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bonitazivot's reviews
72 reviews
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
4.5
I wanted to give this book 5 stars but I couldn't get myself to do it. Don't get me wrong, I loved everything about this book. I loved her writing style, I loved how she made me cry, I loved experiencing the hike through her words, I loved how she inspired me. But 5 stars? I can't do that. I'm rating it a 4.5.
Also, just wanted to say the haters need to calm down??? Why are we suddenly judging books based on how stupid the writers past choices were? She made mistakes, she learned from them. She broke down and healed. She admitted her faults, and she's here today to share her beautiful story with us. Please rate the book, not the person!
Also, just wanted to say the haters need to calm down??? Why are we suddenly judging books based on how stupid the writers past choices were? She made mistakes, she learned from them. She broke down and healed. She admitted her faults, and she's here today to share her beautiful story with us. Please rate the book, not the person!
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
5.0
Excuse me while I finish crying, so I can write my review. Wow... the end got me, hard!
When Breath Becomes Air grasped me from page one, making me feel like I was part of an exciting episode of Grey's Anatomy and I flew through the pages like a feather through the air.
Paul's passion for literature and (neuro)science, as well as his views on the world were so interesting to read, and made me wish I had known him or could talk to him one last time. I would love to hear his thoughts on philosophy, more of his cases or even the pandemic. I bet he had many more things to write about, if only he had the time.
Personally, I'd highly recommend this book if you're interested in the medical field, or how cancer changes someone's life. 5/5 for this one.
I would like to give you a fair warning: If you're about to read this book, just beware his wife is going to make you ugly cry. Guaranteed.
When Breath Becomes Air grasped me from page one, making me feel like I was part of an exciting episode of Grey's Anatomy and I flew through the pages like a feather through the air.
Paul's passion for literature and (neuro)science, as well as his views on the world were so interesting to read, and made me wish I had known him or could talk to him one last time. I would love to hear his thoughts on philosophy, more of his cases or even the pandemic. I bet he had many more things to write about, if only he had the time.
Personally, I'd highly recommend this book if you're interested in the medical field, or how cancer changes someone's life. 5/5 for this one.
I would like to give you a fair warning: If you're about to read this book, just beware his wife is going to make you ugly cry. Guaranteed.
Verbroken zwijgen by J. Bernlef
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Na het lezen van 'Hersenschimmen', was ik erg enthousiast toen ik dit boek tegenkwam en om meer van Bernlef's verhalen te lezen. De verhalen vielen me echter erg tegen en ik ben uiteindelijk halverwege het boek maar gestopt.
De schrijfstijl was zoals in hersenschimmen interessant, maar de verhalen leken inhoudelijk nergens over te gaan. Het leek alsof ik de notities van gefaalde verhalen van Bernlef zat te lezen. Helaas erg teleurgesteld met dit boek.
De schrijfstijl was zoals in hersenschimmen interessant, maar de verhalen leken inhoudelijk nergens over te gaan. Het leek alsof ik de notities van gefaalde verhalen van Bernlef zat te lezen. Helaas erg teleurgesteld met dit boek.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
1.0
I hated this book SO much!
First off, the writing style pissed me off. From page 1 it was nothing but random complaints, written in a way that not a single person would feel sorry for Hannah.
Then there's the order the tapes: By the time we got to actual problems with a real significance, I already hated Hannah and her teenage drama, and had trouble feeling bad for her. Why wasn't this reason nr. 1? Was it not significant enough for her?
Throughout the whole book I felt that Hannah was a normal teen just looking for reasons to kill herself, but the reasons she did was regular teenage drama. I remember feeling sad most of my teenage years, the mountains of drama that filled my days, but none of those things EVER drove me to kill myself.
The above makes me wonder: was the writer trying to describe something he never went through? Was he a male adult trying to figure out what could make a female teen so depressed, she was driven to suicide? He missed the mark on so many of these reasons and therefore I was left disappointed by this book.
