This is another nonfiction book that was recommended to me at a conference.
To be honest I didn't like it because it made me face a lot of things that I feel are much further away. That a lot of people from first world countries feel are far away. Human trafficking. Sex slavery. Child slavery. Forced labor.
It was depressing. There were some heartbreaking stories.
However, I'd have to say that in the end, it was a good book to read for the sake of awareness. What I liked the most about this book is that it always had this message of hope - things can be done. Things are being done. And the best part was that even someone normal like me could do something - whether it has to do with the kind of chocolate, coffee or shoes I buy to simply bring awareness to the people I know.
I think everyone should read this book to be aware of the things that go on in this world, to know how many products are made by someone else's sweat, tears and pain. When it's put in that way, it made me realize that I didn't want to be a part of that.
Anyway, I highly recommend this book to everyone. And for more info, visit their website.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas
I think that perhaps it's me, but the book took a bit of a slow start and I didn't like the beginning. I generally don't like mining books because they're hard to relate to (never lived in a mountain before) but this one was really good. In a way, it's a glorified collection of short stories but the way it was weaved together made it much better than that.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a really quick read and it really appealed to one's emotions. The book dealt with a lot of hardship and pain but it didn't overplay it or make it seem like such a terrible thing. I mean it is a terrible thing, but it didn't use it for emotional ammo like some other books would. It was pretty upfront about it and I think that's what appealed to me about it.
I liked the narrative style because it was pretty circular (old stories taking a part in the beginning, etc.) and not all the stories had a happy ending, which created a sense of realism. It was all the more interesting because some of the people were still living and took part in the present-day narrative form of it (like Martha and Charlie Grove). I thought that this book could be a movie but I don't think it'd make a good one, honestly. The stories themselves are interesting, but to see it play out at a movie theater is less interesting. But that's simply because I prefer movies with more action.
The style was simple enough to be an easy read but it was also descriptive so that you'd be able to imagine what the place looked like and the actions of the characters.
Overall a very good read. I'm not too sure of the academic qualities of it (perhaps motifs of prayer and story-telling?) but in the end it was really good. Definitely would recommend to others.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a really quick read and it really appealed to one's emotions. The book dealt with a lot of hardship and pain but it didn't overplay it or make it seem like such a terrible thing. I mean it is a terrible thing, but it didn't use it for emotional ammo like some other books would. It was pretty upfront about it and I think that's what appealed to me about it.
I liked the narrative style because it was pretty circular (old stories taking a part in the beginning, etc.) and not all the stories had a happy ending, which created a sense of realism. It was all the more interesting because some of the people were still living and took part in the present-day narrative form of it (like Martha and Charlie Grove). I thought that this book could be a movie but I don't think it'd make a good one, honestly. The stories themselves are interesting, but to see it play out at a movie theater is less interesting. But that's simply because I prefer movies with more action.
The style was simple enough to be an easy read but it was also descriptive so that you'd be able to imagine what the place looked like and the actions of the characters.
Overall a very good read. I'm not too sure of the academic qualities of it (perhaps motifs of prayer and story-telling?) but in the end it was really good. Definitely would recommend to others.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I didn't like the writing style of this book at first. I'm not sure what it was but I felt like there was something off about how certain things were written. It was almost as if Collins as a writer was getting used to Katniss's way of thinking and talking. It's kind of felt like she was trying to break in a new pair of shoes or jeans.
Otherwise, I'd have to say that the plot was riveting. There were some obvious things that she foreshadowed and I was for some reason irritated by the fact whether or not Katniss would survive was played up a bit. Given it's popularity and the fact that there's a third volume of the series, there was virtually no way that Collins would kill Katniss off.
I kept doubting myself though, hoping in one way or another that Collins would be different but I mean I think I would've been just as upset if Katniss didn't make it. She was a pretty realistic character and more than that, she kind of put a lot of things into perspective (about society and its abundance). I liked the fact that the huge disparity between the rich and the poor were juxtaposed because even if we see it in our daily lives, I feel like the reality of it doesn't really hit. It made me want not want to waste my food.
Overall a really good read. I think it'd be interesting to explore this book on an academic level though I'm not really sure how much "meat" there really is beyond the obvious (poverty vs. wealth. love, humanity, etc.). I think I'd read this book again. I can't decide if it would list among my favorites but it was definitely a really good read.
On a completely different note, I somehow managed to keep the number of posts on this blog the same for the past three years without consciously trying. Interesting.
