Book Review: 1984 by George Orwell

For years I kept hearing about 1984. The more I heard about it, the more my curiosity piqued. Finally, when one of my friends read the book herself this year and praised it, I knew it was time I hunt down a copy to read myself. Lemme just say it did not disappoint.

1984, though written decades ago, is still prevalent in the world today. In fact, I dare say it goes as far as to almost predicting some of the future, or rather most of the world as we know it today. Sure, the whole world isn't exactly like it is in 1984, however, it's pretty close in some countries.

I recently read a book, Surviving Chinese Communist Detention by Steven Schaerer, which told the very true story of how he, Schaerer, well, survived Chinese communist detention. He was working 100% legally, abided by all the laws, and yet was arrested under the pretense that he was working illegally when he wasn't and put in a Chinese prison. He was mentally tortured the entire time there and when he was finally released, he was a changed man.

1984

George Orwell

In reading Winston's story in 1984, I saw so many similarities between his story and Schaerer's real-life experience. Not to mention with all that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has been doing lately to its citizens, it almost feels like 1984 is more of a reality than not. (Note, I'm not saying Chinese people are bad. I'm saying the government, the CCP, is a lot like Big Brother in 1984. Please don't attract any Chinese person for any reason. Or like, don't attract anyone for that matter).

As for the story itself, I was thoroughly impressed by Orwell's writing and storytelling. He built the world so well, and even technically invented a whole new language called Newspeak. (Although never used very much, he did write a mini-essay on the usage of the language in the Appendix of the book which was really fascinating).

There was only one time, or rather a chapter, that I wasn't fully invested in the book and even got a little bored. When Winston reads literal chapters from a book, the info dump that I thought would be interesting, turned out to be very political and boring. It wasn't technically from Winston's POV as it was the words he himself was reading and thus lacked his character.

Aside from that, it was a hella enjoyable read. I feel as though to prevent our future from ever ending up like the one in 1984, this book is a must-read. I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

I was recommended to read this book by one of my best friends, who was also recommended to read it by another friend of ours. I'm glad they did.

I went into this book blind. I bought it solely because it was highly praised by my friends and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. So when I started reading the book, though very interesting (at the start and throughout), I was hella confused. I didn't understand the writing style, such as why almost everything was capitalized. (We later can learn it's things that are viewed as important to "Piranesi" and part of his character, and in sorts, character development). Not to mention that an entire world was literally inside what must be the world's largest house with the best foundation ever to withstand hard weather.

I knew that reading on would help answer these questions. And it did.

Piranesi

by Susanna Clarke

Susanna Clarke

Author of wondrous worlds

The World in which "Piranesi" lives is so interesting and love learning about it from him. For a while, I believed it was essentially the one true world in which this character exists. But make no mistake, it is not. The World in which "Piranesi" resides is a true mystery and we learn more about it as time goes on.

In fact, the whole book is an excellent mystery. It also deals with mental health in an interesting way.

I love the writing style and how it was all told in the way of journal entries. Easily one of the best books I've read this year. Such a unique style and story. Not to mention the formatting and cover are absolutely gorgeous. It's one I highly recommend checking out.

Book Review: The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

Another great addition to the Avatar universe.

I am once again saddened to finish such a great read. At least after finishing the first book, I had the second one to look forward to. It's possible due to the content of the epilogue there could be a third book in the works, but I think that's just wishful thinking on my part. After all, I expected there to be a lot more Kyoshi x Rangi, considering the cover of the book. (And the fact that I assumed Rangi was the titular "Shadow of Kyoshi.")

I'm a sucker for LGBT+ and seeing Kyoshi and Rangi together always warmed my heart. I know that this book (and even series) isn't a romance series, so not focusing entirely on their romantic relationship is fine, but I wouldn't object to more. That being said, their relationship, apart from the romantic side, is a pleasure to read. They work so well together. A true bending duo.

The Shadow of Kyoshi

by F.C. Yee

I also want to point out that the formatting (of both this one and the first book) is on point. Absolutely loved it. Helped with the experience of the read.

That all being said, I did feel like the writing was slightly different than the first book, despite knowing it was written by the same person. Maybe it's because it's been a few months since I read the first book and I'm just not recalling it, but it feels different. I mean, not so different as to feel like a different person is writing book two, just, different. I'm unsure how to explain it.

