Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J.Mass

From Goodread's:
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined

Author: Sarah J.Mass
Published: 2012
Pages: 404
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
My Rating: 3.5/5

Assassin + Girl + Crown Prince + Ballrooms + Competitions + Blackmail + Sneaky Past + Corrupt King = One Kick Ass Story

The first half of the story was way more awesome than I expected. I am all for action and I love when the main heroin is strong and has a distinct personality of her own. And when she also happens to be the most famous and feared Assassin of Adarlan i.e. the ruling kingdom, what more could you ask for. I fell in love with her character, her strength and most of all her wit. The way she was able to laugh despite enduring what people couldn't have imagined. Celaena is one beloved heroin. She can kill a man in the time it takes you to drink your juice, loves pretty dresses and favourite hobby happens to be reading books.

I loved the two main guys as well. Prince Dorian is the son of the ruling corrupt king and you would think that he would be his exact replica, that is what he assumes as well. But he turns out to be someone else. Someone who cares about his people. The other guy, Captain of the Guard, Chaol (weird name), has left his rightful position for a better task. The two guys are friends yet the contrast between them is so startling. Chaol being the wise one and Dorian being the fool prince. One thing that really got me confused was the love triangle or lack there off of one. I mean, if you want to put a love triangle in a book. Just do it. One second it is there, the next its not.

When my expectations reached the sky, I literally, fell out of the sky. Because magic and some weird nonsense named Wyrdmarks came between me and my love for the story. Magic and things that just do not make sense to me are such a huge turn off for me. I felt so bad like someone had performed open heart surgery on me. All of that creature leashing from the other side, blah, blah, blah, and the Wyrdmarks protecting her was utter nonsense.

I don't know if I will read finish the series. I wish that the story did not include all that magic nonsense. It would have been such a die hard book. This is one book that I feel sorry for.

...SAP...

Bookish Resolutions 2014 !

I have never had bookish resolutions but I thought to myself and realized that the time has come to do so. Because when i have certain objectives in mind, than its easier to comply with them. So here are my bookish resolutions for 2014 :

1. Read more classics. 

I have a love hate relationship with classics. I take forever to read a classic because it requires patience. And I suck on that account. But the few classics I have read, I have loved them, like Pride and Prejudice, The Count of Monte Cristo, Little Women (one of my favourite childhood books), Arabian Nights, Jane Eyre etc. So this year I hope to read the classics already in my possession.

2. Buy more books:

I was packing my books for moving and I saw that I have bought only 16 books in 2013 which is such a shame. And a lot of books I read as ebooks. So this year, I am going to buy all the books I read. I tend to spend my money on other things and than I have nothing left for books. So buy books first. Than anything else.

3. Blog more about books:

I am a slacker when it comes to blogging. I am not consistent at all. I keep putting off blogging like the rest of the things. And then I forget about it. When I open blogger, I have an empty mind which makes me sad. So blog as soon as the idea pops in my head. Thus blogging more about books. Whether its books reviews, author reviews etc.

4. Be a consistent reader:

Normally, when people finish a book, they start another one. I do not do that. I might read 10 books in a week. Than don't read any in the next three. I have no idea why that happens. But that is the way it is and its not good. I love reading and this just wastes time which I end up doing something not productive. I will try to pick up another book as soon as I finish the one I have finished reading.

5. Write the review as soon as possible:

I read a book. Than the opinions I have about it are just churning inside my head. And I take my time thinking about it. But I don't pen it down immediately. I take a day or two. What happens than is, that I have either started a new book, forgetting a little about the previous one. Or the opinion is not as strong as it was before. And the review is not as good as I would want it to be.

So these are my bookish resolutions. I am not setting myself a challenge this year because I want to see how much I read without the pressure of completing a challenge. Lets see how I do.

......

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall List 2013

I am not the kind of person who chooses ahead of time what to read. These days my TBR list is so long, I have lists instead of a list. And the buying list is even longer. So for me, I just read the book as I buy them or just start a random one from my TBR list. But I do have some of the books that I tend to look forward to reading them more than the others.

Top Ten Books On My Fall List 2013

1.Cuckoo's Calling by J.K.Rowling:
When the news of J.K.Rowling writing under a pen name broke out, I was thrilled. I did not really like The Casual Vacancy but I am really looking forward to reading this. Besides its a murder mystery written by J.K.Rowling. Double the awesomeness in one book.





2.And The Mountains Echoed by Khalid Hosseni:
I don't really read books the minute they are released if they are not a series book. So this time I was like I will try to read the latest releases a little earlier. Lets see how that goes. And I just love the cover of this book.






3. Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon:

I recently found out about the Outlander series and they sound awesome. It has a total of 8 books out of which 7 are already out. I hate reding a series and than waiting for the next book to come. So this is perfect for me.

4. The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas:
This has been on my TBR for so long that I cannot even remember. But somehow every time I pick it up, I end up putting it back. And its from one of my favourite authors. I have high expectations for this book because I have seen the movie and it was excellent. I love Orlando Bloom.








