difficult to understand from time to time.]]> 4.07 2010 The Grand Design
author: Stephen Hawking
name: Salar
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2010
rating: 2
read at: 2023/12/14
date added: 2023/12/14
shelves:
review:
I'm not sure if I've lost interest in cosmology and physics in general, or if this book wasn't as interesting as others.
I remember that I had quite liked A Brief History of Time. But it was rather difficult for me to keep motivated to finish this one. Maybe one reason is that most of this book's content was already covered in more detail in the other one. Another reason is the lack of details itself. When the authors try to summarize and simplify extremely complicated subjects, such as cosmology and quantum physics, in a relatively short book intended for the average person, they have to cut out some important explanations, without which the rest of the book can seem very confusing and difficult to understand from time to time.
]]> Deep Work 28383248 296 Cal Newport 0349411905 Salar 4 4.09 2016 Deep Work
author: Cal Newport
name: Salar
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/15
date added: 2023/11/16
shelves:
review:
It's a very useful guide to have more focus and productivity in your life, but of course, since the book focuses only on one particular philosophy, it is a bit radical in its strategies and suggestions.
]]> <![CDATA[A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness, #1)]]> 35606041
On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specializes in disappointments.

Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.

The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another...

]]> 480 Joe Abercrombie 031618716X Salar 3 4.45 2019 A Little Hatred (The Age of Madness, #1)
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2023/10/18
date added: 2023/10/20
shelves:
review:
I'm just waiting for this to come to an end! Not that I don't enjoy it at all, but the fact that it just goes on forever without reaching a definitive conclusion is a bit irritating.
]]> The Woman in the Dunes 12153015 The Woman in the Dunes is the story of an amateur entomologist who wanders alone into a remote seaside village in pursuit of a rare beetle he wants to add to his collection. But the townspeople take him prisoner. They lower him into the sand-pit home of a young widow, a pariah in the poor community, who the villagers have condemned to a life of shoveling back the ever-encroaching dunes that threaten to bury the town. An amazing book.]]> 241 KĹŤbĹŤ Abe Salar 5 3.87 1962 The Woman in the Dunes
author: KĹŤbĹŤ Abe
name: Salar
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1962
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/16
date added: 2023/10/11
shelves:
review:
Strange that I should come across this book exactly when I'm going through changes in life that are so in sync with this story!
]]> Sharp Ends 26030742 Sharp Ends is the ultimate collection of award winning tales and exclusive new short stories from the master of grimdark fantasy, Joe Abercrombie.

Violence explodes, treachery abounds, and the words are as deadly as the weapons in this rogue's gallery of side-shows, back-stories, and sharp endings from the world of the First Law.

The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day single-handed when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta.

Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is.

Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.

And after years of bloodshed, the idealistic chieftain Bethod is desperate to bring peace to the North. There's only one obstacle left -- his own lunatic champion, the most feared man in the North: the Bloody-Nine . . .]]> 304 Joe Abercrombie 031639081X Salar 2
I feel like the story is being overly stretched without proper justification. New characters are constantly being introduced, but after one point in the story, there is no uniqueness to them, especially when it comes to women! I had read a review on one of the previous books regarding the fact that the female characters are all similar and a bit bland. I disagreed with it at the time, but now I see their point. There are only a few interesting and memorable characters in the story and firstly, they are all men, and secondly, they were all introduced in the earlier books. Not to say that the author doesn't pay attention to the development of female characters. In fact, over the last few books, there seems to be more focus on creating main female characters than male ones. Yet, he clearly doesn't put enough effort to differentiate between them and make them unique and interesting.

I hope the story gets better in the future books, and I sincerely hope that it doesn't go on, pointlessly stretching forever like this!]]> 4.12 2016 Sharp Ends
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2023/06/21
date added: 2023/06/22
shelves:
review:
It's starting to get boring and repetitive.

I feel like the story is being overly stretched without proper justification. New characters are constantly being introduced, but after one point in the story, there is no uniqueness to them, especially when it comes to women! I had read a review on one of the previous books regarding the fact that the female characters are all similar and a bit bland. I disagreed with it at the time, but now I see their point. There are only a few interesting and memorable characters in the story and firstly, they are all men, and secondly, they were all introduced in the earlier books. Not to say that the author doesn't pay attention to the development of female characters. In fact, over the last few books, there seems to be more focus on creating main female characters than male ones. Yet, he clearly doesn't put enough effort to differentiate between them and make them unique and interesting.

I hope the story gets better in the future books, and I sincerely hope that it doesn't go on, pointlessly stretching forever like this!
]]> The Stranger 49552 The Stranger has long been considered a classic of twentieth-century literature. Le Monde ranks it as number one on its "100 Books of the Century" list. Through this story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on a sundrenched Algerian beach, Camus explores what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd."]]> 123 Albert Camus Salar 5
There are different aspects to this book that make it so fascinating. But the most important one is the character development. It's one of the key elements to a good story, and the mere existence of character development is not enough, it needs to be done properly, so as to let you get to know the character naturally over time, without feeling forced, and without inconsistency. This story checks all the marks of good character development. In fact, it's all about the main character and his perspective of life. And the character himself is a very interesting one to follow.
I've always been fascinated by two types of characters at two ends of a spectrum; at one end, are those who try their best to take everything in their life under control, they carefully plan everything ahead and pay attention to every single thing they do in their lives to make sure they're doing the right thing. I can sympathize with them and understand them, because in many ways I'm just like them! They have a strict set of moral principles, they know exactly what they want from life, their lives are structured in that way, and they can't afford to risk damaging that structure. If however, some disturbance damages this structure, or even completely destroys it, they are content with starting from scratch and building a new life. Yet I can't help but pity them (and consequently myself)! How they are trapped in the limitations set by themselves, and how deep inside they must feel an urge to break free and do anything they want, and truly live!
Which brings me to the other end of the spectrum. The people who do indeed, truly live! Not necessarily a long life, but a full one nevertheless. These people don't care much about whatever might go wrong. They do almost anything they want, whenever or wherever they want. And it's not like this lifestyle has been decided upon, or planned ahead. They might not even be aware of it, or have ever thought about it. It just comes naturally to them. For them past doesn't matter, because it's over and done with, nor does the future, because it's unpredictable. What does matter is the moment, and what you would like to do at that moment. That's what is so appealing about them. Because once you stop caring about the future or the past, you are no longer bound by the limitations set by the law, the society, or even yourself. You are truly free! It's true that their lives lacks structure and safety, but who's to say that that's of any importance?
These two types of characters appear in many stories, the most prominent one being the novel/movie Papillon.
Monsieur Meursault is another one of those second type characters. He's someone who has grasped and accepted the absurd nature of life, and is not ashamed to admit it. Because why shouldn't he? Since -as he keeps reminding everyone- "it doesn't matter". He goes for anything he feels like doing at the moment. He doesn't care about the future, nor is he bothered by the past. He is not bound by the social etiquette and he dislikes laws and the police for enforcing limitations on the people. He doesn't like religious ideologies trying to give fake meanings to the absurd. He is free, and his freedom is inseparable from him, no matter the odds.

Another important aspect of the book, is the story itself and all the things happening to the main character, which mostly take place in the second part and contain spoilers.
[spoilers removed]]]> 4.04 1942 The Stranger
author: Albert Camus
name: Salar
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1942
rating: 5
read at: 2023/06/15
date added: 2023/06/16
shelves:
review:
One of the best stories I have ever read! The moment I read the first few pages, I knew I was captivated by the story and its main character, yet I didn't think it was as much as to keep me awake all night! It was the first time I pulled an all-nighter to read a book through the end.

There are different aspects to this book that make it so fascinating. But the most important one is the character development. It's one of the key elements to a good story, and the mere existence of character development is not enough, it needs to be done properly, so as to let you get to know the character naturally over time, without feeling forced, and without inconsistency. This story checks all the marks of good character development. In fact, it's all about the main character and his perspective of life. And the character himself is a very interesting one to follow.
I've always been fascinated by two types of characters at two ends of a spectrum; at one end, are those who try their best to take everything in their life under control, they carefully plan everything ahead and pay attention to every single thing they do in their lives to make sure they're doing the right thing. I can sympathize with them and understand them, because in many ways I'm just like them! They have a strict set of moral principles, they know exactly what they want from life, their lives are structured in that way, and they can't afford to risk damaging that structure. If however, some disturbance damages this structure, or even completely destroys it, they are content with starting from scratch and building a new life. Yet I can't help but pity them (and consequently myself)! How they are trapped in the limitations set by themselves, and how deep inside they must feel an urge to break free and do anything they want, and truly live!
Which brings me to the other end of the spectrum. The people who do indeed, truly live! Not necessarily a long life, but a full one nevertheless. These people don't care much about whatever might go wrong. They do almost anything they want, whenever or wherever they want. And it's not like this lifestyle has been decided upon, or planned ahead. They might not even be aware of it, or have ever thought about it. It just comes naturally to them. For them past doesn't matter, because it's over and done with, nor does the future, because it's unpredictable. What does matter is the moment, and what you would like to do at that moment. That's what is so appealing about them. Because once you stop caring about the future or the past, you are no longer bound by the limitations set by the law, the society, or even yourself. You are truly free! It's true that their lives lacks structure and safety, but who's to say that that's of any importance?
These two types of characters appear in many stories, the most prominent one being the novel/movie Papillon.
Monsieur Meursault is another one of those second type characters. He's someone who has grasped and accepted the absurd nature of life, and is not ashamed to admit it. Because why shouldn't he? Since -as he keeps reminding everyone- "it doesn't matter". He goes for anything he feels like doing at the moment. He doesn't care about the future, nor is he bothered by the past. He is not bound by the social etiquette and he dislikes laws and the police for enforcing limitations on the people. He doesn't like religious ideologies trying to give fake meanings to the absurd. He is free, and his freedom is inseparable from him, no matter the odds.

Another important aspect of the book, is the story itself and all the things happening to the main character, which mostly take place in the second part and contain spoilers.
[spoilers removed]
]]> A Tale of Two Cities 1953 A Tale of Two Cities is Charles Dickens’s great historical novel, set against the violent upheaval of the French Revolution. The most famous and perhaps the most popular of his works, it compresses an event of immense complexity to the scale of a family history, with a cast of characters that includes a bloodthirsty ogress and an antihero as believably flawed as any in modern fiction. Though the least typical of the author’s novels, A Tale of Two Cities still underscores many of his enduring themes—imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal.]]> 489 Charles Dickens 0141439602 Salar 5
What I gradually recognized and acknowledged through the experiences of the past year and the vivid story portrayed in this book, is the horrifyingly destructive power of radicalism! Radicalism is a pernicious threat. It grows gradually and slowly underneath your skin. If you do not check up on yourself and those who surround you, you will easily get contaminated. Worse still, for a vast majority of people, it seems only reasonable to get radical in the face of the opposition's radicalism. In fact, it seems essential, vital! This is displayed quite well in Dickens's description of Madame Defarge:

To appeal to her, was made hopeless by her having no sense of pity, even for herself. If she had been laid low in the streets, in any of the many encounters in which she had been engaged, she would not have pitied herself; nor, if she had been ordered to the axe to-morrow, would she have gone to it with any softer feeling than a fierce desire to change places with the man who sent her there.


But this begs the question; To what end are we going to continue this vicious cycle, while the only desire of the oppressed is to change places with that of the oppressor?! What is the price we pay for the changing of places here? Is it worth all the chaos, rage, terror, and bloodshed? And even if we do pay this price, will we get what we really desire?

But these questions are all irrelevant. The main question is; When the rights of the oppressed are violated, their properties stolen, and themselves imprisoned, raped, tortured, and murdered, what else can you expect of them other than pure rage?! How can you reason with them? How can you calm them down once they have nothing left to lose?

Is there a way out of this vicious cycle? I sure do hope so! If there is any solution, it is probably only through hope and patience. But the people's patience is already running thin! I hope it will not be put to the test more than it already has.]]> 3.86 1859 A Tale of Two Cities
author: Charles Dickens
name: Salar
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1859
rating: 5
read at: 2023/06/10
date added: 2023/06/10
shelves:
review:
It was around the starting days of Iran's revolutionary movement last year when I started to read this classic. Back then, a friend told me I had chosen the wrong time to read this novel since it is basically a criticism against revolution! However, I thought a story could not easily change my point of view, but I was prepared to challenge my beliefs. Now that I have finally finished it, it has indeed changed my mind and I am glad to have read it!

