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Βιβλία

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Reviews

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Αγαπημένα βιβλία

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Ποιήματα



Λευτέρης Πούλιος

Πολλοί ενδιαφέροντες στίχοι και ποιήματα με αναφορές σε θέματα της σύγχρονης ζωής. Όχι απ'τα απολύτως αγαπημένα μου, αλλά σίγουρα πολύ ωραία!

0



The Murderess

As a person who has read both Stephen King and Alexandros Papadiamantis I got to say Papadiamantis, and "The Murderess" in particular is so much creepier! I enjoyed this novella so much! Papadiamantis' writing absorbed me and, as in all of his work, the focus on the struggles of everyday people in small Greek communities of the late 19th/early 20th century created a very interesting setting. The plot of "The Murderess" kept me quite on the edge of my seat and her thoughts along with the immaculate descriptions were very creepy and atmospheric, allowing me to perfectly immerse in the story. Also, the conversation around morality and the place of women in past societies that this book sparks is very intriguing and makes the story itself even better! Would definitely recommend giving this a chance, even though it might scare you as the "tiring assigned reading", it's really worth it!

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One Hundred Years of Solitude



Márquez's Masterpiece

Okay, is this book weird? Yes, it's hella weird. First of all it really is confusing, we're following five generations, dozens of characters and everyone keeps either marrying someone or dying, all that while all the characters have the same two names, so do make notes! But when I say weird, I mean really weird in terms of how weird the relationships the characters form are. We have like three cases of paedophilia, a bunch of incest and a whole lotta love-making, like a lot of it. So yeah, there's quite the focus on sexual relationships in random parts all over the book so please be very aware of that going in the book. Not to mention the, peculiar at best, phrases about penises - dude, this felt like my classic archaeology class where we had to comment on the erection of Satyrs depected on pottery, all over again! So that is the way in which I found the book weird and the kind of parts that troubled me, since I definitely didn't mind the magical realism kind of weird at all! If anything I absolutely devoured it and it made want to read more of the genre immediately. The whimsical, dreamy sensation is one I tend to adore in books so I absolutely loved it here! All the little magical, unexplainable things warmed me and made my heart so happy! The fluidity of time, the repetition of themes and events from one generation to the other, the weight of memory, history repeating itself, all through Màrquez's writing that makes its way to your heart! Also, I absolutely loved how detailed the characters were and how much we got to learn about them. I feel like they perfectly represented the mindset of traditional small communities. Plus, I loved to see the way evolution kept catching up with the little town, starting from the early 18th and reaching the 19th century. Stuff like the progress of technology, new political and social structures, slowly made their way into the traditional little community making its life more complex and corrupting its essence! I also really appreciated the connection to the historical context, since a lot of the events reference actual events that took place in Márquez's country, Columbia, like civil wars, the suppression of the workers and their strikes by the army. Even Màrquez references himself in his book as a minor character. I don't even need to talk about Márquez's writing, which is absolutely incredible and gorgeous, so detailed and masterful, one of the best I've ever read! So, in a nutshell, I really liked what I got from this story and will definitely re-read it with much excitement soon!

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Μια εποχή στην κόλαση



Μια Εποχή στην Κόλαση

Μια πολύ ανατρεπτική για την εποχή της ποιητική συλλογή, με ενδιαφέροντα θέματα. Την απόλαυσα πολύ περισσότερο από μια άλλη συλλογή του Rimbaud που είχα διαβάσει, τις ''Εκλάμψεις". Με έμφαση στην ανθρώπινη φύση, στην επιθυμία των ανθρώπων είτε να βυθιστούν είτε να απελευθερωθούν από τις αμαρτίες τους, μέσω πανέμορφων στίχων για την ηθική (ή την ανάγκη έλλειψής της).

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Ιδιαίτερες Ιστορίες

Δεν περίμενα ξεκινώντας τη συλλογή διηγημάτων ότι θα μου άρεσε τόσο το στυλ του Nathaniel Hawthorne, αλλά με κέρδισε ήδη απ' το πρώτο διήγημα. Είχε πολύ ιδιαίτερη γραφή και μου άρεσε ο έντονα φιλοσοφικός χαρακτήρας πίσω από τις ιστορίες. -Γουέικφιλντ: Το θέμα ήταν τόσο ενδιαφέρον. Η ιστορία ενός χαρακτήρα που δεν προσπέρασε αυτές τις παράλογες σκέψεις που μας έρχονται καθημερινά στο μυαλό και που θα μας κατέστρεφαν τη ζωή αν τις ακολουθούσαμε. Αντίθετα, βλέπουμε την πορεία του καθώς παίρνει μια τέτοια τρελή απόφαση. Μου θύμισε αυτήν την πολύ όμορφη αγωνιώδη γραφή πολλών παρόμοιων ιστοριών που ακολουθούν χαρακτήρες που περνούν μια κρίση ταυτότητας ("Το Περιστέρι" του Πάτρικ Ζίσκιντ, "Τα Μηχανάκια" του Μένη Κουμανταρέα) και μου άρεσε πολύ. -Το Ολοκαύτωμα της Γης: Το αγαπημένο μου διήγημα στη συλλογή. Πανέμορφα γραμμένο, έντονα φιλοσοφικό με πολλές σκέψεις για την φύση του ανθρώπινου είδους και την πορεία του. -Το Μαύρο Βέλο του Εφημέριου: Είχε αυτήν την απροσδιόριστα τρομαχτική ατμόσφαιρα της απειλής του θανάτου, πολύ ωραίο. -Οι Προφητικές Εικόνες: Έξυπνη ιστορία, ωραία αισθητική που θύμιζε (πολύ) λίγο ''Το Πορτραίτο του Ντόριαν Γκρέυ" -Η Αναζήτηση του Κρίνου: Δεν με ενθουσίασε προσωπικά, αλλά ήταν καλη, διαβαζόταν σαν ένα μικρό "κρίπι" παραμύθι. -Το Στίγμα: Καλό νόημα, αν και με ενόχλησαν αφάνταστα οι πρωταγωνιστές της ιστορίας (αυτός ήταν ο σκοπός βέβαια) -Η Κόρη του Ραπατσίνι: Επίσης είχε την ατμόσφαιρα παραμυθιού (θύμιζε πάλι λίγο την ατμόσφαιρα των παραμυθιών του Όσκαρ Ουάιλντ, χωρίς φυσικά να τον φτάνει). Ωραίο, αλλά όχι από τα αγαπημένα μου. -Το Επανωφόρι της Λαίδης Ελεονώρας: Πάλι πολύ καλό νόημα, αν και από μόνο του δεν με ενθουσίασε. -Οι Γυναίκες των Νεκρών: Μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ, αν και μου φάνηκε ότι τελείωσε απότομα, θα μπορούσε να εξελίξει λίγο ακόμα την ιστορία.

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Nέος αγαπημένος ποιητής

O Pessoa κέρδισε μια ξεχωριστή θέση στην καρδιά μου με αυτά τα απίστευτης ομορφιάς ποιήματα. Περιγράφει με τους πιο σπαραξικάρδιους στίχους το πιο ανθρώπινο αίσθημα, την ανάγκης να απορροφήσει κανείς την πίκρα που προκαλεί η ατελείωτη ομορφιά της ζωης!

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Ζευγάρια που έγραψαν την ιστορία της Ελλάδας



Ό,τι Καλύτερο

Το περίμενα με μεγάλη ανυπομονησία αυτό το βιβλίο και δεν με απογοήτευσε καθόλου, ίσα ίσα ήταν κι ακόμα καλύτερο από όσο μπορούσα να φανταστώ! Πρώτον, λάτρεψα το γράψιμο της Διβάνη! Τα παρουσίαζε όλα με απλό, κατανοητό τρόπο, χωρίς κανένα δογματισμό, δίνοντας την δυνατότητα σε κάθε αναγνώστη να το απολαύσει! Επιπλέον, ξέρει ακριβώς πού να χρησιμοποιήσει τον υπέροχο, λογοτεχνικό της λόγο ώστε να κινήσει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη αλλά να μην υπερβάλει ή κλέψει την 'λάμψη' απ' την ιστορική αφήγηση (π.χ έριξα μαύρο δάκρυ μία φορά με τα ερωτικά του Βενιζέλου και δύο με το ερωτικό τρίγωνο Δέλτα-Δραγούμης-Κοτοπούλη, το έζησα κανονικότατα). Γενικά έκανε τον καταλληλότερο συνδυασμό μεταξύ παροχής ιστορικών πληροφοριών και παράθεσης του juicy/spicy παρασκηνίου με τα προσωπικά των ζευγαριών. Μαθαίνουμε τα γεγονότα και την επίδραση της κάθε προσωπικότητας της ιστορίας, συνδέοντας παράλληλα την συμπεριφορά τους με όσα του επηρέαζαν σε προσωπικό επίπεδο. Σε απλά ελληνικά, ναι, θα καλύψει την ανάγκη σας να διαβάσετε για ιστορικό κουτσομπολιό χωρίς να επισκιάσει καθόλου την ιστορική αλήθεια, οπότε σας το προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα!

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Fateless

"Fatlessness" is a semi-autobiographical novel inspired by the Imre Kertész's own experiences, since he was imprisoned in concentration camps during World War II, which are put in the book through the eyes of 15 year-old protagonist, György Köves. What makes this book so special and worth the Nobel Prize in Literature that the author won is how different it feels from other Holocaust stories, both from autobiographical/semi-autobiographical ones and especially from historical fiction about the period. Especially when it comes to historical fiction about World War II and the Holocaust, the author's point is to write something super emotional that will cause endless sadness to the reader and therefore make them reflect on that major crime against humanity! In ''Fatelessness'', however, probably because the author himself wanted to write his work with full honesty there's a sort of 'apathy' and lack of emotions. It's not full of moving scenes, and you probably won't even cry while reading it. That's what's so great about it: it's not about being emotional and sad, it shows that Holocaust stories aren't put out in the world to "please'' readers with how absolutely heart-breaking they are, their purpose isn't to make you shed tears and put them on ''I-cried-my-eyes-out" shelf on Goodreads (taking example from my own shelf, which is called that). It's people wanting to describe their true emotions at a time when they experienced humanity's worst and most shameful moment. György Köves isn't having a tear-jerker narrative saying, "oh, this happened, and this happened and it was very sad and I felt horrible and cried''. Obviously he went through the most awful experience a person could go through, people, he was in concentration camps, for goodness' sake. And what he shows with the writing of this book is that emotional writing shouldn't be required for people to see exactly how awful and inhumane the Holocaust was. He describes his thoughts at a time where he was suddenly taken away from his life and put from concentration camp to concentration camp without understandind what was happening and he was just trying to go from one day to the next and make an interesting routine for himself. He realizes how weird that might sound but he expresses not feeling that worried at times, or being annoyed by boredom most of all, or finding it ridiculous when people told him how horrible his own experience was and how it's better to try to forget about it. He says that no matter how bad that sounds he had different routines while he was in the concentration camps. On one part he even says " People compare the concentration camps to Hell. For me Hell is a place where you're always bored and you didn't always feel bored in the concentration camps, so I wouldn't call them Hell". That might seem very upsetting to some people, even provocative and inappropriate, but who are you, people who haven't lived through such a suffering as the Holocaust, to tell the man who did live trhough it that he's not describing it "tragically enough"? World War II novels aren't written to fullfill humans' instinctual need to be fed off of tragedy: they're written to express the author's experiences and thoughts. So, what some people though of as ''apathetic writing'' was the way this man experienced the Holocaust. And how could anyone dare to say that he didn't "experience it right"? Highly recommend "Fatelessness" for people who want to move from historical fiction about the WWII to autobiographical/semi-autobiographical novels about it!

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Φανταστική περιπέτεια



Φανταστική Περιπέτεια

Ξεκίνησα αυτό το βιβλίο χωρίς την παραμικρή ιδέα του τι είναι αλλά αποδείχτηκε για μένα ευχάριστη έκπληξη. Διαδραματίζεται τη δεκαετία του '80 και έχει για πρωταγωνιστή έναν άκρως αντιπαθητικό και ψωνισμένο ''λογοτέχνη'', που δεν θα μπορούσε να έχει μεγαλύτερη ιδέα για τον εαυτό του και τα έργα του, καθώς θεωρεί τον εαυτό του το κέντρο του κόσμου και όλους τους άλλους κατώτερους πνευματικά, έτσι ώστε ακόμα κι αν τους βρίσκει ευχάριστους και συμπαθητικούς, να λειτουργούν γι' αυτόν απλώς σαν διακοσμητικά στοιχεία γύρω του, χωρίς πραγματική αξία. Και πραγματικά ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε να γράψει έναν τόσο απίστευτα αντιπαθή πρωταγωνιστή με τόσο ρεαλιστικό τρόπο που θυμίζει (δυστυχώς) εκείνον τον εντελώς μισητό, αλαζονικό, ψευτοκουλτουριάρη, κυνικό γνωστό σας που φέρατε στο μυαλό σας με αυτές τις λέξεις (ναι, αυτόν), πράγμα που αποδεικνύει ότι έκανε πολύ καλή δουλειά! Γενικά παρουσιάζεται μια κατάσταση αντιπροσωπευτική της νοοτροπίας του Νεοέλληνα την δεκαετία του '80 που δεν έχει αλλάξει, δυστυχώς, μέχρι σήμερα (2020). Καταλαβαίνω γιατί η γραφή απογοήτευσε και κούρασε κάποιους, αλλά νομίζω ήταν η πιο κατάλληλη γραφή για μία ιστορία που διαδραματίζεται σε 24 ώρες, με ασθματική εξέλιξη των γεγονότων, διαρκείς, τυχαίες σκέψεις του αφηγητή και αποσπάσματα από επιστολές και άλλα flashbacks. Η γραφή ταίριαξε απίστευτα με το στυλ του βιβλίου και έκανε μια ιστορία που εκτυλίσσεται σε μία μέρα τόσο ενδιαφέρουσα για μένα, ώστε την τελείωσα σε μια μέρα. Σε γενικές γραμμές, έξυπνη και απολαυστική ιστορία, την προτείνω!

