Books I read in 2020

Books I want to read in 2021

2021 Reading List

Maria Dellaporta's favorite books »

Spooky Bitches Book Club: The Descent by Jeff Long

The Descent by Jeff Long
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - ebooks // #SpookyBitchesBookClub // Spooky Bitches Live Discussions

The writing itself is very good. The horror/agony scenes are very realistic. Reading the book I realised that all of the languages used to describe 'the others' have been used by colonizers before. They are savages, they have no respect for human life (correction they have no respect for people like us i.e homo sapiens and why should they?) they are literally evil. So we are justified in marching with our armies and killing them while 'exploring' and benefit from the hidden wealth we might discover. And don't tell me that this wouldn't be the case; Americans marched on Iraq for their oil - oops sorry I meant to protect themselves against the non-existent nuclear bombs the Iraqis had. Does that sound familiar? The pilgrims saved native Americans so much that only 5 million of them survive. The British brought civilization to India; the best Briton of all times, Winston Churchill was responsible for more than 2 million deaths by famine. And don't get me started on how King Leopold treated people of Kongo.

The only way colonizers felt empathy for those other than themselves was when the 'others' suffered the trials of Job. Look at Uncle Thomas hut. It's thinly veiled torture porn. So this other species murders our kind at will. Our guns and technology can't help us. Well, they must be fallen angels and evil reincarnate for not wanting us to colonize them and treat them like we have all the 'others' before grudgingly accepting that they are humans too and might deserve human rights. Therefore we will exploit them in different ways, via economic sanctions etc. Oops, we cannot do that because they are a bunch of homicidal maniacs that are going to eat us, literally. Well, good for them. I am rooting for the devil this time.

The scientists above ground are looking for the leader of the Handals - Satan - above the ground. Ok, this story has officially been derailed. I think the whole Satan story arc could have been omitted.



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Spooky Bitches Book Club: Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - ebooks // #Indigathon2020 // #SpookyBitchesBookClub

First of let me start by saying that werewolf lives suck. They are stipped in misery and poverty. The book is very engaging and the language is simple and easy to follow but, oh my God. The story is heartbreaking. The sad and disturbing thing is that if you replace paranormal wolfishness with drug and alcohol addiction, the story wouldn't change much. The family is practically illiterate and destitute. Moves around all the time due to illegal shit they have to pull to survive and there is no end in sight. There is no 'good choice' that the protagonist can make that will change his fate. Their misery is so deep and so complete - we are talking about generation upon generation of semi-existing - that they cannot even fathom a way out. They are unloved and unwanted and thoroughly desperate all the times. I have a suspicion that werewolfism is just a metaphor for being native American and If that is true, holy shit the crimes committed against them by the world are terrible.

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Indigathon 2020

Thanks to videos posted by E, tu Brody and Michele I am participating in Indigathon2020. The books I have read are below:

Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones
First of let me start by saying that werewolf lives suck. They are stipped in misery and poverty. The book is very engaging and the language is simple and easy to follow but, oh my God. The story is heartbreaking. The sad and disturbing thing is that if you replace paranormal wolfishness with drug and alcohol addiction, the story wouldn't change much. The family is practically illiterate and destitude. Moves around all the time due to illegal shit they have to pull to survive and there is no end in sight. There is no 'good choice' that the protagonist can make that will change his fate. Their misery is so deep and so complete - we are talking about generation upon generation of semi-existing - that they cannot even fathom a way out. They are unloved and unwanted and thoroughly desperate all the times. I have a suspicion that werewolfism is just a metaphor for being native American and If that is true, holy shit the crimes commited against them by the world are terrible.

This town sleeps by Dennis E Staples
This is not the best or more memorable book I have read this year. It explores an interesting theme: life in modern Indian reservations. To describe it in one word: depressing. I have read before that alcohol and drug addiction are a major problem in Indigenous communities and that is clearly evident in this book as well. To top it all up the protagonist of the story is gay and rather unfortunate in love. He lives in a small and rather isolated town/village and most of the partners he discovers are surprise, surprice, closeted. All in all I liked it but it wasn't a great book. It could have been but it was not. If I had to recommend a book by an indegenous author, it wouldn't be this one.

