2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Vi's 12 book challenge!
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Great list, Pervinca! Best of luck with your challenge this year! :)
Ilona wrote: "Great list, Pervinca! Best of luck with your challenge this year! :)"Thank you very much! I hope you can also fulfill your reading goals for this year!
Tokio blues. Norwegian WoodSo i finished reading Norwegian Wood! Oh, finishing a book for one in such a long time felt great. I really like Murakami's style, its really smooth, easy to read. He also treats sex in such a natural way, i didn't feel any kind of second hand embarrassment (which sometimes happens cause regarding sex scenes, there are so many ways to approach them...Sometimes instead of feeling something towards the couple i just wanna laugh ahahahaha).
I'm definitely looking forward to read more from this writer!
The only con i can think of is that the action happens quite slow. It's almost like an indie movie. So it might not be for everyone. But i personally enjoyed it very much.
I think I'm gonna go with Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café now! The movie is one of my faves, and i started the book ages ago. Time to finish it!
1. Review and quotes: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just wanted to add a quick update! I just finished reading two short books, although i'm not counting them as part of the 2019 reading challenge since they are not novels. They are:
The Daria Diaries
The Daria Database
I loved the tv show Daria, it's actually one of my favourites, so reading this books with more info about the characters and Lawndale was really really fun. It was nice to have some new content regarding the show. Very happy! The drawings are wonderful and you can really feel the characters being themselves.
A quick update! This was not on mi original list, but as i said, that was orientative. Got 2/12 so far, not bad!After Dark, by Haruki Murakami
After Dark
I read this book after going to the library looking for another Murakami book to read. I had started "Sputnik, my love" but it wasn't available at the time, so i went with this one and oh boy.
The whole story takes place in one night, and i really liked how the author gives as a window to look at the life and events of the characters for one night, like an indie movie. I really liked Mari, Takahashi and the hotel Alphaville; I did expect more, however, from characters like Eri and Shirakawa; they both had their importance but since they keep appearing i thought something else was going to happen involving them. Murakami does a good job using this god like perspective, and whereas it might not be one of my faves, i really enjoyed it.
Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Looks like your challenge is going well!Next month we start a three-month buddy read of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. You are welcome to join if you'd like :)
Ilona wrote: "Looks like your challenge is going well!Next month we start a three-month buddy read of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. You are welcome to join if you'd like :)"
Oh, thanks for telling me! I'm really invested in Murakami; i'll save some time for joining the challenge then! It's always fun to read and comment the book with others
Another update: The books i've read in March so far. One of them is The Catcher in the Rye, a book i've been wanting to read for a long time, and the other one is a bunch of funny medical stories, which i fancied reading at the time i visited the library, so that's what i did. 4/12!Memorias de un médico de urgencias, by Luis Jiménez de Diego
Memorias de un médico de urgencias
After a medical congress, i fel't like reading a funny book with funny anecdotes that always take place in hospitals; the think i like the most is when doctors tell us this particular stories. I quite enjoyed the book, it was funny, made me have a good time, it was what i was looking for. Only downside is that the language is a bit too formal, and being the kind of book that it is, such formality is not necessary at all.
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye
I had been meaning to read this book for a long time. Once i got my hands on it, i was only able to read the first ten chapters. But today i finished it. I quited liked what Salinger acomplished with this narrative style; it feels as if Holden is talking to you, really. Only problem is, i didn't like Holden that much. I couldn't really relate to him, or his thoughts, or his way of doing things. I only felt sympathy for him towards the end of the book, once Phoebe starts to appear, and once i was able to understood part of his feelings, that were caused by (view spoiler)
My fave parts: When he is with Phoebe, the speech the english teacher gives to him, the carrousel scene.
It reminded me, in a way, of The Perks of Being a Wallflower except that this was a book i could relate to (kinda) and could understand the plot and what was going on. I feel the plot here is a bit lousy.
Didn't have many expectations at first, but since what really pushed me to finish it were the reviews of lots of people who said this book had changed their lives, i feel a bit disappointed.
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Early april update! I just finished reading Fried Green Tomatoes, and I think the next book I'll be reading will be Sputnik Sweetheart, cause i feel like reading some Murakami againFried Green Tomatoes at Whistle Stop Café, by Fannie Flagg
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Fried Green Tomatoes has always been one of my favourite movies. It was just, in such a happy tone, so sweet, so bright. When i discovered it was based on a book, i was over the moon!
