tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23756868491542951372024-03-22T14:47:52.976+05:30Book Review TempleArjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-23403517790074595622020-09-09T00:19:00.000+05:302020-09-09T00:19:06.065+05:30#BookReview: Against the Loveless World - Susan Abulhawa<br />
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<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3.5/5 Book Emojis!</span>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CD6VZprAvce/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CD6VZprAvce/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; 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font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; 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font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by arjun randhawa (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2020-08-15T13:22:36+00:00" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 15, 2020 at 6:22am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
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<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 366</span></span></h3><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Available at your nearest independent bookstore!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">*Note: The views below are unbiased and solely my own. A copy of the book was provided by the publisher Bloomsbury India for an honest review.</span></h3>
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<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span>"<span style="color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">The Cube is thus devoid of time. It contains, instead, a yawning stretch of something unnamed, without present, future, or past, which I fill with imagined or remembered life.</span></span></span><span>β</span></i></b></h4><div><br />Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa is a literary fiction novel about a girl named Nahr who tells her story of a search for love, family, justice and freedom, from inside a prison cell called- The Cube. Written in 7 parts, most of which are encompassed literally toward the directions in the cube, she paints an extremely vivid picture of her life before, during and after the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Susan gives one of the rawest and the most powerful voices I've seen in a first-person narrative fiction, to the protagonist. The unfiltered diction and strength in Nahr's story speaks volumes that echo within the dooming walls of the cube, as well as the reader's mind. </div><div><br /></div><div>While I read the book, I got in touch with my friends who understood the cultural references in the book well. Not only did the author stick politically uncensored, but was culturally authentic to every detail surrounding the lead's life. Every single character and every little side-story had a soul of its own, making this book full of life and yet gripping with sharp edges. It had humour, pain, reality and most importantly, strength. Set in decades from the 70s till the early 00's, the writing is timeless and forever relevant. Anyone who reads it will know the reality and horrors reeking from every word of this story- of what it means to be a refugee, to have your life tossed around in the hands of war-thirsty militants and to find your voice among the deafening bombings by western capitalists. What the essence of the book stood out to be for me, was how fearlessness is a privilege that costs a lot more than what women in the Middle East are given credit for. For the West to cause so much destruction, spanning generations of these innocent lives, and for them to try to fight back, only to be labelled with Islamophobia as terrorists, is something that I feel the world should be educated about, with this book. </div><div><br /></div><div>My less-than-perfect rating for this brilliant story is for a conflict between a story of this magnitude and strength, to writing that evokes impermanent thought and inconsistent vigour. The first dozen of pages are gripping but lose their magnetic flow with the reader for the next hundred pages. The ending of the book is interesting, though not immaculate as it could've been, with some direction and structure. The protagonist ages, but her voice fails to evolve- to the point that the narration get monotonous. The other characters of the book, on the other hand, not only evolve as people, but their stories unfold with brilliant plot devices. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Conclusion</u></b>: I really enjoyed this read and definitely not as a piece of entertainment. This was power summing up three hundred sixty six pages with raw edge and sheer truth. I recommend it to everyone who doesn't bother with trigger warnings of rape, sexual assault, graphic imagery and violence, and wishes to take a story of a lifetime away with themself. </div><div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-54984035360728985202020-06-27T18:41:00.001+05:302020-06-27T18:41:33.509+05:30#BookReview: The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller<br />
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<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">4.5/5 Book Emojis!</span>
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font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; 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font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2020-05-04T13:48:49+00:00" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 4, 2020 at 6:48am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3>
<font size="4"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Kindle Edition</span></font>
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<h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 389</span></span></h3><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">*Note: The views below are unbiased and solely my own. The copy of the book was personal and self-owned. </span></h3>
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<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span>"</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; text-align: left;">I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him
blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth.
I would know him in death, at the end of the world.</span><span>β</span></i></b></h4><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eWD3yLqBacSPlMcCafskzlg7bwxPpN6Tbr8qUowrdhvfTY0SzDiNqMp7KuREdRblpPcCH5WbPJA0A7sZeBjli0Fwzpbbv1f8AfHJsLyGUSEQKQjMUCN-srM_QmaZY6rbSEVdcP2TW20N/s400/tenor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="400" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eWD3yLqBacSPlMcCafskzlg7bwxPpN6Tbr8qUowrdhvfTY0SzDiNqMp7KuREdRblpPcCH5WbPJA0A7sZeBjli0Fwzpbbv1f8AfHJsLyGUSEQKQjMUCN-srM_QmaZY6rbSEVdcP2TW20N/w400-h164/tenor.gif" width="400" /></a>The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is a retelling of the Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus (from the Iliad) where Patroclus, a young boy is banished from his father's kingdom on accidentally killing another boy, and sent as as an exile to Phthia where he meets Achilles- <i>Aristos Achaion</i> and the son of the king. The book spans across their boyhood and coming of age, growing up only to realise that their time together has come down to be placed in the Trojan War where their prophecies and fates will play out for the legends to speak of. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eWD3yLqBacSPlMcCafskzlg7bwxPpN6Tbr8qUowrdhvfTY0SzDiNqMp7KuREdRblpPcCH5WbPJA0A7sZeBjli0Fwzpbbv1f8AfHJsLyGUSEQKQjMUCN-srM_QmaZY6rbSEVdcP2TW20N/s400/tenor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSTsH5WtkMCLUN8_jq8WpUfsXUFHWT3ng-MyzhfDe96mOAwfKHZVZ2TS2i7XSRBiltCb6c0yoiXhFVUCPyRYv1WSEjtr4-uq-7Yry1ufJMYT50phsn8t37fwXA9EVmnZCbGEME3WcYlh-/s250/BossyEachKrill-small.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="250" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSTsH5WtkMCLUN8_jq8WpUfsXUFHWT3ng-MyzhfDe96mOAwfKHZVZ2TS2i7XSRBiltCb6c0yoiXhFVUCPyRYv1WSEjtr4-uq-7Yry1ufJMYT50phsn8t37fwXA9EVmnZCbGEME3WcYlh-/w391-h224/BossyEachKrill-small.gif" width="391" /></a>Madeline Miller has done a great job in adding a life to the legendary myth of the two people whose relationship was speculated as a controversial topic for centuries, by historians. The writing of this book was extremely personal and the reason why it is so successful, what I believe, is how she has a deep spiritual connection with every person in this myth. She knows the characters well, which is why she's able to give them the voices they need to be so deeply resonating with the readers. She has empathised and in a way, almost transformed herself in writing as half-god Achilles or the exiled underdog Patroclus or the stone-cold sea nymph Thetis or the senile but wise Peleus or the obnoxious and selfish Agamemnon and every single person whom we come across. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>I, a person who passionately studies Greek and Roman Mythology, took about a month to finish this book since I had to fact-check and read beyond the pages of every single incident. And lo and behold, I was absolutely mesmerised by how perfectly this book was able to depict the immensely intimate, warm-blooded and pure relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. The way Madeline weaves her sentences into personalised emotions for the two as well as everyone/everything around them, I was swooning with each paragraph. It's powerful and yet adequately soft for a legendary myth. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx9oZdxCyilL6oo08FFJ3l1QAqpMgKQ7fwBjvQ2davwlWObfwQVE0qgN_5M_5vK8b0J5YeSWJI79oZEcYJYnfVYFtlHy7ugttxk-pt2Wp_g_D_lC27REMZnI1eorm4tYQEeXkhshbh97X/s500/e4e3112048d6d72dab58ad1df8a1e2f8.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx9oZdxCyilL6oo08FFJ3l1QAqpMgKQ7fwBjvQ2davwlWObfwQVE0qgN_5M_5vK8b0J5YeSWJI79oZEcYJYnfVYFtlHy7ugttxk-pt2Wp_g_D_lC27REMZnI1eorm4tYQEeXkhshbh97X/w400-h225/e4e3112048d6d72dab58ad1df8a1e2f8.gif" width="400" /></a></div>I wasn't able to give a 5-star rating for small discomforts I felt in reading two particular scenes that childish and written in a rush (respectively): Achilles in the palace of Lycomedes and the very last scene of the book. Despite that and the fact that I knew how the myth ends, the author was successful in leaving me devastated with her writing and character-building skills. The way she moulds her writing to accommodate romance, war, coming-of-age, parenting, sex and travel: all wrapped up inside the golden veil of Homeric Greek is magnificent.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Conclusion</u></b>: This is one cultured gay story based on a Greek myth. What else do I have to say for someone to pick it up and read it and wail with me? Nothing. </div><div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-46420199077663483922020-06-27T15:18:00.002+05:302020-06-27T15:21:23.959+05:30#BookReview: Less - Andrew Sean Greer<br />
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<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitM47WWGyusNJqDXeqY6PdRwjiJWFv_O_cjnQffLXzvcMJQcew1D1shMEIFVqXLeVvUAOiBLBhtX5HKm8l29Z8s2t5ztqmwoM9_4IR4y6vPPxUkzEaOgz4mv7ysvgp-NdXa3hygh4Jryqu/s626/4+Star.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitM47WWGyusNJqDXeqY6PdRwjiJWFv_O_cjnQffLXzvcMJQcew1D1shMEIFVqXLeVvUAOiBLBhtX5HKm8l29Z8s2t5ztqmwoM9_4IR4y6vPPxUkzEaOgz4mv7ysvgp-NdXa3hygh4Jryqu/s320/4+Star.png" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><p style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">4/5 Book Emojis!</span>
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font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2020-06-18T11:40:16+00:00" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 18, 2020 at 4:40am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span>Paperback</span></span>
</h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Hachette India </span></span>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 264</span></span>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Less-Andrew-Sean-Greer/dp/0349143595/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=less&qid=1593197648&sr=8-1"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a>
</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><font size="3"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*Note: The views below are unbiased and solely my own. Thanks to the publisher (<u><i>Hachette India</i></u>) for providing me a copy for an honest review. Part of </span>#HachettePride<span style="font-weight: normal;"> campaign.</span></font></span></h4>
<div><span style="color: #ffd966;"></span></div>
