52 Books in 52 Weeks (2012) discussion

Oh how unprofessional of me! Sorry guys for being late a whole day!

Share your reviews for this week's books here.

As Yasmine did last year's, the same rules are here.


"In this thread, everyone will post their reviews/opinions of the book they have read this week AFTER you rate/review it on your page. The purpose of this is so everyone can see what you read this week and read your review without having to visit each profile. Some of you have their profiles locked, so this saves you the trouble of unlocking it.

ANY COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO THAT MATTER WILL BE DELETED.

The format will be like this:

Name of book.
Author.
n/5 stars.

"Your simple opinion/extended review/one word that expresses what you thought of the book. GO CRAZY! Anything counts. Don't feel pressured."

Link to your review.

Also, this allows us to be organized, so even if a member didn't log in for about a month, they can add the book they've read to the appropriate thread.

THANK YOU ALL!


EDIT:
As I've mentioned in the guidelines, one word or a simple opinion counts as a 'review'. I only called it that because Goodreads calls it that."


Now let's see your achievements, awesome people.

This is a book
David Sedaris
5/5



Name the funniest book ever please? This is a book. Yes. YES!

This made me laugh so hard while traveling on a plane! Yes, people looked at me saying, who's that idiot laughing? Me. Yes. Yes. Me.

Define stability? Not reading this book. You say why? Because this will change the you laugh, not the way you think, I guess. Yes.

I now believe no one can write comedy stuff like Demetri Martin! NO ONE!

Randomness.

Laughter.

A small baby with a diaper, or not.

A must read, period.

Book#3

Title: Tinkers
Author: Paul Harding

I gave it a 3/5

I thought it was an okay book, I wouldn't consider reading it again, though. The story about the main character's father was quite endearing, but other than that, it was awfully plain.

Book#4

Title: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell

4/5

It was brilliant. I like how the process of anthropomorphism developed since it wasn't served in a plate in the beginning; you get to grow with it. Boxer was one of my favourite characters in the book and his ending broke my heart.
I should also mention that the book addresses communism where with every political system the fault falls on both the leaders (governments and such) and their people.

Book#5

Title: The Bell Jar
Author: Sylvia Plath

2/5

Originally, I gave it 1/5, but decided to add an extra start since I loved "The Colossus and Other Poems". Nonetheless, there was just too much angst for my taste and I seriously couldn't relate to Esther one bit. In all honesty, I was bored out of my wits.

Book # 1/2
Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Rating: 5/5

I loved this book. It was sad, funny, and it left me thinking a lot. I know many have read this already, but if you haven't, you need to.

Book # 2/2
Title: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer Armentrout
Rating: 3/5

I'm a sucker for YA fiction, but the language in this book really offended me. I really did not add anything to the story, and I didn't care for it. The story was pretty good though.

Book: بيكاسو وستاربكس
Author: ياسر حرب
Genre: تنمية الذات
Finished Date: 15.Jan.2012
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: يستحق القراءة وأن تهديه لكل من تعرفه فأنا بالتأكيد سأفعل

≈ قرأتُ كتباً كثيرة في فهم/مساعدة الذات، ولكنها غالباً ما تكون أجنبية الأصل. لكن قرآتي لهذا الكتاب كانت مفاجأة جميلة جداً .. ≈

by Ben H. Winters
rating 2 stars
format: Audiobook
review: Listening to this book felt like watching an old typical Hollywood movie, where the plot is obvious from the beginning.

Room by Emma Donoghue

--

Jack is 5 and lives in room with his Ma. There's nothing outside, just Outer Space.


This, my fourth book of the year, is an astonishingly good read. It's original, beautifully written and emotionally spine tingling. If ever the phrase ' a real page turner' was written for a book, this is it.

'Room' is cleverly written and pulls at the heart strings. There's nothing more that I can say about this book.

Ok there's one more thing. WOW !

5/5

Book #4
Six memos for the next millenium by Italo Calvino

An amazing look at literature as the millenium comes to a close. He talks about the things we have experienced in past literature, as well as the things that might vanish as literature begins to take new form as the new millenium approaches.

The book was absolutely breathtaking.
The book was slightly above my level of comprehension, and that is why I give it 3 stars.

3/5

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Lock and Key
Sarah Dessen
4/5

I finished the book an hour ago but still can't think of what to write. Everyone has a hard life, and if they don't let you in on it it's ok sometimes; it doesn't mean you can be together.
Sometimes it's ok to let people in though, take the risk.

Norwegian Wood
Haruki Murakami
3/5

Great read!

This was the first book I read by Murakami, and I absolutely loved it. I thought I wouldn't like it so much because it was a love story, but probably what kept me interested was the exquisite way in which Murakami had described scenes, emotions, and thoughts. However, I was a bit disappointed at the ending, maybe because I've expected something more, and it was somehow unclear.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

5/5
The book is just great you have to read it! i finished it in an hour!
it'll certainly help you in real life and make you see the real you :)
i think i am so ready now for the new changes in my life ;)

فريدريك إنجلس
مباديء الشيوعية ٥/٣
هذا الكتاب ساعدني و بشكل كبير على فهم الخطاب الشيوعي أو وجهة النظر الشيوعية ، حيث أنه يعتبر بداية لمن أراد التعمق في فهم الشيوعية بعد ذلك ، احتوى على معلومات مفيدة ، أجابت بمعظمها على تساؤلات حول هذا الحزب أو هذا النظام .

