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aayjaysbookshelf's reviews
49 reviews
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Like a delightful conversation with a dear friend.. Tuesdays with Morrie is a book that should be read by everyone.
A memoir of an old sociology professor on his deathbed due to a debilitating and progressively fatal disease (ALS), Tuesdays with Morrie is not your usual, all too glittery and preachy self help book. Yet it helps you. And it helps you in ways you were neglecting you needed helping in.
To know that a man named Morrie Schwartz once breathed amongst us, and continues to live through all the love and learning he became a source of, is humbling, to say the least. I won't say he taught some new and exciting discoveries, but the perspective and lens he offered was sure a new one. How else can a man so weakened by his disease which makes even wearing glasses on his own impossible, could say he's lucky for the time and chance he's been given? Where others would have succumbed to misery at a state far less severe than his, Morrie found peace, learning and happiness in whatever life had thrown at him, yet without invalidating the hurt and trouble that came with it. This book forces you to sit down with yourself, think about your life, and be mindful of every action of yours, even the ones as simple as swallowing. It tells you that a life well lived is a life that is lived in learning and loving. A simple, even cliché fact, but probably the most important one.
Not everyone gets a chance to sit with someone who's dying, and know about death upclose; a phenomenon most of us feel uncomfortable about. But Morrie makes that comfortable. The book reminds us of what we know already, but have long forgotten maybe. Mitch Albom has done a tremendous work in penning down this book; the last project with his dear professor, as he calls it. This, combined with Morrie's interviews with Ted Koppel are a must read/seen for everyone. Would definitely be picking this book up again some other time and learn new lessons from it.
Like Morrie said, 'Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live'. I hope I get to learn and implement how I'd like to die, and so does everyone else. ❤️
A memoir of an old sociology professor on his deathbed due to a debilitating and progressively fatal disease (ALS), Tuesdays with Morrie is not your usual, all too glittery and preachy self help book. Yet it helps you. And it helps you in ways you were neglecting you needed helping in.
To know that a man named Morrie Schwartz once breathed amongst us, and continues to live through all the love and learning he became a source of, is humbling, to say the least. I won't say he taught some new and exciting discoveries, but the perspective and lens he offered was sure a new one. How else can a man so weakened by his disease which makes even wearing glasses on his own impossible, could say he's lucky for the time and chance he's been given? Where others would have succumbed to misery at a state far less severe than his, Morrie found peace, learning and happiness in whatever life had thrown at him, yet without invalidating the hurt and trouble that came with it. This book forces you to sit down with yourself, think about your life, and be mindful of every action of yours, even the ones as simple as swallowing. It tells you that a life well lived is a life that is lived in learning and loving. A simple, even cliché fact, but probably the most important one.
Not everyone gets a chance to sit with someone who's dying, and know about death upclose; a phenomenon most of us feel uncomfortable about. But Morrie makes that comfortable. The book reminds us of what we know already, but have long forgotten maybe. Mitch Albom has done a tremendous work in penning down this book; the last project with his dear professor, as he calls it. This, combined with Morrie's interviews with Ted Koppel are a must read/seen for everyone. Would definitely be picking this book up again some other time and learn new lessons from it.
Like Morrie said, 'Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live'. I hope I get to learn and implement how I'd like to die, and so does everyone else. ❤️
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I thought long and hard and despite not really enjoying the novel in the start, Mansfield Park has got to be my favourite Austen novel, and Fanny Price my favourite Austen heroine, equalling only to Pride and Prejudice. (Maybe).
It blows my mind EVERY.SINGLE.TIME how absolute of a pleasure it is to read Jane Austen! The social understanding, the eloquence, the delivery, the wit, the satire, everything is on point in the Austen world and I absolutely adore her for Mansfield Park now. I used to think no novel can come close to Pride and Prejudice for me, yet Mansfield Park does that. It's interesting how two such contrasting novels can both have the elements that appeal to me; there is just some magic about Austen. ✨
Fanny Price is very different than Austen's usual strong headed, quick witted and sassy heroines. She, in fact, comes across as a people pleaser, a timid, subdued character, timid to the point of annoyance even in the first half of novel, yet it's only later that we find how really deep, sensible and strong her character is. Her immaculate judgement of people's characters along with her patience and sweetness makes her one of the most lovable characters ever.