<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;"><b><h4><i><font size="5">βWhere was he? Somewhere in there he lost the first phase of youth, like the first phase of a rocket; it had fallen, depleted, behind him. And here was the second. And last. He swore he would not give it to anyone; he would enjoy it. He would enjoy it alone. But: how to live alone and yet not be alone?β </font></i></h4></b></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9RMGBn9t0UnHi6QHcnthz2Cr8G29QDF9JvrLGRqBKU0lagnqM8D1QWxqPJO2TX_LWYNau6MQ9NELlpC9_q8ttWHDjA7BidtYSIoHdrgNPCyI3pUjvpzQt30o1Y_YbmTqA2dRnWk2Uwp8//" /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Less by Andrew Sean Greer is a book about a 49-year-old American writer who goes on a journey across the world in order to avoid his ex-boyfriend's wedding, while making the most of his life before stepping into his 50s. Written in third person, this book is narrated by an observer of the protagonist Arthur Less, in a wonderfully hilarious tone that subtly jolts your heart with poignant undertones.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> I started this book on a light-hearted note, based on reviews from others, and laughed with every page until I reached half-way. This was when the book started gaining content mass and intensity: with vigor and passionate writing facaded as humor. As a queer man who reads between the lines and [unfortunately] is known to feel too deeply, I found the character of Arthur very endearing and most definitely resonating with his unspoken existential crisis that lurks unconsciously inside the psyche of a middle-aged gay man and my personal quarter-life crisis.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVdVM2mQ6cv0HgjXpSRtVhRWXwb98F1tXKprxvHocxJw4DV_ANBPcfq_etrhgP7Nlfrqh99gEAjtJRcMs1dQ960xTHMoElh1CUMuK-X1nBDg4L4DrASijaTzdlz64RWT6o-OQzV_EcyHa/s500/tumblr_mkls9nghuP1s8nfzro1_500.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="500" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVdVM2mQ6cv0HgjXpSRtVhRWXwb98F1tXKprxvHocxJw4DV_ANBPcfq_etrhgP7Nlfrqh99gEAjtJRcMs1dQ960xTHMoElh1CUMuK-X1nBDg4L4DrASijaTzdlz64RWT6o-OQzV_EcyHa/w400-h176/tumblr_mkls9nghuP1s8nfzro1_500.gif" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVdVM2mQ6cv0HgjXpSRtVhRWXwb98F1tXKprxvHocxJw4DV_ANBPcfq_etrhgP7Nlfrqh99gEAjtJRcMs1dQ960xTHMoElh1CUMuK-X1nBDg4L4DrASijaTzdlz64RWT6o-OQzV_EcyHa/s500/tumblr_mkls9nghuP1s8nfzro1_500.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxkvCmyC-CgFTVqu_RYfPqA8bTQXhzEJ1-p0yRHwx9wQpla3JxCmySsWv7oFjdyrhg08N2xrA4qhAjQDIPLcmqiWY9U-neQQSajzjkTHGH-DppbIAN6IZCFuLtCIplcYGSnREwn0T2Z2-/s500/1758ba9f7f308f63a8f830a4fdb03150.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxkvCmyC-CgFTVqu_RYfPqA8bTQXhzEJ1-p0yRHwx9wQpla3JxCmySsWv7oFjdyrhg08N2xrA4qhAjQDIPLcmqiWY9U-neQQSajzjkTHGH-DppbIAN6IZCFuLtCIplcYGSnREwn0T2Z2-/s500/1758ba9f7f308f63a8f830a4fdb03150.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><p style="text-align: left;">The story will make a casual reader enjoy the book thoroughly while making the sensitive absorb the deep emotions that lay within the writer's mind. As from what I've learnt from his interviews, the author wrote the main character based off of his personal traits, but ended up quite independent. However, the writing never fails to reveal the deepest anxieties and the low-lying fear of dying alone that Arthur thinks about but never mentions in the book. All the events, the places, the countries and characters in the book feel extremely real which is why they strike so strongly throughout the book, making it an empathetic journey that we take in each airport and hotel room with the clueless but innocently pure Less. After every few pages, I couldn't help but associate each new character with a person, a feeling and a moment from personal experience I've had in life, so it took me more than a couple of days to fully immerse myself in this otherwise "easy-read," while looking at my old photos and sobbing over them (!).</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxkvCmyC-CgFTVqu_RYfPqA8bTQXhzEJ1-p0yRHwx9wQpla3JxCmySsWv7oFjdyrhg08N2xrA4qhAjQDIPLcmqiWY9U-neQQSajzjkTHGH-DppbIAN6IZCFuLtCIplcYGSnREwn0T2Z2-/s500/1758ba9f7f308f63a8f830a4fdb03150.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="500" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxkvCmyC-CgFTVqu_RYfPqA8bTQXhzEJ1-p0yRHwx9wQpla3JxCmySsWv7oFjdyrhg08N2xrA4qhAjQDIPLcmqiWY9U-neQQSajzjkTHGH-DppbIAN6IZCFuLtCIplcYGSnREwn0T2Z2-/w500-h199/1758ba9f7f308f63a8f830a4fdb03150.gif" width="500" /></a></p><p>With a stone to my heart, I'll take off one star from a perfect rating for the minor inconsistency of narration in a few dozen pages that even though is the narrator's personal character development, feels like a very slight prick for this innocent genius of a novel. The ending of the book is so perfect and magnificent that I think no one could've ever imagined being deceived by an innocent and cute cover, that bad.</p><p></p><p><b><u>Conclusion</u></b>: This book should be a movie. It's for all ages and it will be a contemporary classic must-watch tear-jerker rom-com for the pure soul's sombre pleasure. Definitely recommend to everyone.</p></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-69208421579173895402020-04-30T19:05:00.004+05:302020-04-30T19:05:58.373+05:30#BookReview: Sing Unburied Sing - Jesmyn Ward<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2.75/5 Book Emojis!</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8yyhVgeYm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by UCR Foster Youth (@ucrfosteryouth)</a> on <time datetime="2020-04-14T05:40:55+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 13, 2020 at 10:40pm PDT</time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Bloomsbury India </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 292</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Sing-Unburied-SHORTLISTED-WOMENS-FICTION-ebook/dp/B071FK5CHS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">*Note: The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">βSorrow is food swallowed too quickly, caught in the throat, making it nearly impossible to breathe.β </span></i></b></h2>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/l2Sq6sippSER8roLS/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Janelle Monae Moonlight GIF by A24" border="0" height="200" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/l2Sq6sippSER8roLS/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
Sing, Unburied, Sing is the story of a young black boy named Jojo, in rural Mississippi with his meth addict mother Leonie, his Mam and Pop, and his younger sister Michaela whose lives get further complicated after they set on a ride to receive their father Michael from the Parchman prison. As we go through the book, we come across every character's story associated to the place.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/26hisgqHeNNktWN44/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Barry Jenkins Moonlight GIF by A24" border="0" height="200" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/26hisgqHeNNktWN44/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a>Honestly, I don't understand how this book won the National Book Award for fiction as it was such a waste of idea. The concept was so magnificent but to see the author drag it through the sewers was painful through the course of these 292 pages. The first two chapters struck such a wonderful note that I hoped would resonate throughout, which ended up being my own wailing for it to be over. Jojo and Pop's story was the only one worth my attention but the author decided to run us over with the bumpy car ride and about a 100 pages of a little girl puking.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oz8xYKMKtBJhutFjG/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Naomie Harris Culture GIF by A24" border="0" height="200" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oz8xYKMKtBJhutFjG/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a>Ward fails to deliver a power tale with her inconsistent writing and overcompensating for the low points in the story with poor poetic prose (can't believe I'm wording it like that). The moment the reader thinks this story can be saved, the author decides to introduce paranormal content by the final few chapters, baffling my last ounce of sanity I had gathered to finish the book. The third last chapter brings hyperboles and dramatic exploration of death with paranormal devices, written fairly well. However, it was so inconsistently given way in the story that I wondered if she commissioned someone else to finish the book for her, as it was highly misrepresentative of the overall tone of the book.<br />
<br />
By the end of the story, I was amused, yet disappointed at Jesmyn for playing so loosely with important characters and stories like these with inconsistent highs and lows.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Conclusion: </b></u>This book is written as if Tayari Jones had Bipolar Disorder. If you're into that, I wouldn't stop you without saying that you can rather read the stable and real Tayari Jones instead of putting yourself through this (unless your standards are circling the drain and you liked this book already).</div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-20886472831154809232020-04-14T00:47:00.000+05:302020-04-14T00:47:03.218+05:30#BookReview: Adults - Emma Jane Unsworth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5/5 Book Emojis!</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8TrSlEgesb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2020-02-08T13:23:44+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 8, 2020 at 5:23am PST</time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - HarperCollins India </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 345</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Grown-Ups-Emma-Jane-Unsworth/dp/0008334609/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">*Note: I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher HarperCollins India, for an honest review. The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"βOh, my darling," she says, into my hair. "At least I only had to try to look like Twiggy. You've got to sing and dance and fuck and work and mother and sparkle and equalize and not complain and be beautiful and love your imperfections and stay strong and show your vulnerability and bake and box and pull fucking port. It's much too much.β β</span></i></b></blockquote>
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/XDKsF8ZR59DFvZVxwL/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Get Out Ugh GIF" border="0" height="232" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/XDKsF8ZR59DFvZVxwL/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="320" /></a>Adults is simply a story about just a dirty, pervy, neurotic woman named Jenny McLaine in her 30s who is so oblivious to stick to the expected "lady-like" version of herself. What makes this book a true ingenious work of hilarious contemporary fiction, is the the clever wit, snarky observations and the relatable uncertainty that adulthood brings about.<br />
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/UgZB9emeofj3O/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Amy Schumer Trainwreck GIF" border="0" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/UgZB9emeofj3O/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" /></a>Jenny has no clue about life and that's what draws the reader to her. How a woman navigates through the time of her life when she's expected to be married with a bunch of kids running about, as a free-willed and unfiltered trainwreck. Jenny is neurotically attached to an Instagram influencer because, according to my perspective as a psychologist, she thinks being followed by someone as known as her, adds a little more meaning and flavour to her life. It's actually something a lot of us [unhealthily] dealing with the struggles in our lives can relate to: putting out an inflated and exaggerated version of our lives on social media just to seem likeable and desired. To look like our lives are just as fun and interesting as anyone with a wider following.<br /></div>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/jQnrJSmFB6KVQ7kfpK/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phoebe Waller-Bridge Emmys GIF by IMDb" border="0" height="278" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/jQnrJSmFB6KVQ7kfpK/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="320" /></a>But, that's not the only reason why I think this book is a genius work of a (and I say this in the most admiring way possible) mad mad woman is how this book is steered wherever life takes Jenny and we are just as clueless as she is, making this book highly entertaining and an excellent journey of interesting humour. All of this is to the point where I honestly want to sit down with Jenny, pounding red wine, and laugh my worries away. Not only does she seek validation through physical comfort and sex (well, mood) she doesn't understand how her life can slowly implode as a result of her reckless impulsivity. And that, is a journey Emma takes us through, for which I'm so grateful.<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/14y2HoUA4av0R2/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bill Hader Trainwreck GIF" border="0" height="212" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/14y2HoUA4av0R2/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a><u style="font-weight: bold;"></u><br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></u>
