hardkaapi's reviews
67 reviews

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.

I found Eleanor to be unlikable and extremely annoying.

The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.

The writing became too tropey and similar to Lahiri's other works which put me off.

WHY DID SHE MARRY HER DEAD HUSBAND'S BROTHER LIKE IT WAS NO BIG DEAL

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn

funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

The island Nollopton is named after Mr. Nevin Nollop, the man who made the famous pangram(a sentence consisting of all 26 letters of the alphabet): The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. This sentence is grandly displayed in the town with each letter on a tile. When a letter tile falls, it is deemed as Nollop’s wish to eradicate said letter from daily use. As other letters start falling off the wall, citizens, especially cousins Ella and Tassie, find themselves in a very difficult situation as they try to communicate without using these letters. Mark Dunn has written this literary marvel in spite of these restrictions (Please try and imagine writing a book without the letter d. Now imagine writing with just 9 letters). This epistolary is short, but brilliant in execution, sharing many similarities with Orwell’s Animal Farm. I implore you to read this! 

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? No

4.5

 “We are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us." 

After I finished this book, I was speechless. I still am. Hosseini’s ability to make such overwhelming emotions accessible to readers is insane. This particular book at its core is about siblings, Abdullah and Pari, and ends up becoming a multi-generational tale set in Paris, Greece, America and of course, Kabul. This style of deeply exploring so many characters was new for me, as this is not the case in Thousand Splendid Suns or even Kite Runner, making this my #1 Hosseini. His characters are well thought out, lovable and relatable. Their journeys deal with themes known to most of us, disappointment, helplessness, finding a purpose, love, grief, dislocation, loneliness, and most of all, family. The sacrifices we make, both big and small for the ones we love. I cannot explain what makes this book special, but I cannot stop thinking about it.

The characters in And the Mountains Echoed are unforgettable. The care with which Hosseini treats them all is commendable and brings the stories alive. One of the most notable characters is Nabi, the enamoured. Being the sole breadwinner in the family, with 2 siblings- Masooma, the cursed beauty and Parwana, the afterthought, he starts out as a simple chauffeur of the Wahdati house but ends up sacrificing so much for the one he loves, the guilt of it having never left. His role in the Wahdati household becomes more vital as time passes and he finds a lifelong companion in the form of Suleiman, the prisoner. The presence of Nila in this story is so important, she represents everyone who has wanted to break free, to have ambition, to rebel. She brings with her the fury of a girl, scorned by her father, her family and her religion. Her teenage self found solace in poems that were considered disgusting by one and impressive by another, the difference lying in the soil she stood on. Her decision to ensure a better life for Pari came with a price. Pari, the innocent one, named after a fairy, shares a tumultuous relationship with Nila as she realizes she will never be enough for her. This insecurity planted by her mother seeps into other relationships as well. Her life after marriage is narrated very hurriedly, with years passing between sentences. Meanwhile, in Kabul, the dynamic between Idris and Timur is smartly written. Timur has the ability to talk his way out of any situation, provide help to anyone who is willing to be indebted to him. Being recognized as the “good guy” is what keeps him going. Idris’ insight into his cousin’s behaviours is one known to most of us, the feeling of seeing through the act but being unable to do something about it. Idris bonds with Roshi, the abandoned and tries to help her before dissolving into his original life as most people with privilege do; it only bothers you when you come in contact with it. 
We see the polar opposite in the form of Markos, the one in the endless pursuit of a purpose, and Thalia, the specimen for most. Every encounter between them as children is rife with the saddening reality of the world today. Hosseini could have easily changed Thalia’s appearance by bringing her character and Markos’ surgery skills together but the line “This is who I am, Markos” is perfect and brought me to tears. (“Beauty is an enormous, unmerited gift given randomly, stupidly.”) Thalia finds lifelong allies in Markos and his mom, and them in her. Markos’ upbringing in Tinos is a scenically as well as emotionally rich one. His mother, Odelia, is described as a hard woman but as the layers of her life unfold along with Markos’, much more is revealed. 
Something I really liked about this book was how it handles the idea of moving on. There are many different examples of it, be it Pari’s constant sense of a faceless presence around her, Abdullah’s grief fading as he moved to another country and started a business, Adel’s slow emotional retreat from his father, Gholam’s fury subsiding into harmless chides, Idris’ hypocrisy, Roshi’s courage in letting her experiences out in the open, Thalia’s acceptance, Nabi’s final letter, Suleiman’s request, Parwana’s new life, Masooma’s last wishes, Saboor becoming quiet or even Nila’s descent until her end. The book comes full circle with Abdullah and Pari being reunited, trying to make up for lost time, whatever little they have left. They meet each other after so long, having touched so many lives, some unknown to them and their interaction is everything you want and more. This book is a perfect amalgamation of the past, present and future.