What I gradually recognized and acknowledged through the experiences of the past year and the vivid story portrayed in this book, is the horrifyingly destructive power of radicalism! Radicalism is a pernicious threat. It grows gradually and slowly underneath your skin. If you do not check up on yourself and those who surround you, you will easily get contaminated. Worse still, for a vast majority of people, it seems only reasonable to get radical in the face of the opposition's radicalism. In fact, it seems essential, vital! This is displayed quite well in Dickens's description of Madame Defarge:

To appeal to her, was made hopeless by her having no sense of pity, even for herself. If she had been laid low in the streets, in any of the many encounters in which she had been engaged, she would not have pitied herself; nor, if she had been ordered to the axe to-morrow, would she have gone to it with any softer feeling than a fierce desire to change places with the man who sent her there.


But this begs the question; To what end are we going to continue this vicious cycle, while the only desire of the oppressed is to change places with that of the oppressor?! What is the price we pay for the changing of places here? Is it worth all the chaos, rage, terror, and bloodshed? And even if we do pay this price, will we get what we really desire?

But these questions are all irrelevant. The main question is; When the rights of the oppressed are violated, their properties stolen, and themselves imprisoned, raped, tortured, and murdered, what else can you expect of them other than pure rage?! How can you reason with them? How can you calm them down once they have nothing left to lose?

Is there a way out of this vicious cycle? I sure do hope so! If there is any solution, it is probably only through hope and patience. But the people's patience is already running thin! I hope it will not be put to the test more than it already has.
]]> Red Country 13521459 They stole her brother and sister.
But vengeance is following.

Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old step father Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own. And out in the lawless Far Country the past never stays buried.

Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into an alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust . . .
RED COUNTRY takes place in the same world as the First Law trilogy, Best Served Cold, and The Heroes. This novel also sees the return of one of Abercrombie's most beloved characters.]]> 469 Joe Abercrombie 0316214442 Salar 4
I like the fact that the story here is once again, much more personal and focuses more on a distinct group of people who are together and explores the dynamics of their relationships. I feel like Abercrombie is much better at this type of story writing. The characters and what they go through are also much more relatable.

Overall, I found the story very engaging but there was a major flaw in it, which has been there throughout the whole series, but I probably haven't stressed it enough, and that's the predictability of the outcomes. The main characters almost always win, and that makes the story a bit dull! If there are no stakes, there's no excitement. This is even more ridiculous when two of the main characters clash and somehow both survive! I think I can understand the reasons behind this since the writer has put a lot of time into the character's development, and getting rid of that character would be a waste, but it's still unsatisfactory.]]> 4.31 2012 Red Country
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2023/02/16
date added: 2023/03/20
shelves:
review:
Much better than the previous book, but mostly keeps the same flaws.

I like the fact that the story here is once again, much more personal and focuses more on a distinct group of people who are together and explores the dynamics of their relationships. I feel like Abercrombie is much better at this type of story writing. The characters and what they go through are also much more relatable.

Overall, I found the story very engaging but there was a major flaw in it, which has been there throughout the whole series, but I probably haven't stressed it enough, and that's the predictability of the outcomes. The main characters almost always win, and that makes the story a bit dull! If there are no stakes, there's no excitement. This is even more ridiculous when two of the main characters clash and somehow both survive! I think I can understand the reasons behind this since the writer has put a lot of time into the character's development, and getting rid of that character would be a waste, but it's still unsatisfactory.
]]> <![CDATA[Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands]]> 147039 553 Jorge Amado 0307276643 Salar 0 to-read 4.03 1966 Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands
author: Jorge Amado
name: Salar
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1966
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Dom Casmurro 82888 176 Machado de Assis 0850515033 Salar 0 to-read 4.34 1899 Dom Casmurro
author: Machado de Assis
name: Salar
average rating: 4.34
book published: 1899
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Heroes 9300768 581 Joe Abercrombie 0316123358 Salar 3
I thought the last book was only a short break from the main story, and the main characters would return in this book. But apparently, Abercrombie saw the need to go into the details of yet another side story that needed further development. But this time the story wasn't that engaging. The new characters were also not that interesting. Some of them felt a bit more ordinary, and the others felt like copies of the previous characters. Overall, the whole book felt a bit unnecessarily stretched out.

Apart from that, even the writing and storytelling felt a level lower compared to the previous books. The twists, the dialogues, the cheap deaths of characters, the predictability, and the whole underlying story was a bit immature. I sincerely hope the series goes back to its appeal after this.]]> 4.34 2011 The Heroes
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2022/11/29
date added: 2022/11/29
shelves:
review:
The least enjoyable book in the series so far.

I thought the last book was only a short break from the main story, and the main characters would return in this book. But apparently, Abercrombie saw the need to go into the details of yet another side story that needed further development. But this time the story wasn't that engaging. The new characters were also not that interesting. Some of them felt a bit more ordinary, and the others felt like copies of the previous characters. Overall, the whole book felt a bit unnecessarily stretched out.

Apart from that, even the writing and storytelling felt a level lower compared to the previous books. The twists, the dialogues, the cheap deaths of characters, the predictability, and the whole underlying story was a bit immature. I sincerely hope the series goes back to its appeal after this.
]]> The Prince 28862
1. So it is that to know the nature of a people, one need be a Prince; to know the nature of a Prince, one need to be of the people.
2. If a Prince is not given to vices that make him hated, it is unsusal for his subjects to show their affection for him.
3. Opportunity made Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, Theseus, and others; their virtue domi-nated the opportunity, making their homelands noble and happy. Armed prophets win; the disarmed lose.
4. Without faith and religion, man achieves power but not glory.
5. Prominent citizens want to command and oppress; the populace only wants to be free of oppression.
6. A Prince needs a friendly populace; otherwise in diversity there is no hope.
7. A Prince, who rules as a man of valor, avoids disasters,
8. Nations based on mercenary forces will never be solid or secure.
9. Mercenaries are dangerous because of their cowardice
10. There are two ways to fight: one with laws, the other with force. The first is rightly man’s way; the second, the way of beasts.]]> 144 Niccolò Machiavelli 0937832383 Salar 3
It's an interesting and easy read. It can be informative to some extent too. It gives you an insight on the mindset of totalitarian regimes and dictators who have been successful at holding on to power. You get to know the strengths and weaknesses of those at the top. But it's also quite old. It explains many aspects of government that don't exist anymore. Wherever it doesn't go into details and talks generically about power, there's something to be learnt, but it's rather rare.

There's also the notorious callousness of the writer, or his neutrality against moral standards. Which I don't think needs to be considered when criticizing the book, since it claims to be nothing more than a straight forward guide to holding on to power.]]> 3.85 1513 The Prince
author: Niccolò Machiavelli
name: Salar
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1513
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/30
date added: 2022/11/24
shelves:
review:
Interesting, but mostly outdated.

It's an interesting and easy read. It can be informative to some extent too. It gives you an insight on the mindset of totalitarian regimes and dictators who have been successful at holding on to power. You get to know the strengths and weaknesses of those at the top. But it's also quite old. It explains many aspects of government that don't exist anymore. Wherever it doesn't go into details and talks generically about power, there's something to be learnt, but it's rather rare.

There's also the notorious callousness of the writer, or his neutrality against moral standards. Which I don't think needs to be considered when criticizing the book, since it claims to be nothing more than a straight forward guide to holding on to power.
]]> Best Served Cold 2315892
There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.

War may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso's employ, it's a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

Her allies include Styria's least reliable drunkard, Styria's most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a Barbarian who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that's all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started...

Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.]]> 534 Joe Abercrombie 0575082453 Salar 5
It was kind of like the fourth book of ASOIAF, where suddenly the main story goes on a hiatus, you don't hear from the main characters, and instead, new characters, with their own stories, are introduced. Except, this book was even better. It was quite interesting and engaging. Even though it was self contained, it had strong character and story development. The characters were once again, very unique and fascinating.

I like the fact that in order to make further progress in the story, Abercrombie saw the need to introduce us to a new area of this fantasy world and its unique characters, and he did it properly.]]> 4.24 2009 Best Served Cold
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2022/08/16
date added: 2022/11/24
shelves:
review:
Detaching from the main story, yet still going strong.

It was kind of like the fourth book of ASOIAF, where suddenly the main story goes on a hiatus, you don't hear from the main characters, and instead, new characters, with their own stories, are introduced. Except, this book was even better. It was quite interesting and engaging. Even though it was self contained, it had strong character and story development. The characters were once again, very unique and fascinating.

I like the fact that in order to make further progress in the story, Abercrombie saw the need to introduce us to a new area of this fantasy world and its unique characters, and he did it properly.
]]> <![CDATA[12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos]]> 30257963 What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.

Humorous, surprising, and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.

What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant, and vengeful? Dr. Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its listeners.]]> 409 Jordan B. Peterson 0345816021 Salar 3
I had planned to write a lengthy and in-depth review for this book, but given the horrible circumstances during the last two months, I haven't yet had the time nor have I been in the mood to do so. And now it's been so long since I've finished it, that I don't remember much of the details I had in mind to write about, but I can still give an overview of my thoughts on it.

First off, it must be acknowledged that one cannot review and criticize 12RFL without directly criticizing Peterson himself. This book is known as the prominent collection of Peterson's ideas, and an overall look on his mindset. And the book is almost just as controversial as Peterson himself.

Even though he always denies it, and claims that he's a centrist, Peterson definitely follows a right-leaning agenda. But since polarity usually tends to extremism and black/white thinking, people tend to be either on the right wing, and seeing Peterson as an absolute righteous open-minded intellectual. Or they are on the left wing, and see Peterson as a right wing extremist and a white supremacist who deserves nothing but condemnation. I, however, see Peterson as an insightful critic of the left. No more, no less. Of course, he has certain ideas that I find stupid. He is also too arrogant, self-righteous, and a bit aggressive. He is not perfect, but that doesn't mean that he should be ignored. Ignoring people like Peterson by the left, is a grave mistake. Peterson's criticisms of the left are usually on-point, but because of his aggressive and self-righteous style, instead of being listened to, he only gets hatred. I sincerely believe the leftists need to approach Peterson more open-mindedly, and take him more seriously.

This book is no exception. In fact, it's a prime example of what I just described. There are 12 chapters, some of them contain really valuable wisdom, some of them stupid traditional ideologies, and some of them both. But I, as a reader, shall gain the wisdom and ignore the preaching. And it truly is "preaching"! In almost all instances where he tries to justify an ideology, he does so with some oversentimental and cringe-worthy final words at the end of a chapter, which only serves to make the already unacceptable idea more repulsive.

Overall however, I must admit that I learned a lot from this book. I had a few moments of awe while reading it, where I realized I had never seen life, or a certain aspect of it from that particular perspective. Therefore I truly recommend this book, especially to my leftist friends. I know that sometimes you will get so angry at Peterson, but if you keep an open mind, you will gain a lot.

I was oscillating back and forth between giving it a 2 or a 3 star rating while reading. It definitely neither deserves a 1 nor a 4, but since a 0 star rating is not possible, I will consider 3 as the midpoint and give it a 3.

p.s: Despite being -once again- very sentimental, I truly liked the last chapter. It was simple, yet I felt like it clarified lots of Peterson's ideas and the motivations behind them. It helped me forgive some of the content I had found stupid earlier. And we all know how valuable a good ending can be in a book. This is a quote which I really liked from the final chapter:
"When you love someone, it's not despite their limitations. It's because of their limitations."
]]> 3.90 2018 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
author: Jordan B. Peterson
name: Salar
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/25
date added: 2022/11/16
shelves:
review:
Full of ideas I disagree with, yet still very informative and insightful.

I had planned to write a lengthy and in-depth review for this book, but given the horrible circumstances during the last two months, I haven't yet had the time nor have I been in the mood to do so. And now it's been so long since I've finished it, that I don't remember much of the details I had in mind to write about, but I can still give an overview of my thoughts on it.

First off, it must be acknowledged that one cannot review and criticize 12RFL without directly criticizing Peterson himself. This book is known as the prominent collection of Peterson's ideas, and an overall look on his mindset. And the book is almost just as controversial as Peterson himself.

Even though he always denies it, and claims that he's a centrist, Peterson definitely follows a right-leaning agenda. But since polarity usually tends to extremism and black/white thinking, people tend to be either on the right wing, and seeing Peterson as an absolute righteous open-minded intellectual. Or they are on the left wing, and see Peterson as a right wing extremist and a white supremacist who deserves nothing but condemnation. I, however, see Peterson as an insightful critic of the left. No more, no less. Of course, he has certain ideas that I find stupid. He is also too arrogant, self-righteous, and a bit aggressive. He is not perfect, but that doesn't mean that he should be ignored. Ignoring people like Peterson by the left, is a grave mistake. Peterson's criticisms of the left are usually on-point, but because of his aggressive and self-righteous style, instead of being listened to, he only gets hatred. I sincerely believe the leftists need to approach Peterson more open-mindedly, and take him more seriously.