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
This book was written by an indigenous writer, just not an American. It is extremely confusing and weird. It feels like the girl/woman life is a dream. There are these spirits who posses her for luck of a better word. They are many and they are hungry. She is trying to have a normal life but they will not let her. This book is difficult to read. Not because of the language but because it depicts the internal life of someone who is insane. The doctors would have a different term it would probably be depressed and suicidal tendencies due to molestation and abuse during childhood but the end is the same.

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Wow just wow. This book was out of this world. It was full of cruelty and hearbreak but at the same time it was a story of resilience and courage. It's a dystopian world where indegenous people are treated like property but this is the 2nd round of terror. What I mean by that is that the atrocities described in the book have already happened once. They are not new. This makes the story even more horifying. Canadians, you suck!  

How I became a ghost by Tim Tingle
How is this a children's book?!? I admit that as a Greek woman I was only vaguely aware of the trail of tears but how is this a children's book. People drop dead right, left and center. Am I the only one who wants bad things to happen to the soldiers? Like awfully bad? Well, I am pretty sure that their grandchildren are the same people who refuse to wear a mask so they are spreading covid19, so not much has changed. *Spoiler* this is a story about a 10 year old who dies literaly and becomes a ghost. I do not know wwhy I thought it was a metaphore; it's right there on the title, but still.

Here is a phrase that struck me: That's when I realized for the first time that the soldiers couldn't hurt me. I was already dead! Maybe being a ghost wasn't so bad after all.

What? WHAT???? He is TEN. Don't get me wrong you absolutely must read this book just be prepared to cry. 

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
This book is marvellous. The characters are well thought out and the story is fast-paced but we still learn a lot about the protagonists. **Spoiler alert: The revenge that Serapio is after is not only well deserved but timely as well.** I liked that there was a bisexual character but I mostly liked the way the author approached the subject. These days it is 'fashionable' to prove how forward-thinking you are by adding an LGTBQ+ character just for the sake of publicity (we are looking at you, JK Rowling). This is not the case here.

The book was written by an indigenous author and is based on native American folklore but I only knew this because I read it in other reviews; otherwise I wouldn't have realised it at all. My only problem is that the bok has just been released and it's a trilogy and I don't know how long I will have to wait for the next instalment (probably a year or so)

Heartbeat braves by Pamela Sanderson
I was quite disappointed; The book was kind of boring. I wouldn't recommend it.  I gave it 3 out of 5 stars

Spooky Bitches Book Club: Anna dressed in blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#SpookyBitchesBookClub

This book was part of the October 2020 group read however I have read it in April 2019 and I didn't bother re-reading it. I remember it had a very interesting premise and I liked it because it was not shallow and childish like some young adult fiction I have read. It dealt with very mature themes like abuse etc and didn't focus on the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. The twist was not very unexpected but as a whole, I found it to be a very interesting read.

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Spooky Bitches Book Club: Into the drowing deep by Mira Grant #spookybitchesbookclub

 

#Readathon 2020
#SpookyBitchesBookclub

This is a double challenge. It's an ebook that I read to participate in Angel's book club: Spooky Bitches Book Club 

I liked the book very much (5 Stars). It was a little bit slow passed at first, we are introduced to the main characters for the first 150 pages. I thought it was a bit excessive - I would have prefered it more condensed - but once the cruise starts the action is pretty fast. The end was a little bit sudden too. The whole story wraps up in the last 40 pages. It is not the Great American Novel and I have read spookier books. It is an easy read and I would recommend it to people who love both action and horror genres.

Quotes from the book  

The Atargatis hadn’t found the mermaids through a free and open exchange of ideas. The Atargatis had found the mermaids because the people on the ship were made of meat, and the mermaids had empty stomachs that they wanted to fill. That was how you found things, in the sea. Be delicious. That was all you ever had to do.

We forgot about them, but they never forgot about us. They always knew that somewhere out there they had competition, strange and soft and walking on two legs and defenseless in the water. Most of all, they never forgot that we were delicious.

Of course she died for nothing. There's no other way she could have died. If she'd been dying for something, the world would have realized it was a stupid thing, and given her back. 

Buy the book from Amazon Here 

The second part of the challenge is watching the movie: Underwater. 

Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates

Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - eBooks

My Readathon 2020 so far

This book made me angry. I mean really angry. I was born and raised in Greece that happens to be 20 years behind everything so I am happy to report that I did not have to face the challenges today's kids are facing. Sexting and nude photos between high - schoolers was not a thing in the '90s. Also, porn was not so readily available, so that was a huge advantage. I have reached the 'invisibility years' - I am 41 as we speak - but my heart goes out to all those who struggle.

