The Bookish Life

The Seven Kingdoms: Bitterblue

2012-05-08T03:54:00.004+05:30

I read Graceling and Fire a few years ago, I had never known then that how much I would have loved the series completely. Bitterblue came out on the 1^st of May this month, I had it in my hands by the 2^nd and done and completed by the 3^th of May. As I always say, its hard to write about the books that you love, and blogging about Bitterblue will be tough enough.

One of those really pretty covers!

Bitterblue:

18 year old Bitterblue now the Queen of Monsea faces the challenge of gluing back her kingdom her graced King father had destroyed. The people of Monsea are still waking up from the past. They don’t know their Queen and the Queen is unaware of her Kingdoms potential nevertheless rules it by signing and looking after papers. The Queen is in for a surprise when she realizes that her Advisers are hiding something from her and that there is more to her Kingdom then she thought there was.

Amazing Writing:

The above summary is pretty crappy. You see, I don’t like summaries in general I like reading a book without reading its back. This goes for Bitterblue as well, I didn't read the back so I really didn't know what it would be about. All I knew was that Bitterblue was in Graceling (Kashore’s debut novel) as a ten year old princess.

Things I knew about Bitterblue beforehand:

Katsa and Po would be in it (amazing characters from Graceling)
Bitterblue would be 18 and obviously the Queen of Monsea

That’s it.

Unpredictable: This book has got to be the most unpredictable books I have ever read. It would be extremely foolish to even try because Cashore’s unexpected twists and new plots left be gripping the edge of my bed!

Brilliant Hand: I wish I could write as brilliantly as Cashore wrote this novel. I really liked her writing in Graceling and in Fire but this was a completely new level. Amazing vocabulary and use of metaphors! What I loved was the character development especially, that of Bitterblue. Reading the first page I could not have ever imagined how much changes she would have gone through. From completely being unaware of anything to being the heart of her kingdom, the potential in her that budded and blossomed during the ending was jaw breaking. I absolutely loved Bitterblue as a character, completely stubborn and yet cautious of how her Kingdom would be affected, A true Queen! The one thing that made me more attached to her as character was the fact that she was a normal human who did not have any sort of grace (graces can be distinguished due to different colors of eyes and people with graces power that makes them different from normal people. Graces can be as simple as dancing to fighting with swords).What touched me the most of the influence Leck(father of Bitterblue) had even though he had been dead for eight years. Even though he was no longer alive he was still in the villain of the story. He was still powerful enough, his memories were not forgotten and the Kingdom had not gotten over him. I never really got why Leck was considered that evil in Graceling in the first place, this book gave me the reasons why. After reading this I have more respect for Graceling as a novel as well. I love the way how all of the three books connect (not giving away spoilers)

The Illustrations in this book were so pretty! The best part: there were MANY!

Connections:

Kristin Cashore is a genius, that I have to admit. The Seven Kingdom’s is a fantasy trilogy but yet while reading Bitterblue I felt that Cashore connected a lot of that fantasy based on her opinions on current world affairs.

1. The first one which was quite evident from the first few pages it self was how The Council formed by Lady Katsa was trying to over throw monarchies with Kings who were corrupt and unaware of their Kingdom’s needs. Without a doubt, this one is obviously mentioning the Arab Spring. Katsa and Poare trying to over through the King of Estill because the public no longer likes him. Most of the parts in which Po and Katsa as well as other Council Members are present is spent on how to tackle that subject. During the Arab Spring, people used technology as a way of communicating with each other. The Council uses people instead They have people, from inn keepers to the kings servants working for them to give them information on the kings themselves. I really liked the way Cashore incorporated this in her work. During the end of the book, one of the Kingdom’s had given up Monarchy and were voting and becoming a democracy. Its fantastic to think that even thought Bitterblue is a fantasy and will eventually end up being in NY Times Bestsellers list, it relates to current affairs that are going through his period. Unlike, other Young Adult novels, Cashore has more deep meaning to her work.

The most prettiest covers in a series!

2. Homosexuality: Cashore expresses her opinions on this matter quite openly. In Graceling and Fire both of these topics were quite restricted and in fact not mentioned of at all. Bitterblue opens up a lot! We have two couples and a man who confess their sexuality preferences. This is one of the things that makes it one of the most unpredictable books I have read. Cashore supports gay rights and we can see how much she values their perspective of living. I read almost everyone of her blog posts, so I do actually remember her posting about how happy she was New York legalized gay marriages. Which is how actually in the book Bitterblue too wishes to legalize homosexuality in her Kingdom too. I love the fact that she shows that all people, irrespective of positions in the Kingdom can be gay and how their rights are equally as important as ours.

3. Importance of Education: We all know that Education is important, every one knows it but that does not mean that they get it. The same situation is happening in Bitterblue, the people want to be educated but they don’t have enough support or well-educated teachers who can teach the entire Kingdom who is illiterate. A few characters outside the Palace do know how to read and a one of them is even writing a dictionary.Its marvelous how Cashore inculcates this in her book, its fantastic!

Her draft of Bitterblue, she writes by hand!

Overall:

I have gained so much respect for Kristin Cashore because of her last book in this trilogy. Its good to know that Young Adult writers too these days add politics into their books even if it’s a fantasy. I love books in which I can relate to even thought if I’m in a separate world! This book is one hell of a ride, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Action, Politics. It has everything I could have ever asked for. Brilliant, mind-blowing, puzzling and GENIUS! I ♥ YOU KRISTIN CASHORE!

Millennium Trilogy

2012-03-31T20:37:00.000+05:30

You don’t always come across books unexpectedly. There is a lot of hype, excitement and every person you know has read or heard of it. You often come across people holding it in their hands, reading it so that the tip of their noses are brushing across those white pages or flipping through the book fervently their eyes following the text word to word. One can draw two simple conclusions:

1) It’s crap

2) It’s the best book man has ever set their hands/eyes on

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Harriet Vanger has been missing for over 40 years. Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist for a magazine called, Millennium is employed to solve this mystery by Harriet’s Uncle who believes that she is still alive. Blomkvist along with the help of Lisbeth Salander, a computer genius and an anti-social 24 year old with various piercing and tattoos try solving the mystery which leads them in depth of Swedish corruption.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

Mikael Blomkvist is exposing a new article in his magazine, Millennium which connects corruption in

Sweden

to a sex trafficking operation. Two reporters who wrote the article were found dead before the story was published. All evidences leads to only one culprit, Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist is the only person who believes in Salander’s innocence but The police have already charged her of double murder.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Lisbeth Salander is in a Swedish city hospital with a bullet in her head. After recovering she has to prove her innocence of triple murder in front of the District Court with evidence as well as destroy the man who had come to kill her.

Life had give me so many signs for reading this book that Paulo Cohelo would call it an Omen and yet I had left this book just hanging for the longest time. Believe me, this book was on TV, radio, blogs, Youtube, libraries, goodreads, second hand book markets, twitter, normal book stores and it was even selling for $65 (paper-back version) in Dubai International Airport . It was EVERYWHERE. I had to read it sooner or later so I picked it up last year from our school library. Every single bit of it was worth it (which sucks because I could have bought it off a cheap second hand book sore and could actually own and put it in my small library!). Regrets aside, this was truly a marvelous book and as the People put it on, “Believe the hype . . . It’s gripping stuff.”

The first book, as many people say takes time to sink in. It was the same for me; the first 45 pages of the book was slow but after one of the main character Lisbeth Salander was introduced, the story took a U-Turn. Salander is one of the most original characters I have ever seen. She is a genius hacker, photographic memory, has suffered a lot, knows how to fight, covered in tattoos, wants to be left alone and is completely anti-social. Completely eccentric right? To add one more quality she has been abused her entire life. Originally, the title of the first book was "Men Who Hate Women." which I think fits in more perfectly with the theme of the book. In the entire trilogy, their are parts there are descriptive parts in which women are being abused by men. I think the fact that shocked me the most, was “Forty-six percent of the women in

Sweden

have been subjected to violence by a man.” We don’t really expect countries like

Sweden

to have gender equality problems, do we? This book contains a lot of violence and sexual content, so read if your up for it!

