The Unbearable Lightness of Being

So I took this book out on Monday (not on a whim, but close enough), and I thought it was quite intriguing and read it - I finished it just about 1 hr ago. So it was a weeklong experience... approximately 300 pages, and it is the best book I've ever read so far.

Let me elaborate a little: So this book is about, at its surface, a man and a woman an about their relationship and about the man's many infedelities (with one in particular of interest) and of how the woman deals with that - but mostly it's about their lives and their experiences and how their initial views are shaped by these expereinces and about how their paths are shaped by their views, unknown to them at the time... I know that was just a complete pointless ramble but seriously it's what came to mind.

The book is almost a philosophy book, in rank with Rand with a dash of Palahniuk (I would say - mostly because of the subject matter and the way things are described through actions rather than speech - which is mostly rand's preference). I do not have enough of a literary background to make any quality comparisons and to really justify or explain how this work has touched me. Its views on existance, on society, on happiness, on love, on politics, on... almost every facet of life (so aptly illustrated in 300 short pages) is absolutely amazing. Even things I may not agree all of it, it struck a chord. A beautiful masterpiece.

I would like to quote this book - but I can't because I want to quote almost every page, so that would just be very tiresome and the point defeated. So instead I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone (unless you get squeamish about certain subject matter - then you should just go sit in a corner =P). Enjoy.

-L

Brave New World

Most people, before I read this book, thought that I had already read it. I would just raise my eyebrows at them and be silent. After I've read this book however, I don't blame people for thinking so, because it does seem like to be something I would have read. Lolz ^^ It is very interesting and bizarre but not so like so many dystopian books. Very nice.
I think this is probably because of my specific version of the book, but there were a LOT of grammar mistakes. Periods and commas randomly not appearing where they're definitely supposed to, and parts of words being cut off - not normal, roflz... although I did enjoy that as a characteristic charm.

I give this book 8.5/10 because it is a fun read and recommend it to all. I finished it in 2 days - which is a good sign =)

-L

Endless Nights

I just spent the good part of the afternoon today reading Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: Endless Nights.
It was beautiful.
The illustrations were very diverse and elegant for each of the Endless's stories. My favourite ones in terms of picture quality would have to be Destiny and Dream... although I like them all very much. In terms of story and plot, all of them are unique and beautiful in their own way, so I really don't have a favourite.
I feel absolutely awed after reading this book. I definitely recommend it to everyone, although probably not everyone will enjoy it. =P

"There is a man with a book, walking through his garden.
The man is blind.
The garden is a maze of paths that divide and branch and recombine..."

I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. ^______^

-L

HP 7 Book Review

So I've finally finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, just about yesterday (at 5 am actually) ... I dragged the reading on way longer than it should have lasted. Many people I know practically read the book in the summer camp, not going to any activities but still a pretty good accomplishment.
Now I'll just briefly note some major stuff that I felt towards the books.

First and foremost, I am not at all disappointed by the book, which is surprising, because after a long run, the HP series was kind of getting long-winded and...dear I say, boring. However, this last book promises (and indeed brings) satisfactory full circle closures tying many many of those loose ends in most of the previous HP books. I find them quite imaginative and realistic (shock). Kudos

One thing about the plot of the book that I hated was how, in the end, Harry ends up with Ginny... yes the red-head youngest daughter of the Weasley family. Why is this such a horrid ending? Because it's just wrong on so many levels, plus, after seeing how hormone-raged Harry's mind is towards Ginny in the entire premise of the book, one simply gets tired, down-right tired, of this pairing. Seriously... Well, perhaps this ill feeling is also affected by how the movies franchise portrays Ginny... I feel depressed now -_- Also, is it even plausible that after 19 years, Harry would still be with Ginny? And have three kids? the middle child whose name, one must wonder, surely inspires the child to commit suicide and hate life forever (Albus Severus Potter... while his two siblings are safely named James and Lily Potter -_- c'mon, where's the imagination, folks). Anyway, I don't like that ending, but I guess it's not hurting (or even minutely touching) the main plot... so it's all good.

I love the main plot, by the way, very well thought out, and although some parts are cheesy, it still passes as realistic and charming. I love Albus Dumbledore... but why does he have to cry so much?

About the multiple deaths occurring in the book... I don't feel bad about it... they were definitely necessary for the book to be realistic, and I even think that maybe there weren't enough deaths. At least not many "important" lives were lost. Though I am deeply, deeply saddened by Lupin's death ... that's just cruel. J.K. Rowling has successfully killed off all of the four who created the Marauder's Map... James, Lupin, Sirius, and Wormtail. -___- I think that was part of the masterplan... oh wellz.

Overall, very good description (not long as some people might suggest, at least nothing compared to LOTR or Ayn Rand books... gawd, those descriptions are mind-bogglingly long...), and a nicely developed pace. Character development is dead, but you expect that from the last book of the series. Dialogue is pretty good too. etc. etc.

This book is satisfactory. It's not a masterpiece, oh certainly not. It stands no chance against the world's great literatures. Surely not as witty as HHGTTG, or as informational as the Fountainhead. But it's a children's book, and for that genre, this book rather excels. =D

I shall be awaiting the movies as well as any further work of this grandeur, for we all know how successful the Harry Potter franchise has become.

Cheers,

-L