Otherwise, I'd have to say that the plot was riveting. There were some obvious things that she foreshadowed and I was for some reason irritated by the fact whether or not Katniss would survive was played up a bit. Given it's popularity and the fact that there's a third volume of the series, there was virtually no way that Collins would kill Katniss off.
I kept doubting myself though, hoping in one way or another that Collins would be different but I mean I think I would've been just as upset if Katniss didn't make it. She was a pretty realistic character and more than that, she kind of put a lot of things into perspective (about society and its abundance). I liked the fact that the huge disparity between the rich and the poor were juxtaposed because even if we see it in our daily lives, I feel like the reality of it doesn't really hit. It made me want not want to waste my food.
Overall a really good read. I think it'd be interesting to explore this book on an academic level though I'm not really sure how much "meat" there really is beyond the obvious (poverty vs. wealth. love, humanity, etc.). I think I'd read this book again. I can't decide if it would list among my favorites but it was definitely a really good read.
On a completely different note, I somehow managed to keep the number of posts on this blog the same for the past three years without consciously trying. Interesting.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The Tempest by Shakespeare
To be honest, I didn't completely understand this play. The way it ended was odd. I mean yes, Prospero lays down his magic, balance is restored in the world and everyone is assumed to be happy and married or whatever, but I guess what confused me was the speed at which it ended. There's only one scene in act 5 and an epilogue. I'm probably missing something historical because I didn't read any notes on it, but yeah. That confused me.
Also, I felt like since in the end, Miranda and Ferdinand get married, it was supposed to be a comedy, I didn't really get the humor. Maybe I took the play too seriously. I'm not sure.
At any rate, I guess in comparison to Othello, it wasn't as deep (or at least I didn't catch that much) and perhaps because it was a comedy, it was much lighter in tone.
I didn't like this play as much as Othello (probably because of the seeming lack of depth).
In the end, Shakespeare is Shakespeare. There were some good nuggets that I took away and in the end I suppose that's all there really is to it.
Also, I felt like since in the end, Miranda and Ferdinand get married, it was supposed to be a comedy, I didn't really get the humor. Maybe I took the play too seriously. I'm not sure.
At any rate, I guess in comparison to Othello, it wasn't as deep (or at least I didn't catch that much) and perhaps because it was a comedy, it was much lighter in tone.
I didn't like this play as much as Othello (probably because of the seeming lack of depth).
In the end, Shakespeare is Shakespeare. There were some good nuggets that I took away and in the end I suppose that's all there really is to it.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Othello by Shakespeare
Very obviously a classic, very obvious why it's a classic. Shakespeare plays on all these twists and plot devices that are still used today.
Ideas (I'd have to do a closer reading to actually call them themes) of influence, love, deception, honesty, etc. There's very obviously a lot to it.
I mean Shakespeare is Shakespeare. He's good. I appreciate his writing and I would probably read him if I was in the mood (as is the case with any other author). I don't generally like depressing books so I didn't like this one as much since it doesn't end well. His monologues are magnificently written. The way the plot plays out is believable.
I read Othello before too so I suppose this re-reading of it wasn't too bad. I do want to read some of his other stuff that I never read before.
Ideas (I'd have to do a closer reading to actually call them themes) of influence, love, deception, honesty, etc. There's very obviously a lot to it.
I mean Shakespeare is Shakespeare. He's good. I appreciate his writing and I would probably read him if I was in the mood (as is the case with any other author). I don't generally like depressing books so I didn't like this one as much since it doesn't end well. His monologues are magnificently written. The way the plot plays out is believable.
I read Othello before too so I suppose this re-reading of it wasn't too bad. I do want to read some of his other stuff that I never read before.
Monday, October 31, 2011
The Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman
This book is non-fiction, which I don't read very often. However, I found this book to be pretty engaging and insightful because it explains birth order in a way that I would never have imaged. I think that his claims are pretty sound and I think that it's helped me identify certain things about myself that I would never have realized (or admitted) otherwise.
He emphasizes that birth order does affect people (more than they think) but that it isn't a defining factor in people's behavior. I liked that he was realistic about his claims and was able to support his claims with many facts (both from his life, his clinical studies as well as other past studies).
I would honestly recommend this book to everyone because there's so much that can be learned from reading this. I don't want to give too much away but it was a really good read. The style of the book is very easy to read (I finished it in a couple days and some people could probably finish it in one sitting) and it's applicable to everyone.