I really liked reading the book. I thought maybe i would be disappointed, but not at all, it has the same happy tone as the film, but with more information. There were only a few things i didn't like: first, the time skipping, going back and forward in time. Other thing i didn't like is, due to this time changes, sometimes a character is introduced or reappears and you don't really recall who is it. But overall, i really liked the way Fannie Flag told the story, and the story per se.
I find Idgie incredibly charming, one of my favourite characters definitely, and i'm happy to know that, in the book, Idgie and Ruth's relationship is more explicit. I love the way Idgie tells her stories, and makes everyone happy, and how she treats people exactly how they deserve to be treated. I find the ending a bit bitterswet though. ( i really like that they let you know that Idgie is alive, and that, later, it's described how she lives now, i wanted a bit more)
Another thing i found sad was how, towars the end of the book, when the past begins to come closer to the present, Dot Weems talks about how different life in town is, and how, since the trains don't go by anymore and the café closed, everyone started leaving Whistle Stop. It hit close to home and made me feel melancholic
Moving on, i really liked to see the developing friendship of Ninny and Evelyin, and how Ninny made Evelyn change her mindset completely, starting to work towards her goals, and in the end, being happy.
Overall, i really enjoyed this book, and i would love to read more from this author!
Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've been wanting to read Sputnik Sweetheart for a while, and i already finished it!Sputnik, mi amor, by Haruki Murakami
Sputnik, mi amor
I really liked the story, but i think i liked more the beginning of it than the end.
I thought this was going in a different direction. I loved the realtionship between Sumire and the narrator; i thought it was such a close, deep friendship. It's clear that they love each other very much, but not romantically. And i think that's why i liked this book so much, because I myself have a person like that in my life, and this story came in just when I most needed it. Had I read it some other time, i probably wouldn't had enjoyed it as much.
I love Sumire, the questions she asks, and how the narrator always answers them, no matter how weird or strange they may be, and he answers them in the perfect way to help Sumire, so she, in the end, always finds what she is looking for. This is my favourite thing about her friendship with the narrator, because you can really see how well do they understandeach other, how much do they know each other's train of thought, reasoning, ideas and preferences.
It was the end of the book that failed a little bit for me. I was expecting a realistic story, like Norwegian wood, but in the end, a little fantasy starts to appear, with "the other world". This theme is also present in the other Murakami book i read, After Dark, and I guess this kind of "fantasy" is not for me.
So, all and all, i know its a good story, but i was expecting more realism there.
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
I forgot to update, but at the beginning of this week, i finally finished Battle Royale!8. Battle Royale, by Koushun Takami
Battle Royale
I bought this book a loooong time ago, after the Hunger Games book. I had read THG a couple of times and i was looking for something similar, yet different, but i couldn't remember all the japanese names. Now, after many japanese animes and videogames, i decided to give it a new try.
And i am so happy i did. I like the story a lot more. It focuses more on the game than on the universe, kinda like danganronpa. Things are as cold as they get. The deaths are not described in detail, but they are not smoothed out either; it's an objective vision. I really liked Shuya and Shinji.
I'm kinda upset that there isn't a second part to the story though, maybe with a fight against the gobernment. I think that would be really cool, specially if Shinji was around; i really wanted to know more about him. It would have given the story a bit more of thrill.
To sum up, i really eanjoyed the book! It's really entertaining. I think is something I can re-read and still enjoy, it has lots of action. Definitely would recommend.
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
After a while without reading, due to finals, I finally finished "Men Without Women" Hombres sin mujeres, Haruki Murakami
Hombres sin mujeres
This is the 4th book i read from Murakami, and i'm a bit...disappointed.
When i first read the title i thought "Oh, this should be interesting". I thought it would be about people dealing with loss, and it is, in a way; but not of woman: of lovers. Each one of the stories has the same pattern: a lonely man, sometimes really alone, and sometimes with lots of conections and romances (but none of them are meaningful enough), mets a woman. This woman is different from all the other woman he has seen before. And falls in love with her, even if its something temporary (it always is). He will never get over her.
At first i thought it was kind of beautiful, you know, to remember someone you've loved with so much afection. But them it seems repetitive and boring, and it got to a point where i would even pity the men of the stories. I feel woman are romanticed in excess, and there are also some misogynistic undertones in some of the stories.
I really enjoyed Yesterday, and my favourite was Kino; it maintained the style of his other books. I really wish it was a bit longer.
The two last stories, however, were tedious for me to read. One is like a continuation of Kaftka's metamorphosis, which i'm not a fan of, and the other one is full of methaphores that are never explained.