For those of you who don’t really know the first book, has been made into two movies:

Swedish Version:

American Version:

Hats off to Larsson’s amazing Trilogy!

"Constant Vigilance"

2012-01-05T19:28:00.001+05:30

Its been such a long time, two weeks to be precise since I have written anything. To begin with, I wish you a Happy New Year and hope that you had a enjoyable blast to boost up the rest of your year. Mine isn't going exactly according to plan. Just yesterday a lizard leaped out of my hanger and almost jumped on my hand, then while walking barefoot into the kitchen garden (I advise you not to walk barefoot) I was a few millimeters away from squishing a green-brown toad with (to highly emphasize) Bare-Feet and then just today a huge black cockroach came running after me. Yes, a lot of screaming has been deleted and edited off from this post. Since then, as Mad-Eye Moody says it I have been in "Constant Vigilance".

So, I am in the look out for bugs and insects who are willing to sabotage my day. It reminds me of that horrid song of Linkin Parks latest album 'A Thousand Suns'

"Oh when they come for me
Come for me
I'll be gone. "

Besides that horrible tune that has been 'bugging' me since then, I have been not only been in constant vigilance for lizards and frogs but also for books.

Ilsa and the Happily Ever After: Stephaine Perkins

Just yesterday, the great Perkins released a devastating news: Ilsa and the Happily ever after will be releasing in 2013. Disappointing. Really really upsetting. I am huge Anna and the French Kiss fan and I was really looking forward to reading Ilsa. I guess, that she has given us a really good reason why in her blog. She needs time and I do want Ilsa to be her best book considering that fact that it might have old characters such as Josh and Ilsa. I want her to know that I totally support her and hope that Anna makes to adult book shelves as well! Also, I wouldn't really mind if she releases the cover within this year, I cannot wait any longer!

City of Lost Souls Cover!

To finish today's post I leave you with one the most anticipated YA Novels Cover, City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. You can even read the prologue here!

To be released in May 8, 2012!

Sequels can be Disastrous: Lola and the Boy Next Door

2011-12-17T23:21:00.000+05:30

I couldn't have asked for much from Stephanie Perkins. Whatever happened to all the legions of Etienne and Anna fans? Why? Why did Perkins have to break up with all of you fans to make that dull sequel. Today the Bookish life has returned after such along time to discuss, no, actually tear apart Lola and the Boy Next door. I read the book long time back. I still hated it to the core. Cricket, Lola, Max and everything in between. Before reading this post, if you haven’t read my review of the Anna and the French Kiss, you should. This is because Anna And the French Kiss was one of the best debut novels (that is after Graceling) I have ever read. It was pure perfection though sometimes clichéd but over all I still believe that it captured every single moment and made all the fiction seem so realistic.

LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins

Lola is a costume girl; she does not believe in fashion at all. Her new years resolution was not to repeat one costume more then twice in a year because life is too short to be the same person. She has a boyfriend who is five years older then her called Max who she thinks is really intelligent and smart. She has plans for the future and wants to be a designer. Lola’s believes her life is perfect until her old neighbor moves right next door. The person she dreaded the most, Cricket Bell.

My Opinion:

I practically worshiped Stephanie Perkins when I read the Anna and the French kiss. I had to give it the title of the best YA Chick-lit. Now, Lola was my next target. I mean obviously, to any person who has ever read any chick-lit, they will forget all of those trashy Meg Cabot’s and Sarrah Dessens and cry over the fact that why they hadn’t read Anna till now. This was like a betrayal. Everything about LOLA was a betrayal. Aren’t the sequels supposed to be even better then the first book? Look at Harry Potter, The Queens Thief series and even The Mortal Instruments. (Not Twilight, it get worse with every single word)

Things I hate about LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR:

Lola: I hate heroines that do two-timings or emotionally cheat with their boyfriends. I hated the fact that she was in a relationship with Max who was a “wrong” guy to be with and that she had to be with him till the last minute to break up with him. This was such a classic chick-lit. My definition before Anna and the French kiss was basically what Perkins wrote in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Lola annoys be to death with all her sparkly costume and her sense of dressing. Not to mention her superior air, lying to parents and her attitude. I felt that she was like those 12 years sisters that many people have. She was a completely un-relatable character, I don’t even see how people gave this 5 or 4 or even 3 stars on Goodreads. The point I will never ever get is: Why did she make such a huge fuss over a guy and still hasn't gotten over it after 2 years? Its pathetic the way she has over-reacted to the whole scenario with just one boy who happened to live next door. By the end of the book, I really don’t see much transformation in her character. Perkins writes that she had changed but where was it? I couldn't even feel so called “I have changed”.

Cricket: Doesn't it make you think of this?

Lola has had a crush on Him (above) her entire life. What kind of a name is Cricket? Who would anyone want to name their child Cricket? Why?Why?Why? Oh, Perkins! You ruined our trust! Why did Cricket wear striped pants or too short shorts or pointed shoes? It was not cool. Do you hear me Perkins? Not cool at all. Even after reading Anna for the 7^th time I still kind-of believe that if I can go to Paris I will find Anna and Etienne standing in Point Zero in front of Notre Dame. The story seemed that realistic. If I think of Lola and the Boy Next Door I think of their abnormal Crickety names, costumes and pointed-shoes inventors and Moon talking. Yes, you read what I just wrote “Moon Talking”. They sit in their balconies and TALK TO THE MOON. I don’t want to describe it so don’t get me going. Cricket just seemed like a jerk sometimes, not because of what he had done because that wasn’t as bad as Lola made it seem but because of his emotions toward her during the entire book. It freaked me out. He knew that she had a boyfriend, still he stalked her. Ugh. Twilight. *Shudders*

Max: Yet, another jerk who is even worse then the other. Come on Perkins! We are NOT two year olds. The books is called “Lola and the boy next door” Max is not her neighbor. Its annoys me to death knowing that Lola is with the wrong guy, a.k.a Max when she has to definitely end up with Cricket, the skinny insect! Max has tattoos, does pot, smokes and whatever not. We know that she is with the wrong guy yet still we have to wait until Lola get some sense in her to realize that Cricket is the one!

Anna and Etienne: I am sorry to say this, I really am, but I hated these two the most in the entire book. For those of you who don’t know, they made many appearances through out the book and I despised whenever each one of them was around. They were STUCK LIKE GLUE. Not the song, but literally stuck like

India

’s best selling glue, Fevicol Super Glue. It was that bad. Whatever magic they had created in Anna and the French Kiss died in an instance. Perkins, why did you suddenly get all so inspired by twilight? Why did you keep repeating Étienne as 'the guy who always followed Anna'?

❤ ❤Me and my beloved copy of Anna
And The French Kiss ❤ ❤

I had built up such huge expectations for this book after Anna that it just kind of ruined it for me. San Francisco was not like Paris and all the characters just fell apart. I feel bad writing about Stephanie Perkins like this, I still consider her the best chick-lit writer I have read but that title only lies and will remain forever for Anna and the French kiss. Stephanie Perkins I am still your fan, please do not disappoint me with Ilsa and the Happily Ever After. Please, I am counting on you for the last time.

The Nonsensical Babbles from Marvah Gorlorwulu: “Who knew you had some Indian in your blood.”