<u style="font-weight: bold;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></u>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion:</u> If you like the show Fleabag and movies like Frances Ha(2012), AmΓ©lie(2001), Trainwreck(2015) you will absolutely adore this book just as much as me. This book is hilarious and witty enough that I read it all in Phoebe Waller Bridge's accent in my head and laughed hysterically in the metro with no fucks to give. This is also a must read for every true feminist who empathises with the madness of adulthood, and simply for everyone who has at least once in their lives said "you know what? fuck it."<br /><br />PS, I really think the negative reviews are from people who're conservatively stepped over by the mindset that a woman should be lady-like and well mannered. Trust me, if Jenny were a man, this book would be a movie by now. </div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-75302060449825295872020-02-06T22:05:00.000+05:302020-02-06T22:05:46.321+05:30#BookReview: Swimming in the Dark - Tomasz Jedrowski<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPR6NRXhsfWvSYXnQSZR6j2UDeC8Oab7u1mes7HzwMRG3BEknH3eIrPfSyphVk2Bu36Tlt7wyM_vXFYegj9258J5CVJaxVsIff5w8fMZvBXqeI2Vqtrrxx6yRCqG1_4ql5JuNlXu6ogjM/s1600/4+Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="626" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPR6NRXhsfWvSYXnQSZR6j2UDeC8Oab7u1mes7HzwMRG3BEknH3eIrPfSyphVk2Bu36Tlt7wyM_vXFYegj9258J5CVJaxVsIff5w8fMZvBXqeI2Vqtrrxx6yRCqG1_4ql5JuNlXu6ogjM/s320/4+Star.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<img class="image-stretch-vertical" id="igImage" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51YgpAQ8HFL.jpg" style="max-height: 500px; max-width: 329px; text-align: start;" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">ARC - Paperback</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Bloomsbury India </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 232</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Swimming-Dark-Tomasz-Jedrowski/dp/1526604973/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">*Note: I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher Bloomsbury India, for an honest review. The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>"...I slept deeply, dreamlessly, as if floating under water, I was unmoored, a ship that had finally left its harbour, only to be pushed by the wind without any control of its own. When I awoke I hardly knew who and where I was.β</b></i></span></blockquote>
<br />
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0c/cd/2e/0ccd2eb2d969c39f1d472160cd849f6c.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" " border="0" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="277" importance="auto" loading="auto" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0c/cd/2e/0ccd2eb2d969c39f1d472160cd849f6c.gif" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;">Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski is the story of a young man named Ludwig who is coming-of-age in the light of the violent political decline in Poland around the '80s. At an agricultural camp, he locks eyes with a university student named Janusz and he finds himself falling. But, the eyes of the government are wherever they expect the least. Bonding over the copy of James Baldwin's queer love story, <i>Giovanni's Room, </i>their romance gains passion and strength. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://66.media.tumblr.com/3681606a9640710a557c878fa502a57a/tumblr_ovonh82SDr1qh7onio3_r1_400.gifv" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for vintage gay couple" border="0" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="331" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/3681606a9640710a557c878fa502a57a/tumblr_ovonh82SDr1qh7onio3_r1_400.gifv" style="margin-top: 11.549999999999997px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">This was a book that satiated my thirst for Andre Aciman and relit the warm fire for my love of European history, this time with Poland. Tomasz never fails to give a well detailed and beautifully incorporated backdrop for each political and historical event that obstruct the romance of our characters. The writing was brilliant and the characters possessed depth and developed with the story. However, the only thing I felt missing was more of homoeroticism and more pages about the chemistry between Ludwig and Janusz. But that doesn't stop me from congratulating the author from writing this important story. </span><br />
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<a href="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1b722484572d929f32e93deb5c9f5904-592d544a36a25__605.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for vintage gay couple" border="0" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="304" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1b722484572d929f32e93deb5c9f5904-592d544a36a25__605.gif" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Very often, among the cacophony of bestsellers, we miss out on voices of authors like these who have stories such as this one, that evidently comes from a place like home where things aren't so utopian. I took up this book expecting a whole lot, since Poland is now very close to my heart and don't fall behind in picking up every queer release, and fortunately, I wasn't disappointed. There's so much to take away from this book, especially the fact that no matter how things change for the better of the marginalised, we don't always have the perfect happy endings. Also, that we should never fail to acknowledge those before us who would've killed to have the freedom we do right now, and <i>that</i> not letting us stop in our way to fight for more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Conclusion</u></b>: This is simply one really really story that I think everyone should read. A classic. A deserved best-seller. </span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-6631622411655044212020-02-02T16:34:00.002+05:302020-02-05T16:29:38.997+05:30#BookReview: Infinity Son - Adam Silvera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2.5/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8AtYICATzg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2020-02-01T04:36:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 31, 2020 at 8:36pm PST</time></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">ARC: Paperback</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Simon & Schuster India </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 350</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Infinity-Son-Adam-Silvera/dp/1471187802" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">*Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Simon & Schuster India, for an honest review. The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><i></i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">War makes us do things we didnβt know we were capable of. Weβve shown compassion, but weβve also had to become violent to stay alive. To try and win.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">β</span></b></i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/KrigeiZXJ0aWs/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/KrigeiZXJ0aWs/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Infinity Son by Adam Silvera is a coming-of-age fantasy novel about a boy named Emil and his brother named Brighton in the city of New York who have spent most of their lives obsessing over Spell Walkers- the vigilantes who protect the world from specters- creatures who steal powers from magical beings known as Celestials. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the middle of chaos surrounding these creatures who selfishly crave for power, even if it means shedding of precious and magical blood, Emil discovers there is more to his life than he was told since he was a childhood. Brighton gets pulled in as well, from a wannabe social media celebrity to an overnight sensation's brother. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I really expected a lot out of this book, being an Adam Silvera superfan since his first book came out years ago, and lo and behold, I was disappointed. The plot was very loose and improperly thought out. At some points it felt like I was reading a gay X-Men fan fiction on WattPad with the character names changed. The book started off on an average depth but gained a little bit of my interest when I hit the 30% mark. But, by the time I was halfway done, I absolutely couldn't find the energy to read it any more. Owing to my undying love for Silvera and the publisher, I finished the book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There wasn't good imagery or vivid descriptions used for any of the scenes in the book. For the character development, it didn't exist. The lines seemed quick and missed buildup. However, I liked the concept of the book if you ignore some of the several ridiculous incidents in the story. </span><br />
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/NpXecaHPKbdVm/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/NpXecaHPKbdVm/giphy.gif" width="201" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion:</u> This is definitely not a fantasy book I would recommend to anyone. If you're looking to read gay fantasy, Adam Silvera hasn't done justice to your need. For a quick and light experience, you can definitely give it a try. </span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-67693529475992970372020-01-22T20:48:00.000+05:302020-01-22T21:47:15.667+05:30#BookReview: Find Me - Andre Aciman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-h4imECco8BbtJ9y4FFbbQQVJWOUkts5dDZbYP1HV22huqZU4NdxT8TdmzCnRdiz3acYiIIpcoki0n4AnzKS0AMKegpkSfc8USeR8e8PznfzUYZ6oil5gTuHqY-O5vfcf59f6uipgJjn/s1600/3.5+Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="545" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-h4imECco8BbtJ9y4FFbbQQVJWOUkts5dDZbYP1HV22huqZU4NdxT8TdmzCnRdiz3acYiIIpcoki0n4AnzKS0AMKegpkSfc8USeR8e8PznfzUYZ6oil5gTuHqY-O5vfcf59f6uipgJjn/s320/3.5+Star.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3.75/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<img alt="Image result for find me andre aciman cover" class="irc_mi" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61cUD2RrBtL.jpg" width="204" /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Penguin India </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 260</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Find-Me-Andre-Aciman/dp/0571356494" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">*Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Penguin India, for an honest review. The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://authorpoint.blogspot.com/2020/01/bookreview-call-me-by-your-name-andre.html" style="background-color: yellow;" target="_blank">>>>Review for 'Call Me By Your Name'- HERE<<<</a></i></h3>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's those we lost or who never knew we existed who leave their mark. The others barely echoβ</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/26n6RacwKo8t2M2ZO/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/26n6RacwKo8t2M2ZO/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a>
<span style="font-size: large;">Find Me, my highly anticipated sequel release to Call Me By Your Name, is a novel set the years post young Elio's departure for university to be a pianist. It is written in four parts that span over the lives of Elio's father and his relationships, Elio and his life after Oliver and Oliver's life after he leaves Italy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The book is culturally rich and satiates the reader's thirst for the warmth of the Italian summer that left us swooning in Call Me By Your Name. The references in each part of the story are highly reflective of how magnificent Andre Aciman's grit is. His heart is open and so are the characters in this story, unafraid to be vulnerable and seen. Greek mythology, music, architecture, folk tales, Italian and sensuality: Find Me serves it all in these 260 pages.</span><br />
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<a href="https://66.media.tumblr.com/3cbeed0e6889fecd48e0b1538a5f3f76/tumblr_inline_p5jbjkQJ2O1qkt8f1_540.gifv" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for michael stuhlbarg call me by your name" border="0" class="irc_mi" height="225" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/3cbeed0e6889fecd48e0b1538a5f3f76/tumblr_inline_p5jbjkQJ2O1qkt8f1_540.gifv" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To see the three of our favourite men from Call Me By Your Name but with different characters could've gone horribly wrong but Aciman never disappoints. However, the reason why I think this book doesn't reach the 5 star rating despite being like a great read is that it adds more closure to a healed wound. The stories in this book were loose and off-ended but were executed brilliantly. By the third part, it seemed like our characters were getting shallower in their depth rather than building up efficiently for a sequel. </span><br />
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<a href="https://66.media.tumblr.com/7901f5645ed01bf994c81b271934f75d/tumblr_p6evukUnd01w0gw85o1_250.gifv" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for michael stuhlbarg call me by your name" border="0" class="irc_mi" height="261" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/7901f5645ed01bf994c81b271934f75d/tumblr_p6evukUnd01w0gw85o1_250.gifv" width="250" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Conclusion:</u></b> I really enjoyed the stunning monologues and descriptions of this magical story come back in a sequel and I actually think that people who miss the characters as profoundly as I found myself doing, please pick up a copy and enjoy the journey through Italy.</span><br />
