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buthainna's reviews
342 reviews
Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
It was precisely 3 months that I spent reading this book, and I basked in every word.
Kokoro is an elusive word, though it may simply be translated as "heart", it means so much more.
I had stumbled upon Kokoro in the haze of melancholy I found myself in after rereading Dazai's No Longer Human back in January.
Apart from some short stories, I had never read any full-length works of Soseki's.
Some historical background is essential for fully enjoying this masterpiece.
It is set during the Meiji era, a time of transformation in Japanese history where the country welcomed Western trade, and consequently, opened its doors to Western values and beliefs. Ideas of individualism were introduced, and adopted by the new generation.
Our unnamed protagonist is a young university student living in such an era.
He meets Sensei, a dark, self-deprecating, mysterious older man. Whom as we read more about, we soon understand that Sensei is living two painfully conflicting dualities.
Between the confucian beliefs of the previous era, and the individualism of the current one.
Even if you know about none of that, this novel remains an utter masterpiece in its portrayal of the human heart, mind, and spirit.
Absolutely a new favorite of mine. I'll be reading more of Soseki in the future
Absolutely a new favorite of mine. I'll be reading more of Soseki in the future
Educated by Tara Westover
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
I got bored of the audiobook. It's not bad but I wasn't keeping up with the story, I think I'll have to read it.
الحفرة السعيدة by أنس أحمد كرزون
3.0
كتاب قصير جدا وبسيط
ما اضاف لي الروحانية المطلوبة بصراحة وما وجدت فيه ما ابحث عنه
ما اضاف لي الروحانية المطلوبة بصراحة وما وجدت فيه ما ابحث عنه
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
3.0
Addiction is a hideous monster
It's depressing how he still died from it after writing this
No matter what modern society is trying to convince me of, family and marriage and stability ARE important. The phrase "unaccompanied minor" will haunt me for a long time.
It's depressing how he still died from it after writing this
No matter what modern society is trying to convince me of, family and marriage and stability ARE important. The phrase "unaccompanied minor" will haunt me for a long time.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
4.0
It's crazy how much she went through behind cameras.
I never expected her to have such a tough life
I never expected her to have such a tough life
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
3.0
amazing sequel I have no complaints although I think I'm getting a little burned out because I'm reading these long ass books one after another. it seems the third book is written in dual POVs which is pretty darn exciting but for now I'll be taking a little break from the series.
the cliffhanger was just phenomenal . we finally have an idea of what is outside the fence and I don't know how the author is going to tie everything in just one more book. I have very high hopes for allegiant.
This book tris is imprisoned by erudite, experiments are done on her in order to figure out how divergent brains work, and how Jeanine could control them better. Unfortunately, things get frail between Trish and Tobias as she suffers through the haze of grief and guilt from her parents deaths Caleb's betrayal, and her killing Will.
most of the book she is working on her own and devising her own plans. I honestly never thought Christina would be her ally in her crazy plan. She always felt like a red flag to me from the first book but I guess I was wrong.
the cliffhanger was just phenomenal . we finally have an idea of what is outside the fence and I don't know how the author is going to tie everything in just one more book. I have very high hopes for allegiant.
This book tris is imprisoned by erudite, experiments are done on her in order to figure out how divergent brains work, and how Jeanine could control them better. Unfortunately, things get frail between Trish and Tobias as she suffers through the haze of grief and guilt from her parents deaths Caleb's betrayal, and her killing Will.
most of the book she is working on her own and devising her own plans. I honestly never thought Christina would be her ally in her crazy plan. She always felt like a red flag to me from the first book but I guess I was wrong.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
4.0
I'm totally hooked! I feared that I wouldn't enjoy dystopian YA in my 20s but this book proved my wrong thank god!
Divergent focused mostly on establishing the world, I'm hoping the next book will explore the characters more, and I hope it has higher stakes.
*SPOILERS FROM HERE UNTIL THE END*
Society is divided into 5 factions, established by the government long long ago. Each faction values one trait above all else; bravery, peace, knowledge, truth, and selflessness. At the age of 16, all kids get to choose to stay at the factions they were born in, or transfer to another one, based on aptitude tests they have to take.
When Beatrice takes her test, she discovers that she doesn't fit one faction more than the other, rather she's Divergent. She chooses to go into Dauntless because she's always been fascinated by their bravery.
When she gets there, she meets a young trainer called Four, and romance develops between them.
Together they find out that the Erudite faction wants to start a war, and the book ends with Beatrice discovering that her own mother is also Divergent, and that she was originally born in Dauntless. Both her parents sacrifice themselves for her.
and the book ends with Four, Caleb her brother, Four's father, and she herself are on the run to Amity. The peace faction
Divergent focused mostly on establishing the world, I'm hoping the next book will explore the characters more, and I hope it has higher stakes.
*SPOILERS FROM HERE UNTIL THE END*
Society is divided into 5 factions, established by the government long long ago. Each faction values one trait above all else; bravery, peace, knowledge, truth, and selflessness. At the age of 16, all kids get to choose to stay at the factions they were born in, or transfer to another one, based on aptitude tests they have to take.
When Beatrice takes her test, she discovers that she doesn't fit one faction more than the other, rather she's Divergent. She chooses to go into Dauntless because she's always been fascinated by their bravery.
When she gets there, she meets a young trainer called Four, and romance develops between them.
Together they find out that the Erudite faction wants to start a war, and the book ends with Beatrice discovering that her own mother is also Divergent, and that she was originally born in Dauntless. Both her parents sacrifice themselves for her.
and the book ends with Four, Caleb her brother, Four's father, and she herself are on the run to Amity. The peace faction
Swap Club by Lauren Wise
0.0
I don't think I've ever read something this terrible before. Waste of time
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
2.75
this is one of my least favorite YA novels that I have ever read. Unfortunately, I could not relate to the protagonist, and I did not understand her. I didn't understand any of the characters for that matter she hated them one day she was their best friend the next day, I just couldn't understand. It felt like the author had vivid, descriptions and images, and a clear vision for these characters only inside her head, but she couldn't really translate it so well into words for us to understand, and I couldn't even understand the romance between the protagonist and the boy she likes I couldn't appreciate when they actually started liking each other
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
2.0
this is not a bad book. I just personally did not enjoy it. It was not what I expected it to be. I thought it would be a lot more philosophical and self reflecting, and even though it was that way at times, it was mostly about palliative care, and nursing homes and caring for the elderly and what it is that matter is most to people at the end of their lives, and how we as medical professionals should deal with it.
it was almost mind numbingly boring at times, and if I hadn't had the audiobook then I probably would never have finished reading it.
it was almost mind numbingly boring at times, and if I hadn't had the audiobook then I probably would never have finished reading it.