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1Moniica
Aiming to read 50 books! (Keyword: aiming :P)
Past Challenges: 2008 Challenge - 2009 Challenge - 2010 Challenge - 2011 Challenge
Current Total: 14/50 - 28%
Current Pages: 3,994
Past Challenges: 2008 Challenge - 2009 Challenge - 2010 Challenge - 2011 Challenge
Current Total: 14/50 - 28%
Current Pages: 3,994
2Moniica
JANUARY
#1
Title: 3096 Days
Author: Natascha Kampusch
Synopsis: This book tells the true story of Natascha's kidnapping when she was only 8 years old on her way to school, from her point of view. The beginning tells of her trying to figure out the purpose of her abduction and why, out of everyone, she was kidnapped.
Living in a dungeon as a child made her made her lonely and at the start she looked forward to the kidnapper's presence, often begging him to play games with her to keep her company. Left by herself for days on end, any connection to the outside world such as via radio, and anything to keep her mind pre-occupied such as the books and TV programmes the kidnapper brought her brought her a little bit of solace.
As the years went by and Natascha's hope of being rescued diminished, the kidnapper became more vicious and repeatedly abused her, often leaving her to the brink of starvation. Any time Natascha was let out of her dungeon to do household chores around the home, she was closely monitored.
Towards the end, Priklopil, considering a lifelong future with Natascha, ended up taking her outside of the house a handful of times to run errands with him. The amount of times she comes close to freedom and her first encounter with people other than Priklopil leaves you hanging on.
My Opinion: I can only imagine the pain and suffering that Natascha must have endured, having 8 years of her life taken away from her. The book doesn't do her story justice. At times links were missing, and as the reader you often felt the emotionless state she must have felt being trapped away. I have since done some reading online to see pictures of her dungeon and read police reports.
This is not the kind of book that has a fairy-tale ending, this is a diary - the bare telling - of Natascha's kidnapping.
Pages: 240
Rating: 4/5
#1
Title: 3096 Days
Author: Natascha Kampusch
Synopsis: This book tells the true story of Natascha's kidnapping when she was only 8 years old on her way to school, from her point of view. The beginning tells of her trying to figure out the purpose of her abduction and why, out of everyone, she was kidnapped.
Living in a dungeon as a child made her made her lonely and at the start she looked forward to the kidnapper's presence, often begging him to play games with her to keep her company. Left by herself for days on end, any connection to the outside world such as via radio, and anything to keep her mind pre-occupied such as the books and TV programmes the kidnapper brought her brought her a little bit of solace.
As the years went by and Natascha's hope of being rescued diminished, the kidnapper became more vicious and repeatedly abused her, often leaving her to the brink of starvation. Any time Natascha was let out of her dungeon to do household chores around the home, she was closely monitored.
Towards the end, Priklopil, considering a lifelong future with Natascha, ended up taking her outside of the house a handful of times to run errands with him. The amount of times she comes close to freedom and her first encounter with people other than Priklopil leaves you hanging on.
My Opinion: I can only imagine the pain and suffering that Natascha must have endured, having 8 years of her life taken away from her. The book doesn't do her story justice. At times links were missing, and as the reader you often felt the emotionless state she must have felt being trapped away. I have since done some reading online to see pictures of her dungeon and read police reports.
This is not the kind of book that has a fairy-tale ending, this is a diary - the bare telling - of Natascha's kidnapping.
Pages: 240
Rating: 4/5
3Moniica
FEBRUARY
#2
Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Synopsis: Amazing Amy, previously a bestselling author, mysteriously disappears and forensic analysis immediately points Nick, her husband, as the suspect.
Written in epistolary, we learn more about Nick and how his relationship with Amy has been on the edge for a while.
As the investigation continues, Nick hires a lawyer, increasing our suspicion as to what happened with Amy.
My Opinion: Amy goes missing very early on in the book, but then we jump back in time to learn more about Nick. Lots of background information about Nick and Amy were provided in disjointed parts and I found it hard to decipher whether the story was about their marriage or about finding Amy. I mean, come on! Amy has gone missing! Your wife! Stop talking about yourself.