2011-11-17T02:47:00.001+05:30

The Nonsensical Babbles from Marvah Gorlorwulu: “Who knew you had some Indian in your blood.”: At LCS, students have required CAS (Creativity Action Service) hours to fulfill every school year. The 10 th grade has to complete 15 hours...of Creativity, Action, and Service each, totaling 45 CAS hours. When I learned about this, I had no idea what I was going to do for Action. I like art and wanted to learn more about photography so I knew that would join one or both of those clubs for Creativity. The service trips would always be available to go on every Wednesday after school so I was good on Service; however, my biggest concern was the Action. Without a track team, I really can’t physically do any other sport. I was never good at basketball, soccer, and volleyball because of my poor hand-eye coordination (or I guess foot-eye coordination in the case of soccer), and I am a horrible swimmer. Not being in the Leadership PE class also would make it difficult to fulfill the fifteen hours of action.

While I was worrying about my dilemma, I became friends with a girl, Sanskriti, who was in a similar situation to my own. We talked about our shared lack of athletic skill many times, trying to think of ways to get our hours done. Then she told me that for her Personal Project, a large project every tenth grader has to do, she had created a Bollywood dance club, Bollywood Fridays, and only had one consistent member; since dancing is considered Action, of course I joined the club! I was a little hesitant at first about joining because I thought that people would find it hilarious that an African-American was doing a Bollywood dance, but everyone was really supportive and in fact found it impressive. Not only did I join the club for Action hours, but also because Sanskriti was and has been really good friend to me, and I thought – and now know – that Bollywood Dancing could be – and is – lots of fun.

We spent four Fridays after school and three extra days at Sanskriti’s house practicing a dance she partially choreographed. The song she chose, “Dheem Ta Dare”, was from a stiff, lifeless dance sequence from a movie, so Sanskriti changed some parts to make the dance feel less like an exercise video and also to make it easier for us less experienced (in my case, no experience) dancers.

Dheem Ta Dare (the original dance from the motion Thakshak)

Sanskriti (front) trying to teach Anagha (back) and me (middle) a new move

With no background of Indian dance, it was really hard for me to pick up the moves in the beginning. I was stiff and robotic instead of graceful and free like Sanskriti and Anagha, the other member, but I practiced the moves at home for hours after our group practices until I felt more comfortable with them.

Sanskriti (left) teaching me (right) part of the dance

My improvement from my extra practices even made the teacher whose classroom we used for practices jokingly considered the possibility of some Indian in my blood. Though, the practices were hard work, Sanskriti, Anagha, and I were always joking, laughing, and just generally keeping the mood lighthearted. Bollywood Fridays were the most fun days in Ghana for me so far.

Sorry Folks...

2011-10-15T18:06:00.001+05:30

I haven’t had time to write anything since I have shifted to

Ghana

. My lame excuses are as follows:

When I cam here two months ago, I didn’t have internet
I got internet three weeks late
Then I had homework
Then I had personal project
And then I had HOMEWORK.

Ah, yes undeniably these list of excuses must be the best ones. So now that we finally have October Break (YES!), I hope to continue writing. The good news is that I haven’t stopped reading at all. In fact I just robbed my school library yesterday and issued at least 6 books. I was hoping for more but I was afraid my bag would rip.

So instead of reviewing books today I thought I could share some really exciting news with you!

Bitterblue: I just got the news today because I didn’t have the time to actually read my favorite authors Kristin Cashore’s blog for a long time. So the cover has apparently just released last week, I feel severely guilty that I couldn’t manage to see it the day it was released. It is really pretty actually better then either its first book Graceling or Fire.

Keys? What do they symbolize, why do they look like weapons and why is one gold, silver and bronze? One year of waiting for the final book has been an a ginormous torture but Kristin Cashore gives the reason why in her blog, “A lot of people have asked me why it took so long for me to finish this book. The answer is simple. It's not because I was distracted; it's not because I wasn't working my ass off; it's simply because Bitterblue is longer and more complicated than the other books I've written, and some books require more time than others. The book decides.”

The Amber Spyglass

2011-08-14T16:48:00.000+05:30

Source: E-Book

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Age Group: 10 Above

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-fi

Pages: 399

In Series:Once upon a Time in The North (Prequel), The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass, Lyra's Oxford (not part of trilogy), The Book of Dust (not part of trilogy)

If you have been following my blog recently, you might have noticed that I have been talking about the His Materials Series a lot. Well, I just finished the third book. You don’t know how disappointed or a better word how depressed I am.

The Amber Spyglass:

Lyra has been kidnapped by her very own mother who has put her to sleep on the tip of the Himalayas in her Lyras own world. The Church is coming to kill her, the small men are coming to get her to her father Lord Azriel and her best friend Will and the faithful King bear Iorek are coming to save her. But while all this is happening Lyra is having dreams straight from the underworld where her dead friend Robert is communicating to her. Now that Will does rescue her, The Subtle Knife has been broken. She cannot break her promise to her dead friend but she has to find a way into the underworld to find some answers and to save all the ghosts residing in the fearful underworld.

Writing Style:

As I mentioned in my review of The Subtle Knife, the plot left us in a very tight positioned cliffhanger, The Amber Spyglass begins exactly where the second book ended. After that it followed different narrative, going from Lyra to Will to Serafina Pekkala to Father Gomez and so on. The Amber Spyglass continues the themes of Loyalty, Love and Good vs Evil. What I like the fact about Pullman is that he adds different mythologies together and scripts from the bible to provide knowledge to his readers. I like the way he makes me think of what I couldn’t possibly imagine before. Is there a god? If so has he died? Am I living in a world with no god? He makes us think out of the box, which is something different for all of us.

My Opinion:

I’ve read many Trilogy’s, but his one by far has to be the one with the worst ending. I am a sucker for happy endings. I hate it when something sad happens. I cant really tell you what happened because it would destroy all the climax. But I can tell you this, the ending is happy in its own way. The ending, just ruined it all for me, really. Each time I think about His dark Materials the ending pops into my mind and ruins all the effect that the author had created for me in the first two novels. Now that I have finally finished the entire Trilogy, I wonder if I will ever read it again. Maybe not because I would have to face this one too.

The Subtle Knife

2011-08-10T16:33:00.000+05:30

Source: E-BookPublisher: Scholastic PointAge Group: 10 Above

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-fi

Pages: 341

In Series: Once upon a Time in The North (Prequel), The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass, Lyra's Oxford (not part of trilogy), The Book of Dust (not part of trilogy)

Having reviewed it’s The His dark Materials first book The Golden Compass, I waited no more than a few seconds to plunge into Phillip Pullmans widely controversial children’s novel. Having finished reading it just a few seconds ago, I found it even better and better built then the first one.

The Subtle Knife (Fortunately called so by everyone):

After Lyra follows Lord Azriel to another world, she looses track of him from the beginning and continues the journey own her own with her daemon, Pantalaimon and the a compass like object which tells the truth called the Aleithometer. It is not before long that she finds her self another human companion in a world similar to her own called Will Parry. Will Parry is a 12 year old murderer, his mother is instable and his father as been long lost. On his way to Oxford he meets Lyra and together they help each other to reach there quest. Will has to find his father and Lyra had to stop her own from destroying dust. On there journey they land up in a unknown world called Ci'gazze. A world where parasitic type of humans prey on adults but are invisible to children. A very important object lies within here, and they have to find it in order to get back what they have lost.

Writing Style:

I finally got the entire fuss about the controversy. I had a some idea in the first one but I got the entire blow in this book. You want to know? The series are about killing god or as the book calls, Him “The Authority”. Ah, yes obviously most people are enraged they blame his thoughts on the fact that he is a atheist, which undeniably he is. They also believe that such teachings should not be shelved in the children section.

I get all the commotion, I am certainly not against Pullman. I think he wonderfully weaves the story in filling it in with metaphors, enthralling sub-plots, cliffhangers, themes including trust- between Lyra and Will which emerged quite quickly enough, Courage- Lyra going into a new world all by her self. I also loved looking out for the symbols (I am not going to rant about religion this time) snakes and cats which were mysteriously placed in so many parts of the book. Pullman’s superb use of writing and his deep knowledge on both of his created worlds makes him one of the best authors there is.