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Μικρό βιβλίο για μεγάλα όνειρα



Απλά πανέμορφο!

Δεν μπορώ να εξηγήσω πόσο πολύ το λάτρεψα! Έχει γίνει σίγουρα η αγαπημένη μου ποιητική συλλογή. Τα βαθιά αλλά καθημερινά συναισθήματα με έμφαση στην αναπόληση της παιδικής ηλικίας και του χρόνου που περνάει γραμμένα με μια γλώσσα απλή αλλά με τρόπο που μου προκάλεσε αυτό το τέλειο σφίξιμο στην καρδιά και αυτήν την γλυκόπικρη συγκίνηση. (Ναι, έκλαψα κανονικότατα σε πολλά σημεία). Απλά πανέμορφο!

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Εκλάμψεις



Εκλάμψεις

Οι ''Εκλάμψεις'' είναι η πρώτη συλλογή του Rimbaud που διαβάζω και η γραφή του είναι πραγματικά εντυπωσιακή. Η θεματική του δεν είναι η αγαπημένη μου, αλλά η ικανότητα του στη γραφή σίγουρα δεν μπορεί να αμφισβητηθεί.

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Αντρέ Ζιντ

Οι κεντρικές ιδέες των δύο πρώτων ιστοριών, των "Τελμάτων" και του "Προμηθέα" αν και δύσκολες να κατανοήσει κανείς το σκοπό τους και τον ακριβή προβληματισμό που προσπαθούν να περάσουν μου φάνηκαν απολαυστικές. Δημιουργούσαν ένα ευχάριστο κλίμα στοχαστικής διάθεσης και μου άρεσε πολύ ο τρόπος που περιπλέκονταν, συμπληρώνοντας η μια την άλλη στο τέλος! Θα ήθελα να είχε εμβαθύνει σ' αυτές τις δύο ιστορίες λίγο παραπάνω, ενώ η ελάχιστη έκταση του ''Γκρινιάρη'' οδήγησε στο να μην μου δημιουργήσει αυτή η τελευταία ιστορία ιδιαίτερη εντύπωση.

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Άπαντα



Απίστευτο

Πραγματικά ανεπανάληπτος, κυρίως στα διηγήματα! Ιστορίες αποξένωσης, ευαισθησίας και απελπισίας με την γραφή ενός συγγραφέα σαφώς επηρεασμένου από την κατοχή και τον εμφύλιο, η οποία σε καθηλώνει, σε ανατριχιάζει και σε στοιχειώνει. Λάτρεψα το ιδιαίτερο στοιχείο ότι οι αναμνήσεις και ο χρόνος μπερδεύονται επίτηδες δημιουργώντας ''ζαλιστικές'' σκηνές που δείχνουν ακόμα καλύτερα την απελπισία των προσώπων. Πραγματικά ό,τι καλύτερο. Λυπάμαι μόνο που εξάντλησα όλα τα έργα του σε δύο απογεύματα!

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Τα άνθη του κακού



Τα Άνθη του Κακού

Εξυμνεί την ομορφιά και την απόλαυση, προβάλλοντας αντιθετικά και με σπαραξικάρδιο τρόπο την κακία, την αηδία, την ασχήμια της κοινωνίας. Η έναρξη μιας νέας εποχής για την γαλλική ποίηση από το σκοτεινό αυτό έργο του Baudelaire. Πολύ απολαυστικό.

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Unbelievable

'm in this new place in my reading life where I find myself enjoying existential, philosophical, abstract literature that reads like poetry... and, well, I'm LOVING it and this book is a perfect example of this kind of literature! So, in a nutshell, ''The Book of Disquiet'' is just a book that consists of a bunch of thoughts. Just extracts from someone's mind. Sad, melancholic, philosophical, disturbingly-relatable thoughts. That might not sound so exciting to some, but it's truly, so, so lovely and special! This book is hard to explain in words, but the way this guy reflects on life, human relationships, emotions is so deep and in his thoughts you can find those thoughts you're having that you think are too absurd and abstract for other people to have and/or be able to put into words. But this guy has the same disturbing thoughts and that makes you go 'oh my Gosh'! Although some of the conclusions he draws (if one could say he actually draws conclusions) are too cynical for my taste, I still feel like it was an almost metaphysical experience, reading this book. The beautifully, lyrically written words expressed unbelievably deep, existential, relatable thoughts that filled my mind and heart with wonder! Highly recommend this piece of art !!

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Τα Μηχανάκια

Απλά απίστευτο! Δεν περίμενα να το λατρέψω τόσο, αφού έφτασε στα χέρια μου τυχαία, αλλά κατέληξε να γίνει ένα από τα αγαπημένα μου ελληνικά βιβλία. Απλά λάτρεψα το γράψιμο του Κουμανταρέα με τις ρεαλιστικές περιγραφές και την αφήγηση που μετέφερε με τον πιο κατάλληλο τρόπο την αγωνία και την απελπισία των χαρακτήρων. Οι ιστορίες παρουσιάζουν ρεαλιστικούς χαρακτήρες με εντελώς ρεαλιστικούς προβληματισμούς. Περνάνε κρίσεις ταυτότητας, νιώθουν ότι αυτά που θεωρούσαν ουσιώδη στη ζωή τους μέχρι εκείνη την στιγμή δεν τους ταιριάζουν και δεν τους χαρακτηρίζουν πια. Νιώθουν ότι χάνουν τον εαυτό τους και ψάχνουν γύρω τους κάτι που να βγάζει νόημα μέσα σε μία κοινωνία που φαίνεται να μην καταλαβαίνει τι έχει σημασία. Είναι σκέψεις που κάνουμε όλοι στο βάθος του μυαλού, σκέψεις ψυχολογικά τρομακτικές που μας βασανίζουν. Και ο Κουμανταρέας τα περιγράφει με τον πιο καθηλωτικό τρόπο. Οι αγαπημένες μου ιστορίες ήταν τα "Μηχανάκια" και το ''Λουτρό", αν και όλες ήταν απίστευτες!

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Νέος Αγαπημένος Ποιητής

Δεν πιστεύω ότι έκανα τόσο καιρό να πάρω στα χέρια μου μια συλλογή με ποιήματα του Σαχτούρη! Μου φάνηκαν τελικά από τα πιο όμορφα ελληνικά ποιήματα. Στίχοι που σε στοιχειώνουν με το πόσο απελπισμένα συναισθήματα εκφράζουν αλλά ταυτόχρονα είναι απλά τόσο, τόσο όμορφοι και "βυθίζεσαι" μεσα τους. Κέρδισε τη θέση του ανάμεσα στους αγαπημένους μου ποιητές.

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Όνειρο στο κύμα και άλλα διηγήματα



Όνειρο στο Κύμα

Η συγκεκριμένη συλλογή περιλαμβάνει τα διηγήματα του Παπαδιαμάντη που έχω απολαύσει περισσότερο ως τώρα. Μου άρεσε που ήταν πιο σύντομα σε έκταση αλλά δεν έχαναν την γοητεία τους, αφού οι μαγευτικές περιγραφές, η τρυφερότητα και η αθωότητα των συναισθημάτων που κυριαρχούν και η ελαφρά ειρωνεία για κάποια θέματα ήταν ό,τι καλύτερο! Το αγαπημένο μου ήταν το "Έρως-Ήρως"

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Ολόγυρα στη λίμνη και άλλα διηγήματα



Ολόγυρα στη Λίμνη

Η αθωότητα της παιδικής ηλικίας και η ζωή στις μικρές κοινωνίες του παρελθόντος με τη γλυκύτητα των περιγραφών του Παπαδιαμάντη. Ειδικά το "Ολόγυρα στη Λίμνη" ήταν ό,τι καλύτερο

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Βαρδιάνος στα σπόρκα



Βαρδιάνος στα σπόρκα

Έμεινα με τις εντυπώσεις που περίμενα ότι θα έμενα. Δηλαδή: εκτίμησα ιδιαίτερα το αριστουργηματικό γράψιμο και λάτρεψα, ειδικά, τις περιγραφές, αλλά συνολικά το έβρισκα δύσκολο να συγκεντρωθώ σε αρκετά σημεία με αποτέλεσμα να μου ''τη σπάσει'' το πόσο αργά προχωρούσε η ανάγνωση. Παραμένει, όμως, αριστουργηματικός.

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Ενδοχώρα



Ενδοχώρα

Μετά από τον Εγγονόπουλο και τώρα και τον Εμπειρίκο νομίζω ότι μπορώ να καταλήξω με ασφάλεια στο συμπέρασμα ότι ο υπερρεαλισμός στην ποίηση δεν είναι και το καλύτερό μου. Αυτό βέβαια δεν με κάνει να μην μπορώ να αναγνωρίσω ότι είναι εκπληκτικός για το είδος του και κάποιοι στίχοι ήταν πραγματικά υπέροχοι.

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Happiness Volume 1



Gorgeous art/meh plot

10/10 stars for the art though, cause this was absolutely gorgeous But plot wise, it was a pretty common vampirish high school story and not a lot of exciting things happened. Didn't capture my inerest enough to leave me wanting more. Maybe if it included more agonizing events, or ended with a cliffhanger... The art, though, I repeat, was truly, really beautiful!

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Ποιήματα



Υπέροχος

Απλά τον λάτρεψα, τον λάτρεψα, τον λάτρεψα. Σαφώς επηρεασμένος από τον λοιπό κύκλο των καταραμένων και με τον όλο συμβολισμό/καρυωτακισμό/νοσταλγική, πένθιμη, πεσιμιστική διάθεση των υπόλοιπων της γενιάς του (όλα χαρακτηριστικά που λατρεύω απίστευτα), και, επιπλέον, μια νότα εντελώς δική του που δημιουργεί μια ξεχωριστή αισθητική... Απλά υπέροχος!

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Υπέροχο

Το τελευταίο διάστημα διάβασα 4 συλλογές του Ελύτη μαζεμένες και λέω 'τι στο καλό, δεν θα με εντυπωσιάσουν όλες σε βαθμό που θα σκέφτομαι τους στίχους σε άκυρες στιγμές της μέρας και θα επιστρέφει αυτό το σφίξιμο στην καρδιά όπως την στιγμή που τους διάβασα"... Ας πούμε απλά ότι έκανα λάθος...

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Ο μικρός ναυτίλος



Ο Μικρός Ναυτίλος

''Όταν ανακαλύψουμε τις μυστικές σχέσεις των εννοιών και τις περπατήσουμε θα βγούμε σ' ένα άλλου είδους ξέφωτο που είναι η Ποίηση. Και η Ποίηση πάντοτε είναι όπως ο ουρανός. Το ζήτημα είναι από που βλέπει κανείς τον ουρανό. Εγώ τον έχω δει από καταμεσίς της θάλασσας.'' Εγώ τον ουρανό που είναι η ποίηση του Ελύτη τον είδα μέσα από την ανάγκη μου να διαβάσω γραμμές ξεχωριστές, να καθηλώσουν τον μυαλό και να ταξιδέψουν μεθυστικά την ψυχή μου, ε και αυτές οι γραμμές το πέτυχαν στο έπακρο, και αυτή η ανάγκη ικανοποιήθηκε. Απλά απίστευτος!

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Τα ελεγεία της οξώπετρας



Τα ελεγεία της Οξώπετρας

Υπέροχη. Δεν είναι καν η αγαπημένη μου συλλογή του Ελύτη, και παραμένει υπέροχη.

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Καρούζος

Το ύφος των ποιημάτων του δεν είναι ακριβώς αυτό που ψάχνω στους αγαπημένους μου ποιητές, αλλά οι στίχοι του ήταν σίγουρα απίστευτοι. Ένας-ένας πολύ βαθείς και πανέξυπνοι αν και συνολικά αυτό κάνει τα ποιήματα σχετικά δύσκολα στην ανάγνωση και στην κατανόηση και έπιανα τον εαυτό μου να μην είναι πάντα συγκεντρωμένος στις λέξεις. Πάντως πρόκειται σίγουρα για υπέροχους στίχους.

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Death Note Black Edition Vol. 1



Deathnote

Even though I had watched the anime before picking up the manga, I enjoyed it so much in one sitting! The plot was so gripping and mind-blowing and the art was absolutely gorgeous (black & white fits the story SO well). More than just a super smart story, Deathnote tangles issues of morality, justice and vigilantism through a plot that makes your heart beat faster!

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Πανέμορφα

Κάποια από τα πιο όμορφα ποιήματα στα οποία μπορείς να επιστρέφεις ξανά και ξανά!

