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jodumagpi's reviews
61 reviews
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5.0
This book is such an experience! I can't recall the last time I had this much emotional investment over fictional characters.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
4.0
This is soooooo cinematic!
Edit: Lol. I just read my previous update and did not realize I had already described it as cinematic but it is! I enjoyed the ride but I was not deeply attached to any of the characters, which is probably because of the writing style. I do love me a story that happens in just a short period of time because it never gets boring. A downside though is that I rarely feel for the characters - even the flashbacks did not help.
I will still definitely check out the second installment.
Edit: Lol. I just read my previous update and did not realize I had already described it as cinematic but it is! I enjoyed the ride but I was not deeply attached to any of the characters, which is probably because of the writing style. I do love me a story that happens in just a short period of time because it never gets boring. A downside though is that I rarely feel for the characters - even the flashbacks did not help.
I will still definitely check out the second installment.
Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius by Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman
4.0
"No one in this book managed in every minute of their life to live up to [those] lofty virtues of courage and justice and moderation and wisdom."
"The principles they purported to believe were superior to the choices they actually made."
"The Stoics taught us by the fact that they tried."
— I had put down this book as I set aside my growing interest in Stoicism because I had so many doubts about it. I worried that Stoicism is just an "it's just in your mind" kind of outlook in life. I worried that it will lead me to repress my feelings. I worried that it might be teaching us to look away from the problems and just decide to "see the glass half-full" instead. These things... I don't think they are productive in the long run. These things... I think they lead to apathy. Apart from this, I also thought that Stoicism is too idealistic (literally beyond the reach of human capabilities). This book managed to ease me on the latter point.
— Personally, I think this book has good writing. Easy to follow and not too dense. I like the effort put in "inserting" a woman figure. Overall, enjoyable.
"The principles they purported to believe were superior to the choices they actually made."
"The Stoics taught us by the fact that they tried."
— I had put down this book as I set aside my growing interest in Stoicism because I had so many doubts about it. I worried that Stoicism is just an "it's just in your mind" kind of outlook in life. I worried that it will lead me to repress my feelings. I worried that it might be teaching us to look away from the problems and just decide to "see the glass half-full" instead. These things... I don't think they are productive in the long run. These things... I think they lead to apathy. Apart from this, I also thought that Stoicism is too idealistic (literally beyond the reach of human capabilities). This book managed to ease me on the latter point.
— Personally, I think this book has good writing. Easy to follow and not too dense. I like the effort put in "inserting" a woman figure. Overall, enjoyable.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
3.0
Didn't even know why I bothered to finish this book. I hated almost all of the characters. It's all too pretentious to me. Ughhhh. I only give it a high enough rating as an appreciation for the effort that was put in the world-building.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
5.0
Enlightening indeed! I love how this book acknowledged that they only have this one very importantly point to make and managed to not reiterate the point across many chapters but expounded on it instead. I also really like that this book has an answer to all the questions that will inevitably arise as you read through. I highly recommend this book if you want THAT spiritual awakening.