What I particularly like about Mansfield Park is the way the characters unfold over the course of novel; predictable yet still keeping you on an edge for what their next move will be. There was an unpredictability in their predictability and it's a wonder how this can be even achieved by a writer without crumbling down the main plot or story. (love you, Austen, for real 😭)
The social commentary in this novel, along with the take on 'nature Vs nurture' perspective makes this one of the most socially aware novels of all times, a story that leaves you thinking for long. There are bold topics touched in it in a brilliantly artistic way (slavery, adultery etc) and you have to hand it down to Austen's genius for creating something like this. A must must MUST read for anyone and everyone. A 5 star read for me! ❤️🌟
It blows my mind EVERY.SINGLE.TIME how absolute of a pleasure it is to read Jane Austen! The social understanding, the eloquence, the delivery, the wit, the satire, everything is on point in the Austen world and I absolutely adore her for Mansfield Park now. I used to think no novel can come close to Pride and Prejudice for me, yet Mansfield Park does that. It's interesting how two such contrasting novels can both have the elements that appeal to me; there is just some magic about Austen. ✨
Fanny Price is very different than Austen's usual strong headed, quick witted and sassy heroines. She, in fact, comes across as a people pleaser, a timid, subdued character, timid to the point of annoyance even in the first half of novel, yet it's only later that we find how really deep, sensible and strong her character is. Her immaculate judgement of people's characters along with her patience and sweetness makes her one of the most lovable characters ever.
What I particularly like about Mansfield Park is the way the characters unfold over the course of novel; predictable yet still keeping you on an edge for what their next move will be. There was an unpredictability in their predictability and it's a wonder how this can be even achieved by a writer without crumbling down the main plot or story. (love you, Austen, for real 😭)
The social commentary in this novel, along with the take on 'nature Vs nurture' perspective makes this one of the most socially aware novels of all times, a story that leaves you thinking for long. There are bold topics touched in it in a brilliantly artistic way (slavery, adultery etc) and you have to hand it down to Austen's genius for creating something like this. A must must MUST read for anyone and everyone. A 5 star read for me! ❤️🌟
Dear Charlie by N.D. Gomes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
A young adult fiction on some pretty heavy themes (suicide, homicide, mass shootings, mental illness) , Dear Charlie is a book to be read with caution; it can get pretty overwhelming at some points, and the whole aura of the story is a sad one.
Though I found the style of writing/narration a little amateur for my liking (I used to read these type of stuff back in teenage 😅), the topic itself was a bold one, and was carried with appropriate caution. It did a really nice job at humanising the whole ordeal the Macmillan family had to go through because of their son's mass shooting at school followed by suicide, while not disregarding the other side of the story - that of the victims and their innocence. The novel ends on a positive note, while not losing realism or painting everything in bright colours ; it maintained the grimness a story like this was bound to have.
All in all, an okayish read for a one time. Nothing that I'd like to pick up again, though 😅
Though I found the style of writing/narration a little amateur for my liking (I used to read these type of stuff back in teenage 😅), the topic itself was a bold one, and was carried with appropriate caution. It did a really nice job at humanising the whole ordeal the Macmillan family had to go through because of their son's mass shooting at school followed by suicide, while not disregarding the other side of the story - that of the victims and their innocence. The novel ends on a positive note, while not losing realism or painting everything in bright colours ; it maintained the grimness a story like this was bound to have.
All in all, an okayish read for a one time. Nothing that I'd like to pick up again, though 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder
Minor: Gun violence
Children of the North by Niddal Bin Tahir
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Haven't read a lot of travelogues, despite being a huge travel fan, but Children of the North was a fun, adventure packed travelogue that had me hooked till the end. Written in a clear, simple language, narrating both the story and human emotions/nature, Children of the North is half a story of actual travel, and half of the group's RETURN from their travel on which they encountered a situation which was unfathomable at that moment, and made for a dear, adventurous tale to think about later.