For whoever is wondering if the tv show is worth it: season 1 was pretty decent but it went downhill from there and tbh it should've been done after the first season. There was a HIGHLY graphic scene that made me stop watching, I believe in season 2 but can't remember. Haven't seen the last season.
First off, the writing style pissed me off. From page 1 it was nothing but random complaints, written in a way that not a single person would feel sorry for Hannah.
Then there's the order the tapes: By the time we got to actual problems with a real significance, I already hated Hannah and her teenage drama, and had trouble feeling bad for her. Why wasn't this reason nr. 1? Was it not significant enough for her?
Throughout the whole book I felt that Hannah was a normal teen just looking for reasons to kill herself, but the reasons she did was regular teenage drama. I remember feeling sad most of my teenage years, the mountains of drama that filled my days, but none of those things EVER drove me to kill myself.
The above makes me wonder: was the writer trying to describe something he never went through? Was he a male adult trying to figure out what could make a female teen so depressed, she was driven to suicide? He missed the mark on so many of these reasons and therefore I was left disappointed by this book.
For whoever is wondering if the tv show is worth it: season 1 was pretty decent but it went downhill from there and tbh it should've been done after the first season. There was a HIGHLY graphic scene that made me stop watching, I believe in season 2 but can't remember. Haven't seen the last season.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
4.5
Set in the Edwardian Era, the story of the Woman In Black is written in a formal, yet entertaining writing style. Every sentence more grasping than the previous.
It was only page 11 that I knew this book deserved a spot in my top 10 favorites of all time. So... Sit down in your favorite reading nook along the fireplace, grab a cup of tea, a cozy blanket and listen to the exciting narration of Curtis Pickett while reading along with this thrilling novella.
No, but seriously, listen to this narration for the best experience ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4ii8HCdc6w
It was only page 11 that I knew this book deserved a spot in my top 10 favorites of all time. So... Sit down in your favorite reading nook along the fireplace, grab a cup of tea, a cozy blanket and listen to the exciting narration of Curtis Pickett while reading along with this thrilling novella.
No, but seriously, listen to this narration for the best experience ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4ii8HCdc6w
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
4.0
I'm sad, angry, betrayed.. I want to rant about this book, yet there's nothing to say. Am I Alcestis? Has Alex Michaelides made me Alcestis?!
I must say I both loved and hated this book and I think I figured out why. The theme of Greek mythology and the story of Alcestis was heavily featured in the book and >>spoiler alert<
I was left upset at the end, not knowing if this deserved 1 star or 5. But, you know what, you get 5 stars, Alex Michaelides!
Update: downgraded to 4 stars after further reflection
I must say I both loved and hated this book and I think I figured out why. The theme of Greek mythology and the story of Alcestis was heavily featured in the book and >>spoiler alert<
I was left upset at the end, not knowing if this deserved 1 star or 5. But, you know what, you get 5 stars, Alex Michaelides!
Update: downgraded to 4 stars after further reflection
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
1.0
I don't mean to be negative Nancy here, but if this was Hemingway's greatest work then I wonder how much I'll dislike his other stories.
It felt like the longest 99 pages I ever read. Each page filled with lack of adventure and strange thoughts. I read some reviews saying you have to be old and experienced enough to understand this book, and I'm afraid I am not yet there.
Maybe I'll try again when I'm a bit older (I am 26 now), but for now I'll have to rate it a 2/10.
_______
Edit: if you were as bored as I was reading this book, please watch the 'thug notes' review by Wisecrack on YT. You're welcome.
It felt like the longest 99 pages I ever read. Each page filled with lack of adventure and strange thoughts. I read some reviews saying you have to be old and experienced enough to understand this book, and I'm afraid I am not yet there.
Maybe I'll try again when I'm a bit older (I am 26 now), but for now I'll have to rate it a 2/10.
_______
Edit: if you were as bored as I was reading this book, please watch the 'thug notes' review by Wisecrack on YT. You're welcome.