mjreadsbookss's reviews
120 reviews

Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

I don't think it's a bad book but there was nothing much in it for me to care about. I initially thought it will tackle the challenges or problems of partition during that time since the book is based on the border around it (even though fictional) but there was just the mention of the same every once in a while, with some other story running on the side. Oh, I also forgot how long ago this book was written looking at all the transphobic jokes considered funny. 

The Dead Poets Society: The Screenplay by Tom Schulman

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

The movie absolutely lives in my head rent-free. I can always rewatch Todd and Neil anytime, absolutely anytime. The end can still make me sob ngl.

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Nick and Charlie have my heart >>>

4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

I am leaving this book without rating it because I don't think it would be possible for me to pack the emotions and justify it through rating. It's dark, raw, and heartbreaking, but also shows the originality of the suffering. It just shows how difficult is it to go through it and how it's the biggest battle against your own self than anyone else.

What My Mother and I Don't Talk About: Fifteen Writers Break the Silence by Michele Filgate

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

3.5

With essays, it's usually a hit or a miss. The book was completely worth it. I loved to read so many different stories of authors and how they had complicated relationships with their mothers, and some took steps for themselves by going to therapy or cutting ties off with them for their betterment. I think the biggest part to highlight and take from here is how it's a complicated relationship to have, there are a lot of things we may never understand and wouldn't want to, and we all go through it from a different perspective, so the essays may, in turn, hit you with familiarities you might find, and some may amaze you because of your different experience but I hope there is something for everyone to take from this. 

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

You can never emphasise enough how pain is an inevitable part of life. This book is a prime example of that. Mariam lived her life full of pain and died with the pain itself. I connected with the story more as it progressed i.e. during the last 2 parts. The way it questioned so many ideals during the war and the sacrifices made or was forced to make.  I think it's always the common people who suffer and this book really pours it into words. 

The Book of Passing Shadows by cv balakrishnan

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

2.5

I expected so much more, the blub increased my expectations but the book left me disappointed. 
I feel the idea was beautiful but lacked the execution or maybe it is just the translation being not well done.  

Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

I think Ocean Voung can never disappoint. He always knows how to allure the audience, and create a safe yet painfully beautiful place to stay and overthink in.
The poetry collection was not my most connective written piece but he still makes me more considerate and humbler. I can never exaggerate enough on how he continues to make this life more meaningful by giving me his work/art to read.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas by Yoru Sumino

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0