 

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

One of the most refreshing stories I've read. This, being my second book by Kazuo Ishiguro, has made me realize his writing is weirdly satisfying and calming. His style is so different, I am still unable to point out what makes it special. He is able to intertwine such complex emotions with his narration. This particular story is about Klara, an Artificial Friend, marketed as a companion for children. Each AF is unique and Klara's special abilities include understanding and analysing human emotions. Klara waits for a family to choose her in her store until she meets Josie. Klara's journey from here on is an entirely new perspective on life. Ishiguro uses subtle magic realism and symbolism in a world where children undergo genetic editing in order to "perfect" them. This book feels like a hug from a friend on a lonely day. Overall, an interesting take on character driven stories. 

Across the Line by Nayanika Mahtani

informative inspiring 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? No

4.5

"Who are we but the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, and believe?"

Across the line captures the essence of newly partitioned India by 2 families whose lives end up being uprooted. Mahtani shows the tragedies that unfolded after the simple drawing of a line through complex, yet comforting characters. Most of the story is narrated by Jai and Inaya, two kids, one with a passion for food, the other with a love for cricket. The involvement of young minds is masterful, I love a good author who makes use of children as characters in the story, not just for the nostalgia or "cuteness" but for their perspectives and mindsets. The book has some cricket references which I simply do not understand because of a lack of interest in the sport but it's super comforting to see Jai share my thoughts. The characters are of all ages, each of them sharing a different attitude toward their supposed "enemies". Through these perspectives, one can understand how such dark times have ripple effects that affect generations and create strong opinions. The lack of trust and stereotyping from both sides shown in the book is accurate and saddening. The journey of these opinions changing is beautifully shown, through gestures both small and big. After all, loss brings people together just like love.

This book is adorable even though it describes difficult times. It has such a deep, impactful message which is even more important right now. I read this in under a day because it is such a good story. I recommend this to absolutely everyone, you will love this one 

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

 This is one of the cutest things I have ever read. 12 year old Willow Chance is what people call a "highly gifted" child. Her concern is if people are "lowly gifted" or "medium gifted" or just "gifted". In her opinion, all labels are curses unless they are on cleaning products. She also hates "small talk" and prefers "large talk".The book follows Willow's journey as she meets people who are as different as can be. I will never get tired of a found family trope, so this book is absolutely perfect. This has the same energy as the movie Little Miss Sunshine (2006). Willow is an adorable protagonist and her story is and should be read and talked about. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Death of parent

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

adventurous informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

After a very tiring slump. The Remains of the Day was a wonderful story to get into. The plot revolves around the butler of a once-great English house and a trip he takes. This might not be a book to everyone's taste as the language gets a bit wordy in order to fit with the theme and timeline of the book. However, it has a cute and subtle humorous tone which is amplified because of its personality defining moments. This is not a book where a lot of "things" happen, it is character driven and very realistic in its perspectives. Solid read,4/5

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

 A story of 2 sisters, both who end up leading wildly different lives. Homegoing is a heartbreaking yet realistic read about family and time. It showcases the value and power of heritage and how it affects your life, in ways unimaginable. This was a slow read for me, mainly because each chapter is a different person's perspective. This results in beautifully detailed chapters that give you the feeling of having read more than you actually have. Yaa Gyasi is masterful in bringing each character to life in such short chapters. She handles each story with such care, every line must be savoured. For those who love Marquez's works, this would be a great read. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75

 "If a person cannot leave a mark, do they exist?" A story about a girl who makes a bargain to live forever but be remembered by none. 300 years later, a boy in a hidden book store remembers her name. This is a novel about love, art, souls, and time. Must-read for all YA lovers. +1 for having a GORGEOUS hardcover