I think after this, I'll be taking a break from Murakami. I really like his books, but i don't want to read the same stories all over again. It's time to find new authors and keep reading Murakami as well, but with other books in between.
Ah well, they can't all be great, right?
Ilona wrote: "Ah well, they can't all be great, right?"You are right! I've decided to take a break from Murakami for a while. I'm now looking forward to read more books from asian authors; i just finished Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto, and really enjoyed it!
I'm also thinking of reading some classics or must reads, in order to spice up a bit more what i read; i don't want to read only one type of stories, or one genre. I wanna explore!
La Librería, Penelope Fitzgerald 
La librería
So, I found this book when i was browsing throuh the internet looking for a british film to watch. I loved the film, an thought " this is too good to not be based in a book", and damn i was right!
The book tells the strory of Florence, a middle aged widow who decides to fulfill one of her dreams: to open her own bookshop. However, the rich lady of the villages, has other plans for the house Florence bought for the libray.
Now, about the book: i really liked the story, but i wished i had read the book before watching the movie. The book does give more insight on Florence thoughts, but this is one of the few cases where the movie is better than the book. It gives a bit more of story and purpose to Florence's little assistant, and thus, a bittersweet ending of the story. Their friendship, or how they care about each other is really well shown in the movie, rather than just being a character that appears for a while. For me, it felt as if the book was a bit more shallow than the movie.
Overall, i really did like the story and I'm looking forward to read more from this author!
Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto 
Kitchen
I really liked this book. I especially liked Mikage, she really has a speciall way around words, she is able to completely plasm her feelings into words and sentences. However, i thought the narrative needed a little push: it is really poetic and beautiful, but dind't really find myself surrounded by this world, if you know what i mean. I think this may be because of the translation; perhaps, in japanese, actually has the effect I'm talking about, as if you were bewitched. Had i read the book in english, maybe the feeling would have been a similar one.
However, the second story, Moonlight Shadow, really bewitched me. I did feel as if i was in the story's setting, right there, watching it happen, and it still mantains it's poetic style, with it's beautiful story
I feel, perhaps, Kitchen should have been a bit longer, to go more in deepth with the characters' feelings. It felt a little bit rushed, a bit short, tiptoeing around how they feel, but not actually expressing it. I did like the second story better.
Mitos Nordicos, by Neil Gailman 
Mitos nórdicos
I've been looking for a norse myths compilation ever since i was a child. The only one i found was way too technical, and finally, a couple of years lates, i stumbled upon this. It's exactly what i was looking for: a compilation of norse myths, that explain everything: how the world was created, and how will it end, besides the adventures of the gods of Asgard such as Thor, Odin, and Loki.
The book is entertaining, the myths are told as tales, and i enjoyed it really much!
The sun is also a Star, by Nicola Yoon 
The Sun Is Also a Star
I bought this book ages ago, started it, and never finished it, but today i took it up again.
I found it really interesting that it was about an inmigrant about to be deported; so i bought it. Whereas i do find it interesting and entertaining, it is another love story. It all takes place in one day (and i really like that, so many things happen) and there are some quotes that really hit close to home and were relatable. But overall, it's a bit predictable, you see it coming. Although i did like thay each chapter is narrated by a different character, and that not only includes the protagonists. You can see how a simple kind comment can change another person's life. And i really enjoyed the epilogue, with Irene.
I guess i just don't enjoy romantic stories that much when they are only about love (without other elements like, idk, fantasy, magic or crime), and it's been a while since i last read YA books.
It made me feel a bit as when i was a teen. I could feel the love. I wanted to be that much in love. So yeah, i enjoyed it, but i was hopping it to have more stories, or a bit more of depth
And with that, my book challenge is complete! I'm so proud of myself, yay! I finally took the time to fall in love with books again. Ofcourse, I'm not gonna stop here; i'll keep reading, and i think I'll try to read 24 books before the year ends
It's okay if i don't make it though, because i already achieved my main goal!
I know i didn't reallt stick to the books in the list, but that doesn't matter for me. Those were books i had laying around, and i had to start from somewhere. Then i keept hearing about some good books i definetly should read, and decided to follow my heart instead of my list, and it turned out well! My goal now is to keep reading what i like, i don't care if i finish the list by the end of the year. Hooray!
