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Sajid's 2014 Reading Challange - 40 Books
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These are the books I kinda have in my mind which i will try to read this year:1.
2. Let it Snow
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. Prodigy
11.
12.
13.
14. And the Mountains Echoed
15. A Thousand Splendid Suns
16.
17. The Night Circus
18.
19. The Catcher in the Rye
20. Stolen: A Letter to My Captor
21. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
22. Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World's Most Dangerous Website
23. Julian Assange - The Unauthorised Autobiography
24.
25. The Blood of the Lamb
26.
27. Flash Burnout
28. A Brief History Of Time: From Big Bang To Black Holes
29. Fever Pitch
30. Heavy Metal And You
31.Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
32.Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
33.Wuthering Heights
34.
11 books on your list are on my to read list. I think we have some good books ahead of us!
Book #1
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Finished January 3rd.
Review: 5/5
It was a re-read. One of my absolute favorite books and I just had to start the new year with it. Plus, after watching the movie poster and new stills, i just couldn't resist :D
Book #2
The Sea of Tranquility, Katja Millay
Finished January 9th.
Review: 4/5
wow. I really liked this book. Was a really emotional story and I really liked the characters. They felt so.....real... I read the ebook, but will definitely buy the physical copy now!
Book #3
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Finished January 12th
Review: 5/5
"I know someone. Someone who has a story. A story which will make you believe in God"
Since I already had watched the movie, and loved it to bits by the way, I wasn't sure that I would enjoy the book, cause I already knew the amazing plot. But boy was I wrong.
A bit of advise to anyone who has already watched the movie. YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY REALIZE the magnificence of the story if you don't read the book. YOU.JUST.CANNOT.
After reading the book, I have so many things to say about the plot,the symbols, the metaphors, the characterization but I just don't know where to begin and where to end. My thoughts are so shambled after reading this book, that even if I could justify the book with my futile words, I don't think I can formulate my words properly.
Only now I rightly realize what John Green meant when he said "My thoughts are Stars I can't fathom into constellations."
There is no point in writing a synopsis of the story by saying it's about an Indian boy, who was left adrift the pacific ocean after a shipwreck, with the company of a Bengal Tiger and against all odds, enduring inhumane ordeals and torments, he survived. There is no point because that is really not what the book is about. Of course, it shows the sheer willpower of human beings, the lengths it can go to for it's survival, but it's not the only story of the book. This book will challenge your philosophical views of the world in more ways you can imagine. It will challenge you to choose between the better story and the yeastless facts. It's full of so many symbols and motifs and metaphors that everyone's version of the book will be different than the others depending on their philosophical bending. Like Martel said, "The world isn't just the way it is. It is how we understand it, no?"
Read this book. Because it has the potential to change the philosophical views of the reader. It has the potential to change your views about the world, and about the universe.
Going to end this with a really bold statement: No matter whether you are an atheist, or an agnostic. This book WILL make you believe in GOD.
Not in the conventional sense of course. But............. You will know what I mean when you read the book ;)
A new favorite. And a masterful classic.
Jodi wrote: "11 books on your list are on my to read list. I think we have some good books ahead of us!"That's great! it'll be great to discuss about those books! which ones are you most looking forward to?!
Probably The Fault in Our Stars. I haven't read it yet. I am also looking forward to re-reading 1984. I read it years ago and remember I loved it. I have been wanting to read it again for a while now. I read Looking for Alaska last year as my first John Green book and want to read his other books.
Jodi wrote: "Probably The Fault in Our Stars. I haven't read it yet. I am also looking forward to re-reading 1984. I read it years ago and remember I loved it. I have been wanting to read it again for a while n..."Oh you should definitely read The Fault in our Stars! It's really good. it's actually my first and only John Green book. I have ordered his whole box set which i will probably get by the end of the month so really can't wait! I think I will start with Looking for Alaska as it's his first book.
Everyone keeps telling me how good 1984 is!! and im yet to read it :/ will definitely read it by next month!
Book #4
Leaving Paradise, Simone Elkeles
Finished January 15th
Review: 4/5
Another re-read. It's a good light read with a beautiful sad ending. It has a sequel but I try to imagine it doesn't exist cause personally the ending of this book was really satisfying. For me the sequel was a let down and had a really cheap happy ending. and YES I have a thing for sad endings....