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-23247280140494979182020-01-12T01:01:00.000+05:302020-01-22T21:42:51.621+05:30#BookReview: Call Me By Your Name - Andre Aciman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwV8CV1MQuplY56N4mkjnQvx5yU4bDazDHnksKIl9DPy7wqdkVJ0KVtg8E4ULs-UCUUpMZvEDLMRFHL3OH1wUNbFDmNz_kgkhzIQ1DSJYYHp6eCZEbgwxTQzfEM6-7XMQul3C-rgCwB4SZ/s1600/5+Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="768" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwV8CV1MQuplY56N4mkjnQvx5yU4bDazDHnksKIl9DPy7wqdkVJ0KVtg8E4ULs-UCUUpMZvEDLMRFHL3OH1wUNbFDmNz_kgkhzIQ1DSJYYHp6eCZEbgwxTQzfEM6-7XMQul3C-rgCwB4SZ/s320/5+Star.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Penguin India </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 248</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Call-Your-Name-Andre-Aciman/dp/1786495252/ref=asc_df_1786495252/?tag=googleshopdes-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=403950887734&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12911776257967312563&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061685&hvtargid=pla-357757643686&psc=1&ext_vrnc=hi" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLa_lpAo-5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2019-06-26T15:44:52+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 26, 2019 at 8:44am PDT</time></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Penguin India, for an honest review. The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></span></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">If I could have him like this in my dreams every night of my life, I'd stake my entire life on dreams and be done with the rest.β</span></i></blockquote>
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<br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/26n6R1gIei2NkdR3W/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/26n6R1gIei2NkdR3W/giphy.gif" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;">Call Me By Your Name, officially my most favourite book of all time, is a novel about coming-of-age, first love, heartbreak, and a lot more. The book is set sometime in the 80s in Italy and Aciman does a great job in painting a poetic picture in the reader's head. Elio, a seventeen year old, the son of a professor, has another man like every year, stay at his house as an apprentice/student. But perhaps, Oliver is not just any other man after all. There's tension, chemistry yet a longing due to societal perception of morality. What follows when they both come to terms with their feelings is sheer art and magic woven together in these 248 pages of perfection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I consider myself purely humbled by the strength of each and every sentence that Aciman let escape the depths of his wonderful mind and placed in this book. After finishing it, I instantly found myself wishing that this never ended. This book was an experience that I want to live every second of every day. For the time that I was reading it, the world was a better place somehow and now that I'm done reading it, I slightly feel that this can absolutely be the only book I ever want to read again for the rest of my life. </span><br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/l1J3nJ2HlkVX5CCPe/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/l1J3nJ2HlkVX5CCPe/giphy.gif" /></a>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To explain the transitions in my emotions while I was reading this book- I was sobbing in the first 13 pages, tense by 30%, sexually tense by 50%, empty by 70% and sobbing again by 100%. I got a little snippet of the book tattooed on my right forearm just after I watched the movie for the first time, and if that doesn't show the amount of love and dedication I have for the book, I don't know what does. </span><br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/9DaWHruhoEtkAEGjuG/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/9DaWHruhoEtkAEGjuG/giphy.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The little references, the metaphors, the objects, the symbolism, the monologues, the choice of words, the imagery and the closure that it gives you: all like a blessing. It wouldn't be an exaggeration if I say that this book is the second most precious book given to mankind after the Holy Bible itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Conclusion:</u></b> Can't and won't say more than just ask you to pick up a copy, read it and hold it dearly because your life will never be the same again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://authorpoint.blogspot.com/2020/01/bookreview-find-me-andre-aciman.html" target="_blank">REVIEW FOR FIND ME (Sequel) HERE </a></span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-9667678160784859662019-12-27T13:14:00.004+05:302019-12-27T13:32:14.771+05:30#BookReview: Imaginary Friend - Stephen Chbosky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3.5/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Hachette India </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 706</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Imaginary-Friend-Stephen-Chbosky/dp/1409184811/ref=asc_df_1409184811/?tag=googleshopdes-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=396985775022&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8700258123466801619&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061685&hvtargid=pla-826148290945&psc=1&ext_vrnc=hi" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Hachette India, for an honest review. The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></span></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/q5uQB0eHDbtGE/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" height="224" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/q5uQB0eHDbtGE/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky is a coming of age novel about a boy named Christopher who experiences paranormal "hallucinations" after he moves out of Michigan with his mother Kate. Along with the people in his area, friends and enemies, he finds out some things about an unfortunate reality of the town. </span></span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/blogger.g?blogID=2375686849154295137" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" src="" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/1xOQkGKgj2X2WVVo31/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="480" height="202" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/1xOQkGKgj2X2WVVo31/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The characters in this story are very well out there but the way that the story itself is executed is quite disheartening. The opening chapters of the book are very flowy and smooth but as soon as you finish 40%, you start to understand that the author is having a great difficulty in connecting the dots to reach an ending. It is very apparent for me as a writer to see that Chbosky himself may not know what the ending would be because the occurrences in the story are amateur-ly loose ended and random in an underwhelming attempt to keep the reader hooked. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/psnGUOSJBfAgbZWMwW/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/psnGUOSJBfAgbZWMwW/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I really felt the familiar warmth of Stranger Things through the story but in just the core plot strategy. The writing style in the first 10 chapters gave me an inspiration to write as well. I personally don't mind book lengths. The thicker the better, trust me. But the disorganised uncertainty in plot weaving left me disappointed in the potential of the author of my favourite book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion:</u> I personally found this book to be a great time killer for my exam season metro rides but wouldn't recommend to someone who is in a dire need of good young adult horror reads.</span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-27449484811674963072019-12-27T12:34:00.000+05:302019-12-27T12:34:51.117+05:30#BookReview: Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Penguin </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 334</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Pray-Love-Everything-Indonesia/dp/0143038419/ref=sr_1_1?crid=N3N12PT9UNNE&keywords=eat+pray+love+book&qid=1577429238&sprefix=Eat+Pray%2Caps%2C386&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"...that you should never give yourself a chance to fall apart because, when you do, it becomes a tendency and it happens over and over again. You must practice staying strong, instead."</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3NjquH37e6k2A/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="500" height="177" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3NjquH37e6k2A/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/Y0dDit32Da73a/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="250" height="217" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/Y0dDit32Da73a/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3NjquH37e6k2A/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/10X0k4eh4nkEEw/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">I read this book on my sabbatical after ending up with two copies gifted by two different publishers in this decade. To be very honest, I can say that reading this </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;">while</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> backpacking across the streets of NorthEast India changed my life. I was in between Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet, on the foothills of Mount Everest, meditating with monks in ancient monasteries. All during which, this book I held in my hands, giving me a sense of purpose and a greater meaning to all of my doubts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/10X0k4eh4nkEEw/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="500" height="201" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/10X0k4eh4nkEEw/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">There were such amazing quotable portions that I ended up asking the cabin crew to get me a new pen to underline. I was reading these life lessons to the amazing travellers I met along the way. </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Definitely wouldn't recommend this book to someone who just wants to sit at home and read it because that defies the purpose of this gem. It had such a grounding, yet uplifting effect just because I was travelling solo to rediscover my lost self due to so much loss of love and loved ones this year. I'm grateful for everything since I came back home and I hope to be in this state of mind till I'm alive. Sheer bliss. :)</span></span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-18127020768316555702019-09-01T18:26:00.000+05:302019-09-01T18:26:32.889+05:30#BookReview: De Profundis and Other Prison Writings - Oscar Wilde<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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~mini review~</h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/2i6MzenXmW/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Rilès (@0riles)</a> on <time datetime="2015-05-11T14:45:02+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 11, 2015 at 7:45am PDT</time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Penguin Classics </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 266</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Profundis-Prison-Writings-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140439900/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=De+Profundis+and+other+prison&qid=1567341756&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"...but Nature, whose sweet rains fall on unjust and just alike, will have clefts in the rocks where I may hide, and secret valleys in whose silence I may weep undisturbed. She will hang the night with stars so that I may walk abroad in the darkness without stumbling, and send the wind over my footprints so that none may track me to my hurt: she will cleanse me in great waters, and with bitter herbs make me whole."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a delight as well as an honour to read one of the most iconic breakup letters of all time. Wilde loses his charm and a portion of his literary brilliance with the passage of brutal time in prison. However, the essence of his philosophically artistic mind remains intact and can be felt by a reader who is willing to see it. <br /><br />There are times when he uses wit, elaborates on his pain and uses accusations to project the pain heβs facing because of Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde doesnβt hesitate in constantly reminding him (and sometimes even exaggerating with supreme elegance and metaphors) of the maladies he has and will have outside of prison. <br /><br />At times, he uses Greek words, Latinian dictate, precise punctuation, Italian references and French phrases to βshow-offβ his knowledge and to belittle Bosie. He also says that heβs not religious anymore but goes on to glorify Christβs role in being a role model for romanticism and passion.<img alt="Stephen King Audience GIF by Mr. Mercedes" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/ZvHx5u6qrsFDGi0FSN/giphy.gif" width="400" /><br /><br /><b><u>Conclusion:</u></b> Definitely recommend it to every fan of Wilde.</span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-23794022483910865672019-08-25T19:13:00.001+05:302019-08-25T19:44:50.166+05:30#BookReview: Giovanni's Room - James Baldwin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3.5/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkC9qz5lPNY/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mlle. (Heather)Boaz π | NYC (@mlleboaz.bibliophile)</a> on <time datetime="2018-06-15T13:03:47+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 15, 2018 at 6:03am PDT</time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Penguin Books </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 150</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Giovannis-Room-Penguin-Great-Loves/dp/0141032944" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"I scarcely know how to describe that room. It became, in a way, every room I had ever been in and every room I find myself in hereafter will remind me of Giovanniβs room."</i></span></blockquote>
