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Kafka on The Shore by Murakami
BATB score: 7.5/10 😨 for the 75% that I understood what Murakami was trying to say... so many uncanny characters and bewildered incidents leaving readers in an influx of ambiguous feelings; this Murakami is definitely a unique soul! Best to: Murakami's way of writing is "Murakami-ly" one of a kind; he writes in an odd flow of episodes where you restlessly continue to read hoping for some closure when there is none - and now you are left with a huge Murakami gap in your heart


Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
BATB score: 6.5/10 🌪 What an exotic brilliant mind - Aldous Huxley 1931. Everything in this dystopian social science fiction novel is still legitimate - make us question about the society we live in Best to: understandably why this is one of the required literature class readings; out of this world novel exploring a flip side of the world we live in with its numerous concepts of social conditioning, caste systems, sexual liberation, FORD-dictatorship, civilisation, and order


The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
BATB score: 10/10 ⌚️⏰⏳ Beautiful, touching, and inspirational classic from Mitch Albom 💕 easily read and teary in one sitting 😭 Best to: finish the book - at the end, it's worth it; also, ask oneself, with all the minutes passing are we really living? Best for: all of us - to give Mitch Albom a chance; all of us who are pressed with time but yet wondered where all the time has passed Best as: why are we so obsessed with time? the counting of, the lacking of, the speed/quali


South of the Border, West of the Sun by Murakami
BATB score: 7/10 🔥 *Reader Discretion Advised* this book is rated R; 18+ content - please be wary Best to: a very interesting and thought-provoking novel from the sexual imaginations of Murakami; very descriptive of sexual desires and actual coitus Best for: Murakami fans - I understood like 65% of what Murakami is trying to relay; I do comprehend the face value of all the narrated components and series of events, yet I am positive that Murakami intended more symbolism and a


The Circle by Dave Eggers
BATB score: 7.24/10 👁🔍🌏 for being monitored 360-365-24-7 SECRETS ARE LIES SHARING IS CARING PRIVACY IS THEFT Best to: a modern twist to George Orwell's 1984 - a novel about how global social network companies monitor, collect, analyse, and own all of our digital (and soon offline) footprint for the mission of a better communal humanity: targeted ads, CCTV security, political transparency, etc Best for: ex-googlers and ex-facebookers as the current googlers and facebookers


Hitler's Secret: They Will Kill to Keep It by Rory Clements
BATB score: 6.3/10 🕶🍻💢 Entertaining historical fiction regarding spies, escapes, murder, and politics during Hitler's regime Best to: great plot, suspenseful flow, and a good number of characters to love and to fear; yet, Rory Clements is your slightly above average authors - not wow. Best for: readers of fiction, he said, she said, gasps, pants, strikes Best as: a substitute leisure activity for screen time coach potatoes 🥔


If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
BATB score: 10/10 💋⭐️💃 A stunning novel by Frances Cha on modern day Korea - the idealistic desire for plastic beauty, the strides and sacrifices women has to endure, and the definition of love and affairs. Best to: an accurate reflection of modern day societal expectations for a woman - find a rich husband, make money, manage high social circles, save up for aesthetic plastic surgery, deal with in-laws, make a son, and calibrate about maternity leave and career consequence


Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Murakami
BATB score: 3.45/10 🙄 By far the most confusing Murakami novels I have read; I comprehended like 34.5% of what Murakami is trying to communicate Best to: it's okay you can skip this one. I had to google "hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world explained" Best for: Murakami diehard fanclub devotee who has read at least >2 Murakami books prior to considering this book. His 'two books in one book' presented in alternating chapters back and forth signature written is the


Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
BATB score: 10/10 🐭🤍👨🍳 Daniel Keyes' masterpiece written in 1959, read in 2021 by BATB (+62 years later). Lovable character, engaging journey for self-enlightenment and concluding that IQ quotient is a mere measurement of unnecessary things. Best to: a true timeless classic from a pure talented author - how could you compose something that is still 100% relatable to the general public +62 years later? #dayum Best for: you better read this if you haven't #FOMO ; for anyon


Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
BATB score: 4/10 🔥 A novel written in 2017 and blasted to fame by Hulu TV mini series in 2020 starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington (who won shitload of award from this blaze). IMDB score 7.7/10 🔥 #dayum Best to: the mini-series did add a lot of it's own dramatic sparks and plot twistie flames to Celeste Ng's core ignition; to be honest, I bet the mini-series made the novel more juicy Best for: simple writing novel evangelist; you know how there are many novel aut