Also, there were a few times where the POV would switch slightly and that was a bit distracting. Like a small line or two stating stuff Kyoshi (or whoever had the POV) shouldn't know. I mean, she could totally guess judging by the context, but it wasn't worded like a guess.

Overall, a fantastic read and a great action story. A worthy addition to the Avatar universe. If you love Avatar, you for sure have to check this out. And even if you don't know anything about the universe, reading both books should help you in that regard. No need to have seen the show. (Though I recommend that, too).

F.C. Yee

Book Review: Surviving Chinese Communist Detention by Steven Schaerer

This is a must-read for anyone interested in China.

Despite the fact that it's obvious at some points the book was self-published (a few spelling mistakes and repeated sentences) and reads a bit like an essay at times (I think the footnotes should have been placed at the end of the book), it was still a helluva interesting read.

The first few chapters did read very much like a university essay, which isn't a bad thing, just different. It was still information worth knowing. But when Schaerer stars really going into detail about his arrest and time in detention, I couldn't put the book down. I couldn't imagine what it felt like to go through this, even though he did his best to make you feel like you were there with him. It was hard to believe this wasn't some well-planned piece of fiction, but an actual retelling of this poor man's experience.

I'm glad to have read his story, for that means he really did escape the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).

I'm also impressed at how fast he seemed to put this book together. judging by the information and footnotes, he was still writing/researching stuff for this book as early as February of this year. The work he put into making this not only a great yet informative book really shows. Well written and a great (yet depressing) read.

I do think he could have spelled out the swear words, though, instead of censoring them. Maybe that's just the bit of CCP propaganda leftover from his time in detention.

All in all, I highly recommend this book. It's a great educational experience.

Surviving Chinese Communist Detention

By Steven Schaerer

Steven Schaerer

Book Review: You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes

Kepnes has done it again. Somehow she made Joe even more likable if that's the right word. Somehow she made it so that we wanted Joe to have that happy ending, that he really was "a good guy", because in this book he kinda is, for the most part.

Sure he did some stalking, as in previous books, but nowhere near to the level he was at before. He kept his promise to himself that he would win MK over the old fashion. (Well, again, for the most part). But while there were deaths, surprisingly none were from Joe himself! He's racked up quite the body count over the last two books but he actually didn't harm or kill anyone. (Even though he did mean to kill Phil, but he didn't follow through so, good guy? haha. How Kepnes makes me rout for Joe makes me question my morality).

I like how this book "returned to form", so to speak. In the first book, he would narrate using the pronoun "you" all the time for Beck, but in the second book when he met Love, it was written (still in Joe's voice so props for that), like any other first-person POV. "Love did this." "Love said that." As opposed to something like "You looked at me like this." or "You did this thing." I liked that it was focused on "You" again. The series is called, "You" after all.

I didn't like how some events were glossed over so fast. Mostly stuff at the beginning and the end.

The last book ended with Joe madly in love with Love and him being in jail and this book starts out with him in a completely different city, out of jail, and in love with a new character. Sure we get some explanation but not gonna lie, when I started this book I thought I missed a book in between. (We do learn more about what happened later but I was just so shocked at the contrast of the last book ending compared to the start of the third one). Also, Kepnes brings to light some heavy stuff in regards to Nomi right in the last few chapters and it happens so fast and suddenly it's the epilogue. SOmehow Kepnes did end the series nicely (assuming it's a trilogy), but I would have liked to see it extended just a bit more.

All in all, great series. The narration was unique and truly welcomed. Loved this book (and the other two), from start to finish.

For anyone looking for a good read, I recommend this series.

Now to see if the Netflix version lives up to the books haha.

You Love Me

by Caroline Kepnes

Book Review: Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

Unclear how Kepnes does it, but like her first novel, YOU, she's done it again. She makes you empathize with Joe. Somehow she makes you see things from his perspective (besides the obvious first-person POV). By this I mean somehow we see Joe's horrible actions as justified and we feel for him as a character. We somehow don't want him to be caught for or all his murders, we want him to be with the girl of his dreams and we want the best for him. How Kepnes makes me like a serial killer/stalker is beyond me.

