Marjan’s books on Goodreads (804 books) (original) (raw)

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| | # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | pages | rating | ratings | pub | (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | | comments | votes | count | started | read | addedDown arrow | | owned | | | format | | | -------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | -------------------- | --------------- | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | ------------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | ------ | | | checkbox | position | cover The Andromeda Strain (Andromeda, #1) | title The Andromeda Strain(Andromeda, #1) | author Crichton, Michael | isbn 0060541814 | isbn13 9780060541811 | asin 0060541814 | num pages 327pp | avg rating 3.91 | num ratings 260,144 | date pub Sep 01, 1969 | date pub edition Oct 28, 2003 | Marjan's rating liked it | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Aug 17, 2024 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Tastes of Paradise | title Tastes of Paradise | author Schivelbusch, Wolfgang | isbn 067974438X | isbn13 9780679744382 | asin 067974438X | num pages 237pp | avg rating 4.05 | num ratings 1,257 | date pub 1980 | date pub edition Jun 29, 1993 | Marjan's rating really liked it | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Jul 10, 2024 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) | title Wool Omnibus(Silo, #1) | author Howey, Hugh * | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages 509pp | avg rating 4.22 | num ratings 224,293 | date pub Jan 27, 2012 | date pub edition Jan 25, 2012 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Jun 26, 2024 | owned | format Kindle Edition | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Samarkand | title Samarkand | author Maalouf, Amin * | isbn 1566562937 | isbn13 9781566562935 | asin 1566562937 | num pages 304pp | avg rating 4.24 | num ratings 29,281 | date pub 1988 | date pub edition Sep 01, 2003 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Apr 26, 2024 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Alamut, prebujeni zmaj | title Alamut, prebujeni zmaj | author Bartol, Vladimir | isbn | isbn13 9789612744441 | asin | num pages 108pp | avg rating 4.50 | num ratings 10 | date pub unknown | date pub edition 2016 | Marjan's rating it was amazing | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Mar 2024 | date read Mar 06, 2024 | date added Mar 01, 2024 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1) | title The Sparrow(The Sparrow, #1) | author Russell, Mary Doria * | isbn 0449912558 | isbn13 9780449912553 | asin 0449912558 | num pages 419pp | avg rating 4.14 | num ratings 77,427 | date pub Sep 09, 1996 | date pub edition Sep 08, 1997 | Marjan's rating did not like it | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review This is NOT sci-fi. It is a space opera, focused mostly on characters, their relationships, small talk, and gossip. At best, it kinda works as a drama This is NOT sci-fi. It is a space opera, focused mostly on characters, their relationships, small talk, and gossip. At best, it kinda works as a drama featuring broken hearts and long-lasting marriages, plus a bonus chapter defending catholic celibacy, if that's what you're into. At worst it reads as something a 12-year-old would write for other 12-year-olds... Picture The Famous Five (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4201... a group of friends discovers something and goes on an adventure together. Never mind the rest of the world. Never mind science and logic. Even the dialogues in these sections are pathetic. Overall - a DNF at 50-something percent. Not worth continuing. I'm joining the legion of 1-star reviewers supporting everything they say (not to make this too long). ...more | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 1 | # times read 1 | date started Apr 06, 2024 | date read Apr 11, 2024 | date added Feb 18, 2024 | owned | format Paperback | actions view (with text) | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Alamut | title Alamut | author Bartol, Vladimir | isbn 2752906269 | isbn13 9782752906267 | asin 2752906269 | num pages 592pp | avg rating 4.31 | num ratings 12,392 | date pub 1938 | date pub edition Oct 04, 2012 | Marjan's rating it was amazing | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Jan 11, 2024 | date read Feb 29, 2024 | date added Jan 11, 2024 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness | title The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness | author Montgomery, Sy | isbn 1451697716 | isbn13 9781451697711 | asin 1451697716 | num pages 261pp | avg rating 3.93 | num ratings 52,103 | date pub May 12, 2015 | date pub edition May 12, 2015 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Jan 05, 2024 | owned | format Hardcover | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life | title Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life | author Godfrey-Smith, Peter | isbn 0008226296 | isbn13 9780008226299 | asin 0008226296 | num pages 255pp | avg rating 3.88 | num ratings 24,583 | date pub Dec 06, 2016 | date pub edition Jan 01, 2018 | Marjan's rating really liked it | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Jan 2024 | date read Jan 12, 2024 | date added Jan 01, 2024 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Beetle in the Anthill | title Beetle in the Anthill | author Strugatsky, Arkady | isbn 0026151200 | isbn13 9780026151207 | asin 0026151200 | num pages 192pp | avg rating 4.24 | num ratings 2,754 | date pub 1979 | date pub edition Oct 01, 1980 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Dec 25, 2023 | owned | format Hardcover | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) | title Hyperion(Hyperion Cantos, #1) | author Simmons, Dan | isbn 0553283685 | isbn13 9780553283686 | asin 0553283685 | num pages 500pp | avg rating 4.27 | num ratings 264,581 | date pub May 26, 1989 | date pub edition Mar 1990 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Dec 21, 2023 | owned | format Mass Market Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive | title Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive | author Diamond, Jared | isbn 0141976969 | isbn13 9780141976969 | asin B00BQOC4X0 | num pages 580pp | avg rating 3.93 | num ratings 72,308 | date pub 2004 | date pub edition Mar 21, 2013 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Dec 14, 2023 | date read not set | date added Dec 14, 2023 | owned | format Kindle Edition | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Axiomatic | title Axiomatic | author Egan, Greg | isbn 0061052655 | isbn13 9780061052651 | asin 0061052655 | num pages 293pp | avg rating 4.27 | num ratings 5,879 | date pub Jul 1990 | date pub edition Dec 01, 1997 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Dec 12, 2023 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover The Blind Owl | title The Blind Owl | author Hedayat, Sadegh | isbn 0802131808 | isbn13 9780802131805 | asin B000NKQDGC | num pages 148pp | avg rating 3.97 | num ratings 29,922 | date pub Apr 1937 | date pub edition 1957 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Dec 10, 2023 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover No God but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam | title No God but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam | author Aslan, Reza | isbn | isbn13 | asin B004SOQ0U8 | num pages 384pp | avg rating 4.13 | num ratings 27,487 | date pub Mar 15, 2005 | date pub edition Aug 30, 2011 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Dec 06, 2023 | owned | format Kindle Edition | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Dialogues de M. Le Baron de Lahontan Et d'Un Sauvage, Dans l'Amérique (Éd.1704) (Histoire) (French Edition) | title Dialogues de M. Le Baron de Lahontan Et d'Un Sauvage, Dans l'Amérique (Éd.1704) (Histoire)(Éd.1704) (Histoire) (French Edition) | author Guerin, Victor | isbn 2012537189 | isbn13 9782012537187 | asin 2012537189 | num pages 252pp | avg rating 4.00 | num ratings 1 | date pub Mar 26, 2012 | date pub edition Jun 01, 2012 | Marjan's rating really liked it | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Dec 19, 2023 | date read Dec 20, 2023 | date added Nov 24, 2023 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1) | title Parable of the Sower(Earthseed, #1) | author Butler, Octavia E. | isbn 0446675504 | isbn13 9780446675505 | asin 0446675504 | num pages 345pp | avg rating 4.21 | num ratings 185,607 | date pub Oct 1993 | date pub edition Jan 01, 2000 | Marjan's rating it was ok | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review Oh God, I really wanted to finish this one, but after about 60% of the book, it just doesn't seem worth it. I was reading it fully until then, and aft Oh God, I really wanted to finish this one, but after about 60% of the book, it just doesn't seem worth it. I was reading it fully until then, and afterward, I just rushed to the end. The endless succession of violence, rape, death, and corpses with no storytelling function other than to set up the world of the protagonist was just too much for me. You can't have the worldbuilding part lasting 80% of the book, can you?Here's what I expect from a story: the first act must establish the protagonist (and other characters) and his/her world. Then, in the second act, his/her beliefs and ways of life get challenged. The protagonist must resolve the inner and outer conflict and reach a new equilibrium. The end. Story over.None of that is present here. The story structure and the basic principles of effective storytelling are almost non-existent. For the most part, it is just one act of violence after another. It made me want to scream "enough already, we get it... it is a violent world, now what?!"The protagonist is just a passive observer and is forced