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mxnika____'s reviews
82 reviews
Progress, Coexistence, and Intellectual Freedom by Andrei D. Sakharov
fast-paced
4.75
Overall this book was very good - a nice short read and it really illuminated the role of intellectual freedom as a political actor. Despite being written in 1968 Sakharov discusses issues that are still rife today like the threat of nuclear weapons and global warming. Taking a liberal and open approach to the complexity of the cold war Sakharov truly writes a thought provoking essay.
Why Politics Fails: The Five Traps of the Modern World & How to Escape Them by Ben Ansell
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Mutually interesting and digestible - would recommend to anyone interested in British politics - although overall I would have appreciated more depth into what we as individuals can do for our system
The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World by Kehinde Andrews
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Generally i found this book really informative and shed light to a lot of the racial issues that are swept under the carpet in our modern society.
Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Overall I gave this book a 4.75, missing points only due to the grand expectations set by the first book in the series ‘before the coffee goes cold’, as I do think it lacked some of the in-depth character building found within the first. Despite this ‘Before we say goodbye’ was truly a beautiful book, one which I found so engaging while still having that heart wrenching quality apparent throughout the series.
1Q84: Book One and Book Two by Haruki Murakami
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.75
I thought this was an amazing book with a captivating plot, but I found the constant over sexualisation of the female characters unnecessary, more so pulling away for their character rather than adding to it. Apart from this I did truly enjoy the books, personally I enjoyed book 1 more for its character / world building qualities but I also appreciate the very tense and exciting nature of the second book. Hopefully I plan to be reading the third book in the near future
After Dark by Haruki Murakami
4.0
This book was beautifully haunting. It is the first of Murakami’s works I have read and I found his narrative style particularly striking. I am unsure if this is a common theme throughout his books but his style of writing is something truly unique and captivating. Overall I enjoyed this book a lot, although like the title suggests there are darker themes.