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sandaru's reviews
191 reviews
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I was questioning why the play is called "The Doll House" until the last 20mins of it, and it made perfectly clear why. Ibsen was not playing around about the title.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by a cast so it was like listening to an actual play on stage, with soun effects and audience reactions. There were funny dialogues and scenes that were light-hearted and made the story more entertaining. The main character who is portrayed as a foolish spoiled woman who knows nothing about the world. Just like a doll. The final 20mins gives her the revelation why she is that way.The whole story revolves around a woman trapped without her knowing in a patriarchal society finally coming to understand the women's place in the society and marriage which baffles her.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by a cast so it was like listening to an actual play on stage, with soun effects and audience reactions. There were funny dialogues and scenes that were light-hearted and made the story more entertaining. The main character who is portrayed as a foolish spoiled woman who knows nothing about the world. Just like a doll. The final 20mins gives her the revelation why she is that way.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
2.25
I wanted more about writing in this book and less about running. I mean yes this is more like a memoir for Murakami but I think would have been great if it was less about running.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is one of the best books I read this year.
I thought I would never enjoy it for these type of books usually teach you nothing. I was very wrong. It was amazing character building by the author. How I my bias changed back and forth between the two main characters and ended up hating them both at the end. Not every author could do that obviously. It takes a lot of emotional approach a reader has to invest in these characters. There was something real about these unreal characters of the story.
The shifting duo POV writing style I have seen through Murakami's writing is one of my favourite writing styles. Murakami uses that with 3rd person POV which avoids confusion as little things the characters don't notice could be noticed by the readers. But first person narrative in this story made it personal, easy to describe what was going on in the minds of the two main characters as that was really really important to understand whys and how's. Also timelines between their narratives were at first not parallel but as the story was becoming undone, their timeline POVs became parallel which I thought was really smart of the author to do so.
I did not like the ending. I felt like all the climaxes was building up for something big for the great ending but it did not happen. I wanted something to happen to them both but it did not. That was how invested I was in the characters.
I thought I would never enjoy it for these type of books usually teach you nothing. I was very wrong. It was amazing character building by the author. How I my bias changed back and forth between the two main characters and ended up hating them both at the end. Not every author could do that obviously. It takes a lot of emotional approach a reader has to invest in these characters. There was something real about these unreal characters of the story.
The shifting duo POV writing style I have seen through Murakami's writing is one of my favourite writing styles. Murakami uses that with 3rd person POV which avoids confusion as little things the characters don't notice could be noticed by the readers. But first person narrative in this story made it personal, easy to describe what was going on in the minds of the two main characters as that was really really important to understand whys and how's. Also timelines between their narratives were at first not parallel but as the story was becoming undone, their timeline POVs became parallel which I thought was really smart of the author to do so.
I did not like the ending. I felt like all the climaxes was building up for something big for the great ending but it did not happen. I wanted something to happen to them both but it did not. That was how invested I was in the characters.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The famous Peter Rabbit with wonderful illustrations is one of the the books I couldn't read as a kid but I wish I did. Finally I got my hands on the physical copy. It was written hundred years ago by Beatrix Potter for a sick young kid. It's very easy to read fun to look at the illustrations and also it's a cosy book. This year I have made it my goal to read Children fiction at least one each month, as a studying method for a personal project that I am working on. This was my March read.
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really want to read more of Woolf's works. It's so rich in interesting writing style, even though it is tough to understand. This is my second time reading her works, and this being a short book, it took me more than a month to finish this. Written in a vignette style, it's filled with Woolf's commas and semicolons. Her use of modernist writing features such as interior monologues and distortion of time (this whole story happens from the morning to the night of one day). Still, it includes shifting multiple perspectives, which is also another feature of modernist writing styles. That, too, makes it a bit hard to keep up with the plot. One time you are reading about one character, and in the next, the perspective has already shifted naturally to another character. There are multiple characters in this story regardless of what happens within a day. All these characters would say something about our main character, who is already spoiled in the title of the book. It was a fascinating read.
The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
What is better than a book? A book about books and bookshops. I am a person who enjoys going to bookshops or libraries. Just seeing piles of books gives me butterflies in my brain. No seriously the dopamine release it gives me is another level. I love touching and smelling books and just in general walking into a bookshop and buy a couple of books. So this book was a 5 stars for me. The first 5 star book of 2023.
There are bookish facts, great quotes from different authors/bookshop owners on reading and book in this book. It would also include stories about bookshops around the world: how they were started, about the owners and stories and events happened in these bookshops. I am also into travelling the world. And when I do travel in other countries one thing I make sure to do is visiting the bookshops there and buy a book or two. This book in that area would be a great inspiration. Love it!
There are bookish facts, great quotes from different authors/bookshop owners on reading and book in this book. It would also include stories about bookshops around the world: how they were started, about the owners and stories and events happened in these bookshops. I am also into travelling the world. And when I do travel in other countries one thing I make sure to do is visiting the bookshops there and buy a book or two. This book in that area would be a great inspiration. Love it!
The Maid by Nita Prose
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
What should I say. It was too easy for a mystery plot. Usually murder mysteries have twists and turns and confusing details for the reader's. That's is the kind of book I would like if the puzzle is hard for myself to decode. BUT this one on the other hand I felt like everyone except the main character including us the readers had a pretty good idea what was going on. The main character was so oblivious and annoying. Even if she has any sort of condition (not sure it was the smartest choice for the writer to choose that on the main character) it did not have the hang of a true feel of a mystery novel. But overall it was an easy feel good read.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I loved Winslet's voice performance for each character: the accent change from the age to size of the character. it was wonderful. this was a re-read for me in English as I read it as a kid in my mother language. overall highly enjoyed.
Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership by Michael Ventura
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
I took a long break from this book. Will get back to it later
Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
As a long-term Potterhead, I chose this book only because I knew I am gonna listen to Felton talking about back stage stories and unheard parts of Harry Potter. However, as the story progressed I was impressed how well he delivered his life story in such a vulnerable and raw manner. Yes the first part of the story about the Harry Potter co-stars and the details of the magical world was nostalgic to listen to but the second part of the story where he speaks about mental health, addiction and emotions and the want to be normal made me emotional. The things he spoke about were the things that all of us go through but we do not expect the people we are fans of to go through them. Reminded me of where the today's pop culture stands. As long as a celebrity say something do something it's a big deal. Sometimes we do not realise those are the same things same mental health problems we have as well. It's just nobody is gossiping about it.