2014/08/31

Book Haul: August

August is at an end. Time certainly flies! I'm really looking forward to September, it's probably one of my favorite months. The leaves change, you drag out your autumn coats and boots, hot drinks, scarves... Love it!

I went to London early this month, and I brought with me a little and light suitcase. It was, however, very heavy on the way back, mostly due to the books I bought.





Finally got my hands on some of these beautiful VMC books, they're so gorgeous!



When in London, and all that...



My very first graphic novel, which is very exciting.





And finally, my first two books in the English Library series, hopefully the first of many.



Well, if that won't keep me busy for a while, I don't know what will!

I hope you've all had a wonderful August as well.


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2014/08/30

Book Review: Carrie by Stephen King

Title: Carrie
Author: Stephen King
Published: 1974
Language: English
Pages: 242
Rating: 4/5


Summary:
Carrie is a young girl, living with her religiously fanatic mother, is bullied and mocked at school. At home, she is constantly reprimanded for being sinful.

Carrie also has the gift of telekinesis. When someone pulls yet another prank on her at prom, things get a bit crazy...


Review:
I really liked the writing style of this book. It's written, not only from Carries perspective, but also through the voice of girls who attended school with her, people who know her mother and in the end, through several police interviews. I thought that mixed things up a bit, and made it quite realistic.

The best part about this book was, at least for me, the scenes between Carrie and her mother. I also liked how you can tell how her upbringing affects Carrie and her thoughts. I really wished there was more of these parts, because I felt the story would have benefited from it. I would have liked to get to know Carrie a little bit more.

I really liked the ending, I thought it suited the story well.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a short, creepy thriller. Perfect for Halloween.


You can get this book at The Book Depository* or at your local bookstore.
*AFFILIATE LINK
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2014/08/29

2014/08/28

Photography Books: Storyteller by Tim Burton

Tim Walker is one of my favorite photographers, and I have two photography books by him. This is one of them. Walker is a fashion photographer and has a very distinct and fascinating style.







The last picture on the right is one of my favorite pictures of all time.

A really beautiful book, definitely something for anyone who has a slight interest in photography and/or fashion. Simply gorgeous! Could also be a really interesting coffee table book.

You can get this book at The Book Depository, or any bookstore that has a good photography section.

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2014/08/27

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published: 2013
Language: English
Pages: 452
Rating: 4/5

This is the second book in The Lunar Chronicles. You can read a review of the first one, Cinder, here.

Since this is the second book in a series, this review does contain some spoilers.


Summary:
Scarlets grandmother has disappeared and no one cares but here. The police has given up - after all, the woman was old and crazy. But Scarlet believes differently, and goes on a quest to find her grandmother herself.

Meanwhile, in Commonwealth, Cinder, the now famous cyborg mechanic, is trying to break out of prison.

Though Scarlet knows nothing of the danger she is in, both she and Cinder must dodge the looming Queen Levana of Luna, who will stop at nothing before she rules the Earth.


Review:
I felt like this was a very satisfactory continuation of the first book. I finally felt like there was a little more flesh to the story, and I liked how we get to read several viewpoints. It really made the story more nuanced and interesting.

Not nearly as predictable as the first book, though not completely unsurprising. A few twists brings some spice to the mix, which I really appreciated. I also think the fairytale inspiration for this one (Snow White) added more to the story than it did in the first book (in the first, the references to Cinderella made the story even more predictable than necessary).

What annoyed me the most was the extremely fast-paced romance, far too quick for my taste and seriously unrealistic (even for this genre).

All in all, very interesting and fascinating. I still love the universe it's set in, and I'm excited to read more.
You can get this book at The Book Depository*
*AFFILIATE LINK
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2014/08/25

Top 5: Favorite Poems II

It's time for some more poetry! As you can see, this is the second post with some of my favorite poems. You can check out the first one here.
Auguries of Innocence - William Blake


To see the world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour

Read the rest here.
And Still I Rise - Maya Angelou


You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room

Just like moons and like suns
With the certainty of tides
Just like hopes springing high
Still I'll rise

Read the rest here.

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep - Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sun on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft star-shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there; I did not die
Annabel Lee - Edgar Allan Poe


It was many and many a year ago
In a kingdom by the sea
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me

I was a child and she was a child
In this kingdom by the sea
But we loved with a love that was more than love
I and my Annabel Lee
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me

Read the rest here.
Television - Roal Dahl


The most important thing we've learned
So far as children are concerned
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all
In almost every house we've been
We've watched them gaping at the screen
They loll and slop and lounge about
And stare until their eyes pop out
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor)

Read the rest here.

I hope you're all having a great day!

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