Scan barcode
sufyazi's reviews
21 reviews
More Than This by Patrick Ness
4.0
Seth woke up in a familiar place, that was now derelict, and abandoned, and unfamiliar. The last thing he remembered was he died…
That was the starting premise of this novel, but oh boy did it pull the rug out of you. I usually become a wreck after reading drama-type novels (and this one somewhat counts as one) but this one left me feeling wanting instead. There are moments in this book that made me tear up, both sad and happy tears, but my overall emotion throughout vacillated between ‘what the hell is happening?’, ‘please be safe!’ and ‘fuck, life can be so cruel’. Ness really knows how to write a story with minimal cast — in fact, I ended up loving Tomasz the most despite the fact that he showed up later in the book!
The ending is open-ended however, which doesn’t really bother me much but still kinda left me wanting more. This is the book by Ness I’ve read so maybe it’s his style but I am not the fan of the ending — there is a lack of resolution which makes me think that Ness may be leaning towards this book being about some kind of philosophical allegory on solipsism a la Camus, hence the lack of emphasis on the quality of the plot or its resolution.
Overall, solid 4. It’s a simple story really, a lot of the expositions happened in ‘dreams’ and the first part is written in a way that can be frustrating for those who went in hoping for a faster pace in plot progress, but I assure you it’ll pick up once Part 2 starts. This novel loses a star because to be honest, despite the plot twist and the action, there’s something lacking about the characters, which is sad because there are not even many of them. I also find the change of the plot direction, despite its shock value, immediately loses its novelty pretty fast and makes you realise it’s not really original.
My final recommendation: do not spoil yourself or google what this book is about. Once you know the story the plot twist won’t hit hard enough to motivate you to read till the end (or maybe it still will — do what you want, you’ve been amply warned).
That was the starting premise of this novel, but oh boy did it pull the rug out of you. I usually become a wreck after reading drama-type novels (and this one somewhat counts as one) but this one left me feeling wanting instead. There are moments in this book that made me tear up, both sad and happy tears, but my overall emotion throughout vacillated between ‘what the hell is happening?’, ‘please be safe!’ and ‘fuck, life can be so cruel’. Ness really knows how to write a story with minimal cast — in fact, I ended up loving Tomasz the most despite the fact that he showed up later in the book!
The ending is open-ended however, which doesn’t really bother me much but still kinda left me wanting more. This is the book by Ness I’ve read so maybe it’s his style but I am not the fan of the ending — there is a lack of resolution which makes me think that Ness may be leaning towards this book being about some kind of philosophical allegory on solipsism a la Camus, hence the lack of emphasis on the quality of the plot or its resolution.
Overall, solid 4. It’s a simple story really, a lot of the expositions happened in ‘dreams’ and the first part is written in a way that can be frustrating for those who went in hoping for a faster pace in plot progress, but I assure you it’ll pick up once Part 2 starts. This novel loses a star because to be honest, despite the plot twist and the action, there’s something lacking about the characters, which is sad because there are not even many of them. I also find the change of the plot direction, despite its shock value, immediately loses its novelty pretty fast and makes you realise it’s not really original.
My final recommendation: do not spoil yourself or google what this book is about. Once you know the story the plot twist won’t hit hard enough to motivate you to read till the end (or maybe it still will — do what you want, you’ve been amply warned).
Ulysses by James Joyce
1.0
Maybe my English sucks, or maybe I lack imagination. Or maybe I'm just dumb.
But I couldn't understand this just several pages in.
I bailed.
But I couldn't understand this just several pages in.
I bailed.
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
5.0
I have picked up this book thrice, and the first 2 times I failed to read past The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing, the first story within this beautiful onion of multi-yarns. This is an issue I have never faced before so this has surprised me and has somehow hurt my ego (a bit).
Why? Here's why. If you are an ESL speaker, like me, this could be a difficult read, particularly the opening story (The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing) because of the register of English used, which is not modern and peppered with various nautical terms, and the last story in the book (Sloosha's Crossin') because of Mitchell's writing it in a unique, post-apocalyptic English pidgin.
Now that that's out of the way, the whole experience of this book surpassed my expectations.