An excerpt from the book:
- “I haven’t been upset enough about Amy,” I said. “I know that.” (p.125)
And then Nick goes on to tell his friend how he hasn’t told his father that his wife has gone missing. Um, what the heck!! Your wife has gone missing, dude! I’m here reading and trying to find out why your wife has gone missing, and eager to cut to the chase as to where she is and you’re sitting around not even thinking about her! I don’t even know who your wife is and yet I seem to be more concerned about her whereabouts than you are.
I couldn’t form an emotional connection with any of the characters to care enough to find out what happened in the end.
Maybe some of the other reviewers who rate this 5 stars have watched the movie first and then read the book? My review is based on only my knowledge of the plot from reading the book, not the movie.
I’m sure there is a lot of subtle undertone that I missed out on but to be honest I just didn’t really get into it enough to really care. The story couldn’t have ended sooner for me. The Wikipedia plot description cut to the chase better than the author did.
Pages: 463
Rating: 1/5
-----
#3
Title: City of Thieves
Author: David Benioff
Synopsis: Thrown in prison together in a starving city during siege, two prisoners are called to the colonel who sets them on a mission: to find a dozen eggs to make a wedding cake for his daughter who is about to get married. Bring back a dozen eggs (the only missing ingredient) and they will be given their ration cards back. Come back empty handed? ...
- '"You bring me the eggs by sunrise Thursday, you get them back. You don't, well, you've got all of January to eat snow, and there won't be any cards waiting for you in February, either. That's assuming one of my men doesn't find you and kill you before then, and my men are very good at that."' (p.54)
My Opinion: From page one the plot starts running! Every chapter takes a slight twist. Encounters with other people on their mission keep things on edge - are they out to get them, or people who have their best intentions at heart?
We quickly grow fond of the the pair on the mission - Kolya, an easygoing, more risk-adverse personality with more life experience and 17 year-old Lev, keen to find the eggs ASAP and return safe and sound to the city.
Without giving anything away, the plot twist at the end made me want to go back to the start and read it all over again.
Pages: 387
Rating: 4/5
#2
Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Synopsis: Amazing Amy, previously a bestselling author, mysteriously disappears and forensic analysis immediately points Nick, her husband, as the suspect.
Written in epistolary, we learn more about Nick and how his relationship with Amy has been on the edge for a while.
As the investigation continues, Nick hires a lawyer, increasing our suspicion as to what happened with Amy.
My Opinion: Amy goes missing very early on in the book, but then we jump back in time to learn more about Nick. Lots of background information about Nick and Amy were provided in disjointed parts and I found it hard to decipher whether the story was about their marriage or about finding Amy. I mean, come on! Amy has gone missing! Your wife! Stop talking about yourself.
An excerpt from the book:
- “I haven’t been upset enough about Amy,” I said. “I know that.” (p.125)
And then Nick goes on to tell his friend how he hasn’t told his father that his wife has gone missing. Um, what the heck!! Your wife has gone missing, dude! I’m here reading and trying to find out why your wife has gone missing, and eager to cut to the chase as to where she is and you’re sitting around not even thinking about her! I don’t even know who your wife is and yet I seem to be more concerned about her whereabouts than you are.
I couldn’t form an emotional connection with any of the characters to care enough to find out what happened in the end.
Maybe some of the other reviewers who rate this 5 stars have watched the movie first and then read the book? My review is based on only my knowledge of the plot from reading the book, not the movie.
I’m sure there is a lot of subtle undertone that I missed out on but to be honest I just didn’t really get into it enough to really care. The story couldn’t have ended sooner for me. The Wikipedia plot description cut to the chase better than the author did.
Pages: 463
Rating: 1/5
-----
#3
Title: City of Thieves
Author: David Benioff
Synopsis: Thrown in prison together in a starving city during siege, two prisoners are called to the colonel who sets them on a mission: to find a dozen eggs to make a wedding cake for his daughter who is about to get married. Bring back a dozen eggs (the only missing ingredient) and they will be given their ration cards back. Come back empty handed? ...