Aleph
Paulo Coelho

4/5 stars
Jan 20, 2012

Once again an inspiring book by Paulo Coelho.

It takes you on a journey with the writer, not only through the lands of Russia, but also through spirit, time and life. The life which the author describes as the train that visits stations, and not the stations themselves. Throughout this journey, he seeks self-discovery and forgiveness.

I don't believe in reincarnation or any of those spiritual practices which he had discussed, and that is what might have lost me a little by mid-book besides the lumpy plot. Nonetheless, I liked the book very much and felt inspired because of all the inspirational and spiritual contents that dealt with some fundamental and deep questions of life.

book 3


نساء حول الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم
أحمد الجدع

3/5

الكتاب يتحدث عن الصاحبيات (رضي الله عنهم) وكيف ساعدوا في الدفاع عن الإسلام لمّا وقف كفار قريش ضده و يذكر قصص تثبت أن للمرأة دور في نهضة المسلمين

most Charles Dickens's novels
Well known ,no need to explain
5\5

The particular sadness of lemon cake.
Amie Bender.
4/5

Ah, it started out really good. There were a lot of gaps in the story but I thought, no, it will be clarified in the end. It wasn't. I still have so many questions about the characters and reasons behind their actions. I'm disappointed with the ending, it should've been clearer. But still good.

Liberty by M.A Leslie



Book five in this year's '52 books in 52 weeks' challenge was kindly offered to me by the author's for review purposes.

Liberty Sytes is working for the Jersey Police in her summer break from a business course at college when suddenly she finds herself inside the body and mind of a merciless killer. She is powerless to act as she watches each victim bruised , beaten and cut to shreds. She is also haunted by memories of her childhood and is left trying to put together the pieces of these childhood memories before it's too late. Why is she witnessing each murder ? What has it got too do with her mother ?


This book is imaginative and quite original and the whole premise of the story is a great idea. It is easy to read and I particularly enjoyed the action scenes which were written as well as anything I have read.

However I have decided to give 'Liberty' 3 stars out of 5 purely because I 'personally' think the author's have so much more to offer in the future. I think the writing in parts could have been tighter and I also thought the storyline ( especially the first two thirds) was a little bit repetitive in nature. Also some may argue that the story was a little bit unrealistic in parts.


However I think there is much more to come from M.A Leslie in the future and I hope to read more from them. M.A Leslie are actually a husband and wife writing duo and you can read a bit more about them at Goodreads or on their website

3/5

Book#6

Title: The Interesting Bits: The History You Might Have Missed
Author: Justin Pollard

3/5

The book was certainly interesting, however, I found most of what I've read to be familiar which is what lead to the book dropping two stars.

Book#7

Title: This is a Book
Author: Demetri Martin

I also gave the book a 3/5

It was a hilarious read, and I think the only thing that lead to its drop (2 stars) is because I've read it like how I'd read a novel which proved tedious at times, if not directly affecting the humor.

njoyed this legal thriller from the pen of John Grisham. This book had a more comedy element than other Grisham books I remember reading.

This case deals with a small firm called Finley & Figg who with the help of a third man David Zinc, who's run away from a big law firm, tries to go after Big Pharma. The story follows their legal fight and another case on the side which is handled by Zinc alone.

Title:51/50: The Magical Adventures of a Single Life
Author:Kristen McGuiness

Light and fun read. The book reads more like a diary and focuses on Kristen's love life and her journey through sobriety. It also delves into her personal relationships.

Tokyo Is My Garden
by Frédéric Boilet, Benoit Peeters
3/5

Its a graphic novel! I read it in one setting, kinda short and easy to read, 18+ because it has some sexual context. I'd only recommend it if you are bored and want something entertaining.

By Mindy Kaling (of The Office)
3.5/5

I liked this a lot for not really being a fan of The Office. She has a really funny way of writing and a great sense of humor

The Fault in Our Stars
John Green

5/5

this book is somewhat cliche, but that's fine because John is an Awesome writer !

http://dft.ba/-1FRM

Title: The Orange Girl
Author: Jostein Gaarder

1\5

Boring was the only word I managed to come up with to describe this book. What actually made me sad is the fact that the author could've managed to make it more interesting and gripping.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams
3/5

Simple, clever and filled with humorous absurdity.
An entertaining read, but fairly unmemorable.

The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I picked this book up at the airport because I was trying to convince my ten year old brother to start reading more imaginative stories and less... Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

I figured I'd read it first and see what it was like. Then I found out the author was this dude on glee, apparently, and I admit my enthusiasm kind of dipped. And, good thing it did, because this book was very... I don't know. The plot and the fairytale world was good enough, but the whole story was quite bland. Not to mention that the girl twin, Alex, was annoying enough I wanted shut her smug annoying face up. Everything tied too neatly, the characters weren't defined as well, the fairytales felt like an afterthought, and it sort of felt like I was reading the Magic Tree House. The only character I enjoyed reading about was Goldilocks. I could easily see a book were her adventures feature through. But, that's about it.

Mind you, I'm still giving it to my brother. Seriously. Have you read Diary of a Wimpy Kid?



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