3.62 AVERAGE


This was one of those books that I read faster and faster with each turning page. I felt my body tremble and cold sweat forming. I also felt that my heart was excited to be reading this. I guess I was really enthralled haha. I think this book resonates a lot with me and my experience with the universe. It's apparent that there are many dreams that I no longer indulge in or spend hours feeling. In a sense, it has lined up with me having less time and less motivation to do the things that feed my soul and creativity. Once I stopped, everything slowed down. I had many dreams and visions about my journey and trajectory the summer of 2019. For a long time I went back to that feeling from that Summer. What I took from this book is that I should go on even more journeys and listen more attentively to the whispers of the language of my heart and the soul of the world
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

I think this book is so beautiful in the way it approaches the themes of personal drive, unrequited achievement and regret, and at its core self-worth.

In the midsts of my own personal struggle with imposter syndrome and the pursuit of long held goals (or goals I think I should have, compared to goals I think others want me to have), the allegories concerning fear of failure or lack of motivation towards completing a goal were a point of reflection.

Near the end of the book I the passage “My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” is such a poignant way to express the ways self-doubt can manifest itself to prevent one from becoming what one wants to be. (Your Personal Legend) Overcoming the fear of suffering that you may experience on your personal journey is something that can be stated so easily, but is seemingly insurmountable at times.

Critics seem to discount this book on account of simply applied themes, but sometimes simple, beautiful prose just hits different. Listen to the things your heart used to say before you quieted its voice and go touch some grass. <3

This is a self help book disguised as fiction. I enjoyed reading it even though I don't agree with all of the life lessons in it. For example the concept of 'Maktoob' - 'It is written' (fate) but it cannot be changed. I wholly disagree with it. If you look at it from an Islamic perspective (which is heavily present in the book), Maktoob can be changed if Allah wills, but the believer must also strive for that change because Allah makes it easy for those who work hard.

The lesson about listening to your heart also didn't sit well with me. I think the author confused 'intuition' with the reasoning of the heart. Although I agree that the heart speaks with our intuitions and emotions, it is important to keep the heart in check, and let the rational mind kick in before making any hasty decisions. The importance of the heart (Qalb) is at the point of convergence where humans can meet Allah. This interaction is multidimensional, encompassing both cognitive and moral dimensions. So it is not a simple matter of listening to your heart for everything.

I found that not all of my philosophical and spiritual ideas matched with the author's but I thoroughly enjoyed the book because of it. I think the reason it's disguised as a self help book is because it is meant to be taken light heartedly. Its best to not delve too much into its meaning but enjoy it for its spiritual pleasures.
hopeful fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Easy to read, but the overall message comes across as simple and possibly even pretentious.
hopeful inspiring lighthearted
adventurous challenging inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced
adventurous funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I'd heard somewhere that this was John Green's favorite book, so I added it to my list and picked it up this past December. This is also required reading for some of my students at my school, so I was curious to read it myself.

This is a simple hero's journey. It's a story about finding yourself. It's translated (the author is Brazilian) and it reads that way - a little stiff and traditional. It was enjoyable, but felt very repetitive in the third act.

It's good, but it isn't great. I can see how some people really connect to this story and style of writing on a deeper level, but that didn't happen for me.

This would be, however, a great gift for someone who is just graduating college or about to embark on a big life-change. It gave me "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" vibes.