Based on 4 friends and their travel up north of Pakistan, this book would resonate with any travel enthusiast, adventure seeker or just anyone looking for a good story to read. Glad I read it myself enroute a tour, so the association formed is a strong one. Might just resume writing my own travel stories after this. 😅 A good read.
Based on 4 friends and their travel up north of Pakistan, this book would resonate with any travel enthusiast, adventure seeker or just anyone looking for a good story to read. Glad I read it myself enroute a tour, so the association formed is a strong one. Might just resume writing my own travel stories after this. 😅 A good read.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was my fastest read of this year, yet. Completed this in 3 days only!
This was a nice read. The concept/plot of the story was an interesting one (time travel, but in a coffee cafe), and the language and pace of the story was simple and steady, making it very easy to read. The book also shed a bit of light on Japanese society/culture, which I really liked. Though the story is set in more of theatre/script writing than an actual novel, with four different stories as chapters around the same centrepoint. The stories were simple, nothing too complicated, and that was a fresher after my pretty heavy reads recently.
Having said that, I cannot say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book. At a lot of times, it would feel a little drab; not very strong storytelling or gripping nature of writing, which could help me feel more 'connected' with the story, even though the stories are supposed to be emotional in it. Something about the narration didn't appeal to me as much as I was anticipating it to, which can partly be due to its essence being lost in the translation, and partly because of my own very heavy and strongly engrossing reads in the past months which had set the bar high.
All in all, a nice, light read. Would recommend it to anyone looking for something light to read. Though won't pick it back up any sooner.
This was a nice read. The concept/plot of the story was an interesting one (time travel, but in a coffee cafe), and the language and pace of the story was simple and steady, making it very easy to read. The book also shed a bit of light on Japanese society/culture, which I really liked. Though the story is set in more of theatre/script writing than an actual novel, with four different stories as chapters around the same centrepoint. The stories were simple, nothing too complicated, and that was a fresher after my pretty heavy reads recently.
Having said that, I cannot say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book. At a lot of times, it would feel a little drab; not very strong storytelling or gripping nature of writing, which could help me feel more 'connected' with the story, even though the stories are supposed to be emotional in it. Something about the narration didn't appeal to me as much as I was anticipating it to, which can partly be due to its essence being lost in the translation, and partly because of my own very heavy and strongly engrossing reads in the past months which had set the bar high.
All in all, a nice, light read. Would recommend it to anyone looking for something light to read. Though won't pick it back up any sooner.
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Bismillah, Peace be upon The Prophet, Muhammad Sallalahu alaihi wassalam.
This was a very different read than I have had lately. This book is a biography on Muhammad (PBUH), detailing from before his birth, and ending with his departure from this world and his final words and teachings.
Being a Muslim, I was already aware of most of the historical facts, but reading about them in a nuanced context was so refreshing. Specially liked how each important character , the Sahaba Karaam(R.A) were introduced in a character like manner, each having their own stories running through out the book. Reading through the historical facts and stories with their respective backgrounds made so much sense. The author has done a commendable job writing a book like this, which is very easy to understand in pieces, but can get complex in entirety, but that's inevitable, considering the actual richness of Muhammad's (S.A.W) life, which can get books upon books written yet still not be detailed enough ❤️
Overall, a lovely, lovely read. Although this is a very thorough biography, but read it with a pinch of salt in terms of history- the accurateness of facts when it comes to the Prophet(S.A.W) or Islam's early days can only be verified by authentic religious books by religious scholars.
This was a very different read than I have had lately. This book is a biography on Muhammad (PBUH), detailing from before his birth, and ending with his departure from this world and his final words and teachings.
