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Paradise Lost - John Milton - Review

Paradise Lost is a "retelling" of the story of the Fall of Man. 

Going into this book with nothing in mind but this simple assertion and the fact that am not that into poetry, I was stunned to say the least. 

To think that Paradise Lost is based on the scripture, with the erudition of its creator and the eloquence of its blank verse, it can seriously stand as a scripture of its own. And it sort of has for it affected poets for centuries afterward and marked poetry forever.

Milton messes with any preconceived views of anyone's Faith and presents a discrepant perception of Truth as no one has presented or thought of before. All the while, never falling back on poeticity and the power of its words. 

For me, the greatest thing about Paradise Lost is its ambiguity .. the way it leaves you unsure of what it really wants to say .. There's no final say about it, it only depends on what perspective or background you go into it. But no matter what preconception you already have in your mind, this poem will certainly destabilize you and not only during the reading experience. Nope. Paradise Lost is one of those books that you read and it sticks with you .. you don't ever fully recover from it. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my reviews</a>

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The Silent Patient - Book Review

When silence is more imposing and manipulative than any speech. 

The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller that casts Theo Faber, a therapist who set as his mission to treat Alicia Berenson, the famous painter who killed her husband and mysteriously stopped talking despite all attempts to make her speak. As he attempts with all means possible to penetrate Alicia's enigmatic silence, it slowly comes to view that the mystery is more about Theo's incessant endeavors to bring Alicia out of her obstinate silence, more than it is about what happened the night of the murder. (I'll leave it at that).

Still, I definitely did not see that coming🤭

This is a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page, so, brace yourself for the twist! 

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa 

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Book Review: Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor

My first high fantasy reading. 

Reading Strange the Dreamer feels like reading a beautiful bedtime story. One you can't get enough of so you keep reaching for it every night. The world building and the exotic setting are outstanding as well as the amazing cast of characters.

However, halfway through the book, I felt like the plot took a back seat to the romance, which, to me, took away some of the fun as it assimilated the story with hundreds of fairy tale love stories out there. 

I was a little bit frustrated with the writing and the the author's choice of certain expressions, at the beginning, but I guess you get used to it as you read. 

 All in all, this book was quite fun and unique in its own way, am definitely picking up the second one! https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa 

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And the Mountains Echoed - Khaled Husseini - Book Review

Khaled Husseini has this incredible capacity to hold you spell-bound to his narrative, feeling like someone is telling you a story in such a perfect way that you find yourself floating like a shadow in the character's lives, feeling, grieving and praying for them as if they were a part of you somewhere in the world. 

Having read the Kite Runner before I went into this, Id say that And The Mountains Echoed is less shocking, less emotionally gripping than the former. The historical and cultural effect that drives and controls the characters' fates in the Kite Runner recedes, leaving precedence for a deep venture into the nature of impactful relationships in life, the people that cross our path and mark us forever, the ones who refuse to leave you even when they do, the compromises that we make along the way that shape our entire existence. Its like when someone takes up such a huge part of our existence, to the point where we never feel whole again. The people in this novel, no matter how close, and how different they are to each other, no matter the circumstances, have stamped each other's existence in such unique, irreparable manner. 

Husseini, thank you for what you write and for what you make me feel and think about everytime I read one of your books. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my reviews

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The Diviners - Review

I really enjoyed the world-building, the intricate web of the "creepy-crawly" elements, absolutely loved the characters. Once you get into the world of the Diviners, there's no putting it down. 

The historical portrayal of 1920's New York makes the book all the more enjoyable. 

The story is definitely one with a message though. As a recent venturer into this genre, I really appreciate the moral element underlying the story. 

So now I can't wait to finish the whole series! "https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my reviews 

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - Review

I think this book had as much flaws as it had merits. For one, it was definitely easy to float through but I didn't enjoy it. 

The writing style was not that good, I dare say the story was badly written but there was something about the book that kept me going till the end. Perhaps it was the fact that it was narrated from the perspective of a nine-year old. However, the character of Bruno was, for me, under-developed, which was frustrating. 

The way I see it; The Boy in The Striped Pajamas lacks more depth. The plot could have been further developed, and the story would've been way more interesting and detailed for a book dealing with as historically-huge of a subject matter as the Holocaust.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my reviews 

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Wonder - R.J. Palacio - Book Review

Throughout the years, I have come to appreciate authors whose heroes are the outcasts, the less-popular, less socially-accepted individuals, those at odds with the standards of normality. Its not everyday that we read about a genetically-"deformed" middle-school kid. Its amazing!