I need to re-read Leaving Paradise again! I completely forgot the story but I remember loving it... There's a sequel? Nice, to know beforehand because I probably won't read it now. You are reading some great books!
Adriana wrote: "I need to re-read Leaving Paradise again! I completely forgot the story but I remember loving it... There's a sequel? Nice, to know beforehand because I probably won't read it now. You are reading ..."Thanks! :)
and ya the sequel is called Return to Paradise, but I try not to think of it's existence and sort of count the first book as a standalone... I'm a huge fan of tragic endings...!
Sajid wrote: "Book #3Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Finished January 12th
Review: 5/5
"I know someone. Someone who has a story. A story which will make you believe in God"
Sin..."
I really need to read this book. I haven't seen the movie either but kinda want to read the book first. I've heard nothing but great things about it.
Traci wrote: "I really need to read this book. I haven't seen the movie either but kinda want to read the book first. I've heard nothing but great things about it."You're really lucky to not have watched the movie first! I wish I hadn't watched the movie before reading the book, but even if I knew the story from the movie, I LOVED the book!
Book #5
Everybody Sees the Ants, A.S King
Finished January 23rd
Review: 5/5
It took a while to finish this book. Not because the book is bad or anything (It's actually amazing), my new semester in college started from last week so it's becoming increasingly hard to make time for reading.
About the book... Wow. I didn’t have a big plan to read this book or anything. Nor did I had it on my TBR shelf for a long time. I was, just the other day, watching John Green’s vlogbrother videos and in one of his videos, he highly recommended this book. Being one of my favorite writers and all, I just had to check this one out.
After reading it I’m just surprised I didn’t hear about this book before.
There are some books which you term as favorites. And then there are some books which you term as special. Books which means a lot to you. For me, it’s that kind of a book. I just know that I’m gonna read this one many more times.
This book is recommended to anyone who has ever been hurt by the cruelty of life. To anyone who has seen the ants
Loved it. Absolutely loved it.
I read The Catcher in the Rye last year and already want to reread it. It just stuck with me! I hope u like it.
Alison wrote: "I read The Catcher in the Rye last year and already want to reread it. It just stuck with me! I hope u like it."I feel so bad that I haven't read Catcher in the Rye yet :/ but will surely read it this time round!
Book #6
1984, George Orwell
Finished January 29th
Review: 3/5
So, what George Orwell does in this book is he shows us how dangerous and horrifying a totalitarian government can be, by creating a dystopian world which is horrendous to imagine. It’s not a book you will remember for its memorable characters. At hindsight the main protagonist of the book is, Winston Smith, who although is a part of the ruling class but is not at all satisfied with the living condition of the society. But the actual standout star of the novel is the world it is based upon. A world where War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength.
Although some of the themes in this horrible dystopian world seems hysterical and absurd, it should be remembered that absurdity and hysteria is actually the basis of a totalitarian government.
The more I read the more I realized that many of the absurdity of 1984 is actually happening all around us, in bits and pieces. Just checkout today’s newspaper and you will see “thought criminals” are being hunted by the government in more than one ways.
It seems there’s a fine line between Orwell’s 1984 fiction and today’s political reality. Look closely and you will find more similarities than you would have thought you would.
I know I only gave it a 3 star rating. But I’m sure I will give it much more after a re-read. It’s just one of those books which you just have to read again to completely realize its greatness.
Book #7
Looking for Alaska, John Green
Finished February 4th
Review: 5/5
This is where it all started for John Green. It was my second John Green novel, first being his latest, The Fault in our Stars. After getting absolutely blown away by TFIOS I decided I had to read all his works and thus I picked up Looking for Alaska. I knew that I should keep my expectation levels to a cautious level cause after reading TFIOS, the bar of quality was pretty high, and I had a notion set in the back of my head that none of his other works can impress me much more.
Obviously, I was absolutely, totally and utterly wrong!
Miles Halter aka Pudge is a quiet, gawky and a sensible "good kid" whose whole life has been one big non-event. Oh and he is obsessed with famous people's last words. For example, poet François Rabelais famous last words, right before he died were, "I go to seek the Great Perhaps". And so to seek the Great Perhaps, Miles leaves his home comfort of Florida and heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, to finish his last two years of high school education.