- '"You bring me the eggs by sunrise Thursday, you get them back. You don't, well, you've got all of January to eat snow, and there won't be any cards waiting for you in February, either. That's assuming one of my men doesn't find you and kill you before then, and my men are very good at that."' (p.54)
My Opinion: From page one the plot starts running! Every chapter takes a slight twist. Encounters with other people on their mission keep things on edge - are they out to get them, or people who have their best intentions at heart?
We quickly grow fond of the the pair on the mission - Kolya, an easygoing, more risk-adverse personality with more life experience and 17 year-old Lev, keen to find the eggs ASAP and return safe and sound to the city.
Without giving anything away, the plot twist at the end made me want to go back to the start and read it all over again.
Pages: 387
Rating: 4/5
4Moniica
MARCH
#4
Title: The life and art of Lynley Dodd
Author: Finlay Macdonald
Synopsis: A book about one of New Zealand's most reputable children's books authors, Lynley Dodd, who created Hairy Maclary. Not a household in New Zealand has not heard of the hairy dog who goes on adventures in each book, and returns home safe and sound.
We learn about Lynley's childhood and younger years in the first few chapters. The middle part of the book goes into detail about how Hairy Maclary came about and rose to its success. Subtleties about Hairy Maclary are brought to light, such as the form it is written in, and how each dog is illustrated to look like its name. The final few chapters discuss Lynley's later years how Hairy Maclary has not only changed the lives of millions around the world, but hers also.
My Opinion: A very well-written biography about Lynley Dodd. I read it in a day! As a New Zealander who grew up with the books, the references in the book were easy to relate to.
Highly recommended to anyone who is familiar with the hairy dog.
Pages: 199
Rating: 5/5
-----
#5
Title: The fictional woman
Author: Tara Moss
Synopsis: Tara Moss, a novelist, journalist, TV presenter, criminal investigator, UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and overall feminist, writes about her life as a female and the sexism she has encountered as she tries to make a name for herself, with people often judging her and doubting her abilities due to her looks.
My Opinion: I've probably done things a bit back-to-front here by reading Tara's autobiography before reading any of her other work!
She has a very fluid writing style, but I found some of the middle chapters could be easily skimmed-through. My main qualm would be that she writes more personal anecdotes, such as her upbringing as a child, like she did at the beginning of the book.
Hoping to read some of her other works after reading this.
Pages: 307
Rating: 3/5
-----
#6
Title: Love from boy : Roald Dahl's letters to his mother
Author: Road Dahl, Donald Sturrock (editor)
Synopsis: Road Dahl, today one of the world's most well-known author's, wrote weekly letters to his mother. We follow Road Dahl throughout his life through letters to his mother - from boarding school, to when he became a pilot, until his international acclaim as an author.
My Opinion: Essentially an autobiography of Road Dahl, written in epistolary. What a wonderful legacy for his mother to leave.
Pages: 293
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#7
Title: Going solo
Author: Roald Dahl
Synopsis: Road Dahl once again takes us away into another world with his writing, to Africa where he begins to learn how to fly. Anecdotes, such as when a massive mamba snake is in the house and needs to be captured before the family can re-enter, and more gruesome anecdotes such as when Mdisho - essentially his 'houseman' - steals Road's sword and goes on a killing spree due to his naivety.
A whole section is dedicated to his near-death experience when he crashed his plane and spends months in hospital recovering, fearing he may not reach full recovery.
The last section Road details more of his flying experience, something he has a strong passion for.
My Opinion: Took off half a star as I felt the final section on flying was a little bit long-winded, but any aviation-enthusiasts would love it. I would recommend this book to Road Dahl lovers of all ages - not just children and young adults. Heartwarming ending.
