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dejnozkova's reviews
135 reviews
The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I enjoyed that this book covered many different facets of Egyptian culture and showed the many faces of the country, especially during such a tumultuous time, so this was an eye-opening book as far as outlining societal attitudes and political opinions. The book is solidly written, and for having so many characters it did a good job of balancing vices and virtues in the characters, making them believable. I think that the sexuality in the novel (which many find gratuitous or excessive) actually works well to ground many of the characters and reminds us that they’re human beings; sexuality in the novel is used to bind the characters together and level them as equals. It also contradicts a western view of “Islamic” societies being inherently conservative and devoid of love and passion —a view which goes against history in the first place but whatever 🙃 —which I think would make the average westerner think twice about their perception of Egyptians and their neighbors.
I didn’t rate this book so highly because I personally felt the writing style didn’t hold my attention. It wasn’t that it was bad, but it wasn’t intriguing to my tastes I guess. I also had a hard time getting engrossed in any of the characters because there were so many of them and the chapters weren’t marked with whose perspective I was reading, so I spent a lot of time trying to remember what happened to who and trying to figure out what was going on from chapter to chapter. I understand the purpose for so many perspectives and the role they played in the novel but it just made things confusing for me, which made it harder to attach to any of the narratives whole-heartedly. I think with a novel like this trying to highlight the diversity of a community and the many sides to a conflict, it might be better to write a series of short stories or vignettes that are somehow related to each other in the end rather than constantly flipping from person to person every other chapter.
Overall I do understand why The Yacoubian Building is held in high esteem in contemporary Egyptian literature, it just wasn’t entirely to my tastes.
I didn’t rate this book so highly because I personally felt the writing style didn’t hold my attention. It wasn’t that it was bad, but it wasn’t intriguing to my tastes I guess. I also had a hard time getting engrossed in any of the characters because there were so many of them and the chapters weren’t marked with whose perspective I was reading, so I spent a lot of time trying to remember what happened to who and trying to figure out what was going on from chapter to chapter. I understand the purpose for so many perspectives and the role they played in the novel but it just made things confusing for me, which made it harder to attach to any of the narratives whole-heartedly. I think with a novel like this trying to highlight the diversity of a community and the many sides to a conflict, it might be better to write a series of short stories or vignettes that are somehow related to each other in the end rather than constantly flipping from person to person every other chapter.
Overall I do understand why The Yacoubian Building is held in high esteem in contemporary Egyptian literature, it just wasn’t entirely to my tastes.
Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This is my first experience reading Ocean Vuong’s work and I am shocked to see by many reviews that this is his weakest work? Because through this collection I fell in love with Vuong’s style —the smooth transitions, parallelisms, moments of reflection, seamlessly drawn connections, turns of phrases being flipped and tossed, unique combinations of imagery, etc.. The mood of this collection is reflective and bittersweet, beauty intertwined with tragedy, sex paired with destruction, the grief that comes from loving —that the pleasures and joys of the world are inextricably entwined in loss and pain.
I do have to agree with some criticisms I’ve seen where in some places some pieces do show a little bit of an “Instagram poetry” influence, but tbh I don’t think this is a weak collection as a whole and still enjoyed a good handful of the poems within.
I do have to agree with some criticisms I’ve seen where in some places some pieces do show a little bit of an “Instagram poetry” influence, but tbh I don’t think this is a weak collection as a whole and still enjoyed a good handful of the poems within.
The Collected Poems by Sylvia Plath
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
While I see the merit in Plath’s poetry, and why she is a major figure in American literary canon, I don’t think she’s quite to my personal taste as far as style and focus.
That said she does excellent work conjuring vibrant imagery with many of her pieces carrying dark and eerie undertones. She references magic, biblical canon and Greek mythology quite often —ESPECIALLY in relation to womanhood and kinship. In her later poems she touches on heavy topics such as the Holocaust and miscarriage. She’s an observant poet but not exactly an activist type —she internalizes conflict and social issues and reflects on the turmoil they cause in her own mind. I would describe her as silent and introspective, peering into the darkness from what would seem to be an ordinary life to an unsuspecting outsider.
That said she does excellent work conjuring vibrant imagery with many of her pieces carrying dark and eerie undertones. She references magic, biblical canon and Greek mythology quite often —ESPECIALLY in relation to womanhood and kinship. In her later poems she touches on heavy topics such as the Holocaust and miscarriage. She’s an observant poet but not exactly an activist type —she internalizes conflict and social issues and reflects on the turmoil they cause in her own mind. I would describe her as silent and introspective, peering into the darkness from what would seem to be an ordinary life to an unsuspecting outsider.