<a href="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/SQCA6jcr9D7H2/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Animated GIF" border="0" src="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/SQCA6jcr9D7H2/giphy.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Giovanniβs Room is a book about an American man named David who decides to move to Paris to start a new life. One day, in a mutual friendβs bar, he meets this Italian bartender named Giovanni and feels things he otherwise considered sinful and immoral. Through the course of the book, we see Davidβs journey and acceptance of his desires and we see how things with Giovanni take an unexpected turn affecting Davidβs life in unfortunate ways. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/l4q8a1L8eX1msegXC/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/l4q8a1L8eX1msegXC/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I took up this book after accepting recommendations on queer classics through the centuries. James Baldwin, a black American man who provided his support for the Gay Liberation and Civil Rights Movement, is easily considered an iconic voice otherwise marginalised. He lived for a notable period in Paris and this experience is beautifully captured in the book. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I personally felt that this book, like Oscar Wildeβs Picture of Dorian Gray, was casually sexist. Though maybe not true to the perceptions of the author, but very illustrative of the mindset of the gay community who grew spiteful of women after being expected to have relations with them in a highly heteronormative society. </span><br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/IzfVkNhJFBFfO/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/IzfVkNhJFBFfO/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><u>Conclusion:</u></b> I really liked it mostly because it is very reflective of one of my own past relationship with this particular person and how things donβt always go right even when there is attraction between the two people.</span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-38788494010124140942019-08-12T12:56:00.000+05:302019-08-12T12:56:20.254+05:30#Review: An American Marriage - Tayari Jones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - HarperCollins India </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 308</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/American-Marriage-Tayari-Jones/dp/1786075199/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PS83BYJHBNYO&keywords=an+american+marriage&qid=1565593742&s=books&sprefix=An+Ame%2Caps%2C335&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher HarperCollins India, for an honest review. The views below are unbiased and solely my own.</span></span></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"</span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">The vast generosity of women is a mysterious tunnel, and nobody knows where it leads. The writing on the walls spells out trick questions, and as a man, you must know that you cannot reason your way out.</span></i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/MiupMDhN5TCSs/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="African American Love GIF" border="0" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/MiupMDhN5TCSs/giphy.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is a novel about a newlywed couple- Celestial and Roy. Through a series of events, Roy is incarcerated and the couple is left struggling to find balance and stability. When Roy is back, everything about his life has changed, including the one outside. We find out will he be able to find his place in the world or not. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3o6fJ2bRoNIZbCWKEE/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Which Means I Always Live With The Sense That There Is Something Scary Out There GIF by Closer Than They Appear" border="0" height="215" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3o6fJ2bRoNIZbCWKEE/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This is a more than just contemporary fiction. This is powerful literature about black lives in the 21st century and everything thatβs wrong with the system. This is a family drama and a good one at that. It gives you unsettling and warm feelings throughout the book that donβt let you put it down. Tayari sure knows how to pen her words to perfectly encapsulate real feelings of fictional people with life-like problems that unfortunately arenβt widely brought to limelight. Our current world is whitewashed and the media portrays it that way too, missing out on the reality of the lives of PoC. She is well known for writing books on/about Atlanta and everything about the southern American life.<br /><br />The story was really good, though not perfect, and the execution was immaculate. I honestly felt the pace of the ending didnβt match the rest of the book and I also wished to be able to highlighting quotable lines, which there werenβt many. </span><br />
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/l0IyngeYSCgAW8EDe/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/l0IyngeYSCgAW8EDe/giphy.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>CONCLUSION:</u></b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Do I think this book was extremely perfect? No. But do I think you all should read it for itβs warmth and realness? BIG YES.</span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-72802348559008649262019-08-04T00:39:00.002+05:302019-08-04T00:40:17.548+05:30#Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Penguin Classics </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 253</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Picture-Dorian-Gray-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141439572/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2XY76PM3583UW&keywords=the+picture+of+dorian+gray+penguin+classics&qid=1564858323&s=gateway&sprefix=The+Picture+of+Dorian+Gray+penguin+class%2Caps%2C361&sr=8-3" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*Note: I bought a copy of this book with my own money and no publisher commissioned me to read it. The views below are solely my own.</span></span></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"</span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">It was his beauty that had ruined him, his beauty and the youth that he had prayed for.</span></i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/2sjvqOylleYsxlgQto/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/2sjvqOylleYsxlgQto/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Picture of Dorian Gray is a story written by Oscar Wilde for the July 1890 issue of </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lippincott's Monthly Magazine</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> about a painter named Basil Hallward whose life crosses with a handsome man named Dorian Gray whom he idealises for his beauty, artistic features and youth. Basilβs friend Lord Henry Wotton is curious of the man who had such an impact on the works of his friends and meets with him. Henry interests Dorian with his philosophical perspective of the world and his cynics towards intellect. Dorian is moved by Henryβs thoughts on how youth and beauty is all vanity and should be celebrated before one loses it to aging. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Pbveeuy6Lz9du/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Petrus Christus Art GIF by Adam Ferriss" border="0" src="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Pbveeuy6Lz9du/giphy.gif" height="320" width="305" /></a><span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Through this book, we see how Dorian tries to escape losing his beauty that was portrayed in a painting by Basil that make him lose his touch with morality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Soon after its release, the story was widely criticised for its subtle but significant hints of homosexual tension. Though, quite a few people appreciate it for itβs high intellect and psychological backdrop. The concept of art and beauty is very well talked about and Wilde doesnβt leave a single opportunity to elaborate his views and to project the depths of his mind to the readers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/9xfywY2sOiqoU/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Ben Barnes Ella GIF" border="0" src="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/9xfywY2sOiqoU/giphy.gif" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The writing style is extremely iconic and the literary devices used are phenomenally executed. Thereβs no better person to write such a story than Oscar Wilde that shaped the Decandence Movement into what it was for England and for the rest of the world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent; font-size: x-large;"><u>CONCLUSION:</u></b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> I definitely recommend this book to every person who understands the true essence of English literature and perceives philosophy well. A masterpiece for all intellectuals!</span></span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-51293298799994418292019-07-23T13:52:00.000+05:302019-07-23T15:19:12.938+05:30#Review: The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></h2>
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<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">5/5 Book Emojis (SHOOK)</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz8YjlJAWIq/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2019-07-15T16:06:21+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 15, 2019 at 9:06am PDT</time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used: </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Hachette India </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 352</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Silent-Patient-Alex-Michaelides/dp/1409181634/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1GOCVOAYGAIX7&keywords=the+silent+patient&qid=1563867008&s=books&sprefix=The+Silent+%2Caps%2C323&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1" target="_blank"><img alt="Link to Amazon" height="96" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*Note: I received a review copy of this book to participate in the Read-Along hosted by Hachette India. The views below are solely my own.</span></span></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"Once you name something, it stops you seeing all of it, or why it matters. You focus on the word; which is just the tiniest part, really, the tip of an iceberg.</span>"</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Silent Patient is the debut novel of the screenwriter Alex Michaelides. It is the story of a famous painter, Alicia Berenson, who allegedly shot her husband Gabriel five times in the face and then never spoke a word again. Then, there's Theo Faber, a forensic psychotherapist who joins the psychiatric unit, The Grove, where Alicia is under treatment. He believes that he can make her speak again and bring the truth to life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The plot is extremely well paced to the point that I not even once lost my interest, no matter how many sittings I took to finish it. The writing style is very good for a debut novel. What I liked best about the book was how the author incorporated the Greek tragedy Alcestis in relation to the story and beautifully devoured it with his characters. It was very twisted and dark which is something that a lot of people seek these days. Every concept of psychology, psychopathology and psychotherapy used is immaculate and brilliantly brought to use. Most quotes used in the book are by the founding fathers of psychology and quite the dark ones by them, one must say.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/lReKJ39u5v8xUP8bIn/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Killing Eve Villanelle GIF by BBC America" border="0" height="320" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/lReKJ39u5v8xUP8bIn/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The chapters are simply perfect in length and the literary devices used are absolutely impeccable. It doesn't matter if this is your first psychological thriller book, it will blow your mind away the same way it did for me. The ending is so poetic and so visual that the reader can't help but take pauses to react and fully absorb what just happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>CONCLUSION:</u></b> This book is timeless and I'm sure it will be enjoyed by generations to come. Definitely my most favorite book so far of this year and one of my all time favorites. Highly recommend!</span><br />
