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linkalipski's reviews
290 reviews
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
5.0
I read the original forever ago when I was a teenager.
I remember devouring the book and feeling my world shatter when I realised that what I thought was the end of the second part, was actually the end of the whole book. So I did not process the end properly. I will have to read it again.
I will have to review it properly once I re-read it :)
I remember devouring the book and feeling my world shatter when I realised that what I thought was the end of the second part, was actually the end of the whole book. So I did not process the end properly. I will have to read it again.
I will have to review it properly once I re-read it :)
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
5.0
This is a well-written book that takes us on the journey of a man who experiences both extremes of intelligence, from low IQ to high IQ thanks to a new brain surgery.
The book is written like the protagonist's diary and the style evolves from someone who, despite his hard work and efforts, still struggles with literacy, to someone who has an excellent vocabulary and literary skills.
The story is clever (pun intended) in itself. We experience with him, how people behave and respond to him. It is insightful to live through the eyes and mind of someone who lacks the ability to understand that he is being mocked or fooled and who becomes someone who feels lonely because the rest of the world cannot catch up to his knowledge.
This book is an eye-opener in how books can be creative in their writing and how fiction can help us develop empathy.
A must read
The book is written like the protagonist's diary and the style evolves from someone who, despite his hard work and efforts, still struggles with literacy, to someone who has an excellent vocabulary and literary skills.
The story is clever (pun intended) in itself. We experience with him, how people behave and respond to him. It is insightful to live through the eyes and mind of someone who lacks the ability to understand that he is being mocked or fooled and who becomes someone who feels lonely because the rest of the world cannot catch up to his knowledge.
This book is an eye-opener in how books can be creative in their writing and how fiction can help us develop empathy.
A must read
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
1.0
I read this a long time ago at school and absolutely hated it at the time.
I remember disliking the writing style, the story, the developing of it all. I was disgusted by parts, not so much by the transformation in itself but by the person's mindset which was mostly the intention. I was a teenager though so I might appreciate his work better now that I can grasp those concepts better now.
Mainly the style is one that I struggled to understand and therefore it is hard for it to stay focus on the reading .
I remember disliking the writing style, the story, the developing of it all. I was disgusted by parts, not so much by the transformation in itself but by the person's mindset which was mostly the intention. I was a teenager though so I might appreciate his work better now that I can grasp those concepts better now.
Mainly the style is one that I struggled to understand and therefore it is hard for it to stay focus on the reading .
A Lupus Handbook: These Are the Faces of Lupus by A.G. Moore
3.0
This book is a mix of stories, explanations and research on lupus and how it affects people differently.
Each part (clinical profiles; research on lupus; how the two interlock) has chapters, each in turn, addressing one story or one aspect at a time. Therefore it is well organised and composed.
Everything is written from the author's point of view. There is no writing style per se. It reads as you would talk to someone who is eloquent.
It is a short and easy read that can be easily read again, in part or in full. There is nothing particularly memorable about it and I don't think it aims to be.
This is a very informative book on the subject which would be handy to dip into as and when needed.
Each part (clinical profiles; research on lupus; how the two interlock) has chapters, each in turn, addressing one story or one aspect at a time. Therefore it is well organised and composed.
Everything is written from the author's point of view. There is no writing style per se. It reads as you would talk to someone who is eloquent.
It is a short and easy read that can be easily read again, in part or in full. There is nothing particularly memorable about it and I don't think it aims to be.
This is a very informative book on the subject which would be handy to dip into as and when needed.
Forgiveness Is Really Strange by Masi Noor, Marina Cantacuzino
5.0
An illustrated book gathering real stories and scientific studies to explore how forgiveness works. The illustration and graphic novel style are endearing.
It is a short and accessible read which could be enjoyed by everyone. I would particularly recommend it to young people as a fun way to learn about the science behind how we work.
It has more of a graphic novel feel than a scientific feel as I felt, at times, that it wasn't clear where the ideas originated from.
This collaborative work shows that a lot of effort and teamwork can produce really good produts.