This novel is a brilliant saga of souls transcending time, lives and bodies. The book started off with a first-person account of an American travelling in a ship around 1800's during which human slavery was alive and breathing. This took the form of a journal. The second story continues with a series of letters addressed to a man named Rufus Sixsmith, from a prodigious, ostensibly bisexual musician, recounting his life being an amanuensis to a bedridden famous composer, and this took place a century after the first story (1930's). Then the novel picks up itself into the third story, and then fourth, and fifth and lastly the sixth.
I wouldn't waste time detailing the other stories (this isn't going to be a synopsis), but I would like to point out the interesting way Mitchell managed to segue into each of these stories into one long yarn that is exceptionally captivating, and unbroken, literally and figuratively. Each story is divided into two parts, with the first part ending on a climactic tone, before being cut off in an abrupt fashion but seamlessly segued into the second story, and so on and so forth, becoming one complete tale with stories nested within each other. This happens throughout the novel, until we reach the middle of the book where the final sixth story appears, before we pick up the part 2 of the fifth story, going down to the part 2 of the fourth story, and this goes on till we end up with the part 2 of the first story, The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing. This nested structure isn't inherently novel but Mitchell found the sweet spot to make these yarns blended together into one coherent tale.
The theme of reincarnation is implicit in this novel. Cloud Atlas was explained as being the nature of the characters' souls in this book, altogether formless but with ever-changing form (never mind how paradoxical that may sound) like clouds, mapping out an atlas of lives across generations, interweaving into one big picture (or story). The stories, each in itself, is standalone and almost completely independent in terms of plot, but despite of this, the constant theme throughout the novel - being ardent against a powerful system/regime/conspiracy - is what coheres the main characters in each tale, and somewhat becomes the thing that hints on them being derived from the same reincarnated soul. Mitchell also marked these characters with an innocent comet-like birthmark to drive this point home.
This is not the best review I could churn out and there are many more points that I could expound on, but I would end this here with one note; I love how Mitchell was able to give the main characters in different stories with distinct characterisation and voice, reflected through the way he wrote the stories. I find this an impressive mastery of voicing through a skilful use of linguistics. For example, one main character in one of the stories, Timothy Cavendish, has an idiolectal proclivity to use 'ruddy' in place of 'bloody', the language in the fifth story's universe subtly substituted all instances of ex- into x ('explain' becomes 'xplain') to reflect the futuristic setting, and the sixth tale was delivered in a cleverly-mutated pidgin English to reflect a far post-apocalyptic society, so much so that readers could still understand the story after a few pages in despite the linguistic mutation just by simple linguistic deduction and context. As a linguistic enthusiast, this has been a sumptuous mental treat aside from the stories in the novel.
That having said, I would definitely recommend this book if you are not looking for a quick read, if you love taking your time on a book, or if you are interested in the linguistic details this book carries in it. 10/10 would read again if I could start over with an erased memory.
Why? Here's why. If you are an ESL speaker, like me, this could be a difficult read, particularly the opening story (The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing) because of the register of English used, which is not modern and peppered with various nautical terms, and the last story in the book (Sloosha's Crossin') because of Mitchell's writing it in a unique, post-apocalyptic English pidgin.
Now that that's out of the way, the whole experience of this book surpassed my expectations.
This novel is a brilliant saga of souls transcending time, lives and bodies. The book started off with a first-person account of an American travelling in a ship around 1800's during which human slavery was alive and breathing. This took the form of a journal. The second story continues with a series of letters addressed to a man named Rufus Sixsmith, from a prodigious, ostensibly bisexual musician, recounting his life being an amanuensis to a bedridden famous composer, and this took place a century after the first story (1930's). Then the novel picks up itself into the third story, and then fourth, and fifth and lastly the sixth.
I wouldn't waste time detailing the other stories (this isn't going to be a synopsis), but I would like to point out the interesting way Mitchell managed to segue into each of these stories into one long yarn that is exceptionally captivating, and unbroken, literally and figuratively. Each story is divided into two parts, with the first part ending on a climactic tone, before being cut off in an abrupt fashion but seamlessly segued into the second story, and so on and so forth, becoming one complete tale with stories nested within each other. This happens throughout the novel, until we reach the middle of the book where the final sixth story appears, before we pick up the part 2 of the fifth story, going down to the part 2 of the fourth story, and this goes on till we end up with the part 2 of the first story, The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing. This nested structure isn't inherently novel but Mitchell found the sweet spot to make these yarns blended together into one coherent tale.