Just know this: We are here for you. We are watching.

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Annabel vs the Internet by Annabel Port

Annabel vs the Internet: The time I infiltrated Google HQ and other adventures by Annabel Port
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - eBooks

My Readathon 2020 so far

What absolute drivel! I know the author thinks she is hilarious but really she is just annoying. The premise of the book is interesting enough but the execution is awful. Why did I read it then? Well, I started it and I thought it would get better. Also, I have a book challenge to finish and have I mentioned I was hoping it would get better. I was wrong. Maybe I read it all at once. Maybe if I read only one challenge at the time it would feel different. Or maybe it simply sucks. Do not waste your time on this book. Read something else.

Περισσότερες βιβλιοκριτικές εδώ

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The Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee

The Conjoined by Jen Sookfong Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - eBooks

My Readathon 2020 so far

I really liked the story. The writer knows how to portray both events and people's emotional states and thoughts. A few things are certain:

(1) Not everyone is cut out to be a parent.
(2) Being good all your life cannot undo your evil deeds. Especially if they are murder.
(3) Society should take better care of her vulnerable members. We are not doing enough and monsters live among us as a result. 

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The outsider by Stephen King

The Outsider by Stephen King
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit I didn't like this book. I am a huge Stephen King fan. I have read a lot of his work and was really looking forward to this but I found the story slow. I think that the reason is the book is confused and doesn't know what it wants to be. It starts as a regular crime novel - which would be fine - but then changes genre to become supernatural. It's like two books that were smashed into one. The result is 496 pages for a monster story that should be 300 or a crime novel that again should be 300.

All in all, I do not like it and do not recommend this. If this is your first Stephen King novel, doo not be disheartened he has done better. 

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Μυστική Διαθήκη της Ελένης Γαληνού

Mystiki diathiki / Μυστική διαθήκη by Eleni Galinou / Ελένη Γαληνού
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Η κριτική περιέχει σποιλερ.

Η ιστορία εκτυλίσεται παράλληλα μεταξύ της Αθήνας του 1847 και της σημερινής. Η ηρωίδα μας και μια φίλη της ανακαλύπτουν κάποιους χαρτες και κοσμήματα που ανήκαν στην θρυλικη δούκισα της Πλακεντίας και ψαχνουν να βρουν άκρη.

Tο βιβλίο κινείται στο μήκος του 'Κωδικα Ντα Βιντσι' αλλά στην Αθήνα. Προφανώς ακόμα και προ του μετρο, υπήρχαν μυστικές στοές και σπηλιές κάτω απο τα πόδια μας. Και όχι μόνο ενώνουν διάφορα μέρη της Αθήνας, αλλά κρύβουν και αρχαιολογικούς θησαυρούς. Καποιοι δεν θα δισταζαν σε τίποτα προκειμένου να τους βάλουν στο χέρι. Εκεί το σενάριο κάνει κοιλιά κατα την άποψή μου.

Η ηρωίδα μας, μετα τον θάνατο της μάνας της απο αυτοκινητιστικό δυστύχημα (α) ανακαλύπτει χαρτες και στοιχεία που της φανερώνουν το μυστικό της οικογένειάς της και (β) ερωτευεται όλως τυχαίως τον Ρήγα. Σε κάποια φαση αρχίζει να υποπτευεται οτι την κυνηγούν και οτι κινδυνευει. Αλλά γιατί δεν απευθύνεται στις αρχές? Εντάξει η οικογενειακή παράδοση, δημιουργήθηκε το 1850 που οι γυναίκες δεν μπορούσαν να ζητήσουν βοήθεια απο το σύστημα (και εξάλου το ελληνικό κράτος ήταν στα σπάργανα τότε) αλλά στον 21ο αιώνα, άν σε κυνηγούν αρχαιοκάπηλοι, πας στην αστυνομία.

Επίσης μου την δίνει αυτή η αντίληψη: "Εμεις οι λίγοι, οι εκλεκτοί ξέρουμε την αληθεια αλλά σιγά μην την μοιραστούμε με την πλέμπα". Καημό το'χω να αποφασίσει κάποιος ήρωας παρόμοιου μυθιστορήματος να αψηφίσει την παράδοση και να μοιραστεί την γνώση με όλο τον κόσμο. Ο Νταν Μπράουν ώρες - ώρες είναι για πολλές κλωτσιές.