It is a short and accessible read which could be enjoyed by everyone. I would particularly recommend it to young people as a fun way to learn about the science behind how we work.
It has more of a graphic novel feel than a scientific feel as I felt, at times, that it wasn't clear where the ideas originated from.
This collaborative work shows that a lot of effort and teamwork can produce really good produts.
Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance by Atul Gawande
5.0
The book is divided into three parts: diligence, doing right and ingenuity. Each of the formers has 3 chapters addressing different topics. The writing style is legible with medical vocabulary.
Life his first book, this is an accessible read. I find his books to be pleasant read and the 'beach read' of the medical section. By that I mean, that they don't demand a lot of cognitive energy to get into and don't leave you feeling drained.
The topics can be serious but are addressed with a certain casualness about them, as doctors do, that keeps the discussion light.
At the end, the author encapsulates 5 lessons he has learned from his observations which I really enjoy.
I was also astonished at the story of the Indian surgeon who, due to lack of equipment during surgery, used patience to scrape a man's skull for 15 minutes to get through to the insides!
The book is filled with little anecdotes like that.
I also recommend his books as an introduction in the medical section books.
Life his first book, this is an accessible read. I find his books to be pleasant read and the 'beach read' of the medical section. By that I mean, that they don't demand a lot of cognitive energy to get into and don't leave you feeling drained.
The topics can be serious but are addressed with a certain casualness about them, as doctors do, that keeps the discussion light.
At the end, the author encapsulates 5 lessons he has learned from his observations which I really enjoy.
I was also astonished at the story of the Indian surgeon who, due to lack of equipment during surgery, used patience to scrape a man's skull for 15 minutes to get through to the insides!
The book is filled with little anecdotes like that.
I also recommend his books as an introduction in the medical section books.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
1.0
This is a self-help book meant to teach how to improve self-confidence and social manipulation.
This was a gift from a friend who enjoyed it a lot. However, after finishing the book and asking what he liked so much, he couldn't recall anything from the book or why he liked it so much, nor could anyone else I met who claimed to like it. They made my case.
As I saw the cover, I knew this wouldn't be my cup of tea. For a start, there was a big bestseller claim in this winner stary kind of logo next to the obnoxious title which already raised my 'money-driven' alarm.
The title in itself is a big claim and insinuate manipulation. No one should win a friend because people aren't to be collected like pokemon cards. Nor should 'influencing people' be a good thing that we strive for. So right here I would have suggested: 'How to make friends'.
I into the book with as much of an open mind as I could master because I know I have been pleasantly surprised in the past. This wasn't one of those times.
The writing in itself is everything I loathe. It is what I call a 'typical American' style. One idea is introduced briefly, written then paraphrased over and over and over, each time with a minute detail added if any, and finally, the idea is told yet again in a conclusion. This style means that you hear one thing in different ways several times. In fact, you could say that a concept is repeated as often as possible until your ears bleed. Exactly like what I just did right here. I could have condensed all this but I wanted to make a point.
If the book was edited properly it would have fitted in a tenth of its length and win in conciseness and readability.
Unfortunately, it feels like a poorer version of the book '40 laws of powers' which is also written in a 'typical American' style and yet does a better job at teaching how to 'influence' people.
His points have no scientific backing or thorough research and he uses small stories from other people to illustrate a point. They feel very hear-say which would have been avoided if he had gone into them with more depth or given them a bigger part in the chapter.
The book would have benefited from a clearer direction as to who it is aimed at: people with mental health issues who feel lonely for example, or business people who need to improve their selling social skills, etc. rather than a 'fit-for-all' approach.
Overall, I would suggest that reading each principle at the end of every chapter to be more than enough to know what the book is about and to move on to psychological books which would actually teach substantial things about human relationships and persuasion.
This was a gift from a friend who enjoyed it a lot. However, after finishing the book and asking what he liked so much, he couldn't recall anything from the book or why he liked it so much, nor could anyone else I met who claimed to like it. They made my case.
As I saw the cover, I knew this wouldn't be my cup of tea. For a start, there was a big bestseller claim in this winner stary kind of logo next to the obnoxious title which already raised my 'money-driven' alarm.
