The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint - Exupery Review

           e

                                                                  

                                                           

Summary: With a timeless charm it tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to travel the universe, learning the vagaries of adult behavior through a series of extraordinary encounters. His personal odyssey culminates in a voyage to Earth and further adventures.

Author: Antoine de Saint - Exupery

Genre: Classic Literature, Fiction, Fantasy, Childrens, French Literature, European Literature, Philosophy

Goodreads Rating: 4.5/ 5 stars

My Rating: 5/ 5 stars

Pages: 83

Publisher: Mariner Books

"How clumsy I felt! I didn't know how to reach him, where to find him... It's so mysterious, the land of tears."

Before The Little Prince, came Antoine de Saint - Exupery. Saint - Exupery was born in Lyon, France on June 29, 1900. He was born into aristocracy. Saint - Exupery's love for aviation sprouted at an early age. He flew his first plane at the age of twelve and in his adult years he went on to become a pioneering aviator. As a young man, Antoine de Saint - Exupery decided to try his hand at writing. He published a few short stories and magazine entries, but his first novel, Courrier Sud (Southern Mail) was published in 1929. His first novel, along with all of his later novels would feature flying and a love for the open sky in some way, shape or form.

Exiled from France in 1940 for his refusal to stop speaking out against Germany in the face of the stirring of Nazi Germany, after France's armistice with Germany, Saint - Exupery fled to the United States of America in hopes of convincing the U.S. government to take immediate action to snuff out the rise of Nazi Germany. He was unable to gather any real support against the rising of Nazi Germany in the U.S., but his writing career did take off. April 6, 1943 The Little Prince was published in New York. (The French edition, Le Petit Prince wouldn't be published until 1946 after both the liberation of France at the end of WWII and Saint - Exupery's own death). The Little Prince was Saint -Exupery's last publication before he went off on a reconnaissance mission for the Allies and disappeared over the Mediterranean sea. Neither Saint - Exupery or his plane were ever found, until sixty years later. What was left of the wreckage of his plane was found and identified in the Mediterranean, but the mystery of where his remains lie remains unsolved. It is unknown whether the plane crash was a result of Saint - Exupery being shot down, having a mechanical malfunction, or even suicide. Whichever the case may have been, Saint - Exupery died at the age of forty-four; leaving behind a widow and many unanswered questions. Saint - Exupery's widow, Consuelo de Saint - Exupery, a Salvadoran - French writer and artist, went on to preserve her late husband's work and image. She laid witness to the revered national French hero that her husband became known as.

French aristocrat, writer, poet, and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint - Exupery wore many hats during his too short life, and it wasn't until after his death that his work received any real appreciation. Posthumously, Saint - Exupery was deemed a laureate of several of France's highest literary awards and the U.S. National Book Award. His reputation as a French hero was gained after his death, as well.  

"But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart."

The Little Prince is a novel that had been patiently waiting on my TBR list for quite some time, for at least over a year. Whenever I scrolled through bookstagram or Goodreads and I came across The Little Prince, I'd make a mental note to finally purchase the book and see what all of the fuss was about. I never got around to buying the novel for myself. Instead, I was lucky enough to be sent a copy from an absolutely wonderful friend, for Christmas. And yes, I'm still referring to my friend as wonderful even though she didn't prepare me in the slightest for the wild emotional ride that those eighty-three pages whisked me away on. I went into reading The Little Prince with the expectation of a cute, heart-warming read; the standard final thought that most bookstagrammers seemed to have adopted in regards to The Little Prince.

"I wonder," he said, "if the stars are lit up that each of us can find our own way."