Pages: 210
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#8
Title: Sold
Author: Patricia McCormick
Synopsis: In a small, remote and poverty-stricken village in Nepal lives Lakshmi, a thirteen-year-old girl whose husband has already been arranged for her when she reaches the appropriate age. Her family is reliant on their crops to survive. However, one season, the Himalayan monsoons wash away all of her family's crops and her father instructs Lakshmi that she must go to work in the city to pay off her family's debts.
Frightened to leave the village, but with no other choice, Lakshmi is taken into the city to work as a maid. The journey takes a while and Lakshmi is in awe at seeing things like trains, and different villages on her way. All she knows of the city is hearsay through the village.
Exhausted, but ready to start working as a maid, Lakshmi is confused when she arrives at a place only to be thrown into a room, given makeup and a rag to clean herself with. And there we learn she has been sold into the sex slave.
My Opinion: A well-researched and written account of what goes on behind the scenes in the sex trade. Reading this in the safe confines of my own home makes me feel so lucky that I will never have to endure what other people have to in their lives.
The book itself is written in short paragraphs, keeping experiences brief enough to cringe yet thankful that they are brief.
Read it as an adult and highly recommend.
Pages: 263
Rating: 5/5
#4
Title: The life and art of Lynley Dodd
Author: Finlay Macdonald
Synopsis: A book about one of New Zealand's most reputable children's books authors, Lynley Dodd, who created Hairy Maclary. Not a household in New Zealand has not heard of the hairy dog who goes on adventures in each book, and returns home safe and sound.
We learn about Lynley's childhood and younger years in the first few chapters. The middle part of the book goes into detail about how Hairy Maclary came about and rose to its success. Subtleties about Hairy Maclary are brought to light, such as the form it is written in, and how each dog is illustrated to look like its name. The final few chapters discuss Lynley's later years how Hairy Maclary has not only changed the lives of millions around the world, but hers also.
My Opinion: A very well-written biography about Lynley Dodd. I read it in a day! As a New Zealander who grew up with the books, the references in the book were easy to relate to.
Highly recommended to anyone who is familiar with the hairy dog.
Pages: 199
Rating: 5/5
-----
#5
Title: The fictional woman
Author: Tara Moss
Synopsis: Tara Moss, a novelist, journalist, TV presenter, criminal investigator, UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and overall feminist, writes about her life as a female and the sexism she has encountered as she tries to make a name for herself, with people often judging her and doubting her abilities due to her looks.
My Opinion: I've probably done things a bit back-to-front here by reading Tara's autobiography before reading any of her other work!
She has a very fluid writing style, but I found some of the middle chapters could be easily skimmed-through. My main qualm would be that she writes more personal anecdotes, such as her upbringing as a child, like she did at the beginning of the book.
Hoping to read some of her other works after reading this.
Pages: 307
Rating: 3/5
-----
#6
Title: Love from boy : Roald Dahl's letters to his mother
Author: Road Dahl, Donald Sturrock (editor)
Synopsis: Road Dahl, today one of the world's most well-known author's, wrote weekly letters to his mother. We follow Road Dahl throughout his life through letters to his mother - from boarding school, to when he became a pilot, until his international acclaim as an author.
My Opinion: Essentially an autobiography of Road Dahl, written in epistolary. What a wonderful legacy for his mother to leave.
Pages: 293
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#7
Title: Going solo
Author: Roald Dahl
Synopsis: Road Dahl once again takes us away into another world with his writing, to Africa where he begins to learn how to fly. Anecdotes, such as when a massive mamba snake is in the house and needs to be captured before the family can re-enter, and more gruesome anecdotes such as when Mdisho - essentially his 'houseman' - steals Road's sword and goes on a killing spree due to his naivety.
A whole section is dedicated to his near-death experience when he crashed his plane and spends months in hospital recovering, fearing he may not reach full recovery.
The last section Road details more of his flying experience, something he has a strong passion for.
My Opinion: Took off half a star as I felt the final section on flying was a little bit long-winded, but any aviation-enthusiasts would love it. I would recommend this book to Road Dahl lovers of all ages - not just children and young adults. Heartwarming ending.
