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mukundshm's reviews
49 reviews
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is one of the first translated fiction books I’ve read, and honestly, the quote on the front (”This could only be Japanese”, or something) is super apt. It grapples with massive questions in such an interesting, palatable way that makes you really want to dig deep into Keiko’s brain.
I love it so much. Overall, it’s so well written. It really makes you think, all the time. Brilliant characterisation and plot to talk about something that’s so incredibly important in life, in general.
I love it so much. Overall, it’s so well written. It really makes you think, all the time. Brilliant characterisation and plot to talk about something that’s so incredibly important in life, in general.
Content Warnings
A story in which Keiko grapples with identity and connection; understanding her role in the world; as the world around her becomes painfully normal.
She tries to become normal by imitating “normal people”, basically.
Antigone by Sophocles
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.25
What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Overall, I really feel like this maintains the vibe of the originals, but the questions answered are quite bland and meh compared to the originals.
It maintains the formula, which is obviously nice and cool, but I think it could certainly be better. But I can’t complain. I had fun.
It maintains the formula, which is obviously nice and cool, but I think it could certainly be better. But I can’t complain. I had fun.
Content Warnings
Randall Munroe makes cool stuff happen with physics. Whimsical answers to dumb scientific questions part two.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found this to be a scathing critique—or at least a scathing observation—of colonialism in the African context. I also found it to be extremely interesting; I was completely unaware about how Nigerian society was organised prior to colonialism. Plus, I felt like it was extremely balanced, and didn’t really have any obvious lenses it was speaking through.
I did feel like the book was quite slow, though. It spent a little bit too much time working to create an image of society prior to colonialism and spent way too little time to consider how colonialism actually affected society. Basically a third of the book was the latter, two-thirds felt a little bit like exposition.
I did feel like the book was quite slow, though. It spent a little bit too much time working to create an image of society prior to colonialism and spent way too little time to consider how colonialism actually affected society. Basically a third of the book was the latter, two-thirds felt a little bit like exposition.
Content Warnings
Chinua Achebe writes about Nigerian society in precolonial times, and the impact of colonialism on Nigeria—not at large, but rather taking a more in depth look at a certain clan, and perhaps even a certain individual.
It comments on—or at least observes—the nature of society and how it evolved with colonialism/British imperialism and how it impacted the people who suffered from it.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Often, how I like to judge books is how likely I would be to read it again. Generally, literary fiction texts tend to fare quite badly at this—they’re quite hard on the brain and honestly a little too much effort to read more than once.
This one is different, though. It’s extremely easy to get sucked into, and you really start to fall in love with the cafe—arguably the most important character in the text. Additionally, I think it really explores some very important—and difficult—themes, specifically those of time and how that affects relationships. There’s always a lot to think about after closing the book.
I guess the fact that it was a translation hurt it a little bit; but it was extremely well translated overall. It felt very natural.
Basically, I loved it. My “intro” to Japanese fiction really makes me want to read more.
This one is different, though. It’s extremely easy to get sucked into, and you really start to fall in love with the cafe—arguably the most important character in the text. Additionally, I think it really explores some very important—and difficult—themes, specifically those of time and how that affects relationships. There’s always a lot to think about after closing the book.
I guess the fact that it was a translation hurt it a little bit; but it was extremely well translated overall. It felt very natural.
Basically, I loved it. My “intro” to Japanese fiction really makes me want to read more.
Content Warnings
This book plays on setting; the whole book is set in a cafe where if you sit in a particular seat and are served coffee, you can do back in time. You must stay in the seat and meet only someone who has been in the cafe before, and you must leave before the coffee gets cold.
This is basically a series of four connected stories set in this cafe, with strong elements of magical realism and, well, literary fiction. Lol.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan, John Green
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is definitely an interesting book but has a few distinct flaws, I think - it’s MEGA slow. And because there’s no plot you don’t feel engaged at all. Plus, both Graysons feel very very disconnected at the start.
But the characterisation is unbelievably good. Probably the strongest characters I’ve read in a while - takes (carries) this book to the next level.
You can’t help but love & hate & root for and get mad at both Graysons. So so well written and well developed. Great.
Overall, it’s worth reading if you want good characters, but it’s definitely sorta untraditional & not very good at that.
But the characterisation is unbelievably good. Probably the strongest characters I’ve read in a while - takes (carries) this book to the next level.