Απο τον Ελληνικό Κύκλο Βιβλιόφιλων Λονδίνου. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, συναντήσεις κτλ επισκεφτείτε την σελίδα τους στο Facebook



Περισσότερες βιβλιοκριτικές εδώ

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Ο Σοκολατοποιός του Φίλιμπερτ Σόγκτ

Ο Σοκολατοποιός by Philibert Schogt


Η ιστορία ακολουθεί τον Γιόοπ, εναν νεαρό λάτρη του καλού φαγητού που έχει την ατυχία να γεννηθεί σε μια οικογένεια που αγνοεί την αίσθηση της γευσης ολότελα, προς χαριν άλλω πιο πνευματικών απολαύσεων. Η οικογένεια του είναι ένα μάτσο δραστήριοι και κουλτουριάρηδες μουσικοί που πραγματικά δεν έχουν καμμία διάθεση να ασχοληθούν μαζί του. Μεταξύ μας η ζωή που περιγράφουν μου αρέσει περισσότερο απο την ζωή που θέλει να ζήσει ο ήρωας μας αλλα τι να κάνουμε τώρα.

Υποτιθεται οτι θα συμπασχουμε με τον φτωχό, πλην τιμιο σοκολατοποιό, αλλά ο τύπος είναι ένα μιζερο, κακότροπο και υπεροπτικό ανθρωπάκι που μόνο αντιπάθεια προκαλεί. Εντάξυ η σοκολάτα είναι τέχνη αλλά όχι για όλους. Δεν θα τον δει ο κοσμος σαν το νέο Γκωγκέν που να χτυπιέται κάτω. Αυτό αδυνατεί να το συλλάβει ο νους του. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι να δημιουργεί ένα σωρό 'προβλήματα' στον εαυτό του και στους γύρω του. Διότι είπαμε η σοκολάτα είναι τέχνη και μπροστά στην τέχνη, τι να μας πει ο πελάτης ή ο επενδυτής κτλ. Αυτοί είαι περιτοί. Και δεν τον καταλαβαίνουν.

Επίσης μισεί την οικογένεια του. Οι γονείς του ήταν καπως αδιάφοροι και δεν κατανοούν την τέχνη του παρεξηγημένου καλλιτέχνη σοκολατοποιού, και μεταξύ μας καλά του κάνουν. Βρίσκει μια κοπέλα που τον ερωτευεται, άγνωστο γιατί, και την εγκαταλείπει μόλις μείνει εγκυος γιατί (α) ο παρεξηγημένος καλλιτέχνης σοκολατοποιός πορεύεται μοναχός του και οι γυναίκες απλα τον διασκεδάζουν για λίγο αυτός είναι δοσμένος στην τέχνη του (β) τα μωρά είναι μικρά παράσιτα που απομυζούν τους γονείς τους (γ) η καλή του θα ασχημήνει και δεν θα είναι χαριτωμένη πια λόγω της εγκυμοσύνης. Και θα χαλάσει και το στήθος της απο τον θηλασμό. Ευτυχώς ο δασκαλός του, του βάζει λίγο μυαλό και την παντρευεται τελικά.

Στην πραγματικότητα, αυτός και ο γιός του μοιάζουν πάρα πολύ. Είναι και οι δυο παλιάνθρωποι που ο ένας αγαπά την σοκολάτα και ο άλλος το χρήμα. Η διαφορά τους είναι οτι ο πατέρας είναι ενα θρασυδειλο ανθρωπάκι και ο άλλος αυτό που θα αποκαλούσαμε bully. Υποτίθεται οτι θα έπρεπε να συμπονέσουμε το παρεξηγημένο καλλιτέχνη αλλά μεταξύ μας καλά έπαθε. Είχε την ευκαιρία να μοιραστεί την τέχνη του με όλον τον κόσμο αλλά επέλεξε - ως σνομπ και μισάνθρωπος - να μην το κάνει.

