Book Review: On Writing by Stephen King

It wasn't what I was expecting but I enjoyed it

This is the first book that I read by Stephen King. Somehow, I feel that I know him because the writing style also defines person. This book is more a memoir than a writing text book. People talked a lot about his tips but I found so many and what saddens me is that the book is not even about that.
 He writes about his writing journey - from the beginning. His tips are advices and knowledge that he acquired throughout his long life but if you can learn one thing from this book it that there are no rules when it comes to writing. Yes, you follow certain standard things (he focuses a lot in grammar and vocabulary) but the rest is all up to you.
In the end, it wasn't what I was expecting but I wasn't disappointed. He writes as if he is talking to you about his writing over tea. I felt that close to him. I think that I didn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted to but I am also taking some of his knowledge about writing to my own stories, which is something incredible. I will probably never read something from him - I'm not a horror person - but now I know how his work works and that is the best backstage sneak peek that I could ask for.

Book Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Just wow

The third book. It's unbelievable, especially when the fourth comes in September and I have already pre-ordered.
Celaena - she will never stop being my Celaena, it doesn't matter if other characters call her differently - grows so strong in this book, after the absolute devastation that was Crown of Midnight. I liked to see her growth in this one, and now... we are the same age! How awesome is that? There is time when you read YA and you are younger than the characters and then... I am at the time when the characters are as old as I am. That is so awesome!

Dorian... My poor sweet prince Dorian also evolved a lot in this book. His love (or whatever it was) for Sorcha was so pure and natural that I was really rooting for them. But it just wasn't meant to be. It is crucial here to say that while Dorian grew as a character - he was just a prince in the first book but now he's acting like a king - it is not possible to say the same for Chaol. I understand his sacrifice but until the end he didn't know where he stood. Is it really that difficult to decide?

The King... now I am truly afraid of him, especially after what he did to his son. I am going to be so sad when the next book comes out because I know what is happening to Dorian and it is so not fair! Do not touch my bae!

Now... the new characters! We have Rowan, Celaenas trainer who then becomes so much more. He seems a little rough in the beginning but then we understand that it is the fact that he is almost immortal that makes him that way - he's been through a lot.
We also have Aedion and let's just say that Celaena has been surrounded by very handsome men since an early age. He is her protector, her sidekick and they gre up together. It makes him like a brother, a protector, a possible king, maybe. Let's face it: all of them - Dorian, Chaol, Rowan and Aedion - are possible kings for a queen such as Celaena.

I absolutely loved this book; I can't wait to read Queen of Shadows!

Book Review: High-Rise by J.G. Ballard

Slow and boring

For a psychologist, this book might be interesting. Ballard's history is also interesting but, maybe because I was born in the end of the century and I have a different opinion of the world around us, I couldn't relate to the story. That said I am not going to focus the storyline as much as I was thinking I was able to when I started the book. It was too slow to be interesting.
There are two ways to read this book: the high-rise as the main character or the characters as the main focus. The way that the high-rise is built is more interesting because it shows how social classes work, like a pyramid in the Middle Ages. The introduction by Ned Beduman helps a lot, specially if you read it before and after you read the book.
The behaviours of its habitants are the main focus and what keeps things moving, but don't expect much action. I also don't believe that all humans would turn into such selfish, cannibals and schizophrenic when confronted with that situation. Also, it is not realistic. Not anymore, at least. I still believe that good people exist and what hapenned in there was the exception, not the norm.
I would define the book as very futuristic, a vision of a possible apocalypse or a very old vision, not from this century.

Book Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

The plot thickens...