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Beautifully written, poetic at times, and with layers of metaphor and philosophy. This book fully encompasses the soul of magical realism as a genre, delivering intimacy and deep reflection underneath the magic Murakami has woven into the everyday life of his characters. The fantastic reaches into the corners of the inner lives we as readers might suffer and fail to express, and are maybe even afraid to acknowledge, and offers sympathetic reassurance and wisdom.
I’ll admit this book was slightly hard to follow metaphorically. The plot was clear but the undercurrents drawing the characters together are easy to miss (at least for me upon first reading), but I don’t think this is the fault of the author. I didn’t do much annotating and I wish I did! This is NOT a book you can expect to rip through as light reading. It is suited for contemplation and needs to be digested SLOWLY by an observant reader, so save this one for when you’re focused.
Anyways… I kinda didn’t like the protagonist in the beginning but about halfway through the book I at least begin to sympathize with him, being hung up on the past while wandering around a bit lost. Miss Saeki really spoke to my soul though because she lives in the past despite how much it hurts but at the same time doesn’t like to talk about it, and it makes me so desperately wish I was Nakata, who rolls with the punches and faces life with raw acceptance. I loved that the characters in this book are foils of each other —that the emptiness of one character is filled by another, and as their paths converge we learn about the importance of acceptance and living in the present in the face of life’s suffering, and that the narratives of our lives are inexplicably interconnected, making us companions to each other, even if we don’t notice.
I enjoyed the motifs in the book —the significance of words and reading, the color blue, water, the color red, split souls/personalities, animal symbolism, etc. and I’d like to look more into how they contribute to this story. I think this is a novel that needs to be read twice or thrice over to be appreciated in its entirety, so I may do so in a couple months and perhaps re-rate it, so who knows.
I’ll admit this book was slightly hard to follow metaphorically. The plot was clear but the undercurrents drawing the characters together are easy to miss (at least for me upon first reading), but I don’t think this is the fault of the author. I didn’t do much annotating and I wish I did! This is NOT a book you can expect to rip through as light reading. It is suited for contemplation and needs to be digested SLOWLY by an observant reader, so save this one for when you’re focused.
Anyways… I kinda didn’t like the protagonist in the beginning but about halfway through the book I at least begin to sympathize with him, being hung up on the past while wandering around a bit lost. Miss Saeki really spoke to my soul though because she lives in the past despite how much it hurts but at the same time doesn’t like to talk about it, and it makes me so desperately wish I was Nakata, who rolls with the punches and faces life with raw acceptance. I loved that the characters in this book are foils of each other —that the emptiness of one character is filled by another, and as their paths converge we learn about the importance of acceptance and living in the present in the face of life’s suffering, and that the narratives of our lives are inexplicably interconnected, making us companions to each other, even if we don’t notice.
I enjoyed the motifs in the book —the significance of words and reading, the color blue, water, the color red, split souls/personalities, animal symbolism, etc. and I’d like to look more into how they contribute to this story. I think this is a novel that needs to be read twice or thrice over to be appreciated in its entirety, so I may do so in a couple months and perhaps re-rate it, so who knows.
Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Love love loved this book. I read The White Album before this (and I did enjoy it), but I like Let Me Tell You What I Mean a whole lot more. Along with her usual keen observations of American society and trends, Didion is much more analytical in this collection. She writes with more of a purpose and she also flips perspectives on certain topics that make you reconsider what you’ve previously thought. I also felt more emotionally connected with more of her pieces in this one as she seems more tapped into sentimentality and studying the nature of life on top of recording cultural phenomena.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book was a very easy and quick read, amusing in some places and truly thoughtful in others. Murata has a quirky and clever way of asking and investigating questions like “what does it mean to be a functional member of society?” and “what does a fulfilling life look like?” Her protagonist is funny, direct, surprisingly reasonable, honest, and just as lost as any of us when it comes to fitting in and making life decisions; behind her bizarre, unconventional exterior is an adult who’s struggling to adjust to adulting just like everyone else.
I rated this book a 4.25 because personally I prefer slightly more depth and more of an emotional connection with a book. But nonetheless this was a very good read. I’d recommend this book to people who don’t read much as it’s easy to rip through and digest, and it’s also a good book for people who appreciate thoughtfulness but still want something more lighthearted and not-so-tragic.
I rated this book a 4.25 because personally I prefer slightly more depth and more of an emotional connection with a book. But nonetheless this was a very good read. I’d recommend this book to people who don’t read much as it’s easy to rip through and digest, and it’s also a good book for people who appreciate thoughtfulness but still want something more lighthearted and not-so-tragic.