Το βιβλίο δεν είναι κακογραμμένο και διαβάζεται ευκολα απλά δεν είναι

Ένα συναρπαστικό, ερεθιστικό και γλυκόπικρο μυθιστόρημα για την αγάπη της ποιότητας στην εποχή της τέλεια πακεταρισμένης προχειρότητας

Είναι μια διατριβή στο τι δεν πρέπει να κάνεις αν θέλεις να ζεις απο την τέχνη σου, να γίνεις καλός σύζυγος και πατέρας, καλός φίλος κτλ ... Στο τέλος βέβαια καταλαβαίνει το λάθος του αλλά είναι πλέον πολύ αργά.

Απο τον Ελληνικό Κύκλο Βιβλιόφιλων Λονδίνου. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, συναντήσεις κτλ επισκεφτείτε την σελίδα τους στο Facebook



Περισσότερες βιβλιοκριτικές εδώ

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All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - eBooks

My Readathon 2020 so far

This book was confusing, to say the least. The 'world' or 'society' or whatever you wanna call it, kept assigning labels to our protagonists - both the boy and the girl - for no reason at all. They were miserable 99% of the time because they were 'thinking too highly of themselves' although that was not the case and they had very few if any friends because they were 'not open enough'. The fact that the people around them were total jerks and undeserving assholes didn't factor in this at all.

In my opinion, being isolated means that yes you will be lonely at times but also bullies cannot get you. And that is the best outcome you can hope for. 

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Ο πυρετός της τουλίπας της Deborah Moggach

Ο πυρετός της Τουλίπας by Deborah Moggach


Ενδιαφέρον μυθιστόρημα. Δεν το λες και υψηλή λογοτεχνία αλλά καλό ήταν. Νεαρή κοπέλα παντρευεται κάποιον γηρεότερο και πλουσιότερο κύριο και μετά ερωτευεται εναν νεαρό ζωγράφο. Ολα αυτά με φόντο τον 'πυρετό της τουλίπας' στο Αμστερνταμ. Δεν έχει κάποια φοβερή πρωτοτυπία αν και το σχέδιο που κατέστρωσαν οι εραστές για να το σκάσουν είναι πρωτότυπο και καταδικασμένο. Διαβάζεται γρήγορα και εύκολα, αλλά ξεχνιέται και εξίσου εύκολα.

Απο τον Ελληνικό Κύκλο Βιβλιόφιλων Λονδίνου. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, συναντήσεις κτλ επισκεφτείτε την σελίδα τους στο Facebook



Περισσότερες βιβλιοκριτικές εδώ


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Μια μαύρη ιστορία της Antonella Lattanzi

Μια μαύρη ιστορία by Antonella Lattanzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Απο τον Ελληνικό Κύκλο Βιβλιόφιλων Λονδίνου. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, συναντήσεις κτλ επισκεφτείτε την σελίδα τους στο Facebook



Περισσότερες βιβλιοκριτικές εδώ

Όλο η κριτική είναι ένα ατελείωτο spoiler.

Απατημένη και κακοποιημένη γυναίκα αποφασίζει να σκοτώσει τον βίαιο άντρα της - και πολύ καλά του κάνει. Επιμένει οτι έδρασε μόνη και χωρίς προμελέτη αλλά μάλλον δεν ήταν έτσι. Τον ήξερε τι κουμάσι ήταν ο άντρας της και ναι μεν της επιτεθηκε αλλά - αυτή τη φορά μόνο - τον είχε προκαλέσει με σκοπό να τον σκοτώσει. Και αφού δεν το σκέφτηκε καλα γιατί ο εραστής της ήταν κότα και δεν την βοήθησε, απευθύνθηκε στον μεγάλο της γιο. Που νόμιζε πως η μαμά του ήταν το απόλυτο θύμα αλλά τελικά δεν ήταν και τόσο. Και τελικά το έμαθε. Επιπλέον η ερωμένη του πατέρα του τον είδε να βοηθάει την Καρλα να ξεφορτωθεί το πτώμα.