This book is no exception. In fact, it's a prime example of what I just described. There are 12 chapters, some of them contain really valuable wisdom, some of them stupid traditional ideologies, and some of them both. But I, as a reader, shall gain the wisdom and ignore the preaching. And it truly is "preaching"! In almost all instances where he tries to justify an ideology, he does so with some oversentimental and cringe-worthy final words at the end of a chapter, which only serves to make the already unacceptable idea more repulsive.

Overall however, I must admit that I learned a lot from this book. I had a few moments of awe while reading it, where I realized I had never seen life, or a certain aspect of it from that particular perspective. Therefore I truly recommend this book, especially to my leftist friends. I know that sometimes you will get so angry at Peterson, but if you keep an open mind, you will gain a lot.

I was oscillating back and forth between giving it a 2 or a 3 star rating while reading. It definitely neither deserves a 1 nor a 4, but since a 0 star rating is not possible, I will consider 3 as the midpoint and give it a 3.

p.s: Despite being -once again- very sentimental, I truly liked the last chapter. It was simple, yet I felt like it clarified lots of Peterson's ideas and the motivations behind them. It helped me forgive some of the content I had found stupid earlier. And we all know how valuable a good ending can be in a book. This is a quote which I really liked from the final chapter:
"When you love someone, it's not despite their limitations. It's because of their limitations."

]]> We 76171 The exhilarating dystopian novel that inspired George Orwell's 1984 and foreshadowed the worst excesses of Soviet Russia

Yevgeny Zamyatin's We is a powerfully inventive vision that has influenced writers from George Orwell to Ayn Rand. In a glass-enclosed city of absolute straight lines, ruled over by the all-powerful 'Benefactor', the citizens of the totalitarian society of OneState live out lives devoid of passion and creativity - until D-503, a mathematician who dreams in numbers, makes a discovery: he has an individual soul. Set in the twenty-sixth century AD, We is the classic dystopian novel and was the forerunner of works such as George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. It was suppressed for many years in Russia and remains a resounding cry for individual freedom, yet is also a powerful, exciting and vivid work of science fiction. Clarence Brown's brilliant translation is based on the corrected text of the novel, first published in Russia in 1988 after more than sixty years' suppression.]]> 256 Yevgeny Zamyatin 0140185852 Salar 0 to-read 3.91 1924 We
author: Yevgeny Zamyatin
name: Salar
average rating: 3.91
book published: 1924
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/10/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, #1)]]> 45047384
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.]]> 394 T.J. Klune Salar 0 to-read 4.37 2020 The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, #1)
author: T.J. Klune
name: Salar
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/07/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Last Argument of Kings (The First Law, #3)]]> 944076
Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him, but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only one man who can stop him. His oldest friend, and his oldest enemy: it's time for the Bloody-Nine to come home.

With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no-one is safe, and no-one can be trusted. And, as his days with a sword are far behind him, it's fortunate that he's deadly with his remaining weapons: threats, blackmail and torture.

Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is too painful an undertaking and turned his back on soldiering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too � and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on a man when he least expects it.

While the King of the Union lies on his deathbead, the peasants revolt and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No-one believes that the shadow of war is about to fall across the heart of the Union. Only the First of the Magi has a plan to save the world � as he always does � but this time there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, after all, than to break the First Law...]]> 536 Joe Abercrombie 0575077905 Salar 5
Seriously, I don't know how it can get any better from this point on. I feel like both the story and the writing have matured. The catchphrases and the immature plot twists are less frequent now. The underlying plot of the story has only just started to reveal itself, and more importantly, parts of the story that didn't make sense before, are now perfectly justified. And I love the fact that there is indeed an underlying coherent plot, connecting everything together, which apparently has been well thought of beforehand, instead of having been made up along the way.

On the surface, the whole story, the characters, their motives and the dynamics of their relationships seem very simple and easy to understand. Yet, under more scrutiny, there are many sophisticated and intricate details. Nothing is black and white, there is no absolute good and bad, not every incidence necessarily has a significant consequence. This makes the whole story all the more natural, and the characters more relatable.

And once again, I cannot simply leave out Steven Pacey's magnificent narration! The fact that he can perform a very unique voice for every single character and for every emotion they express, is astonishing!]]> 4.35 2008 Last Argument of Kings (The First Law, #3)
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2022/06/08
date added: 2022/06/10
shelves:
review:
Now I'm totally in love with the story!

Seriously, I don't know how it can get any better from this point on. I feel like both the story and the writing have matured. The catchphrases and the immature plot twists are less frequent now. The underlying plot of the story has only just started to reveal itself, and more importantly, parts of the story that didn't make sense before, are now perfectly justified. And I love the fact that there is indeed an underlying coherent plot, connecting everything together, which apparently has been well thought of beforehand, instead of having been made up along the way.

On the surface, the whole story, the characters, their motives and the dynamics of their relationships seem very simple and easy to understand. Yet, under more scrutiny, there are many sophisticated and intricate details. Nothing is black and white, there is no absolute good and bad, not every incidence necessarily has a significant consequence. This makes the whole story all the more natural, and the characters more relatable.

And once again, I cannot simply leave out Steven Pacey's magnificent narration! The fact that he can perform a very unique voice for every single character and for every emotion they express, is astonishing!
]]> <![CDATA[Dancer's Lament (Path to Ascendancy, #1)]]> 25480364
For ages warfare has crippled the continent as minor city states, baronies, and principalities fought in an endless round of hostilities. Only the alliance of the rival Tali and Quon cities could field the resources to mount a hegemony from coast to coast -- and thus become known as Quon Tali.

It is a generation since the collapse of this dynasty and regional powers are once more rousing themselves. Into this arena of renewed border wars come two youths to the powerful central city state that is Li Heng. One is named Dorin, and he comes determined to prove himself the most skilled assassin of his age; he is chasing the other youth -- a Dal Hon mage who has proven himself annoyingly difficult to kill.

Li Heng has been guided and warded for centuries by the powerful sorceress known as the "Protectress", and she allows no rivals. She and her cabal of five mage servants were enough to repel the Quon Tali Iron Legions -- what could two youths hope to accomplish under their stifling rule?

Yet under the new and ambitious King Chulalorn the Third, Itko Kan is on the march from the south. He sends his own assassin servants, the Nightblades, against the city, and there are hints that he also commands inhuman forces out of legend.

While above all, shadows swirl oddly about Li Heng, and monstrous slathering beasts seem to appear from nowhere to run howling through the street. It is a time of chaos and upheaval, and in chaos, as the young Dal Hon mage would say, there is opportunity.]]> 416 Ian C. Esslemont 0765379457 Salar 0 to-read 4.35 2016 Dancer's Lament (Path to Ascendancy, #1)
author: Ian C. Esslemont
name: Salar
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/05/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Master and Margarita 117833 The first complete, annotated English Translation of Mikhail Bulgakov's comic masterpiece.

An audacious revision of the stories of Faust and Pontius Pilate, The Master and Margarita is recognized as one of the essential classics of modern Russian literature. The novel's vision of Soviet life in the 1930s is so ferociously accurate that it could not be published during its author's lifetime and appeared only in a censored edition in the 1960s. Its truths are so enduring that its language has become part of the common Russian speech.

One hot spring, the devil arrives in Moscow, accompanied by a retinue that includes a beautiful naked witch and an immense talking black cat with a fondness for chess and vodka. The visitors quickly wreak havoc in a city that refuses to believe in either God or Satan. But they also bring peace to two unhappy Muscovites: one is the Master, a writer pilloried for daring to write a novel about Christ and Pontius Pilate; the other is Margarita, who loves the Master so deeply that she is willing literally to go to hell for him. What ensues is a novel of inexhaustible energy, humor, and philosophical depth, a work whose nuances emerge for the first time in Diana Burgin's and Katherine Tiernan O'Connor's splendid English version.]]> 372 Mikhail Bulgakov 0679760806 Salar 0 to-read 4.31 1967 The Master and Margarita
author: Mikhail Bulgakov
name: Salar
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1967
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/05/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2)]]> 902715
Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem � he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world.

And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a perilous mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, but a deadly one. They might even stand a chance of saving mankind from the Eaters. If they didn't hate each other quite so much.

Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven � but not before they are hanged.]]> 441 Joe Abercrombie 0575077883 Salar 4
It's not quite perfect, but it's pretty interesting and engaging. I love the gradual development of characters and the dynamics between them, specially in this book. What I don't like however, is how sometimes the story gets a bit immature. Like when someone says something like "Oh there's no way you can do that!", "Ha ha! You think that can happen? You think you can do that?" and then the person in question proceeds to do the exact extraordinary thing! It sounds very exaggerated, unnecessary and silly. Or when at times the lead characters are stuck in an extremely difficult situation, and right when all hope is lost and they are about to lose everything or die, somehow miraculously they get rescued, helped or just get lucky. The catchphrases of the characters can also become annoying from time to time with excessive use. But these minor shortcomings are about as bad as the story can get. Other than that, it's quite a well written story. Well narrated too! Steven Pacey's narration is one of the best performances I've ever heard. He can get every character's voice, character and mood perfectly right.]]> 4.35 2007 Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2)
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/27
date added: 2022/04/29
shelves:
review:
I'm starting to really like this series

It's not quite perfect, but it's pretty interesting and engaging. I love the gradual development of characters and the dynamics between them, specially in this book. What I don't like however, is how sometimes the story gets a bit immature. Like when someone says something like "Oh there's no way you can do that!", "Ha ha! You think that can happen? You think you can do that?" and then the person in question proceeds to do the exact extraordinary thing! It sounds very exaggerated, unnecessary and silly. Or when at times the lead characters are stuck in an extremely difficult situation, and right when all hope is lost and they are about to lose everything or die, somehow miraculously they get rescued, helped or just get lucky. The catchphrases of the characters can also become annoying from time to time with excessive use. But these minor shortcomings are about as bad as the story can get. Other than that, it's quite a well written story. Well narrated too! Steven Pacey's narration is one of the best performances I've ever heard. He can get every character's voice, character and mood perfectly right.
]]> <![CDATA[The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)]]> 944073
Nobleman Captain Jezal dan Luthar, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glokta a whole lot more difficult.

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood.

]]> 515 Joe Abercrombie 0575079797 Salar 4
I didn't know what to expect from an audiobook series I barely knew about, and I wasn't disappointed. At first the whole atmosphere of the story felt like A Song of Ice and Fire, which is brilliant, because I loved that story and its narration, and there's no telling how long it will take for G.R.R Martin to finally release the next book. As the story progressed though, I realized that it mostly focuses on the mystical and fantastic aspects of its imaginary world, and it's more action packed with more frequent combat. On the other hand, it seems to lack the sophistications of political and social dynamics found in ASOIAF. Which turns it into a simpler and obviously much shorter story.

I'm not complaining though. There's no reason to compare it to ASOIAF, and I will try not to, at least not in rating it. The story is pretty interesting and engaging. I like the creativity with different aspects of its world and characters, and the characters are thought through and well developed. Though it did have more than a few seemingly unnecessary expositions, and the whole story wasn't really awe-inspiring. I don't know, maybe I'm a bit prejudiced and still compare it to ASOIAF, but I just can't bring myself to give 5 stars.

I'm still looking forward to continuing the series though. This was a good start.

P.S: Loved Steven Pacey's narration in this book. The quest for finding good audiobooks still goes strong.]]> 4.21 2006 The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1)
author: Joe Abercrombie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/09
date added: 2022/04/09
shelves:
review:
A good enough substitute for ASOIAF

I didn't know what to expect from an audiobook series I barely knew about, and I wasn't disappointed. At first the whole atmosphere of the story felt like A Song of Ice and Fire, which is brilliant, because I loved that story and its narration, and there's no telling how long it will take for G.R.R Martin to finally release the next book. As the story progressed though, I realized that it mostly focuses on the mystical and fantastic aspects of its imaginary world, and it's more action packed with more frequent combat. On the other hand, it seems to lack the sophistications of political and social dynamics found in ASOIAF. Which turns it into a simpler and obviously much shorter story.

I'm not complaining though. There's no reason to compare it to ASOIAF, and I will try not to, at least not in rating it. The story is pretty interesting and engaging. I like the creativity with different aspects of its world and characters, and the characters are thought through and well developed. Though it did have more than a few seemingly unnecessary expositions, and the whole story wasn't really awe-inspiring. I don't know, maybe I'm a bit prejudiced and still compare it to ASOIAF, but I just can't bring myself to give 5 stars.