At this point in my life, I'm convinced that a reader's perception of a novel is only as deep as the reader's own self-introspection, hence why I finished this book with a heavy heart and not even the slightest sentiment of the tale being cute or heartwarming. Without a doubt, Saint - Exupery brought to life a tale that strums on, plucks, and weighs on your heartstrings. The Little Prince is so much more than "cute" or "heartwarming"; it is an unapologetic, real, and a poignantly beautiful view of life, love, and loss. Saint - Exupery is the kind of author who intrudes on your heart and mind, simultaneously, with the sole purpose of making you stop to appreciate the smaller details in order to see and understand the bigger picture. The Little Prince offers up a telescope to see all the world through, and when you look through that lens you see the world as you'd like it be and as it should be. And you'll end up wishing that you could keep your eye glued to that lens so as to avoid the reality of the world and life, but living through a lens, no matter how ideal, defeats the purpose of living. Rather, we are meant to use such telescopes to look to the sky and find our stars; our path, our purpose, our identities.

In The Little Prince, we meet the Little Prince who leaves his small planet and his rose and two volcanoes behind in order to see the universe. Our Little Prince ends up on Earth, in the Sahara Desert to be exact. The Little Prince is perturbed by this great sadness he feels no matter whom he speaks to. Not even taming the wild fox brings lasting happiness to the Little Prince. Our narrator realizes that he is unhappy because he is neglecting his duty to his lone rose back on his home planet. But how to get back home? The Little Prince stumbles upon a small snake that promises that he can send the Little Prince home, with a quick bite and almost no pain. To go home means to die a physical death. So as the Little Prince attempts to come to terms with this knowledge he finds the stranded Pilot, whose plane is down and in need of repairs. Together the two make a wonderful pairing and become fast friends. They brave the desert together in search of water and truth. But their most daunting trial is facing loss and the ache of losing the physical presence of a loved one. More than just a children's story, The Little Prince is a deeply emotional account of life and finding the beauty in mystery and sadness... I cannot recommend this novel enough.

Recurring Main Characters:

• The Little Prince
• The Pilot
• The Snake
• The Rose

Primary Setting: The Sahara Desert

Major Themes:

• The snake
• Loneliness
• Death
• The danger of narrow - mindedness
• The Little Prince represents a child's open - mindedness, as well as the wanderer who is decidedly eternally inquisitive. To Saint - Exupery, inquisitiveness represented the key to true understanding and happiness.
• Enlightenment
• To become enlightened we must explore
• Adventure; explore the outside world
• Introspection; explore within yourself
• Saint - Exupery believed that spiritual growth could only be done properly through active exploration
• We come to better understand our natures and our purposes in this world through exploring the world and our own feelings
• Responsibility
• The belief that relationships teach responsibility, and that responsibility is required for lasting healthy relationships
• Relationships give us a better understanding and appreciation of our individual responsibilities to the world
• True meanings are hidden
• In life definite answers are never guaranteed
• The exploration of the unknown is necessary
• Taming
• Creating ties
• We must tame people and concepts to understand them
• The desert = a hostile place; the narrator's mind
• The drinking of the water = symbolizes spiritual fulfillment
• The train rides = the rushed voyages we take in life that never result in happiness. We tend to never be happy where we are because we don't live in the present, we live for the future. The symbolization of the trains rushing at one another from opposite directions hints at how contradictory and purposeless our efforts at life as adults, truly are. But it is the children with hungry eyes glued to the windows that grasp the truth: that the journey is more important than the destination.

" People start out in express trains, but they no longer know what they're looking for."

**Spoiler Alert**

By far my favorite analysis of this short tale is the relationship drawn between the final scene of The Little Prince and the childhood death of Antoine de Saint - Exupery's younger brother, Francois de Saint - Exupery. At the age of fifteen, Francois died of rheumatic fever. He was Antoine's closest confidant and his memory would go on to serve as the inspiration for both the tale of The Little Prince and the character of the Little Prince, himself. Francois was the ever inquisitive, blond haired, Little Prince and Antoine was the pilot who couldn't hold on tight enough to the Little Prince, so he was left with the stars as an ever present and ever lasting memory of both his brother, his friend, and the need to make life meaningful. Francois' death is best witnessed in the final dramatic and heart wrenching scene of The Little Prince. Antoine's reflection:

“…remained motionless for an instant. He did not cry out. He fell as gently as a [young] tree falls”

 of his younger brother's death is woven into the ending.

