What do we do when things go wrong?
Years ago, when I first spotted this book in a stationery shop, I decided to buy it without even flipping through its pages. On the cover, three men were being carried by the river's current toward an unknown destination. The title revealed little more than the image itself: Three Men in a Boat. Where they were going and why remained hidden between the pages.
For some reason, I never got around to reading it. The book sat forgotten on a shelf for years, quietly waiting for me. Then one day I picked it up and finally began. Soon, I discovered why these three men had embarked on such a sudden and peculiar boating trip. Tired of their daily routines and convinced that they were suffering from all sorts of illnesses, they believe an adventure will do them good. Instead, the following two weeks prove far more challenging than expected. They can never quite agree on what should be done or how it should be done. They blame one another, make a mess of simple tasks, and seem incapable of catching a break. Jerome narrates all of this with an exaggerated sense of humor and remarkable wit.
In the end, the three companions more or less accomplish what they set out to do. By the time they return to dry land, they are rather proud of themselves. But perhaps this book was written not only to amuse, but also to make us reflect. As we accompany these three friends like an invisible fourth passenger, we spend much of the journey wanting to step in and sort things out for them.
And yet, when things go wrong in our own lives, what exactly do we do?
A Critical Review of Humankind
Rutger Bregman’s book Humankind is one of the books that questions negative ideas about human nature and makes readers think. For many years, many people believed that humans are naturally selfish, bad, and only care about themselves. However, Bregman does not agree with this idea. According to him, human nature is not as dark as people think. Instead, people are more willing to help each other, understand others’ feelings, and do good things. In the book, the author supports these ideas with many examples from wars, psychology experiments, history, and biology. One of the best parts of the book is that it gives hope about humanity. Still, when I finished the book, I did not only feel admiration. On one side, I was happy to read it because it made me think differently. On the other side, some of the author’s ideas felt too optimistic to me. Because of this, the book was both interesting and questionable for me.
One of the strongest parts of the book is that it makes people question ideas about human nature that many accept without thinking. Today, we often see violence, murder, wars, and fights on television, social media, and in the news. After some time, people start to believe that the world is full of bad people. At this point, Bregman asks an important question: If humans were really bad by nature, how could societies survive for so many years? A big part of human history was shaped by helping each other, working together, and surviving together. From this side, the writer’s ideas are important and meaningful.
His ideas against the belief that humans are naturally wild are especially interesting. Today, when someone behaves badly, people sometimes say, “Did you grow up in a cave?” However, Bregman says that hunter-gatherer societies were not as violent as many
Her çiçeğin bir mevsimi, her kitabın bir zamanı vardır. Haziranın tadını yeni hikâyelerle çıkarın.
Zero adlı bir hacker grubu dronlarla ABD Başkanının mahremiyetine girerek kişisel bilgilerin ‘veri sülükleri’ adı verdikleri şirketler ve kamu kuruluşları tarafından kullanılmasına dikkat çeker. CIA içinde oluşturulan gizli bir grup hemen Zero’yu bulma çalışmalarına başlar. Londra’da Daily gazetesinde çalışan dijital dünyaya mesafeli Cynthia Bossant ve diğerleri Zero’yu avlamak için kullanıcıların da katıldığı interaktif bir av başlatma konusunda teklif alırlar. Dünyadaki 4 milyardan fazla insanı dijital kullanıma göre sıralayıp rekabet ortamı yaratan çoklu uygulamaya sahip bir platform Freemee kullanıcıların kendi isteğiyle verilerini sattığı bir sistem yaratıp onları manipüle etmeye başlamıştır bile. Bundan rahatsız olan Cynthia ve kızının arkadaşı Freemee kullanıcısı Eddie de farkında olmadan şirketin hedefi olurlar. Artık av sadece Zero değildir; Cyn ve Eddie için de yaşam mücadelesi başlamıştır.
Kitap 2014’de yazılmış, günümüze ve geleceğe dair teknolojik öngörülerle dolu; büyük bir kısmının da gerçekleştiği söylenebilir. Dijital dünyanın gerçek yaşamın yerini alması ve insanların özgürlükten çok rahatına düşkün oluşu, maddi kazanç için kişisel verilerini satması gözler önüne seriliyor. Kitapta Freemee’nin Devlet Güvenlik kurumları ile işbirliği yapmaya karar vermesi son günlerde şahit olduğumuz Open AI haberlerini hatırlattı.
Temponun hiç düşmediği sürükleyici bir roman ama çeviriyi beğenmedim ki Almancadan çevirilerde bunu çok yaşıyorum.
Reading this felt less like a traditional narrative and more like an intimate documentary. By offering the dual perspectives of both authors, the book provides a balanced and realistic look at "cohabitation." It explores how two distinct personalities—with different habits and tastes—can create a harmonious sanctuary together.
There was a beautiful sense of familiarity in their daily struggles and triumphs, which made the reading experience feel incredibly heartwarming. It wasn't just about friendship; it was about the logistics of sharing a life, from splitting chores to managing their "maximalist vs. minimalist" conflict. For anyone who values independence but fears loneliness, this book serves as a perfect blueprint. I’d give it a solid 9/10—a refreshing, modern take on what "home" can truly mean.
After the somewhat predictable nature of my previous read, Pick a Color was a refreshing change of pace. Souvankham Thammavongsa has a remarkable gift for capturing the profound within the mundane. The story explores the quiet rhythms of daily life with a precision that feels both concise and compelling.
What I appreciated most was the minimalist style. The author doesn't rely on "filler columns" or elaborate plots; instead, she uses brief, impactful moments to deliver her message. The narrative is filled with poignant quotes that I found myself lingering over—lines that manage to say so much with very few words.
It is a beautiful example of how a "short" story can leave a lasting impression. Much like a perfectly centered piece of pottery, there is nothing extra here; every sentence has a purpose. For any reader who enjoys observational literature, this story is a small but vibrant gem.
Normal People
There is actually nothing to say about the book, as it doesn’t have any engaging passages or a real plot. We are reading paragraphs about two friends who don’t have any emotional connection with each other but who are only attracted to one another sexually. I mean, normal people have feelings, daily routines, and sometimes interesting dialogues, but these two have absolutely nothing in common, neither daily routines nor any interesting actions happening in their lives.
I chose this book because of its simplicity; it was a good choice for my language level, but there was nothing interesting or appealing in terms of the story or the characters.
It’s good to see new writers doing interesting things, and even if I’m a bit distant from the bestseller shelves or new writers, I’d like to give this book a chance and maybe break my prejudices. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the book and saw it as a waste of time. Saying that makes me a bit sad because Sally Rooney seems to be a courageous person who raises social awareness about what is happening around the world.
I’ll still keep my distance from her books, but I hope that won’t last forever.