Pages: 210
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#8
Title: Sold
Author: Patricia McCormick
Synopsis: In a small, remote and poverty-stricken village in Nepal lives Lakshmi, a thirteen-year-old girl whose husband has already been arranged for her when she reaches the appropriate age. Her family is reliant on their crops to survive. However, one season, the Himalayan monsoons wash away all of her family's crops and her father instructs Lakshmi that she must go to work in the city to pay off her family's debts.
Frightened to leave the village, but with no other choice, Lakshmi is taken into the city to work as a maid. The journey takes a while and Lakshmi is in awe at seeing things like trains, and different villages on her way. All she knows of the city is hearsay through the village.
Exhausted, but ready to start working as a maid, Lakshmi is confused when she arrives at a place only to be thrown into a room, given makeup and a rag to clean herself with. And there we learn she has been sold into the sex slave.
My Opinion: A well-researched and written account of what goes on behind the scenes in the sex trade. Reading this in the safe confines of my own home makes me feel so lucky that I will never have to endure what other people have to in their lives.
The book itself is written in short paragraphs, keeping experiences brief enough to cringe yet thankful that they are brief.
Read it as an adult and highly recommend.
Pages: 263
Rating: 5/5
5Moniica
APRIL
#9
Title: Mr Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore
Author: Robin Sloan
Synopsis: As an economic effect of the recession, Clay Jannon, previously working in the corporate headquarters of NewBagel, finds himself unemployed and hunting for work when he stumbles upon a job opportunity in a 24 hour bookstore.
The bookstore is run by Mr. Penumbra, who Clay rarely sees as the store essentially runs on a pass-the-baton system where Clay hands over to Mr. Penumbra who hands over to Oliver, and then back to Clay.
There is one section of the bookstore that Clay soon starts to notice a strange trend of people borrow books from - the 'Waybacklist'. We quickly learn that the bookstore is part of a secret society and a puzzle remains within, of which these people are trying to decode.
My Opinion: Robin Sloan has a very natural writing style making it easy for readers to become part of the story. I became absorbed, and curious, trying to decode the puzzle myself.
Towards the end there was a slight anti-climax which made it a little bit confusing. Maybe a second reading might clarify some of the more confusing aspects.
Pages: 288
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#10
Title: Toilets of the World
Author: Morna E. Gregory, Sian James
Synopsis: The toilet, dunny, loo - whatever you choose to call it - is an area that everyone inevitably plays a very important part in human beings' lives.
Categorised into continents, Toilets of the World takes us around the globe through photographs and descriptions of various toilets. From Swaziland, where toilets in schools are merely holes in the ground, to Japan where, with the mere push of a button, the seat can be warmed, a bidet function operated followed by a blow-dry session.
My Opinion: A thorough and well-researched coffee-table sized book on toilets around the world. Coming from New Zealand, it was interesting to see toilets plucked from my side of the globe that others around the world may consider unusual.
Pages: 251
Rating: 4/5
-----
#11
Title: The Fourteenth Goldfish
Author: Jennifer L Holm
Synopsis: When Ellie was in preschool, she had a teacher named Starlily who gave all the children a goldfish to teach them about the cycle of life. "Goldfish don't last very long." However, Ellie's goldfish never went to Fishbowl Heaven until fifth grade. "He didn't last very long," Ellie's mum says. "What are you talking about? He lasted seven years!" Which is when Ellie learns Goldie had been replaced over the years and this was Goldfish #13.
Starlily's lesson on life is proven wrong when Ellie's grandfather Melvin engineers a way to reverse senescence (the process of aging) through cellular regeneration, and ends up on Ellie's doorstep one day as a 14 year old boy.
Moving back in with Ellie and her mother, and having to attend middle school with her due to legality reasons, Melvin befriends a goth named Raj. Melvin tries to ignite a passion for science in Ellie, something he failed to do with Ellie's mother (a drama teacher at the school). Raj also helps them break into Melvin's laboratory one evening by disguising as a pizza boy to claim back the T. melvinus formula before anyone else accidentally comes into contact and reverses their age.