Upon arriving in Culver Creek, Pudge quickly befriends Chip Martin, nicknamed "The Colonel". Colonel is Clever, intelligent and proud, a financially poor, scholarship student who intensely dislikes the rich. Brainy, Prankster, best friend and room-mate to Miles, it is through him that Pudge meets the enigma called Alaska Young.
Gorgeous, clever, mysterious,rebellious, unpredictable and undoubtedly screwed up, Alaska draws Miles into her reckless world and irrevocably steals his heart.
Reading the first 50 pages had me convinced that this book is not just another shallow teen young-adult romantic book. It is much much more deeper than that. It not only tells a coming of age story but also touches some very important philosophical aspects of life.
The unique and intriguing thing about this book that forces you to keep turning the pages is that the name of the chapters are countdown of days. The book is essentially divided into two parts. BEFORE and AFTER. So the chapters in the BEFORE part are like "ONE HUNDRED THIRTY SIX DAYS BEFORE", "FORTY DAYS BEFORE", "THREE DAYS BEFORE" until arriving at "THE LAST DAY". So you know that the countdown and the story is going towards and building up to a Great something but you don't quite know what. And then this GREAT event happens which affects and changes the lives of all the characters in the story. Then starts the AFTER part and the chapters go like "ONE DAY AFTER" "TWENTY DAYS AFTER" and deals with how all the characters react and deal to that great life changing event.
I loved Miles aka Pudge as the narrator of the story. He is probably one of my all time favorite narrators. I don't thing I ever connected and related to any other narrator the way I connected to Pudge.
But my favorite character of the book is most definitely Alaska. She is so unpredictable and funny and crazy and smart and beautiful! Albeit being impulsive, crazy and messed up you just can't help but to be fascinated by her. I don't blame Pudge to have head over heels feelings
for her. Gorgeous, Intelligent and the fact that she is a massive book head, I wouldve melted the same way as Pudge if not more. And most of all, she is a complete mystery. From the very page of her introduction in the story she is an unsolvable mystery. And by god she remains a mystery till the very last page of the book.
Pudge: "Sometimes, I just don't get you..."
Alaska: "You never get me. That's the whole point..."
As Pudge later contemplates, "Some mysteries are never meant to be solved"
Another one of my absolute favorite characters is the Old Man Professor Hyde, the world religion teacher of Culver Creek boarding school. It is his lectures in class through which John Green sends out the philosophical messages of the book. What is the meaning of Life? What are the biggest questions of this universe? What happens after death? How do we cope with grief? How can we escape the labyrinth of life, death and suffering?
It is these religious philosophies and the famous last words that give a whole other dimension to this beautiful book.
Looking for Alaska is the award-winning debut that brilliantly captures the exquisite painful joy of living and loving. Poignant, funny and heartbreaking, this novel will stay with you forever.
This is what is written on the back of my edition of the book. And after reading this book, I believe every word of it. This book will certainly stay with me forever.
Finishing this review with a line, which without a doubt, one of the most beautiful lines I have ever read in my life.
It's where Pudge is contemplating the difference between him and Alaska. That she was crazy and fun and endlessly fascinating and on the other hand he was quiet, simple and hopelessly boring. And he thinks to himself:
Pudge: "I went to bed, thinking, that if people were rain, I was drizzle... and she was a hurricane..."
BOOK #8
The Distance Between Us, Kasie West
Finished February 9th
REVIEW: 2/5
I regret picking this book up. I had it on my TBR shelf cause I really liked the premise of wealthy/poor relationship in a YA contemporary setting. The story had potential but for me it failed to deliver and the whole thing seemed really lackluster and anti-climatic... Really really disappointed....
BOOK #9
Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell
Finished February 11th
REVIEW:4/5
I'm so glad that I picked this book up... It was such a beautiful and honest book...
Earlier in the novel Park’s English teacher asks him why “Romeo and Juliet” has survived 400 years. With Eleanor looking on, Park says: “Because people want to remember what it’s like to be young? And in love?”
And that's exactly how this book makes you feel... young.. and in Love...
This is how John Green described how this book made him feel... and it pretty much says it all...
BOOK #10
Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake
Finished February 15h
Review: 3/5
BOOK #11
Girl of Nightmares, Kendra Blake
finished February 22nd
Review: 4/5
wow... really liked it... loved the ending... it was beautiful, romantic, sweet and heartbreaking... Really like it when I start a book without much of an expectations and they turn out to be a beautiful read!
