Nubar > Recent Status Updates

This is becoming my favorite Murakami book fast. It's so funny.

So far, this seems very well researched and I liked the in depth information about the Tanzimat period which is not widely talked about. Looking forward to see what perspective the book has on the reign of Abdulhamit as that is a dented issue as well.

Exceptionally simplified, and not in a good way. I realize that this book is supposed to be introductory but it is so surface level that I feel like it will confuse people who do not have an understanding of socialism even further. I can already see several minor mistakes in chronology and a very Euro-centric outlook.

The most detailed account and description of pre-Islamic Arabia, Anatolia and their resources and physical geography I have ever read. Very educational so far. I like the notes on Sassanian urban development, the facts about their city and irrigation building surprised me.

I actually like the writing style so far even though a lot of people say that Ushakligil is too flowery. Although, this version has been "translated" into more modern Turkish, I feel that they still left many elements of the original and kept some ancient words, which I like - it sounds very authentic to the time period. The main character does not enthrall me though.

This book does a great job of outlining Engels' contributions and explaining his economic ideas simply so far.

So far I really liked the critique of Engels' on Thomas Malthus and his overpopulation theories. I think history proves Engels to be right in this case.

I understand what he is saying about the intellectuals (and the intellectual movement) and I agree with what he is saying about the bourgeoise. However, the writing seems so all over the place to me that I am unable to connect all the parts together to really deeply understand Gramscian narrative here yet.