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nigel_hakeem's reviews
115 reviews
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Goddamn, Franzen can put a good sentence together.
This is one of my favourite novels. The whole book, you can't help but dislike these characters. Everyone is so frustrating and constantly doing the wrong thing. They treat people horribly, and they're entitled and selfish, but you just want them to have one last Christmas.
A truly great read.
This is one of my favourite novels. The whole book, you can't help but dislike these characters. Everyone is so frustrating and constantly doing the wrong thing. They treat people horribly, and they're entitled and selfish, but you just want them to have one last Christmas.
A truly great read.
The Torrents of Spring by Ernest Hemingway
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I would only read this if you want to see how Hemingway developed as a writer or you're a completionist going through all his writing. At points, you can see what makes Hemingway the great writer he became, but ultimately, this is a pretty unremarkable book that is only notable because Hemingway wrote it.
It's a fun story, goofy at points, and a pretty quick read. I did enjoy the inclusion of "Authors notes" and think it would be interesting to see what his writing would have been like if he continued with that.
It's a fun story, goofy at points, and a pretty quick read. I did enjoy the inclusion of "Authors notes" and think it would be interesting to see what his writing would have been like if he continued with that.
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
3.75
Great book to read to get introduced to Russian literature. Also a great book on the mechanics of the short story. I'd recommend to anyone I terested in writing fiction.
Saunders is really good at getting to the heart of each story and describing piece by piece how it's put together. You start understanding the beats and flow of storytelling, what makes a story work, and why some stories just don't.
I enjoyed Saunders' essays on each of the 7 stories, but I must admit, when he started injecting his own world views and philosophies, my eyes couldn't stop rolling. Very much a subscriber to the thought that if we all hold hands and sing kumbaya, all the worlds problems will be solved. Other than those moments, the book was very enjoyable.
Saunders is really good at getting to the heart of each story and describing piece by piece how it's put together. You start understanding the beats and flow of storytelling, what makes a story work, and why some stories just don't.
I enjoyed Saunders' essays on each of the 7 stories, but I must admit, when he started injecting his own world views and philosophies, my eyes couldn't stop rolling. Very much a subscriber to the thought that if we all hold hands and sing kumbaya, all the worlds problems will be solved. Other than those moments, the book was very enjoyable.
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
What a fantastic read! I don't know why it took this long for me to pick up Baldwin.
These essays should be read by everyone. His descriptions of what it means to exist as a Black person in the world ring frustratingly true and still feel contemporary. He speaks like the smartest friend you have trying to explain something fundamental, not only himself but to everyone. Each essay is a glimpse into how the white world sees Black people and Baldwin holds no punches.
His essay 'Journey to Atlanta' so pointedly and uncompromisingly breaks down the idea of progressive electoral politics and shows what it really means to the people outside the political establishment. Every liberal with a do-gooder attitude needs to read this and then ask themselves if their actions are for themselves or for others.
The title essay is heartbreaking and cathartic for those with difficult relationships with their fathers. Absolutely beautiful storytelling. Please read this if you read nothing else.
'Equal in Paris' is a sojourn through the French legal bureaucracy and what it means to be out of place and out of one's depth. Even in another country, in another language, there is still a human way to understand how others see you, and it's scary.
The final essay 'Stranger in the Village' shows how whiteness in America came to be and its historical relationship with Europe. The idea of one being both Black and human seems such a difficult concept for white people, and Baldwin traces back how that societal thinking came into being.
I'm in love with his beautiful prose style. I'm in love with Baldwin. I'm in love with this book.
These essays should be read by everyone. His descriptions of what it means to exist as a Black person in the world ring frustratingly true and still feel contemporary. He speaks like the smartest friend you have trying to explain something fundamental, not only himself but to everyone. Each essay is a glimpse into how the white world sees Black people and Baldwin holds no punches.
His essay 'Journey to Atlanta' so pointedly and uncompromisingly breaks down the idea of progressive electoral politics and shows what it really means to the people outside the political establishment. Every liberal with a do-gooder attitude needs to read this and then ask themselves if their actions are for themselves or for others.
The title essay is heartbreaking and cathartic for those with difficult relationships with their fathers. Absolutely beautiful storytelling. Please read this if you read nothing else.
'Equal in Paris' is a sojourn through the French legal bureaucracy and what it means to be out of place and out of one's depth. Even in another country, in another language, there is still a human way to understand how others see you, and it's scary.