My Opinion:

I really liked The Subtle Knife, though I didn’t like the ending at all. I am not a huge fan of cliffhangers; I absolutely loathe them. Evidently it became really clear in the second book that the main conflict was between Lord Azriel and God (along with the protagonist’s mother Mrs. Coulter) which was kind of bleak in the first book.

I really missed Iorek, the bear, who I was growing fond of in the Golden Compass. (From the spoilers I have read he is going to be there in the third book!) I loved the fact that there was a new character called Will Parry who was vividly described and too became one of my favorites. I have only one complaint about the characters and that is I missed the old Lyra entirely. I tried searching for glimpses of her old self but I couldn’t find any. Pullman has tried to make her more mature then she was before to such a extent that not only bothered me but her daemon Pantalaimon too.

I look forward to the third and final book: The Amber Spyglass!

What Happened to Goodbye

2011-08-06T16:02:00.001+05:30

Source: E-Book

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Age Group: 12 above

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/ Stand Alone Novel

Pages: 402

It took me around three hours reading this book. In the end, was I satisfied? No, not really. I cant see the difference between Dessen’s older works and this.

What Happened to Goodbye By Sarah Dessen:

Each new city means a new persona for McLean. Ever since her mom left her dad for a basketball coach Mclean and her dad have been traveling as a restaurant consultant. When they stop at lakeview, everything around McLean seems to change. She becomes friends with Deb, Opal and Heather and most of all with her neighbor Dave. For the first time in her life, McClean becomes herself not some actress or a girl called Liz. She has a sudden desire to live in Lakeview forever and live a normal life.

Writing Style:

Girl is having problems either socially, in school or in her family. She has to solve it, and did well obviously its Sarrah Dessen so there has to be some hot guy with curly hair in it too.

What makes What Happened to Goodbye so different then Just Listen, The Truth about Forever, Along for the ride, Keeping the Moon? Truthfully the answer is nothing. In Just Listen, Annabel was having social issues with her friends, her sister was anorexic and she had a terrible secret she could tell not one. In Along for the ride, it was the same Auden didn’t make friends easily she was too mature and family wise her dad had left her mom for some other women called Heidi. Keeping The Moon was the same, mom is weird, the girl get even weirder and did I mention friendless? I can go about describing all Sarrah’s novels, but you might have guessed already. So, all in all there is no point in my ranting.

Sarrah Dessen is not what we call a Maureen Johnson in the YA world. I can write like her if I try, though I believe writing is a skill only acquired when practiced. She has the skill, that everyone has within there inner secret self. She uses easy words, phrases and sentences rarely using literary devices so that teens will easily read and can relate easily. That is why I am not going to complain about her writing because Sarah Dessen doesnt write for the sake of writing, she writes so that teenagers can relate to her characters and learn something from them.

What Happened to Goodbye, we saw the usual. Important themes (that also occur frequently in Dessen novels) like dealing with loss, change, solving problems, maintaining friendship and family relationships are also present. McLean has enough problems with her mother who cheated on her dad, it is that loss that makes her vulnerable, she decides to change her self in every place she goes but when she finally does settle down she realizes that friendship is equally important to family and she cannot loose her new friends like the way she lost her family. Which leads us to another theme, rather the most important one self realization or self discovery.

My Opinion:

I was so anxious to read this book and it was my top priority to read it this year. If you follow my blogs regularly I think I have mentioned my distress in not getting it soon enough. I am making this review late, because I know if I had written it before I would have said it was good. But after waiting long enough, I realize (which I knew that I would) that it was not worth it, the wait, that is.

This book captured me from the start to the end even though I knew what was going to happen, the book was so predictable. I couldn’t let go of it. Besides the same type of writing and story I really enjoyed the fact that Dessen made McLean more realistic then her other characters though the situation in which McLean was quite unrealistic. Mclean had her set of friends and she also had Dave, who proved quite worthy of a companion and gave humor into the story. I read Sarah Dessen for the pure sake of fun but it will not disappoint her fans at all that I am sure of, but from my side I would like to read something of Sarrah Dessen that is original and not like her other nine best sellers that are pretty much more or a less the same.

Also, those who are willing to be first time Sarah Dessen readers should try to read The Truth about forever first. I wouldn't really recommend What happened to goodbye.

I would recommend it to a person who hasn’t read much of literature, is a girl, enjoys reading chick-lits and likes a fast read.

The Golden Compass

2011-08-02T15:58:00.000+05:30

Source: E-Book

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Age Group: 10 above

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-fi

Pages: 399

In Series: Once upon a Time in The North (Prequel),The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass, Lyra's Oxford (not part of trilogy), The Book of Dust (not part of trilogy)

I haven’t seen the movie, though a few years back I do remember seeing the trailer in cartoon network several times. In elementary school I had the wits to pick up fat book (100 pages + at that time meant that you were pure genius) and I do so quite remember picking up “The Northern Lights” and again like I did to every classic smack it down and utter the word rubbish and move away I did the same to The Northern Lights.

Its been five years ever since. I’ve picked it up again but as time as a e-book and the title as The Golden Compass. The Golden Compass is the books American version and the The Northern Lights is the English Version. The strange thing is that the protagonist, Lyra calls the compass like object an Alethiometer, so what’s the fuss about the different names?

Northern Lights or as the Americans say The Golden Compass:

The Golden Compass takes place in a world similar to our own except that in that world technology is limited to aircraft and the dressing style resembles our Victorian era.

Lyra Belacqua the main protagonist of the story and her daemon, Pantalaimon (A soul which takes shape of any animal in pre-adolescent years and the fixes its shape later on) live in the scholar world of Oxford. During her years in Oxford she secretly learns about Dust from her Uncle Asriel. Dust is a form of elementary particle discovered by her Uncle that falls from the sky and gets attracted to people (especially adults). The Church or Magisterium that holds maximum power in Lyra’s world, believes that it may be the physical form of Original Sin.

Children start to disappear in Oxford the word is that Gobblers are taking them. When Lyra senses that they have taken her best friend Rojer, The Master of Jordan College in Oxford is under pressure from the church and turns Lyra over to Mrs. Coulter. Mrs. Coulter is nice and gives Lyra her most attention. Lyra is having the time of her life going to parties and studying with Mrs. Coulter but she misses her friend and his afraid for him. But Lyra knows what is right and long after all she is the owner of the Alethiometer, a device which tells you answers to any questions you seek.

The movie was supposed to be the

'Next Harry Potter' but ultimately

failed to do well in the box office.

Style of writing:

Reading the first book, I was kind of surprised. I didn’t expect a children’s book to challenge the church and God at all. After researching about it, I found that it had been banned from several countries and that the book had distressed many people. I haven’t found the book insulting in any manner, that may be because I am not that religious neither am I Christian and seriously don’t really think that Pullman is trying to make children anti- Christian. He is just trying to spread the knowledge.

The symbolism of religion or basically Christianity, in this book was so clearly spelled out you didn’t even have to find it. In the end of the book Lord Azriel says he is trying to free humans from sin which in the His Dark Materials Trilogy is caused by dust. In the end he also makes a pathway towards the sky (heaven) so he can seek dust and destroy it to free all mortals from sin. To make things really clear, Pullman also gives his facts through Lord Azriel by reading a passage from the Bible about Original Sin and Adam and Eve. The Magisterium (The Church in Lyra’s world) is the law which is the law that God made to make Humans aware of sin. Lord Azriel is getting rid of sin while Mrs. Coulter tries to the human race by cutting the daemons (souls) of children when they are still sinless so they will be safe from being sinful and they wont have to die because of sin.