I'm still looking forward to continuing the series though. This was a good start.

P.S: Loved Steven Pacey's narration in this book. The quest for finding good audiobooks still goes strong.
]]> When Nietzsche Wept 21031
Josef Breuer, one of the founding fathers of psychoanalysis, is at the height of his career. Friedrich Nietzsche, Europe's greatest philosopher, is on the brink of suicidal despair, unable to find a cure for the headaches and other ailments that plague him. When he agrees to treat Nietzsche with his experimental "talking cure", Breuer never expects that he, too, will find solace in their sessions. Only through facing his own inner demons can the gifted healer begin to help his patient.

In When Nietzsche Wept, Irvin Yalom blends fact and fiction, atmosphere and suspense to unfold an unforgettable story about the redemptive power of friendship.]]> 310 Irvin D. Yalom 0060748125 Salar 0 to-read 4.36 1992 When Nietzsche Wept
author: Irvin D. Yalom
name: Salar
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1992
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Jean-Christophe, Vol. 1 73322 556 Romain Rolland 1419127381 Salar 0 to-read 4.19 1905 Jean-Christophe, Vol. 1
author: Romain Rolland
name: Salar
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1905
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Enchanted Soul 17336864 ]]> Romain Rolland Salar 0 to-read 4.23 1921 The Enchanted Soul
author: Romain Rolland
name: Salar
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1921
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Papillon 6882
Charrière's astonishing autobiography, Papillon, was published in France to instant acclaim in 1968, more than twenty years after his final escape. Since then, it has become a treasured classic -- the gripping, shocking, ultimately uplifting odyssey of an innocent man who simply would not be defeated.]]> 544 Henri Charrière 0061120669 Salar 0 to-read 4.22 1969 Papillon
author: Henri Charrière
name: Salar
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1969
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> منگی 20261703
ÚŮئل اŮÚŻŮ„ŮŮ (۱۹۷۰) پس از تحصیل در رشته‌Ű� سینما، به Ůیلمنامه‌نŮŰŚŘłŰ� رŮŰŚâ€� آŮرد، اما اکنŮن Ř®ŮŘŻ را Ůق٠نŮشتن کرده است. اŮلین رمان اŮŘŚ ادمŮند گانگلیŮن ٠پسر، ŘŞŮجه منتقدان را به Ř®ŮŘŻ جلب کرد ٠در سال ۱۹۹۹ برنده‌Ű� جایزه‌Ű� الن ŮŮرنیه Ř´ŘŻ. اثر حاضر، یا رمان منگی ا٠نیز در سال ۲۰۰۵ جایزه‌Ű� Ů„ŰŚŮرانتر را دریاŮŘŞ کرد.]]> 112 JoĂ«l Egloff 9643699374 Salar 5
با این که Ůاقعا تاریک بŮŘŻŘŚ داستان خیلی جذابی بŮŘŻ برام. از سبک Ř´Ůخی‌هŘ� هم خیلی Ů„Ř°ŘŞ بردم. در Ú©Ů„ بیشتر داستان یه ج٠ناراحت کننده‌اŰ� داشت، یه بخش‌هایŰ� داشت که Ůاقعا تا ته قلبت Ůر٠میرŮŘŞ! ŮŮ„ŰŚ Ůسط این‌هŘ� که یه٠یه Ř´Ůخی میکرد Ůاقعا خندم میگرŮŘŞŘŚ با این که خیلی سخت Ů…ŮŮ‚Řą کتاب Ř®Ůندن خندم میگیره. Ř­ŘŞŰŚ لحن بیان داستانشم ت٠این Ůضای ŘŞŮ„Ř® ٠تاریک، لحن شیرینی بŮŘŻ.

اŮŮ„Ř´ نقدی که بهش داشتم این بŮŘŻ که انتظار داشتم ŰŚÚ©Ů… بیشتر Ů…Ř­ŘŞŮا داشته باشه، ŰŚÚ©Ů… "داستان" داشته باشه، یا حرŮŰŚ برا ÚŻŮتن داشته باشه. ŮŮ„ŰŚ بیشتر که راجع بهش Ůکر کردم ŘŻŰŚŘŻŮ… اصلا اصل داستان همینه! این که انتظار داشته باشم "Ů…Ř­ŘŞŮای" بیشتری داشته باشه، عملا اصل داستان ر٠زیر ŘłŮال بردم.

نکته‌Ű� آخر هم این که Ú©Ů„ŰŚ دنبال ترجمه‌Ű� انگلیسیش ÚŻŘ´ŘŞŮ… تا بالاخره Ůهمیدم اصلا به انگلیسی ترجمه نشده! حالا بعد از Ř®Ůندن داستان Ů…ŰŚŮهمم طبیعیه که درک چنین داستانی برای ایرانی‌هŘ� احتمالا خیلی راحت‌تŘ� از غربی‌هاسŘ�! (آره غر میزنم، ŮŮ„ŰŚ خب حقیقته)]]> 3.77 2005 منگی
author: Joël Egloff
name: Salar
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 2022/03/15
date added: 2022/03/16
shelves:
review:
طنز شدیدا تلخ، ŘŞŮ Ůضای شدیدا تاریک (به معنی Ůاقعی کلمه)ŘŚ مستغرق در بیشترین حجمی از آرایه‌Ű� اغراق که ت٠تاریخ بشر دیده شده!

با این که Ůاقعا تاریک بŮŘŻŘŚ داستان خیلی جذابی بŮŘŻ برام. از سبک Ř´Ůخی‌هŘ� هم خیلی Ů„Ř°ŘŞ بردم. در Ú©Ů„ بیشتر داستان یه ج٠ناراحت کننده‌اŰ� داشت، یه بخش‌هایŰ� داشت که Ůاقعا تا ته قلبت Ůر٠میرŮŘŞ! ŮŮ„ŰŚ Ůسط این‌هŘ� که یه٠یه Ř´Ůخی میکرد Ůاقعا خندم میگرŮŘŞŘŚ با این که خیلی سخت Ů…ŮŮ‚Řą کتاب Ř®Ůندن خندم میگیره. Ř­ŘŞŰŚ لحن بیان داستانشم ت٠این Ůضای ŘŞŮ„Ř® ٠تاریک، لحن شیرینی بŮŘŻ.

اŮŮ„Ř´ نقدی که بهش داشتم این بŮŘŻ که انتظار داشتم ŰŚÚ©Ů… بیشتر Ů…Ř­ŘŞŮا داشته باشه، ŰŚÚ©Ů… "داستان" داشته باشه، یا حرŮŰŚ برا ÚŻŮتن داشته باشه. ŮŮ„ŰŚ بیشتر که راجع بهش Ůکر کردم ŘŻŰŚŘŻŮ… اصلا اصل داستان همینه! این که انتظار داشته باشم "Ů…Ř­ŘŞŮای" بیشتری داشته باشه، عملا اصل داستان ر٠زیر ŘłŮال بردم.

نکته‌Ű� آخر هم این که Ú©Ů„ŰŚ دنبال ترجمه‌Ű� انگلیسیش ÚŻŘ´ŘŞŮ… تا بالاخره Ůهمیدم اصلا به انگلیسی ترجمه نشده! حالا بعد از Ř®Ůندن داستان Ů…ŰŚŮهمم طبیعیه که درک چنین داستانی برای ایرانی‌هŘ� احتمالا خیلی راحت‌تŘ� از غربی‌هاسŘ�! (آره غر میزنم، ŮŮ„ŰŚ خب حقیقته)
]]> <![CDATA[The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships Are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust]]> 51285819 An original look at how to foster connections, attachment, and resiliency, showing that working through discord is the key to better relationships.
You might think that perfect harmony is the defining characteristic of healthy relationships, but the truth is that human interactions are messy, complicated, and confusing. And according to renowned psychologist Ed Tronick and pediatrician Claudia Gold, that is not only OK, it is actually crucial to our social and emotional development. In The Power of Discord they show how working through the inevitable dissonance of human connection is the path to better relationships with romantic partners, family, friends, and colleagues.

Dr. Tronick was one of the first researchers to show that babies are profoundly affected by their parents' emotions and behavior via "The Still-Face Experiment." His work, which brought about a foundational shift in our understanding of human development, shows that our highly evolved sense of self makes us separate, yet our survival depends on connection. And so we approximate, iteratively learning about one another's desires and intentions, and gaining confidence in the process as we correct the mistakes and misunderstandings that arise.

Working through the volley of mismatch and repair in everyday life helps us form deep, lasting, trusting relationships, resilience in times of stress and trauma, and a solid sense of self in the world. Drawing on Dr. Tronick's research and Dr. Gold's clinical experience, The Power of Discord is a refreshing and original look at our ability to relate to others and to ourselves.
]]> 288 Ed Tronick 0316488879 Salar 0 to-read 4.14 2020 The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships Are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust
author: Ed Tronick
name: Salar
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/03/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Brave New World 23347204
Far in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx seems alone harbouring an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his distress...

Huxley's ingenious fantasy of the future sheds a blazing light on the present and is considered to be his most enduring masterpiece.]]> 229 Aldous Huxley 1784870145 Salar 2 Brilliant ideas, terrible execution.

I've been struggling to decide whether I should give this 2 or 3 stars. The ideas that have led to Huxley's creative utopia/dystopia are astonishing. Some of them represent very likely and realistic projections of the future and -to some extent- even the present! And the fact that the story was written almost a century ago, just adds to the astonishment. The strive for social, economical and political stability, for reducing craving, passion, longing, for individualism and disintegration of colonial and family life, for keeping people constantly distracted, amused and "happy", for keeping consumerism as the ultimate goal, for the elimination of using force in controlling the people, and instead using slow, persistent and much more potent manipulative methods, are all very realistic prophecies for which Huxley deserves the utmost respect. The problem however, is that I just can't get over how terrible the story is!

You usually come across this kind of problem in sci-fi movies, and it's no wonder, since BNW is in itself, kind of a sci-fi story. The problem goes like this; the writer comes up with a brilliant idea, which can be easily described in a short story book/movie/animation. The idea by itself is very good, but in order to turn it into a longer story, one needs much more talent and creativity. Unfortunately though, many writers take the raw idea, and without adding anything of value, stretch it out to a much longer story. The prime example of this is the movie In Time, or a much longer one, the TV series Westworld. Brilliant ideas, terrible execution, and too much unnecessary stretch.

From the very beginning, it is apparent that Huxley is trying to criticize his imaginative world, which he believes the humanity is going towards. But his criticisms are only menial attempts at mocking the system! How can you convince anyone with a criticism in a derisive tone, without even trying to be logical?! Of course, one might argue that "logic" is the very foundation of this dystopia and you don't stand a chance against it with logic. While that is true, there are still problems with it. First of all, since this world is based on logic and science, it can be strongly defended against all criticisms, and Huxley was obligated to do so, to play all the cards in defending this dystopia, in order to show that even the most perfect world still seems a little bit off, uncanny, unsettling. But instead he doesn't miss a single chance in trying to mock the system by displaying its conforming subjects as utterly stupid and sometimes evil! And secondly, at times Huxley does seem to be trying to convey his criticisms not through logic, but through empathy and emotion. But all these attempts turn out to be bland forms of melodramatic sentimentalism, lacking any emotional or artistic aesthetic.

Even before starting to read, I was ready to be disappointed. I knew that trying to criticize a world which has been built to keep everybody happy and content, is a very difficult problem to tackle. Even the greatest philosophers might not be able to convince you against such a world, and it possibly demands great literary talent. Unfortunately however, this book turned out to be even lower than my already low expectations, and so I can't recommend it.]]> 3.80 1932 Brave New World
author: Aldous Huxley
name: Salar
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1932
rating: 2
read at: 2022/03/07
date added: 2022/03/08
shelves:
review:
Brilliant ideas, terrible execution.

I've been struggling to decide whether I should give this 2 or 3 stars. The ideas that have led to Huxley's creative utopia/dystopia are astonishing. Some of them represent very likely and realistic projections of the future and -to some extent- even the present! And the fact that the story was written almost a century ago, just adds to the astonishment. The strive for social, economical and political stability, for reducing craving, passion, longing, for individualism and disintegration of colonial and family life, for keeping people constantly distracted, amused and "happy", for keeping consumerism as the ultimate goal, for the elimination of using force in controlling the people, and instead using slow, persistent and much more potent manipulative methods, are all very realistic prophecies for which Huxley deserves the utmost respect. The problem however, is that I just can't get over how terrible the story is!