The final essay 'Stranger in the Village' shows how whiteness in America came to be and its historical relationship with Europe. The idea of one being both Black and human seems such a difficult concept for white people, and Baldwin traces back how that societal thinking came into being.
I'm in love with his beautiful prose style. I'm in love with Baldwin. I'm in love with this book.
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A delightful read. Many of the stories dealt with the Laotian immigrant experience but never delves into the cliche or a rehashing of tropes. Thammavongsa has a really lovely style. Nothing flashy but it works really well with her storytelling. Many stories have very little dialogue and deal more with character insight. Relationships between children and parents is a theme Thammavongsa returns to often. Kids don't always see the whole picture but do understand when their parents are struggling and Thammavongsa is able to articulate these emotions in a concise and satisfying manner. Disappointment and learning to live with unfulfilled expectations comes up a lot as well.
The stories are fairly short and don't take long to get through. Would recommend to someone who wants to pick up and read a couple of stories a day.
Some of the stand-out stories were the titular How To Pronounce Knife, Mani Pedi, Chick-A-Chee, Edge of the World, and Ewwrrrkk. My favourite was Slingshot and I feel I will return to it often.
The stories are fairly short and don't take long to get through. Would recommend to someone who wants to pick up and read a couple of stories a day.
Some of the stand-out stories were the titular How To Pronounce Knife, Mani Pedi, Chick-A-Chee, Edge of the World, and Ewwrrrkk. My favourite was Slingshot and I feel I will return to it often.
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
What a great collection! Saunders has a style I can't quite articulate. It's both high and low art. He's a writer's writer that writes for everyone. Stories often deal with working-class drudgery and life being weird and hard. Rarely does Saunders choose to lift the reader's spirit and instead chooses to just tell a good story.
Two stories, in particular, stood out for me. First was Isabelle, which had one of the most tender endings I've ever read. The second was The 400-Pound CEO, which gave into the fantasy every employee with a shitty boss has.
The Novella Bounty at the end was the best in the collection. A not-so-subtle analogy for slavery and the broken morals of America. It had twists and turns, and I was cheering on the main character the entire time. If you read any Saunders, I think this is the story to read.
If you aren't much of a reader, I'd highly recommend picking up this collection. If you're an avid reader, I'd also recommend it for something different and interesting.
Two stories, in particular, stood out for me. First was Isabelle, which had one of the most tender endings I've ever read. The second was The 400-Pound CEO, which gave into the fantasy every employee with a shitty boss has.
The Novella Bounty at the end was the best in the collection. A not-so-subtle analogy for slavery and the broken morals of America. It had twists and turns, and I was cheering on the main character the entire time. If you read any Saunders, I think this is the story to read.
If you aren't much of a reader, I'd highly recommend picking up this collection. If you're an avid reader, I'd also recommend it for something different and interesting.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book lives up to the hype.
Tart writes with beautiful prose and the characters are compelling in the most heart-wrenching way. They are so over their head and not at all prepared or ready to deal with the consequences of their actions once brought back down to earth. One could easily dislike the cast of characters, but sorrow is the more appropriate reaction.
Tart uses the first-person perspective expertly. We are never sure what is really happening because we only get the POV from Richard and information is only given to him in pieces, and we are never sure how trustworthy that information is. This could be a flaw in a lesser writer but Tart pulls it off and it makes the novel hard to put down.
The ending broke my heart and I want to recommend this book to everyone I meet.
Tart writes with beautiful prose and the characters are compelling in the most heart-wrenching way. They are so over their head and not at all prepared or ready to deal with the consequences of their actions once brought back down to earth. One could easily dislike the cast of characters, but sorrow is the more appropriate reaction.
Tart uses the first-person perspective expertly. We are never sure what is really happening because we only get the POV from Richard and information is only given to him in pieces, and we are never sure how trustworthy that information is. This could be a flaw in a lesser writer but Tart pulls it off and it makes the novel hard to put down.
The ending broke my heart and I want to recommend this book to everyone I meet.
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I don't know if I actually enjoyed reading this book, but I'm glad I read it. Woolf moves from the perspective of one character to the next rapidly and often in the same sentence. This was difficult and confusing at first but as the novel goes on, the voices start flowing together and there is a rhythm to the characters. This culminates at the dinner scene when everyone starts to speak as one consciousness and you see how and why people are connected. The last third of the book dragged and felt like an elongated epiphany moment. I don't feel like I learned more about the characters, but the characters learned more about themselves. Ultimately, this is not a book about things happening, but about people thinking about things happening.