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-82668167207320762652019-07-17T23:59:00.002+05:302019-07-17T23:59:51.363+05:30#Review: Rosie Loves Jack - Mel Darbon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
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3.5/5 Book Emojis!</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/By5Cn5XA8DQ/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2019-06-19T12:25:35+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 19, 2019 at 5:25am PDT</time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used:</span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Paperback</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Publisher - HarperCollins India</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pages - 336</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Rosie-Loves-Jack-Mel-Darbon/dp/1474937837/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V3EPGDOAYCWQ&keywords=rosie+loves+jack&qid=1563385034&s=gateway&sprefix=The+stranger+alb%2Caps%2C303&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Image result for available at amazon" height="95" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="200" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> *<span style="font-weight: normal;">Note - I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins India in exchange for an honest review. The views below are solely my own. </span></span></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Why is it different? Is it cos I have Down's syndrome? Down's syndrome isn't me. I am Rose."</span></blockquote>
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7bjDk8bqFfeMcFy/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Down Syndrome Disability Awareness GIF" border="0" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7bjDk8bqFfeMcFy/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;">Rosie Loves Jack is a fiction novel written in first person having a protagonist named Rosie, a teenager with Down's syndrome. It's a narrative of how this one girl doesn't let her disability get in the way of reaching her boyfriend Jack across London to Brighton facing a lot of challenges across the way. The entire book is an adventure-packed ride through the eyes of a special girl who simply wants to be able love someone without any struggles. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7aWDrHVf9F5htle/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Down Syndrome Disability Awareness GIF" border="0" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7aWDrHVf9F5htle/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I'm a Clinical Psychology major who has dealt with cases of Down's. As a matter of fact, I had one such case while I was reading the book. So, I can definitely say that the way Rosie has been voiced is very appropriate. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The book has a lot of notes and postcards from the male lead which is quite adorable as well as smartly edited. The writing style is above average which is fine for the age group this book is meant for. There were scenes of humor, romance as well as drama. However, I really missed some significant and quotable lines which could've really blessed the potential of this story. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/12FfskCOcyCrf2/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Make A Train GIF" border="0" height="258" src="http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/12FfskCOcyCrf2/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Through the course of the book, one learns how in spite of our differences, we all seek love the same even if it comes in various forms. The ending was good but not very moving as I expected. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>CONCLUSION:</u><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I liked this book and would recommend it to people to help with the ignorance around those with intellectual disabilities. It's a light, fun read which is no harm to just breeze through on a nice winter day. </span></span></h3>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-27205115160459219292019-02-27T12:29:00.000+05:302019-02-27T12:32:24.549+05:30#Review: A Separate Peace - John Knowles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>2/5 Book Emojis</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuXP3PdHFEy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2019-02-26T23:21:31+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 26, 2019 at 3:21pm PST</time></div>
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<h2 style="color: #4c1130; font-family: sunshiney; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; position: relative;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format(s) Used-</span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Paperback</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Publisher - Simon & Schuster India</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "mountains of christmas"; font-size: medium;">Pages - 2018</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Audiobook</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Publisher - Recorded Books</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "mountains of christmas"; font-size: medium;">Length - 6h 34m</span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Note: <span style="font-weight: normal;">I received a free copy for an honest review from the publisher (Simon and Schuster, India).</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b>"There was no harm in taking aim, even if the target was a dream.</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">"</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/xUPJUHDABth0aC84zm/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/xUPJUHDABth0aC84zm/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a classic coming-of-age novel about a boy named Gene Forrester who, in the summer of 1942, goes about making memories worth cherishing. But, it isn't that simple. In an impulsive moment, everything changes between his life and the life of Phineas "Finny".</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The writing style is only slightly above average and doesn't leave a mark with its uniqueness. The chapters are long and pretty abstract at times. Knowles sets the perfect backdrop of the World War in relation with the schooling but there is no flow to the story. It doesn't take a philosopher to understand the underlying schemes and depth of the story. </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/34ZNcoaN5u4hi/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/34ZNcoaN5u4hi/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The story is extremely average and I personally don't see why it is celebrated so much as a classic. I really wished it were written better just to sugarcoat whatever strength lacked in the idea. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">CONCLUSION:</u> I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone other than someone who's studying American literature. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/0743253973/" target="_blank"><img alt="Image result for available at amazon" height="153" src="https://i0.wp.com/web.obniz.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amazon-logo_black.png?fit=580%2C280&ssl=1" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-84083784536508151452019-01-24T01:47:00.001+05:302019-01-24T01:47:38.525+05:30#Review: Becoming - Michelle Obama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4.5/5 Book Emojis</span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsTxSMDH7ha/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2019-01-06T21:53:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 6, 2019 at 1:53pm PST</time></div>
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<h2 style="color: #4c1130; font-family: sunshiney; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; position: relative;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format(s) Used-</span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Hardcover</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Publisher - Penguin India</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "mountains of christmas"; font-size: medium;">Pages - 448</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Audiobook</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Publisher - Penguin Random House Audio</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "mountains of christmas"; font-size: medium;">Length - 19h 3m</span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Note: <span style="font-weight: normal;">I received a free copy for an honest review from the publisher (Penguin Random House, India).</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"<b>For me, becoming isn't about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn't end.</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/TI8yz4eu34zDO/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Michelle Obama Happy Dance GIF" border="0" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/TI8yz4eu34zDO/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Becoming by Michelle Obama was an exceptional read and most definitely my favorite book so far, this year. It is Michelle's story of how she became from Michelle Robinson, born and brought up in a working class neighbourhood of Chicago, then a Harvard educated Lawyer and finally the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3otPoMkrTC7EzK03F6/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Michelle Obama Hope GIF by Obama" border="0" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3otPoMkrTC7EzK03F6/giphy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The book is written in three parts : Becoming Me, Becoming Us and Becoming More and has a preface along with an epilogue; All of which combine to tell her wonderful story of resilience, grace and sheer hardwork. It also talks about her dealing with misogyny, racism and every type of hate. By the end of the memoir, I was in tears by the powerful words of hope that I heard in her own voice (through the audiobook). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></span><br />
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oriO99KfBG0Iuedk4/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Michelle Obama GIF by Election 2016" border="0" height="320" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3oriO99KfBG0Iuedk4/giphy.gif" width="319" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">She is unafraid, bold and unapologetic about her views on sensitive topics like race and gender. She also asks us to look beyond these filters and view the world as a whole than a sum of its parts because it is only then, when we learn to accept others as our own. What struck me the most was her opinion on a person like Donald Trump succeeding her husband as the POTUS and also how she confesses that she wasn't sure if the person she was dating could actually make it in politics, let alone be the President of one of the world's largest economies. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">CONCLUSION:</u> I recommend this book to basically everyone who can read and personally feel it is a must-read-in-a-lifetime book.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.in/Becoming-Michelle-Obama/dp/0241334144" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.aeluvhula.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Amazon-buy-button-300x145.jpeg" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="300" /></a></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-19257072193268222062019-01-13T19:39:00.004+05:302019-01-13T20:16:07.955+05:30#Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4.5/5 Book Emojis</span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYlRtwNnJDG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2017-09-03T14:36:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 3, 2017 at 7:36am PDT</time></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format(s) Used-</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-International Edition</span></h3>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Paperback</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Mountains of Christmas"; font-size: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Publisher - HarperCollins</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "mountains of christmas"; font-size: medium;">Pages - 386</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Note: <span style="font-weight: normal;">I received a free copy for an honest review from the publisher (HarperCollins India).