You usually come across this kind of problem in sci-fi movies, and it's no wonder, since BNW is in itself, kind of a sci-fi story. The problem goes like this; the writer comes up with a brilliant idea, which can be easily described in a short story book/movie/animation. The idea by itself is very good, but in order to turn it into a longer story, one needs much more talent and creativity. Unfortunately though, many writers take the raw idea, and without adding anything of value, stretch it out to a much longer story. The prime example of this is the movie In Time, or a much longer one, the TV series Westworld. Brilliant ideas, terrible execution, and too much unnecessary stretch.

From the very beginning, it is apparent that Huxley is trying to criticize his imaginative world, which he believes the humanity is going towards. But his criticisms are only menial attempts at mocking the system! How can you convince anyone with a criticism in a derisive tone, without even trying to be logical?! Of course, one might argue that "logic" is the very foundation of this dystopia and you don't stand a chance against it with logic. While that is true, there are still problems with it. First of all, since this world is based on logic and science, it can be strongly defended against all criticisms, and Huxley was obligated to do so, to play all the cards in defending this dystopia, in order to show that even the most perfect world still seems a little bit off, uncanny, unsettling. But instead he doesn't miss a single chance in trying to mock the system by displaying its conforming subjects as utterly stupid and sometimes evil! And secondly, at times Huxley does seem to be trying to convey his criticisms not through logic, but through empathy and emotion. But all these attempts turn out to be bland forms of melodramatic sentimentalism, lacking any emotional or artistic aesthetic.

Even before starting to read, I was ready to be disappointed. I knew that trying to criticize a world which has been built to keep everybody happy and content, is a very difficult problem to tackle. Even the greatest philosophers might not be able to convince you against such a world, and it possibly demands great literary talent. Unfortunately however, this book turned out to be even lower than my already low expectations, and so I can't recommend it.
]]> A Monster Calls 25480342 The bestselling novel about love, loss and hope from the twice Carnegie Medal-winning Patrick Ness.

Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don't quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there's a visitor at his window. It's ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of mischief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive.]]> 237 Patrick Ness 1406361801 Salar 5
Now first of all, I'm glad to say that on my quest to find good audiobooks, so far I've been on the right track. This was yet another brilliant performance in narration, this time by none other than Mr. Jason Isaacs. I heard from someone on BookTube that he's a really good narrator, and fortunately, among his narrations, this great story was the first one I found.

Back to the story itself, it describes a teenager's life as he goes through the trauma of having lost his father through a divorce and being about to lose his mother through cancer. I cannot even describe how perfectly this story is told, the psychological difficulties Conor faces, the attitude of people toward him and his response to them, the way in which the monster represents his motives and what he's going through, all the intricate subtleties, all the natural elements are done exactly right. I also absolutely loved the ending, the beautifully told message, the enormous psychological catharsis you get once you learn to be honest with yourself, it's a perfect sum up to a perfect story.

At times during the first half, the story reminded me of The Bridge to Terabithia, and during the second half it was a reminiscent of The Fountain, two stories which happen to be just as touching and emotionally powerful as this one. And speaking of stories, I should point out that the three stories told in the book felt somewhat out of place, they didn't quite fit and kind of seemed unnecessary. As Patrick Ness said himself, he did have Siobhan Dowd's initial pieces of the story and tried to continue from where she had left off, and the fact that there had to be three stories within the story comes from these initial drafts. Of course the final product turned out to be a marvelous story and I'm so glad that he decided to this, but the three stories do feel a bit forced unto the story.]]> 4.28 2011 A Monster Calls
author: Patrick Ness
name: Salar
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2022/02/17
date added: 2022/02/17
shelves:
review:
Oooooh the feels! Honestly, at a few points during the story, I was almost about to burst out crying!

Now first of all, I'm glad to say that on my quest to find good audiobooks, so far I've been on the right track. This was yet another brilliant performance in narration, this time by none other than Mr. Jason Isaacs. I heard from someone on BookTube that he's a really good narrator, and fortunately, among his narrations, this great story was the first one I found.

Back to the story itself, it describes a teenager's life as he goes through the trauma of having lost his father through a divorce and being about to lose his mother through cancer. I cannot even describe how perfectly this story is told, the psychological difficulties Conor faces, the attitude of people toward him and his response to them, the way in which the monster represents his motives and what he's going through, all the intricate subtleties, all the natural elements are done exactly right. I also absolutely loved the ending, the beautifully told message, the enormous psychological catharsis you get once you learn to be honest with yourself, it's a perfect sum up to a perfect story.

At times during the first half, the story reminded me of The Bridge to Terabithia, and during the second half it was a reminiscent of The Fountain, two stories which happen to be just as touching and emotionally powerful as this one. And speaking of stories, I should point out that the three stories told in the book felt somewhat out of place, they didn't quite fit and kind of seemed unnecessary. As Patrick Ness said himself, he did have Siobhan Dowd's initial pieces of the story and tried to continue from where she had left off, and the fact that there had to be three stories within the story comes from these initial drafts. Of course the final product turned out to be a marvelous story and I'm so glad that he decided to this, but the three stories do feel a bit forced unto the story.
]]> <![CDATA[The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)]]> 222910 Alternate Cover Edition ISBN 0345296060 (ISBN13: 9780345296061)

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin—alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.]]> 447 J.R.R. Tolkien Salar 3 4.57 1954 The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Salar
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1954
rating: 3
read at: 2021/08/13
date added: 2022/02/03
shelves:
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Once again, the story seems to improve over time! The problem that I had with the characters being "too good" and one-dimensional has -at least to some extent- ceased away. The humorous interactions between Gimli and Legolas are very sweet, which was one of my favorite aspects of the movies as well. The characters of Sam and Gollum and their relationship are also interesting to follow.
]]> The Little Prince 157993
Few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince, presented here in a stunning new translation with carefully restored artwork. The definitive edition of a worldwide classic, it will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.]]> 96 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 0152023984 Salar 0 to-read 4.32 1943 The Little Prince
author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
name: Salar
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1943
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> The Kite Runner 77203 371 Khaled Hosseini 159463193X Salar 0 to-read 4.34 2003 The Kite Runner
author: Khaled Hosseini
name: Salar
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2003
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Pride and Prejudice 1885 Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780679783268]]> 279 Jane Austen 1441341706 Salar 0 to-read 4.28 1813 Pride and Prejudice
author: Jane Austen
name: Salar
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1813
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/03
shelves: to-read
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]]> A Little Life 22822858
Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride.ĚýYet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, by midlife a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he’ll not only be unable to overcome—but that will define his life forever.]]> 720 Hanya Yanagihara 0385539258 Salar 0 to-read 4.28 2015 A Little Life
author: Hanya Yanagihara
name: Salar
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> The Secret History 29044 559 Donna Tartt 1400031702 Salar 0 to-read 4.17 1992 The Secret History
author: Donna Tartt
name: Salar
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1992
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Frankenstein: The 1818 Text 35031085 This is a previously-published edition of ISBN 9780143131847.

Mary Shelley's seminal novel of the scientist whose creation becomes a monster.

This edition is the original 1818 text, which preserves the hard-hitting and politically charged aspects of Shelley's original writing, as well as her unflinching wit and strong female voice. This edition also includes a new introduction and suggestions for further reading by author and Shelley expert Charlotte Gordon, literary excerpts and reviews selected by Gordon and a chronology and essay by preeminent Shelley scholar Charles E. Robinson.]]> 260 Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 0143131842 Salar 0 to-read 4.02 1818 Frankenstein: The 1818 Text
author: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
name: Salar
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1818
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Book Thief 19063 Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

(Note: this title was not published as YA fiction)]]> 592 Markus Zusak Salar 0 to-read 4.38 2005 The Book Thief
author: Markus Zusak
name: Salar
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
shelves: to-read
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]]> Jane Eyre 10210 Alternate editions can be found here and here.

A gothic masterpiece of tempestuous passions and dark secrets, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is edited with an introduction and notes by Stevie Davis in Penguin Classics.

Charlotte Brontë tells the story of orphaned Jane Eyre, who grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, enduring loneliness and cruelty. This troubled childhood strengthens Jane's natural independence and spirit - which prove necessary when she finds employment as a governess to the young ward of Byronic, brooding Mr Rochester. As her feelings for Rochester develop, Jane gradually uncovers Thornfield Hall's terrible secret, forcing her to make a choice. Should she stay with Rochester and live with the consequences, or follow her convictions - even if it means leaving the man she loves? A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre dazzled readers with its passionate depiction of a woman's search for equality and freedom.]]> 532 Charlotte Brontë 0142437204 Salar 0 to-read 4.14 1847 Jane Eyre
author: Charlotte Brontë
name: Salar
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1847
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> The Song of Achilles 13623848 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780062060624.

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.]]> 408 Madeline Miller Salar 0 to-read 4.30 2011 The Song of Achilles
author: Madeline Miller
name: Salar
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> One Hundred Years of Solitude 320 417 Gabriel García Márquez Salar 0 to-read 4.10 1967 One Hundred Years of Solitude
author: Gabriel García Márquez
name: Salar
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1967
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> Crime and Punishment 7144 671 Fyodor Dostoevsky Salar 0 to-read 4.26 1866 Crime and Punishment
author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
name: Salar
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1866
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> Rebecca 17899948 Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again...

The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady's maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives--presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave.

First published in 1938, this classic gothic novel is such a compelling read that it won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century.]]> 449 Daphne du Maurier 0316323705 Salar 0 to-read 4.28 1938 Rebecca
author: Daphne du Maurier
name: Salar
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1938
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> The Night Circus 9361589
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.]]> 506 Erin Morgenstern Salar 0 to-read 4.00 2011 The Night Circus
author: Erin Morgenstern
name: Salar
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2011
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/03
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]]> The Bell Jar 6514 294 Sylvia Plath 0571268862 Salar 0 to-read 4.05 1963 The Bell Jar
author: Sylvia Plath
name: Salar
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1963
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Peter Pan 34268 Peter Pan, a diferencia de todos los demás, es un niño que se niega a crecer. Él vive con los niños perdidos y con el hada Campanita en el país de Nunca Jamás. Siempre está en busca de nuevas aventuras y también de una madre que cuide de todos y les cuente relatos para dormir.
Una noche, después de que Peter se encuentra con los hermanos Darling, los invita a que lo acompañen en el viaje más fantástico de toda su vida: volar hacia Nunca Jamás para conocer a las engreídas sirenas, jugar con los indios pieles rojas y luchar a muerte contra los terribles piratas.

]]> 155 J.M. Barrie 0805072454 Salar 0 to-read 4.06 1911 Peter Pan
author: J.M. Barrie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1911
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/02
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]]> The Vanishing Half 51791252
Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins.]]> 343 Brit Bennett 0525536299 Salar 0 to-read 4.11 2020 The Vanishing Half
author: Brit Bennett
name: Salar
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/02
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]]> My Dark Vanessa 44890081
2000. Bright, ambitious, and yearning for adulthood, fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her magnetic and guileful forty-two-year-old English teacher.

2017. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men, a reckoning is coming due. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship, or redefine herself and the events of her past. But how can Vanessa reject her first love, the man who fundamentally transformed her and has been a persistent presence in her life? Is it possible that the man she loved as a teenager—and who professed to worship only her—may be far different from what she has always believed?

Alternating between Vanessa’s present and her past, My Dark Vanessa juxtaposes memory and trauma with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl discovering the power her own body can wield. Thought-provoking and impossible to put down, this is a masterful portrayal of troubled adolescence and its repercussions that raises vital questions about agency, consent, complicity, and victimhood. Written with the haunting intimacy of The Girls and the creeping intensity of Room, My Dark Vanessa is an era-defining novel that brilliantly captures and reflects the shifting cultural mores transforming our relationships and society itself.]]> 373 Kate Elizabeth Russell 006294150X Salar 0 to-read 4.09 2020 My Dark Vanessa
author: Kate Elizabeth Russell
name: Salar
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2020
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/02
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer]]> 31373633 A little book with a big heart!

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.]]> 97 Fredrik Backman 1501160575 Salar 0 to-read 4.34 2015 And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Salar
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Pet Sematary 33124137 This is an alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00K3NEE56. When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son-and now an idyllic home. As a family, they've got it all...right down to the friendly car. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth-more terrifying than death itself-and hideously more powerful. The Creeds are going to learn that sometimes dead is better.]]> 580 Stephen King Salar 0 to-read 4.21 1983 Pet Sematary
author: Stephen King
name: Salar
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1983
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/02
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]]> The Picture of Dorian Gray 5297
In this celebrated work Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19th-century England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century, this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde's most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind.]]> 272 Oscar Wilde Salar 0 to-read 4.13 1890 The Picture of Dorian Gray
author: Oscar Wilde
name: Salar
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1890
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/02
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]]> Wuthering Heights 6185 You can find the redesigned cover of this edition HERE.

