bookschharming's reviews
478 reviews

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

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4.0

If somebody asks me to describe this book in a single word, it would be Ironic. The Kite Runner is my first read of Khaled Hosseini. It is a story of two boys Amir and Hassan, based on Afghanistan. They grew up together, but an incident after the kite tournament changes the dynamic of their relationship.

Amir's father is a well-known and respected man in Kabul. He always stood up against the wrong, but his son lacks this quality. Whenever someone troubles Amir, he does nothing. It was Hassan who stood for him, fight Amir's battles. Hassan considered him as his best friend, but for Amir, he was just a son of a servant. When he needs Amir's help the most, he turned his back. The guilt stayed in his heart for the rest of his life.

Soon things started to change politically in Afghanistan, and Amir and his father flee to America. They both miss their time spent with Hassan, his father Ali, and Rahim Khan, but they acquainted with their new life shortly. Amir married to Soraya and living a sound life. But a phone call from Pakistan changes his life forever. It was Rahim Khan who was dying and wanted to meet him. Amir knows in his heart that it is a bad idea to go there, but he still proceeds and discovered the truth about Hassan and his family.

He travels to Kabul to settle some old debts and seeking redemption. The trip alters his life forever. Everything he knows about his motherland is changed now. People lost humanity, hope. The gruesome murders, corruption is the new reality of Afghanistan. In the midst, Amir tries to do some good for the sake of his lost friend Hassan. So, that he can earn some dignity and self-respect, he always lacks.

Khaled Hosseini wrote an artistic, but a melancholic tale. One can feel the pain of Hassan, and all the other boys, who go through debasement. This book leaves a long sadistic impact on me. The language is lucid, the narrative is smooth. The story has genuine and wicked people, and when you read about them, it will break and melt your heart. I highly recommend this book.

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French - Si quelqu'un me demande de décrire ce livre en un seul mot, ce serait ironique. The Kite Runner est ma première lecture de Khaled Hosseini . C'est l'histoire de deux garçons, Amir et Hassan, basés en Afghanistan. Ils ont grandi ensemble, mais un incident après le tournoi de cerf-volant change la dynamique de leur relation.

Le père d'Amir est un homme bien connu et respecté à Kaboul. Il s'est toujours opposé au mal, mais son fils n'a pas cette qualité. Chaque fois que quelqu'un dérange Amir, il ne fait rien. C'était Hassan qui le défendait, combattait les batailles d'Amir. Hassan le considérait comme son meilleur ami, mais pour Amir, il n'était qu'un fils de serviteur. Lorsqu'il a le plus besoin de l'aide d'Amir, il lui tourne le dos. La culpabilité est restée dans son cœur pour le reste de sa vie.

Bientôt, les choses ont commencé à changer politiquement en Afghanistan, et Amir et son père se sont enfuis en Amérique. Ils manquent tous les deux leur temps passé avec Hassan, son père Ali et Rahim Khan, mais ils se sont familiarisés avec leur nouvelle vie sous peu. Amir s'est marié avec Soraya et mène une vie saine. Mais un appel téléphonique du Pakistan change sa vie pour toujours. C'était Rahim Khan qui était mourant et voulait le rencontrer. Amir sait dans son cœur que c'est une mauvaise idée d'y aller, mais il continue et découvre la vérité sur Hassan et sa famille.

Il se rend à Kaboul pour régler certaines anciennes dettes et demander le rachat. Le voyage modifie sa vie pour toujours. Tout ce qu'il sait de sa patrie a changé maintenant. Les gens ont perdu l'humanité, l'espoir. Les meurtres horribles, la corruption est la nouvelle réalité de l'Afghanistan. Au milieu, Amir essaie de faire du bien pour le bien de son ami perdu Hassan. Pour qu'il puisse gagner de la dignité et du respect de soi, il lui manque toujours.