Again, like the previous book, this one was very well written, giving our MC Joe plenty of personality. It was, however, written (in my opinion), slightly different than the first. He wasn't "talking" to anyone this time. (Like saying "YOU did this thing and YOU did this other thing"). It was just Joe narrating his life. I expected this book to follow the writing style of the first one, with a new "you", being other Amy or Love. But it didn't. I'm not mad. It works. It still sounds just like Joe would sound.

I'm happy to know that there is a third book, because the way this one ended, though perfect for Joe's behavior, does leave me wanting to read more. Although I can't possibly imagine how Joe is getting out of trouble this time, or even how the third book will end. My guess is another jail for good or death haha. But I won't know until I read it.

All in all, this series so far is hella enjoyable and to anyone who likes a good thriller out there, I highly. recommend this series.

Now. onto the third book!

Book Review: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Not gonna lie, this wasn't a book I would have normally picked up for myself, let alone read. But there was a time when someone I knew was selling a bunch of books for a really good price. I only wanted one of the books and the price they were being sold for was cheaper than the cost of the book I wanted, so I thought it was a great deal. Now, having all these books in my possession, I felt I needed to read them all and now the time came where I was to read The Kite Runner.

The book was told in an interesting way. There were moments where I felt like the passage of time jumped so randomly between chapters or scenes, and it felt like we were skipping some of the action in a way. (Like going from one bad event but not exploring it because now it's a year later or something). However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It was very well executed.

I love how this story mingled so well with actual historical events (like war and 9/11) yet still wasn't a historical novel. It was its own story set in the real world. This is a story about redemption and many events really hit the heartstrings.

Though the book is called The Kite Runner (named after the character Hassan), the kite runner himself isn't in the story much. Not physically at least. His presence is always there and the time Amir, the MC, spent with Hassan had such an impact on his life. It was sad to hear what had happened to Hassan, but I believe that Amir did find redemption in the end. And not only that, love and forgiveness from Hassan and his son, Sohrab.

On a side note, this book was also a fascinating read for the fact that I learned so much about Afghanistan that I never knew. I loved learning about the culture and country. If anything, this book is a good read of that alone.

Khaled Hosseini

All in all, a great read. A little slow at the start but it does pick up.

Actual rating is 4.5/5.

Book Review: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

This was for sure an interesting book to read. The concept, the unique storytelling, was gripping from start to finish. Apologies if this review is all over the place. I have many thoughts on the book haha.

In this book, we have an unknown narrator, of which I named "Megui" after a friend of mine. We don't get much description of her other than she's a female, occasionally wears makeup, and has longish hair. But that doesn't take away from the story. In this way, it helps us become "Megui" and puts us in her shoes.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

The whole idea that things "disappear" is very interesting. When the Memory Police make something "disappeared" (of which we never find out why they do this other than to be dicks I guess because some of the things they deem useless are not), things aren't actually gone. The objects still exist. People just simply lose all memory associated with them and then get rid of the physical objects. what's interesting, however, is how some people don't forget. They live remembering everything that was "disappeared". It's never explained why some people are like this but it all adds to the mystery.

Like, 90% of the characters don't have names, for example, our MC. I had a theory that at one point the Memory Police decided names were useless so they make them disappear. However, that can't be the case as there are like 3 people who do have names, one being the MC's editor, R. (A letter still counts as a name haha).

I also enjoyed the story within a story. It paralleled with the main story so perfectly. "Megui" is a novelist, and we get to see snippets of her work throughout the book. It's unfortunate for her that novels "disappear" at some point, but somehow at the end, she manages to finish her story, and it was every bit as sad as the actual ending for the book.

The ending itself was so sad. No real conclusion. It was abrupt, like the loss of memory of things that disappeared. She just kinda... died. I thought maybe "Megui" would figure out a way to remember things, or figure why/how the Memory Police make people forget things, but she didn't. She just lived her life until she forgot about her entire self.

Yoko Ogawa

As a side note, I did notice a few inconsistencies. One of them being on things that had already disappeared. Like, photos disappear at one point, but there is a time when "Megui" and the old man are being ID checked by the Memory Police. "Megui" mentions that the police are checking the identification that has photographs on them, but how does that work if they had disappeared in an earlier scene? Like, they burn everything that has an association to do with the thing that disappeared.

That being said, while I didn't particularly like how it ended, I'm not mad at the book. I actually really enjoyed it. It was an easy and fast read and I highly recommend it.