Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Cover

Alice is a children's book by Lewis Carroll  about the main character, Alice, falling down a rabbit hole and ending up in Wonderland. Wonderland is a strange place were queens play croquet with flamingos, hatters and hares have a constant tea party and invisible cats smile. We follow Alice during her journey in which she questions many things like limits, object relationships between other things. Alice is also a curious girl who asks many questions and forms conversations with herself.

Alice's curiosity makes her do many things, she's also a small girl so she speaks her mind constantly. I specially like how she keeps entire conversations with herself and it is quite interesting how she doesn't question everything that happens to her wilts in Wonderland. It is an excellent children's story that many people know and cherish, being an easy read and quite short so that children can understand it. Caroll created an amazing world in which everything is fantastic and it's an escape for the real world. Even though the book is intended a children's book, anyone can read it and the images make picturing the scenes much easier. It is a good book, it teaches lessons, it's entertaining and the characters are fun. I would recommend this book to anyone because it's a classic and you could probably read it in a day or so.
I give this book 4/5 stars.

Tales of the Jazz Age

Tales of the Jazz Age cover

This book, by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a collection of short stories. Some of them are The Diamond as Big as the Ritz, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, May Day and Porcelain and Pink. The stories change in theme, characters and scenery. The most popular one is probably The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, where a baby is born as an old man (even in size) and as he ages his appearance is more child-like. He classifies his stories in three sections: My Last Flappers, Fantasies and Unclassified Masterpieces. Each story is different from the last and most of them are more or less 20 pages long. At the beginning of the book, Fitzgerald gives a small introduction of the story's context within the index.

I liked this book, at least most of the stories. I definitely liked the Fantasies section much more as I am a lover of fantasy and science fiction. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was by far my favorite, followed by The Diamond as Big as the Ritz. I liked the stories and their characters. Most of the stories had a somewhat sad ending, either with death or poor living conditions the stories were definitely sad. I guess what Fitzgerald tried to do was to show how fragile human life is, I don't know for sure. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button shocked me, it was amazing. Benjamin's life was not as good as the movie depicts it. It is way more different. He wasn't loved and his parents ignored his condition because they couldn't live with it and keep their social status. It is extremely hard to review a book of short stories, if I were to talk about them all I would never finish it. I do recommend this book because it's so unique and intriguing. Some stories may not be as appealing but I'm pretty sure anyone will like at least on of them. Fitzgerald is a good author and it isn't such a hard book to read, it's pretty easy and the stories aren't annoyingly long.
For me the book as a whole deserves 4/5 stars because most of it is quite interesting to read.

 

Divergent Series

I finally got my Divergent books! I fell like I should've read this ages ago but today I finally bought them. I will start them as soon as possible and do my reviews as well. On a different note I haven't been able to post due to school overload. I am trying to find time to publish the reviews but I also want to read a lot more. I'll get back in a few days hopefully with the Divergent review. I wish this series will be as good as it looks.

Anthem

ANTHEM cover

Ayn Rand's book reminds me so much about Orwell's 1984. It is about this guy, Equality 7-2521 who has been different since he was in The Home of Infants. He has a knack for questioning things he shouldn't and he is a really curios character. He accepts the job that is given to him and hides his personality. This is a short novel and in it he finds love and the meaning of freedom. The most basic thing, that is, humanity is found along with individuality.

This book is highly recommendable to anyone who likes dystopia and 1984. Interestingly enough, it reminded me a lot of Orwell's work but it was first published some 10 years before. The character development is extreme, throughout most of the book Equality talks with "we" instead of "I" and that makes it so much more interesting. I liked how this book was quick (mere 100 pages) and it still told a great story. Standing out was punished in this society but he still managed to do that, survive and thrive. I especially loved how the base of human nature can never be oppressed. Maybe not in many people at the same time but humans can try to change as much as they want and still wind up with that which makes us human.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars 

The Harry Potter Book Tag

My friend Valevy and I decided we should do a book tag. As this series is my childhood, we decided starting with Harry Potter was ideal. This book tag was done by poleandbananasBOOKS on YouTube.

Questions
1. Favorite Harry Potter book?
2. Least favorite HP book?
3. Favorite movie
4. Least favorite movie
5. Remake a movie?
6. Parts that make you cry
7. HP hook up?
8. What would your patronus be?
9. Favorite quote?
10. Hogwarts house?
11. Favorite Weasley
12. Favorite villain
13. Cast member you want to meet
14. HP video games?
15. Did you like the end?
16. Richard Harris vs. Michael Gambon
17. Favorite Hogwarts class
18. Most useful spell
19. Who would you bring back?
20. Hallows or Horcruxes?
21. Is HP life?