5.Inferno by Dan Brown:
This has been the book that I have waited the most for. I love Dan Brown and his books. But I want to buy it and then read it. Unfortunately, its sold out where I live. So I have to wait for the stock to come.









6.Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray:

I really want to read this or at least one of Libba Bray's books this fall. The plot sounds really good and I have heard great things about it.

7.The Fiery Heart by Richelle Meade: (Bloodlines Book 4)
Adrian and Sydney ! Ofcourse. Who does not want to read about them ? When Richelle Mead released the first two chapters of the book, I went all gaga and I was swooning over Adrian. Besides this summer I have read heart wrenching book, I am in dire need of Adrian and his witty handsome self.

...SAP...

Book Review: The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald

Nick Carraway narrates the story, he meets the rich and scandalous Gatsby who throws lavish parties in his huge and beautiful mansion on the East Coast but very little is actually known about him. But that was not the case, always. Five years ago, he was nothing but a poor lad in the army who made the mistake of falling in love with the rich and beautiful Daisy. Unfortunately life did not side with them. They meet in the present, Daisy a married woman, with a daughter and an adulterous husband. Gatsby, a very rich man, still in love and waiting for Daisy. What measures will Gatsby take to get his love back ? How will Daisy react knowing her lost love is back ?

Published: 1952
Author: F.Scott Fitzgerald
Genre: Fiction, Classic

Goodread's Review: The Great Gatsby

Amazon: The Great Gatsby

I had been wanting to read this classic for a long time and obviously had high expectations. But when I finally picked it up, lets just say that I wanted to punch Gatsby, Daisy, her stupid husband Tom, his mistress, Scott, pretty much everyone in the book.

Lets start with the adultery in the book. Daisy's husband is in love with a wife of a garage owner who fixes his car. Seriously ? Could not you have a little better taste ? At least have the decency to not fall of your standards. And Daisy knows about it. Yet she does nothing about it. Why ? Why would you let your husband do that to you ? That implies you are not interested in him anymore. Get a divorce for Gods sake and stop the drama. Then her husband is mad when she does the exact same thing he does to her. Something that is right for you becomes wrong for your wife in a second. Shoe salute !

And Gatsby. Lets just say that he is one of the most stupidest and ambitious man I have ever read about. He made Daisy the sole purpose of his existence which is saying something considering he is rich, handsome, has a huge library and a great car. I loved him and hated him. Loved for the hard work he does and the pain he goes to, to get Daisy back. His life was all about Daisy but somehow, he even made his end about her. Which deserves some respect, a lot actually. But it also deserves a hard reality slap to make him realize the obvious that Daisy does not stand up for her own self, let alone for anyone else.

Daisy, I hate her. I never really understood her character or why she does, what she did in the ending. Does not someone who died for your mistake deserves an attendance to his funeral ? I am pretty sure that even the most cold hearted person would have been blown away. So I am assuming that she never had a heart.

I hated the book in some ways and loved it in others. Nick was the only sensible one in the story. His character was brilliant especially his decision at the end. But I found the third wheeling a little creepy. Never have I ever respected a fictional character more. He literally brought sanity to the story. I hope the movie is better than the book because Leonardo DaVinci is in it. I hated the characters but somehow loved the story. Because it was very real. We only see one side of the society, fact is that the other side exists and it still is pretty much how Scott described it. All in all, I kind of had a love/hate relationship with this book.

One of the quotes I loved from the book:

“I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” 

...SAP...

Book Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

5 year old Jack's world consists of an 8 ft by 11 ft room. Its his playground, school, hospital, home, everything he has ever stepped in or seen. And his only other companion is his mother. But then he gets a chance to see the outside world. And he is overwhelmed. He feels like an alien. He is an expert in Mathematics but does not know how to climb stairs. And then there are the circumstances that put this little kid and his 20 something mom where he is. What would you do if you ever found yourself in such circumstances ? 

Published: 2010
Author: Emma Donoghue
Genre: Literary fiction

Goodreads review: Room

Book Depository: Room

This was a very different and interesting read for me. It was from a victim's point of view and I loved that perspective. The narrative is a 5 year old kid who himself does not know much about the world. His mother creates a normal world for him in an abnormal one. Even being a victim, he has no idea what kidnapping, robbery, murder etc is, just like any other 5 year old.

I was reminded of my youngest brother, when he was an year or two. Whenever we used to go to someones house, he kept staring at the ceiling, fascinated by the fan because there wasn't one in our house and he had no idea what it was. And Jack is the same, he is terrified when he gets to see the real world. But Emma has described his feelings in an incredible manner. I realized the importance of being socially adaptive of things.

My heart literally broke reading about the mother struggling day after day in such an uncommon way, yet so real in so many other ways. She is barely in her twenties, the age where you are suppose to enjoy life, not be terrified of it.

I felt like the part about the escape was a little vague. How can a person who has taken so much care to keep things the way they are, not check the carpet ? But then, even the biggest criminals make tiny mistake at times.

I cannot imagine my life in a single room. Emma portrayed the characters so strong and beautiful. I was forced to think that if they can make the most of life in a single room, why the hell cannot we all ?

...SAP...