My Opinion:

I liked the Golden Compass a lot. Though, it resembles a bit to the Harry Potter world. Harry like Lyra who is a mere child and already has a destiny to follow and complete the only difference is that Lyra is not so encumbered with the responsibilities of the world. The difference between Rowling and Pullman was that His Dark Materials Trilogy was easy to decipher, like we knew that Mrs. Coulter was up to something unlike Harry Potter the readers discover the facts at the same time Harry does. The book was filled with cliff hangers and questions which were left unresolved. I didn’t even wait a second to pick up the second book. So, you better pick up the first one too.

The Godfather By Mario Puzo

2011-07-28T20:48:00.000+05:30

Source: Bought for Rs 80, in Daryaganj, Delhi,

India

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Age Group: 14 above, according to maturity
Genre: Crime Novel

Pages: 446

In series: The Sicilian (by Mario Puzo), The Godfather Returns (by Mike Winegardner), The Godfathers Revenge (by Mike Winegardner )

Well, I have been dying to actually read this book for years. Having seen the movie when I was very little I remember only a few griping scenes and besides that my memory fails me entirely. I bought this book recently on my Daryaganj expedition as you can see from above in only RS 80. Its really cheap for such a well known book, but since it’s fake, it has the right to miss four entire pages. Which is too bad for me because I’ve missed out one the most intense scenes ever.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo:

Don Vito Corleone, ‘The Godfather’, head of one of the most powerful Mafia family in New York is shot by a new contender ‘Solozzo’, for not agreeing to protect his people in drug trafficking. After the Don is shot, the plot unfolds to the Corleone family and they soon realize its time to change and they have to adapt to the new circumstances and forget there old ways of mafia to protect the family. Sonny, the dons eldest son has too much temper to ever become the don when Sicilian beneath him, he will do anything to get what he wants and will do anything to protect his love ones. After Michael shoots Sollozo and a Police captain to death, the powerful mafia families break down and start a full fledged war.

Style of Writing:

The only person I remember in The Godfather
is Marlon Brandon, I do not even remember
Al Pacino.

Providing depth to each character and the history of the event behind it The Godfather is written in third person narration with different point of views. The first page of the book starts with sub plots and slowly weaves it self to the main plot. Occasionally, after a few chapters, characters like Johnny Fontane the Godson of the Godfather plays a role of his ineptness to his stardom, Lucy Mancini the mistress of the Godfathers first son Sonny spies for the Corleone family in Vegas and the “unholy demon” Luca Brasi. I loved the fact Mario Puzo wasn’t an unreliable narrator he had such a neutral style of writing he didn’t have favourites he just kept on writing with a flow and left us to consider what was right or wrong. Mario Puzo also makes the Italian families authentic by adding words such as 'Consigliere’ and stories the Dons childhoods friends in Sicily. One of my most favourite parts starts right in the middle in which Mr. Mario Puzo describes the back story. The formation of the Corleone family and the struggles faced by Vito Corelone to reign over his neighbourhood by using his intelligence and having to murder. Though this back story wasn’t so relevant at the time of the situation at hand it was beautifully written to trace the origins of the Don Vito Corelone and how the events took place for him to become from a nobody to the Godfather.

My Opinion:

I am not going to brag about how much I loved it and how fantastic it was, like I do to the most books I like. The Godfather doesn't deserve such small bleak words. It’s a master piece, wonderfully crafted and its own sole individual legion. It’s a crime to compare it. The godfather is one of those books you cant let go till you have finished the ending. Its captivating and thrilling all the way to the end. It’s a book you can read over and over again and learn something new from the way of writing or other information about the characters that you missed out before. Its defiantly my favorite, its high time I re-read it again (although its almost been only two days since I finished it) and its about time you grabbed it too.

Anna And The French Kiss

2011-07-24T12:38:00.000+05:30

Source: E-Book
Publisher: Dutton
Age Group: Yong Adult – 12 Above
Pages: 372
Genre: Young Adult Romance
In Series: Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door (To-Be-Released), Isla and the Happily Ever After (TBR)

Reading the title name, a primary school kid may go like, Eww! It had the word Kiss In IT!! A normal teenager boy doesn't pay a damn, a parent may ask her teenage already swooned daughter if the book is according to her age.

When I came across it, I didn’t think much about it. All I knew was that this book was very much hyped about in the blogosphere world and that Mr. John Green, author of Looking for Alaska and Maureen Johnson, author of The 13 Little Blue Envelopes was fanatic over it. If Mr. John Green and Maureen Johnson liked it so much, it had to be good. Really Good.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna’s family isn’t perfect and she is severely flawed. But just as things are becoming better then before, her dad ships her off to a boarding school in Paris. Of course she doesn’t want to go, she’ll have let go of her life in Atlanta, her best friend, her almost-to-be-boyfriend, her seven year old brother and her mom. Anna doesn’t sulk in Paris for long, she quickly becomes friends with a popular group of teenagers and most importantly with an unavailable boy called Etienne St. Clair.

Style of writing:

The thing that attracted me to Anna and the French kiss beside the two main characters was the writing.

Check this out: “I mean, really. Who sends their kid to boarding school? It's so Hogwarts. Only mine doesn't have cute boy wizards or magic candy or flying lessons.”

The writing is my favourite aspect towards the book. Its ridiculously funny, its written perfectly, the timings are great and WOW, for a debut author Stephanie Perkins can write, she surely does know her stuff.

Stephanie Perkins has a thing for colorful streaks,

anyone noticed? Anna with white, Lola with purple

and the writer herself with blue. I know this is irrelevant.

But I love it!

Stephanie Perkins writes in such manner that the characters make the book itself and not the author. Anna and Etienne scream out REAL!! because Perkins has written in such a detailed manner you just want to fall into them and do whatever fun they do in boarding school.

To say the truth, this book isn’t a ground breaking novel and the story really isn’t really original. I mean almost all love stories are as such aren’t they? A girl and a boy who is taken by another girls but eventually the two love birds come together. Then why do I love this book so much? The true fact is that, I can see so many imperfections in it but I don’t want to see them at all. The characters are heavily flawed and are showed in such a teenage way. Anna and her friends are so true and honest you believe in there story entirely because it can be real. This story can be my best friends story. Who knows?

My Opinion:

“WOW! Wow !WoW! Did I mention WOW? I can re-read it again and again and again. WOOWWW!!!!”

Its ridiculously funny to see my so giddy and so badly hyped about a book I read a month back. I had to wait an entire month before reviewing it to you so I wont sound like any other hysterical teenager. Well, the wait was quite wrong because while writing this I feel more then hysteria.

I am DYING! I need this book NOW!

One of the saddest things that crossed my mind was “I’ve lived in Paris (I was only 1 year old) and I haven’t enjoyed it like Anna! The city is so beautifully described I was equally swooned by Paris then I was by St. Etienne. Although, the city is described in a clichéd manner it’s some amazing description for a person (aka Perkins ) who hasn’t even been to

France

And now to the romantic bit, I loved the two characters Anna and Eitenne (I've mentioned it before, sorry but I cant help it). I adore the fact that Etienne wasn’t great amazing and perfect. He was even more flawed then Anna herself. He was scared about leaving the past and making new decisions, he was afraid to get hurt and was much more confused then anyone in the book maybe save Josh. Another thing was he was really short, even shorter then Anna (Where do you see that?!) and definitely not your average ‘6 foot above guy who think you smell in you biology class and follow you around obsessively 24/7’ types. Etienne relied on Anna because they were best friends.

Its romantic, yes of course but other very important themes like individuality, confrontations, family, loyalty as such. The book is about leaving you home facing a new world, confronting things and most of all growing up. I really look forward to reading more of Perkins and her next book is coming out September 29 2011. I hear Anna and St. Clair are going to be in it too!

