Showing posts with label Books & More Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books & More Books. Show all posts

17/09/2023

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - THE BURNOUT SOCIETY BY BYUNG-CHUL HAN

 


I wanted to kick off this blog post by sharing a little personal journey I embarked on during my summer holidays. You see, recently I've had a deep fascination with philosophy, especially the profound insights that Asian philosophy offers. So, this summer, instead of hitting the typical beach reads, I dived headfirst into a few thought-provoking books and even enrolled in an intriguing online course.

And let me tell you, it was nothing short of mind-blowing! These philosophical adventures turned out to be not only thought-provoking but also immensely motivational and, dare I say it, life-changing. One particular book, "The Burnout Society" by Byung-Chul Han, left such an impact that I just had to share my reflections with you. So, buckle up, because we're about to delve into a world of ideas that might just transform the way you see the world too. Here's my review, I hope you'll find it interesting and enjoy reading it.


Unmasking the Strains of Modern Life

In an era characterized by ceaseless connectivity, rapid technological advancements, and the relentless pursuit of productivity, Byung-Chul Han's groundbreaking essay, "The Burnout Society," emerges as a poignant exploration of the contemporary individual's struggle to cope with the demands of late-modern society. Han's work delves deep into the core of our hyperactive, performance-driven culture, shedding light on the distressing consequences of living in a world that celebrates positivity and convenience at the cost of genuine human experience.

22/07/2021

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: THE FAIR BOTANISTS BY SARA SHERIDAN

 


Reading The Fair Botanists has been my latest fascinating journey back in time. I’m grateful I had the chance to fling away to Edinburgh back then, in 1822,  at a time of cultural brilliancy and great change.

As I am fond of Scotland, the 19th century, historical fiction and - why not? -  flowers and perfumes, how could I not enjoy Sara Sheridan’s latest novel?

28/08/2018

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: TWO NEW TITLES IN THE WHITCOMB SPRINGS SERIES

“Unchained Courage” by MK McClintock

Montana Territory—July 1865

Daniel and Evelyn Whitcomb dreamed of adventure as they made a home in the Rocky Mountains. Four years after Daniel left Montana, he returns from the Civil War a man uncertain of where he belongs. Through courage, honor, and the arrival of an old friend, Daniel finds a way back to the life he once imagined. Join him in “Unchained Courage” for a lesson in the power of hope, faith, and remembrance. 



MK McClintock is an award-winning author devoted to giving her readers books laced with adventure, romance, and a touch of mystery. Her novels and short stories take you from the rugged mountains of Montana to the Victorian British Isles, all with good helpings of daring exploits and endearing love stories. She enjoys a peaceful life in the Rocky Mountains where she is writing her next book.

If you'd like to know when MK's next book will be out, please visit her website at www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can sign up to receive new release updates.




14/03/2018

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: WORDS, BOOKS & MYSTERIOUS PASTS

detail from the cover of  "La libreria dove tutto è possibile"
Two brilliant debut novels, two books about books, bookshops or bookstores.  They have many common features, though  their respective atmospheres and the authors’  writing styles make them quite different. Ready to discover more?
     
LOST FOR WORDS (2017): I LOVE BOOKS BECAUSE THEY DON’T CARE

This book got mixed review since it came out in April last year,  but I really wanted to read it . Now it has just come out in Italian for Garzanti with the title “La libreria dove tutto è possibile” (The bookshop where everything is possible) .  Like every book lover, I can’t resist books about book lovers, librarians, book shops, libraries and so on.

One of the things I especially like in this novel is its being set in York, one of my best favourite English towns with its amazing Minster, its rich Ricardian legacy, its lovely little shops and intriguing ghost stories.

In Butland’s novel there’s a small cute bookshop in the city centre, where Loveday Cardew finds refuge and solace. She only feels safe when she is there, taking care of the books which take care of her at the same time in return. Through the pages of great novels Loveday manages to communicate her deepest feelings: Anna Karenina’s loneliness, Vaniy Fair’s love for life, Wuthering Heights'  overwhelming passion.

09/08/2017

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - SUMMERTIME READS


Summer means relax and travelling, binge watching and remorseless staying up late,  but it also means spare time for more good books. Have you read anything interesting? I have! Here are some of the best among my holidays reads. Very different genres, international authors - but especially British - all of them  are worth reading and will help you feel good or better.  

Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen


Book BlurbDr Eitan Green is a good man. He saves lives. Then, speeding along a deserted moonlit road in his SUV after an exhausting hospital shift, he hits someone. Seeing that the man, an African migrant, is beyond help, he flees the scene. It is a decision that changes everything.

Because the dead man's wife knows what happened. And when she knocks at Eitan's door the next day, tall and beautiful, holding his wallet, he discovers that her price is not money. It is something else entirely, something that will shatter Eitan's safe existence and take him into a world of secrets and lies he could never have anticipated.
Everything gets more complicated and tense when Dr Green's beloved wife, Liat, smart police officer and detective, starts investigating on the case. 
This new brilliant novel is crafted as a suspenseful thriller, one you suffer putting down and which resonates with you for a while after you finish reading. It is also a touching study of the human mind coping with guilt, shame, desire and resilience. One of the most intriguing books I've read this year. 

18/09/2016

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS! A GREAT MUST - READ LIST FROM GUEST BLOGGER STACEY

 Our guest blogger today is young and lovely Stacey Marone. Get to know more about her reading the bio note below this post and following her on twitter. Stacey has prepared a 30 must- read list full of interesting titles and reading tips. What title would you absolute add to her list? How many of these books have you read? Contribute your titles in the comment section,  it would be great to hear from you.  Happy reading, everyone!

     The 30 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lives

Books are a luxury that can be enjoyed at every stage of your life, and nothing is more enjoyable nor enlightening than  to sit down with a book that gets you thinking, pulls the heartstrings and takes you to a new place. Below is an overview of 30 books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime - in no particular order.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

It is not enough to simply see the movie. The book is a mixture of humanity and humour and there is a reason why it is one of the most loved and discussed books of our time.

2. A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

So much more than a science book, Bill Bryson attempts to make sense of the universe and the meaning of the planet. A must read for anyone even remotely interested in what is out there.

3. Maus: A Survivor’s Tale - Art Spiegelman

A clever take on the usual holocaust novels, Maus is a graphic novel (comic) that tells a story of survival in the war by using cats and mice to represent Nazi's and Jews.

23/08/2016

BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - 'ME BEFORE YOU' AND 'AFTER YOU' BY JOJO MOYES


Prologue

I did it again. It was around the end of the school year in May. I saw one of my students fully-immersed in the reading of a book during the break and asked: "What is it that you are so eagerly reading?”
Her answer was a big smile and “So beautiful, prof.! You must read it. “ And then she showed me the book cover with the title.
“In English?”
“Yes, it is not out in Italian yet”
“A romance?” I suspected it from the cover and the title.
 Her answer came after a while: “ Not exactly … not only … it’s pretty special”
That  was enough to made me curious. I googled it, saw there was a movie coming soon starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, read the synopsis and … promised myself I was definitely not going to read it! Not another cheesy romance my students loved which was going to make me cry!
But then, while on holiday in Scotland,  I happened  to enter a bookshop with books half-price all over and I came out with not only “Me Before You” but its sequel too! I must be crazy, you say? Must be, since I not only bought those books,  I even read them. Well, worse even: I not only read them but also liked them.
Why did I start this post with "I did it again"? It ‘s not the first time I read books or watch movies recommended by my students and find them not so bad.  Did I say cheesy, somewhere above? Well, it wasn't. It isn't. Aren’t I a lucky teacher? ;-)