Being a Muslim, I was already aware of most of the historical facts, but reading about them in a nuanced context was so refreshing. Specially liked how each important character , the Sahaba Karaam(R.A) were introduced in a character like manner, each having their own stories running through out the book. Reading through the historical facts and stories with their respective backgrounds made so much sense. The author has done a commendable job writing a book like this, which is very easy to understand in pieces, but can get complex in entirety, but that's inevitable, considering the actual richness of Muhammad's (S.A.W) life, which can get books upon books written yet still not be detailed enough ❤️
Overall, a lovely, lovely read. Although this is a very thorough biography, but read it with a pinch of salt in terms of history- the accurateness of facts when it comes to the Prophet(S.A.W) or Islam's early days can only be verified by authentic religious books by religious scholars.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
What a compelling, heart wrenching read! The kind that leaves you thinking about it for long. On one hand, I'm glad I got to finish this novel with a weather outside that resembles the tone of this novel for me to form a stronger association, and on the other hand, I feel like I'd need at least 2 business days to recover from Wuthering Heights.
Reviewing Wuthering Heights is not easy. The complexities of this novel are numerous; from touching on societal aspects to psychological ones, it draws its characters in a non linear fashion and colors them in non-monochromatic tones, yet, at the same time, the simplicity of the anguish of an unrequited love traverses the whole expanse of the novel in an unmistakable way.
I found myself grieving over Edgar's death, I found myself feeling sorry for Hareton's despair and I found myself flowing along with the characters and their lives; a testament of Bronte's excellent writing skills.
As for Heathcliff, the lever of this story, I found myself sometimes sympathizing with him and at other times despising him, yet still rooting for him through it all, in a twisted way. This is the second proper Gothic novel I've read (after Frankenstein) and I've enjoyed in them both, the intertwining between the hero and the villain of the story, with a single lead character being both.
I was told by someone that Wuthering Heights would break my heart. I won't go so far as to say it has really done so, but it sure has wrung it down enough for me to take a while to recover from it. The story is powerful, the dialogues effective, and the narration intelligent. Wuthering Heights is a must read for everyone.
Reviewing Wuthering Heights is not easy. The complexities of this novel are numerous; from touching on societal aspects to psychological ones, it draws its characters in a non linear fashion and colors them in non-monochromatic tones, yet, at the same time, the simplicity of the anguish of an unrequited love traverses the whole expanse of the novel in an unmistakable way.
I found myself grieving over Edgar's death, I found myself feeling sorry for Hareton's despair and I found myself flowing along with the characters and their lives; a testament of Bronte's excellent writing skills.
As for Heathcliff, the lever of this story, I found myself sometimes sympathizing with him and at other times despising him, yet still rooting for him through it all, in a twisted way. This is the second proper Gothic novel I've read (after Frankenstein) and I've enjoyed in them both, the intertwining between the hero and the villain of the story, with a single lead character being both.
I was told by someone that Wuthering Heights would break my heart. I won't go so far as to say it has really done so, but it sure has wrung it down enough for me to take a while to recover from it. The story is powerful, the dialogues effective, and the narration intelligent. Wuthering Heights is a must read for everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Different than Austen's usual romance novels, Sense and Sensibility was fitting to its name - a story revolving around 2 sisters and their differing traits from each other, I liked this novel for its brilliant satire, sarcastic undertones and a set of characters and pace of story that moved really well. Elinor is amongst my favorite heroines of Austen now, but I find relevance more in Marianne, and you know the novel did justice well to both the characters when you find yourself struggling to choose your favorite amongst the two strikingly different leads. Sense and Sensibility is a novel I enjoyed thoroughly, and would like to pick up sometime soon again.
Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl, Kami Garcia
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was a fantasy fiction I had read after a long while and I wasn't disappointed. The plot is well set, the story develops at a good pace and the characters are diverse, yet not too scattered to not keep up with.
Starting from the book cover which speaks of goth itself, the story is towards the dark side from pretty much the beginning. Not too dark, though, just a lot of light and dark magic, different creatures and powers, and the like.
One thing I PARTICULARLY liked about it is that despite being portrayed as a romance level by the description, it wasn't a regular sappy sort of romance book, which I was sort of dreading it to be. Even though the lovestory of Lena and Ethan WAS the centre point of the whole novel, the story didn't revolve around it only. We get a good look at supporting characters, learn about why they are the way they are, the whole story and history of Casters and the town of Gatlin, and the romance part itself is a stable one.
