The 104 Book Challenge - 2017 discussion
Sanjana and her 2017 bookshelf
3. Everything, Everything4/5
Even thought its Room+The Fault in Our Stars , the ending is a nice plot twist and totally awesome. Also, I fell in love with Olly :D
5. East of the Sun4/5
It's about 3 English women who came to India during the time when British were ruling India. Being from India, it naturally excited me. As opposed to the usual take from people's(non-Indians) view on India as being dirty and disease-ridden, this book focussed on the good parts and all that India has to offer. It was very refreshing and felt good to read about Bombay and other cities and how they were back then :D
8.Salt to the Sea5/5
4 teenagers during World War 2. It's a story of how their lives intertwine together during one of the biggest man made disasters of all time.
12. The Girl in the Red Coat4/5
Despite growing up under unfavorable conditions, this girl's presence of mind and sharpness is what makes this book not another damsel-in-distress novel
13.
America's First Daughter by Stephanie DrayMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
In an era when women were oppressed, Martha Jefferson showed us how to rise above it. She broke free from all social constraints by being a daughter first without neglecting the duties of being a wife. This story shows us how the shaping of a nation was majorly influenced by a woman without being in direct power. It is a must-read as it beautifully portrays the life of a woman in various roles, as a daughter, mother, wife and lover ; and how she has made the best of all situations and has triumphed it all.
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20.
How Not to Fall in Love, Actually by Catherine BennettoMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not your typical romance :)
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22.
The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda LovelaceMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The only reason it's a 4 and not a 5 is because the title is misleading :/
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24.
Salt by Nayyirah WaheedMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book gives us a subtle glance about the racial and sexual discrimination women in Africa have to go through.
I'm just starting to delve in the world of poetry (read..not write); so even though this was hauntingly beautiful, many a time it went beyond my understanding :(
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25.
Harry Potter: The Prequel by J.K. RowlingMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
It ended before it started. 3 pages, ftw :o
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31.
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Alex is a badass and every feminist's goals. When her sister is raped and murdered, something inside her snaps and she's never the same again. She lives and breathes vengeance and makes sure justice is doled out to the murderer who was let go easily due to lack of evidence. People around her are respectful but vary of her, but she couldn't care less.
Nestled in between a murder mystery, lies a story about friendship, love and normal high school drama. Mindy McGinnis couldn't have depicted such an unusual combination any better.
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34.
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee DivakaruniMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mahabharata from Draupadi's point of view. This book was perfection till the last page. This book highlights the most underrated characters like Karna and Panchali herself. It shows the transformation of Draupadi from being a young girl full of ambitions and hopes till her death..a wise woman contemplating her mistakes and regrets. She has always had a tough life what with her future predicted way back in her youth, battling the balance between true love and family honors. It also showed an in depth into the lives and thoughts of the Pandava brothers right till Yudhisthir finally enters heaven.
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38.
The Orphan's Tale by Pam JenoffMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Astrid and Noa start off as rivals in the world of circus, but with time a powerful friendship develops between them. Set in the time of the peak of the German occupation, this story tells us about their lives, their losses and the hardships they face being or caring about Jews in Germany.
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40.
A List of Cages by Robin RoeMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Julian keeps skipping class and prefers to be all alone. Adam, who is in his senior year is forced to take him under his wing as part of his curriculum. But, they grow to be inseparable and he slowly uncovers all the trauma and mental harassment Julian has had to face ever since his parents died in an accident. With Adam by his side, Julian slowly comes out of his shell and begins to enjoy the company of people instead of being wary of them.
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41.
Small Great Things by Jodi PicoultMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book is about discrimination on racial grounds. It could have been shown it in a more descriptive and informative way though. This book was a total yawn except for the two twists at the end. One was a mini one but the other one was a bomb shell tus earning the second star from me.
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42.
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David LagercrantzMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was a bit drab after the original Millenium series by Steig Larrson. It lacked the spine-thrilling moments. But nevertheless, it was still a good try on his part. I wish a bit more of Salander was shown though.
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43.
Sita: Warrior of Mithila by Amish TripathiMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The second book of the RamChandra series was definitely more interesting than the first part. An abandoned baby is found in a field. Adopted by a royal family, she grows up to be extraordinary. She is the next Vishnu, needed to save India. She's a born warrior, strong, determined and brave. This book shows the journey of Sita from an orphan to a Goddess. The story is to be continued in the further series.
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44.
