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berrycedar's reviews
107 reviews
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Ok so here are my thoughts:
The book definitely holds immense emotional power. The climaxes feel like Clint Eastwood's action movies but the development of the story is certainly top notch. Maybe the book just serves to satisfy western readers and their beliefs about Afghanistan. As someone who only grew up in a middle class family, the author is probably unable to provide an insider's look to the harsh realities even though it might seem to an outsider as if it's revealing a lot. But even so, the book captures a good array of themes.
The book definitely holds immense emotional power. The climaxes feel like Clint Eastwood's action movies but the development of the story is certainly top notch. Maybe the book just serves to satisfy western readers and their beliefs about Afghanistan. As someone who only grew up in a middle class family, the author is probably unable to provide an insider's look to the harsh realities even though it might seem to an outsider as if it's revealing a lot. But even so, the book captures a good array of themes.
Happening by Annie Ernaux
5.0
There is something wrong with the review system. I actually want to rate this book 5 stars but it doesn't work. Anyway, it's a fascinating read. I don't know if writings about abortion is rare, but this was certainly my first book on the subject. It's an essay written in a fiction-like and also autobiographical tone (duh!) Even though this is a translation, I believe the translator has done a brilliant job in keeping the writing interesting.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
5.0
The picture of Dorian Gray
To start off, I just have to say “the picture of dorian gray” is an amazing read. The writing style is fabulous and Wilde truly has made “good art’ with this novel.
While reading TPDG, I couldn’t help but notice that it really is a very very long drama and not a novel. Oscar Wilde’s infatuation with the “Elizabethan period” drama is visible. His characters are upper class people, unlike the regular-society people associated with the novel. This novel is filled with Shakespeare/Marlowe kind of characters. There’s dramatic irony, personification, imagery and symbolism of the highest level and the characters eke their lives only towards doom courtesy of their own actions.
This novel starts off by giving us a picture of what is to become of our protagonist from the very start. What I mean to say is this: I see Lord Henry as a personification of the immorality that is incumbent upon Dorian and the picture of Dorian Gray is the soul of Dorian Gray. Wilde introduces us to the character and the soul of our protagonist much before his actual entry in the story. In a way, Dorian Gray is just the vessel that carries Lord Henry. As Henry’s influence over Dorian grows, his soul- the picture shows it to us.
This novel is highly misogynistic, classist, racist all at once. Going by Wilde’s own standards of judging an artwork (judge an art by how it’s expresses and not by what the subject is), it’ll escape the criticism it deserves. However, reading the second last chapter throws light on why he adopts such a stance (of stereotyping). Paraphrasing Wilde: the society only deems an artwork as immoral when it is a reflection of what is going on in the society. This single statement, I believe, redeems Wilde from the accusations as it would seem that he is trying to actually portray/criticise the society.
My favourite chapter by far was the one involving the quick round of retorts with the Duchess, Lord Henry and Dorian. It provided a nice change of pace from the irritating passages involving Lord Henry charming everyone with his self-impression of being better than others. Finally, it would seem Lord Henry’s ego has met a match. It would have been better if such situations were present in more abundance.
Lord Henry is by far the most irritating character I have ever come across in my whole journey of literature. His smugness and the requirement to quip after everything anyone says; imagine meeting such a person in real life and you’ll understand why I hate him. I don’t know what kind of character Wilde was trying to create with Lord Henry but it felt to me like he put forward some points which I could agree on albeit there wasn’t exactly a cornucopia of such statements.
Overall I think this is a really really enjoyable novel and now I have earned the right to read something more relaxed and light than this.
To start off, I just have to say “the picture of dorian gray” is an amazing read. The writing style is fabulous and Wilde truly has made “good art’ with this novel.
While reading TPDG, I couldn’t help but notice that it really is a very very long drama and not a novel. Oscar Wilde’s infatuation with the “Elizabethan period” drama is visible. His characters are upper class people, unlike the regular-society people associated with the novel. This novel is filled with Shakespeare/Marlowe kind of characters. There’s dramatic irony, personification, imagery and symbolism of the highest level and the characters eke their lives only towards doom courtesy of their own actions.
This novel starts off by giving us a picture of what is to become of our protagonist from the very start. What I mean to say is this: I see Lord Henry as a personification of the immorality that is incumbent upon Dorian and the picture of Dorian Gray is the soul of Dorian Gray. Wilde introduces us to the character and the soul of our protagonist much before his actual entry in the story. In a way, Dorian Gray is just the vessel that carries Lord Henry. As Henry’s influence over Dorian grows, his soul- the picture shows it to us.
This novel is highly misogynistic, classist, racist all at once. Going by Wilde’s own standards of judging an artwork (judge an art by how it’s expresses and not by what the subject is), it’ll escape the criticism it deserves. However, reading the second last chapter throws light on why he adopts such a stance (of stereotyping). Paraphrasing Wilde: the society only deems an artwork as immoral when it is a reflection of what is going on in the society. This single statement, I believe, redeems Wilde from the accusations as it would seem that he is trying to actually portray/criticise the society.
My favourite chapter by far was the one involving the quick round of retorts with the Duchess, Lord Henry and Dorian. It provided a nice change of pace from the irritating passages involving Lord Henry charming everyone with his self-impression of being better than others. Finally, it would seem Lord Henry’s ego has met a match. It would have been better if such situations were present in more abundance.
Lord Henry is by far the most irritating character I have ever come across in my whole journey of literature. His smugness and the requirement to quip after everything anyone says; imagine meeting such a person in real life and you’ll understand why I hate him. I don’t know what kind of character Wilde was trying to create with Lord Henry but it felt to me like he put forward some points which I could agree on albeit there wasn’t exactly a cornucopia of such statements.
Overall I think this is a really really enjoyable novel and now I have earned the right to read something more relaxed and light than this.
The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry by J.D. McClatchy
4.0
A book of amazing poems but lacks representation of people of colour.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Ultra misogynystic, the female characters server no other purpose but to advance the plot for the male protagonists. But heck, the book hit me like a tight slap of sadness. Zafon plays with feelings of loss like a master. The ending is a tinge of many colours.
It also used the backdrop of the Spanish civil war to tell a tale about the harmfulness of stereotypes and rumours. It's characters are of many layers, and Zafon uses 'redemption arcs' if you will, to tell you to not judge a book by it's cover. To not believe in what you hear from other and not make presumptions about a person based on first impressions
It also used the backdrop of the Spanish civil war to tell a tale about the harmfulness of stereotypes and rumours. It's characters are of many layers, and Zafon uses 'redemption arcs' if you will, to tell you to not judge a book by it's cover. To not believe in what you hear from other and not make presumptions about a person based on first impressions
Feminisms: A Global History by Lucy Delap
5.0
A book on feminism that is not racist, colonial apologist, transphobic or anti socialist. Yes, highly recommend.
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
4.0
Heart wrenching- beautifully. I deduct a star for the flawed transgender representation.