Khaled Hosseini a écrit un conte artistique mais mélancolique. On sent la douleur d'Hassan et de tous les autres garçons qui subissent l'avilissement. Ce livre me laisse un long impact sadique. La langue est lucide, la narration est fluide. L'histoire a des gens authentiques et méchants, et quand vous les lirez, elle brisera et fera fondre votre cœur. Je recommande fortement ce liver.
12 years a slave : A true story by Solomon Northup

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4.0

It is a true story of a free man who is forced into slavery. Solomon Northup was born and brought up in Saratoga County, New York, married to Anne, and had three children. He was tricked by two men named Brown and Hamilton, they kidnapped him and sold in Washington. He was a slave for 12 years under different masters. One of them is Edwin Epps, who is a drunkard and has no humanity. He was merciless, and for his entertainment, he beats the slaves to death.

In the words of the author, my back is thick with scars for protesting my freedom. They didn't only steal his freedom but everything he stands for. When he tried to tell the truth, he was beaten ruthlessly. They changed his name to Platt and sold to a far land where he has to accept his destiny and hides the truth in order to survive. He knows if he ever utters a single word and tells anybody that he is a free man, his master will kill him. So, he does all the hard work and endures beatings like every other slave.

All the slaves feared their masters, but Solomon sometimes gets an eye-to-eye that nearly costs him his life many times. He still hoped to be free again and return to his family. He laid out plans to escape, also tried to contact his friends and family. But he got betrayed, and the hope is diminishing day by day. Until a savior came to his life and made a mission to reach Solomon's family so they can rescue him.

Solomon Northup obtained freedom in January 1853 and wrote this book the same year, which is considered as the best slave narrative of all time. This novel gives insight into the slavery practice, judicial authorities of different states, inhumane punishments for black people. The author also accords the treatment towards other slaves; he witnessed in those 12 years. It is a heart-wrenching story, and one of the best classics I've ever read. Without a doubt, pick this book and read it asap.

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Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks

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2.0

This is my first read by this author, Nicholas Sparks. It is a story about Russell Green and his family. Russ who always tried so hard to make his family happy and a hard-working guy. Vivian, a selfish, complaining and dominating woman who is so much into shopping.

It is a reflection of Russ's life and the vivid memories he has of their meeting and marrying Vivian. They never had a spark in their relationship especially when Russ quit the job and start his own advertising agency. The only bright spot of the book is the relationship between Russ and his daughter London which is developed day by day and it is so sweet. There are other characters too. Emily, Russell's ex-girlfriend. Marge, elder sister of Russ and her live-in partner Liz. Russell's parents were busy with their own lives.

Russ is a guy in his early thirties, fighting to keep his life on track. He loves his daughter and wife but things have changed when London is almost six and his wife wants to go back to work because she thinks they need more money. She also loves her daughter and scared to lose her. But she is the only character one can hate the most. The way she does things and says in the book is hurtful. Russ is old-fashioned and does everything to please his wife even he knows he's doing wrong but he portrayed as helpless by the author. Emily's son Bodhi becomes London's best friend. Russ and Emily slowly renew their friendship as their children's lives touch. When Russ go through the divorce and don't know how to fix all things, Marge and Emily helped him a lot.

There is sadness, loss, and struggle but it is balanced by the love of family, friends, and renewed love. The relationship between Russell and London was well portrayed by the author. But the way Vivian blames his husband for everything and Russ who never stand for himself was a bit annoying. Russ always wants to please his wife and daughter no matter how much he got hurt in the process. I'm sure everyone wants at least once that Russell gives an answer to Vivian about his bad behavior but it doesn't happen either. It's an extremely long story and slow pacing. The first half about their same routine, again and again, was boring. I heard so much about the author but after reading this book I feel disappointed and the ending just made me roll my eyes. I certainly not recommend this book to anyone.

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The Oath of the Vayuputras by Amish

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3.0

The last book in Shiva Trilogy, The Oath of Vayuputras, started with the secrets of Brahaspati's passing and why he planned his demise. The fight between good and evil is now on its ultimate stage, but still, so many mysteries confused Shiva. Before he decides the path, which led to war; he wants to understand every aspect of Somras, and how it becomes evil.

