Sunday, March 25, 2012

100 books challenge : book #4, 5 and 6

book #4: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini



Reasons for reading the book: everyone recommended it after i read The Kite Runner by the same author and i always read every book in an author's collection if i started reading his work from the first book.

Quote: “Learn this now and learn it well. Like a compass facing north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.”

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”

Length:415

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating(out of 10 stars): 9.0

Summary: A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once an incredible chronicle of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love. Now, in this lavishly designed edition of the novel, the narrative is enhanced by expressive photos that capture the people and culture of the region in vivid detail and reflect the book's powerful themes, so apt for our times: the passionate search for family, home, acceptance, a healthy society, and a promising future-regardless of the obstacles.

Review: I loved this book, i enjoyed reading it. the thing about this book is that i won't recommend it to someone who doesn't enjoy reading, it takes some time to get into. it draws you in eventually, yes, but it takes it time, it starts very slow. actually, at some point, i stopped reading it and finished an entire book before picking it up again because i just can't leave a book unfinished. but finally, all the details are worth it in the end. at first, you wonder why the author wants you to know these things, how are these stories related, how is it all going to end. the ending actually made me cry, i was lying on my bed, reading this book and straight bawling and crying my eyes out. it's been so long since a book made me cry.
i had some problems with the book. really, sometimes i find Khaled's descriptions and imagery to be a tad bit cliche, i don't know. they seem forced, like he is trying too hard. the best literature i've ever read never pointed out things to me, they painted me a picture and let me see it. i love effortless imagery, and frankly, even though i thought this was wayyy better than 'The Kite Runner', i still had the same problems i had with the kite runner.
By no means, am i telling you not to read this book. read it, i gave it a 9 out of 10 stars for a reason. it's an amazing book. takes you through the generations in Afghanistan through the lives of two very different women with very different backgrounds. Read it because it's very relevant in today's literary world and it will make you cry. this book may not be the best book that i've ever read, but i know for a fact that it's one of those books that i will always remember.

Would i recommend this book? Absolutely, i loved it.

Book #5: Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick



Reasons for reading: I really don't know why i read this book, i guess i was interested in the subject matter and the name had a catch to it.

Quote: “Instead of agonizing about the things you can't change, why don't you try working on the things you can change”

length: 273 (large characters though)

Genre:couldn't find anything but they did mention it was aimed at children and young teenagers.

Rating(out of 10 stars): 6.5

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Salted with humor and peppered with devastating realities, DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIE is a heartwarming journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.

Review: I liked this book. i really don't have much to say about it since i don't really fall within their target audience but i still enjoyed it. it's told in the first person narrative and the narrator has such a unique and funny voice that i really enjoyed. Sometimes, i got kinda bummed out about the whole brother having cancer situation but there is so much more going on in this book than that subject matter. i think everyone can find something to relate to in this book and i bought it for cheap in amazon since i plan to own books at the end of this exercise i can't really borrow from someone else.

Would i recommend this? Sure, if you have some money to spare or you pick it up at your local library.

Book #6: 'Paper Towns' by John Green



Reasons for reading: Recommended by community sparknotes.

Quote: “It's more impressive," I said out loud. "From a distance, I mean. You can't see the wear on things, you know? You can't see the rust or the weeds or the paint cracking. You see the place as someone once imagined it.”

“What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person.”

Length: 305 pages

Genre: Young Adult

Rating(out of 10 stars): 4.5

Summary: When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night—dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q.

Review: I bought this book because i've heard a lot about John Greene and his amazing young adult books. I did not like this book cos frankly, i never got the point of this book. it was so annoying. i only finished because once i start a book, i absolutely have to finish it. i don't want to ruin it for you and this book has almost 5 perfect stars from 220 reviews on amazon and i really wish that i had gotten the hype, i prayed to get the hype. i'm going to read 2 more John Greene books before i absolutely decide that he either sucks or i'm just not his target audience. i enjoyed the writing, he has absolutely fabulous images and he is a good writer, he just does not have a good story. nothing happened. if you've read this book and you absolutely loved it please let me know, i'd love to have a discussion about it.

Would i recommend this book? there really isn't any book i wouldn't recommend. I hated it, a lot of people loved it. so you might be one of those people.

let me know of any recommendations or books you think i should buy. i think i'm just going to stop here, i have so many books lined up to review. i hope y'all are having a good weekend cos i had an amazing weekend.

love,
leggy.

4 comments:

Myne said...

You did read A Thousand Splendid Suns. I agree with you about the slow beginning, but yeah, it all ties up. I cried too. :)

Your reviews make me want to start blogging about books I read too. Hmm...

AliceDCL said...

keep at it
My reading game has dropped drastically, i have currently 6 unread books in my library, and 2 ive read half way, such a shame, i blame my thesis but i know thats just an excuse, its one thing i really need to work on, maybe your reviews will push me. :)
hows school?

Enkay said...

Ah, A Thousand Splendid Suns is the first of Khaled's books I have read and I really did love it. It left me thoughtful for a long time....

Hmm, me and books haven't been quite good friends for a while and I think the 100book challenge is way to ambitious for me. Maybe 20? I'll see.

Bex said...

A Thousand Splendid Suns really got to me and yes I cried at the end! 9 out of 10 is just about right!