"You understand. It's too far. I can't take this body with me. It's too heavy."

I said nothing.

"But it'll be like an old abandoned shell. There's nothing sad about an old shell..."

I said nothing.

He was a little disheartened now. But made one more effort.

"It'll be nice, you know. I'll be looking at the stars, too. All the stars will be wells with a rusty pulley. All the stars will pour out water for me to drink..."

I said nothing.

Each and every single one of us have been given the chance to live this life and to bring meaning to our own lives and to the lives of those around us. Our lives are journeys. And sometimes we go on a journey for the truth, or to find someone, or to find ourselves, or to find fulfillment. But wherever we go, wherever we end up, we are to know that our stars will never leave us or lead us astray. The stars will be our forever companions in this lifetime, constantly overhead; in our hearts and in our minds, just as all of our loved ones who have passed or who have drifted away, will be. What is written on your heart can never be erased, so no matter where you fly to, who you meet, or where you end up, never forget to look to the stars...

"It's all a great mystery."

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

Instagram

Goodreads

- Anisa

 

The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman Review

Pages: 286
Goodreads Rating: 4.10/ 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Horror, Paranormal


"It's always easier to die gently, to wake in due time in the place you were buried, to come to terms with your death and to get acquainted with the other inhabitants."


Neil Gaiman, is an author who will forever have a home on my shelves. From his deep, pensive thoughts to his love for magical realism, Gaiman is an author who is undoubtedly true to both himself and his creativity. The uniqueness and the energy that Gaiman manages to breathe into his works are out of this world. Seemingly, effortlessly he brings his characters and his settings to life, and no matter how bizarre his characters and settings are, they never fail to feel familiar and relatable.

This was my second time experiencing The Graveyard Book and all of its uncanny characters and heavy meaning. I must say that there are definitely novels out there that require a second read in order to fully comprehend the message and the author's intentions. TGB is a somewhat loose retelling of The Jungle Book, with a very unique twist - a graveyard and all of its inhabitants.

"The graveyard kept its secrets."

Indeed, the graveyard did keep its secrets until the night that a family of four was murdered in their home. Except, not all four family members were killed. The fourth and final member of the family, a baby boy tottered his way out of and away from the home and up the hill that led to the graveyard that would become his home. Thus, leading us to the life and tale of Nobody Owens; a boy named "Nobody" because he looked like nobody but himself.

"It must be good," said Silas, "to have somewhere that you belong. Somewhere that's home."

Nobody Owens, Bod for short, was never meant to live an ordinary life.

Once, all of the inhabitants of the graveyard rallied together to protect Bod from his then unnamed pursuer and The Lady on the Grey gave her consent for Bod to receive Freedom of the Graveyard - the ability to walk amongst and exist amongst the dead even though said individual is very much so alive - Nobody Owens was named and claimed by the Owenses. Master and Mistress Owens were named his parents and the ever mysterious Silas was named Bod's guardian, since Silas was able to come and go as needed from both the graveyard and other planes of existence. It is never explicitly stated what Silas is but it would be a fairly good guess to say that Silas is a vampire. Regardless of what Silas is or isn't, his position within the Honor Guard and his dogged pursuit for justice are aspects of his character that lead to Bod's unwavering respect and idolization of Silas. Silas is a dark, mysterious, profound figure who fits in with neither the living or the dead. His existence is a lonely one, but one that is hell bent on redemption. Silas is without a doubt my favorite character from TGB.

"The dead should have charity."

And charitable they were. The inhabitants of the graveyard quickly became Bod's family, mentors, and friends. They taught him how to embrace the graveyard and his identity. The past is important and meant to be learned from and the future should be looked to eagerly and with a hint of skepticism, but it is the present that we should give our all to and immerse ourselves in wholeheartedly."The treasures of ten thousand years ago were not the treasures of today."

"You are ignorant, boy" said Lupescu. "This is bad. And you are content to be ignorant, which is worse."