When Shiva gets his answer, he prepared his army for war. Many will trust his lord Neelkanth and betrays Meluha, but many choose Dharma over their living God. Different allies came in the time of need, strategical plans were laid out perfectly, but Bhrigu (Rajguru of Meluha) with the help of King Daksha and Dilipa announced Shiva a fraud. Shiva was not chosen by the Vayuputras tribe. They were the people left behind by Lord Rudra to assist the new lord whenever he rises. Many of them against the Shiva, that made his task more challenging.

While the book named on Vayuputras, but their role was neither felt significant nor the author gave them much-needed space. There are so many monotonous things, and the story felt unnecessarily dragged. There are so many characters that you can't remember them all, but a few stand out like Kartik and Ganesh. I fancied the two action sequences the most. First, when Kartik battles with Magadhan's, and second, Sati's battle with the people of Aten tribes.

Everything is explained ideally so that readers don't have any loose ends. This book is all about the equilibrium between virtue and vice. It portrays that whenever darkness rises, it will be destroyed by the light. The people who are chosen by Gods will build a new path; despite the loss, they have to endure. The battle demanded sacrifices, and in this story, it took everything from Shiva. Even his reason to smile and live.

Amish Tripathi delivered a decent conclusion to this trilogy. The book is thick, but it is fast-paced. It is neither intriguing like The Immortals of Meluha nor crafty like The Secret of the Nagas, but still, it is a good one time read. If you haven't read the series yet, give it a try. It is good for novices.

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Arrive At Success: Conversations Between Networkers That Could Tell Lots About Your Future by Sandeep Nath

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4.0

Arrive at Success is a debut book written by Sandeep Nath, who is a global orator and mentor. The book comprises his experiences and the things he learned with other networkers. Quoting the author, "Network marketing is life at a higher vibratory level. It is the springboard for personal success and a designer life. And what's more, it provides a platform for us to design other's lives."

Imagine a future where you want to retire early or work only a few hours a week or have millions in your accounts. How will you fulfill your goals? The author explained Robert Kiyosaki's B-quadrant, where one cannot become rich by doing a job for someone else. You have to take risks. You have to invest money, and your assets will have to be more than your liabilities.

Sandeep Nath used some significant references and short stories to make readers understand the importance of network marketing. The narrative is manageable, but in some places, I felt aloof from the content. When I read the preamble, I knew that I will be going to like this book definitely. The author frankly talks about his ego, different opinions of his wife, and wherewith things will change for him after a few years.

His mentor played an important role, and he is doing the same for others. If one has to grow their network, they need to start meeting new people, understand their dynamics, and respect each other's differences. The chief teaching of this book is that we need to halt complaining of our hapless situations and initiate aiming towards something more influential. This book is fast-paced and best suitable for non-fiction lovers. If you are into reading business novels, and ready to learn about the network marketing dynamics, this book is for you.

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A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

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5.0

Arthur Conan Doyle first introduced Sherlock Holmes in this book. He created a world-famous character that people read even in the 21st century. There is a total of four parts in the series. This book grabbed my interest after I watch a Sherlock Holmes series on Netflix, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

A Study in Scarlet lays a plot of the astonishing partnership between Sherlock and Dr. John Watson. They become roommates, but there is something unusual about the Sherlock that John aspires to know more about him. Especially about his work, John makes different assumptions while Sherlock's ability to notice every tiny detail shocked John every day.

Sherlock's character portrayed as an aloof person, who prefers to keep his findings to himself; until the right time comes. A policeman named Gregston seeks Sherlock's aid in a murder case. From there, Watson learned his companion's profession; and piqued enough to assist him. There have been two deaths, at two different places, with one clue written on a wall - RACHE. Every trail leads the officers in the wrong direction, but Sherlock's peculiar ways found some reliable clues.