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Wide Sargasso Sea



Jane Eyre Is Going DOWN

I'll always support this over Jane Eyre. No more madwoman-in-the-attic trope, people! Let's bring this book forward as a symbol of what feminism and mental illness representation actually needs. Thumbs up to Jean Rhys for writing the book we didn't know we needed! This is 'Mrs Rochester' being humanized, being given a voice, telling things from her perspective in this 'Jane Eyre prequel'. Now let me tell you why Jane Eyre was one problematic piece of literature. SPOILER ALERT FOR JANE EYRE AHEAD!! So we're so sucked up in Jane's tragic story that Rochester keeping his ex-wife (who he hasn't actually separated from yet) LOCKED UP IN HIS ATTIC, PEOPLE seems normal to us. How terrible is that? I understand that considering the century in which Jane Eyre was written, people couldn't understand Antoinette (yes, she has a name people, she's not just 'Rochester's woman') was battling mental illness and she was just considered 'crazy'. But the point is that people reading this in the modern era still don't have a problem with Antoinette being kept locked up in an attic. If anything, she's considered as the ''bad guy'' who stops Jane's and Rochester's romance. How dare she set the house on fire? Hell, if my husband who promised to keep me well locked me up in an attic away from my family, having food pushed under my door like I'm less of a person and, like that wasn't enough, had his new freaking chick around the house, I'd run around in the middle off the night with a candle trying to burn that bastard to the ground, as well and that without even strugglinf with mental illness. Do you see now why I think we should leave most parts of Jane Eyre to the past where it belongs? But, in the Wide Sargasso Sea, Antoinette gets her justice. Her mental illness gradually taking control of her is explained. Plus, colonialism and racism in Jamaica are discussed brilliantly by a Jamaican author herself. So, in a nutshell, if you aren't reading this book... well, what are you doing with your reading life?

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It



IT

This book is a perfect example of my relationship with Stephen King: I'm hyped to read a book of his, I start it and I'm excited, I'm loving this, halfway through I'm like ... "this is a bit slow, let's finish this and not read Stephen KIng for a while", near the end I'm like "what was I saying, this is brilliant", I finish it and it leaves me feeling very, very satisfied, but I still call off reading my next Stephen King pick. After some months I get hyped again ... and the same thing happens all over again! Even though this book did take me an entire month to finish and got slow at times, it never truly make me feel bored. And, in the end, I didn't think any part of it was unnecessary. And that says a lot for a one thousand three hundred-page book. Of course the atmosphere built in IT was super creepy and uncomfortable, coming from the King of Horror. but like some more of Stephen King's books, I found this making me feel uneasy in a more deeply psychological, subconsious way. In a way I found this book to be about time and childhood and how when you grow up the monsters under your bed go away but so does your ability to create unbelievably peculiar thoughts! It got in my head in a very, very eerie way and I was creeped out, but also super here for it!

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Catching Fire



Catching Fire

Just when I thought the series couldn't get any better, Catching Fire proved me wrong by making me like it even more than the first one. The plot went to a different level and gave me the chills and the world-building was also developed with the dystopian society more thoroughly explained Feels like the series is just getting better and better!

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Hunger Games



The Hunger Games

I did read this book pretty late and thought that maybe I wouldn't love it as much as I expected. But I realised that this is one of those YA dystopians that are really, really worth the hype. Apart from the fast-paced, agonizing plot and the well fleshed-out characters, what I most liked in this book was the world-building. The author managed to make a great dystopian society, super creepy and, in a way, very realistic! Truly enjoyed this!

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Four Quartets

I believe poetry is the closest we'll ever get to magic and divinity and the Four Quartets is a great validation of my point! Simply mesmerizing!

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Queen of Mystery

Shocks the reader with probably one of the biggest plot twists in book history! If you are looking for a book that will provide you the element of surprise that you may have missed lately, this it it!

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Night Shift

Coming from someone who's not even a fan of short stories... this book was INCREDIBLE! Both the plot and the writing style are mindblowing -Stephen King has this unique way of touching realistic, relatable, everyday issues while conveying feelings of agony and horror through his suspenseful tales. Definitely one of the best storytellers ever!

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Prophet



Beautiful

favorites [edit] I never really believed that there actually are books (writers to be correct) that speak the truth so loudly that they can make you want to change your way of life with just a handful of words, until I read this masterpiece! Khalil Gibran was probably the wisest, most authentic man on Earth - thankful for this truly inspiring book!

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Ουάου

Δεν μπορώ να περιγράψω με λόγια πόσο πολύ το λάτρεψα! Ίσως η πιο όμορφη ποίηση που έχω διαβάσει μέχρι στιγμής. Πανέμορφα λόγια που σε μαγεύουν μαζί με ένα ηχηρό μήνυμα για επανάσταση. Απλά υπέροχο.

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Red Dragon



Expected More

I struggled quite a bit with this book, especially in the first, let's say, half of it and I don't think it had to do just with the fact that I knew the plot. The writing failed to grasp my interest and I had just expected it to be more thrilling and suspenseful. The chapters that examined the killer's POV and background, however, I found to be super interesting and exciting; it was the cop/investigation part that tired me. So, in a nutshell, I really liked the plot of the book and the writing in half of the chapters but this just didn't impress me as much as I hoped it would

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Fahrehnheit 451

This is pretty much what I needed to read. As a huge fan of 1984, I really enjoyed this book since they're both set in dystopian communities that have pretty much already become reality -in a way. It makes you realize the control people are put through and how scary our societies really are. Now, I didn't like this as much as 1984 - which is a personal favorite - since it gets quite slow, especially in the second half but the plot was almost equally as atmospherical. Loved how this book praised books and showed the great importance and power of knowledge and of being able to think of your own about the world.

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By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept



Very Spiritual

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS SO MUCH. I had tried to read The Alchemist before and found it appealing in an almost enchanting way but it felt very slow and hard to get through and interpret. But I adored this one and will certainly check out the rest of his books. It had a Kahlil Gibran feeling to it - it really reminded me of his works, for some reason. So philosophical & poetical with way too many beautiful, inspirational quotes to possibly track all of them. It made me feel peaceful in a magical way. The sacred atmosphere of it really got to me. I felt as if this book reached out and caressed my heart and soul. Beautiful...

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Πανέμορφο

Μία από τις καλύτερες και πιο υποτιμημένες ποιήτριες, αφού, δυστυχώς, πολλοί την αναγνωρίζουν μόνο ως τη γυναίκα που συνδέθηκε με τον Καρυωτάκη

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Amazing

This has got to be one of the most brilliant books of all time! It's so smart and unlike anything else I had read before. First of all, Steinbeck's writing is so so beautiful and touching! He has a unique way of getting into your heart and soul. It truly moved me. I can't describe how gorgeous Steinbeck's writing style is. I think that only Steinbeck would be able to put into words how amazing Steinbeck is! It is remarkable how he managed to write about such sensitive and important issues - in this novel it's war - with so much success. Deeply humaine, caring and thought-provoking The Moon Is Down might be the best depiction of how war alters the human psychology. An incredible outcry against the insanity and vanity of war.

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Waste Land and Other Poems (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)



Beautiful

The graceful, enchanting poetry sure unlocked a very special place in my heart where emotions of melancholy and lust for life and spiritual thoughts I hadn't even known or felt before inhabit! So so so beautiful!

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The sun and her flowers



Some Really Good Content

Much better than "Milk and Honey". It's still not poetry, though. If this book was to be categorized as a collection of quotes and not as a collection of poems, I would give it 10 stars. Especially the rooting part was so emotional and covered topics worth talking about, issues that needed to be addressed.

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The Green Mile



Very Powerful

This is probably my new favorite Stephen King book, which doesn't really say much since I've only read like 4 other books of his. However... this was truly great! Stephen King proves, once again, that he's much more than just your typical horror-writer that gets your blood pumping in your veins. He managed to write such an emotional masterpiece without, of course, losing his signature thrilling writing style. He treated the subject of prisons and death penalty with the sensitivity that was needed and I'd say ... very realistically? Yeah, I know, obviously the whole supernatural aspect is far from realistic but what I mean is that the way King handles real-life issues really shows his social sensitivity. Under its beautiful, mythical mask The Green Mile gave me the impression of an outcry against death penalty and prejudism in court rooms. Very much worth reading!

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Expected More

First of all, it'd be unfair not to talk about the good points of this book, since it had some remarkably positive elements. What I loved most about this book and what I believe to be its trump card, were the characters. Not only are they insanely well-developed but, since the book follows their entire lives, we get to see their transformation throughout the story. In that way, and with all the detail put in their creation, it gives you the feeling that you've known the protagonists your whole life. However, that wasn't the best thing about the characters; what amazed me most was how genuinely realistic they were. Even though the events of the book take place in a dystopian society, the characters' personalities make them so honest and imperfect like they're just some ordinary, everyday people. The relationships between them are also made to resemble usual, relatable situations. Their actions and words match what we've been told about them and I found that consistency to be great. Furthemore, the dialogues are, once again, very realistic; the author isn't trying too hard to impress you by characters exchanging poetic words or being unnaturally witty. On the other hand, though, I was a bit disappointed by the writing style. I guess I was expecting more metaphors and epic/stunning descriptions and, overall, something special and groundbreaking by an author awarded with the Nobel Prize in Literature. Don't get me wrong, though, I did appreciate the analytic descriptions in some parts. Another thing that turned me off with this book was that it took me a while to get into and through it; maybe it was just me but I found the story to be a bit slow-paced. Now, about the story itself; I liked the whole 'clones' concept, I really did but I thought the author could've expanded on it.

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Didn't Live Up to the 1st one

The only reason why I got into this book was because my mom had bought it - even though I had advised her against it - and so it was on my shelves. Having loved Me Before You I was prejudiced that it's the kind of book that doesn't need a sequel! I just couldn't see what one could do with the story that would be interesting! I wish I could say that it changed my mind but, as I had predicted, it really didn't do it for me. In the beginning, it was much better than I expected; I started thinking that maybe showing what happened to Louisa after the ending of the first book in a way that shows the struggles of grief might be a good idea. You have to view this almost completely separated from the first book if you want to give it a try, anyways. But just as I had begun to appreciate the kinda fair represantation of dealing with loss, a big amount of this book just got on my nerves. So many unrealistic things happening in it. Won't be reading the last one :|

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Quiet Kind of Thunder



Disappointed

Ugh, this book didn't let me love it as much as I was willing to... On the one hand, it was enlightening to learn about selective mutism and the parts about the protagonist's anxiety disorder and struggle felt quite realistic. However, since I'm not going through such issues myself I can't help but feel that maybe selective mutism isn't depicted as realistically and as raw as it could (and perhaps) should be depicted . And the reason why I feel that way is because it felt like the whole situation was being sugarcoated by the romance, which was way too cheesy, cliché and unnaturally ideal for my own taste.

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Five Nights at Freddy's- The Twisted Ones



Ugh

When I started this I thought that it at least had a better atmosphere than the first one but ... *sighs* ... it was so repetitive and just hard to get through. And the whole concept was just so ridiculous - I couldn't take anything that was happening seriously, which made it even more tiring. Will say that the writing is worth respect and some appreciation, though.

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Boy In the Striped Pajamas (Movie Tie-in Edition)



Good Anti-War Message

A powerful message against war told through the innocence of a child who realizes better than anyone how insane and illogical hatred between people is. I accept the fact that it's not the best, neither the most accurate book about the Holocaust but I think it still does a great job on spreading the importance of peace!

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Δεύτερη γραφή



Δεύτερη Γραφή

Δυστυχώς. συνολικά, τα συγκεκριμένα ποιήματα δεν με εντυπωσίασαν όσο περίμενα και δεν μου έμειναν. Αυτό βέβαια δεν λέει τίποτα για το ρόλο του Ελύτη ως μεταφραστή, αφού ήταν εξαιρετικός, ούτε για το γράψιμό του, αφού ό,τι δικό του έχω διαβάσει το έχω λατρέψει. Μάλλον δεν λέει τίποτα και για τους ποιητές αφού πρόκειται για μία αποσπασματική επιλογή περιορισμένου αριθμού ποιημάτων τους: κάποιοι σίγουρα δεν είναι του γούστο μου αλλά άλλοι μου αρέσουν αρκετά.

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Ugh

First of all, I have to say that I respect, appreciate and look up to the courage and the strengh the author had to address such serious, sensitive issues! However this doesn't fullfill the criteria to be called poetry. At least not to me. Beautifully written words that make great quotes? Yes. But they remind me of diary entries - they are feelings expressed in words (and they're good, I'm not saying they are not) but that isn't enough to make it poetry. Poetry is about something deeper and more unique than what I was able to find in this book. Also, some of the quotes - as I have chosen to call the contents of this book - were too similar to Tumblr posts and felt overused to me. And considering the hype that came with this book, I was expecting something more special! Therefore, I have to say that there's deeper, actual poetry out there that deserves more recognision!

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Α Spectacular Classic

Let me be super real right now and say that the people who tell you this is just a childrens' book and you're too old for it and have missed your chance to read it or that it's too cheesy of a story... those are not people to be trusted! Seriously, though, it is just surreal how absolutely beautiful this book is! I've read this quite a few times already in different ages and even though I enjoyed it even as a kid the first time I read it, the more I read it as I grow the more I appreciate and fully understand its meaning and importance. In other words, the older I am when I read it, the more I cry big, fat tears being moved by its tenderness (tenderness, untrust-worthy fellas out there, not chessiness, this is not at all what cheesy looks like) and just outstanding beauty! Long story short, if you want a book that will leave you staring at the ceiling, with no more tears left to cry, thinking "oh my god, how absolutely heart-breaking and unbelievably beautiful is life and this world we're in?", do yourself a favor and read this masterpiece!