While the inhabitants of the graveyard did an excellent job of instilling values, a passion for knowledge, and a love for books in Bod, Silas knew that it wasn't enough. That there was a world that was far bigger and much more diverse waiting for Bod outside of the gates of the graveyard. Silas knew that in order for Bod to be able to escape the impending danger, he would need furthered knowledge and experience. Enter, Miss Lupescu. Lupescu is another mysterious character. We come to know that she is from the Old Country and acts as a tutor (and protector) for those in need. Later on in the novel we come to know that Lupescu is a Hound of God, what we would refer to as a werewolf/lycanthrope. Lupescu's identity is revealed after she rescues Bod from the ghouls who ventured to coerce him out of the graveyard and onto the road to Ghulheim; the Gates of Hell. "It was a city that had been built just to be abandoned, in which all the fears and madnesses and revulsions of the creatures who built it were made into stone. The ghoul-folk had found it and delighted in it and called it home."

S: Silas walked across the path without disturbing a fallen leaf, and sat down on the bench beside Bod. "There are those," he said, in his silken voice, "who believe that all land is sacred. That it is sacred before we come to it, and sacred after. But here, in your land, they blessed the churches and the ground they set aside to bury people in, to make it holy. But they left land unconsecrated beside the sacred ground, Potter's Fields to bury the criminals and the suicides or those who were not of the faith."

B: "So the people buried in the ground on the other side of the fence are bad people?"

S: Silas raised one perfect eyebrow. "Mm? Oh, not at all."

This quote is a part of one of my favorite passages from this novel. Silas explains to Bod that not everything is as it seems to be and that we cannot be so quick to judge others. People come with pasts and secrets that we know absolutely nothing about. People lie about other people's character and deeds. Good and bad are nowhere near as clear cut as we would like them to be. And the world, both living and dead, is not black and white. There is so much gray; so much uncertainty.

S: "And there are always people who find their lives have become so unsupportable they believe the best thing they could do would be to hasten their transition to another plane of existence."

B: "They kill themselves, you mean?" said Bod.

"Indeed."

"Does it work? Are they happier dead?"

"Sometimes. Mostly, no. It's like the people who believe they'll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn't work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean."

This quote is incredibly important, in my opinion. We all find ourselves feeling lost and unfulfilled at different points in our lives, some of us more than others, but the important thing to note is that this despair isn't a result of our surrounds or who is surrounding us. It comes from within; a deep, turbulent sadness that is as much ourselves as our souls are. We carry these emotions with us and it is up to us to decide if we will shoulder the pain or if we will allow the pain to become an anchor that weighs us down and forces us to remain stagnant and trapped in a sea of loneliness. Loneliness in the sense of being unfamiliar with yourself and afraid of the potential that we possess.

The following quote is the one of the first of many interactions that Bod will have with Liza Hempstock, a young girl who was labeled a witch and drowned and burned under false accusations. She is buried under the unconsecrated ground of the graveyard without a headstone to mark her presence. Aside from becoming one of Bod's closest companions, Liza will come to Bod's aid countless times and save him from quite a few sticky situations. Liza will also be somewhat of a first crush for Bod in his later years.

B:"What's your name?" he asked.

L: "Got no headstone," she said, turning down the corners of her mouth. "Might be anybody. Mightn't I?"

B: "But you must have a name."

L: "Liza Hempstock,  if you please," she said tartly. Then she said, "It's not too much to ask, is it? Something to mark my grave. I'm just down there, see? With nothing but nettles to show where I rest." And she looked so sad, just for a moment, that Bod wanted to hug her.

"That's the difference between the living and the dead, ennit?" said the voice. It was Liza Hempstock talking, Bod knew, although the witch-girl was nowhere to be seen. "The dead dun't disappoint you. They've had their life, done what they've done. We dun't change. The living, they always disappoint you, dun't they?"

Yes, Liza, we humans are impossibly fickle and unappreciative of our ability to live in the moment. We overlook the little details and take far too much for granted. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. Liza was often the push that Bod needed to remember to embrace life and while he may have been brought up in a graveyard, he was still very much so alive.

"Truly, life is wasted on the living, Nobody Owens. For one of us is too foolish to live, and it is not I."