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith RussoMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was predictable like most of the YA novels I've read..the same old romantic story with it's usual ups and downs and ending in the same predictable way. The only difference being that the main character is a transgender. Having said this, I won't deny that it was a sweet story. Andrew always knew he wanted to be a girl. After battling depression and a suicide attempt, he finally undergoes surgery to become Amanda and move in with his dad to have a new beginning. She finds a great group of friends, a caring boyfriend and trusts her secret with one of the girls Bee. But in a fit of rage, she blurts out her secret in front of the entire school. It's a sweet story of friendship and the support she receives and how people overcome their biases to maintain their relationship with her and accommodate her in their lives.
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45.
Fairest by Marissa MeyerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A very quick read. It tells the story of Levana (the evil queen of Luna) got her evil ways. A perfect retelling of Snow White's evil stepmother, you cannot help but have a bit of sympathy for Levana. Having always been at the recieving end of sadness and brutality all her life, it's no wonder she turned out to be a great but harsh queen.
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46.
The Hate U Give by Angie ThomasMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
A book about racism. Starr watched her best friend Khalil getting shot by a cop for no fault of his. People are not very sympathetic about it however because he is a drug dealer. The protest for his innocence is justified. But in the midst of this, there are gang wars and revenge plots going wong which was totally unnecessary. Also the too predictable happy ending was a big let down.
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Lily and the Octopus by Steven RowleyMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a weird, WEIRD book. As much as I love dogs (a bit too much), a dog talking i just too much. And no, it's not a kid's book either.
But as you go through the book, you realise the dog does not actually talk. The owner, a gay writer is an introvert only expresses his feelings to his dog. His whole life revolves around Lily, a dashchund. In her old age, she develops a sort of tumor on her head which for some reason is referred to as an octopus. Hence enters the octopus talking and a whole lot of evil octopus stories and revenge being plotted against it.
Also, I'm not being biased but this book seemed to give a feeling of a woman's perspective rather than a man. Again, its strictly my opinion though.
This book made me cry, well i only cry about and for dogs. It was a wonderful rendition of a dog and her unwavering love and support for her master.
3 stars because I had really mixed feelings about this book, and 3 is in between good and bad!
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48.The Hundred Lies of Lizzie LovettMy rating : 2 of 5 stars
Lizzie Lovett- one of the popular girls in high school, also a cheerleader, goes missing suddenly without a trace. Hawthorne- a social misfit accidentally finds herself on a quest to discover why she's missing. She comes up with crazy theories of Lizzie being a werefolf in reality. She ropes in Lizzie's boyfriend Enzo on her crazy mission.Everything is wrong with this book. First, if this was the imagination of a 10 year old kid, it would have been acceptable. But it's of a senior at high school who believes in werewolves. So not realisitic. Second, Enzo being considerably older than her also believes in this theory. Third, Hawthorne didn't even know Lizzie. Fourth, there's not a single lie mentioned about Lizzie, forget a hundred. Fifth, they could have elaborated about Connor and Rush a bit more. They were after all the only sane characters in the book.
50.
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned VizziniMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Craig has worked really hard to get into one of the best school. But like most teenagers today, the pressure becomes too much and he finds himself slipping into depression, enough to want to kill himself. Thanks to the Suicide Helpline he manages to get help and checks himself voluntarily into the psychiatric ward. He meets people there from various walks of life and finds that he is not alone; there are people who are worse off. The crowd is mixed, but he manages to make friends amongst them. he also discovers his true passion there and aims to work towards it. What was most touching about this book is that it is partly a true story based on the author's life.
The story could have been written in a better manner, the end was too predictable with the hero getting the girl and all.
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51.
Glass Sword by Victoria AveyardMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Even though there was a lot happening, overall the book was quite a drag. Mare seems selfish at times even though she convinces herself that she's acting for the greater good. She sets out to find the rest of he newbloods before Maven does. The one Maven ahs already captured, in a very optimistic plan , Mare with the help of Cal, Farley, Kilorn and Shade rescue from the high-security prison.
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The 104 Book Challenge - 2017
Books mentioned in this topic
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (other topics)Love & Misadventure (other topics)
Snow Angel Cove (other topics)
We Come Apart (other topics)
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett (other topics)
More...
1.The Problem with Forever
I give it 3/5. The first half was good. The second half was very predictable so...
2. Everyone Worth Knowing
2/5
Not as gripping as The Devil Wears Prada :/