At the centre of this novel is the passionate love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff - recounted with such emotional intensity that a plain tale of the Yorkshire moors acquires the depth and simplicity of ancient tragedy.

This best-selling Norton Critical Edition is based on the 1847 first edition of the novel. For the Fourth Edition, the editor has collated the 1847 text with several modern editions and has corrected a number of variants, including accidentals. The text is accompanied by entirely new explanatory annotations.

New to the fourth Edition are twelve of Emily Bronte's letters regarding the publication of the 1847 edition of Wuthering Heights as well as the evolution of the 1850 edition, prose and poetry selections by the author, four reviews of the novel, and poetry selections by the author, four reviews of the novel, and Edward Chitham's insightful and informative chronology of the creative process behind the beloved work.

Five major critical interpretations of Wuthering Heights are included, three of them new to the Fourth Edition. A Stuart Daley considers the importance of chronology in the novel. J. Hillis Miller examines Wuthering Heights's problems of genre and critical reputation. Sandra M. Gilbert assesses the role of Victorian Christianity plays in the novel, while Martha Nussbaum traces the novel's romanticism. Finally, Lin Haire-Sargeant scrutinizes the role of Heathcliff in film adaptations of Wuthering Heights.

A Chronology and updated Selected Bibliography are also included.]]> 464 Emily Brontë Salar 0 to-read 3.89 1847 Wuthering Heights
author: Emily Brontë
name: Salar
average rating: 3.89
book published: 1847
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/02
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]]> The Count of Monte Cristo 7126 The epic tale of wrongful imprisonment, adventure and revenge, in its definitive translation

Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to use the treasure to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration. Dumas� epic tale of suffering and retribution, inspired by a real-life case of wrongful imprisonment, was a huge popular success when it was first serialized in the 1840s.

Translated with an Introduction by Robin Buss

An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here]]> 1276 Alexandre Dumas 0140449264 Salar 0 to-read 4.29 1846 The Count of Monte Cristo
author: Alexandre Dumas
name: Salar
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1846
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/02/02
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]]> <![CDATA[Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)]]> 6294 An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.]]> 329 Diana Wynne Jones 006441034X Salar 4
The last few chapters felt a little rushed and careless. The otherwise perfect story suddenly turned into a sugar coated fairy tale, where all the bad things suddenly came to an end and then they lived happily ever after!

But other than that, it's one of the sweetest stories ever. The characters are all so sweet in their own way, and they're all relatable. The story itself is also a very sweet and fun journey. And then there's the narration of Jenny Sterlin, which was absolutely perfect! Her sweet voice, her voice acting for each character, her adorable accent and way of speaking, it was too perfect. Beware that you might get diabetes after listening to this audiobook.

The story is of course happening in a whole different world, a world with its own laws and characteristics. I've always thought about how it's a very clever way for a writer to create their own world in their stories, because since you don't know how things work in that world, you can't really criticize different incidents there. In response to every criticism you make, the writer can simply say that that's just natural in their created world. But in this particular story, all characters are very real, they are human. Each of the characters (maybe except for the evil ones) have their own weaknesses and strengths, they have a depth to them, and they are relatable and understandable. Even Sophie's strong belief in a superstition that she will be a failure just because she's the eldest, is a very human quality.

It's also very obvious that this story should be made into a Miyazaki film. The strange world, the honest and moody lead character, and of course once again the whole sweetness of the story make it a perfect choice. I'm glad that now I have an excuse to rewatch the anime!

Had it not been for the ending, I would have continued with the rest of the series. Now I'm not so sure. I will definitely listen to other audiobooks by Jenny Sterlin though.]]> 4.30 1986 Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)
author: Diana Wynne Jones
name: Salar
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1986
rating: 4
read at: 2022/02/02
date added: 2022/02/02
shelves:
review:
It was absolutely perfect, right up to the finale, then it got ruined a little.

The last few chapters felt a little rushed and careless. The otherwise perfect story suddenly turned into a sugar coated fairy tale, where all the bad things suddenly came to an end and then they lived happily ever after!

But other than that, it's one of the sweetest stories ever. The characters are all so sweet in their own way, and they're all relatable. The story itself is also a very sweet and fun journey. And then there's the narration of Jenny Sterlin, which was absolutely perfect! Her sweet voice, her voice acting for each character, her adorable accent and way of speaking, it was too perfect. Beware that you might get diabetes after listening to this audiobook.

The story is of course happening in a whole different world, a world with its own laws and characteristics. I've always thought about how it's a very clever way for a writer to create their own world in their stories, because since you don't know how things work in that world, you can't really criticize different incidents there. In response to every criticism you make, the writer can simply say that that's just natural in their created world. But in this particular story, all characters are very real, they are human. Each of the characters (maybe except for the evil ones) have their own weaknesses and strengths, they have a depth to them, and they are relatable and understandable. Even Sophie's strong belief in a superstition that she will be a failure just because she's the eldest, is a very human quality.

It's also very obvious that this story should be made into a Miyazaki film. The strange world, the honest and moody lead character, and of course once again the whole sweetness of the story make it a perfect choice. I'm glad that now I have an excuse to rewatch the anime!

Had it not been for the ending, I would have continued with the rest of the series. Now I'm not so sure. I will definitely listen to other audiobooks by Jenny Sterlin though.
]]> <![CDATA["Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character]]> 35167685 A New York Times bestseller—the outrageous exploits of one of this century's greatest scientific minds and a legendary American original.


Richard Feynman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, thrived on outrageous adventures. Here he recounts in his inimitable voice his experience trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and Bohr and ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek; cracking the uncrackable safes guarding the most deeply held nuclear secrets; accompanying a ballet on his bongo drums; painting a naked female toreador. In short, here is Feynman's life in all its eccentric—a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, and raging chutzpah.]]> 400 Richard P. Feynman 0393355624 Salar 5
His character is almost exactly the kind that I aspire to be; curious, creative, mischievous, down to earth, nonconforming, persistent and relentless, full of life and yet not taking life too seriously. He was an absolutely brilliant man, and it's a shame that I know I will never have the honor to meet him in person.

This book portrays this character perfectly, and it very well deserves a 5 star rating. I should however, point that I did feel a little bit of egotism in his stories, this quality that always makes him the winner in his stories. Now don't get me wrong, I do still stand by the belief that he had a down to earth character, but I feel like it would have been dishonest not to mention the vanity I sensed in him, a sort of vanity which I suppose would be normal if you were as great as Richard Feynman!]]> 4.26 1985 "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character
author: Richard P. Feynman
name: Salar
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1985
rating: 5
read at: 2022/01/31
date added: 2022/02/01
shelves:
review:
Feynman might just be on the top of my idols list!

His character is almost exactly the kind that I aspire to be; curious, creative, mischievous, down to earth, nonconforming, persistent and relentless, full of life and yet not taking life too seriously. He was an absolutely brilliant man, and it's a shame that I know I will never have the honor to meet him in person.

This book portrays this character perfectly, and it very well deserves a 5 star rating. I should however, point that I did feel a little bit of egotism in his stories, this quality that always makes him the winner in his stories. Now don't get me wrong, I do still stand by the belief that he had a down to earth character, but I feel like it would have been dishonest not to mention the vanity I sensed in him, a sort of vanity which I suppose would be normal if you were as great as Richard Feynman!
]]> And Then There Were None 16299
"Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none."

When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.]]> 264 Agatha Christie 0312330871 Salar 2 think, seem to be just a bunch of dafts! It takes ages for them to catch up with the events, they keep forgetting the evidence they had gathered before, they never try to predict the murderer's next move, they never have a strategy, and they don't even stick together, which would both increase their chance of survival, and prevent the murderer among them from acting.

And then there's the murderer himself. I admit that he does have cunning, some of his plans are rather good, his motives are well justified and explained, and finally his way of disclosing his plans and explaining how he couldn't resist the urge to being recognized was a nice touch. It reminded me of one of Sherlock Holmes' lines from its TV series:
"That's the frailty of genius John, it needs an audience."

Nevertheless, this murderer relied time and again solely on luck! Parts of his plan were very lousy and could have easily gone wrong, and of course they also relied a lot on the other nine's stupidity.

Overall, despite this lack of attention to detail going on my nerves, I did enjoy the story, but I suppose any kind of story with that much mystery would have been interesting.]]> 4.28 1939 And Then There Were None
author: Agatha Christie
name: Salar
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1939
rating: 2
read at: 2022/01/24
date added: 2022/01/25
shelves:
review:
It was an interesting story to follow, and that's why I'll give one extra star. It felt like a real life mafia game, with actual life/death consequences, which overall seems very interesting. But the most important thing in such a game, is to constantly remember and revise the facts, in order to get to conclusions and make decisions, but this crowd of 9 (excluding the murderer) mostly educated adults, with their lives on the line and having all the time in the world to think, seem to be just a bunch of dafts! It takes ages for them to catch up with the events, they keep forgetting the evidence they had gathered before, they never try to predict the murderer's next move, they never have a strategy, and they don't even stick together, which would both increase their chance of survival, and prevent the murderer among them from acting.

And then there's the murderer himself. I admit that he does have cunning, some of his plans are rather good, his motives are well justified and explained, and finally his way of disclosing his plans and explaining how he couldn't resist the urge to being recognized was a nice touch. It reminded me of one of Sherlock Holmes' lines from its TV series:
"That's the frailty of genius John, it needs an audience."

Nevertheless, this murderer relied time and again solely on luck! Parts of his plan were very lousy and could have easily gone wrong, and of course they also relied a lot on the other nine's stupidity.

Overall, despite this lack of attention to detail going on my nerves, I did enjoy the story, but I suppose any kind of story with that much mystery would have been interesting.
]]> <![CDATA[Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones]]> 40121378 Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
-ĚýMake time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
-ĚýOvercome a lack of motivation and willpower;
- Design your environment to make success easier;
- Get back on track when you fall off course;
...and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.]]> 319 James Clear Salar 0 to-read 4.34 2018 Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
author: James Clear
name: Salar
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/12/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Best Of Sherlock Holmes 7985537
The Best of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twenty of the very best tales from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fifty-six short stories featuring the arch-sleuth. Basing his selection around the author’s own twelve personal favourites, David Stuart Davies has added a further eight sparkling stories to Conan Doyle’s â€Baker Street Dozenâ€� creating a unique volume which distils the pure essence of the world’s most famous detective.]]> 462 Arthur Conan Doyle Salar 0 to-read 4.20 1977 The Best Of Sherlock Holmes
author: Arthur Conan Doyle
name: Salar
average rating: 4.20
book published: 1977
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/12/24
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> A Fraction of the Whole 1833852 An irreverent comic adventure, spanning three continents, about a father and son against each other and against the world.

For most of his life, Jasper Dean couldn’t decide whether to pity, hate, love, or murder his certifiably paranoid father, Martin, a man who overanalyzed anything and everything and imparted his self-garnered wisdom to his only son. But now that Martin is dead, Jasper can fully reflect on the crackpot who raised him in intellectual captivity, and what he realizes is that, for all its lunacy, theirs was a grand adventure.

As he recollects the events that led to his father’s demise, Jasper recounts a boyhood of outrageous schemes and shocking discoveries—about his infamous outlaw uncle, Terry, his mysteriously absent European mother, and Martin’s constant losing battle to make a lasting mark on the world he so disdains. It’s a story that takes them from the Australian bush to the cafés of bohemian Paris, from the Thai jungle to strip clubs, asylums, labyrinths, and criminal lairs, and from the highs of first love to the lows of failed ambition. The result is a wild rollercoaster ride from obscurity to infamy, and the moving, memorable story of a father and son whose spiritual symmetry transcends all their many shortcomings.

A Fraction of the Whole is an uproarious indictment of the modern world and its mores, and the epic debut of the blisteringly funny and talented Steve Toltz.]]> 530 Steve Toltz 0385521723 Salar 4
It was a lovely story, which got me hooked on reading. I loved the author's style of writing and sense of humor. I also loved the way he didn't try too hard to make you laugh, he just kept a consistent sweet witty charm mostly worthy of a smile or a chuckle, but sometimes much funnier. But even though I laughed out loud at some of the jokes, I found the whole story to be a tragedy more than a comedy, and the philosophical messages and remarks along the way only served to add more weight to this tragedy, and among all this, the jokes felt like dark humor!

