irina_sky's reviews
229 reviews

I have decided to get acquainted with Latin American literature more closely, since it is a very different world, with its own way of thinking, its, at times, incomprehensible philosophy. One of the representatives of the Magical Realism, Julio Cortázar, was the first writer who gave me the first impression. The way he writes, puts his ideas across were not very common to me, and it took me a lot of time before I began realizing that you wouldn't understand a thing if you keep staring at the surface waiting for a some routine fact to emerge. With Cortázar and his other fellows you have to be careful in order not be taken in by the easiness of the narration. However, once you get into their fascinating world, you'll start looking at things in a completely different way.

Read it in French merely for my curiosity in French slang. To be honest, it wasn't the most pleasant read, considering the fact that I DO NOT share the author's opinion at all.
The protagonist is a selfish young dude who is absolutely sure about the fact (that he has made up) that love lasts for 3 years and then it disappers. He was certain about it that even made a kind of research, basing on his personal observations. The poor lover kept telling on every corner that feelings are only strong during firts three year, later they vanish all of a sudden, partners start irritating each other and fall in love with other people. He says that it is high time to separate since these relations cause nothing but anger, sadness and frustrations.
Following his golden rule he left behind two women who loved him dearly. In the end he started realizing his alientation but it didn't make him change his principles

Wiśniewski's bestelling novel had been on my reading list for a long time. I had second thoughts, to be honest, being so popular and on everyone's lips, I wasn't waiting much from it. However, this well-known story about love on the net proved to be rather nice and romantic. Of what I'm absolutely certain is that Wiśniewski's got a special, incomparable talent for writing books about women. He has a profound psychological knowledge of women's nature, their behaviour. If I didn't know the author is a male I would say he's a female, how possibly can he know us women so well?
Overall, it's a pretty nice read, makes you think more about the value of realtionships between men and women, all the troubles, barriers and ordeals we are ready to overcome in order to find that very Mr or Mrs Right.

All Murphy's textbooks are awesome manuals to the English language. There are all levels from beginner to advanced. Loads of exercises, rules, useful advice. A free tutor of English at home!

I haven't read it till the end yet, but by what I have already covered I can say it's brilliant. Makarenko is certainly a profound person who has devoted his life to homeless children. His commitment to those kids(most of them were delinquents) astonishes me. His advice would undoubtedly be helpful to those who are going to devote their life to working with children.