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The book's theses : Interaction between political and economic institutions cause either a country's prosperity and poverty. Economic institution is pivotal in determining it, but political institution determines the economic instution in a country (the power parties or individual have, incentives, etc). In most of countries, both have existed since ages ago which shapes their current situations. Phew.

Okay now that Joni talks to a mysterious guy inside her head and accidentally meets her ex, things have started to get interesting. I think I can keep reading this book for the next several days.

I don't know if it's because I was reading half-asleep or anything, but I didn't enjoy any metaphorical descriptions through music or sound. It should have elevated the melancholic feeling of Joni but it's too much for me? Too sweet? Too romanticized? Luckily chapter 6 provided something I could look forward to. I hope I can have a good time with this book.

Going down historical lane of European conquests on America, highlighting the contrasts between Spain and England over each's areas conquered. Spanish successfully obtained abundant lands and manipulated the indigenous, while English only attained the area of no meaningful resource and skeptical chief of locals which pushed em from enslaving their kins to creating system that incentivized them to work hard.

First two chapters got me hooked initially since it's giving enemy-to-lover dynamics though I will know for sure when I am into more pages. But the next chapters seemed boring to me; character background-story and setting elaboration with some references of musicians or songs.

I'm reading this again from the preface. It sums up the objective of this book; showing why poor countries are poor and rich ones are rich. Hypothetically, it started from the political transformation which later decided the economic trajectory. This book will elaborate the type that works and doesn't, what makes it work, and other pre-requisites with evidences found in various studies of poor and rich countries.

The last two chapters were Noah walking down the memory lane of Israel being passive-agressive, uncommitted, and unreliable to ceasefire series from 2005-2014 (this book was written in 2015 by the way). He then addressed a letter to UN and shared his predictions of the future in Gaza and West bank if things persisted, which when looking at current situation can hardly be argued nor denied.

Perhaps the efficient story telling is because of the protagonist -- speaking in the first POV -- being so straightforward and no beating-around-the-bush kind of woman. Descriptions of places are very minimal. Brings a whole different experiences to me, which is not bad as the pace is fast yet the problems are clear enough to understand. Can be because this is a detective story with 10 other preceeding novels.

Kobo offered this for free and I took it even tho I knew nothing of this. Turn out this is 11th book of a Georgina Germaine series lol. Have just read 2 chapters and the story telling is very efficient. Not many flowery details lols. Which are fine, maybe I could finish this one fast.

It's a new beginning for Becky! New career, new boyfie, new attitude! Let's see how she well she grips all of these together lol. Cant wait to read the 2nd book.
Guess I'll come up with a comprehensive review :)

Chomsky explains Israel's intent on Gaza which I sums up is complete suffer and destruction. They keep justifying their horrible actions even to civilians and pin the fault on Hamas despite their support for two-state solution that Israel keeps violating (Hamas has their own faults but this is not the point). Chomsky proposes the key is to cut US support for Israel (which I think the prospect is just gettin bleaker).

Alright, Becky has locked in and ready to swing! Wonder if all her issues stems from her apathy that she denies taking herself, her problems seriously and just gives in to the tumultous desire of shopping. Lol. She has found something she is passionate about (not shopping!) but how will she solve her loan issues?
The novel presents different details from the movie tbh.

Cut spending : failed. Work on second job : failed. Get a rich boyfie : failed. Run into Uncle Debt Collector and his assistant : scored. Have no cash nor card to shop with : scored. Feel devastated and a disappointment over oneself : granted.
Shall see how Becky's going to turn her fate with her finally locking in. Her being delusional (or imaginative) might do her good.

Chomsky elaborated US position on Israel and Palestine issues. Also the idea of Western's 'responsibility to protect' is just allowing violent intervention. West Bank and Gaza, Chomsky and Pappe noted, have been where ethnic cleansing were intensely committed, though Gaza was more challenging due to Hamas' base. Pappe pointed Israel has done incremental genocide since 1967 and they should be condemned for that.

Becky and her antics are my source of aches. I admire her resilience to live in delusion and denial. Like, she almost got things on track yet she blew them and always had excuses. Sooo victim-mindset. I dont mean to judge her so hard.
However once someone said that what people judged you was telling more about themselves that the subject. So perhaps my frustration of Becky is hmmm no!

In chapter 'Inside Israel', Ilan answered how Israeli perceived the struggle of Palestinians, what they saw as solutions, and how to change their perspectives and stop the conflict. Ilan mentioned most of Israeli saw Palestinians as violent however they lived in bubble and strong doctrine. Education of real history before 1937 and ensuring Israel pay the price are crucial to change current and future reality there.

Beginning to feel frustated of Becky. Im shaking my head and feeling like shaking her body too. She is not that clueless, but always...in denial! So much excuse on her shelf lol. Get a grip, Becky!! At this rate u're goin bankrupt soon!

Becky is funnily delusional. Instead of finding a realistic approach for her financial problems, she instead goes to her head and imagines as many possibly lowly probable scenario as possible lols. However, she is kind-hearted. Never leaves out her family and friends when she becomes rich out of windfall. In her imagination.

Im reading this in between my reading of On Palestine.
Despite me being a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella, this is my first time reading this lol. Many details are far different to the movie version, and I only read 4%. Im reading this in my e-reader, hence the progress is in percentage. Well, Im rumbling lols.

In The Future chapter, Chomsky and Pappe had a slightly different vision of the journey to achieve one-state. Yet both agreed Israel and Palestine could have a different future state to South Africa despite bearing similar history of apartheid politics. A new socio-economic structure could be developed involving current actors that could significantly change people's life especially Palestinians/Arabs inside Israel.

Chomsky and Pape had slightly different take on envisioning the journey to achieve one-state reality. Yet both of them agreed that the eliminating apartheid politics in Israel would result in different direction to South Africa since Israel was a 'separationist' while SA was not. They (Palestinians) could have better fate if the current structure was re-assesed, involving today's actors, and re-built when necessary.

So many terms and histories I am not familiar with that I annotate, look up, while reading.

okay halt reading this till God knows when lol. Gotta go back to fiction since my brain cant handle arguments in any types lol.

will begin again the slow progress of my reading.

setelah perjuangan panjang.

I am completely amazed. Musk is really one of kind; a brilliant engineer, a straightforward businessman, a man with a unique empathy on human, a vision and a rigor to act to make it true. A father and a husband.
I guess I need to ponder of what I should pursue that sleepless nights are worth to fight for it.