Let’s embark on this exciting journey for our book club number 4 by delving into some of the captivating books I’ve recently explored.
1. Greenlights; Matthew McConaughey (rate: 3/10)
First, let me say that the book appears perfect – its appearance, quality, design… However, the content didn’t impress me to that extent. I really could’ve skipped reading it. Even Matthew himself says at the beginning that it’s not a biography, not a memoir, not a life guide, but a mishmash, hoping it will inspire us and compel us to seek our “greenlights”.
What I don’t like is that he romanticizes family violence and abusive relationships at the beginning of the book. Of course, many of these things influenced him to grow into a great gentleman and a gentleman, to the extent that we know. Again, don’t expect much talk about acting or profound ideas because, to me, it’s not the most brilliant biography precisely because of the confusion that runs through the book, which I think he also had when he was writing. He wanted a lot but achieved little.
2.A Gentleman in Moscow; Amor Towles (rating: 9.5/10)
In “A Gentleman in Moscow,” where Alexander Ilyich Rostov is the main protagonist whose presence at the Metropol Hotel is the heart of the novel. Despite being sentenced to house arrest, Rostov retains his charm, dignity, and wit, adapting to the new way of life with elegance and consistency. Through Rostov’s encounters with various characters, including hotel staff, a nine-year-old girl (you’ll be totally shocked!), guests, and politicians, readers gain insight into the complexity of Soviet society at that time.
The novel explores political intrigues, social changes, and class differences that characterised the post-war period in Russia. Rostov’s internal transformation, from an aristocrat confined to his luxurious world to a man who finds freedom within limitations, provides a basis for considering important questions of human existence.
Keep in mind that you may find the novel “challenging” to read due to Amor Towles’ writing style, as the characters are perfectly portrayed, and the story is very layered, but that’s precisely why “A Gentleman in Moscow” has become a modern classic that will surely leave a profound impression on you.
3. Where the Crawdads Sing; Delia Owens (ocena 8/10)
Where the Crawdads Sing is a captivating tale of resilience, love, and survival centered around Kya Clark, known as the Marsh girl. Despite facing judgment and loneliness, she finds kindness and friendship in a few locals. As she grows, two young men enter her life, offering different paths to happiness. The story unfolds against a backdrop of a murder mystery with rumors swirling about Kya’s involvement. This beautifully written book skillfully blends drama, romance, mystery,however it comes with an amount of violence, abuse, and brutality, so be cautious while choosing it to read.
4. The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman; Mamen Sancez (ocena : 4/10)
Initially drawn in by the mystery of a vanished Englishman in Spain, I found myself on a rollercoaster ride that took unexpected turns. Instead of a gritty police procedural, I stumbled into a whirlwind of romance and intrigue. Inspector Manchego and Berta stole the spotlight, weaving a tale that intertwined with Atticus and his captivating Spanish counterpart. Amidst it all, the ghost of Ernest Hemingway lurked in the background, adding a touch of literary flair. Yet, despite promises of charm and hilarity, I found myself craving more substance and less fluff. Perhaps lost in translation, the humor failed to land, leaving me yearning for something more. In the end, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea, but the journey to the final page was certainly an adventure.
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Krenimo na ovu uzbudljivu avanturu za nas cetvrti knjizevnj klub, istrazujuci neke od vrlo zanimljivoh knjiga koje sam nedavno procitala.
1.Zelena Svetla; Matthew McConaughey (ocena: 3/10)
Moram prvo reci da knjiga izgleda savrseno, izgled, kvalitet, dizajn…medjutim, sadrzaj me nije odusevio do te mere. Zaista sam mogla da je ne procitam. I sam Matthew na pocetku kaze da to nije biografija, nije memoar, nije zivotni vodic, vec je svastara, te da se nada da ce nas inspirisati i naterati da trazimo svoje “greenlights”.