Were it not for a few clichés and unnatural storylines, I would have given a 5 star review. It was very engaging, and I'm sure I couldn't have met my 2021 GoodReads goal if I had chosen any other book at these final days. Not only was it a fun journey, but its philosophical ideas -either behind the plot, or directly pointed out- also got me thinking all the time, to existential and philosophical boundaries. I sincerely recommend it.]]> 4.13 2008 A Fraction of the Whole
author: Steve Toltz
name: Salar
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2021/12/24
date added: 2021/12/24
shelves:
review:
It's not perfect. Sometimes it just felt like an action and drama filled comedy movie. But that being said, it delivered much more than I expected.

It was a lovely story, which got me hooked on reading. I loved the author's style of writing and sense of humor. I also loved the way he didn't try too hard to make you laugh, he just kept a consistent sweet witty charm mostly worthy of a smile or a chuckle, but sometimes much funnier. But even though I laughed out loud at some of the jokes, I found the whole story to be a tragedy more than a comedy, and the philosophical messages and remarks along the way only served to add more weight to this tragedy, and among all this, the jokes felt like dark humor!

Were it not for a few clichés and unnatural storylines, I would have given a 5 star review. It was very engaging, and I'm sure I couldn't have met my 2021 GoodReads goal if I had chosen any other book at these final days. Not only was it a fun journey, but its philosophical ideas -either behind the plot, or directly pointed out- also got me thinking all the time, to existential and philosophical boundaries. I sincerely recommend it.
]]> Lolita 7604 Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780141182537.

Humbert Humbert - scholar, aesthete and romantic - has fallen completely and utterly in love with Dolores Haze, his landlady's gum-snapping, silky skinned twelve-year-old daughter. Reluctantly agreeing to marry Mrs Haze just to be close to Lolita, Humbert suffers greatly in the pursuit of romance; but when Lo herself starts looking for attention elsewhere, he will carry her off on a desperate cross-country misadventure, all in the name of Love. Hilarious, flamboyant, heart-breaking and full of ingenious word play, Lolita is an immaculate, unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, delusion and lust.]]> 368 Vladimir Nabokov 0679723161 Salar 5
Justifying the actions of a pedophile through his own defense in a story is a very bold move! And it's no wonder how it's got so much attention and controversy around it. It can even be argued that taking this direction in a story is not ethical. However, the author has made a literary masterpiece out of this story, with a rich vocabulary and a beautiful writing style. It gets you to understand the thoughts and motives of a pedophile, a man committing perhaps the ugliest sin capable of humans! And of course shows the consequences of his actions as well, but in a very subtle way, in their natural form.

I should also point out the magnificent narration by Jeremy Irons! His portrayal of the leading character is spot on. This book brought my faith back in audiobooks, getting me to believe that audiobooks can be as good as an experience of reading paper books, if only the narration is done properly.]]> 3.87 1955 Lolita
author: Vladimir Nabokov
name: Salar
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1955
rating: 5
read at: 2021/12/23
date added: 2021/12/23
shelves:
review:
It was one of the most disturbing stories I had ever heard, but it was totally worth it.

Justifying the actions of a pedophile through his own defense in a story is a very bold move! And it's no wonder how it's got so much attention and controversy around it. It can even be argued that taking this direction in a story is not ethical. However, the author has made a literary masterpiece out of this story, with a rich vocabulary and a beautiful writing style. It gets you to understand the thoughts and motives of a pedophile, a man committing perhaps the ugliest sin capable of humans! And of course shows the consequences of his actions as well, but in a very subtle way, in their natural form.

I should also point out the magnificent narration by Jeremy Irons! His portrayal of the leading character is spot on. This book brought my faith back in audiobooks, getting me to believe that audiobooks can be as good as an experience of reading paper books, if only the narration is done properly.
]]> <![CDATA[The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It]]> 10865206 The first book to explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our health, happiness, and productivity.

After years of watching her students struggling with their choices, health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., realized that much of what people believe about willpower is actually sabotaging their success. Committed to sharing what the scientific community already knew about self-control, McGonigal created a course called "The Science of Willpower" for Stanford University's Continuing Studies Program. The course was an instant hit and spawned the hugely successful Psychology Today blog with the same name.

Informed by the latest research and combining cutting-edge insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and medicine, McGonigal's book explains exactly what willpower is, how it works, and why it matters. Readers will learn:

Willpower is a mind-body response, not a virtue. It is a biological function that can be improved through mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, and sleep. People who have better control of their attention, emotions, and actions are healthier, happier, have more satisfying relationships, and make more money. Willpower is not an unlimited resource. Too much self-control can actually be bad for your health. Temptation and stress hijack the brain's systems of self-control, and that the brain can be trained for greater willpower.

In the groundbreaking tradition of Getting Things Done, The Willpower Instinct combines life-changing prescriptive advice and complementary exercises to help readers with goals ranging from a healthier life to more patient parenting, from greater productivity at work to finally finishing the basement.]]> 275 Kelly McGonigal 1583334386 Salar 0 to-read 4.11 2011 The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
author: Kelly McGonigal
name: Salar
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/11/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Lord of the Flies 7624 182 William Golding 0140283331 Salar 5
At first I thought it was another cliché book, merely trying to simplify society's structure in a simple story, but even though I was right about it being a metaphorical story, I was absolutely wrong in expecting it to be a cliché. It's a very unique, fun, and engaging story, which can turn a bit troubling at times, and will of course leave you with a lot to think about.]]> 3.70 1954 Lord of the Flies
author: William Golding
name: Salar
average rating: 3.70
book published: 1954
rating: 5
read at: 2021/09/18
date added: 2021/10/26
shelves:
review:
If I were to choose one word to describe this book, I'd say it's very "powerful", so powerful that by the end I was absolutely lost in the story, with my heart beating like a drum with agitation!

At first I thought it was another cliché book, merely trying to simplify society's structure in a simple story, but even though I was right about it being a metaphorical story, I was absolutely wrong in expecting it to be a cliché. It's a very unique, fun, and engaging story, which can turn a bit troubling at times, and will of course leave you with a lot to think about.
]]> <![CDATA[The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)]]> 838729 385 J.R.R. Tolkien 0345240340 Salar 1
Before anything else, I should say that this is the worst book from the trilogy because of many weaknesses. Firstly, since it's the final book, you still hope for the story to get better since a good ending makes a lot of difference, and therefore, you have higher expectations. But what you get is as always an anti climactic ending with no drama, this time with an added weakness of being rushed, only to have time for loads of uninteresting nonsense at the end! Secondly, proving that character development is indeed one of its greatest shortcomings by keeping Frodo's character as one-dimensional as ever, being wise and kind and know-it-all! And with the movies giving a reference for comparison, you can see how the book Frodo's character is dull and -for the lack of a better word- inhuman! The best example for this, is when Sam keeps complaining about Gollum, in the movies, after a while Frodo gets frustrated and gets into a row with Sam, eventually abandoning him, but in the books, Frodo always keeps calm and when Sam complains about Gollum, the ever so wise Frodo says that he knows how dangerous Gollum can be, but they have to keep him close, in order to find their way. And of course it goes without saying that this one-dimensionality of character is almost the same with all characters. Thirdly, as mentioned above, there are loads and loads of uninteresting side stories and redundant characters at the end, taking up about one quarter of the last book, which feels like a chore as you read it. It feels like Tolkien has given lots of little branches to his story through the course of this trilogy, and he somehow felt obliged to finish them all at the end. But although they feel like a load of unnecessarily added boredom, one can find some sense in their presence here, but Tolkien doesn't stop there! He actually starts yet another branch of story at the last quarter of the last book for whatever reason my mind cannot comprehend! The Battle of Bywater was a battle in Hobbiton which started when the story's hero hobbits returned to their home to find it invaded by some evil bunch. In a jumble of events, the whole story of this battle is rushed through in a single chapter! And so finishing this abysmal last quarter took me almost a month, and I was glad to see it finally finished!

When it comes to the whole trilogy, I still cannot understand this great fan base and all this love. Maybe this type of story is just not my liking, maybe it's the movies that affect the fandom, or maybe it's the nostalgia of reading the books in childhood that the fans find charming, I really cannot say. I can say however, that I'm very disappointed by it and my dislike is not just a matter of taste, since I can find many weaknesses in all the books which I won't repeat here.]]> 4.64 1955 The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Salar
average rating: 4.64
book published: 1955
rating: 1
read at: 2021/10/11
date added: 2021/10/26
shelves:
review:
Extremely disappointed! Both from this last book and from the whole series. I had so much hope and anticipation for this world renowned trilogy, and my expectations were crushed with boredom all the way through the end.

Before anything else, I should say that this is the worst book from the trilogy because of many weaknesses. Firstly, since it's the final book, you still hope for the story to get better since a good ending makes a lot of difference, and therefore, you have higher expectations. But what you get is as always an anti climactic ending with no drama, this time with an added weakness of being rushed, only to have time for loads of uninteresting nonsense at the end! Secondly, proving that character development is indeed one of its greatest shortcomings by keeping Frodo's character as one-dimensional as ever, being wise and kind and know-it-all! And with the movies giving a reference for comparison, you can see how the book Frodo's character is dull and -for the lack of a better word- inhuman! The best example for this, is when Sam keeps complaining about Gollum, in the movies, after a while Frodo gets frustrated and gets into a row with Sam, eventually abandoning him, but in the books, Frodo always keeps calm and when Sam complains about Gollum, the ever so wise Frodo says that he knows how dangerous Gollum can be, but they have to keep him close, in order to find their way. And of course it goes without saying that this one-dimensionality of character is almost the same with all characters. Thirdly, as mentioned above, there are loads and loads of uninteresting side stories and redundant characters at the end, taking up about one quarter of the last book, which feels like a chore as you read it. It feels like Tolkien has given lots of little branches to his story through the course of this trilogy, and he somehow felt obliged to finish them all at the end. But although they feel like a load of unnecessarily added boredom, one can find some sense in their presence here, but Tolkien doesn't stop there! He actually starts yet another branch of story at the last quarter of the last book for whatever reason my mind cannot comprehend! The Battle of Bywater was a battle in Hobbiton which started when the story's hero hobbits returned to their home to find it invaded by some evil bunch. In a jumble of events, the whole story of this battle is rushed through in a single chapter! And so finishing this abysmal last quarter took me almost a month, and I was glad to see it finally finished!

When it comes to the whole trilogy, I still cannot understand this great fan base and all this love. Maybe this type of story is just not my liking, maybe it's the movies that affect the fandom, or maybe it's the nostalgia of reading the books in childhood that the fans find charming, I really cannot say. I can say however, that I'm very disappointed by it and my dislike is not just a matter of taste, since I can find many weaknesses in all the books which I won't repeat here.
]]> The Great Gatsby 4671 The only edition of the beloved classic that is authorized by Fitzgerald’s family and from his lifelong publisher.

This edition is the enduring original text, updated with the author’s own revisions, a foreword by his granddaughter, and with a new introduction by National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward.

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. First published by Scribner in 1925, this quintessential novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.]]> 180 F. Scott Fitzgerald 0743273567 Salar 0 to-read 3.93 1925 The Great Gatsby
author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
name: Salar
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1925
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/08/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Fish in a Tree 22402972
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.ĚýShe is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.]]> 288 Lynda Mullaly Hunt 0399162593 Salar 0 to-read 4.24 2015 Fish in a Tree
author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt
name: Salar
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/08/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)]]> 3263607 One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.]]> 527 J.R.R. Tolkien Salar 3
In this book, Tolkien has completed the whole fantasy world of his stories and all its species and their different characteristics, he has even gone as far as to create a whole new language for the elves. That by itself is a remarkable aspect of this book, it takes the reader to a whole new world, created by an imaginative mind, a delightful experience.

All that being said, the story still suffers a little from anti-climactic scenes at crucial turning points. [spoilers removed]

Generally, I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to read the rest.

Edit: I have been thinking more about this book and I might have realized the element which keeps me from enjoying this book as much as I expect. The problem is that the characters seem to be too good! They are almost always making the right choices, always being kind, and most annoyingly, so freaking courteous! To the point that the characters lose their human quality. It's true that most of them are not really "humans" but nevertheless, they cannot be sympathized with.]]> 4.51 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Salar
average rating: 4.51
book published: 1954
rating: 3
read at: 2021/07/12
date added: 2021/08/12
shelves:
review:
Tolkien's writing has matured by a great margin since The Hobbit. The story is much more interesting and engaging, it's much more detailed and well thought through, and its target audience are not just children anymore.