He emphasizes that birth order does affect people (more than they think) but that it isn't a defining factor in people's behavior. I liked that he was realistic about his claims and was able to support his claims with many facts (both from his life, his clinical studies as well as other past studies).
I would honestly recommend this book to everyone because there's so much that can be learned from reading this. I don't want to give too much away but it was a really good read. The style of the book is very easy to read (I finished it in a couple days and some people could probably finish it in one sitting) and it's applicable to everyone.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
I must say again that Murakami is my favorite author. I like his style of writing and the way he moves the plot along and how he always adds an element of the spiritual or surreal. It's so obviously a parallel to the main character's mind but because he turns the inner turmoil/conflict into reality, it makes his novels that much more compelling to read.
I really liked Kafka on the Shore. If you simply look at the overall plot and character development, in the end, it really isn't much else than a coming-of-age novel. However, Murakami always adds in the surreal and the metaphorical and that's what really made the novel. I generally don't like really obvious metaphors and obvious conclusions (which this book had both) but it really didn't detract away from the overall quality of the novel itself. I feel like this novel had more of a sense of "completeness" than some of his other novels in the sense that the change that Kafka Tamura goes under is very clear and there's a very definitive what's-going-to-happen-next after he works out his feelings and inner conflicts. Everything works toward an end and again, it really added to the overall quality of the reading.
I'm not sure if I would put this with my "favorite" novels simply because the plot by itself isn't all that interesting. In the end it was a good read and I like how Murakami always has this interesting characters (Oshima and Nakato) that affect the main character in some way or another. Even Hoshino was interesting, even if he was somewhat of a normal character. I liked him because he was rough but had a nice-guy attitude about him.
I would recommend this book to others but again, the plot is somewhat typical so I would simply warn against that. Otherwise, a good, interesting, light read. Not sure if I would ever pick this book up again unless I was bored.
[aside]
I re-read my review of Dance, Dance, Dance and I realize that this book overturns everything I complained about. The plot is different, the main character isn't dealing with depression, there's no death (until the end of the novel) and the movement and everything about the novel is pretty different. There's still that seclusion away from society (which I'm starting to see as Murakami's way of helping the character achieve some kind of realization) but I see the logic in that. There's again, the stylistic similarity but I suppose that's what makes his work uniquely his, right? Hm. In the end, I would like to see him do something different, both plot and character-wise. I feel like he's capable of it, it's just a matter of whether he'd do it or not.
On a completely different note, I would like to eventually get good enough at Japanese to read the original. I feel like there are some things that probably aren't translating (I'm sure the translations themselves are really good, it's just that many things get lost in translation from a cultural point of view...).
I really liked Kafka on the Shore. If you simply look at the overall plot and character development, in the end, it really isn't much else than a coming-of-age novel. However, Murakami always adds in the surreal and the metaphorical and that's what really made the novel. I generally don't like really obvious metaphors and obvious conclusions (which this book had both) but it really didn't detract away from the overall quality of the novel itself. I feel like this novel had more of a sense of "completeness" than some of his other novels in the sense that the change that Kafka Tamura goes under is very clear and there's a very definitive what's-going-to-happen-next after he works out his feelings and inner conflicts. Everything works toward an end and again, it really added to the overall quality of the reading.
I'm not sure if I would put this with my "favorite" novels simply because the plot by itself isn't all that interesting. In the end it was a good read and I like how Murakami always has this interesting characters (Oshima and Nakato) that affect the main character in some way or another. Even Hoshino was interesting, even if he was somewhat of a normal character. I liked him because he was rough but had a nice-guy attitude about him.
I would recommend this book to others but again, the plot is somewhat typical so I would simply warn against that. Otherwise, a good, interesting, light read. Not sure if I would ever pick this book up again unless I was bored.
[aside]
I re-read my review of Dance, Dance, Dance and I realize that this book overturns everything I complained about. The plot is different, the main character isn't dealing with depression, there's no death (until the end of the novel) and the movement and everything about the novel is pretty different. There's still that seclusion away from society (which I'm starting to see as Murakami's way of helping the character achieve some kind of realization) but I see the logic in that. There's again, the stylistic similarity but I suppose that's what makes his work uniquely his, right? Hm. In the end, I would like to see him do something different, both plot and character-wise. I feel like he's capable of it, it's just a matter of whether he'd do it or not.
On a completely different note, I would like to eventually get good enough at Japanese to read the original. I feel like there are some things that probably aren't translating (I'm sure the translations themselves are really good, it's just that many things get lost in translation from a cultural point of view...).
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