Sorry,The End and Pottermore

2011-06-23T20:09:00.000+05:30

Now that I have finished writing about my friends and their favorite books. I would like to say sorry for taking so long (over then month). I have enjoyed writing about my friends who I dearly miss. I believe it was an excellent idea and it did help to reduce my pathetic non-reading state.

That brings The End to the My-Friends-And Their-Favorite-Books. Thank you for sticking up to me all these years, Aaryama Somayaji, Meetakshi Behal, Moumuksha Tyagi, Sneha Nanavati and Vidhi Sharma. And to my brother Cambodge Bist too :D

Additional, news that I have for you is about Pottermore. I have been waiting for this website ever since it was officially announced. JK Rowling has made a computer gaming, social networking and as well as a online store.

Keep viewing The Bookish Life for more book reviews and news.

Harry Potter Obsession

2011-06-22T20:07:00.001+05:30

Harry Potter has been my life for so many years. To be accurate its been my secret second life. I have destroyed a basilisk, I have had detention with Ron Weasley, used Hermoine’s wand and have suffered Dolores Umbridges. I wish my famous second life was real. The truth is I waited an entire summer for That Letter. If you are a fan you know what I am talking about. Yes, the very same, application to enter Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite meeting, He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named several times, I still haven’t got that letter. If you ever read this Headmistress: I need time to show my magical abilities to you, if you agree can 15 year olds join Hogwarts too? I don’t think I can give the OWLS straight away so I’d like to start from scratch and line up with the first years. Thanking you, your biggest fan, Sanskriti Bist

McGonagall won’t ever read this so my mind tells me but the heart says to give her time and to practice on my hidden magical skills. Accio would be so useful if only I could transform my pen into a wand.

My Recent Self-Discovery: (or as Kung Foo Panda says it “Inner Peace”)

I realized HP inner peace- it took me 3
weeks, though it took Master Shifu
years!

Before writing this post I thought to write about all the Harry Potter Books, I am glad that I changed my mind. Harry Potter does not need to reviewed upon such is its power. It took me three weeks to realize its potential (during the period you might have noted my absence). I was thinking. Thinking over and over again. Truthfully I also reviewed up till book three and even asked Vidhi Sharma her opinion about each book. I was serious, determined but a small part of me remained dubious. Therefore, I thought to write about most of my history and what Harry Potter means to me.

Timeline:

Our generation is called the Harry Potter Generation. We grew up with it. Ever since I was little I read about it in magazines, I remember my brother reading a really fat book I use to look at with terrifying eyes (100 pages was world record at that time), I also remember my first grade friend telling me some Danielle Radcliff gossip and watching the first movie in French because my brother was very excited about it he didn’t care about the language.

I read the book with the very same cover
8 years ago.

Since I am me, I have to be opposite to what everyone thinks. You may as well throw tomatoes and eggs at me now for saying this (you would be sane too) but I hated Harry Potter. Hate is not a word sufficient to illustrate my emotions at that time. I despised it as much as I despise Twilight now. (Though I know I will hate twilight forever unlike Harry Potter) But the least you can do is empathize with me; I was only Seven years old. Can you imagine that, a seven year old Sanskriti Bist reading Harry Potter because her brother was so eager to make her read it? Truthfully, you can’t because you weren’t there and you didn’t know my brother at that time. As stupid as any seven years old can be I left Harry Potter at its second last chapter and vowed to never read it again. In my mind, I shelved it has rubbish and never to be read pile and I-will-Personally-Kill-You-If-You-read-Harry-Potter-Ever-Again. I was much more mature at that time. I remember saying, how can you believe in such things, there aren’t such things as witches moreover a school filled with them! You see I was sensible but I loathed things that didn’t resemble my world because I lacked imagination.

But then eventually my seven year old mind ceased to an exit and a new character was born. This character was nine years old, bright, full of imagination and a die heart Harry Potter fan. Yes that was me. Could that dull seven year old Saskriti see that her 12 year old self would be kicked out of a store for reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the day it was released for secretly reading behind a bookshelf because she didn’t have enough pocket money to buy it? Could she ever imagine that her future 14 year self would go to see the seventh movie with the book (and if allowed with Harry Potter apparel)? No she couldn’t. She was a lousy bookworm who believed in facts. She didn’t know that that precise knowledge had some day came from what we call imagination.

The shop in Geneva, Switzerland that kicked me out. It is unfair because my brother read the entire Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince from the same place and they didn't even kick him.

Now Finally, Harry Potter…

Besides learning about how to produce a Patronous, Harry Potter has taught more then I could have learnt otherwise. First of all JK Rowling has given me magical characters and a beautiful world but most of all she has given me the magic of words. She’s shown me that I can express myself through my words magically. Did you know how many times she was rejected by major Publishers? 12. “Perseverance is the key.” These are the words that come into my mind every time I sit down and read any Harry Potter. You need to try hard to get what you want to achieve.

Pure-bloods, half bloods, mud bloods. All these are being discriminated along with bests such as Centaurs, Goblins and House- Elves. Looking at this issue carefully, Rowling uses these mythical creatures as her way of showing what is happening in today’s world. There is a constant racial, political and sexual difference among our people. She just shows, that it’s not what you are but it’s because what you do, that makes you so different and special.

There is a constant message of love and how important family is our lives. How much we try to deny it comes to us in the end when we need it the most.

How much I crave for a wand!

The power of the mind is also a valuable teaching I have received from Harry Potter. I know everyday I crave for a wand. With a flick I wouldn’t even have to wake up. I could get all my things while just lying around. But doing that would take a mind, I would have to memorize the spell, see how it is pronounced and whether to wave the wand of jerk the wand. Its would take a brain to do that and most importantly my choice in the action. Without mind power we have no opinions and we wouldn’t even defend the things crave for.

Harry Potter has changed lives of millions of children and teenagers all over the world. While researching I found a website called http://www.dearmrPotter.org/ it shows the account of children and how Harry became friends of the friendless, how two sisters became close and how it became a thing worth living for.

War on: Harry Potter and Twilight

I don’t get why there is even a war between them in the first place. Isn’t it obvious that JK Rowling is the better author and has a better story with a good plot. I am officially sick of dissing about twilight. Its about time you twilighters actually read Harry Potter, we’ll see where you stand then. The words below are placed wonderfully by Stephen King:

"Harry Potter teaches you how to face your fears, how to grow, how to become independent, how to accept who you are. Twilight teaches you how important it is to have a boyfriend."

In the end, I like to say thank you to JK Rowling who has changed my way of thinking. Shown me a life that says Imagine... Because it’s worth it in the end. To the boy who lived, you’re just not a book your much more then that. I’ve always believed in you and will for the rest of my life.

Vidhi Sharma

2011-06-02T14:34:00.001+05:30

Vidhi and me!

Have you ever had a friend who was obsessed with her hair, but rarely mentions it? I do, Vidhi Sharma is one of those friends, who would change her hairstyle every single day, if only there were no school rules against it. But because of her ‘goody-goody’ nature she refuses to defy her school protocol and has to braid her hair and wear an hair band every single day.

As you see an exact opposite of Aaryama Somayaji. But we are like the best four friends. EVER.

OUR HISTORY:

Vidhi and I joined our beautiful establishment of what people call school in the same week back in the summer of 2008, the only thing was that she joined four days before me and I four days late. There wasn’t much in the beginning, most conversations went like this:

Vidhi-(Always the first one to take the initiative): Hi, How are you?

Me- Oh, um I am fine. (I had a habit of saying Um a lot back then- when people used to ask my name I used go like UmSanskrtiti)

Vidhi- So do you like the school?

Me- its um-fine

Vidhi- So, uh, How was your old school?

Me- It was fine um great actually.

With all my fines and Um’s we finally did get really close when Aaryama, Vidh, Sneha and I went together to Alchon Public School for our small skit in which Vidhi played as Hannah Montana. We started striking good conversations and that’s why we are who we are now. J Vidhi also got dengue that year, and I still remember that empty seat, the time the whole class prayed for her to get well and she never forgets to remind me of the card I made when she came back healthy and sound. That small spelling mistakes, now haunts me forever. VEARY.