</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<b>I do exist, don't I? It often feels as if I'm not here, that I'm a figment of my own imagination. There are days when I feel so lightly connected to the earth that the threads that tether me to the planet are gossamer thin, spun sugar."</b></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://media0.giphy.com/media/l3q2SkhNi36uj2iXe/200w.webp?cid=3640f6095c3b452951314c6b6f09b6cc" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="bored Sports bar GIF by Originals" border="0" class="gif_gifImage__3dFjs gif_gifLink__TKut_" height="320" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/l3q2SkhNi36uj2iXe/200w.webp?cid=3640f6095c3b452951314c6b6f09b6cc" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is the story about the girl in the title who, based on my psychological analysis, is dissociated from her thoughts and is completely oblivious to social norms. She leads a decently simple life in her early 30's. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">She likes to be reserved and not bothered by unnecessary rituals of socializing. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">However, on one particular day, an act of kindness alongside a simple IT guy, Raymond, is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself.</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://media0.giphy.com/media/7NJ00BlsdGYUNgR4Zp/200.webp?cid=3640f6095c3b455e677874385175cea4" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="art sadness GIF by Google Arts & Culture" border="0" class="gif_gifImage__3dFjs gif_gifLink__TKut_" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/7NJ00BlsdGYUNgR4Zp/200.webp?cid=3640f6095c3b455e677874385175cea4" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Eleanor seems to be doing just fine but she has a lot of darkness and bottled emotions inside of her. Through the book , we observe them surfacing and her dealing with them. </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The writing is absolutely stunning and quotable. The words Honeyman weaves to depict the lives of Eleanor and Raymond are indeed note-worthy. It is quote remarkable and splendid that this is the author's debut. </span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://media2.giphy.com/media/iSK4zeTM7FStW/giphy.gif?cid=3640f6095c3b45b7714842432ed1485c" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="sad black and white GIF" border="0" height="243" src="https://media2.giphy.com/media/iSK4zeTM7FStW/giphy.gif?cid=3640f6095c3b45b7714842432ed1485c" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There were, although just a couple, loopholes in the story and Eleanor's behaviour for which I have deducted half a star. But that doesn't change the fact that it was a pleasurable cozy read for me this winter. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><br /><u>CONCLUSION: </u><span style="font-weight: normal;">I would definitely re read this book someday and totally recommend everyone to give this book a shot. Totes made me fall in love with reading all over again!</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Brm8b5OncJN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by πππππ πππππππ π (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2018-12-20T12:05:26+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 20, 2018 at 4:05am PST</time></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-50476249835543492922018-04-02T02:11:00.001+05:302018-04-02T02:11:02.282+05:30#Review: Down and Across: Arvin Ahmadi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tm4A3I5b6EHkAHv4uHVrVcbLH3C8Bz-k8F-AQ28KFOh4D1xgRLdkOE30XFXnFwH0sDjX2VVhYvfn8JLzXXXT5lOlda6KmPqBjrK-VBQC1bny7boTBNxZB0Y5g0L4Blyaamudd72SDd6Y/s1600/3+Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="477" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tm4A3I5b6EHkAHv4uHVrVcbLH3C8Bz-k8F-AQ28KFOh4D1xgRLdkOE30XFXnFwH0sDjX2VVhYvfn8JLzXXXT5lOlda6KmPqBjrK-VBQC1bny7boTBNxZB0Y5g0L4Blyaamudd72SDd6Y/s200/3+Star.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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3/5 Book Emojis</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdk-5ENgbXW/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by οΌ‘ο½ο½ο½ο½γοΌ²ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2018-01-05T18:28:53+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 5, 2018 at 10:28am PST</time></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format(s) Used-</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-International Edition</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Paperback</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Viking Books (Penguin)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 330</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
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<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
"I couldn't resist imagining my life as one of those coming-age-movies-and Fiora as the quirky, two-dimensional female character, written in solely to help me discover my full potential. The idea was nice. It smoothed over a good fifteen minutes of bumpy road time."</h2>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/xT77Y8eeEhBA8NQwLK/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Paul Rudd Whatever GIF" border="0" height="179" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/xT77Y8eeEhBA8NQwLK/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a>Down and Across is a YA/Coming-of-Age book about Saaket "Scott" Ferdowsi who never seems to have a hold on his life. The realisation of his care-free and commitment-phobic attitude leads him to a journey to find the true meaning of 'grit' in present-day Washington DC. Along the way, he makes friends with characters like Fiora and Trent and they help him on his runaway business while his parents spend time with his grandparent in Iran.</div>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/mtlwOSac6agE0/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meryl Streep Whatever GIF by Women's History Month " border="0" height="215" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/mtlwOSac6agE0/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a>This is one of the books that make you wonder why you picked it up in the first place. I was enjoying the beginning of the book but by the time I was halfway done, I almost gave up. Arvin makes a good attempt at righting YA as his debut but doesn't quite do justice with the genre. The concept of the book wasn't exceptional and neither was the storyline but somehow you manage to finish the book with nothing great left in your heart</div>
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I really hoped this book would make me adore crossword puzzles and everything to do with it. However, I'm still the same old person who just read through only to know how the main character finds himself.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">CONCLUSION:</u> If you find yourself in a reading slump and are looking for a light read, this might just do the job fairly well.</div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-52047563103702258162017-10-20T16:31:00.005+05:302017-10-20T16:31:55.810+05:30#Review: Turtles All the Way Down - John Green<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDWMeKKZlgiwy53J0PduRAIhbRJXXXbROx_D8J6A5Hx6am9l04GAeKO_nW-RFLUGqXtgDZfNBfUOmWgr9xY9ExXYzX0h3EZ6Radnd2L_1GrUC5VLN_4LumJJ9aLsYvRre7WGBqGzxQ8-x/s1600/5+Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="768" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDWMeKKZlgiwy53J0PduRAIhbRJXXXbROx_D8J6A5Hx6am9l04GAeKO_nW-RFLUGqXtgDZfNBfUOmWgr9xY9ExXYzX0h3EZ6Radnd2L_1GrUC5VLN_4LumJJ9aLsYvRre7WGBqGzxQ8-x/s320/5+Star.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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5/5 Book Emojis!</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaUHvWFgQP1/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by οΌ‘ο½ο½ο½ο½γοΌ²ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2017-10-16T15:44:56+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 16, 2017 at 8:44am </time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format(s) Used-</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-Hardcover</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - Penguin Random House</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pages - 286</span></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">-Audiobook</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Publisher - PRH Audio</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Length - 7 hours 12 minutes</span></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
"One of the challenges with pain - physical or psychic- is that we can really only approach it through metaphor. It can't be represented the way a table or a body can. In some ways, pain is the opposite of language."</h2>
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<a href="https://i.giphy.com/media/gI8Mibpg3TVN6/200.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://i.giphy.com/media/gI8Mibpg3TVN6/200.gif" /></a>Turtles All the Way Down is an exceptional book narrated by Aza Holmes, a teen girl who struggles with OCD while finding the whereabouts of the missing billionaire Russel Pickett in return for a cash reward of $100,000. It revolves around the important issue of mental-illness that is not talked about, enough, due to the stigma. </div>
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I can't stress enough on how <i>much</i> I loved this book. This is definitely one of my most favorite books of all time without a doubt. The writing style is absolutely perfect and really different. Surely, John has written this better than all of his other books. Turtles... is the best book I've read in years and I am so very grateful to the author for writing this brilliant story. I laughed, cried and felt emotions that I didn't even know I existed!</div>
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As a reader, I could absolutely feel the kind of pain and agony Aza was in, thanks to the talent that John Green holds. Every sentence in this story is so quotable and immensely poetic that I am still in awe to realize that this is written in the very same century as me. Characters like Aza's best friend Aza, the billionaire's son Davis etc are really well-written. More than just a book, this felt like a classic theatrical performance. Not once in the story did I feel like I was even slightly bored. Instead, with every chapter, I just praised the flow of language.</div>
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]Sentences like "And as I sat beneath fluorescent cylinders spewing aggressively artificial light, I thought about how we all believed to be the hero of some personal epic. when in fact we were basically identical organisms colonizing a vast and windowless room that smelled of Lysol and lard" made me sigh with affection and amazement. </div>
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There's nothing that could've been better in this masterpiece. I just hope that I come across more books written at least a fraction like this.</div>
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<b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">CONCLUSION:</b> I want this book to get so much recognition and awards that it truly deserves. The six years spent in writing this were worth every second. I definitely recommend this to any person who can read and can appreciate quality literature. </div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-42061539854878876662017-10-15T13:40:00.001+05:302017-10-15T13:40:14.246+05:30#Review: The Secret History of Us - Jessi Kirby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2QCcGgIauxMeI2IppcTW8klsriXlVRsNBtO6loziYbiabX8uEGtlXHJASN4ArtXBGVxcSufnHCX5jYcRFmFYmbubcv3gUEH4-or_8AG9FzvioSEVTyQ-o1qE-yijRJrWoZC_Zzplxo7_/s1600/3+Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: xx-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="477" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2QCcGgIauxMeI2IppcTW8klsriXlVRsNBtO6loziYbiabX8uEGtlXHJASN4ArtXBGVxcSufnHCX5jYcRFmFYmbubcv3gUEH4-or_8AG9FzvioSEVTyQ-o1qE-yijRJrWoZC_Zzplxo7_/s200/3+Star.png" width="200" /></a></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3/5 Book Emojis</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BY1KfQfg5OR/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by οΌ‘ο½ο½ο½ο½γοΌ²ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2017-09-09T18:41:06+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 9, 2017 at 11:41am PDT</time></div>