Οπως θα έλεγε και η αμίμητη Σαπφώ Νοταρά: Εδω μέσα γίνονται Σόδομα και Γόμορα

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Η Έλενα στη χώρα των θαυμάτων της Έλενας Ακρίτα

Η Έλενα στη χώρα των θαυμάτων by Έλενα Ακρίτα
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Απο τον Ελληνικό Κύκλο Βιβλιόφιλων Λονδίνου. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, συναντήσεις κτλ επισκεφτείτε την σελίδα τους στο Facebook



Το βιβλίο αυτό το διαβάζεις και σε πιάνει μια μελαγχολία. Είναι σαν παράθυρο στα '80s. Οποιος αναρωτιέται πως ήταν η ζωή των Ελλήνων πριν τα κινητά, το ευρώ και το ιντερνετ, πρέπει να το διαβάσει . Η Έλενα προσπάθησε να γράψει ολόκληρο μυθιστόρημα (βλεπε Τα ταπερ της Αλίκης) αλλά δεν κατάφερε να αποδόσει το πνέυμα της εποχής με τον ίδιο τρόπο. Ισως επειδή οι ιστορίες δεν είναι μια 'νοσταλγική ματιά στο παρελθόν' αλλά η καθημερινότητα όπως την αντιλαμβανόταν τότε ο κόσμος.

Νοσταλγοί των 80's ενωθείτε! Οποιος δεν ξέρει ποιά είναι η Αλέξις και ο Ρουμενίγκε να το γκουγλάρει.

Ενα μικρό απόσπασμα:
... Και τη θυρωρίνα που επιστρατευτηκε λόγω της ημέρας και κάθεται μουτρωμένη και βγάζει τα αλουμινόχαρτα απο τις μπόμπες με τη σαλάτα (που είναι οτι ειδεχθέστερο, γιατί τρως τη σαλάτα και μετά χαμογελάς πλατιά και σου κρέμεται το μαρούλι απο τον κυνόδοντα και όλοι το κοιτάζουν, αλλά κανένας δεν έχει το θάρρος να σου το πεί. Και μετά πηγαίνεις στο σπίτι και πας να πλυθείς, ανακαλύπτεις το μαρούλι και κόβεις τις φλέβες σου απο ντροπή.

Περισσότερες βιβλιοκριτικές εδώ

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The Other Half of Happiness by Ayisha Malik

The Other Half of Happiness by Ayisha Malik
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - eBooks

My Readathon 2020 so far

So, I read this book because it is a sequel and I had to find out what happens next. It is mediocre. It has some funny moments but on the whole, it is quite predictable. The male protagonist, converted to Islam so he could marry a hijabi girl. Predictably, it didn't work out. Their differences were too great, however in Islam he found peace, so he ditched the girl but kept Muhammad. It makes absolutely no sense to me. It seems like wishful thinking n the part of the author who is very Muslim through and through.

Being an atheist myself and raised in a household of religious apathy, I cannot empathise at all. But maybe that is just me and other readers will judge the characters and the book in general with more leniency. 

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What doesn't kill you by Jo Ho

What Doesn't Kill You by Jo Ho
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

#Readathon2020 - eBooks

My Readathon 2020 so far

This is a little bit disappointing. The first book of the year is a total flop!. The characters are completely unrelatable and as immature as you can get them. They are supposed to be young women starting college and act and think like they are 11 and about to start high school. The good news it was only the first instalment and I don't want to read the rest. So very little time wasted there. I just wish the first book for 2020 was better!

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Oh my gods by Alexandra Sheppard

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this book is not young - adult. It's more suitable for 12-year-olds or maybe even younger children. The protagonist is a very immature 16 year old whom I must admit, does have some very real problems. At least her problems are more real than say, Harry Potter's or Katniss'. There were many times when I just wanted to pat her on the head and say: 'There, there. It's going to be alright' while mentally rolling my eyes. I mean really, your life is not going to be over if you do not go to a certain party or wear the wrong outfit. Nobody dies from embarrassment in real life.

I did not like the way gods were portrayed. First of all, in Greek mythology, 99% of the problems mortals faced was because Zeus couldn't keep it in his pants. The result of his promiscuousness was hundreds of bastards. Aphrodite, however, was not one of them. After all these years of life, I would expect the gods to be a little bit harder but instead, they behave like spoilt 18-year-olds. But then this is a children's book after all so I suppose it is excusable.

The twist was not really a twist as anyone who reads the book can see it a mile ahead. Furthermore, I do not believe that the author knows how the internet works. If there was a form hovering above a house in London, there would be dozens of videos online and none would be able to 'contain' the news. However, the reception of said material would not be anything extraordinary. Youtube is full of weird things. We have viral videos of people breaking cysts. Internet fame is not real. 

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