Topics such as coming of age, letting go of friendships and the meaning of life are all addressed.
My Opinion: I read it as an adult and enjoyed it. There was a lot of subtle humour which children who read it might not pick up on. The ending was clever and felt like the type of ending a sequel could easily be written to.
Pages: 190
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#12
Title: The vagenda : a zero tolerance guide to the media
Author: Holly Baxter, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
Synopsis: Broken down into 11 chapters, The Vagenda analyses sexism throughout the years and analyses sexism in aspects of life such as magazines, bodies and work.
Some of my favourite lines:
- “It is a truth universally acknowledged that women lose their virginity and men gain experience” (p.89)
- "The message - that men are professionals and women are objects ..." (p.262)
My Opinion: If I had read this pre- the feminist movement in recent years it may have been more groundbreaking, but most of the sexism it discusses is mostly things people already know (especially if you are a female!)
I hope only one day that people will read books such as these and think "What on earth were people in that era thinking?"
I highly recommend the book to all feminists, including males.
Through educating ourselves by means such as in this book, one step at a time sexism is being stamped out.
Pages: 294
Rating: 3.5/5
#9
Title: Mr Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore
Author: Robin Sloan
Synopsis: As an economic effect of the recession, Clay Jannon, previously working in the corporate headquarters of NewBagel, finds himself unemployed and hunting for work when he stumbles upon a job opportunity in a 24 hour bookstore.
The bookstore is run by Mr. Penumbra, who Clay rarely sees as the store essentially runs on a pass-the-baton system where Clay hands over to Mr. Penumbra who hands over to Oliver, and then back to Clay.
There is one section of the bookstore that Clay soon starts to notice a strange trend of people borrow books from - the 'Waybacklist'. We quickly learn that the bookstore is part of a secret society and a puzzle remains within, of which these people are trying to decode.
My Opinion: Robin Sloan has a very natural writing style making it easy for readers to become part of the story. I became absorbed, and curious, trying to decode the puzzle myself.
Towards the end there was a slight anti-climax which made it a little bit confusing. Maybe a second reading might clarify some of the more confusing aspects.
Pages: 288
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#10
Title: Toilets of the World
Author: Morna E. Gregory, Sian James
Synopsis: The toilet, dunny, loo - whatever you choose to call it - is an area that everyone inevitably plays a very important part in human beings' lives.
Categorised into continents, Toilets of the World takes us around the globe through photographs and descriptions of various toilets. From Swaziland, where toilets in schools are merely holes in the ground, to Japan where, with the mere push of a button, the seat can be warmed, a bidet function operated followed by a blow-dry session.
My Opinion: A thorough and well-researched coffee-table sized book on toilets around the world. Coming from New Zealand, it was interesting to see toilets plucked from my side of the globe that others around the world may consider unusual.
Pages: 251
Rating: 4/5
-----
#11
Title: The Fourteenth Goldfish
Author: Jennifer L Holm
Synopsis: When Ellie was in preschool, she had a teacher named Starlily who gave all the children a goldfish to teach them about the cycle of life. "Goldfish don't last very long." However, Ellie's goldfish never went to Fishbowl Heaven until fifth grade. "He didn't last very long," Ellie's mum says. "What are you talking about? He lasted seven years!" Which is when Ellie learns Goldie had been replaced over the years and this was Goldfish #13.
Starlily's lesson on life is proven wrong when Ellie's grandfather Melvin engineers a way to reverse senescence (the process of aging) through cellular regeneration, and ends up on Ellie's doorstep one day as a 14 year old boy.
Moving back in with Ellie and her mother, and having to attend middle school with her due to legality reasons, Melvin befriends a goth named Raj. Melvin tries to ignite a passion for science in Ellie, something he failed to do with Ellie's mother (a drama teacher at the school). Raj also helps them break into Melvin's laboratory one evening by disguising as a pizza boy to claim back the T. melvinus formula before anyone else accidentally comes into contact and reverses their age.
