wandering_meditations's reviews
84 reviews

Tales from Masnavi of Rumi by Rumi

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challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Some stories are hard to comprehend, but other than that decent book.
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

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informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Terrific book. Really gives you another perspective on success. We often think success is the product of talent, luck, or purely hard work, but it's a whole lot more complicated than that. The opportunities given to you, both directly or indirectly, can really alter the path you take in life, including potential success.
The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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funny relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This differs from most Dostoevsky books in the sense that this book is incredibly short, and therefore there is a lot less story/character development, which is very unusual for a Dostoevsky book (I understand his publisher was pushing him to publish a novel on a tight timeline). Overall it's still a decent story and enjoyable if you're a fan of Dostoevsky. If you're new to Dostoevsky, start with something better like Crime and Punishment.
The Assassin's Song by M.G. Vassanji

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reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Overall a great story. My biggest issue with the book was that it's too slow paced. It's a 300 page book that could've been just as good with 150 pages. 
A Concise Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe by Dennis P. Hupchick

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informative fast-paced

5.0

straight to the facts, no filler. Great book for getting a high level understanding of eastern European history.
The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt by Albert Camus

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Too complicated and not interested in the subject matter