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Iran - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Stuart Williams

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Iran is rarely out of the headlines, and there is likely to be a rush of interest from tourists and...

Schoolgirls, Money and Rebellion in Japan

Sharon Kinsella

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Book

Japanese society in the 1990s and 2000s produced a range of complicated material about sexualized...

Gloria (27 KP) rated The Handmaid's Tale in Books

Jul 18, 2017

This book is intense. (2 more)

Highly recommended

Great world building and characterization.

The ending sets off even more mixed emotions (0 more)

A Must Read

A powerful read that demonstrates all kinds of ideologies. It gets better because it can be analyzed to death. It's an insight into every woman's worst nightmare. What's worse is that it portrays how our own society seems to hold the stepping stones to a dystopian world as depicted in this book. It serves as a cautionary tale of what could happen with its fleshed out dystopic concepts that are mirrored in current society.

The fact that it is told from the perspective of a reproductive servant/slave makes it all the better. More interesting and engaging. It contains just the right amount of backstory sprinkled throughout to help keep you following but still keep you wondering.

As for the controversial ending, it is shocking causing an emotional roller-coaster ride. It is definitely a great contrast as opposed to listening to Offred tell the story. I would have liked a few more questions answered, yet that also is what allows for great discussion and wonderment.

Kudos

Sarah Daglish (1 KP) rated Flowers for Algernon in Books

Jan 15, 2018

Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes | 1966 | Science Fiction/Fantasy

9.1

(26 Ratings)

Book Rating

The characterisation of Charlie was superb throughout. (0 more)

Sensationally clever without being pretentious

I found this book on a blog recommending books for depression sufferers, although I'm not sure in retrospect why this book was on that list. The book is written in the form of progress reports written by the protagonist, Charlie, who starts off the book as an adult with severe learning difficulties, during a less enlightened era. Despite his rough treatment by a society that fails to understand him, he is thoroughly charming, warm and kind, but above all desperate to better himself by learning to write and read. When he is offered the chance to undergo groundbreaking experimental surgery that will elevate his capacity to learn, he jumps at the chance. Algernon is a lab mouse who has had the surgery already and is considered a genius (by mouse standards).

Although this is technically science fiction, I found it more a focus on society and the perceptions of intelligence and happiness. I grew such fondness for Algernon and Charlie, I found the ending truly heartbreaking.

I'm not normally a fan of the sci-fi genre, but I couldn't put this down.

Kudos

Kate (493 KP) rated The IT Girl Wears An XL in Books

Mar 4, 2020

The IT Girl Wears An XL

Nara Noelle | 2020 | Humor & Comedy, Romance, Young Adult (YA)

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Challenges sterotypes (0 more)

Shows how society treats curvy girls (0 more)

I enjoyed this book. It was nice to challenge the stereotypes of how girls should look. It also goes to show that curvy can be fancied and can get the guy. It also shows what society is like to those girls when they get what other girls want.
I was instantly hooked and wanted to continue reading when I could. There were 2 sides to the book as well so it didn't focus on one thing and I got to know more about each character and their past.
The book was written well and kept me intrigued.
I connected with the characters. Some I felt sorry for and some I felt disgusted because of their actions.
I think the story is aimed at mid-teens to late twenties. It is a feel good book and aimed at people who want a confidence book or just a laugh.
After reading the blurb I'm glad I decided to read the book and will definitely read the second book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

Kudos

Awix (3310 KP) rated Kin-dza-dza! (1986) in Movies

Apr 4, 2020

Kin-dza-dza! (1986)

1986 | Comedy, Sci-Fi

7.0

(2 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Soviet-era comedy-SF resembles a high-speed collision between Mad Max and The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy as directed by Terry Gilliam. Earthling Everymen are accidentally teleported to the post-apocalyptic dystopia of Pluk, where lower-caste citizens must wear bells in their noses, social status is determined by the colour of your trousers, and most of the local language translates as 'koo!' Can they persuade a couple of dodgy locals to help them get home?

Possibly a little bit slow and overlong, and many of the jokes are probably too understated, but the desolate alien world is well-realised on a low budget (special effects are sparingly used, but look good when they are) and the intricately ridiculous society of Pluk has been worked out in impressive detail. Hard to tell whether the satire is aimed at capitalist society or communist, but perhaps this is the point: life on Pluk may be unfair, arbitrary, and often unintelligible, but then isn't that true everywhere? Well-played, solidly scripted for the most part (end comes unravelled a bit), very watchable and entertaining.