en-US Sun, 27 Apr 2025 20:10:18 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7524678426 Sun, 27 Apr 2025 20:10:18 -0700 /review/show/7524678426 Djamel gave 1 star to The Kind Worth Saving (Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner, #2) by Peter Swanson
The kind worth saving is the kind of books NOT worth reading. The last chapters were a painful read. A relatively famous novelist in this story said that novelists need to be observant; imaginative or experienced. Unfortunately Swanson lacked all the three ingredients in this book. As in his previous books, the amount of coincidences make the story looks like a joke. The plot could barely at most interest young teenagers. The only interesting element in this book is the multiple references to “The kind worth killing� but also to “Nine lives�. ]]> Review7518767293 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:06:39 -0700 /review/show/7518767293 Djamel gave 2 stars to The Kind Worth Killing (Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner, #1) by Peter Swanson
With tons of coincidences the story becomes a miserable joke. Yet the twists were good as well as the organization of the plot from different angles. Not very instructive but entertaining. I’ll keep reading Swanson.

La version française du roman est à mon avis meilleure que l’original en anglais. Même la traduction des vers a été très réussie. ]]> Review7496865863 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:04:37 -0700 /review/show/7496865863 Djamel gave 2 stars to Neuf vies (Hardcover) by Peter Swanson
Intéressant intrigue ainsi que l’organisation de son déploiement progressif.

The original text in English is equally good. ]]> Review7518767293 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:58:00 -0700 /review/show/7518767293 Djamel gave 2 stars to The Kind Worth Killing (Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner, #1) by Peter Swanson
With tons of coincidences the story becomes a miserable joke. Yet the twists were good as well as the organization of the plot from different angles. Not very instructive but entertaining. I’ll keep reading Swanson.

La version française du roman est à mon avis meilleure que l’original en anglais. Même la traduction des vers a été très réussie. ]]> Review7496865863 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:49:35 -0700 /review/show/7496865863 Djamel gave 2 stars to Neuf vies (Hardcover) by Peter Swanson
Intéressant intrigue ainsi que l’organisation de son déploiement progressif.

The original text in English is equally good. ]]> Review7488618130 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:22:54 -0700 /review/show/7488618130 Djamel gave 3 stars to The Lexus and the Olive Tree (Paperback) by Thomas L. Friedman
I started reading this book on April 2025 as the newly elected populist D. Trump started imposing tariffs on every nations including a tin island populated by pingouins. It was a good time to revisit the analysis, logic and arguments of the globalist prophets.

In my opinion, the book is rather a good one. Freedman seems to have a good grasp of what globalization is. He accurately predicted some trends. Yet at the same time he failed to foresee that one day China will champion globalization while America imposes tariffs on EUROPE.

In any case, Freedman did not answer satisfactorily the question I have in mind: is globalization reversible or the rise of Right-Wing ideologies and politics is only a reflux before globalization forces resume their connection/homogenizing effects. Nor did it address the hypothesis of a possible emergence of a global form of governance.

In the other hand, Freedman proved himself a chauvinist. The guy went all the way to elevate his Shabbat thing as an antidote to excesses of globalization while hinting, no so subtly, to the idea that Islam would be a culture incompatible with globalization. The guy seemed to forget who Islam is a key agent in connecting humanity either through the sword, trade, science or religious proselytizing. The hadj is Mecca every year is a powerful image of this globalization power of Islam. ]]> Review7457662679 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:23:34 -0700 /review/show/7457662679 Djamel gave 1 star to Angle mort (Kindle Edition) by Paula Hawkins
Une histoire pour ados pleine de tournures clichés à peine voilés. ]]> Review7454726335 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:41:18 -0700 /review/show/7454726335 Djamel gave 1 star to Le train de 5h50 (Mass Market Paperback) by Gabrielle Ciam
Deux questions :

L’auteure et le personnage principal de ce roman de débauche portent le même prénom. S’agit-il d’un récit autobiographique ?

Que peut-on dire d’une société et d’une culture qui produisent un homme pourtant marié, comblé et réussi mais qui se précipite chaque matin à fourrer ses orteils enveloppés de chaussettes dans le sexe humide d’une inconnue aux jambes facilement écartées qui s’assied en face de lui dans un train avant la levée du jour ? ]]> Review7453576977 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 08:18:20 -0700 /review/show/7453576977 Djamel gave 3 stars to The Blue Hour (Hardcover) by Paula Hawkins
This mystery is quite different. A mixture of art, psychology, human complex relationships with the flaws of people from different backgrounds. I like it. I recommend it. ]]> Review7384912363 Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:00:25 -0800 /review/show/7384912363 Djamel gave 2 stars to The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid, #2.5) by Nita Prose
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