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Perfume



Mind-blowing

There are two ways for one to interpret this book; On the one hand, you could view this as a thriller with a very spooky atmosphere, raw descriptions and, probably, the best and most frightening depiction of a "psycho killer". This story is all about the world of scents, a world we can't quite capture and comprehend with our given senses, unlike our protagonist. The way smells and the character's understanding of them are presented is so surreal that they're challenging to perceive; it blew me away. This book has a very unique writing and plot. It's almost haunting. However, it is possible to take this one step further and consider this novel as a big metaphor of the way society works. As an outcry reporting the humanity humans lack of. Perfume can be much more than a deeply psychological thriller, since it has a philosophical aspect to it. It feels as if the hideous human smells the protagonist is so disgusted by could work as an analogy for the cruelty of humans who treat each other so heartlessly and take advantage of one another with such ease. The character finds people and the superficial relationships between them repulsive and wants to hide away from them and make himself their God, even though he feels like everyone is his inferior. And ... I don't know... that felt so realistic considering people's tendancy to preach how civilized they are when, in reality, humans are the worst beasts.

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Mockingjay



Best Finale

Nothing less than a very realistic depiction of a society not so different from ours. Of course the imperfect, diverse characters, the mindblowing fictional elements and the beautiful quotes were all amazing but the really astonishing thing about this book was the raw represantion of situations like tyranny, rebellion that turns into tyranny, war, loss etc. Really wonderful how such important and delicate issues (the necessity of peace, for instance) could be given the attention they deserve in this special novel. I also found this last book the best in the trilogy - close one with Catching Fire, though - which doesn't happen to me often. It has a truly special place in my heart!

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Beautiful and Cute

This is hands down the cutest and most heartwarming poetry collection in the world :)

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Only for hardcore videogame fans

Ok, first things first; this can't be considered actual horror because animatronic mascots killing people isn't a concept that can possibly become scary, no matter how hard it tries - it's just eye roll material. Also, the whole thing got quite repetitive and slow in the second half of it. However , if you go into this book acknowledging that it's not gonna be something more than a typical story of a group of teens trying to survive from a 'wannabe' ridiculous threat, like the ones we've seen in those b-rated thrillers, it's an ok read. Personally, I thought the writing style was really good - but under no circumstances thrilling - and I mostly stuck with the book to see which characters would die, to be honest.

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Not my thing, but I get the hype

This didn't live up to my expectations - or to its reputation for that matter. I very much appreciated some beautiful quotes in this book and the whole philosophical search for the path to follow in life, the questions about God and existence. And I get that for its time it was very special and perhaps, innovative but most of it just got on my nerves. I didn't get what was so great about Zorbas and why he should be a role model. I was let down by the way women where treated and shown in the book (especially by Zorbas). They were depicted weak, depedent on men and I understand that's the general era the story is set in but I just couldn't deal with it - the whole "morality" Zorbas presented was getting on my nerves, to be honest.

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Could Be Much Better

Ugh, this book! I did get into it without real expectation since the synopsis warned me for a plot that could easily develop in a problematic way/representation if not handled carefully. But still I was frustrated when this book left me feeling very ''emm", ''hmm". Ok, on the one hand, the writing was quite good, much better from what I expected reading book based on a musical. So, yeah, the writing was quite nice and some of the quotes in it were pretty good, as well and did transfer a feeling of helplessness and sadness that the writer probably wanted to convey. But, on the other hand, I wasn't sure about the representation of mental illness in this one. Connor's thoughts seemed more realistic but the way Evan's mental illness and shyness were there one moment and just disappeared the other... yeah, that was not at all cool. His dark thoughts were realistic to a certain level but in all it wasn't handled well at all. It made it look like Evan's mental illness was present when his life was bad and just completely disappeared when things got well. That's not how it goes with mental illness: feeling awful doesn't mean your life and all the external factors making up your day are necessarily awful as well. Things could be great or gradually get great but that doesn't make you feel better, it isn't always enough to change your thought. Mental illness shouldn't be treated and written about as something that just goes away when life and luck start treating you well. In the same way, it felt like Evan was antisocial only when he was unpopular and when everyone knew him and wanted to talk to him he suddenly had no serious problem socializing. He was shy and afraid to talk only until he found out people liked him. Then he magically just wasn't socially awkward anymore. Yeah, trust me, that's not how it goes. All in all, even though it had its good moments, this book just didn't do it for me

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Paths of Glory



Really Nice

I started this book thinking that I would very much dislike it because it really didn't sound like what I normally read - it was not at all my usual genre. Not only historical fiction, but historical fiction about the first man climbing the Everest Mountain, didn't sound like much to me. Nevertheless, I took a leap of faith out of my comfort zone and very early into the book I realized... that my attempt couldn't have been more successful! I ended up loving the story and couldn't stop reading it! Paths of Glory is a story of trying really hard to achieve your dreams, being passionate and making sacrifices but never against others. Therefore, there are issues of morality being touched upon and constant dilemmas are present. Jeffrey Archer did an incredible job mixing the facts of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time with his own special elements - mostly when it came to characters' development. Personally, I was very fond of George Mallory the way he was described in this book, since he was presented as a very moral, altruistic and humble man who always competed fairly and helped others. Another detail that excited me was how Mallory was described as a real feminist, with messages of equality being dispersed by him all over the story. Although I can't find a way to check whether George Mallory really was such a progressive personality, it really made me smile! Of course, the rest of the characters also were deeply developed and intriguing. And if you're wondering how a book about climbing mountains possibly not end up being slow/boring at some point (like I did before reading it), I'm assuring you that a) the author has his way of making the book fast-paced and very interesting because b) this book is about much more than just literally climbing mountains *sighs*

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Just another novelization

[edit] It is a novelization. I wouldn't go expecting anything mindblowing from a novelization. Therefore, there was no bad blood between us. Not the worst novelization out there, I guess. It was just ok. Unimpressive, mediocre, that's all. Liked how the huntsman's love and grief for his wife was presented.

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King of Fantasy

Maybe the older you get the more appealing this story is, or at least I needed to read it a second time after a few years to truly appreciate it! Such an original tale with a thrilling atmosphere. The meaning - whichever meaning you choose to get from it - brings you a beautiful, eerie feeling that really gets to you. The deeply philosophical quotes only add to the atmosphere. Such a great fantasy story!

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Jonathan Livingston Seagull



Powerful

Very spiritual and inspirational! Part about the importance of chasing your dreams, but mostly encourages you to search your inner spirituality and prioritize your morals in life - could be perceived religiously but truly it depends on you.

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Secret Life of Bees



Beautiful

If you pick this up the synopsis will probably have you thinking "Not my type of book" BUT this gorgeous tale is for EVERYONE who wants a heartbreaking/warming story to move them! The great emotional depth and perfect doses of smart and melancholic humour of this will leave you with a bittersweet feeling in your heart. Full of wise realizations about the injustice of society and life and powerful messages against racism that build up throughout the course of the story. One of the most touching books I've read. It earned a very special place in my heart!

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Cute

I found this to be a super cute and heartwarming read. What I loved most about it was that, instead of just focusing on the two protagonists, there were adorable, little chapters about some of the other characters, telling their own heartbreaking stories as well. I thought that it made the book even more special. Both characters' family environments felt very honest and realistic, too. The only problem I faced with this one was that I had mixed feelings about the ending which felt quite unrealistic.

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Emmm

I do realize that for its time it was probably super spooky and kind of a groundbreaking thriller and it did manage to build a thrilling and a bit of an intense atmosphere but the writing style really tired and irritated me. Especially the dialogues. The characters spoke to each other in sentences that they left incomplete and just repeated each other's words, which was very dull and annoying. Also, I can't really say that I understood what was actually going on. I didn't make any sense of the ending, mostly because the rest of the story had been developing so slowly that when I finally got to ending after what felt like ages when it was just a few pages, I wasn't even interested into trying to work out an explanation with my mind that had, by then, gone sleepy

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Turtles All the Way Down



Best John Green Book

I was about to declare myself done with this author; I had loved some of his older books, while others were quite upsetting (we all know I'm talking about 'Looking for Alaska') and I had reached a point where I wasn't sure I wanted to read 'Turtles all the way down' when its release was first announced. I'm more than glad I gave John Green another chance , however, since he definitely proved me wrong with his most mature work so far! The feelings that this book conveys... oh my Gosh, I was so amazed! The representation felt very real and I was just SO thankful this one was NOT romance-centered but instead focused on the protagonist's meantal health struggles and the importance of true, unproblematic friendship that doesn't ask for favors in return for being there for the person you care about. Truly beautiful!

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest



Mind-blowing

I don't think that I've ever been shocked by a book this much! This brilliant story is, with no doubt, rightfully earning a high position in my all time favorites. It has got to be one of the most realistic and raw books ever written. Every single sentence in it is just so honest. An incredible outcry against the inhumane and unacceptable way society rejects and treats the mentally ill. It criticizes the awful tactics used in mental health hospitals/clinics, especially in the past - or at least I want to believe that those "treatments" are now history - without sugarcoating anything; it just shakes the disgusting truth about our "humanity" right out of you because it needs to, because it has to be spoken. A true masterpiece full of clarity and sensitivity that everyone should read!

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History Is All You Left Me



Best YA Out There

I can't even begin to express how beautiful this 100% honest masterpiece is - I loved it with all my heart! So many heartbreaking moments and quotes that filled my eyes with tears! The best thing about it is... it's so humane ; such a great represantation of grief. No unnatural overcoming of it in the end, no magically getting over it and going on with their lives; it's incredibly realistic and understanding. And the characters are these honest human beings that aren't perfect; they let their negative feelings take over, they mess up, they don't say the right thing at the right time... Sincerely, words will fail to describe how close to my heart this book is and how much love it deserves!

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Eerie

Shirley Jackson created such a unique thrilling atmosphere in this book. She definitely is one of the most special contributors in the structuring of gothic horror. Although I was waiting for a plot twist that never came, I realize that it's not really a plot-driven story; as I saw it, it was much more about the characters. The protagonist's twisted and bizarre thoughts and words as well as the disturbed psychology of all the other characters were super creepy and managed to keep me intrigued.

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Στη διαπασών



Στη Διαπασών

Πολύ πετυχημένη ματιά μέσα σε ένα θέμα τραγικό μα, δυστυχώς, πάντα επίκαιρο. Ο συγγραφέας καταφέρνει να σε κάνει να βλέπεις την ιστορία μέσα από την οπτική ενός 'αντικειμενικά μισητού', θα έλεγε κανείς χαρακτήρα, χωρίς, όμως, να τον μισείς πραγματικά. Αυτό μάλλον βασίζεται ακριβώς στο ότι η ιστορία προσπαθεί να δείξει πώς ένας καθημερινός νέος, το παιδί της διπλανής πόρτας, μπορεί να βρει τον εαυτό του μπλεγμένο σε μία τόσο τοξική κατάσταση χωρίς να συνειδητοποιεί πόσο άσχημο είναι αυτό που κάνει. Δεν είναι από τη φύση του σε καμία περίπτωση 'κακός' άνθρωπος αλλά δεν δείχνει την απαραίτητη κρίση και αντίδραση μέχρι γεγονότα που θα τον στιγματίσουν να τον κάνουν να καταλάβει πόσο λάθος φέρεται. Δεν είναι εύκολο να γράφεις από την οπτική ενός 'αχώνευτου' πρωταγωνιστή μα ο Βασίλης Παπαθεοδώρου το έκανε με τον καλύτερο τρόπο. Γράψιμο απόλυτα πιστό στον χαρακτήρα αλλά χωρίς να υποβαθμίζεται και η ικανότητα του ίδιου του συγγραφέα στο γράψιμο. Η ιδέα με τα τραγούδια στην αρχή του κάθε κεφαλαίου επίσης πολύ έξυπνη και ταιριαστή με την ιστορία.

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Light Between Oceans



Heart-breaking

There were two main factors that made this book so easily lovable to me: a) The story itself is so unique and morally controversial, which I just adored. No one was the good or the bad guy. The characters weren't 100% innocent or guilty and you couldn't blame them even though what they did was obviously the 'not-so-right' thing to do. You empathize for all of the characters and you can't decide which party is the unfair one and which one deserves their kind of justice. It feels like it should be clear but the author does a great job of pulling you into the story and making you feel what the characters do so you can understand and justify whether you like them or not. You don't only feel pity for the 'pitiful' characters but also, and perhaps even more strongly, for the characters that brought those 'pitiful' characters into their horrible position. It gives you the alternative view of the story and makes you realize that an objectively bad action isn't actually that wrong, since it's all about the perspective and whose shoes you're in. b) The immesnsely sensitive and emotional writing in this just absolutely broke me. So so beautiful. The author managed to convey the feelings of incomparable love and affection a great parent has for their child in even the most crazy details. I don't know what it's like reading this book if you're a parent but as a 17 year-old with no maternal instincts whatsoever ringing me a bell and without even the slightest of longing for having a kid in the near of further future I'm telling you that this book crashed me and touched my heart in a way literally descriptions haven't before (I've probably said this for other books before but this time I mean really different, not harder, but hella different). So yeah, just imagine, what a great writing it takes to be able to transfer such strong emotions to the reader! That plus the gorgeous quotes reflecting on life, death and time and Tom's memories and thoughts of the war just made this such a crying-my-eyes-out, beautifully heartbreaking, soul crashing reading experience of tears and pain and admiration.

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The Night Circus



So Lovely

First of all, I get why the plot felt peculiar to a lot of people but I feel like that's exactly what pulled me into the story. I loved how the book played with the sense of time. I love all books that mess up with time. I loved how it wasn't about explaining the world-building thoroughly but instead about being swept by the way magic works, through the author's words and decriptions. I love all books that do that and my undying love for The Raven Cycle can prove it. I just love how the magic of The Night Circus and its members wasn't put into fancy vocabulary and analytic explanations of how it works, or why it works the way it does. I much prefer exactly what the book did, with the gorgeous writing letting the magic makes its way to your soul and heart and not into charts in your brain. But that's obviously my cup of tea and it doesn't mean it'll work for you, too. Now, the writing in this book was everything . So magical, with mesmerizing descriptions and beautiful quotes that built perfectly aesthetic scenes and made it so, so atmospheric! Conclusion; if you're looking for the kind of things I presented in the past few sentences, then that's the book for you. If, however, something didn't sound quite right; The Night Circus is still a great book but not the kind of great book you need to read at the moment!

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Fangirl



Unpopular Opinion

This didn't treat me as well as I thought it would Ugh, I don't know, I just feel so weird about not liking this book. Of course I was prepared for it to be a lighthearted read, more soft and cute and therefore, easy to read through, enjoyable but not great. However, as it turned out, for the most part I had to drag myself through this book and kept being annoyed by many factors in it. I was prepared for a coming-of-age story about a fangirl, an awkward at social interactions human being, afraid of going into a new life where people don't seem to have similar interests to her. That would be perfectly ok, it'd make sense. However, Cath was not just an introvert, an overly shy fangirl being neglected by people around her. From what I got, most of the people she met were very much willing to get to know her and share her interests even though they weren't themselves interested in them. Cath, however, had this obsession about shuting them off and even though reality proved her wrong she was just prejudiced about her peers, certain that she wouldn't get along with them. That isn't a ''symptom'' of being a fangirl, a reader, someone who's into more alternative things, anyway. It was just a bad behavior of Cath's. It just felt as if Cath being overly defensive and shut in waw treated by the author as well just a characteristic of fangirls and that isn't true at all. Also, another issue I had was that I'd like her family's issues to be analyzed more thoroughly. In general, as a fangirl, I found this story as a 'problematic', one-sided represantation of fangirls. Perhaps, the problem isn't that much the fault of the book itself, but a result of the fact that since this 'classic YA' there have been more innovative and deep YA contemporaries out or, anyways, YA books with a writing and approach that comes closer to my taste.

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Best Writing I've Read

Where do I even start? I'm going to make a disclaimer first because I can't stand having my bookish opinions assaulted by people every time I happen to express my love for Lolita in a conversation. Repeat after me: When someone likes Lolita, that doesn't mean they support or excuse or justify paedophilia (hebephilia to be more precise) and abuse. Now for the people behind the pop culture industry: Lolita is a serious piece of literature and should under no circumstances be used as a synonym for ''sugar baby" or for sexualizing young girls (and young girls must never be sexualized in the first place). Amen. Now that (hopefully) everyone has understood that, we can focus on the content of this misunderstood book. The most amazing thing Nabokov achieved in this book with his mesmerizing use of language is make you feel almost sympathy/empathy for a very unlikeable character. Humbert Humbert is shown as a sick and sly person that will use any means to achieve his twisted sense of happiness, he thinks highly of his own self although he fails to achieve all the things he's so sure of and that makes him even more detestable. Nabokov makes sure the reader gets all of those things and finds Humbert disgusting. However, the way Humbert uses english, through Nabokov of course, makes it really hard to stay focused on hating him the whole time. The most beautiful quotes about love, eros, admiration and devotion that I have ever read come from Humbert used in the context of his attempt to keep a 12 year-old in a sick and hopeless relationship with him. That shouldn't be right, but Nabokov's incredible, innovative writing style, poetic use of words and ability to create a mesmerizing aesthetic make it seem so full of sense. I swear, the lyrical writing is the most lovely I've ever come across and Nabokov's way with words finds a way into your heart so purely, even though the plot might convince you that that's impossible. Just trust me on this one so you can feed your soul and heart on the most beautiful (beautiful isn't strong enough, we need to invent a new word for beautiful and use it just to describe Nabokov's writing in Lolita) writing you'll ever read. It will just conquer your heart in the most devastating way possible!

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Το φεγγάρι και οι φωτιές



Περίμενα περισσότερα

Αυτό που μου άρεσε από το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο ήταν οι νοσταλγικές περιγραφές στιγμών από την παιδική ηλικία του ήρωα στο χωριό του. Όμως, σε γενικές γραμμές η αφήγηση δεν τραβούσε ιδιαίτερα το ενδιαφέρον μου, αφού τα διάφορα περιστατικά της ιστορίας δεν είχαν ιδιαίτερη συνεκτικότητα και ο αφηγητής περνούσε αφηρημένα από το ένα στο άλλο σαν να μην ήταν σίγουρος για τι ήθελε να μιλήσει, οπότε έγραφε λίγο από όλα όπως τα θυμόταν. Έτσι, και η ''ανακατεμένη'' σειρά με την οποία παρουσιάζονταν τα γεγονότα δεν φαινόταν να εξυπηρετεί κάποιο σκοπό κάνοντας την ανάγνωση αρκετά κουραστική.

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Masterpiece

Is this the best book of all time? Actually, let me rephrase that; This is the best book of all time! Affirmative. "Yeah, but, like what do you mean 'the best book of all time'? How does one define 'best'?You could say 'best book of a specific genre' but..." Shhhhhhhh... Don't go giving me a hard time here. The situation is very simple; this is an incredibly important book. The writing is absolutely stunning and - along with the story - really manages to get to your soul, while treating its serious theme with all the rightful respect and raw realism that is needed. The characters are all very well fleshed-out and throughout the story you really connect with them and care about them so deeply. And with creating a connection to the characters the book manages to show you the importance of pointing out the devastating tragedy of WWII. Especially the narrative by Death is so emotional and it's just a great outcry against the insanity of war, a hymn for love and peace and how important it is to remember the shameful past of humanity and never again repeat it. This book just gets you so invested in the lives of the people on Himmel street and how the war turns them upside down. It's just so important and unique and I can't find the right words to describe how it made me feel. I could even say that a book has never made me feel this exact way before! I would recommend this book to literally everyone. You don't have to be a fan of historical fiction, you don't have to think that it's a subject you'd be interested in. And also, whoever labeled this as YA was not in their right mind. Although - and everyone should hear this - YA books are the hidden gems of literature and adults are really irritating when they pass on/snob down on a book just because it's YA - I mean, that's so frustrating, people. Anyway, my point is; this book should be labeled only as "super important to read"!This is just THE book!

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Daisy Jones and The Six



70s Band Life

“Passion is...it's fire. And fire is great, man. But we're made of water. Water is how we keep living. Water is what we need to survive.” To be honest, 9 stars just to state that this book didn't absolutely blow me away/change my life/own my heart and soul/become my new all-time favorite - like it did for other people. Also, I had some really tiny problems that I'll get too very soon and went through a little roller-coaster while reading this but it's mostly that I didn't get the hype surrounding this book in the fullest. And that's the first thing: I hear about this book - 'cause it's freaking everywhere, you can't not hear about it - and then I look up what it's about and I'm thinking two things; a)oooh, this sounds quite interesting, I love rock bands and learning about their lifestyles - half of my YouTube history is band interviews and then b)well, yeah, but how the hell did this interest literally everyone? I just think it's the kind of subject you don't read about if you aren't invested in stuff like it in general, even a little bit. It just sounded way too specific, you know? But it turns out that people who had no past interest in finding out more about band-life/music scene of the 70s fell absolutely in love with this book. So, I guess, my first point is: Congrats to Taylor Jenkins Reid for managing to take this kind of material and introduce it into the mainstream, turn it into a best-seller. Before going into this I was worried about the format; the Daisy Jones & The Six story is told through interviews and I thought maybe it would make the story hard to get through. However, the format was just great. It really suited the story and helped it move in just the right pace. And, truly for the first third of the book I felt like I was reading an actual interview of an actual band - it was really well-shaped. In about the middle, though, I wasn't getting the right vibe from it. I can't quite put my finger on what it was; some of the quotes felt cliché and ... I don't know ... it felt a bit predictable, like the rock 'n roll band stories we've seen hundreds of times before and I was waiting for the big "splash", for the story to cross another line, take things a step further. Thankfully, this book did me no wrong; in about the third part, oh, my poor soul, it really kicked off and moved to another level. First of all; the characters. They're nicely fleshed-out and there's something about each one to both love and hate. But it's not as much about the characters themselves. The dynamics between them are the ones really doing it. Also, some really great feminism points were made in this. Daisy Jones is a woman determined to not change her attitude or dressing style to be respected by men. To not scandalise them. She's gonna go with her sexy self and people can say whatever they want. That's badass. And she's a real feminist. Karen doesn't want to give the world the tiniest "excuse" to sexualize her. She doesn't show her body so she can make sure that she gets in bands for her music, that the audience wants to see her for her playing, not her looks. And that's equally as badass. And she, too, is equally as a real feminist. To add just a couple more things. I'm not sure you can call Daisy Jones and The Six the kind of band I would listen to. Everyone's like "omg, I wish they were a real band" but the lyrics don't really do it for me. Some of them are quite good but I wouldn't say they're like super super deep. Maybe I'll like them as the soundtrack of the show that will come out, though, which I'm super excited about. I don't usually like it when books I really like are made it into movies or shows but this one seems like it'd make a gorgeous show. Also, I'll probably reread this in audiobook form soon, although I really don't prefer audiobooks, because it feels like the kind of book that could really work better in audiobook.

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Christ Recrucified



Brave exploration of religion

What I appreciated about this book was the way it explored the themes of religion and faith; how religion affects people's life, how different people handle faith and, most importantly, how the fanatic attachment to religious typicalities and an "empty" faith controlled by fear and ignorance can end up seriously harmful. Kazantzakis was much ahead of his time for questioning the power of the church and how it could delude the people. However, the whole story dragged and a lot of incidents were "interrupting" thd main plot. Also, as with Zorbas the Greek, I struggled trying not to cringe at the way women were treated and thought of. Hopefully, however, those are opinions supported by the characters and not Kazantzakis himself.

1



Cheesy Romance

The writing in this book got so much better than in the first one. It got very lyrical, had some nice/perhaps beautiful emotional quotes - I'm afraid those could get cheesy if you're not in the right mood for them,though. What definitely did get cheesy for my taste was the romance; I hadn't mind the romance in the first book - since the love triangle made quite some sense, too - but Cassia and Ky just got a bit too melodramatic. Maybe I wouldn't have find it sappy if it involved characters from any other book but I really began to not stand the main characters in this book. I mean, I thought of Cassia to be a drama queen since book one but in this one Ky and Xander began to get a bit hard to like, too (Obviously the sidekicks were the ones that saved me). I did appreciate the poems the overdramatic couple was exchanging, however, as I enjoyed the whole importance shown to poetry in this book.

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Matched



Fine YA dystopian

I remember really enjoying the world bulding in this. It felt like the perfect, super creepy, 'let's-pretend-everyone's-happy' dystopian world; pre-decided marriages, deaths, careers, leisure time activities, but my personal favorite was how there were only 100 pieces of each field of art that the public was allowed to know about (100 paintings, 100 songs, 100 poems). I found that last one really interesting. The structure of the Society is the most capturing thing about this books, as I saw it. Learning about some of the characters' past and what their real motives were was intriguing, too, though.

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"Meh" finale

''Writing, painting, singing-it cannot stop everything. Cannot halt death in its tracks. But perhaps it can make the pause between death's footsteps sound and look and feel beautiful, can make the space of waiting a place where you can linger without as much fear. For we are all walking each other to our deaths, and the journey there between footsteps makes up our lives." I don't know how to feel about this book. First half of this book; it felt like nothing was happening while many things were actually happening and the beautiful, lyrical writing was used to describe situations that weren't really that impressive, you know, big words for empty thoughts? I don't know. The characters got pretty unlikeable, too - especially Cassia - and I reached a point where I couldn't tell whether the stunning thoughts the characters were expressing showed actual, deep human feelings and the characters' development or were just random. Like, everyone was kinda in love with everyone but not all of them were made for each other and I'm not sure whether that's a super realistic depiction of how love works or just showed that the characters themselves weren't sure about what and who they wanted/the author wasn't sure what she was going for. On the second half, the beautiful quotes won me and I decided on the former. However, the love triangle(s)/square/pentagon/where-did-we-even-go-with-this-one still feels very "ugh" to me and the romance feels very cheesy. Pity the poetical writing got overcasted by those elements. What I really liked, though, was the dystopia and how it showed that the revolution that often presents itself as a savior to a form of tyranny might get corrupted by power itself and become an even worse dictatorship, 'cause that's very true for real life, judging from history.

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Beautiful Quotes

"All I ever wanted was a world without maps." Now, I didn't absolutely adore this book the way I wished I could but I did fell in love with it in just the way I thought I would and it still managed to make me feel a certain type of way. And by certain, I mean entirely mesmerized! First of all, I have to note that I got to this book because the movie adaptation is one of my favorite movies of all-time. It never fails to move me and I find it truly magical. So, I really wanted to try reading the book, as well, even though I knew there were quite a few differences when it comes to which parts of the story/characters are more widely presented. I dislike comparing books to their adaptations, and I won't do that now either, having in mind that each form of art lacks in specific elements while it thrives in others and that literature and cinema are different things. However, I have to say that while I watch that movie quite often since it's one of my absolute favs, I wouldn't reread the novel with the same ease, for the following reasons: One, the story developed in a very absurd way and sequence; POVs and periods in time kept changing rapidly and it got hard to follow in quite some parts. To be honest, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to understand most of it if I hadn't watched the movie first. Two, as much as I adored the writing style, the plot moved quite slowly in some parts and, with the weird narration I just mentioned, resulted in making the book a bit hard to get through easily. I mean, at some point there are 7 pages describing in way too much detail one of Kip's missions to defuse a bomb - no quotes/character's thoughts involved - and ... well, I could've certainly gone on without that. Now, the writing and the quotes. Those beautiful quotes. The writing style was very poetic and sensual and offered a realistic, yet absolutely swooning view of love and relationships. The quotes are just so heart-felt. Plus, there's a very important outcry against racism and war present throughout the book, which only makes the whole thing even better!!

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Ethrography at its best

What I didn't like about this book: It took me a while to get through, it was just pretty tiring. What I did like about this book: Super smart for its time and different contrary to others of its kind. What was great was that there was much more to it than romance. The most interesting thing, however, were the characters. All of them - not just Heathcliff - were unlikeable (suprisingly Heathcliff didn't even make it to my top 3 most annoying characters) and morally questionable. Even though you acknowledge that they've done mean, cruel things and took some seriously messed up decisions you still find humanity in them and feel pity for them when tragedy strikes. All in all, the characters' psychology is definitely the most important element of this book. I would actually go as far as to say that it's one of the best ethographic works of all time. The little society created in the story and the way the tragedy just re-generated itself is just incredibly smart!

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Animal Farm



Masterpiece

You know those "if you could resurrect a deceased author and talk with them over lunch, who would you choose" questions? Yeah, considering that this masterpiece just took its place - only second to 1984 - as my favorite 'classic', it's official. George Orwell. George Orwell is my answer. This allegory is so smart. Like, so insanely genius! Orwell criticizes such real and crazy situations. Even though USSR belongs to the past, this book will always be relevant. Always. It uses irony in the most successful way to condemn the oppression of people, the dictators that present themselves as heroes, to point out how deliberate illiteracy and lack of freedom of expression are used to take one's critical thinking away and turn them into an obeisant civilian, how pretentious equality can actually be masked tyranny. The events of this story are seriously disturbing and scary but what's even scarier is that, well, it's the real history of mankind, what really happens when political ideologies get, inevitably, corrupted by power. I'm not trying to be political - mostly because I don't even know that much about politics or history, although I understand the parts I know of and find that knowledge good enough so I can speak - but George Orwell has the most 'sober' perception and opinion about politics that I've ever read. I feel like he's what true socialism is about. Now that I brought him back to life for dinner, can we make him President, please?

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1984



Mother of all dystopia

This was just PHENOMENAL. George Orwell has to be one of the biggest writing geniuses ever! If you are unsure about reading this book, thinking 'how can a book written in the 40s possibly be any interesting?', oh my friend, you are SO wrong. This isn't just one of those books that get a place in those 'greatest books of all time' lists just for being old. This is a masterpiece . It will captivate you from the very first sentence. I'm assuring you; it truly deserves your time, money and eternal appreciation. George Orwell was not only ahead of his time in terms of imagination, since he chose such an original and innovative idea but in terms of writing, too. The story is fast-paced and enganging and he manages to convey the thrilling atmosphere of this terrifying society. A real page-turner. Coming from someone who isn't really 'touched' by thrillers or horror novels, I have to say that Orwell's writing did such a great job on giving me the creeps. I was seriously thrilled and fascinated. Maybe what's so special about the story is that the concept of a society like this isn't as abstract or futuristic as we like to think. Maybe it scared me because it's a reasonable, realistic thing to worry about. I'm not sure whether Orwell should be cosidered an author or a prophet. But, no matter which one it is, he undoubtedly created the best dystopia possible. And now, coming back down to Earth for a second, I have a burning question for all of you that condemned this piece of art with a 2 star rating because you found the characters to be under-developed, superficial etc ; of course everyone is entitled to the right to have a different opinion but, did you read the book ? Under-developed ? Are you kidding me? We are talking about a dystopian society that keeps its citizens in the dark, demands having constant control over them, doesn't allow them to do anything creative and, in generally, wants them to be an unvarying mass with no freedom that can't think or make decisions for itself. The characters are supposed to lack deeper personality and specific features. That's the whole point! If anything, it's the writer doing a terrific job forming suitable characters.

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Call Me By Your Name



Beautiful

Time makes us sentimental. Perhaps, in the end, it is because of time we suffer. Oh my Lord, this book; so so special and just unbelievably magical. Not only is the breathtaking scenery of Italy in the summer the best possible setting ever but the writing and the quotes are just so gorgeous. The quotes are so deep but in a humane and realistic way and Elio describes emotions and thoughts that most of us are having but find them too embarassing to express. This is not only a story of love, longing, heartache but also of life and the passing of time that has a funny way of getting to us! Just ethereal and so, so touching!

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Best Finale Ever

He was a book, and he was holding his final pages, and he wanted to get to the end to find out how it went, and he didn't want it to be over. This absolutely gorgeous quote perfectly describes my feelings while reading this book! I couldn't get enough of it but also didn't want this beautiful journey to end... I think this is my favorite book of the series - although Dream Thieves is super close. I understand why a lot of people were disappointed by the ending, though. However, I don't think it could've worked out any other way; it was the perfect ending this perfect series needed. Everything that makes TRC so special was just even more on point in this one. The breathtaking aesthetic, the innovative magical elements, the lyrical writing. Full of so many beautiful quotes that just owned my heart. The whole vibe of it is so wondrous and enchanting. It sincerely put me in a dream-like state. And my precious children got even more bonded in this one. Their relationships were just so heartwarming and we got such a close look at their emotions and thoughts. AAAA, can I just keep screaming for the rest of eternity? This was SO, SO good. Glorious, just glorious!

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Best Series Out There

Aaaah, this book broke my heart and mended it in the most devastating and lovely way Revelations, even more questions and unexpected plot points, oh my... I'd take this from the top but where even is the top? The aesthetic of this book turned into a beautiful mix of the 'Glendower search in caves/Ronan's dream world/300 Fox Way supernatural vibes/Cabeswater's natural beauty' aesthetics of the two previous books and just blew my mind cause there were so many plot points developing at once and all these sad things I didn't expect to happen happened (y'all know exactly what I'm referring to here) and just, oh my, the fantasy element was taken on another level. Another aspect that I think got even more developed in this book and which is one of my favorite things about this series is how...how do I say it... how everyone's in love with everyone, in a way. They have reached such a high level of true friendship - the way I feel about my friends irl, random shoutout to them, lots of love - in which feelings don't need to be put into boxes. Relationships don't have to get classified as platonic or romantic or whatever. It's just the kind of admiration and love you feel for the really important people in your life after knowing them for a while, the sort of falling in love with love feeling, that I find so crucial but underrated. In a reading reality where everyone's so interested in represantation of true feelings, this is the kind of emotions I propose take over YA. They're just so real Oh, just for the fun of it, I'm gonna set my unpopular opinion free out there in the world and state that this was not my favorite book of the series. Actually, I'd place it last out of the four. It was, as the entire series, absolutely mind blowing and fantastic but didn't manage to win me quite like the rest of them did.

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Mind-blowing

Is this the finest piece of YA out there? I think so! And I'm prepared to justify so... First of all, as if the premise of the first book wasn't original, innovative and insanely intersting enough, Maggie just took it to a whole new level with this one. Like, omg. I can't even describe it. Perhaps exactly because she took a subject that is by definition indescribable; dreams and their world. And not only did she come up with it but she also managed to put it into words and write like 400 pages on it and create this masterpiece and, somehow, it made perfect sense. The idea of Ronan bringing back things from his dreams and being able to control the dream world worked out so beautifully. This isn't a book you read. It doesn't work on a subject you can perceive with your actual senses. It surpasses them. It's something you feel but not as in senses; as in sensations. It almost synaesthesial - if that's a word. Yes! That's it! This is the book to satisfy my synaesthesia! It's like those emotions you can only perceive while experiencing them, that only exist when they're there. They can't be in any vocabulary, they can't survive without your perception of them. They make themselves understood in colors, chills, random and unexplainable temperature changes, ringing in the ear, auras, brightness or absense of brightness, knots in the stomach, unjustified contractions of the muscle... But not in words. Just like the hazy, drousy feeling a dream leaves. That's what this book is. And Maggie Stiefvater managed to put it into words. One of the ways in which she managed this is the writing style. It gets so lyrical, poetic, magical, transporting. They aren't just words to fall in love with but also words to fall in love to. So many beautiful quotes. I can't even fit them all here. But they're - like all of this book - so dreamy! Now, onto the freaking terrific characters! The dynamics in their relationships are getting more impressive as they're tightening and becoming closer friends. Ok, there's also a lot of drama and fighting and their bonds are going through challenges but they just prove the true quality of their friendships. Also, the relationships between the characters begin to clear out as they start to take more definite directions. What matters is that this book is the most absorbing thing I've ever read and warmed my heart so damn much!

0



Best Fantasy Out There

Currently feeling bad for the people who call their reading life satisfactory while missing out on the masterpiece that is this book Where do I even begin? Although I'm usually a characters>plot kind of person, I'll start with the plot and get to fangirling about these awesome characters - which I call "my precious lil pancakes" on a daily basis - later! Maggie is proposing such a fresh idea for YA fantasy - and all fantasy, to be honest - with this book! Ley lines, fluid sense of time and, perhaps most importantly, psychic abilities presented in a way other than those dumb TV commercials. The relationship of the protagonists with the supernatural is constructed in a way that doesn't make it far-fetched or crazy and don't expect anything at all stereotypical and cliché because of the rather unfair synopsis of this book. The fantasy setting is so innovative and unlike anything else of its kind. The world building isn't trying too hard to convince you that it "makes sense". Instead, it's surreal in such a simple, innocent way that it allows you to let loose. You don't have to keep count of the structure being explained, you can only focus on being so beautifully absorbed by the magical aesthetic and development of the plot. In that way the fantasy world isn't absent-minded and doesn't have plot holes and, at the same time, it lacks the pretentious, constant 'explaining' that makes other books of this genre feel tiring (at least for me). It's developed richly but remains super cool. Apart from the originality of the theme - I don't know if I made it clear by now but it's the most original YA I've ever read - the plot itself has continuous twists and revelations that just left my mouth hanging open. (*sighs*) So. freaking. good... Now, I'm gonna get to MY CHILDREN, aka the loveliest characters ever. They're not my favorite fictional squad because they are flawless. Not at all. Actually, most - if not all - of them can really get on your nerves at times. But a)they go through immense development (but that's something to go over on my reviews for the rest of the series) and b)they're so ... how do I say it... characteristical? I mean, they have those signature treats, they're so themselves and themselves only. Even though they're such a close squad and they get even closer as the books go on, they don't "mix up". They act as only they'd act and that proves how greatly Maggie Stiefvater fleshed them out! Don't even get me started on the friendships between them. They're so cute but feel super realistic and have such cool, heartwarming moments as a whole group but also as duets. Everyone has a super special relationship with everyone and they just make me so happy! Obviously, though, their bonds develop more in the next three books and my comments can't help but be influenced by the fact that I'm reviewing the books after having completed the whole series and seeing the overall course of everything. The plot, too, makes itself more clear in the next book and - especially in the first 80 pages or so - things are a bit chaotic and I get why a lot of people have trouble connecting to the story. I beg you, though, even if it seems weird at first, please stick to it and go on to the next books. As soon as you start the second installment of the series you'll realise how special it is and how much perfection you would've missed out on if you had DNFed it.

0



Perfection

This book was just an unbelievable MASTERPIECE! Where do I even begin? The genius plot? It's one of those "one in a million" stories that just leave you wondering: ''how the hell did they come up with that"? I mean, everyone knows Pratchett and Gaiman are two of the most imaginative authors of all time and their collaboration was just the best thing ever! Good Omens was just so special and innovative. The end of the world; such classic thing, used so many times, but never like this! Such a fresh, cool idea! Every single sentence was a work of art, following its previous in an absorbing sequence of sheer writing excellence. Two incredible authors proving their talent and neverending inspiration line by line! Don't you even get me started on the humour! So, so brilliant. No more cliche, slapstick, gigglish jokes. Actual. Smart. Humour. That's what the world needs. This is what this book is all about. Quality humour. No mediocrities. And somehow, as if the smart satire, the never-seen-before plot and the classy lines weren't enough, Pratchett and Gaiman managed to enrich the story with very well fleshed-out characters - absolute cutie pies, if you'll allow me - and important messages about humanity and the need to give an end to war and pollution. Just unbelievable!

0

Λεωφορείο 9 για τον παράδεισο



Σου ζεσταίνει την καρδούλα

Μέχρι στιγμής όσον αφορά τα βιβλία αυτοβοήθειας ο Μπουσκάλια είναι ο μόνος που εμπιστεύομαι. Οι περισσότεροι συγγραφείς του είδους λένε γενικότητες του τύπου "αν θες να είσαι ευτυχισμένος, απλά κάνε ευτυχισμένες σκέψεις'' και άλλα πράγματα που δεν λαμβάνουν υπόψη τις ιδιαιτερότητες και την ευαισθησία της ανθρώπινης ψυχοσύνθεσης. Ο Μπουσκάλια δεν είχε καμία σχέση με αυτούς. Ήταν ένα "γλυκουλίνι", αν μου επιτρέπετε την ανύπαρκτη αυτή λέξη, με απόλυτη κατανόηση της ανθρώπινης ψυχής και ρεαλιστική αλλά ευαίσθητη ταυτόχρονα οπτική του κόσμου. Καταφέρνει να είναι ενθαρρυντικός χωρίς να δίνει ψεύτικες ελπίδες ή να υπερβάλει. Οι ιστορίες που διηγείται και τα παραδείγματα που φέρει δείχνουν τον ανθρώπινο τρόπο με τον οποίο αντιμετώπιζε τους γύρω του και σου ζεσταίνουν την καρδούλα. Ένα απίστευτα γλυκό βιβλίο για να σας φτιάξει την διάθεση!

0

All the Light We Cannot See



Still Sobbing

Can't even begin to explain how absolutely well-written this story was! Moving and emotional when it had to, with gorgeous, lyrical writing and heartbreaking images that make you cry but also raw and tough when it needs to point out the insanity of war. Sweet and sensitive personal stories of lovely characters that had to go through hell. And the important part is that those things that we view as literature were happening. People had to go through them and some are still alive to tell the shocking stories. A magically-written outcry against war. I feel like this is one of those books that everyone needs to read to become just a little bit more human. So, so beautiful. I really have no words!

0

Martian Chronicles



Eerie and Lovely

It's so weird; I absolutely loved this but can't exactly tell what it was I loved! It was so eerie... I guess that's exactly the point, though! A few months ago I read "Fahrenheit 451" and loved the concept and world-building but found the writing to be very slow and quite boring. Therefore, when I ran into this in my local library I was quite sceptical. And since sci-fi isn't my usual genre - although I do really enjoy it whenever I read it - I wasn't sure I should risk reading this book. I'm so glad I did, though! This was so unexpectedly awesome! Like, where had it been all this time? I mean, it was SO weird and just unusual that it automatically clicked. The writing was unexpectedly lyrical, the atmosphere was very unsettling and spooky in a very sophisticated, I would call it, way and the plot was just ... unbelievable! Each human trip to Mars went terribly wrong in a very peculiar way, so it was FULL of plot-twists, but each plot-twist was different from the others! It was just surprise, surprise, surprise every other page. Like, Bradbury. can you show some mercy to my sensitive soul, please? I almost had a heart attack - or 26 - with all the revolutionary plot twists. I just couldn't take it! So innovative and brilliant! Every rule you thought time or space, or logic for that matter, had to obey... yeah, they don't exist here. And, just like that, here you go, a full book that is just completely over human perception and capability. It's, sincerely, a whole new world! Now, apart from all the above, can I just talk about the completely honest depiction of human brutality and the underlining environmental message of this book? We, Earth men, have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things." HOW. TRUE. AND. WORRYING. IS. THAT? Although the book uses some doses of humour, the outcry against imperialism and human greed is clear and hella important! Bradbury shows how mankind always wants to own more and more and more and destroys whoever looks or thinks differently! How we distance ourselves from art and how that makes us even more terrifying beasts, how we misinterpret faith and religion and use it to justify our prejudice! So many important messages. And the most amazing, as I see it, is that a book written in the 1950s is even more relevant today, with all the messages about the importance of living in peace with nature, while we're facing the climate emergency. Especially this next part, about how people change nature to fit their wishes really got to me: “Ask me, then, if I believe in the spirit of the things as they were used, and I'll say yes. They're all here. All the things which had uses. All the mountains which had names. And we'll never be able to use them without feeling uncomfortable. And somehow the mountains will never sound right to us; we'll give them new names, but the old names are there, somewhere in time, and the mountains were shaped and seen under those names. The names we'll give to the canals and mountains and cities will fall like so much water on the back of a mallard. No matter how we touch Mars, we'll never touch it. And then we'll get mad at it, and you know what we'll do? We'll rip it up, rip the skin off, and change it to fit ourselves.” Such a masterpiece! It left me astonished! I recommend this to everyone, no matter how much out of your comfort zone it seems!

0

I'll Give You the Sun



Ray of Sunshine

How do I even begin to express how much this book enchanted me? I could say that this book now owns a special space in my heart but I think it'd be closer to reality if I said that it just stole my heart and is keeping it prisoner between its pages and is probably never letting it go because ... I freaking adored it so damn much!! Ok, so, it's been a while since a book spoke to my feelings the way ''I'll Give You the Sun" did. The characters were all so well fleshed-out; they were imperfect, carried away by passion and made some serious mistakes during the whole book but their development was so gorgeous that they were just so relatable and lovable, each in their own way. It's one of those special times when you wish a fictional character was a real, breathing person. CJ was so fun and I just wanted to give Noah a hug and Guillermo is just so teacher goals and, yas, I totally have a crush on Oscar now. The ships in this book are all so freaking cute and adorable and the relationships - whether romantic, platonic, between parents & children or between the two siblings - were so beautifully examined. Also, I have to say that I think this book had just the perfect represantation of jealousy and loss and treated those subjects with much sensitivity. The writing was so sentimental and the stunning quotes brought tears to my eyes. Will never forget how special this book is and probably will reread it many times in the future!

0

Sky Is Everywhere



Disappointed

SOMEONE NEEDS TO EXORCISE FREUD OUT OF THIS BOOK Wait, I had a point. And I promised myself I wouldn't let my feelings rule and review this like a civilized human being instead. Ok *deep breath*, let's do this! Earlier this year I read "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson and fell absolutely in love with it; it made me cry, it made me smile and it easily earned a spot in my favorite books of all time. Therefore, when I saw this, I immediately picked it up, prepared to really like it. I had been told that it might disappoint me, but I was not prepared for this I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take how this and IGYTS were written by the same person Ok, I am being super dramatic BUT ... lemme rant here for a little bit! First of all, I was gonna give this book 10/10 stars for the gorgeous writing when it came to the parts where grief was discussed. I thought it was a great represantation of loss, focusing on the actual little things that feel devastating and not the overused cliche lines about broken hearts! The quotes were beautiful, they made me cry, they made me emotional, loved, loved, loved that part. But then, the romance of this book happened! Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm saying there should've been zero romance in this book. I get it. And the Joe part was an okey dokey, fluffy, nice, lil romance. No hard feelings there. But what the actual hell with the Toby part, the protagonist's horrible decisions and her impossible sexual frustration? At first, I was like "ok, I can be understanding here but then the situation was getting so ridiculous, it could've only made sense to Freud. The protagonist went from being emotionally confused to just making dumb decisions that just can't be justified. And that's what I meant when I said that someone needs to exorcise Freud out of this book!

0



Disappointing

Currently drowing in a pool of disappointment cause I wanted this book to do me good but it just didn't. Even reread it to see if I had missed something or if my conclusions were hasty. But it just couldn't do me good. I thought: "maybe I'm just overthinking it" but the truth is I let myself free from the need to find the extraordinary rep or something, but, still, it wasn't me, but my face muscles automatically reacting to what I was reading letting me know some parts of it I sincerely found to be problematic. For starters, I did apreciate how the way struggle with problematic family environments was handled, with Eleanor's alcoholic stepfather and her struggle between calling for help out of his abusive behaviour and keeping her family in a home, even if that's not a safe one and Park's parents representing a more typical kind of household. Therefore some parts of the book were a realistic depiction of a teenager's struggles. However, my main problem was the romance. The way these two started to get together seemed childish and random to me, to be honest. I couldn't find it cute, I just thought how weird it was that Park was first having quite insulting thoughts about Eleanor and thinking allowing her to sit next to him on the bus was charity work or something. And what with Eleanor constantly calling him''weird Asian kid'' as if 'Asian' was a character trait? Ugh, the whole thing just felt quite immature to me. I understood how making things between them awkward was supposed to make them look more realistic, but, honestly, some of it felt a bit cringy. Such mixed feelings about this story :(

0

Οι αόρατες πόλεις



Δύσκολο, αλλά αξίζει

Πραγματικά με εξέπληξε. Δεν γνώριζα τίποτα για το περιεχόμενο και τη δομή του πριν το διαβάσω, αλλά και το να γνώριζα δεν θα με βοηθούσε σε κάτι, αφού δεν μπορώ να το εντάξω σε κάποια κατηγορία και δεν μοιάζει με οτιδήποτε άλλο έχω διαβάσει. Αν περιμένετε ένα βιβλίο με πλοκή που μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε... δεν είναι τέτοιου είδους βιβλίο. Οι πόλεις που περιγράφονται αποτελούν αφορμή για τον συγγραφέα να μιλήσει φιλοσοφικά μέσα από συμβολισμούς της δομής, της ιστορίας ή του σκοπού κάθε πόλης. Και αυτό το έκανε με πανέμορφο, ποιητικό τρόπο!

0



Buscaglia deserves HUGS

If you're anything like me, you strongly dislike self-help books with generic, senseless advice like "if you want to be a positive person, make positive thoughts'' that suggest rich-people solutions to your phychological dead-ends, like "take a trip to Bali to find yourself and release your inner strenght by lighting up overpriced candles''. This isn't that kind of book. This is a collection of lectures that you''ll wish you could've attended. These are the thoughts of the most adorable man whom we can't hug, whose cheeks we're unfortunately not able to squeeze. This is the book to read when you're feeling a bit lost. Buscaglia doesn't stick to strict vocabulary or theories that require a diploma for you to understand. He's real and simple, the two things modern-day self-help books lack in. Highly recommend that you read anything this ray of sunshine has written!

0



Pleasant cuteness

Now that's a book I didn't expect to enjoy as much I did! At first I thought it was gonna be one of those super cheesy romances that lack any sense, but turns out this was very cute and just innocent. Of course it doesn't have a mindblowing plot or the most exceptional writing, but it has that nice simplicity and the kind of human relationships you do see out in the real world - except for the love triangles and the fake dating thing. But it was just a book of first world problems that first world people can find relatable and it's how usual people really speak and get mad at each other for no obvious reasons. It seemed like a realistic group of personalities whose lives you could easily follow and have a realistic insight on. What I did find a bit annoying was how Lara Jean's family seemed so privileged and never had to think about money. All these costly situations and things were mentioned and the protagonists seemed to not think about them at all and were just spending money every other day. All in all, it was a very enjoyable, super cute read and hopefully there won't be any weird unnecessary love triangles in the next two books. Can't wait to go on with the series!

0

Moonrise



Powerful Story

Sarah Crossan did humanity a favour by writing such an important, heartbreaking story! Truly incredible! The writing was, as I expected, beautiful and lyrical and the fact that it was written in verse just made it even more unique and perfect. Most of all I loved the way the situation wasn't presented in an overly emotional way. It was so purely realistic. It didn't have those 20-page-long descriptions of what happened and how everyone reacted to it. It consisted of right-to-the-point dialogues and quotes and it didn't left you time to sob with fancy words. It was exactly how it should be. Things were happening fast, like all tragic things always happen fast, and people don't react to them with long, grand thoughts and poetical words. They just instictively react to the shock and live with it for the rest of their life. That's how things go with life and that's how they went in this gorgeous book, as well. That doesn't make the book any less powerful, if anything, it just hits you harder. Most importantly, this book carried out the sacred mission to speak up against goddamn death penalty and the unhumane character of the justice system. The Western world can't claim to be civilized when it condemns people to death. And, yes, that goes out to you, 30 of the American States that still keep the death penalty. How are we supposed to go on fighting for human rights when in some places, people are legally murdered to point out that it's illegal to murder people? There's something called life sentence going on in the world for horrible criminals and that can be used instead of killing people, you know. Just think that in a world where we're talking about how immoral it is to fry chickens, some still think it's ok to fry people on the electric chair. I think this book did a terrific job in pointing out how insane death penalty is in the raw way needed and I feel like it's a worthy decendent to Stephen King's 'Green Mile' and I would recommend both these books to anyone interested in outcries against death penalty. Also, apart from death penalty, another extremely important issue adressed in this book is the irresponsible and superficial way police and courts work in some cases, with even police violence being mentioned. It's easy to point out the ''usual suspect'' with no actual investigation just to 'close the case' but it certaintly doesn't serve the justice and safety these sectors are asked to preserve.

0



Ordinary YA dystopian

Considering that the first genre I ever called my favorite was YA dystopian I was super surprised that this book didn't blow my mind away at all. Had a mini bookish identity crisis and considered rereading all my favorite dystopian series from my early teen years but then I just chilled and realized my surprising reaction to the book probably came from the fact that a) I hadn't read YA dystopian in about 2 years and, most importantly, b) I've been getting more demanding when it comes to the writing of the books I read and this book's writing just wasn't anything remarkable. Yes, the writing was pretty much ... just... how do I say this... very plain. Like, it wasn't memorable or special or anything, it was just a story being narrated. Onto the characters, typical YA dystopian book characters; the unlikeable female protagonist that makes the bad decisions and the love intererest being the unbelievably sweet/my-heart-is-melting-on-the-floor kinda guy. And the love triangle; it just isn't a good old YA dystopian without the love traingle between the guy she knew before the plot of the book begins and the guy she met during her life-changing adventure. My oh my... Just kidding, though, still found it an enjoyable quick read, altough the plot wasn't the best I've ever found in a dystopian. Will get to the rest of the series.

0



Worth The Hype

Celeste Ng managed to speak out about such important behaviours that we all express or experience on a daily basis through such a perplex story. So well constructed and detailed, the plot follows this tragic line of misunderstandings -and there's a lot of lovely foreshadowings, too, which I just adored, I'm such a loser for foreshadowings - so it can all lead to that EPIC ending. The tension builds up throughout the entire book with constant revelations, but I think it's all just to emphasize on the hella important message of this story, which is what I'd like to talk about. This book is literally so enlighting. It makes you reflect on your life, choices and manners. But most importantly it makes you question your perception of "normal". What is considered normal? It's such a subjective thing, really, but everyone seems to be so absolute on their definition of it. Why are we so clear on what we categorize as 'normal'? Who can say what is the regular thing to do? It's obviously our life style that shapes our view of everything. But, why did we choose that lifestyle -if we\ were actually the ones that chose it? What gives us the impression that our lifestyle is the right one while everyone else's lifestyle is just a series of wrong choices? Who are we to judge? Why did we all grow up thinking right, wrong, fair, unfair, moral and immoral are and should be such specific, absolute things? This story is the good shake we all need to snap out of our idea of "normality" and realize that everyone is entitled to make choices depending on different priorities that they make for themselves. Such a powerful story!