Topics such as coming of age, letting go of friendships and the meaning of life are all addressed.
My Opinion: I read it as an adult and enjoyed it. There was a lot of subtle humour which children who read it might not pick up on. The ending was clever and felt like the type of ending a sequel could easily be written to.
Pages: 190
Rating: 3.5/5
-----
#12
Title: The vagenda : a zero tolerance guide to the media
Author: Holly Baxter, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
Synopsis: Broken down into 11 chapters, The Vagenda analyses sexism throughout the years and analyses sexism in aspects of life such as magazines, bodies and work.
Some of my favourite lines:
- “It is a truth universally acknowledged that women lose their virginity and men gain experience” (p.89)
- "The message - that men are professionals and women are objects ..." (p.262)
My Opinion: If I had read this pre- the feminist movement in recent years it may have been more groundbreaking, but most of the sexism it discusses is mostly things people already know (especially if you are a female!)
I hope only one day that people will read books such as these and think "What on earth were people in that era thinking?"
I highly recommend the book to all feminists, including males.
Through educating ourselves by means such as in this book, one step at a time sexism is being stamped out.
Pages: 294
Rating: 3.5/5
6Moniica
MAY
#13
Title: The shallows : what the Internet is doing to our brains
Author: Nicholas G. Carr
Synopsis: The Shallows opens out with a history of the written word and how reading has transformed over time. We are taken back to when people first started silent reading, then when published books first evolved and then to when Internet came about.
A large portion of the book is focused on Google, and how hyperlinks and 'skim-reading' is changing us and changing the way we use our working memory.
My Opinion: From the title, I inferred that The Shallows would take a negative stance on how the Internet is changing us, but it does not do that at all. Both the pros and cons of the Internet are weighed up and evaluated.
There were some aspects that when I read I thought 'I knew that already', but the book consolidates all these aspects, along with studies, to give an objective stance on what the Internet has done to our brains.
Pages: 228
Rating: 3.5/5
#13
Title: The shallows : what the Internet is doing to our brains
Author: Nicholas G. Carr
Synopsis: The Shallows opens out with a history of the written word and how reading has transformed over time. We are taken back to when people first started silent reading, then when published books first evolved and then to when Internet came about.
A large portion of the book is focused on Google, and how hyperlinks and 'skim-reading' is changing us and changing the way we use our working memory.
My Opinion: From the title, I inferred that The Shallows would take a negative stance on how the Internet is changing us, but it does not do that at all. Both the pros and cons of the Internet are weighed up and evaluated.
There were some aspects that when I read I thought 'I knew that already', but the book consolidates all these aspects, along with studies, to give an objective stance on what the Internet has done to our brains.
Pages: 228
Rating: 3.5/5
7Moniica
JUNE
#14
Title: Everyday Sexism
Author: Laura Bates
Synopsis: While grim at times, Everyday Sexism held good discussions around sexism in the 21st Century. Significant progress has been made through the centuries in terms of women having equal rights however there are still instances that woman face every day. Each chapter addresses sexism in different aspects - including the workplace, motherhood and in media to name a few. There is even a chapter on sexism towards men.
The book is well-researched and includes statistics and examples from people contributing to the #EverydaySexism Twitter hashtag (which is still commonly used.)
My Opinion: Everyday Sexism is well-structured and written, making it easy to read. Highly recommend.
Pages: 382
Rating: 5/5
#14
Title: Everyday Sexism
Author: Laura Bates
Synopsis: While grim at times, Everyday Sexism held good discussions around sexism in the 21st Century. Significant progress has been made through the centuries in terms of women having equal rights however there are still instances that woman face every day. Each chapter addresses sexism in different aspects - including the workplace, motherhood and in media to name a few. There is even a chapter on sexism towards men.
The book is well-researched and includes statistics and examples from people contributing to the #EverydaySexism Twitter hashtag (which is still commonly used.)
My Opinion: Everyday Sexism is well-structured and written, making it easy to read. Highly recommend.
Pages: 382
Rating: 5/5
