Scan barcode
linkalipski's reviews
290 reviews
The Ten Types of Human: Who We Are and Who We Can Be by Dexter Dias
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
5.0
A MUST read!
Reading the horrors of the Holocaust is always difficult. Yet, this book is the easiest I got to read on the matter.
The author wrote the story of Lale, based on what he has shared with her near the end of his life. She did an amazing job in rendering his and his beloved Gita experiences.
The short sentences make for an easy read and relatively fast as well without dumbing down the story. The chapters are also quite short yet incredibly well sectioned so the rhythm is comfortable and pleasant. The content is to the point and emotionally loaded.
As I reached a third in the book, I wept and kept crying through it until the end. This is the only story of Auschwitz where I saw actual humanity in this inhuman time and place. I was touched by Lale's strength and kindness and I strongly believe that the latter prevails in chaos. His story is also a love story. The most humane, humble and, dare I say it, the most romantic love story I've heard of. Simply two people who fell in love regardless of the circumstances. Kindness won over Auschwitz. Love won over Auschwitz.
This is also the first time we get to know a little more about the women's experiences of Birkenau and of their situation.
Because of its light reading pace all the while maintaining the power of the trauma of Auschwitz, I think this book is, therefore, more accessible. Especially for the curious teenagers or young adults who might find biographies more difficult to read.
All in all, I feel emotionally touched and I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
Reading the horrors of the Holocaust is always difficult. Yet, this book is the easiest I got to read on the matter.
The author wrote the story of Lale, based on what he has shared with her near the end of his life. She did an amazing job in rendering his and his beloved Gita experiences.
The short sentences make for an easy read and relatively fast as well without dumbing down the story. The chapters are also quite short yet incredibly well sectioned so the rhythm is comfortable and pleasant. The content is to the point and emotionally loaded.
As I reached a third in the book, I wept and kept crying through it until the end. This is the only story of Auschwitz where I saw actual humanity in this inhuman time and place. I was touched by Lale's strength and kindness and I strongly believe that the latter prevails in chaos. His story is also a love story. The most humane, humble and, dare I say it, the most romantic love story I've heard of. Simply two people who fell in love regardless of the circumstances. Kindness won over Auschwitz. Love won over Auschwitz.
This is also the first time we get to know a little more about the women's experiences of Birkenau and of their situation.
Because of its light reading pace all the while maintaining the power of the trauma of Auschwitz, I think this book is, therefore, more accessible. Especially for the curious teenagers or young adults who might find biographies more difficult to read.
All in all, I feel emotionally touched and I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
5.0
Among my favourite books!
The memoir of Anne Frank, a teenager of a Jewish family who has to hide during WWII, is a well-written diary that gives us a glimpse of their experience of war.
Rare are 14-year-olds that can write with so much wit, awareness and style.
This is not about the war per se, it is about the life of a teenager. It just happens that the war was happening around her and that she and her family were a direct target. She has typical teenage thoughts and wishes, from a need for privacy to love and desires as well as mood-swings and deep reflections on life.
Her experience of the war is also a poignant testimony of the horrors that wars input on people's and to what people will endure while surviving.
I laughed at times, I compared our teenage experiences, I felt close to her and I cried calm and defeated tears at the end.
A must read!
The memoir of Anne Frank, a teenager of a Jewish family who has to hide during WWII, is a well-written diary that gives us a glimpse of their experience of war.
Rare are 14-year-olds that can write with so much wit, awareness and style.
This is not about the war per se, it is about the life of a teenager. It just happens that the war was happening around her and that she and her family were a direct target. She has typical teenage thoughts and wishes, from a need for privacy to love and desires as well as mood-swings and deep reflections on life.
Her experience of the war is also a poignant testimony of the horrors that wars input on people's and to what people will endure while surviving.
I laughed at times, I compared our teenage experiences, I felt close to her and I cried calm and defeated tears at the end.
A must read!
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5.0
Now among my favourites!
Once the initial confusion of the very beginning was over and I understand the concept of the narrator being death itself, I embarked on this wonderful journey fully absorbed.
The concept of death as a narrator is such an obvious choice that you would not consider the book any other way: it is a genius and bold idea that is done so well that I wish all books were told from the point of view of death. The author did an amazing job with the timeline: I remained focused and jubilating to know what comes next despite the narration jumping from what was to what will be to now.
This is the first fiction book I have read that depicts the experience of the German population during WWII. Their attitudes and evolution as characters were plausible and very believable.
Characters are skillfully developed especially as the war goes on and their beliefs or views may or may not change.
The storyline is both complex as life can be and simple as books needs to be.
