During the ‘intelligent lockdown’, I really wanted to read something uncomplicated. Therefore Most likely seemed like a good choice! Of course, teenagers are like the most complicated creatures on earth, but then again they are not. I stumbled upon this book via Instagram and I decided to try it so I bought the e-book. I am not sure if I ever read Young Adult before… at least not in the last decade. Did I like it though? Read it below!

Book cover

Ava, CJ, Jordan, and Martha (listed in alphabetical order out of fairness) have been friends since kindergarten. Now they’re in their senior year, facing their biggest fears about growing up and growing apart. But there’s more than just college on the horizon. One of these girls is destined to become the president of the United States. The mystery, of course, is which girl gets the gig.

Is it Ava, the picture-perfect artist who’s secretly struggling to figure out where she belongs? Or could it be CJ, the one who’s got everything figured out…except how to fix her terrible SAT scores? Maybe it’s Jordan, the group’s resident journalist, who knows she’s ready for more than their small Ohio suburb can offer. And don’t overlook Martha, who will have to overcome all the obstacles that stand in the way of her dreams.

This is the story of four best friends who have one another’s backs through every new love, breakup, stumble, and success–proving that great friendships can help young women achieve anything…even a seat in the Oval Office.

My first impression of Most Likely

It opens with someone being inaugurated as president. Maybe the husband’s last name is a give-away? That would be strange though, because this story is about a female president. Why so conservative? Apart from that, the story seems to be easy breezy from the start, so I will definitely continue reading.

The story

The story is about a group of 4 girlfriends that are in their last year of high school. They all have their own characters, strengths and personal troubles. They seem like a normal group, but one of them will become the president of the United States!

There is a park in their town that has a playground and trees that are illegally signed by all high school graduates. However, the municipal is planning to replace it because of the nuisance. The four girls plan to stop the removal, all in their own way. This shows a lot of their characters. However, during the book you also read about their personal strives, so Ava, CJ, Jordan, and Martha become more in-depth.

My opinion

I really liked this book. The girls are all pretty likeable. It also touches on a variety of subjects, such as depression, being poor, being under a lot of pressure, volunteering with challenged kids, courage, adoption, ethnicity and more. However, the red thread throughout the book is their friendship and how they would do anything for each other. I love it when girls are good to each other. 🙂

Conclusion of Most likely

It’s a nice read! I did not expect that the characters would have that much depth, that is a big plus. The ending felt a bit off to me, a bit paternalistic, while it is a book about strong girls. Pity.

I would give it 3,5 stars, so rounded up that’s 4 stars.

Verdict

Isn’t buying books just one of those lovely things? I went on a little spree and I included this book Where the crawdads sing as well. The story of the book was not completely revealed to me yet, but I heard a lot of people talking positively about it. It’s nice not knowing too much about the story, it makes it more of a surprise. Am I glad I chose to buy Where the crawdads sing? Find out below!

Book cover of Where the crawdad sings

For years, rumors of the “”Marsh Girl”” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

My first impression

This is an interesting read! It’s also kind of sad because the “Marsh Girl” Kya can’t seem to get a break. The book immediately hits you in the feels because of her mother whom abandoned her. I wonder if the future holds a better life for her!

The story

The book is about Kya, growing up in North Carolina. In the marsh, the place where the crawdads sing. Her mother abandoned her and her father is a good for nothing drunk. Her brothers and sisters all leave the house and don’t return to check up on her. When she has to go to school, the kids make fun of her so she never returns. She is clever though, and knows how to hide from the inspection. Growing up, she did make a friend though. He taught her how to read and all about the swamp.  Will he return to her when he leaves for college? And is the other young man she meets a good match? Will her life get better?

My opinion

This is a really well written book. You really get sucked into the story. I was definitely rooting for Kya! However, at times I did want her to experience a little more happiness and stability. Sometimes books push that limit, but fortunately it does not push it too far. The plot will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page! I do understand the hype, because it is a book about a special girl. Raising herself and making due with nearly nothing.