Coming to 8^th, me and Aaryama decided that we could no longer stand Vidhi Sharma reading more and more Enid Blyton books. So, as our usual selves we plunged her into the world of fantasies. Fantasies are way better then Enid Blyton, I still think so and I am sure that Vidhi is the most thank full to us. We showed her twilight, know I think about it we shouldn’t have because she is a really humble and devoted fan. It was a huge mistake, but it is amusing, I love arguing about twilight with her, somehow she’s such a huge fan it makes things even spicier.

In 9^th as I told you earlier our whole group got dived into three small sections. Vidhi and I kept the deal, we met up in every single lunch time and in all free periods. We tortured little kids (a huge specialty of mine) bumping into them and acting blind. And laughed at there usual “uff! Didi, bas karo!” Besides the usuall, we got to know a lot about each others past, and I most of all got to know a huge deal about Vidhi, her cousins and her house which is filled with 22 family members! She’s amazing I have to tell you, she filled with stories from top to bottom.

In 10^th we were in the same sections and I love the fact that she didn’t let go of me till I was gone. Thank you "ViSdhi".

Top 5 Reasons why I miss you:

5. I love your family stories, from Holi to Diwali and even your nutty doctor games you and your cousins play. I wish you would put them on Youtube for the world to see, cause they are incredibly astounding.

4. You are really observant, seriously I do not mean Bella.

3. You are intelligent, like really intelligent not in a nerdy way. I love the fact that you use your intelligence to help other and me especially in Maths class! And you also point out to my every spelling mistake, you also have the etiquettes check my ruff copy!

2. I’ll miss your reactions so much! They are just so amazing you should really see yourself in the mirror sometimes. Usually, you give me that weird look, the shut up or Oh God! You are mad look. You are the funest and the best person to hang out with..

1. You are always there for me. You’ve helped me so much in these three years, I have no idea how I will ever pay back!

I love you so much, you are the best and the most special friend I have and I am going to miss you tons forever and ever.

To view Vidhi's favorite book series click here: Harry Potter Obsession

The Iron Knight Cover REVEALED!!!!

2011-06-02T09:44:00.000+05:30

I've been waiting for this cover and the e-book novella since 3 weeks! I've been tweeting about it since 19 May and if you dont believe me I have proof:

19 May : "THUD. Me fainting at seeing the ARC cover for The Iron Knight. Nope, can't share yet, but thought I would gloat a bit. (SO PRETTY!)" -Julie Kagawa (@Jkagawa)
19 May: "@Jkagawa You are so MEAN! How could you? At least tell us when the cover will release. *SOBS*" -Sanskriti Bist (@sanskritibist)
19 May: @sanskritibist All I can say is sooooooooooooon. :) - Julie kagawa (@Jkagawa)
19 May: "I just got replied back by the Greatest of the Great @Jkagawa I'm on cloud 9! RT: @sanskritibist All I can say is sooooooooooooon. :)" - That is Sanskriti Bist hyperventilating.

And today was the day I was waiting for, and seriously I AM NOT JOKING. This is the best cover of the whole year, and so badly worth the wait.

Most people are either Team Ash (above) or Team Puck, but I am a huge fan of both but will always be loyal to Team Grimalkin the coolest cat ever I mean it, He's better then crookshanks!

Its much better then other three covers and the two novellas. Best cover of the year I tell you. Better the the Son of Neptune, Clockwork Prince, Lola and the Boy Next Door and Inheritance. Just the way I imagined Prince Ash, but those blue eyes that look much much much more better then in my imagination. Julie kagawa has also released her novella 3.5 called Summers crossing which has Pucks POV. You can read it here FREE at Harlequin's ebook store.

Imagine my surprise (I believe Free E-book are the boons of God) :

1 June: And here is the link to Summer's Crossing, which you can download for free. :) http://bit.ly/mzKYcp -Julie Kagawa
1 June: @Jkagawa OMG! I love you i love you I love you!!! You're the most amazing and lovable person ON EARTH!!! ❤ ❤ -Sanskriti Bist
1 June: @sanskritibist *Blushes* Aw, thank you! ^___^ <3 -Julie Kagawa

And besides the free e-book, I cannot wait for Iron Knight which is written from Ash's POV! Its releasing on October 18th 2011, and its my third most awaited book of the year!

Jace Wayland Casted!

2011-06-02T05:03:00.000+05:30

Its officially official, Jamie Campbell-Bower will play Jace Wayland, the male protagonist of The Mortal Instruments for its upcoming movie flick called the City Of Bones along side Lily Collins. Author of the best selling Mortal instruments and the infernal devices, Cassandra Clare herself tweeted:

"Yes. Jamie Campbell-Bower is Jace. And I am very happy about it. More info later.:)"

Lilly Collins will act as Clary Fray the protagonist in TMI

Jamie Bower will act as Jace Wayland in TMI

I am really disappointed after hearing the news. Jamie Bower has played Caius of the Volturi in New Moon: The Twilight Saga and now he has just finished his shooting for Harry Potter 7 Part 2 in which he will be seen as playing Gellert Grindelwald. So, as Jace in The Mortal Instruments, I don’t think I would like him or his other ex-competitor Alex Pettyfer for Jace's role. Sometimes books shouldn’t be made into movies, and this is one book like many others which I will not agree with to ruin my imagination.

So what do you think, will you watch the movie, are you content that Jamie Bower has been selected to act as Jace?

Twilight Dissing

2011-05-27T17:23:00.000+05:30

Twilight. How much do I abhor this word. Come in front of me, I dare you, I can talk hours, hours about it, if you don’t believe ask all my friends especially to all the twilight lovers in our school. I am nightmare to their kind. I haunt each and everyone of them to their sleep till they ultimately agree twilight is rubbish, terrible, revolting, disgusting, trash, vulgar, junk, ghastly, hideous, atrocious, appalling, loathsome, beastly, obnoxious, dreadful, horrible, vile and most definitely THE WORST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ.

Twilight:

“Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.” – Goodreads

My Opinion:

As you can see it’s the first time I’ve used someone else’s synopsis of a novel. Can you see the reason why? I wrote the synopsis at least 3-4 times before copying it out straight from Goodreads. Each time I wrote I couldn’t help but writing negative points about it. The only thoughts that kept reappearing seemed inappropriate to jot it down on my blog. So all of you who keep asking me why I hate it so much here are the reasons:

Dissing About Twilight:

Bella Swan: *You’re a soulless git, You moron!* I’d love to meet you someday, oh how much fun will we have! Ha, it’ll be the death of you I swear! In serious mode now: Bell Swan, perfect name, yes. Ordinary girl, no problems with parents and agrees to everything that they do without complaining. All in all she has no personality other then being annoying, irritating and exaggerating her sighs, crying and swooning obsessively over Edward’s hotness. She has no goals apparently and she cant see her future and life without Edward. What is happening to this generation! This is not the 18^th century in which women have to be so reliable in men. How can someone be so dependent on a boy? How can someone even change themselves, sacrifice there family and friends never to see them ever again for some pathetically shiny vampire? Ugh, the thought sickens me, I’ve never read a protagonist so selfish. She uses Jacob as a substitute when Edward goes away. When he comes back she marries him leaves Jacob heart broken! There are heights of selfishness Bella Swan. I just wish to say, I HATE YOU!

Edward Cullen: To all the Twigirls out there, would you really like to have an obnoxious stalker watching you while you sleep? Seriously its unhealthy and in a way really discussing. Sheesh! Edward is so possessive about her it must creep you out, if it doesn’t you should truly visit the doctor sometimes. He follows her around 24/7, because he think that if he doesn’t she’ll get hurt. Oh wow Edward your such a savior! Another thing about him is that he has mood swings through out the day, how can someone like him! He’s just so irritably immature for a 109 year old!