You can’t help but love & hate & root for and get mad at both Graysons. So so well written and well developed. Great.
Overall, it’s worth reading if you want good characters, but it’s definitely sorta untraditional & not very good at that.
Content Warnings
So this is a book that’s very different from the type I usually read. It has no real plot; it’s mostly character centred. It mainly follows two Will Graysons - one written by John Green who is introspective but somewhat apathetic and aloof, and the other written by David Levithan who is just critically depressed.
And it follows how their encounter changes both their lives forever.
Paper Towns by John Green
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perhaps there was a bit of John Green bias here, as well as a bit of the fact that I read this at a very apt time in my life (the end of high school), this gets a perfect score from me.
On first glance, this book has a few touch edges especially compared to John Green’s later books - with a few pacing issues and a climax that seems to arrive a little bit too early. But on further introspection I began to (and still do) believe that this is the author’s breakdown of traditional literary expectations; i.e. it was on purpose.
Q learns about Margo’s true nature early but still pursues here to prove that he truly loved her. The road trip was not Margo-focused but rather friend focused because it was a point of conclusion. Overall, the book was meant to break cliches and subvert expectations, and loveable characters and a gripping plot help achieve that.
On first glance, this book has a few touch edges especially compared to John Green’s later books - with a few pacing issues and a climax that seems to arrive a little bit too early. But on further introspection I began to (and still do) believe that this is the author’s breakdown of traditional literary expectations; i.e. it was on purpose.
Q learns about Margo’s true nature early but still pursues here to prove that he truly loved her. The road trip was not Margo-focused but rather friend focused because it was a point of conclusion. Overall, the book was meant to break cliches and subvert expectations, and loveable characters and a gripping plot help achieve that.
Content Warnings
Paper towns is a book about friendship, love, feminism, and high school. It follows high school senior Quentin Jacobsen and his changing thoughts about high school.
It allow follows his connection and love for his childhood friend and classmate Margo Roth Spiegelman, and how it evolves over time.
It is a mystery too, following the disappearance of one of the most critical characters of the story.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-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
4.25
As perhaps my first delve into modern literary fiction, the book has pretty great fundamentals - an interesting plot/theme, great characterisation, and compelling narratives. I especially loved Zott’s character - you can’t help but admire Elizabeth’s grit even in the fact of a patriarchal wall standing in front of her. Plus, she is definitely different - makes you want to root for her all the more.
I also loved the use of language and plot to convey emotion - for instance, making the plot get messy at a time when Elizabeth’s life begins to fall into disarray. The only knock, perhaps, is that the plot isn’t that laced-with-crack type of addictive.
Still, a brilliant book & deserving of its accolades. I loved it!!
Content Warnings
Lessons in Chemistry is a book about Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant mind and genius chemist and her tussled with society in the early 1960s. It’s an exploration of womanhood and the experience of womanhood - the wonders, but more potently the issues. It explores society and the workplace and motherhood, and despite being set in the ‘60s, the themes stand out as being apt even now.
The book focuses on Elizabeth’s work, mostly - as a mother, a chemist, and an on-screen persona. And how she affects women all around her.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As with most classic novels, this is an incredible book that everybody should read when they get the time. It’s seriously amazing.
Of course, the writing is expectedly brilliant with some lines that absolutely grip you. Unbelievable prose all around.
The plot is also pretty gripping (if a little basic by modern standards) and you can really feel yourself getting sucked into the world of West Egg.
The only knock against the book is that it feels like it ended sort of rapidly? The tempo/pace of the climax was a bit off compared to the other parts of the book.
Still definitely worth a read, though!
Content Warnings
This is a book that, at is core, is about early 20th-century New York. Of course, it has a plot - the Narrator Nick Carraway’s observation of his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan, their affairs and marital struggles, and Nick’s neighbour Jay Gatsby. It is, at some level, social commentary about the elite (whether or not it was intentional).
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
2.25
Of course, this book is filled with a ton of interesting (and arguably necessary) insights on life that have the potential to change how you live forever. But it is just so hard to read… and a lot of the sentiments are, of course, quite dated. So… it just takes a lot of time to separate the wheat from the chaff. But overall worth a read; you just need to be prepared for what you’re getting into.
Content Warnings
This is a series of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ thoughts and reflections on life, basically. It was his personal diary (or rather diaries), not meant to be published.