After a strong start in the first few chapters I was struggling to get through the rest. The writing was plain and disjointed, the plot and characters thin, and it often read more like journalism, some climate change manifesto or a physics lecture, rather than fiction.
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data science researcher, ex software deveveloper, pole dancer, bibliophile, interested in machine learning, comp neuroscience, sociology. I read a bit of (almost) everything. 🇸🇬🇦🇺🇩🇪
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Tania reviewed The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Tania reviewed All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A masterpiece
5 stars
This was so well written. I love Doerr's beautiful descriptive style and the way he interweaves the stories of the characters intricately together.
Minus half a star because it didn't make me shed as many tears as such a powerful story should have. I can't really tell why. Maybe it was just my mood and I may need to reread it sometime and update my rating o 5 stars. Its definitely worth a read and a reread in any case.
Tania reviewed Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
A hauntingly beautiful masterpiece
5 stars
I love Murakami's writing style - his descriptions, symbolism, the philosophical dialogs, the way he handles serious themes (existence, innocence, love, death) and his jazz and literary references. There was only one character in the book that annoyed me somewhat. I want to blame it on Murakami's lack of first-hand experience with the sort of problems the character had, but maybe its my own. All his other characters were perfect in their imperfections and totally relatable. The story itself was hauntingly beautiful.
Tania reviewed How Minds Change by David McRaney
Enjoyable and insightful
4 stars
I didn't start with high expectations for this book but was pleasantly surprised. It was very insightful and clearly written - a mix of interesting conversations, humane stories and individual journeys, as well as some social science, psychology and neuroscience theory and research. I really enjoyed reading it. Now I need to give McRaney's podcast a second chance.
Tania reviewed Prisoners of geography by Tim Marshall
Engaging and concise
4 stars
Overall an easy and worthwhile read - concisely writtenand engaging. My only criticism would be that the explanations of international politics may be sometimes overly simplistic due to the focus on geography.
Tania reviewed Dr. No by Percival Everett
Too absurd
3 stars
Nice premise and reasonably entertaining at the start. Clever word play throughout but generally a little too absurd and lacking a proper plot. I got bored somewhere in the middle - not really my cup of tea.
Tania reviewed A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Heart-warming utopian future
4 stars
Utopian futures are not usually my thing (dystopia any day), but this was thoughtfully crafted and heart-warmimg so I enjoyed it. The only thing that bothered me a little was the gender pronoun usage. The main character is referred to as "they" throughout, which of course is fine but a little distracting for me.
Tania reviewed Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Exploring love and loneliness through an AI
4 stars
An easy and enjoyable read despite some illogical parts. I like the idea of exploring such human concepts as love and loneliness through an artificially intelligent robot.
Tania reviewed Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Tania reviewed Write for Life by Julia Cameron
Tania reviewed Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Tania reviewed Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Tania reviewed Cold People by Tom Rob Smith
Tania reviewed The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Masterful
5 stars
The writing style captured me from the beginning, although it was sometimes (in the first few sections) a struggle to follow the rather complex plot with so many characters. I really appreciated all the authentic New Zealand (and especially Hokitika) references - wildlife, Maori language and culture, street names, etc. since I discovered and started reading this book in Hokitika itself. However, I think many clever astrological references were lost on me. Despite that I thoroughly enjoyed the book. This would be a great one to take apart in an English Lit. class.