Tag Archives: book review

Book Review: Norwegian Wood

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Norwegian WoodNorwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One thing I love about this book is how Murakami managed to describe even the most trivial little things and make it very interesting to read. I wish I will be able to do that someday!

Now on to the plot, I don’t think there’s much of plot going on there… Yes, there’s a love story between Toru Watanabe (the main character) and two girls. How did that evolve to a whole book with a whole lot of descriptions on many random things? It’s Murakami’s brilliance. The book would draw you into reading more and more of it. Such a master storyteller.

The story kind of makes me wonder though, is suicide that common in Japan? It seemed that many of this issue showed up in the TV series I watched.

I’m not sure whom I will recommend this book for. If you’re a romance lover, I don’t think this is a typical story, not to mention it’s kind of twisted. It is very interesting to read, though. I haven’t read other Murakami novels (except for the running biography and his short stories collection) so I couldn’t say how this is compared to other novels.

Oh, I think I’m going to pick up more of Murakami in the future. Any recommendations?

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Book Review: Juliet

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JulietJuliet by Anne Fortier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book when I was looking for a good romance book. It tells a new take on Romeo and Juliet, sets in Siena, present time and 14th century time. Perfect.

In general, I like it and I enjoyed reading it. I like how detailed the setting going into 14th century Siena, the characterizations, and how the author played with Romeo and Juliet inspiration. The storytelling and the going back and forth between two stories are done beautifully.

There are some elements I’m not so keen of. Other reviewers mentioned the cheesiness in some parts, and I have to agree with them. Somehow I was hoping with the brilliance the author showed me in describing the settings, she will also gave me unexpected twists in the story. Not true, but it’s okay, I like the book anyways :)

I would recommend this book if you like romance with a little bit of mystery and suspense twists. Big points if you happen to love Italy as well, then this book is a MUST READ for you.



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The Gift

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The Gift by Cecilia Ahern (2009)

When I picked up this book, I was actually hoping for a light chicklit read. I think it does look like it thanks to the book cover, and the author’s previous books I’ve read (P.S. I Love You, Where Rainbows End, Thanks for the Memories) kind of falls into that genre.

I like Cecilia Ahern’s previous books and I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised to what I found reading it. I couldn’t.  The good part is the story was easy to follow and it does flow nicely. The problem is I couldn’t get pass the cliché in the story and most of the characters. To me, it felt too much like I was in a classroom, being taught a lesson of what I should and should not do in life by a teacher who likes to point fingers.

I do like inspirational books and I read quite a few of them. This one just doesn’t deliver it. It’s simply not inspiring to me. I found myself finished the book and thinking… what’s the point? Even if a lesson of finding out what is important in life is what you’re looking for, there are better ones out there. Ones that truly inspires you and touched your soul.

No, I couldn’t get myself to recommend this book. But if you want to read it, by all means read it. And if you like it, please let me know, maybe there was something I missed.

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Veronika Decides to Die

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A book by Paulo Coelho, first published in 1998

Read on: 07 May 2006, just in one seating ;-)

A wonderful book, I can’t put it down, therefore I read it all in one day. The story evolves around Veronika, a young women who decides to die. Not because she has problems, but because her life was just stagnant she found no reason to be alive…

I found it very much eye opening, made me think about my life, and how lucky I am that I actually do have problems in life. That I’m able to laugh with all my heart, and cry with all my heart. That I’m able to experience life ups and downs, forced to fight back, and in the end, when I looked back, I learned that it is actually a process of creating who I am.

Mistakes, sorrow, heart aches, anger, and pain are not there just because it will make victory and happiness much sweeter, but it is also written in the path of life. It is when you embrace both as a part of life’s path, not avoiding one part, or even shutting down your heart to emotions… we will be at peace, knowing that everything happens for a reason, and God never pushed you more than you can bear..

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