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I am feeling in a romantic, wistful mood so I think this is the perfect book to review. This is a book that I could read over and over again and not get tired of it, sometimes you just need to read something that will cheer you up or make you feel love and romance are possible. It is best read on a cold rainy day under the blankets in bed with a big cup of tea and toast. Something to warm your body and a book to warm you soul.
Set in Japan before and after World War II, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ follows the life of Sayuri one of Kyoto’s most famous geishas.
After her mother dies Chiyo (later Sayuri) and her sister Satsu are sold/bought to Kyoto where Satsu is sold to a brothel and Chiyo is used as household labour under the pretense of learning to become a geisha. After getting off to a rocky start with the other Geishas as well as a botched escape attempt Chiyo is forced to repay back debts via manual labour and the thought of becoming a Geisha is all but daydream. Thats is until the rival geisha Mameha offers to teach Chiyo the ways of their world.
After I finished reading this book I thought the story line resembled that of ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens in that the main characters in both these stories (Pip and Sayuri) begin there lives in less than ideal circumstance and when both characters have a chance meeting with a stranger they end up living their lives beyond their expectations.
I highly recommend this book and I don’t normally say this but if you are too lazy to read the book watch the movie. The movie is true to the story and as enjoyable. If you up for a little romance, betrayal and tradition in an exotic location and era then ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is a good place to start.
It was a long time ago that I read this book but I thought now would be a good time to talk about it. Later this year The Lovely Bones is being released as movie and although this is a great book to read I am a little apprehensive as to how it will go in cinematic form.
As soon as I picked up this book I knew it was going to be a tear-jerker. Susie Salmon was a young teenage girl with her whole life ahead of her, that was before she was raped and murdered. While coming to terms with her own death she also has to struggle watching her parents and sibling try and deal with it in their own way.
Through this story we see the pain from the points of view of both the victim and her family left behind. We also witness Susie’s frustration knowing who is responsible and not being able to let anyone know. There are so many emotions in this book but each is dealt with in a flowing, coherent way.
Death in any story is a tough subject, to write about or to read about but dealing with it in a first person narrative sense makes a difficult subject so much harder. Also the fact that the murder victim is also a child is crossing into territories most writers would steer clear of.
This is a very hard book to write about. I want to describe it better but I can’t seem to find the words, I also don’t want to give anything away. I think if you are planning on seeing the movie try and read the book first. I generally think the book is better, plus this movie is going to be a real crier so maybe prepare yourself with the book first or take lots of tissues.
It was about time that I got back on track with my list and finally I found one. I read this book in two days, I couldn’t put it down. My boyfriend says that I am cancer for books, I just eat right through them and with this book it was so true.
It is such an easy read with an engaging story. The story is based on the painting of the same name. Tracey Chevalier creates a fictional history for the creation of this remarkable, well known painting.
Griet is a young women whose family is thrust in to poverty when her father has an accident at work. She is forced to leave her home and cross in to the Catholic quarter and serve in the house of the dutch painter Johannes Vemeer. Griet is curious of her masters vocation and through him she learns to understand his painting visions and techniques.
The relationship that develops between Vemeer and Griet is one of master and apprentice but also the fact that he is master of the house and she a young, female servant cast a sinister shadow. Deeper feelings are developed and tested when Vemeer’s patron commissions a portrait.
I found it fascinate that someone could create a whole world around a simple painting of a young girl looking over her shoulder. It was also nice that the story explained the artistic creation of the painting, the making of paints and the lighting etc. I do wonder though how many people will read this book and take it for fact because it is so convincing.
After reading the book I really wanted to watch the movie. I did watch it and I have to say I was so horribly disappointed. If you don’t have a budget to make the movie long enough to build the characters relationships and fill in all the required details then don’t make the movie. Please if you are thinking about watching the movie, skip it and read the book instead, in that you won’t be disappointed.
The legend behind this book is that Kerouac sat down, high on benzidrine and wrote the story in 3 weeks on one continuous scroll of paper. After completing this mammoth task in 1951 he was unable to get it published until 1957 due to the sexual and drug use content. Dealing with issues unlike other novels at the time bought controversy as well as a cult following. Voted by TIME magazine as one of the top 100 novels from 1923-2005 this book is still a must read for many youths setting out across country trying to discover their own place in the world as well as ‘IT’.