The White Album by Joan Didion
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed Joan Didion’s observations of the world around her, and how she seemingly doesn’t have much of an agenda other than to see and notice what’s in front of her. I know some criticism against her essays includes the claim that she appears self-absorbed. But honestly I think reading her perspective and her life alongside major cultural events and local politics brings these matters into a more relatable light. Because who doesn’t view the world through their own eyes and their own experiences? This book has challenged some of my views of social movements and provided valid observations and critiques of American politics and pop culture.
I also enjoy Didion’s writing style. While elegant and sophisticated, her style flows with a natural voice that is both relatable and demands respect. She is a reflective and thoughtful writer that is easy to digest.
I think my own personal critique is that I had a hard time fully discerning a point or purpose, or having a thoughtful or emotional response to some of these essays. And knowing that these essays are largely observational (because as she says, she writes to understand because otherwise nothing quite makes sense), I wonder if I’m either missing the point or if something is actually missing? I still recommend this book and find it a good read because I guarantee you will find at least one or two pieces you’ll be turning over in your head for days after you’ve read them. Didion has a way of lingering.
I also enjoy Didion’s writing style. While elegant and sophisticated, her style flows with a natural voice that is both relatable and demands respect. She is a reflective and thoughtful writer that is easy to digest.
I think my own personal critique is that I had a hard time fully discerning a point or purpose, or having a thoughtful or emotional response to some of these essays. And knowing that these essays are largely observational (because as she says, she writes to understand because otherwise nothing quite makes sense), I wonder if I’m either missing the point or if something is actually missing? I still recommend this book and find it a good read because I guarantee you will find at least one or two pieces you’ll be turning over in your head for days after you’ve read them. Didion has a way of lingering.
100 Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I loved the imagery and sensuality of the poetry in this book; the sonnets are as beautiful as they are tender and sexy. Neruda worships his love as a goddess with lush language that manages to remain down-to-earth and easy to savor —as sweet and rich as honey, and melts into your mouth just as effortlessly. Many of the poems also serve as a love letter to his native Chile as much as they are to his Matilde, adding another layer of intimacy and depth to these pieces. The celebration of his beloved companion is also a celebration of the world she inhabits and vice-versa.
The only reason I brought this down to 4 stars is because generally I didn’t feel quite so touched emotionally as I have with some other poets, but this is more of a personal reflection rather than an assessment of the intrinsic quality of Neruda’s work.
The only reason I brought this down to 4 stars is because generally I didn’t feel quite so touched emotionally as I have with some other poets, but this is more of a personal reflection rather than an assessment of the intrinsic quality of Neruda’s work.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I feel that this book was beautifully balanced, just as The Kite Runner was. But unlike The Kite Runner, this novel presents the stories of women; their struggles, their dreams, their disappointments, their bravery and tenderness, and their relationships with each other. His characters’ histories and personalities are intimately fleshed out in a way that makes them believable, intriguing, and emotionally impactful. It was a treat to watch them evolve over the course of Afghan history (from the 70’s through the 00’s), how they react to historical events and politics and how this shapes their inner domestic lives.
The novel is also as informative as it is heart wrenching, especially if you aren’t already familiar with the politics and recent history of the region. Hosseini artfully navigates issues of politics, authoritarianism, the oppression of women, and suppression of civil liberties without being heavy handed or lazy. These issues are organically taught through the experiences of the characters so that they are memorable and personal.
The novel is closed by offering a glimmer of sunshine to balance the darkness, which I personally love. I think that when authors write stories drenched in tragedy and outrage it’s important to also remark on the resiliency of the human spirit and our capacity to create and find beauty despite everything. I think Khaled Hosseini is one of those authors that actually acknowledges the flowers that can bloom after all the suffering. So for those of you tired of pessimistic endings I recommend this book as I feel it was down-to-earth and still hopeful.
The novel is also as informative as it is heart wrenching, especially if you aren’t already familiar with the politics and recent history of the region. Hosseini artfully navigates issues of politics, authoritarianism, the oppression of women, and suppression of civil liberties without being heavy handed or lazy. These issues are organically taught through the experiences of the characters so that they are memorable and personal.
The novel is closed by offering a glimmer of sunshine to balance the darkness, which I personally love. I think that when authors write stories drenched in tragedy and outrage it’s important to also remark on the resiliency of the human spirit and our capacity to create and find beauty despite everything. I think Khaled Hosseini is one of those authors that actually acknowledges the flowers that can bloom after all the suffering. So for those of you tired of pessimistic endings I recommend this book as I feel it was down-to-earth and still hopeful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Colonisation
Minor: Confinement, Miscarriage, Rape, Excrement, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol