I should read another book by Sayaka Matura before I consider including her on my list of favorite Japanese writers, along with Haruki Murakami and BaI should read another book by Sayaka Matura before I consider including her on my list of favorite Japanese writers, along with Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto....more
It´s the author´s memoirs, but not like a typical coming-of-age story. Rather, she recounted how she tried to deal with and understand the death of heIt´s the author´s memoirs, but not like a typical coming-of-age story. Rather, she recounted how she tried to deal with and understand the death of her husband, also a known writer, by reading up on some medical journals and literature. So, be warned if you´re still grief-stricken like me. It might also make you mourn, cry, and regret.
Further effort at it is that you should look up and try to grasp the medical and pathological terms she perused herself, which reminded me of my father....more
The story is like a soliloquy, but open to interpretation.For ex.,if you´re a god-believer, you may associate it with divine providence or with scientThe story is like a soliloquy, but open to interpretation.For ex.,if you´re a god-believer, you may associate it with divine providence or with scientific phenomena if you´re a skeptic.
The first half becomes philosophically irksome, but the beautiful prose dampens that feeling. In the second half, it starts to slowly seep into your consciousness like it becomes surreal and invoke existential realization. In the end, in my case, I sat in stunned silence with rationalist sensibilities....more
A book that intends to clarify the real concept of settler colonialism in the context of Palestine-Israel conflict. It´s a bit challenging though sincA book that intends to clarify the real concept of settler colonialism in the context of Palestine-Israel conflict. It´s a bit challenging though since some of the points are esoteric and above my head as though I was engaging in deeper philosophical discourse. Besides, it´s more of American contextualization.
What the author disregards given that he tries to sound impartial here is to put the conflict in the context of geopolitical dynamics. I flinch at authors who try to be subtle. ...more
It´s entertaining esp if you´re familiar with Korean´s brand of humor.
It´s supposed to tell a DEEPER story of a gay man living in Seoul, being poz, inIt´s entertaining esp if you´re familiar with Korean´s brand of humor.
It´s supposed to tell a DEEPER story of a gay man living in Seoul, being poz, in complicated relationships, a son of a religious mom, and an aspiring writer.The best parts are his struggles with his cancer-stricken mom and activist boyfriend. However, the lightness of the writing style, to some extent, didn't do justice to it. Did the author target it at his young readers?
I believe its original translation is way better....more
I don´t mind belabouring the point that this deserves to be on the shortlist and be pitted against the possible winne2024 The Booker Prize Longlisted
I don´t mind belabouring the point that this deserves to be on the shortlist and be pitted against the possible winner of the Booker Prize. Claire Messud is a writer of genius! Beautiful writing styles. Consistent story flow. Ingenious parallel narratives, infused with geographical settings, history, and vernacular words and architecture, which I looked up with gusto, which may be the reasons why it becomes a slog for some. Marvelous! Marvelous! Marvelous!...more
Whoa! It took a whole lot of effort to finish this. Too ambiguous and cryptic to digest. Bursting with archaic words. Hard to relate to the referencesWhoa! It took a whole lot of effort to finish this. Too ambiguous and cryptic to digest. Bursting with archaic words. Hard to relate to the references to the events and people without its explanatory notes. At the same time, too much internal allusion as the common literary device obfuscates the satirical flow of the story since I'm kinda no longer big on this. Full of beautiful passages thou, that I chanted again and again like pondering thoughts, evident enough to concur with his cult, that, indeed, he should be put on a literary pedestal.
Now me thinking if I still want to try another Herman Melville book in particular re-reading his Mobdy-Dick. Kinda traumatized by this second attempt. haha Maybe I will since now I know that that Big Whal , perhaps a phallic symbol, has something to do with his darkest secret. Haha...more
Among the 2024 Booker Prize Longlisted novels I´ve read so far,this is the best for me.There´s calmly engaging int2024 The Booker Prize Longlisted # 4
Among the 2024 Booker Prize Longlisted novels I´ve read so far,this is the best for me.There´s calmly engaging interplay between the protagonist and me like sailing up a serene river, but deep inside, it´s melancholic, filled with longing, regret and doubt.Thus,the experience wasn´t tedious but contemplative and introspective.
I wanna give it 4 stars ; it speaks from different political perspectives.However, I love novels that love to talk about literature, the reason why I enjoyed it a whole lot....more
Jeez! It kinda gives me schadenfreude. It exposes the hypocrisy of the Philippine Catholic Church concerning sex ,money, and good governance. It also Jeez! It kinda gives me schadenfreude. It exposes the hypocrisy of the Philippine Catholic Church concerning sex ,money, and good governance. It also discusses how it becomes a player in politics.
It is easy to read. Aries Rufo elaborated on the jargon in layman´s terms since he was an investigative journalist by trade.The only challenge is Googling the prelates you might no longer be familiar with, and you´ll be disappointed in them,I guess....more
Poem lovers may put this on the pedestal, but it isn´t for me. It´s very much of a hotchpotch: abstract , abstruse, am2024 Booker Prize Longlisted # 3
Poem lovers may put this on the pedestal, but it isn´t for me. It´s very much of a hotchpotch: abstract , abstruse, ambiguous like there´s no clear plot and characterization.The narrator jumps from one different story to another in different times with a lyrical, poetic, and scientific language, given that such beautiful prose always captivates me. So, I twirled around and around like a ...more
A reference for those who want to be educated about the living conditions in North Korea since there are unfavourable narratives about the family of KA reference for those who want to be educated about the living conditions in North Korea since there are unfavourable narratives about the family of Kim Jong-un being spoon-fed by the media.
The author might be found a bit off-putting because he discusses his points repeatedly. Also, this should be read with caution. Some information the author provided is highly unreliable and patchy at best since NK has been an impenetrable pariah. I guess you need another book more objective than this....more
You can still feel the adventurous atmosphere of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, so I find it thrilling, not that" fer2024 Booker Prize Longlisted #2
You can still feel the adventurous atmosphere of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, so I find it thrilling, not that" ferociously funny" as the blurb describes it. Rather, the highlight for me is the tone: serious, soulful, and harrowing since it deals with atrocious slavery. Some dialogues are philosophical, but it´s easy to read and you can finish it in a day. ...more
It deals with girl boxers. I thought I wouldn't like it; the writing style is at best unconventional. However, the psyc2024 Booker Prize Longlisted #1
It deals with girl boxers. I thought I wouldn't like it; the writing style is at best unconventional. However, the psychological internal conflicts that occur within the characters make it fiercer and more vibrant.Perhaps, it´s Bulwinkel´s intention to overplay the driving force behind the pugilistic behaviors in a ring. So, instead of flitting around the ring as an onlooker,I stayed with rapt attention until one, swollen, black and blue, was declared the winner....more
A very informative book to uderstand the South China Sea conflict!It can be a good complement to Robert D. Kaplan´s Asia´s Cauldron:The South China SeA very informative book to uderstand the South China Sea conflict!It can be a good complement to Robert D. Kaplan´s Asia´s Cauldron:The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific. Surprisingly glad that most of Hayton´s points are in conjunction with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling since it was published in 2014. He even impartially analyzed the conflict in the context of international relations.I thought he would sell another Western narratives.That´s why this made me angry. ...more
What makes it worth reading?Ashlee Vance is well-versed in a wide range of technology topics.Thus, aside from his family and marriage, it is a blow-byWhat makes it worth reading?Ashlee Vance is well-versed in a wide range of technology topics.Thus, aside from his family and marriage, it is a blow-by-blow account of Elon Musk´s career path for Zip2, X.com,Paypal, Space X,and Tesla. What I like about it more are the footnotes and appendices suggesting that it is a well-searched biography. It may be the reason why Elon Musk didn't talk to Vance for three years because,apparently, he didn't like some of the things he wrote in the book? ...more
Disturbing. It´s all about Korean school bullying and violence. So it reminds me of the term "wang-ta". Enigmatic. Strange climax.Subject to symbolic Disturbing. It´s all about Korean school bullying and violence. So it reminds me of the term "wang-ta". Enigmatic. Strange climax.Subject to symbolic interpretation like bashing your head against a brick wall, just to make it out. It´s even phantasmagorically-tinged like in Kakfa on the Shore by H. Murakami. A tear-jerker.Guilt over friendship and selfishness. These are what make the story so compelling that you would even be pleased with its epilogue....more
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