The story follows Jack and his travels across the great wide expanse of the USA. Joined by a group of crazy, drugged out and albeit colourful characters, makes this not just another road trip. Set during the 1950’s this book explores many themes and social taboos of the time. Being the founding members of the Beatnick movement you are drawn in by there personalities and their Beat ideas, it also makes you want to pack up and set off west.
I really liked this book. Knowing that is was written on one continuous sheet of paper in an erradict three weeks, I felt I read it in the same way. I felt like I couldn’t put it down and I wanted to swallow all the information in one go. The characters interested me and after reading their stories I wanted to find out more about these people. Many of the died young, from drugs, alcohol or some other vice but each off them somehow has left their mark in American history and on American society. I think there is something for everyone in this book, especially if you think philosophically.
I found this book on the bookshelf of my German friend. The book was in English and on my list, it seemed it was made for me to read. I asked if I could borrow the book and was little put off when my friend rolled her eyes and recalled the hours spent trawling through the story and trying to understand it.
After finishing the book I can understand the difficulties she had. I had no trouble understanding the language and following the story (probably because English is my first and only language). The interesting and I am sure confusing part of the book is the language, it’s filled with old slang (the book was published in 1945) and is written how the characters would talk in normal everyday situations.
Holden Caulfield is one of those people who are too smart for their own good. Constantly annoyed at the fake stupid people he attends school with, he can’t help but act out against them with unfortunate consequences. Through his alienation from everyone around him (apart from his younger sister) and one hell of a night Holden finally begins to grow up and understands who he could be.
Many highschool students, not just boys can relate to Holden. I can understand why they still make students read this book today. I really wish people could get past the “I have to read this book for English” and actually enjoy the story and learn from it.
I was hooked on this book. It is only 214 pages but I devoured it in a day and a half. It gave me hope that one day I to could write a story that would be read by someone other than my mum. If I was to write a book I think it would turn out a little something like this one. I write how I talk which unfortunately most of the time is rambling, not unsimilar to this story and it has managed to stand the test of time. To quote Holden “What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.” If J.D. Slinger ever reads my blog, maybe he can email me sometime and we’ll chat.
Everyone I know that saw the movie version of the book said it was a waste of time and one of the worst movies they had sat through. I wanted to see the movie and thought to make it such less it my might be better to read the book first (which none of my friends had done). So I read the book to watch the movie, and it was on “the list”.
The story is an interesting one; a young girl witnesses a strange incident between her sister and a family friend. This moment of voyeurism has profound impacts on the characters and irreparably changes there lives.
It took so long for the story to develop while reading this book I was screaming in my head “get to the point already”. So much of the setting and the mood is described in place of story line. I have to say I was very frustrated and disgruntled. The book was interesting and good to read but I would have to say that I didn’t really like it. The wading through pages of description is tough work, the story finally starts to develop and it ends so abruptly.
Read this book if you want but it is not one I would recommend. I will cross it of my list but I doubt I will ever come back to it and read it again. Sorry for everyone (and there are lots of you) that enjoyed this book.
I am not the biggest fan of fantasy books. I read ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and loved it but I don’t intentionally search them out. ‘Across the Nightingale Floor’ is a fantasy book and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I could not put the book down and I am currently reading the last book in the trilogy.
Set in a country and time similar to ancient Japan the story follows the same principals of most fantasy books. Laced with ferocious battles, long an arduous quest this book makes for entertaining reading. The Japanese element also made this book slightly more interesting then most fantasy, I was interested in their class system, the need for honour at all costs and if it is not obtained then death must come by your own hand.
This story focus on the Otori clan and the struggle of the heir (Shigeru) has trying to claim what is rightfully his. Shigeru stumbles upon a young Hidden boy running from the clutches on the evil Tohan clan. Saving the boys life Shigeru decided to protect it further by adopting Tomasu and naming Otori Takeo. Neither had any idea how powerful that name would become.
I could not stop reading, for me this was a huge page turner. I had to know what happened to Shigeru and Takeo, would old wrongs be righted and would revenge be granted to them. Of course as with any fantasy story there is romance and being a romantic at heart I loved the descriptions of the first meetings, the need to be together and the stolen glances. However, the finest descriptive passages in the book come from the gruesomeness yet poetic of the battle scene. You feel as if you are there watching the blades slice through air and flesh with equal ease.