The story is divided into two parts. The first section narrates the murder inscrutability, and second, the motive of the killing and Sherlock's attempts to reveals the culprit. I saw the series, so know the details, but it doesn't make any difference because the story is gripping and fast-paced. I relished reading it as much as I enjoyed watching it.

I am reading classic books for the last few months, and trust me, this one becomes my favorite. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, The Sign of the Four. The author's writing is phenomenal, he created a world where one can just lose themselves, and experience the page-turning events. If you're a mystery lover, then this book is worthy of your time.

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Sniper's Eye by Mainak Dhar

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3.0

Sniper's Eye by Mainak Dhar is a suspense thriller. The plot based on a terrorist attack happens in Mumbai. It is the first book in the series of seven. The cover of a book goes admirably with the title. This is my first read of this author and I will look forward to more.

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Journey of a JuBu: How a neurotic Jew found his inner Bu by Blaine Langberg

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5.0

Journey of a JuBu is a debut book written by Blaine Langberg. It is based on a spiritual journey of the protagonist's alter ego. The story starts when a publisher tells Jacob Silverstein to drop his main character, Adam. If he does that, he has a chance to become a bestseller, but how can he kill Adam? Jacob created Adam so he can hide behind him. He was afraid to share his secrets, so killing Adam is like killing a part of himself.

He was 24 hours to decide, and he was adamant about not dropping Adam that he re-writes the whole story. Adam is arrogant, lost, and a total jerk. He has issues at the office, and he can't control his own body. Whenever he felt stress, his eye starts twitching. His refusal to seek medical guidance creates tension at home. Jacob has a tough task to change Adam's POV. He starts writing about his friends, who helped him in the process of getting better.

After a traumatic incident, Adam made his mind to be a better version of himself. He arrives into a Buddhist monastery, being Jewish, he has a hard time accepting certain facts. But the monks helped him in every possible way. He thought that now he is ready to face the world, but he has a long way to go. Life through some hard choices in front of him or we can say Jacob did, so he can finish his journey.

Adam's spouse Minnie represents a notable role, but her diverse perspectives on religion and spirituality bothered him. He wants Minnie to accept his beliefs, so she can also live a sound life. While Minnie has no intention of doing so. As they say, the spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. One can't force others to follow it.

Blaine Langberg wrote this story when he was dealing with anxiety. His narrative is heart touching and felt real. The characters are not perfect or superficial, they are humans. They made mistakes and learned from them. The book focuses on the traditional way of healing as well.

I read the book The Energy Healing Bible a few months ago. The author shows the way of healing by releasing memories that are stuck in our subconscious mind. These energies create different difficulties, like Adam's eye twitch, and Jacob's ear twitch.

Blaine Langberg focused on this aspect as well, which makes the story compelling. I like the scene when Jacob and Jesus discuss religion. The book is fast-paced and filled with humor. One point you are reading about spiritual stuff, and on another, about the television series, and Adam's naive behavior. To be honest, I never read a book like this. It is refreshing, entertaining, and connects with the readers. I highly recommend it.

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Nine Luminaries of Science: Interesting and Inspiring Facts about the Personal Lives of These Great Men and Woman by Joseph Mani

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5.0

Nine Luminaries of Science by Joseph Mani is based on the life of nine great scientists - Nicholaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, Jagdish Chandra Bose, Albert Einstein, C V Raman, Richard Feynman, and Stephen Hawking. The book has their education, scientific achievements, religious beliefs, and their details which a person didn't learn in textbooks.

Joseph Mani describes their marriages and personal traits fascinatingly. He talks about their early life and the influence of their parents, and family, which molds them. The author wrote eloquently. The narration could have been better.

I enjoyed the C V Raman, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein's sketches the most. I didn't know that Richard Feynman was a prankster, his pranks made me laugh. We were told that Einstein was a weak student, but that's not completely true. C V Raman's marriage life was considered a reform in Indian society. I think everybody should read this book to know more about behind the scenes. I love this book and would recommend it to every reader.

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