into action only in the book's second part after her village is burned down. And even then, her drive is relatively weak. /minor spoiler ahead/ One would think that she would be much more driven after the (uneventful!) death of her father, but no, she walks away from it, relatively disinterested. If her father truly played such a big role in her life, as established in the book's first third, one would expect his death to be much more dramatic and certainly a stronger reaction from his daughter (the protagonist). Nope. She continues to be interested only in her journaling and her Earthseed religion until she reaches far enough to the north to establish a community based on it. But that is something she had in her from the very beginning. The protagonist didn't make any significant growth through the story.Some reviewers comment that this book is more in the young adult category than a serious adult reading, with which I agree. I don't know how it got so many accolades then. I kinda fell for the hype and ended up so much more disappointed. The only thing that kept me reading thus far was the amazing vividness and accuracy of the dystopian world toward which we are headed with climate change, pollution, and extremist politics. In that, I believe Octavia Butler is spot on. ...more | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Nov 19, 2023 | date read Nov 21, 2023 | date added Nov 18, 2023 | owned | format Paperback | actions view (with text) | | | | | checkbox | position | cover This Is Your Mind On Plants | title This Is Your Mind On Plants | author Pollan, Michael * | isbn 0141997338 | isbn13 9780141997339 | asin 0141997338 | num pages 288pp | avg rating 3.86 | num ratings 30,192 | date pub Jul 06, 2021 | date pub edition Jul 07, 2022 | Marjan's rating it was amazing | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Nov 18, 2023 | date read Nov 23, 2023 | date added Nov 17, 2023 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | | | checkbox | position | cover Iran: Empire of the Mind: A History from Zoroaster to the Present Day | title Iran: Empire of the Mind: A History from Zoroaster to the Present Day | author Axworthy, Michael | isbn 014103629X | isbn13 9780141036298 | asin 014103629X | num pages 339pp | avg rating 3.84 | num ratings 1,808 | date pub May 06, 2008 | date pub edition Jan 01, 2009 | Marjan's rating liked it | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review This is most definitely not a book on the entire history of Iran; it is a political history with a bit of poetry. As such, it can serve as a backdrop This is most definitely not a book on the entire history of Iran; it is a political history with a bit of poetry. As such, it can serve as a backdrop for further reading if you are more interested in arts, architecture, urban development, science, or other aspects of history, which are mentioned here in passing at best. For the most part, they are completely omitted. However, if you're into political scheming and plotting, there is politics galore in here. Especially in the middle part (after the Arabs take over), there is a bombardment of Muslim words and names that mean very little to a Western reader. The author spends too little time on the introduction to such things and many times simply assumes we are already familiar with them. Sometimes, the author jumps back and forward in time, occasionally pulls back a reference from another chapter, or writes the story in a way that is hard to follow or not very easy to understand. I had to read the story of how Hussein got killed in Karbala more than three times, and still, I didn't quite understand which army was killing another. Another example is a sub-chapter on medieval Persian poetry (announced as such), but in the middle of it, the author jumps to describing the Mongol invasion, and then back to poetry. It's a mess. It would be strongly advised to give this book to a good editor who would put it in order. But if you care to have a few tabs on Wikipedia open along with the book, then you'll survive and probably even enjoy the book! ...more | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 1 | date started Nov 17, 2023 | date read Dec 12, 2023 | date added Nov 17, 2023 | owned | format Paperback | actions view (with text) | | | | | checkbox | position | cover A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present | title A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present | author Zinn, Howard | isbn 0060838655 | isbn13 9780060838652 | asin B007CDYGTO | num pages 729pp | avg rating 4.08 | num ratings 248,668 | date pub 1980 | date pub edition Jan 01, 1995 | Marjan's rating | my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves | review None | notes Notes are private! | comments 0 | votes 0 | # times read 0 | date started not set | date read not set | date added Nov 16, 2023 | owned | format Paperback | actions view | | | |

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