0



Gotta break up with the book itself

Does it absolutely break my heart into a million pieces that the first book I read of Daniel Handler as Daniel Handler, whom I had just adored as Lemony Snicket with A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions, didn't manage to get a place in my heart and probably won't keep its place in my bookself for much longer either? Yes... yes... yes... Does it tear me apart that I re-read this book 3 years after I first read it, hoping to see something now that I couldn't appreciate then, when the only thing I actually managed was to be left just as - if not even more - agigated and disappointed by the story as the first time? Oh, good God, yes. Where do I even begin explainig why I just couldn't do with this story and characters? Well, ok, ok, I know; I just found this very unrealistic and just problematic, to be honest. Yeah, that sounds like a good start. Just to be clear, a senseless, naive, superficial jerk like Ed just would never feel attracted to someone like Mia. And even if he found her amusing at first, he wouldn't be able to stand her for more than a couple of days. He wouldn't find her movie references smart. He would just find them weird and unattractive since he couldn't get them. Even if he got out with her once, he would've ditched her within a week. Same goes for Mia. She wouldn't even take a second look at him. Since she is so cultured and alternative and indie and all, she wouldn't care about him being handsome, she would've seen how low his quality was and would just detest how shallow and simple he was. And now to Mia herself. Oh my God, can I just crown her Queen of unlikeable characters? She was just like all of those drama queens that call themselves artsy and "well they just understand life better than other people, they're like so sophisticated". Girl, that is not sophisticated. That is so damn basic and just show-off, my eyes have rolled like 3 times inside my head. There are few things I'm absolute about, and those are that if Mia was all sophisticated, she would've seen how shallow Ed was and wouldn't just ditch her friends over him. Now, on Ed and Mia as a couple; just what? why? and mostly, how? How? It's so unrealistic. Those two people would never get along in real life. It's not one of those ''opposites attract" kind of situations, we're not talking about just different interests and hobbies, we're talking two different life philosophies and worlds. I don't believe Mia was going all crazy over this guy, thinking she loved him. They weren't even communicating or comprehending each other whatsoever. They couldn't get each other, they didn't understand one another, they didn't even actually know each other. And in the end, what a surprise (view spoiler). I can't, my blood is boiling in my head right now, remebering how senseless these characters and their "relationship" was. The only thing that I liked was the writing. I can't say something bad about it. It was very beautiful but not even those nice long-period sentences could save such a story. *sobs, sobs, sobs*

0



Great concept, mediocre execution

I have to clear out that this book didn't absolutely blow my mind like I thought it would or like it did for so many other people. Good writing and smart plot. I very much needed to read something like this, considering I hadn't read this kind of fantasy in a while when I picked this book up, but, even though I found the concept super interesting, I thought it was a bit slow and hard to focus on from time to time. However, since this universe and concept managed to capture me, I'd gladly pick up the sequel and anything else this author publishes in the future.

0

The Picture of Dorian Gray



Best book in literature history?

"The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame." This book in a sentence - and, yes, a sentence coming from the book itself! If for some dystopian reason the world had to only keep the works of one author and there was an open election on it, I'd have to say: Oscar Wilde... Oscar Wilde is the man with whom we all have to walk through life and take lessons from! Everything about this book just screams perfection. It's the definition of world-changing literature and I think we should all take a minute every day to express gratitude that this book exists. Where do I even begin? Writing: So on point. Oscar Wilde's writing is probably one of the most special and memorable ones in classic literature. His smart character, his innovative way of thinking, his unbelievably genius way of expressing irony towards society's dull prudishness and wannabe "manners"; it almosts feels as if someone time-travelled from the present to the 19th century to point out the problematic parts of life in that period. The man was an absolute brilliance and he didn't deserve to be treated the way he was (*ugh*). But, back to the writing; it was just so absorbing. I wanted to dive in those words and never come out. So true and honest. The ugly, harsh reality of the world and life preached by the guy who had the guts to speak out about it in the most beautiful way possible. Pretty much half of the book was gorgeous, philosophical, wise quotes, you know, the kind you wanna put up on your wall. Some of my favorites: "I have grown to love secrecy. It seems to be the one thing that can make modern life mysterious or marvelous to us. The commonest thing is delightful if only one hides it." "Some things are more precious because they don’t last long." "Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing." "Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them." And that was only a tiny fragment of the quotes I loved! Now, to the plot of the book: it's peculiar how a representative of the movement of aestheticism - an art movement that emphasizes on the aesthetic pleasure that art should provoke and not on the deeper meaning of the content - wrote a story that focuses so much on subjects of morality and leaves the reader's mind so troubled with thoughts. Obviously the book doesn't lack aestheticism; not at all. If anything, even the content of the plot, the importance given to beauty and pleasure instead of morality is the essence of aestheticism. The story has the readers wondering if they'd do the same if they were in Dorian's place, has them reflect on the importance they give to youth and appereance instead of inner beauty and just completely messes up their idea of morality. Honestly, I think it''l be hard for a book to amaze me with its balancing of gorgeous writing and genius plot and moral in the way 'The Portrait of Dorian Grey' did! Absolutely brilliant!

0



Beautiful Classic Alert

You gotta appreciate how ahead of her time this woman was, writing this in the early 19th century at the age of 18! I have endless respect for her and was very amazed by this, even though it's far different from what I normally read! Great philosophical thoughts on humanity and how monstrous it can get. One of the classics I highly recommend!

0



Such a fun time

For starters: I most certainly realise that this book isn't Leigh Bardugo's best work both writing and world-building wise. She has come a long way since this book, especially if you compare it to *heart eyes* the SoC trilogy, which is a YA fantasy masterpiece! However that didn't at all stop me from enjoying this book a whole lot! The world-building wasn't as beautifully developed and fleshed-out as in SoC but it was very interesting, special and absorbing. The characters were really interesting and the protagonist, Alina, went through quite a transformation throughout the book - still not my BFF, though. Mal was my fav, my cutie pie, my fictional crush and I don't get why you're all falling for the Darkling! Whatever happened to appreciation for cinnamon rolls? Do men need a snobish look, self-conceited manners and a very, very dark agenda to make it to y'all hearts, nowadays? Jk, I get it, I almost fell for it, too, but; Mal. Is. The. One! I'll agree with some readers on their point that there were quite a few cheesy scenes but they didn't annoy me, actually. It's not like the book was taking itself too seriously or anything, so they didn't surprise me. As for the plot, I have nothing negative to point out; it was just great. I'm definitely looking forward to getting to the other two book of the series, and if they got darker, I'd really love it!

0

Crooked Kingdom



It just keeps getting better

This isn't a review. This is me screaming and fangirling super hard over how much I adored this book!!!!!! Ok, so, Six of Crows was great, but Crooked Kingdom was OMG, SO SO SO GOOD! It's a new all time favorite for me, it managed to earn a very special place in my heart and I love this story and these characters so much! Very heartwarming things happened, a super sad thing happened but it was incredibly beautiful! The plot was so smart and the dynamics in the relationships between the characters were everything. IT'S JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL STORY AND THESE CHARACTERS ARE MY BABIES AND OMG I CAN'T EVEN PUT IT INTO WORDS, I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

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Six of Crows



Oh my God, this book!

A real page-turner, truly captivating. Fast-paced plot and action perfectly combined with a detailed world building. The diversity of the characters and the complexity of the relationships between them is on another level! Generally, I just loved how all the characters are corrupted and morally questionable, each imperfect in their own way. The author did a great job with the realistic descriptions of places and depictions of emotions - it was really enchanting. The smart dialogues and deep quotes make it even better!

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The Inexplicable Logic of My Life



Realistic Emotions

Well, first of all, what I really loved was how this book was focused on family and friends and not romantic relationships. While reading I was afraid maybe the author would cross the line and make the friendships in this book turn into relationships, but, thankfully, I was proved wrong. And that's a message for all YA authors out there; a male character and a female character that are best friends don't have to turn into a couple!! As for the writing, it was the perfect combination between lyrically gorgeous quotes and the realistic depiction of young-people slang. That is why I wasn't frustrated by Sam and Sal's text messages, since they were normal fragments of a story following their day to day life. They weren't taking up a big part of the book and it was clear that they were realistically showing how teenagers keep their messages short via texting. It was clear through Sal's 1st person story that the poetic writing was Sal's way of thinking and saying things and I didn't think it contradicted the way he spoke through texting, since teenagers do write both casually via text and lyrically when expressing themselves. Also, I found the characters to be very well fleshed-out and realistic. Especially, Sal, whose "life-crisis'' was very relatable. A teenager who suddenly questions themselves and their path and aren't certain whether the personality they have formed and put out in the world is 100% themselves truly feels relatable. As for some things a lot of people found problematic about this book: I did read a lot of reviews that put me into deep thinking. As I see it most of those problematic aspects circle around Sam's character. The fact that a character in a book can have problematic/toxic ''opinions'' doesn't mean that those statements express the author themselves or that we should blame the author. I believe that it is possible to spot when the author himself is expressing his toxic opinions through his characters and when the characters are just, you know, bad people. In this case, I think the problem was Sam herself, who I think of as an unlikeable, anti-feminist, toxic character that I could've never got along with in real life. However, if anything that is realistic and writing unlikeable characters isn't a thing to avoid as long as said character isn't used to support the author's toxic opinions, something that I don't think happened here. That is why I didn't find the book problematic.

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Ζιάκ η έκλειψη



Ανεκμετάλλευτες δυνατότητες

Η υπόθεση είχε μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον και το γράψιμο ήταν πανέμορφο, με μαγευτικές ατάκες, όμως χωρούσε ΠΟΛΛΉ περισσότερη ανάπτυξη και νομίζω ότι αν ο συγγραφέας είχε εμβαθύνει και το βιβλίο είχε μεγαλύτερη έκταση, θα ήταν ακόμα καλύτερο. Το θέμα είχε μεγάλες προοπτικές, ειδικά με τόσο ωραίο γράψιμο, αλλά, δυστυχώς, δεν το αξιοποίησε όσο έπρεπε. Παρόλα αυτά θα το πρότεινα σίγουρα.

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Μέρες Β' 1931-1934



Μέρες Β'

Διαφωτιστική ματιά στην ψυχοσύνθεση του μεγάλου ποιητή με την απέραντη μελαγχολία και διάθεση για θλιβερούς συλλογισμούς, τους οποίους παραθέτει, σαφώς, με ιδιαίτερα λυρικό τρόπο, σε σημείο που νιώθω ένοχη να απολαμβάνω και να βρίσκω τόσο όμορφες τέτοιες εικόνες και σκέψεις απόλυτης δυστυχίας.

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Μέρες Δ'

Ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία για την περίοδο του Β' Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου και τη διπλωματία μέσα από τα μάτια μιας μεγάλης προσωπικότητας.

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Μέρες Α'



Μέρες Α'

Τι μπορώ να πω; Μελαγχολία αλλά και έμπνευση, ματαιότητα αλλά και ενθάρρυνση μέσα από ένα πλήθος "βαρειών" συναισθηματικών καταστάσεων με τις οποίες ο καθένας μπορεί τραγικά να συσχετιστεί. Σοφά αποφθέγματα!

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Οι επισκέπτες



Ο φεμινισμός στα καλύτερά του

Δεν περίμενα να μου αρέσει αυτό το βιβλίο τόσο πολύ, αλλά κατέληξα να το εκτιμώ πραγματικά. "Φρέσκιες" ιδέες, με υπέροχη χρήση της ειρωνείας, διασκεδαστικό, αλλά ταυτόχρονα με τον αναγκαίο σεβασμό και σοβαρότητα απέναντι στα σημαντικά θέματα που πραγματεύεται. Μία εξύμνηση του φεμινισμού, μία κατακραυγή απέναντι στα τοξικά, σεξιστικά στερεότυπα, γεμάτο κατανόηση για τα νιάτα και πιστό στον τρόπο έκφρασής τους. Με πλημμύρισε με ευγνωμοσύνη και θαυμασμό για όλες τις προσωπικότητες πριν από μας που χρειάστηκε να υποστούν την τραγωδία, τον πόνο, την στέρηση των επιθυμιών και των ονείρων τους, για να έχουμε σήμερα τα δικαιώματα μας, ενώ λειτούργησε παράλληλα ως υπενθύμιση να τα εκτιμάμε και να πολεμούμε για αυτά. Η Διδώ Σωτηρίου ήταν πραγματικά αξιοθαύμαστη, το ίδιο και η Ελισάβετ Μουτζάν-Μαρτινέγκου, κομμάτια της βιογραφίας της οποίας συμπεριλαμβάνονται στην ιστορία. Πρέπει να το διαβάσετε!

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Το τρίτο στεφάνι



Μία αναζωογονητική εμπειρία ανάγνωσης

Δεν περίμενα να το λατρέψω τόσο πολύ! Απίστευτα ειλικρινές και τολμηρά ρεαλιστικό. Με γλώσσα απόλυτα πιστή στην ομιλία των καθημερινών απλών ανθρώπων, από την οποία, όμως, δεν λείπουν οι ρεαλιστικές, πανέμορφα γραμμένες συνειδητοποιήσεις που δίνουν πραγματικά την εντύπωση ότι ακολουθείς τις πρωταγωνίστριες στην διάρκεια της ζωής τους. Πραγματικά υπέροχο!

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