Ono sto mi se ne svidja jeste da on romantizuje porodicno nasilje odnose na pocetku knjige. Naravno, mnoge od tih stvari su uticale na to da on izraste u velikog dzentlmena i gospodina, tj. u onoj meri u kojoj nam je poznato. Opet, ne ocekujte mnogo price o glumi ni neke dubokoumne ideje jer, po meni, nije najgenijalnija biografija bas zbog te konfuzije koja se provlaci kroz knjigu koju mislim da je i on imao kad je pisao. Puno je hteo a malo je toga postigao.
2. Dzentlmen u Moskvi; Amor Towles (ocena:9,5/10)
U “Dzentlmenu u Moskvi”, grof Aleksandar Ilijc Rostov je glavni protagonista cije je prisustvo u hotelu Metropolu srz romana. Iako je osuden na kucni pritvor, Rostov zadrzava svoj sarm, dostojanstvo i duhovitost, prilagodavajuci se novom nacinu zivota s elegancijom i doslednoscu.Kroz Rostovove susrete s raznovrsnim likovima, ukljucujuci osoblje hotela, devetogodisnjom devojcicom (na sta cete ostati totalno sokirani!) goste i politicare, citatelji dobijaju uvid u slozenost drustva Sovjetskog Saveza tog vremena. Roman istrazuje politicke intrige, drustvene promene i klasne razlike koje su karakterisale period posleratne Rusije. Rostovova unutrasnja transformacija, od aristokrate zatvorene u svoj luksuzni svet do coveka koji pronalazi slobodu u ogranicenjima, pruza osnovu za razmatranje vaznih pitanja ljudskog postojanja.
Imajte na umu da vam se moze ciniti roman “tezim” za citanje bas zbog stila pisanja Amora Towlesa i jer je prica veoma slojevita, ali upravo zato “Dzentlmen u Moskvi” je postao moderna klasik koji ce zasigurno ostaviti dubok utisak na vas.
3.Tamo gde rakovi pevaju; Delia Owens (ocena 8/10)
Dugo mi je ova knjiga stajala na polici i razmisljala sam se da li da je citam, bas iz razloga sto je tako hipeovana i mene to uvek strasno odbije. Tako da je napokon doslo i vreme da se procita. “Tamo gde rakovi pevaju” je prava prica o upornosti, ljubavi i prezivljavanju usredsredjena oko Kaje Klark, poznatije kao “devojka iz mocvare”. Inace, dozivecete divne opise mocvare, toliko da je vidite pred sobom i toliko da mocvara postaje lik za sebe. Kaja, koja se se suocava sa osudom i usamljenoscu, pronalazi dobrotu i prijateljstvo kod nekoliko mestana. Kako odrasta, u njen zivot ulaze dva mladica nudeci joj razlicite puteve ka sreci. Prica se odvija pred pozadinom misterije ubistva, dok je glavna optuzena bas nasa junakinja. Ova predivno napisana knjiga vesto kombinuje dramu, romansu i misteriju, ali dolazi i sa odredjenom dozom nasilja, zlostavljanja i surovosti, zato imajte to na umu kada odlucujete hocete li citati ovu knjigu ili ne.
4.Sreca je piti caj sa tobom; Mamen Sancez (ocena : 4/10)
Pre nego sto sam pocela, nisam imala pojma sta me ceka zbog naslova knjige. Cak i posle poslednje stranice, jos uvek se borim sa svojim mislima. Na pocetku sam bila privucena misterijom nestalog Engleza u Spaniji, dok sam se kasnije nasla sam se na voznji rolerkosterom koja je uzela neocekivan obrte. Umesto misteriozne price, naisla sam na vrtlog romantike i intrige. Takodje, uprkos obecanjima da ce biti puno smeha, osetila sam da knjizi nedostaje sustina i da je cela prica dosta predvidiva i previse ‘mlaka’. Mozda izgubljeno u prevodu, humor nije uspeo da se probije. Na kraju, nije bas bio po mom ukusu, ali putovanje do poslednje stranice je svakako bilo avantura.
Tanja's diary 🧚🏻♂️ 