coffeedrops's reviews
53 reviews

দ্বিতীয় মানব by Humayun Ahmed

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I never thought I'd read a Bangla book with this much interest. Great recommendation by Rihal.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I'm writing this much later. I liked the book a lot and the fact that it was highly quotable. But there's just something about it and I don't think it's a 5/5.

The Ballad of Reading Gaol and Other Poems by Oscar Wilde

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75

Although I didn't understand a lot of the language and what was being sad, what I did understand was great. And the poems are very well structured and written as well.

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by Axel Scheffler, T.S. Eliot

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I liked it. It was a bit annoying at times but nothing I can't handle. I wasn't expecting anything significantly great going into it, it did it's job and gave me the fun I was looking for.

It was pretty obvious that Toby was going to be alive, a lot of the things in this book was obvious, but I still look forward to the next book. It was a fast read and something I kinda needed (after reading something like The Secret History). I also didn't particularly like any of the characters, except Alexander and Nash. I hate/dislike a lot of them tho, Libby being one of them.

Anyways, I went into this book looking for fun and I got fun and it even got me excited at times. Overall, I think was a good 6.5/10

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It wasn't bad, I like the first and the last parts, didn't really care or like more of the middle part. In the end I still don't really understand what it was all about though.

Gatsby was a hopeless romantic and that's kind of it. I wish I could say more about the book but I really have no clue what to say. It was interesting though how he died pretty much alone, even though it seemed like there was an abundance of people who happened to know him. Overall, I honestly didn't like the story if I think. Ik it's a classic and maybe I just didn't understand the significance and the meaning of a lot of it but it still doesn't change the fact that for the most part I was quite bored and the only interesting subject that kept me reading was Jay Gatsby. 2.75 or 3 out of 5 for me

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

It wasn't a bad read. I was constantly annoyed at the characters but that's simply how it was written; and although I did not find it that funny, it was still funny. Also, I can't get the pancake  scene out of my head, lol.

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 The second part was easier to read but I preferred the first part.

I agree that people will never be truly rational and that sometimes it is that irrationality that they value the most, in fact I myself am an example of that. Not in the way the UM is in the second part, but still the same in different ways. I find peace in insanity sometimes and I wouldn't give that up for no rationality whatsoever, even if it costs me my well being. That's what makes me me. If everything I did was rational I think I'd be nothing more than a clog in a machine, there's no place for my free will there. (I'm just rambling, hope it makes some sense.) The constant pursuit of learning about new things is a big part of what keeps me alive. If I'm devoid of it for too long it's not exaggeration to say that I kind of fall into a sort of madness. And there was a part about this in the book. It is the process of taking in that information and learning about something that is more important to me that actually having learnt that information. I won't be satisfied even if I were given an immense amount of knowledge at once put into my head, as there's no enjoyment in it for me even though I know that going through the whole process of learning it on my own is inefficient than simply getting the final product. Humans will never be completely rational and a perfect society isn't possible. Anyways, that is all for me, I'll end this ramble here.

 In general I liked the book and it's ideas and I thought everyone should read it. It's the kind of book I realize that I have to read more than just once to truly understand, and I shall do that sometime. But for now I think I will take a break from it and read some more happy stuff.
Inital rating: 3.8/5

A Thousand Mornings: Poems by Mary Oliver

2.0

This was my first time reading a poem collection and I didn't like it at all. Probably should've started with the poems of a better more known author like Sylvia Path.