The theme of reincarnation is implicit in this novel. Cloud Atlas was explained as being the nature of the characters' souls in this book, altogether formless but with ever-changing form (never mind how paradoxical that may sound) like clouds, mapping out an atlas of lives across generations, interweaving into one big picture (or story). The stories, each in itself, is standalone and almost completely independent in terms of plot, but despite of this, the constant theme throughout the novel - being ardent against a powerful system/regime/conspiracy - is what coheres the main characters in each tale, and somewhat becomes the thing that hints on them being derived from the same reincarnated soul. Mitchell also marked these characters with an innocent comet-like birthmark to drive this point home.
This is not the best review I could churn out and there are many more points that I could expound on, but I would end this here with one note; I love how Mitchell was able to give the main characters in different stories with distinct characterisation and voice, reflected through the way he wrote the stories. I find this an impressive mastery of voicing through a skilful use of linguistics. For example, one main character in one of the stories, Timothy Cavendish, has an idiolectal proclivity to use 'ruddy' in place of 'bloody', the language in the fifth story's universe subtly substituted all instances of ex- into x ('explain' becomes 'xplain') to reflect the futuristic setting, and the sixth tale was delivered in a cleverly-mutated pidgin English to reflect a far post-apocalyptic society, so much so that readers could still understand the story after a few pages in despite the linguistic mutation just by simple linguistic deduction and context. As a linguistic enthusiast, this has been a sumptuous mental treat aside from the stories in the novel.
That having said, I would definitely recommend this book if you are not looking for a quick read, if you love taking your time on a book, or if you are interested in the linguistic details this book carries in it. 10/10 would read again if I could start over with an erased memory.
Cleanness by Garth Greenwell
5.0
It’s been a year since I last finished this book and at first I didn’t want to write a review but I think it would be unfair and might signal some kind of blandness, which the book is not! So I’m writing a quick review — if you are gay, or queer or whatever label you want to use for your unconventional sexuality, this book may feel close to you. But even if you are straight, I think you could still be able to appreciate the message and the themes interlaced in the short stories in the book — that real life love is very unlike fiction. These short stories were embellished versions of the author’s little moments in his personal life as a gay man, and I loved his way of retelling these stories of sexual and romantic encounters he experienced. It’s almost thrillingly voyeuristic, but in a clean, clinical kind of way. Funny how this feeling fits the title.
Oaxaca Journal by Oliver Sacks
5.0
This book is as straightforward as its title. It is organised into short chapters, each of which detailed the day from the curious lens of our brilliant author-scientist, Oliver Sacks, during a fern tour he was a part of, in Oaxaca, Mexico. Yes, ferns. This is a non-fiction, part-travel feuilleton, part his personal gushing over ferns, one of the most intriguing group of plants on Earth. This book reads like we were reading his personal journal, but it is clear he wrote this with audience in mind, as we could find little snippets of information and trivia slipped in between Sacks' poignant observations of the Mesoamerican culture, people and the 'vibe' as he crawled and trawled around Oaxaca looking at ferns, trees, rocks, and birds.
I am giving this a 5 because even though I am not that enthusiastic about ferns, or botany in general, I can relate with Sacks' natural predilection towards natural history and biology, something I love, being a scientist myself. But most importantly, what kept me reading was his brilliant and vivid prose, at times lighthearted, making this an easy, entertaining read, especially whenever I feel like reading something but I don't want to get into fiction, or read something heavy. This read may not be for everyone, especially those who came from his other books on the patients he treated/worked with. This is definitely drier, but not desiccated. Funnily, this reminds me of a passage in this book where he gushed about how xerophythic ferns, the so-called 'resurrection ferns', always seeming brown and dead, but give them some moisture or a splash of water, and they'll turn lush green, alive.