I recommend this book to everyone, though if you are into battles, ancient family honour codes and revenge then this story is definitely for you. I warn you though, once you read the first you will have to read the second and third books, this story doesn’t really stand alone but once you finish ‘Across the Nightingale Floor’ I think you will want to read the rest anyway.
Everytime that I finish a book from my list I am glad that I decided to start this reading quest. It may be taking me a while to complete but every book that I read is like a treasure under layers and layers of wraping. Every book that I have finished not only tells a beautiful story but it also feels that by reading there stories they are helping me unravel mine. I remember reading somewhere (don’t quote me on this) that books are like mirrors and show us ourselves, I believe this whole heartedly.
I fell in love with this book. I read this while my partner was away; it was this seperation that made me bond with the character of Claire. Her partner is constantly leaving unexpectedly and she never knows when he will return. Although I had some indication of when my partner was coming back I still understood the longing and uncertainty she felt.
The story revolves around Claire and Henry. Henry has a genetic condition where he jumps through time, when and where he travels to is completely random. The only certainty in Henry’s life is Claire. For Claire, Henry has always been there, even when not physically near her, her thoughts are occupied by him. To me this is one of the greatest love stories that I have read. I found it incredibly romantic, a couple against all odds manages to find one another, fall in love a create a life together.
This is an unusual story and one that can only be done justice in a book. Books are places where even the most far fetched and impossible stories can seem real. I love this book with a passion. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good romance. The time travel elements of the story can be cofusing but the characters more then make up for this. I cried reading this book; it does have some sad moments but I think I was mostly crying because I found the story beautiful (may also be because I was missing my significant other). This review does not do justice to the story, I cannot express how moved I was and how much I enjoyed reading ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’. I hope Audrey Niffenegger can create another book like this.
Where do I begin? This book is a cult classic that has impacted everyone in one way or another for good and bad (I cannot however forgive it for being the inspiration behind that dreadful reality TV show). I wanted to read this book and I think everyone else should because it is referenced all the time in movies, TV shows and political discussions. It also just so happens to be number 57 on my shrinking (slowly but surely) list.
Nineteen Eighty-four follows the life of Winston Smith an unassuming peon in the Big Brother ruled society of “future” London (remember this book was written in the 50’s so 1984 was the future). Winston plays the part of the perfect comrade (or party member) all the while he despises Big Brother and constantly questions the rewritten past.
The thing I loved about this story is the Big Brother society, video cameras everywhere, communist-based ideas (Big Brother posters, comrade etc) and the two minutes of hate. It was fascinating to see that all the bad things that were happening in the story are actually happening now. The whole BB society is based around a war that is never ending, to use up resources and give the community a common enemy (Iraq, terrorism, ring a bell?). Every house has telescreens to monitor everyone (CCTV, familiar?). I could go on but this isn’t meant to be a political/English essay.
How many people have read ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’? Everyone (or the majority, I can speak for everyone) agrees that it is a horrible society and yet we are headed on the same path. Read this book and see if you think we are headed for our own 1984 (2014?). Maybe we can change it.
Being number twenty-two on the Top 100 list I was always planning to read this book. The moment just presented itself when I had the whole apartment to myself for a month and need some stimuli. Whilst browsing the bookshelves (in an airport bookstore), this was the only book that I could remember being on the list. I decided to grab the chance to read it and finally get back on track with my Top 100 count down, or should I say “read” down.
This book was unlike any other that I have read. The style was unique and made the reading process interesting though at times frustrating. Not frustrating in the sense it was hard to get through but that so many things are left unsaid and not revealed until the last chapters.
The story is set in 1960’s India and deals with class struggles, life, death, love and most of all the complications that come with family. Throughout this book there is reference to a tragedy that has caused major upheaval and discontent with in the family. All problems seem to be centred around the twins Estha (male) and Rahel (female). This tragedy and what part they played in it is not revealed until the very end giving you a sense of reading half a story, which at times keeps you interested but can be at other times annoying.
I did however enjoy this book and it was nice to read something slightly different. I also found it interesting learning about the class system and Untouchables of India. If you get the chance read this book, reading a story from other sides of the world is enjoyable but also you feel like you are learning at the same time.