In this book, Tolkien has completed the whole fantasy world of his stories and all its species and their different characteristics, he has even gone as far as to create a whole new language for the elves. That by itself is a remarkable aspect of this book, it takes the reader to a whole new world, created by an imaginative mind, a delightful experience.

All that being said, the story still suffers a little from anti-climactic scenes at crucial turning points. [spoilers removed]

Generally, I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to read the rest.

Edit: I have been thinking more about this book and I might have realized the element which keeps me from enjoying this book as much as I expect. The problem is that the characters seem to be too good! They are almost always making the right choices, always being kind, and most annoyingly, so freaking courteous! To the point that the characters lose their human quality. It's true that most of them are not really "humans" but nevertheless, they cannot be sympathized with.
]]> <![CDATA[Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind]]> 23692271 512 Yuval Noah Harari Salar 5
This book is very unique, in that it mixes history, science and story telling into one book, and does so in an easy to read and enjoyable writing.

It gives interesting insights about society, culture, history, human anatomy and psychology, and every other topic that's been discussed in the book. It gives you new perspectives on different subjects and lets you think them over. This creates an engaging and dynamic thought process, which keeps you focused on the subject, and can keep you thinking over it even when you're not reading the book, and also tempts you to continue reading the rest.

Harari's stance on the discussed topics is almost always completely neutral. He doesn't take sides or try to be politically correct. He tries to give a comprehensive representation of the topic while keeping it as brief as possible, considering all opinions and beliefs on the said matter. But I do say "almost" because there are instances where I feel like there's a subtle bias towards one side of the debate, or other occasions where the subject has been oversimplified to the point that it feels like black or white thinking. But at least the simplification can be justified considering the amount of information put into this single book!

The last two chapters were also an interesting addition to the mostly historical theme of the book. Discussing our purposes of trying to evolve, and whether we have achieved any of them after thousands of years of progress. And finally, leaving you to contemplate on a troubling sentence:
"Is there anything more dangerous than dissatisfied and irresponsible gods who don't know what they want?"
]]> 4.33 2011 Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
author: Yuval Noah Harari
name: Salar
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2021/08/11
date added: 2021/08/12
shelves:
review:
A thought-provoking, informative and fun experience.

This book is very unique, in that it mixes history, science and story telling into one book, and does so in an easy to read and enjoyable writing.

It gives interesting insights about society, culture, history, human anatomy and psychology, and every other topic that's been discussed in the book. It gives you new perspectives on different subjects and lets you think them over. This creates an engaging and dynamic thought process, which keeps you focused on the subject, and can keep you thinking over it even when you're not reading the book, and also tempts you to continue reading the rest.

Harari's stance on the discussed topics is almost always completely neutral. He doesn't take sides or try to be politically correct. He tries to give a comprehensive representation of the topic while keeping it as brief as possible, considering all opinions and beliefs on the said matter. But I do say "almost" because there are instances where I feel like there's a subtle bias towards one side of the debate, or other occasions where the subject has been oversimplified to the point that it feels like black or white thinking. But at least the simplification can be justified considering the amount of information put into this single book!

The last two chapters were also an interesting addition to the mostly historical theme of the book. Discussing our purposes of trying to evolve, and whether we have achieved any of them after thousands of years of progress. And finally, leaving you to contemplate on a troubling sentence:
"Is there anything more dangerous than dissatisfied and irresponsible gods who don't know what they want?"

]]> <![CDATA[The Hobbit, or There and Back Again]]> 5907 Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001).]]> 366 J.R.R. Tolkien Salar 2 The amount of drama in this book is as good as non-existent, and being a fantasy story, the lack of this quality makes it a very dull one. Whenever a crucial point in the story takes place, you find yourself with a blank expression asking: "Did that just happen? Is that all?" There's no build up to such occurrences, or a short break afterwards for them to simmer down, which creates anticlimactic scenes in long anticipated moments of the story, and disappoints the reader. I should add however, that the narrator of the audiobook (Rob Inglis) must take some part of the blame in this shortcoming.

On top of all that, the story is very predictable and cliché. Again, I acknowledge the fact that it's a children's book. But that shouldn't be an excuse for lazy writing.

But of course after being so harsh on a classic, I must admit that it does have its own charm and appeal. And it sets the stage for Tolkien's great trilogy, The Lord of The Rings, which I hope will not let me down as much as this one.]]> 4.29 1937 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Salar
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1937
rating: 2
read at: 2021/05/25
date added: 2021/05/26
shelves:
review:
It's a children's book, I get it. But even so, it's just not very exciting.
The amount of drama in this book is as good as non-existent, and being a fantasy story, the lack of this quality makes it a very dull one. Whenever a crucial point in the story takes place, you find yourself with a blank expression asking: "Did that just happen? Is that all?" There's no build up to such occurrences, or a short break afterwards for them to simmer down, which creates anticlimactic scenes in long anticipated moments of the story, and disappoints the reader. I should add however, that the narrator of the audiobook (Rob Inglis) must take some part of the blame in this shortcoming.

On top of all that, the story is very predictable and cliché. Again, I acknowledge the fact that it's a children's book. But that shouldn't be an excuse for lazy writing.

But of course after being so harsh on a classic, I must admit that it does have its own charm and appeal. And it sets the stage for Tolkien's great trilogy, The Lord of The Rings, which I hope will not let me down as much as this one.
]]> <![CDATA[A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)]]> 10664113 Alternate cover edition of ASIN B004XISI4A

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance—beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys’s claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone—a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.]]> 1125 George R.R. Martin Salar 5
But anyway, I was really glad that all the important characters were finally back. And that alone made the story much more enjoyable again.

[spoilers removed]

This series has been a really good companion, especially during these crazy times. I've enjoyed this book just as much as the other four, and will be crossing my fingers in hopes of the remaining books' publishing.]]> 4.33 2011 A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)
author: George R.R. Martin
name: Salar
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2021/05/16
date added: 2021/05/16
shelves:
review:
With this being the longest book yet in the series and me not putting enough time on it, it's taken me so long to finish that now I can't remember much of it to do a proper review!

But anyway, I was really glad that all the important characters were finally back. And that alone made the story much more enjoyable again.

[spoilers removed]

This series has been a really good companion, especially during these crazy times. I've enjoyed this book just as much as the other four, and will be crossing my fingers in hopes of the remaining books' publishing.
]]> The Metamorphosis 485894 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 0553213695 / 9780553213690

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. He was laying on his hard, as it were armor-plated, back and when he lifted his head a little he could see his domelike brown belly divided into stiff arched segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in position and was about to slide off completely. His numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, waved helplessly before his eyes."

With it's startling, bizarre, yet surprisingly funny first opening, Kafka begins his masterpiece, The Metamorphosis. It is the story of a young man who, transformed overnight into a giant beetle-like insect, becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outsider in his own home, a quintessentially alienated man. A harrowing—though absurdly comic—meditation on human feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and isolation, The Metamorphosis has taken its place as one of the most widely read and influential works of twentieth-century fiction. As W.H. Auden wrote, "Kafka is important to us because his predicament is the predicament of modern man."]]> 201 Franz Kafka 0553213695 Salar 5
And that's supposedly what the whole story is about. The metamorphosis as much as an unbearable hell, can be thought of as a yearning for freedom. Once overwhelmed by the work life and the constant stresses imposed by the family and the society, the wish to free yourself from all this responsibility seems like a no brainer! The only problem is the cost of this freedom. It's not very easy to understand the important roles of these responsibilities in our lives. Our responsibilities not only provide us with what we need, but in a higher level they define who we really are. Once they are taken away, a person is not recognized anymore.

And that's probably the one strike that hits the hardest in this book. Interpersonal relationships are absurd! If you define "who you are" by your consciousness, then it's probably safe to say that no one really loves you for "who you are". You have to talk to them, you have to tell them what they want to hear, you have to do whatever they need of you, you have to impress them. You have to take all these responsibilities to get the attention you need from your social circles, including your closest friends and family. In fact it's interesting that Kafka has written this scenario around family members, whose love you would never question!

But of course there are many aspects to Kafka's stories. Like how his brain is hijacked by the bureaucracy of business life that once he realizes his horrid condition, his first worries are the problems he's going to have, not catching the train, instead of giving any thought about the disaster at hand. Or maybe the way Kafka possibly represents his writing hobby as something like a disease which estranges him from the outer world. But in the end the most probable interpretation of these scenes is a trip through Kafka's own imagination where being overwhelmed by life and its responsibilities he imagines himself waking up as a fat roach lying on his bed and not doing or worrying about anything for the rest of his life, and then contemplating its consequences and possible punishments.]]> 3.90 1915 The Metamorphosis
author: Franz Kafka
name: Salar
average rating: 3.90
book published: 1915
rating: 5
read at: 2020/11/05
date added: 2021/02/24
shelves:
review:
It's taken me long enough to make up my mind about this bizarre and unworldly tale! But right now after 3-4 months of occasional thoughts about the book and even reading opinions and reviews on it, I'm still not sure if I understand it. What I really want is to forget about writing a review, forget about having to do anything, and just lay back on my soft bed and stay there 24/7.

And that's supposedly what the whole story is about. The metamorphosis as much as an unbearable hell, can be thought of as a yearning for freedom. Once overwhelmed by the work life and the constant stresses imposed by the family and the society, the wish to free yourself from all this responsibility seems like a no brainer! The only problem is the cost of this freedom. It's not very easy to understand the important roles of these responsibilities in our lives. Our responsibilities not only provide us with what we need, but in a higher level they define who we really are. Once they are taken away, a person is not recognized anymore.

And that's probably the one strike that hits the hardest in this book. Interpersonal relationships are absurd! If you define "who you are" by your consciousness, then it's probably safe to say that no one really loves you for "who you are". You have to talk to them, you have to tell them what they want to hear, you have to do whatever they need of you, you have to impress them. You have to take all these responsibilities to get the attention you need from your social circles, including your closest friends and family. In fact it's interesting that Kafka has written this scenario around family members, whose love you would never question!

But of course there are many aspects to Kafka's stories. Like how his brain is hijacked by the bureaucracy of business life that once he realizes his horrid condition, his first worries are the problems he's going to have, not catching the train, instead of giving any thought about the disaster at hand. Or maybe the way Kafka possibly represents his writing hobby as something like a disease which estranges him from the outer world. But in the end the most probable interpretation of these scenes is a trip through Kafka's own imagination where being overwhelmed by life and its responsibilities he imagines himself waking up as a fat roach lying on his bed and not doing or worrying about anything for the rest of his life, and then contemplating its consequences and possible punishments.
]]> <![CDATA[A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)]]> 13497 Crows will fight over a dead man's flesh, and kill each other for his eyes.

Bloodthirsty, treacherous and cunning, the Lannisters are in power on the Iron Throne in the name of the boy-king Tommen. The war in the Seven Kingdoms has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life.

The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek vengeance for their dead. Euron Crow's Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles. From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel.

Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.]]> 1060 George R.R. Martin 055358202X Salar 3
After all the deaths in the previous books, all of a sudden most of the remaining main characters are gone and never appear in the book. There are new characters and storylines introduced which seem to be unnecessary and feel like they're just there to fill in the gaps created by the others' absence.
The pace of the story which has been slowing down over the course of the series, is at its slowest in this book. Nothing special happens for the major part of the book.
Add all this together and you find that the story has become somewhat dull and it's not as engaging as it used to be.

Nevertheless the atmosphere of ASOIAF's world is still there, somewhere I can safely take refuge in, whenever I need to run away from the real world. And once I got used to the new characters, it got a bit more interesting.

At least now I know that I'll enjoy the presence of those long gone characters even more, when I find them in the next book. And maybe that was George R.R. Martin's main intention, to keep us craving for these characters' plots until the next book!]]> 4.16 2005 A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)
author: George R.R. Martin
name: Salar
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2020/11/05
date added: 2020/11/06
shelves:
review:
The most boring book in the series so far!

After all the deaths in the previous books, all of a sudden most of the remaining main characters are gone and never appear in the book. There are new characters and storylines introduced which seem to be unnecessary and feel like they're just there to fill in the gaps created by the others' absence.
The pace of the story which has been slowing down over the course of the series, is at its slowest in this book. Nothing special happens for the major part of the book.
Add all this together and you find that the story has become somewhat dull and it's not as engaging as it used to be.

Nevertheless the atmosphere of ASOIAF's world is still there, somewhere I can safely take refuge in, whenever I need to run away from the real world. And once I got used to the new characters, it got a bit more interesting.

At least now I know that I'll enjoy the presence of those long gone characters even more, when I find them in the next book. And maybe that was George R.R. Martin's main intention, to keep us craving for these characters' plots until the next book!
]]>