The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
BATB score: 9/10 ❣️ Written in 1989, developed into a film in 1993 (7.8 IMDb) #dayum Kazuo Ishiguro aka The Nobel Prize in Literature 2017 Best to: beautiful composition with eloquently sophisticated narration; a good juxtaposition of an affable main character's reminiscence of self 'dignity' and 'loyalty' to one's master - worthy of being a required reading for a literature class Best for: Lords and ladies of Darlington Hall, Oxfordshire; I feel very posh and of great statur


The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
BATB score: 3/10 💔 Written in 1984 and made into a movie in 1988 (7.3/10 IMDb) - probably hyped up as early times erotic novel/films Best as: other than the polygamous coitus chapters, the rest of the book may put you to sleep 💤 Best for: literature enthusiasts on classic writing styles and novelist's reflection of life then and there; Milan Kundera's freshness includes love affairs, the Soviet, oppression to conformity, living in exile, and (modern days relatable) so what'


The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
BATB score: 10/10 🤩❤️🔥 Mitch Albom is a hands-down brilliant author #hallelujah Best to: writings from the heart that touches souls; a very simple storyline yet makes you think about heaven, hope, and love; a feel good book that makes you believe in the beauty of life again Best for: do read Mitch Albom - for people trying to develop a productive reading habit, you can read this book in one sitting Best as: a lot of quotable snippets Best quotes: “There are two stories for


Norwegian Wood by Murakami
BATB score: 5/10 💔 you either love it or you hate it kind of book Best to: it's about depression, suicide, coping with losses, moving on, unable to move on, and Murakami style porno writings via the main character's POV Best for: if you started to read Murakami, you might as well read every book from Murakami Best as: the main character has >10 sexual encounters or telltales throughout the 400 pages of this book; this book is 100% rated R Best quotes: “Don't feel sorry for y


The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
BATB score: 4/10 🌝 Best to: meh, not Mitch Albom's best piece; you get a sense that he is trying maybe a little too hard to top as a sequel to the hit "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" Best for: if you started to read Mitch Albom's books, you might as well read all of Mitch Albom's books to make it a complete collection Best as: Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? No big deal. There's still moreeee (a total of 12 titles from Mitch Albom) blah blah blah Best quote


The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
BATB score: 9/10 🧑⚕️ Alex Michaelides is exceptionally talented in character creation and flow of uncovering storyline details. The book's plot twists, climax, and the closure falling act made clear that he is a full-time screenwriter. #Bravo Best to: not bad at all for a psychological thriller novel #dayum Best for: you know how you watch a movie and you go "I bet he's the killer"? well, through the pages, I had no clue. Best as: Netflix movie material


The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
BATB score: 5/10 🎸 unfortunately, not in Mitch Albom's top 3 best books. Best to: unlike Mitch Albom's previous signature works, this book is 2X longer at 490 pages about a fiction character called Frankie Presto; from the day he was born to the day he passed, it was quite a long journey through a series of events Best for: if you read 2-3 Mitch Albom's books, you might as well read every single book by Mitch Albom Best as: part of a Mitch Albom's collection 📕📙📘


The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
BATB score: 10/10 💙💙💙 Bravo Matt Haig 👏 💯🙇♀️ thank you for making us appreciate our stupid little life and the meek joy of living in such a beautifully narrated book Best to: so, you have as many lives as you have possibilities. Different made-choices lead to different outcomes. If there was one thing that was done differently, your life would have been a different story. So, with infinite choices, what is the best way to live? Best for: people experiencing midlife cri


To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
BATB score: 6/10 🖤 written back in 1960 by Harper Lee, Pulitzer Prize winner for American literature in 1961, made into a 8.3/10 IMDb film in 1962, and a required read for middle school and high school kids all until 2000s Best to: old school classic book on racism and prejudice in Alabama, USA back in 1930s; narrate through a six-year-old Scout Finch POV Best for: raise your hand if you had to read this book for school 🙋♀️🙋 raise your hand if you remember hating it 🙋♀️


The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
BATB score: 7.8/10 ⚓️ and that concludes all of Mitch Albom's books in BATB collection! *disclaimer* okay fair enough, BATB has missed out one book "For One More Day" but BATB can not Mitch Albom any more even if for One More Book. Let BATB be free! Best to: okay, listen carefully, the best Mitch Albom book is "Finding Chika"; contrary to his acquired fame with his easy-going fiction storytelling, his non-fiction breaks more hearts. 1st runner up is "Tuesday with Morrie" Best
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