I wept most of the book (in fact, non-stop during the last two third of the book). I am so touched by this book's story that I have memories of the characters or scenes coming up in my mind from time to time. I have really grown attached to them.
What is brilliant is that each protagonist has a story of their own that is enjoyable on their own, and the book just helps woven all those individual stories together.
It is simply a must read!
Once the initial confusion of the very beginning was over and I understand the concept of the narrator being death itself, I embarked on this wonderful journey fully absorbed.
The concept of death as a narrator is such an obvious choice that you would not consider the book any other way: it is a genius and bold idea that is done so well that I wish all books were told from the point of view of death. The author did an amazing job with the timeline: I remained focused and jubilating to know what comes next despite the narration jumping from what was to what will be to now.
This is the first fiction book I have read that depicts the experience of the German population during WWII. Their attitudes and evolution as characters were plausible and very believable.
Characters are skillfully developed especially as the war goes on and their beliefs or views may or may not change.
The storyline is both complex as life can be and simple as books needs to be.
I wept most of the book (in fact, non-stop during the last two third of the book). I am so touched by this book's story that I have memories of the characters or scenes coming up in my mind from time to time. I have really grown attached to them.
What is brilliant is that each protagonist has a story of their own that is enjoyable on their own, and the book just helps woven all those individual stories together.
It is simply a must read!
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
5.0
Only read the original version.. a few times.
A classic French book of my young life. Funnily enough, I have no idea of the end.
I have no idea of the quality of the translation but the French version is very well written. It is very accessible (for all ages and education), composed, poetic and has a simple enchanting quality to the text.
The author's illustrations are part of my culture and are great examples of how to illustrate a book with excellence.
The story is charming and guides us to reflect on our relationship to our playfulness, adult duties and imagination.
A classic French book of my young life. Funnily enough, I have no idea of the end.
I have no idea of the quality of the translation but the French version is very well written. It is very accessible (for all ages and education), composed, poetic and has a simple enchanting quality to the text.
The author's illustrations are part of my culture and are great examples of how to illustrate a book with excellence.
The story is charming and guides us to reflect on our relationship to our playfulness, adult duties and imagination.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
2.0
I would give it 2 and 1/2 stars, just in the middle.
It is nor great nor awful, it just is. This book is a very short read so why not dabble in it and form an opinion to join in the conversation on this book?
Personally, it didn't rock my boat. The writing is correct. The storyline is correct. Although I didn't suspect the end from the start, I suspected it would be as benign as the rest. The ending was memorable for it is cliché so it is really a matter of personal taste.
I enjoyed the warm ambience of the book, the simple living aspect and that very down-to-earth feel.
I did not enjoy the 'superficiality' of it as everything could have been developed further, from the descriptions to the plot to the ending. I didn't feel invested at all because I need more depths to connect with the protagonist.
I also wasn't thrilled with the scholar aspect of the story. Everything felt like it was an 'and then... ' solely to add to the timeline rather than actual plausible events that serve a greater purpose for the main character's development.
Therefore the book has a childish tone to it. It reminded me of how I developed stories when I was younger. I guess there is an immature feel to the book which would have disappeared if the book was worked on for longer.
This book would be well suited for a younger audience or those looking for an easy in-the-day read that gives you just what you need to feel satisfied. The concept is cliché but clever and could have benefited from being worked on longer to bring more depth and dimension to the idea. It is nonetheless a classic book to read as it allows for discussion and can be a great introduction into reading for those who aren't yet in love with books.
It is nor great nor awful, it just is. This book is a very short read so why not dabble in it and form an opinion to join in the conversation on this book?
Personally, it didn't rock my boat. The writing is correct. The storyline is correct. Although I didn't suspect the end from the start, I suspected it would be as benign as the rest. The ending was memorable for it is cliché so it is really a matter of personal taste.
I enjoyed the warm ambience of the book, the simple living aspect and that very down-to-earth feel.
I did not enjoy the 'superficiality' of it as everything could have been developed further, from the descriptions to the plot to the ending. I didn't feel invested at all because I need more depths to connect with the protagonist.
I also wasn't thrilled with the scholar aspect of the story. Everything felt like it was an 'and then... ' solely to add to the timeline rather than actual plausible events that serve a greater purpose for the main character's development.
Therefore the book has a childish tone to it. It reminded me of how I developed stories when I was younger. I guess there is an immature feel to the book which would have disappeared if the book was worked on for longer.
This book would be well suited for a younger audience or those looking for an easy in-the-day read that gives you just what you need to feel satisfied. The concept is cliché but clever and could have benefited from being worked on longer to bring more depth and dimension to the idea. It is nonetheless a classic book to read as it allows for discussion and can be a great introduction into reading for those who aren't yet in love with books.