I am giving this a 5 because even though I am not that enthusiastic about ferns, or botany in general, I can relate with Sacks' natural predilection towards natural history and biology, something I love, being a scientist myself. But most importantly, what kept me reading was his brilliant and vivid prose, at times lighthearted, making this an easy, entertaining read, especially whenever I feel like reading something but I don't want to get into fiction, or read something heavy. This read may not be for everyone, especially those who came from his other books on the patients he treated/worked with. This is definitely drier, but not desiccated. Funnily, this reminds me of a passage in this book where he gushed about how xerophythic ferns, the so-called 'resurrection ferns', always seeming brown and dead, but give them some moisture or a splash of water, and they'll turn lush green, alive.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
3.0
I’ll be honest. I picked up this book because I am a sucker for any premise that involves a magical library, and a mysterious librarian, no matter how hackneyed this is.
The book started strong. The prose is fine — direct and an easy read. Nothing too flowery or languid.
But then it dragged on. The main character, Nora, made me go from pitying her, to empathizing with her, to being frustrated with her. And then the writing turned into some kind of a cheesy motivational preaching halfway through, which I personally cannot stand, though Haig wrote them in with a careful consideration that didn’t make me want to stop reading.
I’m giving this 3 stars because what Haig wanted to do was executed decently. And he WAS clear as to what he wanted this book to be — a self-help manual for those struggling with depression and suicide. Some kind of an introspective device, a reality anchor or a hook someone who may need reminding that life is worth living.
It was hard for me to relate initially with the main character because upon reflection, I am somewhat happy with my life. But it is always nice to be reminded of life, and living life, I guess.
Verdict: A nice soft read for those of you who might need to get out of some depressive, self-sabotaging spiral, but might be a bit too clichéd for those who are not looking for the lesson in living life.
The book started strong. The prose is fine — direct and an easy read. Nothing too flowery or languid.
But then it dragged on. The main character, Nora, made me go from pitying her, to empathizing with her, to being frustrated with her. And then the writing turned into some kind of a cheesy motivational preaching halfway through, which I personally cannot stand, though Haig wrote them in with a careful consideration that didn’t make me want to stop reading.
I’m giving this 3 stars because what Haig wanted to do was executed decently. And he WAS clear as to what he wanted this book to be — a self-help manual for those struggling with depression and suicide. Some kind of an introspective device, a reality anchor or a hook someone who may need reminding that life is worth living.
It was hard for me to relate initially with the main character because upon reflection, I am somewhat happy with my life. But it is always nice to be reminded of life, and living life, I guess.
Verdict: A nice soft read for those of you who might need to get out of some depressive, self-sabotaging spiral, but might be a bit too clichéd for those who are not looking for the lesson in living life.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3.0
I have been wanting to read this book for ages but I couldn't seem to find a copy anywhere around where I live and I didn't have any decent devices that would enable me to read the ebook. But tonight, after a year dwelling, I finally made it. Completed it in one sitting.
It was amazing. The emotional cruise Charlie depicted in his letters are really inviting, insofar as one can't help but embark along on the boat that is Charlie's teenage life. Yes overall the prose isn't that impressive but Chbosky did very well in using Charlie in a naïve realistic light to paint other characters (and Charlie himself) perfectly. It feels like you are reading an honest letters from a real person talking about the mediocrity of lives in an optimistic tone, so you can't help but keep on reading. At one point, I had to convince myself that Charlie is fictitious or at the very least, a mixture of personas of real lives, which consequently accounts for the ability for the reader to be emphatic with or even relate to him.
Not exactly the best one I've read, but I can safely attest that this epistolary novel will be listed amongst the book that affects me to a certain degree. Which means something good, doesn't it?
It was amazing. The emotional cruise Charlie depicted in his letters are really inviting, insofar as one can't help but embark along on the boat that is Charlie's teenage life. Yes overall the prose isn't that impressive but Chbosky did very well in using Charlie in a naïve realistic light to paint other characters (and Charlie himself) perfectly. It feels like you are reading an honest letters from a real person talking about the mediocrity of lives in an optimistic tone, so you can't help but keep on reading. At one point, I had to convince myself that Charlie is fictitious or at the very least, a mixture of personas of real lives, which consequently accounts for the ability for the reader to be emphatic with or even relate to him.
Not exactly the best one I've read, but I can safely attest that this epistolary novel will be listed amongst the book that affects me to a certain degree. Which means something good, doesn't it?