A few of Liza's parting words to Bod. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest not spent making preparations for death.

B: The the smile stopped and he looked grave once again. He said, "But you'll always be here, Silas, won't you? And I won't ever have to leave, if I don't want to?

S: "Everything in its season," said Silas.

Bod may have been living amongst the dead, those who never change, but that didn't stop Bod from growing and changing. And with each new year of life, Bod became more and more aware of these changes. Primarily the fact that he had difficulty seeing and hearing some of the inhabitants in the graveyard. Their lives had stopped and his had only just begun.

The Dance with Death, Dance the Macabray, comes around when the winter blossoms bloom. The dance is a sign of unity between the living and the dead, and is supposed to bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones. However, the dance is to be kept quiet so while the living and the dead do come together for a night every few years, the living aren't permitted to retain any memory of the dance. Bod included, much to his frustration. While at the dance, Bod meets The Lady on the Grey; who is heavily implied to be the personification of death itself.

B: "Hello," he said, as he danced with her. "I don't know your name"

LG: "Names aren't really important."

B: "I love your horse. He's so big! I never knew horses could be that big."

LG: "He is gentle enough to bear the mightiest of you away on his broad back, and strong enough for the smallest of you as well."

B: "Can I ride him?" asked Bod.

LG: "One day," she told him, and her cobweb skirts shimmered. "One day. Everybody does."

B: "Promise?"

LG: "I promise."

Quite the morbid interaction, which Bod still having a fair amount of childhood innocence was very much so unaware that he was actually inquiring about riding Death's steed from the plane of the living to the plane of death.

The danger that Bod had always been in due to the man who had murdered Bod's birth family was beginning to become more and more threatening. But one cannot live their live within the perimeters that fear constructs. So, in the face of danger, Bod ventured off to school in the living world for a "human" education and socialization with other living children. And of course Silas had a few wise words for this new development in Bod's life. "You're alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you can change the world, the world will change. Potential. Once you're dead, it's gone. Over. You've made what you've made, dreamed your dream, written your name. You may be buried here, you may even walk. But that potential is finished."

The adventure of school lost its glamour when Bod put two bullies in their place and the interaction between the dead and the living became far too muddied.

Enter, the mysterious murderer. A man named Jack Frost, who is associated with an organization called The Jacks of All Trades. This is the organization that Silas and the rest of the Honor Guard have been fighting for years. But the demise of the Jacks comes at the hands of our very own, Nobody Owens - along with some help from his friends of the graveyard, of course. I won't describe the Jacks downfall, some things are better left for the reader to experience first hand. However, I will mention that their fall can be primarily chalked up to greed and fear. "Fear is contagious. You can catch it. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to say that they're scared for the fear the become real."

And now Nobody Owen's life within the graveyard has begun to come to a close. But his life amongst the living has only just begun.

"He would go somewhere no one knew him, and he would sit in a library all day and read books and listen to people breathing."

Me too, Bod. Me too...

"But there is only one perfectly safe place for your kind and you will not reach it until all your adventures are over and none of them matter any longer."

Before Silas, I never thought of death as being a safe haven from life...

"If you dare nothing, then when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained."

"People want to forget the impossible. It makes their world safer."

"You're always you, and that don't change, and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"If I come back, it will be a place, but it won't be home any longer."

Home isn't a place. It's where the heart it is, Bod.

And last but not least, our parting words with The Graveyard Book: "Face your life, its pain, its pleasures, leave no path untaken."

Ah, Gaiman, you incredible author, you! How you manage to break my heart, speak to my soul, and restore my hope is beyond me. But, I'm hooked.

Excellent, excellent writing and characterization. A wonderful, playful pace. TGB is easily a five star rating for me. My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars.  

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded!

Bookstagram
Goodreads

Mini Review: The Queen of the Tearling - Erika Johansen (The Queen of the Tearling #1)

Summary: Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother – Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid – was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea’s uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea’s 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother’s guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...

