Tales from Watership Down

I simply did not like this book. Some of the short stories were mildly interesting, some others were vacuous. Some of them seemed more like an adaptation of human moral stories to a rabbit society meant to educate children on the concepts of right and wrong, as opposed to being stories about ways of understanding the universe in which rabbits might possibly believe and tell if they had that ability.

  I have read the opinion of some people who say that this book tries to correct the lack of female characters doing interesting things in Watership Down. Fair enough, Hyzenthlay is made co-Chief Rabbit of Watership Down, but that was briefly mentioned once in a short story and is not an important aspect of the book. Yes, Flyairth is an adventurous doe that has the courage to leave Watership Down and form her own warren. Still, female rabbits are offered as prizes to male rabbits who perform heoric acts, and female rabbits are usually the first, and often only, casualty. Not cool.

The Eye of the Reindeer

It is my understanding that this book was written to increase awareness about the Sami people and the challenges that they have faced and continue facing to this day. In that respect, the author succeeded, because I was not aware of their existence, and now I am. So well done in that regard.

  However, as a novel, I thought it tried to cover many more topics than it could successfully handle. At times devoting too much time to develop a certain aspect of the book, like the mental health of Ritva, only to abandon it later in the book as if were not that important. And in the later parts it felt like it was rushing and introduced many more characters, and it felt a bit overwhelming.

  I thought it was nice to learn about the traditions and beliefs of the Sami people, but as with Watership Down, at times it felt like the mythology was somewhat forced. I thought the book was trying too hard to distance the beliefs of the Sami people from the Christian beliefs, and I felt that maybe these comparisons were at times unnecessary. What I found particularly interesting was that the Sami people seemed to be as homophobic as the Christians. I suppose I am more or less used to the Christians' justification of their homophobia by saying that God deemed those relations "unnatural". I am curious to know, what is the Samis' excuse for their homophobia?

  I also thought that Ritva's behaviour was immature when it came to her relationship with Martta. Even after she became an adult she continued being childish in that regard. Which I found quite annoying. Though perhaps not as annoying as the sense that I got that the author wanted you to believe what the Sami people believe.

Leave It to Psmith

This is definitely the best comedy I have read in English. The only other author that I know that might rival Wodehouse's wit is Jorge Ibargüengoitia. I am really pleased that I read this book, and for that I thank Michael Torpey very much indeed.

  Of course, I also thought of The Man in the Brown Suit, and I am convinced that Agatha Christie wanted, primarily, to write a comedy. But Leave It to Psmith is on a different level. It is clear that Wodehouse had elegantly designed each character and each situation and the way in which they would fit into them. All around an extremely simple story, never losing sight of the goal of entertaining the reader.

  And I love this type of humour. I have decided that the British people are my favourite people in the whole world. I highly recommend this book. It is a very fine read.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

In the reading guide that is at the end of the book, as part of the suggested further reading, appears Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and I thought that it was an excellent recommendation because as I was reading A Thousand Splendid Suns I was also thinking that these two books had a very strong connection. In both cases, the authors try to teach the reader about the history of their countries. Though, I must say, I thought Half of a Yellow Sun was more successful in that regard.

  A Thousand Splendid Suns concentrates on the violence that Afghan women have endured even before (in the case of rural Afghanistan) the rule of the Taliban. To the extent that the narrative becomes quite dark and depressing. Reading the book became much more enjoyable and interesting once my friend Katherine Wellington taught me more about the history of Afghanistan. Knowing more about the social and historical context in which the characters develop does make you appreciate the story in a more complete way.
  I am definitely grateful that I read this book because, once again, I feel like I am aware of more aspects of human history around the world. I also thougth the book was well written. It has several poignant passages that succeed in conveying the cruelty and severity with which Mariam and Laila were treated.

The Man in the Brown Suit

This book is hilarious! I am actually not sure if this is primarily detective fiction or a comedy. Maybe it is meant to be both. It definitely reminded me of a telenovela where the most absurd things always happen and every bit of mystery is carefully explained in the end, which I quite enjoy. I have decided that Sir Eustace Pedler is my favourite character. He is so charming and funny, and always has the best remarks. Although some of them are quite inappropriate and maybe it would be best if he kept those to himself, lest he end up in an article of The New York Times involved in the #MeToo movement.

  Now that I think about it, there are several remarks or descriptions that are either sexist, racist, or otherwise inappropriate. The book is amazing and kept me constantly laughing but I do wonder whether it could have benefitted from more strict editing.

  Also, the prologue is written in such a different style from the rest of the novel. Almost as if the prologue was actual detective fiction. It makes me really want to read something that is as well written.

  All in all, I highly recommend this book. You are bound to have a fun time reading it.

The Hate U Give

I am going to take Angie Thomas's words "Find your activism and don't let anyone tell you what that should look like", and say that this blog post is me doing a little activism: please read this book.

  Reading often allows us to enter someone else's experiences. In this case, it allowed me to enter Starr's experiences with racist police brutality. Despite it being a horrifying experience I believe more people should be aware of it. I also agree with Angie Thomas when she said that people tend to focus exclusively on the negative aspects of poverty stricken societies. One of the reasons that make me say that The Hate U Give is quite well written is that I think it succeeds in depicting both sides of such societies: the beautiful and the ugly. The peaceful evening at home that you spend with your family watching TV, contrasting with the shootings that you can hear on your street.
  This book was yet another opportunity to practise being empathetic, and to join in prayer so that we can all grow into a more mature, respectful, and understanding society. Please read this book, and meditate a few minutes after you finish reading it.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

He pauses for a moment, and my eyes flutter open, and he smiles, so I smile back. And then he leans in to kiss me again, sweet and feather-soft. And it's almost too perfect. Almost too Disney. This can't actually be me.

(Albertalli, B. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. p. 276. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Penguin Books, 2018).

  I really like this book. It made me laugh so many times, and it made me cry of happiness. This is the kind of book I wanted to read when I read The Fault In Our Stars back in 2012 which, to me, was more or less of a disappointment. But Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda certainly met my expectations.

  The first part of the book was somehow difficult to read because I was not sure I was enjoying the way things were developing. Falling in love with someone you do not know but only through e-mails seemed a little too avant-garde, I suppose. But the tension that the structure of the plot builds, together with the rewardingly pleasing falling action, made me immensely grateful that I read this book.

  Also, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda gave me the opportunity to continue asking myself about my sexual orientation. And I thought it was somehow unfortunate that people had to "come out" and state their sexual orientation because it makes me think of sexual orientation as being a static object, as opposed to a dynamic one. What happens if you have already declared your orientation but soon afterwards change your mind? Do you have to come out again, this time as something else? I wonder how magical it would be if people simply assumed that everyone can fall in love with anyone, at any time. Maybe that is just me.

  By the way, Blue, I also used to love the first day of school. And it also had to do with school supplies.