BOOK #12
Black Spring, Alison Croggon
finished February 26th
Review: 4/5
I really liked this book! I was really in the mood for reading gothic books after finishing Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares, so I picked this one up!
First I had my doubts on whether I would like a re-telling of Wuthering Heights but any doubt faded away soon after starting this book.
I loved the way it was written especially the way the eerie atmosphere was portrayed. Loved the narrative structure of the book and the more I read, the more I was drawn to the gothic atmosphere, the dark story and to the wicked characters...
I'm just really surprised that this book is not more popular... I guess I like it more cause I haven't read Wuthering Heights before and so the whole story was completely new to me...!
Trinity wrote: "Good luck on your goal of 40, Sajid!"Thanks Trinity! :)
Book #13
The Lover's Dictionary, David Levithan
finished February 26th
Review: 5/5
Certainly one of the most unique romantic books ever written and
One of the best romantic books I have ever read...
A book which portrays the relationship of two couples through the use of dictionary entries.
This book felt so honest and...universal! Cause I think anyone and everyone can relate to this book in one way or the other. Give this book to anyone and I'm sure they can find at least one 'dictionary entry' of this book which after reading that, they will be nodding their head in agreement saying "yep, I've been there. I've felt that way..."... I mean how romantic is that!
I admired the wordplay. I thought the structure and the way the words where used, it was pure genius from the writer. I'm really glad I read this book on my Kindle, cause I didn't know the meanings of many of the words but I could easily look them up in the kindle dictionary!
I loved the fact that there was no proper descriptions given about the identity of the two main characters. Throughout the book we only get to see them as 'you' and 'I'. That helped me to focus entirely to the relationship and the dialogue of the narrator instead of the usual details that surrounds any other books...and also I think the book not being in a chronological form really worked! I first had my doubt but all doubts were removed the more I read. I mean at one entry we are reading this sweet moment and in the very next we see a heartbreaking/dark moment. This really got to me and thought it was probably one of the best and certainly a unique thing about the book that I really liked.
I felt the book is really honest because it's not all rainbows and lovey-dovey stuff in this book sameway its not all 'smoothride' in a relationship.. we get to see the the adorable, the hilarious, the romantic along with the nagging doubts, insecurity and even the dark and not so sweet side of the story.
(view spoiler)
Jenna wrote: "I really like the list. Just finished looking for Alaska. A good read."Thanks Jenna :) You should check out John Green's other books too! specially the fault in our stars! He's one of my absolute favorite writers!
Book #14
I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith
Finished March 1st
Review: 3/5
Was really in the mood to read something classic... A good read.
Book #15
Every Day, David Levithan
Finished March 2nd
Review: 4/5
THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Imagine waking up in a different body and a different life everyday... A life where nothing is constant. Your home, your parents, your friends, your relationships, your name, your body everything is just a variable. Everything changes everyday. Except for your soul.
This is what "A" goes through everyday. For as long as he can remember A has been finding himself waking up in a new body, experiencing a day in the life of the body he's living in.
So one day when A wakes up in Justin's body, he thinks it's just going to be a usual day of his very unusual life. But when he meets Justin's girlfriend Rhiannon, everything changes. In spite of knowing that he can't hold on to Justin's life for more than one day, he falls in love with her.
Imagine being in love with the same person, be loved by the same person, but being in a different body everyday.
I can see why this book is not for everyone. You have to have a really open mind to truly get in the story.
After reading David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary, my thought was that it was one of the most unique books I have ever read.
I never thought that I'll end up saying the same thing after reading his very next book. "Everyday" is certainly, one of the most unique books I have ever read.
Maybe I'm just not a very experienced reader. Or maybe David Levithan is just special.
Despite giving it a 4 star rating, I loved this book. It was thought-provoking, gripping, emotional, sad, terrifying, romantic, strange, and beautiful all at the same time. The only problem was that it had quite an abrupt ending. I won't go on to say that I hated the ending, like many people have been saying about the book. Not at all. I hate it when people diss a book just because they don't get their fluffy cheap happy ending. Yes the ending doesn't give you definitive answers but that's also the reason this book is poignant and it stays with you for a long time. That being said I couldn't help but finding myself turning the last page, only to be shown the acknowledgments. I so desperately wanted the book to carry on!