Congratulations on completing your challenge, Pervinca! :)
Okay, haven't posted in a while! But that doesn't mean i haven't read anything. Quick update:
El gran Gatsby
This summer I read The Great Gatsby. Even though i wanted to read it in English, I ended up reading it in spanish. i really liked the story, but wanted a bit more of it; it felt short, i wanted a more developed story, i wanted to know more about Gatsby, and Daisy, and I wanted them to be together.
After that, I tried to read Lolita (and faild miserably) and took a break from books. That is until i re-watched Twilight, and ended up re- reading the whole saga (except for the first one). I have to say i still enjoy this books very much: even if there are some mistakes and the characters sometimes feel a bit dumb, they actually act like teenagers and the book is well written, unlike other YA books I've read.
So, we should add to the list:
LUNA NUEVA
Eclipse
Amanecer
After that, i wanted to read more cheesy vampire books, so i went to my local library and payed a visit to the YA section, which left me with:
Despertar
Vampire Diaries. I'd heard so much about the show, it was so popular, that i thought the books might be good. I was surprised by how thin they were. I must say, that i found the language to be rather plain and simple, and the main character to be someone egocentric and snob you can hardly relate to. Besides, not much happens in the first book. I'll give the 4 original books a chance, but i was highly disappointed. The TV series is better, at least so far.
After that, i turned to some books I'd been wanting to read since i was a teen:
Medianoche
I liked the written style in this one better, but still, it was nothing compared to Twilight (which i know is not the best book ever, but i'm gonna admit the author knows how to tell a story, kinda). THe first part of the book is a bit odd; i find things happening too fast; things i'd have liked to be developed more slowly not because they are important or complex, but to avoid the feeling of the story being rushed. After the turning point in the middle where the vampires appeared, the book gets a bit better, and the main character, Bianca, is way more likable than Vampire DIaries' Elena. Her parents are also nice, and at least is not the boy who is the vampire anymore. Not the best book ever but looking forward to read the rest of the saga and see how the story develops.
And that's it for now! I'll keep reading and updating.
Two more to the list! I continued reading the evernight series, this time in english.
Stargazer
Hourglass
I enjoyed the first one (the second one in the saga) very much, specially because now you are into the story, you have a bit more of knowledge about what's going on, you connect more with the characters, get to know them a bit mor in depth.
However, Hourglass was a bit dull to me. They did nothing, absolutely nothing, but whine about how much they love each other. The end was really disappointing for me; Bianca feels a stranger, a bit stupid, who doesn't contact her parents even if she is sick, when in the previous books you can see how tight their relationship is.
I have one book left in the series (appart from the spin-off, Balthazar) so I hope things go better this time.
I also failed to read Lolita this year! Such a horrible book.
Ilona wrote: "I also failed to read Lolita this year! Such a horrible book."Absolutely! Not only because of the theme of the story and what is it about; the writing style is extremely boring, at least for me
One more:
Afterlife
The final book of the series, which disappointed me enormously. The main character feels so diferent from the first book, everything happens so slowly, half of the book is just there to make the story longer.
I'd rather remember the two first books in the series, which where the best for me
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Afterlife (other topics)Hourglass (other topics)
Stargazer (other topics)
LUNA NUEVA (other topics)
Amanecer (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Haruki Murakami (other topics)Haruki Murakami (other topics)
Books read 21/12 - Complete!
Books from the list: 4/ 12
1. Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami ✔️
2. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whisthle Stop Café, by Fannie Flag.✔️
3. Chocolat, by Joanne Harris
4. The Foxhole court, by Nora Sakavic
5. The Pale Horseman, by Bernard Cornwell
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Lady Midnight, by Cassandra Clare
8. Battle Royale, by Koushun Takami ✔️
9. The Perfume, by Patrick Süskind
10. The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger ✔️
11. Going down with Janis, by Peggy Caserta
12. Allegiant, by Veronica Roth
After Dark, by Haruki Murakami
Memorias de un médico de urgencias, by Luis Jiménez de Diego
Sputnik, mi amor, by Haruki Murakami
Hombres sin mujeres, by Haruki Murakami
La librería, by Penelope Fitzgerald
Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto
Mitos nórdicos, by Neil Gaiman
The sun is also a star, by Nicola Yoon
El gran Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Luna nueva, by Stephenie Meyer
Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer
Amanecer, by Stephenie Meyer
Despertar (Cónicas vampíricas 1) by L.J. Smith
Medianoche, by Claudia Gray
Stargazer, by Claudia Gray
Hourglass, by Claudia Gray
Afterlife, by Claudia Gray
They are not listed in any particular order, but I've started reading Norwegian Wood and I'm so far enjoying it!