August Pullman's story is bittersweet, heart-warming but insightful in so many ways; into how judgemental and hurtful our attitudes towards one another can be, how people with rare, physical diseases strive to "fit in" on a daily basis, and what happens when we don't educate our kids to be considerate and mindful towards difference, to be kind and accepting in all situations.. 

Hats off to this book!  /www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my review 

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Book Review: Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf

I would compare Mrs Dallaway to a painting, an impressionist image of a modern London street with different characters portrayed in it. Now Imagine diving into these people's minds! dispersed logic, emotions, memories! .. 

This is a difficult book but a brilliant one. The story takes place within the confines of one single "June" day. Hence, the density of the narrative. We are literally inside someone's head! The turmoils and inner worlds, scattered thoughts competing to gain momentum, to make sense of the world and the lives of a web of inter-related characters !

Mrs Dalloway also portrays complex relationships, repressed emotions, and the artificial decorum of the English upper-class society and their rigid social structures. 

No matter how complicated this book may be, I think any reader would ultimately enjoy the genius behind the work. www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa 

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Mr. Darcy’s Diary -

This book reminded me of how beautiful Jane Austen's novels are! And what an incredible experience it had been for me to delve into that world! In this book, we are re-acquainted with the brilliant Mr.Darcy and God how refreshing and enjoyable it is! I relished in every moment of Elizabeth's wit and Darcy's attempt at balancing his principles, a deep-rooted prejudice and society's vain rules in the face of a new found love for the lively and impertinent Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I loved this book!

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The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Book Review

5 glorious stars for all the emotions this book stirred in me!<br /><br />Already, the characters feel like my own fictional family and I instantly missed them .. the minute I put down the book, I wanted to re-plunge into that magnificent world that Zafon creates and that sweeps us in its multiple layers of intrigue and mystery. 

Whats more engrossing than a book about a lover of books! or a story about a writer who becomes haunted by his own stories! https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my reviews 

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The Kite Runner - Khaled Husseini - Book Review

This book is hands down one of the most engaging and heart-wrenching stories I have ever read.

Aside from the affective charge of the story, khaled Husseini definitely knows how to engage a reader and capture his attention from the very first lines and attach his emotions to the character. 

The character of Amir is infuriating at times, sympathetic at others, but most importantly, it tells the story of a man's life where one mistake, one decision defines a lifetime of guilt-ridden conscious and self-reproach. A man torn between earning his father's affection and doing right by others. 

Contrasted to Hassan, pure and honest, Amir is a tainted personality, a soul corrupted by social prejudice that coerced him into treating Hassan miserably, even when Hassan did nothing but love and cherish him. Nevertheless, I find Amir to be quite an interestingand complex persona that I generally appreciate. And however cliché and redundant in literature the idea of restitution is, Sohrab being Amir's redemption from his sins towards Hassan somehow made the story lighter, delivering a message of hope.

The book touches base with core issues in Afghanistan, Hence, Husseini's apparent hostility towards double-standards and social injustice inflicted upon ethnic minorities and and social outcasts. The character of Hassan is the epitome of the horrors Shi'aa people suffered. It is because of religious fanaticism and rigid societal rules, that two brothers were denied to experience a brotherly relationship on equal terms and led to Amir's tragedy. 

The book is a glimpse of a country destroyed under the weight of the war, and the horrors undergone under the Taliban regimen. An ethnicity massacred by the hands of religious monsters and social prejudice.

The way I would like to remember The Kite Runner; its the story of Hassan and Amir; the struggle to be human in inhuman conditions. The world can be an ugly place sometimes. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my reviews 

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Tess of the d’Urbervilles- Review

A Social Tragedy by Thomas Hardy 

Tess of the d’Urbervilles is a powerful social, ethical, and religious critic of the rigid English morality. Hardy raises questions about Christianity, hypocrisy and social injustice, particularly through the character of Angel Clare, who, though seemingly independent from the social structures and the religious boundaries existing in England, eventually fell prey to the same systems of morality and social ranking he theoretically denounced.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/67157581-marwa-ben-khlifa">View all my reviews</a>

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‘And then he smiled. It was lovely, his smile - a slow thing , full of recognition.’

Jojo Moyes - Me Before You

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a priceless bag !