efasha's reviews
13 reviews

Kim Ji-young, nacida en 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

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emotional lighthearted sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Love love love how he wrote about Thomas, Oskar's grandfather. When Oskar's father died, each family member coped differently with the tragedy. Oskar found a key that was his father's possession and went on to find out what it opens in a way to cope and accept his father's death. Giving it a 3 because this book failed to keep my attention and not really my type of genre. Nonetheless, completed it and looking forward to watch the movie to see if it's any good.

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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Did not like this as much as the Kite Runner.

Because it has a similar style to Kite Runner, the plot was quite predictable for me. Guess being impressed once is all there is for me. 

The story follows Mariam, an illegitimate child, through her unfortunate circumstances. Mariam's father, Jalil would visit her and bring gifts. Mariam, who loves her father, went down the hill and visited his residence where Jalil refused to see her. When she was being dragged away, Mariam saw that her mother, Nana was hanging on a tree in Jalil's courtyard. Jalil then takes in the devastated Mariam and then marries her, 15 yo, off to a shoe shop owner, Rasheed, 45 yo. Mariam moves to Kabul with Rasheed where she is to provide him with sons but with multiple miscarriages, Rasheed turns abusive to Mariam. During this time, bombings were beginning to be a norm around the area due to the political situation in Afghanistan. One night, Rasheed found Laila in the rubble of her bombed home and took her in. The story carries on to Laila and Mariam leading different past lives and experiencing different treatments. 

Due to having read the Kite Runner, the ending was predictable and the way Khaled ended, tied and packaged the story with relation to A Thousand Suns was similar to what he did for the Kite Runner however I felt that it was not as impactful. Did not cry for this book at all as compared to bawling myself out at the Kite Runner.

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The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Balling at the last few pages 🥺😭😿. 

This book is about a cat named Nana who got injured and was then adopted by Satoru as he nurses him back to health. Nana is a cat with sass and attitude as much as we all imagine cats to be, independent and doesn't crave affection or attention. Nana then follows Satoru on his journey around Japan to meet 4 of his childhood friends. 

Hiro Arikawa wrote the book in a way that you get a glimpse and flashbacks of Satoru and his friends memories and experiences during his journey to finding and reconnecting with them and what they were to him and what they taught him.

I didn't like this book in the beginning because the plot began quite recklessly? (not sure if this is the word to describe it) which in my opinion there was no purpose to the story then. I won't be putting in spoilers for this because as the story unfolds it gets quite obvious.

But even though the plot was predictable, it did not help my tears from flowing :'c. If you love animals, this would be the book for you and if you love cats I believe you would be able to relate and cry more. There's a little bit of dogs in the story but a cat person would understand the cat's personality better. Overall, a lovely lovely heartbreaking book.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Honestly, read this because the book cover looks interesting. I really want to like this book but I don't. It's a short read, fable-like story but I'd recommend just to skip this book entirely. As a storybook, it's ok, as a self-help book, it's silly and delusional. 

The story follows Santiago a shepherd boy ,from a difficult background, in pursuit of his "personal legend". Every night he has a dream to find treasure at the Egyptian Pyramids. He then went on his adventure from Spain to Egypt meeting people along the way that robbed him, loved him and guided him. He was taught the "Soul of the World", "Soul Language", basics of alchemy, reading his visions and omens and the 5 obligations of Muslims. All that to reach the Pyramids, find no treasure, being robbed again and was told that someone had a similar dream but this time he dreamt the treasure was under a sycamore tree. So he went back to Spain where he always had his dreams under the sycamore tree, found treasure there and returned to the oasis he travelled to before to be with the girl he left in pursuit of his "personal legend". 

The moral of the story is dreams will come into fruition if effort is made consistently and diligently and to always focus on it despite distractions in this case the Arabian girl. As a storybook I do like the learning but the "Soul of the World" etc. I'm not buying. Though I loved that I learned "Maktub" meaning "It is written." That's the only thing I would take away from this book.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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challenging emotional reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

I love reading books that moves me, stirs and warms my cold heart and boy did this book deliver. It's also a page turner if not for work I would have finished it in one seating but finish it within 2 days instead. I'm not one for romance novels because most times it's not realistic but the plot here is real. Reading this book makes me want to hug every single character because of how genuine and raw they are. I literally sobbed in public reading it. 

It Ends With Us is filled with realistic events that could at least happen to you or someone you know. Its about Lily's journey in understanding domestic violence from an external point of view and eventually an internal perspective. I've always thought like Lily, it's always easy to judge the situation from an outsiders point of view but when she herself goes through it, I go through it with her and I finally understand why some people find it difficult to leave an abusive home. 

I love how the writing reminds me of a wattpad novel. Colleen made it so that you fall in love with Kyle & Atlus the more you read into the book. It's not really a love triangle because she loved them at different periods of time. It's haunting that as the plot unfolds, even though predictable, you know the decision she has to make but together with Lily, you too don't want to make the decision to break the cycle. But she makes the brave decision for the sake of her child hence ending it with us. 

I love love love how intentional and beautifully written this book is. It's like every single detail will unveil its purpose somewhere along the book like the tattoo, their first meet at the rooftop, the acronym BIBs, her child's name, her name, naked truths etc. But one thing really bugs me...SHE NAMED HER DAUGHTER AFTER A FISH I CANT 😩

Disclaimer: I did not have a clue what this book what about. Did not read the synopsis or reviews. I know some people find this book meh but my rating is as such because I wasn't prepared to read what I read and to be destroyed even before finishing the book.

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Say Yes to Yourself: 50+ Uplifting Lessons in Self-Empowerment, Self-Confidence, and Self-Worth by Molly Burford

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hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

1.0

Things that you would already know but yes a nice reminder. Just short snippets of lessons/advices. Nothing life changing or motivational.
Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty

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hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

Jay Shetty gives a fresh perspective on life lessons. Even though some of his experience is not relatable, irrelevant or common enough for some of us to have experience once in our life, he does package the lessons nicely. Did feel a little inspired after finishing this book.
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A semi-biography of Oba Yozo a depressed man that indulges himself in alcohol and women. People see him as a clown, a joker because he makes them laugh with his jokes and that's how he wants to portray himself but deep down he's detached and feels alienated. He has trouble with confrontations which makes him regret his decisions throughout his life especially when he watched his wife defiled later in the book. He had multiple suicide attempts (and together with other people) throughout his life before he disappeared and left 3 of his journals with the bar lady. Which was then given to Osamu and made into this semi biography. 

Took me 2 reads to understand his thoughts and what made him who he is. Kinda glad because it would be worrying if i was able to understand him instantly. I am extremely disgusted by the main character and it was difficult for me to feel pity for him despite him going through alot. Towards the end I do feel some sort of sorry for him. A good dark read but would not recommend this for cant stomach dark and triggering books. Quite an impressionable read, one i would remember.

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The Deep by Rivers Solomon

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emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0