A good read, this was. Found out a movie has been made, too, will be checking that out now!
Starting from the book cover which speaks of goth itself, the story is towards the dark side from pretty much the beginning. Not too dark, though, just a lot of light and dark magic, different creatures and powers, and the like.
One thing I PARTICULARLY liked about it is that despite being portrayed as a romance level by the description, it wasn't a regular sappy sort of romance book, which I was sort of dreading it to be. Even though the lovestory of Lena and Ethan WAS the centre point of the whole novel, the story didn't revolve around it only. We get a good look at supporting characters, learn about why they are the way they are, the whole story and history of Casters and the town of Gatlin, and the romance part itself is a stable one.
A good read, this was. Found out a movie has been made, too, will be checking that out now!
Persuasion by Jane Austen
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was my second Austen read after Pride and Prejudice, so I'd say I already had some sort of bias in my mind as to what I anticipated in this book.
Persuasion is a slow novel. The writing is beautiful, as expected of Austen, and the characters diverse. Uh, a little too diverse for my liking, though, for I'd find myself struggling to remember which is which, and how are they all related, which they were, in complicated ways.
Unlike the majority who regard Austen's novels for their romance mainly, I find the intricate description of societal and family ways in them more amusing. And in many many ways, the resemblance of the societal microbehaviours as described back in 1800s English culture, with the current Desi or South Asian one is too uncanny for me to not notice. And that, for me, is the true delight of classic novels; that close look into societal frameworks, the family structures, the expectations and reactions, make you learn about a society in a very different light than what anthropological texts can tell. Will definitely be diving more into Austen to discover more of this.
As for the romance part, it's the mature type, and a realistic one. Austen explores the story of two lovers who called off their engagement in their youth, because of 'persuasion' (gettit, gettit??) from friends and family who didn't approve of their union, only to come back to each other much later and find out that their love, though crumpled by the time, hasn't faded completely.
I've given it a 3.75, because the plot was too slow and the storyline too thick at few points. Moreover, I felt the male protagonist (Captain Wentworth) is not drawn as clearly as the hero should have been. We instead get detailed description of Benwick and Mr. Elliott, but not much about Wentworth, neither of the past nor present , to really understand how he had been like. The female protagonist, though wise and mature, was a bit too soft and mellow, almost tilting to the people-pleasing side. I understand that's part of what makes Austen's characters so real and relatable; not all of them can be strong willed or witty or clever, and with that, the story does do justice to being real. A good read, all in all, though I won't like to read it again very soon.
Persuasion is a slow novel. The writing is beautiful, as expected of Austen, and the characters diverse. Uh, a little too diverse for my liking, though, for I'd find myself struggling to remember which is which, and how are they all related, which they were, in complicated ways.
Unlike the majority who regard Austen's novels for their romance mainly, I find the intricate description of societal and family ways in them more amusing. And in many many ways, the resemblance of the societal microbehaviours as described back in 1800s English culture, with the current Desi or South Asian one is too uncanny for me to not notice. And that, for me, is the true delight of classic novels; that close look into societal frameworks, the family structures, the expectations and reactions, make you learn about a society in a very different light than what anthropological texts can tell. Will definitely be diving more into Austen to discover more of this.
As for the romance part, it's the mature type, and a realistic one. Austen explores the story of two lovers who called off their engagement in their youth, because of 'persuasion' (gettit, gettit??) from friends and family who didn't approve of their union, only to come back to each other much later and find out that their love, though crumpled by the time, hasn't faded completely.
I've given it a 3.75, because the plot was too slow and the storyline too thick at few points. Moreover, I felt the male protagonist (Captain Wentworth) is not drawn as clearly as the hero should have been. We instead get detailed description of Benwick and Mr. Elliott, but not much about Wentworth, neither of the past nor present , to really understand how he had been like. The female protagonist, though wise and mature, was a bit too soft and mellow, almost tilting to the people-pleasing side. I understand that's part of what makes Austen's characters so real and relatable; not all of them can be strong willed or witty or clever, and with that, the story does do justice to being real. A good read, all in all, though I won't like to read it again very soon.