Book Review: The Running Man by Stephen King

Ben Richards signs up for The Running Man. What is The Running Man ? For some, it is an entertainment series and a brutal way of getting rid of the poor population. Or it is a way of earning money and feeding their family for others. But nonetheless, it is a very dangerous game in which you are on the run from the government and you get paid for every hour that you do not get caught. Unfortunately for Ben Richards, he falls in the latter category. He has a 18 month old sick daughter and a wife but no job to support this family. Now the question is, will he survive the games ? More like, how long will he last in them ? 

Published: January, 1982
Author: Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman
Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction

Goodreads Review: The Running Man

Amazon: The Running Man

I am not a fan of Stephen King, mainly because I do not enjoy horror . But a friend forced me to read this and I loved it. It is a dystopian novel set in the future. And the way he has written the story is worth a standing ovation. Some authors portray something through meaningful quotes but I felt everything through the story itself.

Ben Richards is just another victim of the government now being used as an entertainment. The guy goes against his beliefs for his family and his whole world shatters in the end. I knew from the start what will happen to him but any other thing I really did not expect. There were so many twists and turns being thrown at me that I was processing the previous shock when I started reading another one.

The story itself is so honest portraying the life of an everyday simple man. And how poverty is really the worse things you can imagine. It is one thing to go hungry yourself but it is entirely another to see your kid starve and wait for death to knock at your door.

I salute Ben Richards courage and guts. Being a very bold girl myself, I loved that he did not give a damn shit about what others think or do, about him. He did what he had to and stuck to it, till the end. It was not a matter of his survival. It was a matter of survival of his only kid and wife.

I have to say, I had no idea how all the action was going on because for one second he is in a car, driving, the next he is threatening to blow the whole place up with a bomb, playing a buff and hijacking a plane. It was that fast but I loved it. I think Stephen King really did justice to this book.

...SAP...

Book Review: Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks

Katie Fieldman is a 27 year old woman, newly arrived in a small town called Southport. She seems like she is running away from something ? Katie is not even her real name. Than who is she ? And what is she running from ? Alex is a retired army officer, now operating a general store and bringing up his two children after his wife's tragic death three years ago. They both fall for each other but they cannot be together because of Katies' past. What is it ? What will happen when Katie's past will catch up to them ? Will they be able to survive it ? Will Katie be able to get over all the scars left behind by her past ? 

Published: 2010
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Goodreads Review: Safe Haven

Middle East Shipping: Safe Haven

I am not much of a romantic book reader but this was one book that I wanted to read for a long time. But it was a disappointment considering how badly I wanted to read it.

I loved the way he has described Katie's feelings. How she used to manage everything so precisely and tried to be perfect around him. The fact that she loved him too much to just leave. Katie's character has been described as very strong. What she goes through and the way she still manages to hold her head high, looking at herself everyday in the mirror, wondering what she has become. Leaving him seems very simple. But its not so simple when you are in love and you keep hoping that it will not happen the next time. But that next time never really comes. Her belief in him was so strong.

I was looking forward to reading the reason behind Kevin's madness. But nothing was told. The focus was kept on Katie and I felt like the other characters were ignored. Especially Kevin's. Sparks did not explain why he did, what he did. Maybe there was no reason for it. But even that should have been told. And it took FOUR years for his Captain and colleagues to figure out that he drinks a lot. In the books, everytime he hit Katie, he was drunk. And he was a detective. Didn't everyday crimes, adultery, murders, blood that he saw had any affect on him ?

Another thing, Alex was an ex-army officer. I mean come on. I get the fact that Katie would want things to be left alone. But when  she knew that he was looking for her, then why the hell did not Alex do something about it ? He had contacts in the army, her neighbours the Fieldmans could have identified. He was in love with her, wanted to have kids with her but could not think of helping her. That kind of makes him an idiot.

Why? Oh, why did Nicholas Sparks had to create Carly as some sort of a ghost only seen by Katie ? I hated the fact that he created Carly as an illusion which helps Katie and is very much real to her. At first I thought that its a part of Katie telling her something. But Alex's dead wife giving Katie advice and eating dinner with her, that's a bit far fetched.

 

What I Learnt ? 

I was really thankful for the normal life that we have and that we at times take for granted. Knowing that we don't live the life where people hit each other or are sexually assaulted, beaten, even shouted at everyday, makes us sleep peacefully. We take normal as granted. But normal is really extra ordinary. Something that people wish and pray for everyday. 

Quotes From The Book:

"Little girls. They could melt the toughest hearts."

In the end, no matter how hard it is, acceptance helps people move on with the rest of their lives. But sometimes..."

"Everyone lies. Its part of living in a society."

"You see yourself as someone who couldn't get away. I see the courageous woman who escaped. You see yourself as someone who should be ashamed or guilty because she let it happen. I see a kind, beautiful woman who should feel proud because she stopped it from happening ever again."

 " I have come to believe that in everyone's life, there's one undeniable moment of change, a set of circumstances that suddenly alters everything."

 "Maybe I don't want to be defined by what I do. Maybe I would like to be defined by what I am."

 

...SAP...