Cassandra has a way of enchanting us throughtout the books and it is possible to see her evolution as an author as well which is amazing and I believe it is one of the most incredible things that a reader might experience while reading a book series.
Clary is so strong, something that pleased me a lot because I've always seen her as a little teenager who didn't know what to do in a world full of monsters. After all, she can take care of herself. Alongside, Simon: he will always be my favourite character, there's no question in that. He is funny and sweet and here he is a true warrior, summoning an angel, defying his rage and defending not only the ones that he loves but himself as well.
Alec and Magnus... well, what can I say? Bloody hell! I understand both point of view and I am angry at Alec as well even though it was crystal clear that he would've never considered the proposal.
Sebastian is that awful thing. I thought that Valentine was crazy, but Sebastian is a whole other level, trying to live two lives at the same time. Impossible.
Jocelyn, on the other hand, even though she was the key for the first three books, she has lost her charm, I believe, now that she's alive. I still don't know what to expect of her, but I'm not expecting much. I think that her past is far more interesting than her present or future.

I only have City of Heavenly Fire to read. I already am nostalgic of this series that I learnt to love.

Reading Update: City of Lost Souls #1

Book: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Page Number: 289/542

What is happening:
I feel that this book is very concise and I am enjoying that quite a lot. The plot thickens and I don't know where this is going to end.
Clary is so strong here! I am so happy for her. Isabelle is showing her soft side and Magnus has an interesting past. At the moment, I am totally shipping Jordan and Maia. Here's how I imagine them both:

Book Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A beautiful story with a tragic end

The first time I encountered the name of the book was because Leo DiCaprio was the main character. I saw the movie, I fell in love with it and since then I have wanted to buy the book. Lana Del Rey's Young and Beautiful song was following me all the time while I was reading this book which made everything so special and every time Gatsby was on it, I imagined DiCaprio and the scenes from the movie revived in my mind.

The book that I bought was very short (210 pages) and then I found out that The Great Gatsby was actually only 180 pages and the rest of it was extra material about Scott (even though I like to call him Fitz - I am still trying to figure that out because no one call him that - I am going to write Scott because everyone knows him by that name). I read those extra pages and found out that Scott wrote one of my favourite short stories (I actually saw the movie, I had no idea that it was a short story) - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Without even realizing it, Scott has been one of my favourite authors and I hadn't even realized that. It's time to say that "s" word.

About Gatsby: I don't have enough words to explain how a rollercoaster this book is. And how painful it is. I still remember that the end of the movie was shocking to me (DiCpario likes to die in the water) but the book hurt so much more! In the end, we leave alone. Gatsby had that live to achieve only one goal - to be with Daisy - but in the end all of those people who loved his parties didn't return the generosity. How cruel.

One of my favourite readings this year. I am sure going to read more things from Scott. After all, he wrote so much that I won't complain that I don't have anything to read.

Book Review: Isla and The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

I was expecting more. But I am back to Paris!

The the cicle ends: Anna, Lola and Isla - the perfect trilogy - end with this last one. Before the bad things, I have to admit that the way that Stephanie Perkins crossovers the characters from one book to the other is amazing and makes you cry.

Now, to the things I didn't like about this book: maybe it was my fault, but I got tired of Isla very quickly - probably because this kind of books only last 3/4 days but this one took more time because I am working and my reading hours are dedicated to... working. I am not complaining, but this is not the first time that I am reading a book and working (not at the same time) and this kind of tiredness never happened. So maybe it was the time and the character.

Immediately, I realised that something bad was going to happen really quickly because the story started in the opposite way: on page 100 they were already in love and dating and having the time of their lives. Something bad was going to happen and the way it did was awful and made me cry. But the distance that the characters had before that was boring.

Isla is interesting in the way that makes me remember Anna and Josh reminds me of Cricket. She isn't that unique character like Lola, but I believe that people could relate to her because she is a teenager in her senior year and doesn't know what she wants to do next - go to uni, sure but what course? I was like that on my senior year.

Josh is more likable than Cricket but I didn't fell for him the way that I did with St. Clair. Because St. Clair is unique. But he has this warm heart and is patient and likes to draw. Seriously, he is almost the perfect book boyfriend.

In conclusion, I believe that I didn't appreciate this book as much as I did with the others but that doesn't mean that it wasn't good - it was, but it's not my favourite. I think it was boring, comparing to the other two. Anyway, I am going to miss these amazing books so much and I can't wait for the next book by Stephanie. Please, Stephanie, write!