I'm definitely going to read this book again... and I'm sure I'll end up giving it a 5 star after another read!
Book #16
An Abundance of Katherines, John Green
Finished March 7th
Review: 4/5
So after ignoring my initial reading list for the past three/four books, I finally decided to get back to it.
I liked this book. This book is considered as one of John Green's 'lesser' works and although I'm always a bit biased when it comes to John Green, it seems even his 'not so good' books can captivate me and leave me with some amazing characters and memorable quotes. It's not an emotionally challenging book like Looking for Alaska or The Fault in our Stars. On the contrary it's probably John Green's funniest book. Colin Singleton is probably a really really annoying character but shamefully I have to admit that I could connect to him in someways... And I really liked Colin's best friend Hassan who is freakking hilarious and probably my favorite character in the book. Also there were some really sweet moments between Colin and Lindsey which I really liked, especially the cave scenes.
Unlike John's other books, this book had a third person narrative which I Initially thought wasn't a good idea but along with the really funny footnotes, ultimately I thought it worked really well.
So yeah, obviously this book has it's shortcomings and it's not the same level as Looking for Alaska and The Fault in our Stars but still I liked this book as it was really really funny, had some signature John Green writing along with some unique elements to it.
Book #17
Paper Towns, John Green
REVIEW: 4/5
Initially I found this book's main two characters a bit similar to John's first book Looking for Alaska. But this book is just not about Quentin's obsession of finding Margo Roth Speigelman when she runs away. Sure that's the main plot but as John's books go, it's much much more deeper than that.
The thing that I love most about John Green's books is that they talk about so many philosophical aspects of life. This one is no different. This book is divided into three parts. "The Strings", "The Grass" and "The Vessel"... These three being three metaphors of life, of how we choose to see our lives.
As I said this book wasn't only about Quentin obsessing over Margo. I really liked the friendship of Q, Ben and Radar. It was very interesting to see Q and Ben's friendship struggle and Q finally accepting Ben for who he was. I also liked Radar's character. He was such a good friend to Q throughout the book.
And have to say John Green is so good at writing these complicated and mysterious female characters... First Alaska and now Margo. And the messages this book sends are always very deep and enlightening.
This book certainly changed the way of how I think about other people. This book helped me to realize the treacherous fact that a person is actually more than just a person...
BOOK #18
Me Before You, Jojo Moyes
REVIEW:3/5
Had a really interesting premise that initially drew my attention...Really liked the first half of the book but the second half it sort of dragged on and in the end it just felt that something was missing. Probably cause I already sort of guessed the ending or probably I had heard a lot of praise for this book and my expectations were a lot higher...
BOOK #19
Wonder, R.J Palacio
REVIEW: 5/5
I think I lack appropriate amount of adjectives to describe how good this book is. This book has the potential to wreck emotional havoc to it's readers. I'm absolutely blown away by the awesomeness of this book! Whoever you are, a middle-grader, a teenager or an adult doesn't matter, stop doing whatever you're doing and READ THIS BOOK! You're life will be better for it!
There is no shadow of a doubt that I will read this book many many more times, share it with my friends, listen to the audiobook and just will keep it in my mind as long as it's possible...
wow... yeah.. went through a 3 month long reading slump.. (what can I say... Life happened.... *sigh*)
BOOK #20
Contact, Carl Sagan
REVIEW: 5/5
BOOK #21
Making Faces, Amy Harmon
REVIEW: 4/5
BOOK #22
The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins
REVIEW: 5/5
BOOK #23
Midwinterblood, Marcus Sedgwick
REVIEW: 5/5
Oh my word what did I just read! can't remember the last time I finished a book in one sitting. I'm really not a fast reader but I just couldn't stop reading this. My GOD this books is absolutely beautiful! wow...just wow... having trouble converting thoughts to word... Definitely A new favorite!
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Midwinterblood (other topics)The God Delusion (other topics)
Making Faces (other topics)
Making Faces (other topics)
Contact (other topics)
More...
English is not my first language so I don't usually write a lot of reviews, so challenging myself to write 10 proper reviews. Hopefully it'll do my creative English writing some good!
Book Challenge Update: 21/40