mehmehsloth's reviews
22 reviews

Days of My China Dragon: Stories by Chandrahas Choudhury

adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

adventurous funny informative tense slow-paced

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

2.75

As much I loved the inferno I think this was just not Dan brown. Although it is remarkable and research is very well done on cryptography but he completely is off the point on networking in the end. But still since it is fictional piece we will ignore factual fallacies. 

As for plot it's way too slow and takes a lot of time to actually reveal characters. It went from sleek spy drama to pure mess in the end. Plot rushed and a lot of unnecessary tension is being built in then end. Plot twist caught me completely off gaurd and I think till that point the book was great. After that everything seems off. Still pretty entertaining 

The Crown by Rabindranath Tagore

adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

3.75

Sacrifice by Rabindranath Tagore

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

5.0

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

adventurous inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

I like to think that everything he did, even though he lost, was about fighting himself. It's clear he enjoyed catching the fish. He didn't anticipate or plan to deal with the shark and it's clearly shown he was under prepared.

I like to think that this was one of his experiences that will stick with him and maybe his attitude changes after he dreams of lions. Your efforts are never in vain because it's the essence of the journey we all travel. Without effort and hope the old man wouldn't be admirable and neither would have been able to see the boy that he missed at the sea.

The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

It's astonishing Ruskin bond wrote this when he was 17. The details and expression is made in such ease that it may seem coming from a full time writer. There are some descriptions ( especially descriptions of whiskey, drinking and death ) that seem like they are written by someone who has never experienced them beforehand but I think this can be excused considering the author's age at time of writing the novel.

As for plot it's nothing out of ordinary but surprisingly manages to give commentary on what a person of that age may think life is. This might be the selling point for the story. The desire of freedom and self reliance is displayed care-freely. There is also commentary on parenting that believes in restrictions to raise child. The hate and anger that protagonist feels might be relatable to a lot of people. A lot of social commentary is also visible as in treatment of lower wor ing class as untouchables, Anglo indians and railway delays.

Starting from novel of this caliber was bound to make Ruskin bond what he stands today. Even so many years I can get through this book and call it decent. Ruskin bond's skill too paint indiana is evident from his first novel. Of course there are points of criticism but if you are truly interested in any sort of Indian young adult fiction then this is read you should not miss out on.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's perfect in my eyes because it reminds me of stories with morals that I read as a child. This was certainly dark but had a message that uplifts your day suddenly. It gives you perspective to not hold on to grudges. It makes you want to call your friends and thank them. The story also gives a im ortant lesson that his certainly hard to grasp. It shows the idea of self reliance is not only about serving your needs physically. It's more at a deeper emotional level. Thinking of spirituality and solace and making peace with yourself is evident throughout the novel.

Writing and world building is not as deep as murakami and often is described without distinct character or style but in my opinion style is not necessary and better avoidable when writing about spirituality.

Definitely will recommend it too everyone 

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

so Theo was true psycho path. In the end he is free from guilt or so he says. But this only makes it more obvious that he is the person that actually needs help. You can't be free from guilt of ruining life of 3 people. But from a perspective his actions though extreme were justifiable until it all blew in his face.

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.