And so begins her journey back to her kingdom’s heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother’s legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

Pages: 512

Goodreads Rating: 4.01/ 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Adult Lit, YA, dystopian

Series: The Queen of the Tearling #1

DNF.

It takes me about 60 pages or so to figure out if a book is interesting or worthwhile. This book only took reading the first 20 pages for me to realize that I was bored out of mind, I was disgusted with the poor self-imagery that the author had equipped the protagonist with and the endless judgement that our narrator continuously doled out, and did I mention that I was bored out of my mind?

The plot was going nowhere, that I wanted to be, fast. I felt zero sympathy for our protagonist losing all that she had known and being forced into the frightening reality of being royalty in a time of endless assassinations and uprisings. Quite frankly I didn't give a damn to read one more word. A pathetic protagonist/ body shaming female lead is the quickest way to end up on my book shit list.




The dialogue was choppy and unemotional, at best. About ninety percent of the descriptions and observations are irrelevant and make it even more challenging to muster up some interest for a book that is both uninteresting and listless when it comes to sticking with one train of thought. The flow of the writing is just about nonexistent. There's nothing more frustrating than attempting to read a book with zero flow or rhythm. The list of inconsistencies is ongoing. On one page our future queen is despairing over the fact that she has never come into contact with or known anyone aside from her two guardians, but on another page she has somehow come into possession of an all encompassing intellect and speaks as though from experience, even though she has literally spent all nineteen years of life in a small cottage. Mind blown.

Plain. Boring. Miserably ignorant in regards to self-image. Shelved as both YA and Adult. No real originality or groundbreaking concepts. Woe was me, Mary Sue complex. Placed in a post-apocalyptic world 300 years after the end of this world, but the real kicker is that after the apocalypse we somehow managed to revert to a Medieval society with modern day science. I think that this book is a bad case of attempting to tackle too much in one series. No, fantasy isn't meant to be realistic, but at the same time it has to be realistic enough in some form for the reader to be able to believe it and insert themselves into the world building.


My Goodreads Rating: 1/ 5 stars.


Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded!


Bookstagram
Goodreads

Crown of Midnight ~ Sarah J. Maas ( Throne of Glass #2) Review!!!

Summary: From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Pages: 418

Goodreads Rating: 4.52/ 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Magic, High Fantasy

Series: #2 in Throne of Glass

Wow, okay, so you know how we leave reviews for books we've read and secretly hope that the writer will take into account our constructive criticism and concerns? Yeah, well, I feel as though Maas must have done some lurking through the comment section underneath Throne of Glass because her writing has improved immensely! A hundred times over! Ever critique that I had listed was addressed or improved upon, in some way. And, I know for a fact that I am not the only reviewer that feels this way. It's always amazing when an author's writing undergoes a vast and necessary improvement.

And, while the romance was large and somewhat in charge throughout the book, it wasn't irritating or weak. It was steady, fluid, and above all, believable. However, I could have very easily done without the relationship drama towards the end. But, I'm assuming that the messy and awkward "breakup" was Maas' way of separating Celaena and Chaol, so that the two of them could go their separate ways for a bit to find and better understand their individual journeys and purposes.

I wouldn't really go so far as to say that any of the characters have had major character growth, yet. It would seem as though Dorian will be the first character that will be undergoing a large personal change and growth, with Celaena and Chaol not too far behind with their own journeys. So perhaps Heir of Fire, will be the book that presents us with more of a developed depth for both the characters and the plot, itself.

The descriptiveness and the scenarios were easy enough to bring to life in your mind, as well as believe. CoM was beyond enjoyable, which isn't something that I say often when discussing YA books.

My only frustration with this book was the amount of avoidance.

- Ignore and avoid the potential rebel movement forming right beneath your nose.

- Ignore and avoid the dead queen, with the wise advice.

- Ignore and avoid your undeniable love for the captain of the guard.

- Ignore and avoid your past (and true name).

- Ignore and avoid your heritage and inheritance.