Valevy's answers
1. HP and the Goblet of fire
2. HP and the Half/Blood Prince
3. HP 7 part 2
4. HP 3
5. HP 1
6. Fred death, Snape death and history
7. RON
8. Elephant or koala
9. "After all this time? Always."
10. Gryffindor
11. Fred and George
12. Tom Riddle
13. Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
14. The first one of the Wii console
15. NO!!!!
16. The look exactly the same, I didn't notice after a long time. Michael Gammon though
17. Defense Against the Dark Arts
18. Accio
19. FRED and SNAPE
20. Horcruxes
21. OF COURSE

My answers
1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2. I love them all but my least favorite would have to be Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I can't choose. I love them all but I think Harry's adventures get more fun over time. Still, this doesn't mean I don't like the book, I love it.
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows PT. 2.
4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
5. Probably not but if I were to choose I would pick HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban to add certain details.
6. Many, but specifically when Fred, Remus and Tonks die in DH as well as Snape's story.
7. CEDRIC DIGGORY. He's smart, charming and one of the Hogwarts Champions.
8. Maybe a panther or some other feline.
9. "After all this time? Always." As well, it brings tears to my eyes every time.
10. GO SLYTHERIN.
11. Fred and George.
12.  Young Tom Riddle, that boy is an intelligent and sneaky kid.
13. Everyone but specially Evanna Lynch because of how she became Luna.
14. Yes, some HP trivia and de Lego series. I still love that game.
15.  Yes but if they had let Rowling kill Harry it would've made me be much more attached to the series. Anyways, a happy ending never hurts.
16. Definitely Michael Gambon, his Dumbledore was more aggressive and he portrayed the character better in my opinion.
17. Defense Against the Dark Arts or Charms.
18. Accio, I'm extremely lazy and this spell is brilliant.
19. Probably Fred, Remus and Tons. They were parents. Although I'd bring back Snape he died like a hero so I would keep it that way.
20. Hallows, you can be master of death and they're not as heavy as having to live with Horcruxes.
21. Of course, my entire childhood I've loved HP. I won't stop loving it now nor in the foreseeable future.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl book cover

This novel, written by Jesse Andrews was pretty cool. The story revolves around Greg, a filmmaking aficionado who recreates (or tries to) movies with his only friend Earl. He has always been invisible in high school, avoiding groups and blending in with everybody. All changes when his childhood friend, Rachel, gets leukemia and his mother coerces him into hanging out with her. They become friends, along with Earl and they show her their movies. This had never happened before. Rachel stops her treatment so they make The Worst Film Ever Made for her. Meeting Rachel and doing that film changed their lives and their college decisions.

I liked this book, it gave me an existential crisis but I liked it. It was easy and fast paced, also the vocabulary made it even easier to read. It was really interesting how the type of narrative changed constantly. From regular conversation to bullet points to libretto form. It made the novel an easier read. Also, Greg's character is quite interesting. His goal is to be invisible, he likes movies, he makes constant jokes to avoid being serious but above all I love how he became honest with Rachel and not only did he make jokes but he liked talking to her. I also enjoyed how throughout the book he said they weren't friends but when Rachel was in a critical state he went to see her and you could see how he would miss her when she was gone. The book was great, Andrews took a good story and developed it without needing romance. I think it was really important to make them just friends.

4.5/5 stars for this one. 

 

"Read" list

As I recently created this blog, I don't have neither my favorite books nor my 2015 list of read books. Later on, I will link my goodreads username but for now I will make a list of my "read" books in 2015 and their rating.


1. ELDEST by: Christopher Pauline with 3.5/5 stars
2. GONE GIRL by: Gillian Flynn with 4.5/5 stars
3. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by: Anthony Burgess with 5/5 stars
4. TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA by: Jules Verne with 4/5 stars
5.-7. THE TIME MACHINE, THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU AND THE INVISIBLE MAN by: H.G Wells with 3/5 stars each
8. A CHRISTMAS CAROL by: Charles Dickens with 4/5 stars
9. ALIENATED by: Melissa Landers with 4/5 stars
10. THE 5TH WAVE by: Rick Yancey with 5/5 stars (a new favorite of mine)
11. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK by: Matthew Quick with 4/5 stars
12. LA SOMBRA DEL VIENTO OR THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by: Carlos Ruiz Zafón with 5/5 stars
13. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by: Jane Austen with 4.5/5 stars
14. FORBIDDEN by: Tabitha Suzuma (as my first review) with 4/5 stars

Forbidden



Forbidden book cover

This book, written by Tabitha Suzuma, was extraordinary. The story is about two siblings, Maya and Lochan, who have to take care of their three younger siblings. They have always been close although lately they seem to develop stronger feelings for each other. They seem just like two siblings who love each other. This is, until they kiss after Maya's date with Nico.

The book was... something else. It was a bit slow at first but when things started to happen it got weirder. It was nicely written and a very fast read. The message it sends is that love is unconditional, you can't choose who you fall in love with. I would've given the book 3/5 stars except for the fact that the ending was so shocking. That one-paged plot-twist was something else. I actually had to re-read the whole page to make sure I understood. Considering this, the ending couldn't have gone any other way without a disappointment. I congratulate the author for daring to write a GOOD book on such a difficult topic. Their relationship can make you uncomfortable at times due to the fact that they being siblings is not something easy to forget. In overall it was a good book, the ending made it even better. Without it I wouldn't have liked it half as much.
4/5 stars