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- Paperback</h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher- HarperCollins India</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imprint - HarperTeen</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pages- 288</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>*Note: A physical copy of this book was sent to me by <u style="font-weight: bold;">HarperCollins India</u> for an unbiased review. The views expressed below are solely my own. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I died for a few moments and came back missing years of my life. That there are years of my life I've lived that I do not remember. Years that still feel like they're ahead of me. Days I was looking forward to. Big moments I've already had. They're gone. Like they were never mine."</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Secret History of Us is a book about a teen girl named Olivia who wakes up in a hospital after a near-fatal drowning accident with absolutely no memory of the past four years. The most important high school years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Liv has to piece whatever information she gets about her past self that has shaped her into the person she sees in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">mirror, while understanding that there's nothing she can do to change it. Then, there is Walker. The guy who saved her but now has suspiciously distanced himself from her. The more she tries to investigate, more the image gets blurry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The book is a quick read with no significant quotable lines which is a major drawback. However, not once during the course of my reading did I feel the need to give up. That's only because the reader has that undying thirst to find out why things are they way they are. The characters are good and strong in their importance in the story. But, they're unfortunately not <i>that</i> greatly written. From the blurb, anyone would've bet that this story would be phenomenal but is let down by the time they reach the back cover.</span></div>
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/GHP6OOopU8h6E/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" disappointment GIF" border="0" height="287" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/GHP6OOopU8h6E/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The ending is also not that amazing, per se, but provides enough closure to the reader. Writing style is a major aspect of a good story which lacks behind with great margins in this case. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">CONCLUSION</u>: Being a short read, this qualifies as an ideal book for someone looking for a contemporary Young-Adult for some lite-reading... But, I suggest you to not have great expectations from the blurb.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYoDoz6Hlz4/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by οΌ‘ο½ο½ο½ο½γοΌ²ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2017-09-04T16:31:07+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 4, 2017 at 9:31am PDT</time></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-35268565249557521772017-09-08T23:59:00.000+05:302017-09-08T23:59:50.413+05:30#Review: They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPR6NRXhsfWvSYXnQSZR6j2UDeC8Oab7u1mes7HzwMRG3BEknH3eIrPfSyphVk2Bu36Tlt7wyM_vXFYegj9258J5CVJaxVsIff5w8fMZvBXqeI2Vqtrrxx6yRCqG1_4ql5JuNlXu6ogjM/s1600/4+Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="626" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPR6NRXhsfWvSYXnQSZR6j2UDeC8Oab7u1mes7HzwMRG3BEknH3eIrPfSyphVk2Bu36Tlt7wyM_vXFYegj9258J5CVJaxVsIff5w8fMZvBXqeI2Vqtrrxx6yRCqG1_4ql5JuNlXu6ogjM/s320/4+Star.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4/5 Book Emojis!</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYBGsQyAWCf/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by οΌ‘ο½ο½ο½ο½γοΌ²ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2017-08-20T13:27:25+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 20, 2017 at 6:27am PDT</time></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format Used:</span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Ebook</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Publisher- HarperCollins US</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Advance Reader's Edition</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pages- 384</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>*Note: An e-copy of this book was sent to me by <u style="font-weight: bold;">HarperTeen</u> (via Edelweiss) for an unbiased review. The views expressed below are solely my own. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." - Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor</span></h4>
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They Both Die at the End is the story set in a world where you are alerted by 'Death-Cast' on the day you're going to die. It, however, can't tell how you're going to meet your end. The book is narrated by two boys - Mateo and Rufus who've been alerted on September 5 at midnight that at any point within 24 hours, they're going to die.<br />
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/QiHpYm17CEdCo/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Airtime friends app chill chat GIF" border="0" height="225" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/QiHpYm17CEdCo/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a>Mateo is an eighteen year old who lives with his dad and spends most his time in his bedroom. On the other hand, there's Rufus, who is a bisexual seventeen year old living in a foster home with his friends to a tough upbringing. Their worlds collide through the Last Friend App they both seek to find someone to give them company on their final day alive.<br />
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/brjQAYiFPBpWE/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" tv weird death 30 rock die GIF" border="0" height="223" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/brjQAYiFPBpWE/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a>Being a super-fan of Adam Silvera, getting to read anything he writes- from his books to even Instagram captions, is a pure pleasure. They Both... is no exception. The book is written with so much love and from such a pure place of the author's heart, that it reflects with each chapter. The special traits, likes, dislikes, back stories etc of each character is so well-thought and lovingly detailed that it is almost impossible to not get instantly attached to each of them. The plot takes place on a single day, but still Adam has managed to make it progress appropriately fast or slow wherever required. The concept of this book is absolutely brilliant and there's no way anyone who reads the blurb wouldn't feel the need to get a copy of this book.<br />
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<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/eyONq4biO8Jc4/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt=" halloween book reading humour read GIF" border="0" height="214" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/eyONq4biO8Jc4/giphy.gif" style="left: 0px; opacity: 1; top: 0px;" width="400" /></a>For me, the writing style seemed pretty well, but not as poetic and perfectly worded as I expected from an Adam Silvera novel. The book started off with a perfect pace that was enough to keep me hooked for long. The character development is brilliant and commendable. I expected this story to be told alternatively by the protagonists, but to my delight, there were chapters revolving around other characters. Each and every character leaves an important mark in the story. The timing of every important event in the book is perfect and leads the story to it's poignant end.<br />
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By the end of the book, we understand the importance of each character and their respective depths in the story. As for the bigger picture, a reader understands how we're not fortunate enough to get as many perfect moments with loved ones and how unreliable time is. When I finished the book, I could feel what message the author wanted me to get - loud and clear. The ending of the book isn't as thrilling or soul-crushing as I would've wanted it to be. But still, it is powerful.<br />
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<b><u>CONCLUSION:</u></b> There's absolutely no way that you should miss out on reading a book about a world like this, especially when it is written by my bookish husband/ruler of the kingdom of broken hearts. :)<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYqwOxbAC04/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by οΌ‘ο½ο½ο½ο½γοΌ²ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ο½ (@bookreviewtemple)</a> on <time datetime="2017-09-05T17:39:15+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 5, 2017 at 10:39am PDT</time></div>
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2375686849154295137.post-57524021956077481592017-06-04T20:28:00.000+05:302017-06-04T20:44:51.680+05:30#Review: We Are Okay - Nina LaCour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rating: 3.5/5 Book Emojis!</span></h2>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Format(s) Used:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">- Paperback</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Publisher- Dutton Books (Penguin)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">International Edition</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pages- 234</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">- Ebook</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Publisher- Dutton Books</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pages- 240</span></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review:</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>*Note: A copy of this book was sent to me by <u style="font-weight: bold;">Penguin Random House (US International)</u> for an unbiased review. The views expressed below are solely my own. Thanks to the publisher for the copy!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<b><i>These are all the things that change a person. If we endure them and we aren't changed, then something is wrong."</i></b></span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://i.giphy.com/sfR0ZktF0gBMI.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" src="https://i.giphy.com/sfR0ZktF0gBMI.webp" width="400" /></a>We Are Okay by Nina LaCour is the story of a teenage California girl named Marin who lived with her Gramps, after her only parent - her mother- drowned when Marin was very little, until something happened that changed everything and turned her life upside down. She's forced to leave everything behind except her phone, wallet and a photo of her mother, without even letting her only best friend - Mabel - know the gory details.<br />
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<a href="https://i.giphy.com/a6zGGyjGKq7GE.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="270" src="https://i.giphy.com/a6zGGyjGKq7GE.webp" width="400" /></a>Through the course of the book, the reader gets to know how badly Marin has been hit by the haunting of her tragic past that she always seemed to pretend to be absolutely normal until she's faced with the reality of her absolute loneliness. After her entire college leaves her behind for winter break, Marin tries to finds out ways to escape the slow-killing solitude. Months after ignoring the hard efforts of Mabel trying to contact her best friend, she's finally coming to visit whatever's left of Marin after the incidents. Now, she's forced to reveal everything.<br />
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<a href="https://i.giphy.com/AwHEHPq3E0zOU.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://i.giphy.com/AwHEHPq3E0zOU.webp" style="background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(238, 238, 238) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(238, 238, 238) 75%, rgb(238, 238, 238) 100%), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(238, 238, 238) 25%, white 25%, white 75%, rgb(238, 238, 238) 75%, rgb(238, 238, 238) 100%); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 20px 20px; user-select: none;" width="400" /></a>The story of Marin's past runs parallel with the one of her present but not exactly - as they are not <u>alternatively</u> placed as chapters in the book- which is a negative point. The writing style is very good but not quite exceptional which seems like injustice to such a wonderful story. But, it doesn't change the fact that Marin's state is something that very strongly <i>gets</i> to the reader. Certain elements of the story are quite personal and very appealing. These are perfect enough to get you hooked.<br />
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<a href="https://i.giphy.com/Dqyziru9dtHaw.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://i.giphy.com/Dqyziru9dtHaw.webp" /></a>This book gives a very important message too, that loneliness isn't all that glamorous as the media shows it to be. The way poets describe it, isn't too accurate either. Loneliness is a state of mind triggered by various other events like the ones Marin reveals in the book. This is followed by the constant tiredness, hopelessness and guilt that she is inevitably come to terms with. I'm absolutely sure that any reader who's sensitive enough to understand this, will appreciate the book just as much as I did, or hopefully even more.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">CONCLUSION:</u> We Are Okay is a very good story which could've been written a bit better but what it also is, is an <u>important</u> story, as a result of its realistic nature. I know that somewhere down the lane, I'll be reading it again with the exact same hole in my heart that it left the first time.<br />
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Arjun Randhawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139390669468987651noreply@blogger.com2