Conclusion of Where the crawdads sing

This book will have you rooting for a resourceful but fictional character. I enjoyed the read and expanded my English vocabulary in the meantime. To start, I didn’t know the word ‘crawdads’ before. This book is definitely recommended!

Verdict

Wat was ik blij toen ik Homo Deus kreeg voor Sinterklaas! Ik had Sapiens en 21 lessen voor de 21e eeuw al gelezen van de auteur dus ik was erg benieuwd naar dit boek. Vond ik het zo goed of zelfs beter? Lees het in de recensie hieronder!

De flaptekst

Op onnavolgbare wijze beschrijft Yuval Noah Harari in zijn bestseller Sapiens 70.000 jaar menselijke evolutie, maar met Homo Deus richt hij zich op de toekomst. Met zijn kenmerkende vermenging van wetenschap, geschiedenis en filosofie onderzoekt Harari de dromen en nachtmerries van de eenentwintigste eeuw – van onsterfelijkheid tot kunstmatig leven.

Hij stelt fundamentele vragen: Waar gaan we naartoe? Hoe beschermen we onze kwetsbare wereld tegen onze eigen verwoestende krachten? En als we in staat zijn door technologische vooruitgang ons lichaam en onze geest te verbeteren, wat gebeurt er dan met de mensen die zich niet laten upgraden? Wat voor sociale gevolgen zal deze tweedeling hebben? Volgens Harari is het essentieel om meer te begrijpen van de technologische revoluties om ons heen, anders hebben we geen invloed op de koers van onze toekomst.

Mijn eerste indruk van Homo Deus

Het is direct interessant en ik zit er weer helemaal in. Hij geeft aan dat een pandemie niet meer zo snel zou gebeuren, daar moest ik dan wel even om grinniken. Het boek is geschreven in 2016, en toen waren we nog optimistisch wegens het indammen van de ebola uitbraak. Tenminste, dat het niet verder verspreidde, Afrika was hard getroffen.

Het verhaal

Ook in dit boek werpt Harari weer interessante vragen op en snijdt hij interesse onderwerpen aan. Hij kijkt vooral naar de toekomst en een beetje naar het heden/verleden. Het boek heeft wel overlap met 21 lessen voor de 21e eeuw. Zo geeft hij aan dat onze huidige ‘ heilige huisjes’ zoals democratie en individualisme straks niet meer passen bij de nieuwe tijd. De tijd van artificial intelligence, algoritmes en van robots. Zeker niet de tijd van de mens, wat millennia lang wel zo is geweest hier op aarde. Hij schetst een toekomstbeeld dat weinig lijkt op het heden.

Wat ik ervan vond

Geweldig! Wat een interessante gedachtegangen heeft hij weer. De toekomst staat niet vast, dus of het precies zo gaat lopen is natuurlijk sterk de vraag. Desondanks is dit boek weer net zo uitdagend als Sapiens, waarbij je anders over zaken gaat denken. Hij heeft een brede visie, ik kan me voorstellen dat je met hem een interessant debat zou kunnen voeren. Eigenlijk zou iedereen dit boek moeten lezen!

Conclusie van Homo Deus

Misschien is dit wel mijn nieuwe favoriete Harari boek. Of het staat op de gedeelde eerste plek met Sapiens. Ik ben het niet eens met al zijn theorieën, maar dat hoeft ook helemaal niet.  Ik zie het boek meer als een gedachte-experiment waardoor je meer inzicht krijgt in hedendaagse ontwikkelingen. Zo lijkt het alsof de banen van de meeste mensen op een gegeven moment wel worden overgenomen door robots, daar moet dus een nieuwe oplossing voor komen. Opvallend vond ik dat je als archeoloog ongeveer het veiligst zit, daar was de kans maar 0,7 %.

De beoordeling