 

Celaena Sardothien is not only a master assassin, but also a master in the art of avoidance. Slightly annoying, but not enough so as to detract from the whole of the book. Overall it was great! My Goodreads Rating: 4.5/ 5 stars.

Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded! - Anisa

Book Recommendations for New Readers!!!

 

Hello friends!

So I was catching up with an old friend the other day and we made a stop at the café in the Barnes & Noble near us, and of course I couldn't leave the store without dragging her down a few of the book aisles with me. And of course, I just couldn't leave a book store empty handed! (There is a post on my Instagram featuring the book I just picked up. And the links to all of the social networking sites I post on are located here: http://bookishlyautumnal.blogspot.com/p/contact.html ). 

Anyways, as we were talking and flipping through books, she mentioned that she had an interest in reading books but wasn't sure where to start or which books are worth the investment. And that got me thinking and wondering about how many individuals are out there, who would love to pick up a good book but aren't sure where to start. So I decided that I would make a post every so often featuring a list of titles that would be perfect for "New Readers"!

These titles that I'm picking are books with wonderfully written plots and diverse characters, but extremely relatable. I think that the largest turn off for "New Readers" when it comes to reading is when you stumble across a book that everyone is ranting and raving about, but not matter what you do you just aren't able to get into the plot or identify with the characters because you jumped into the hypothetical deep end of the literary world before getting comfortable in the shallow end. Reading is fun and amazing, but especially when you have the proper reading experience to make your own inferences; being able take whatever message the story has presented, and are able to make it your own.

Okay, so here we go! In no particular order, my first set of book recommendations:

1. Crank ~ Ellen Hopkins (Crank #1)

In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the "monster," the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or "crank." Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank.

So anyone who knows me and my reading habits, knows that I am a diehard fan of Ellen Hopkins' writing. The woman is downright amazing. While her writing is deep, complex, and full of ugly truths that most would love to turn a blind eye to, her writing also possesses a great pace. Nothing about her wording is choppy or forced, which in my opinion is the best way to be able to lose yourself in a book. I highly, highly, highly recommend any book by Ellen Hopkins. However, I think that Crank is the best introductory to Ellen Hopkins.

2. Along for the Ride ~ Sarah Dessen

Up all night.

Nights have always been Auden's time, her chance to escape everything that's going on around her.

Then she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac, and he becomes her nocturnal tour guide.

Now, with an endless supply of summer nights between them, almost anything can happen...

Sarah Dessen is the equivalent of Judy Blume and every fantastic Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul entry, ever written. Her writing is a true homecoming. Refreshingly simplistic and honest, Sarah Dessen will have you questioning ever emotion you have ever felt before you even reach the middle of the book. Similarly to Ellen Hopkins, anything and everything Sarah Dessen has ever written rightfully deserves a place on your shelves. However, while her books do not need to be read in any particular order, Along for the Ride is an excellent place to start.

3. Forever ~ Judy Blume

Katherine and Michael meet at a New Year's Eve party. They're attracted to each other, they grow to love each other. And once they've decided their love is forever, they make love.

It's the beginning of an intense and exclusive relationship, with a future all planned. Until Katherine's parents insist that she and Michael put their love to the test with a summer apart...

When this book was first published (1975), it brought about a gargantuan sized cloud of controversy and upset. Forever is such a gem of a novel for so many reasons. Judy Blume managed to touch upon the topic of adolescent sex, finding yourself, mental illness, family stress, the great stressors of debating upon a structured higher level education or going on a journey to invest in yourself. This book is a work of practical artistry that everyone needs to give a chance at some point in time during their lives!

4. My Life Next Door ~ Huntley Fitzpatrick

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

I'm rarely ever feel inclined to pick up a contemporary romance, but when I do it is after careful deliberation. My Life Next Door is a heavy read from within, but well cushioned by plenty of fluff and humor. It's the perfect summer read; and provides the most exemplary vision of what it means to live through a summer that feels more like a lifetime than three months. I'm not one to believe in young love having the potential to be one's lasting love, but Huntley Fitzpatrick has written a wonderful tale of boy meets girl and the inevitable love that follows suit.

