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Kafka by the Shore
Kafka by the Shore I am late to Murakami, and after reading Haruki Murakami’s Kafka by the Shore a spark of inquisition was generated. Murakami makes it impossible to ignore the cultural implications in his writing, so I looked for connections and wondered what fueled Murakami and his writing. What I found was remarkable. Understanding some of the nuances of Japanese culture helped me understand Murakami, his characters, and Japanese culture. Japanese culture is a deep and vast cavern of riches steeped in history, and its modern history is just as rich and intriguing. Today many Japanese people often go missing by choice. They leave behind all valuables and anything…
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Station Eleven, By Emily St.John Mandel
Begin your journey with Station Eleven The opening of the novel is everything a reader expects in a narrative, drama, excitement, and a strong character introduction. In spite of that, the rest of the novel limps on in comparison. The narrative is packed with starting with a global pandemic and a traveling Shakespeare troupe making their way through mostly empty pockets of leftover communities. A symphony of nameless musicians known only by the instrument they play in the novel, a cult with the most boring cult leader in history, and a nonlinear plot that keeps you going. It’s hard to pinpoint where the narrative starts to wane, what is clear…
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FairyTale, By Stephen King
Fairy Tale, By Stephen King The King of Horror wears two crowns. There are no complaints here about his writing. Fantasy fiction lovers will be treated to a Jack and the Beanstalk world full of curses, stadium battles, giant insects, two moons, gold, and one tricycle. The only downside is that you will have to wait until the second half of the novel for the fantasy. The first half is classic Stephen King character development, which is just as engaging as the fantasy parts. If you have not read Stephen King, this might not be the novel to start with. Here are some tips to consider: there are disfigured characters…
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The God of Endings, A Novel By Jacqueline Holland
The God of Endings 🔗 The title emphasizes endings, but the story carefully steers into the realm of new beginnings. The narrative is not typical of the supernatural genre, not what you may expect from a vampire novel. Holland’s story begins in 1834 with a young girl named Anna, who later becomes Collette LeSange’s a teacher and the founder of an elite preschool in upstate New York. The narrative mainly focuses on her experiences as a young girl named Anna. After a period of suffering and loss Anna is given immortality, a gift and a curse she did not ask for and does not want. Holland’s writing style is easy…
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“The Stranger in the Lifeboat” By Author Mitch Albom
The Stranger in the Lifeboat Mitch Albom’s “The Stranger in the Lifeboat” delves into the complexities of the human psyche when faced with tragedy. The book follows the wealthy and influential passengers of a luxury yacht named the Galaxy, who end up stranded on a lifeboat with crew members and a mysterious stranger. As they fight for survival, tensions rise and the true nature of each individual is put to the test. The book poses thought-provoking questions, such as what one would do if one asked God for help and the Lord showed up. The characters grapple with their fears, hopes, and regrets while coping with the uncertainty and despair…
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Sea of Tranquility: Shared Experiences
By Mariam Nooristani Sea of Tranquility Novel by Emily St. John Mandel The narrative revolves around a haunting moment in time where the characters in the novel experience something unexplainable. Mandel’s storytelling is simply hypnotic as she seamlessly captures the gravity of global events in elegant prose. One event covered in the novel is the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-related work may not be your cup of tea right now. Considering this, Mandel writes about the pandemic without causing a flutter of anxiety or panic. The narrative creates a gap of time that allows for time and space to have passed sufficiently enough to where the reader feels a safe mental…