The title in itself is a big claim and insinuate manipulation. No one should win a friend because people aren't to be collected like pokemon cards. Nor should 'influencing people' be a good thing that we strive for. So right here I would have suggested: 'How to make friends'.
I into the book with as much of an open mind as I could master because I know I have been pleasantly surprised in the past. This wasn't one of those times.
The writing in itself is everything I loathe. It is what I call a 'typical American' style. One idea is introduced briefly, written then paraphrased over and over and over, each time with a minute detail added if any, and finally, the idea is told yet again in a conclusion. This style means that you hear one thing in different ways several times. In fact, you could say that a concept is repeated as often as possible until your ears bleed. Exactly like what I just did right here. I could have condensed all this but I wanted to make a point.
If the book was edited properly it would have fitted in a tenth of its length and win in conciseness and readability.
Unfortunately, it feels like a poorer version of the book '40 laws of powers' which is also written in a 'typical American' style and yet does a better job at teaching how to 'influence' people.
His points have no scientific backing or thorough research and he uses small stories from other people to illustrate a point. They feel very hear-say which would have been avoided if he had gone into them with more depth or given them a bigger part in the chapter.
The book would have benefited from a clearer direction as to who it is aimed at: people with mental health issues who feel lonely for example, or business people who need to improve their selling social skills, etc. rather than a 'fit-for-all' approach.
Overall, I would suggest that reading each principle at the end of every chapter to be more than enough to know what the book is about and to move on to psychological books which would actually teach substantial things about human relationships and persuasion.
The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna
5.0
A wonderfully written tragic story of Jimmy, an autistic boy living in a poor area of Australia in an abusive household.
A few Australian terms I had to look up but not incapacitate for story comprehension.
It is written from the point of view of Jimmy who sees the world in a very mechanical or logical way and feels emotions in a heightened way as a result. Some he can make sense of, others, he doesn't.
The emotions are described from a body point of view which is not common in books and helps you connect with your own body and emotions.
Each character has a distinct voice and presence without the use of extensive descriptions. The author is clearly very skilled.
I wept a lot as some scenes are very emotional and very realistically rendered. The ending (no spoiler) is a memorable one. I felt that it was as obvious as surprising which makes it very anchored in its right to be an ending.
I highly recommend!
'Then he was gone from my vision, but in some other part he would never be gone and that's a memory'
A few Australian terms I had to look up but not incapacitate for story comprehension.
It is written from the point of view of Jimmy who sees the world in a very mechanical or logical way and feels emotions in a heightened way as a result. Some he can make sense of, others, he doesn't.
The emotions are described from a body point of view which is not common in books and helps you connect with your own body and emotions.
Each character has a distinct voice and presence without the use of extensive descriptions. The author is clearly very skilled.
I wept a lot as some scenes are very emotional and very realistically rendered. The ending (no spoiler) is a memorable one. I felt that it was as obvious as surprising which makes it very anchored in its right to be an ending.
I highly recommend!
'Then he was gone from my vision, but in some other part he would never be gone and that's a memory'
L'Empire des anges by Bernard Werber
4.0
The author's style is very scholar and basic and his formula is always the same.
The execution has room for improvement but the worlds he creates makes it worthwhile anyway.
The story follows the same goal as the previous book but slightly different which keeps it familiar yet new.
I was longing for more of the angel's world story or more of how things work and looked so I would have welcomed ample descriptions.
As usual, great concept: the story sticks to the mind. But the writing in itself lacks in depth.
His alternating chapters style is always the same which lacks novelty and subtlety.
I am looking forward to the third one and the story's conclusion
The execution has room for improvement but the worlds he creates makes it worthwhile anyway.
The story follows the same goal as the previous book but slightly different which keeps it familiar yet new.
I was longing for more of the angel's world story or more of how things work and looked so I would have welcomed ample descriptions.
As usual, great concept: the story sticks to the mind. But the writing in itself lacks in depth.
His alternating chapters style is always the same which lacks novelty and subtlety.
I am looking forward to the third one and the story's conclusion