5. Thirteen Reasons Why ~ Jay Asher

You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret. . . is to press play.

Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her.

Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes-- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.

All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town. . .

. . .and what he discovers changes his life forever.

Nothing that I could ever say about this book would do it justice. By far, one of the best books I have ever read concerning suicide and unknowingly allowing a dear friend to slip from out of your grasp, and out of life.

6. Hope Was Here ~ Joan Bauer

When Hope and her aunt move to small-town Wisconsin to take over the local diner, Hope's not sure what to expect. But what they find is that the owner, G.T., isn't quite ready to give up yet - in fact, he's decided to run for mayor against a corrupt candidate. And as Hope starts to make her place at the diner, she also finds herself caught up in G.T.'s campaign - particularly his visions for the future. After all, as G.T. points out, everyone can use a little hope to help get through the tough times... even Hope herself.

Joan Bauer is another amazing writer who has the ability to spin tales into truth. You won't be able to willingly put any of her books down! Easily, readable within a day.

7. Losing It ~ Cora Carmack (Losing It #1)

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

Like I said before, I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance or the NA genre, but throw in a hot British, literature professor and I'm down.

8. Pretty Little Liars ~ Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars # 1)

Three years ago, Alison disappeared after a slumber party, not to be seen since. Her friends at the elite Pennsylvania school mourned her, but they also breathed secret sighs of relief. Each of them guarded a secret that only Alison had known. Now they have other dirty little secrets, secrets that could sink them in their gossip-hungry world. When each of them begins receiving anonymous emails and text messages, panic sets in. Are they being betrayed by some one in their circle? Worse yet: Is Alison back? A strong launch for a suspenseful series.

Listen, before you pass any judgement just give the book a chance. Either you'll be disappointed or you will have discovered a new favorite.

9. The Perfectionists ~ Sara Shepard (The Perfectionists # 1)

In Beacon Heights, Washington, five girls—Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker—know that you don’t have to be good to be perfect. At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they realize that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss, who’s done terrible things to each of them. They come up with the perfect way to kill him—a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s just a joke...until Nolan turns up dead, in exactly the way they planned. Only, they didn’t do it. And unless they find the real killer, their perfect lives will come crashing down around them.

If you liked Pretty Little Liars, you will definitely like The Perfectionists. Easy reading filled with plenty of mystery and entertainment.

10. Glass Houses ~ Rachel Caine ( The Morganville Vampires # 1)

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town's terror or will she drown like everyone else?  

Just enough paranormal and just enough reality to make a story about vampires believable. If you hated Twilight, you will love this!

11. White Hot Kiss ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout (The Dark Elements # 1)

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Paranormal romance is the way to go, particularly within the arms of the crown prince of Hell.

12. It's Kind of a Funny Story ~ Ned Vizzini

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life - which means getting into the right high school to get into the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.

That one book that let's you know that you have zero reason whatsoever to apologize for a mental breakdown.

13. Clean ~ Amy Reed

You’re probably wondering how I ended up here. I’m still wondering the same thing.

Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva have one thing in common: They’re addicts. Addicts who have hit rock bottom and been stuck together in rehab to face their problems, face sobriety, and face themselves. None of them wants to be there. None of them wants to confront the truths about their pasts. And they certainly don’t want to share their darkest secrets and most desperate fears with a room of strangers. But they’ll all have to deal with themselves—and one another—if they want to learn how to live. Because when you get that high, there’s nowhere to go but down, down, down.

I recommend everything and anything by Amy Reed, however Clean is the best way to break the surface. After you read Clean, you will understand the importance of finding yourself and striving to remain true to yourself, forever. Addiction is an ugly thing, but the underlying problems that instigated the addiction are even more awful and heart wrenching.

14. Maybe Someday ~ Colleen Hoover ( Maybe # 1)

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

The way Colleen Hoover writes contemporary romance makes it hard to dislike the corny romantic situations.

15. Trylle: The Complete Trilogy ~ Amanda Hocking

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn't long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

One of the better YA (Young Adult) paranormal/adventure stories.