Love or Lust?: Bella: You’re beautiful!

Edward: Oh, Your beautiful too!

Bella: No you’re so good, so shiny your perfectly handsome

Edward: No I think you’re good too.

This is what twilight is about. Think about it, is it love. Why do they love each other? Edwards loves her smell (ugh. GROSS.) and Bella loves his hotness. If Edward truly had ever loved her, he would’ve stayed away from her. And most importantly if Bella hadn’t been an idiot things would have been different. They didn’t even know each other how can they suddenly not live without each other? Gosh these two are brainless.

Plot: Come to think of it, what is the plot? Is it Bella describing Edwards physical appearance in ever two pages. I think that’s right. That is the plot. Seriously speaking, was the romance between them the plot? No that’s unlikely but that’s what 400 and something pages were written about wasn’t it? And the rest 30 were about her fainting? There was no story. The End.

Planning: Stephanie Meyer is the most brilliant planner I have ever seen. She’s a genius. I am not joking. In fact how can she make millions of girls swoon over the twilight books? What made me like them when I first read it? Two years ago I discovered the answers after re-reading the entire saga. Bella and Edward have no personality as such which make them stand out. There both plain and dull as ever. Now imagine a teenage girl reading twilight, she’ll put herself in the position of Bella and puts in all her personality into Bella’s character. So now Bella is half dull her and half this very die-hard twilight fan. When Edward comes in , the twilight fan puts her, mixes of all her crushes together and form a super human being who is all in all perfect and has all the traits she wants. Then and there she puts all that personality in Edward. Did you get it? How can you even relate to her! You have to take this seriously because this is what is happening to you right now. Meyer’s a goddamn physiologist! And its high time you get over it.

Stephanie Meyer

Writing: How well you write! Ooh I want to write like Stephanie Meyer some day! My foot! She cant write. She cannot! When will you people get that. At times, I prefer garbage over her dialogues! How can someone describe a vampires voice as velvet! I am sick of Stephanie Meyer and her Edwards velvety voices! The most ridiculous things of all was that he sparkles. Why Meyer why!? Why do you keep making a fool of yourself? People, the world of books don’t start and end with Stephanie Meyer! If you want to look for young adult novels there are millions of them out there waiting to be read. Books like twilight should be banned from existence.

The New Harry Potter- WTH! How dare you! Twilight will never be the new Harry Potter, because Stephanie Meyer cant write how can you even compare her to JK Rowling? Anyway if you had a mind these are two different genres we are speaking of. I don’t even like putting Harry Potter and Stephanie Meyer in the same sentence what sort of Harry Potter fan am I?

I don’t see where dissing about twilight will get me. But I sincerely hope it will keep you away from reading this atrocious novel. It could have been built better with talented hands, a bit of imagination which does not include the word sparkle and obviously not the clichéd over used plot.

MuMuksha Bharti Tyagi

2011-05-27T13:34:00.000+05:30

At first impression: “She’s really shy”, “Mumuksha should talk more often”, “She’s great but should talk to us more”

We had been in that dilemma for a month, not only us but as well as 36 other students and all the teachers. Is it the same Molly (nickname) we saw just last month we questioned to ourselves after the summer holidays. The truth was that we had never seen the real side of her. When we saw it, it was the biggest shock we had received that year. Indeed it was the same Molly standing on top of the chair singing Pichhle Saat Dinon Mein Maine Khoya Kabhi Khud Pe Hansa Main, Aur Kabhi Khud Pe Roya! Nana Na Na Na Nana Na Na Na!

Our History:

This time it did not begin in 7^th grade and thankfully I was no longer the new kid. All of us had passed to the new class we were now 8^th graders. The new kid was now Mumuksha Bharti. I remember saying ‘Hi’ to her and asking her new school, she was very happy that day I had no idea why at that time, but I soon realized that to be happy was her nature. Sneha Nanavati was the first person of our group to actually sit next to her and make contact with her. All of us were too busy in our selves. Slowly we learnt that she was the most intelligent of all of us, she had done IGCSE when were doing CBSE she was a year ahead of us. She kept interrupting the science teacher and asking her questions of higher years. She became a really good friend of Aaryama Somayaji because they lived near by. Gradually she got introduced to our entire group.

MuMuksha, Me, Vidhi and Meetakshi!

In 9^th, again I hate to repeat it that we got separated. But we never lost contact with each other. She was just next door so met up with her when we both had the same free periods. She is a sort of person who has friends all over the place in every section of the school. She also knows the maids and who knows maybe she also knows the nursery kids too. If you ever walk with her to the school ground or her favorite place, the cafeteria you’ll have to pass through so many obstacles she calls friends on the way. A two second walk will take you 20 minutes. She knows so many people, it’s a miracle she remembers all of them. Another of her habits it to eat a lot. She goes from table to table and eats peoples lunches, its lucky she knows so many people. I remember one day I hanged with her the entire time during lunch period which is 20 minutes, can you imagine she ate 16 lunches. She couldn’t finish all of it that’s why I and Meetakshi had to help her. Trust me it wasn’t that fun, there was too much food.

In 10^th the most devastating thing happened, usually I am the one who get left alone, this time it was her who had been separated. I missed her acting, singing making the atmosphere around her happy just with her presence.

Top 5 reasons why I miss you:

5. You have such a good talent, and your one the best actors out there. I will forever remember that Dolly Bindra act you did. The funniest thing was that all your neighbors came into see what the commotion was about. There were guards present too right?! LOL!

4. I’ve never seen a person eating so much food and still your so thin. It’s magic!

3. You’re confused about everything. I’ve never seen a person so confused I’ll miss that!

2. You make everything so lively. I’ve rarely seen you crying, your so happy most of the time, your either singing most of the time or showing the new acts you keep making. You make everyone laugh.

1. You’ve helped me so much, Maths, SST dramas and most importantly you been the most supportive friend.

To read about Mumuksha's first book click here: Twilight Dissing

Its my opinion on Twilight, though Molly didn't like it either.

The Son of Neptune cover revealed!

2011-05-27T12:50:00.000+05:30

This is the time of year in which most book covers and small sneak peaks of it are released. Just two days ago the cover of Clockwork Prince was released yesterday The Son of Neptune. These two are the most anticipated Young Adult books of the year.

October 4, 2011, Cannot Wait!

It was surprising when I read from Rick Riordan's blog and tweets that the cover had released and I was even more surprised when I heard that there was also a small sneak peak! Its first book, The Lost Hero a part of the Heroes Of Olympus trilogy is my favorite Rick Riordan Book. The best part of it was that I had brought it for Rs.125 from Daryaganj, besides my fondness for cheap books I loved the depth of the charters, the plot of the story was more developed the its previous books. I cant wait to hear the adventures of Jason, Piper and Leo and I cant wait to see what happens to The Lost Hero.
To read a little sneak peak of The Lost Hero's POV click here. Trust me its Worth it! ;)

Clock Prince Cover Revealed!

2011-05-25T20:13:00.000+05:30

I know I should not be disturbing my Posts-On-My-Friends-And-How-Much-I-Miss-Them, but the Bookish world has gotten news its been waiting for since forever! Recently I read the entire work of Cassandra Clare. She is an amazing author if your on the look out for Urban Young Adult Fantasy by the way. Recently she started a new series beside the famous, The Mortal Instruments called the Infernal Devices. Which is so much more better then the first series, though a lot of people might not agree with me. Its second book called Clockwork Prince had its cover released today. I had been waiting for it for at least 2-3 weeks!

I am Team Will but I still really like the Jem Cover

It's a really cool cover and it scored really high above my expectation! Its really good but the first Infernal Devices cover was better, just a little not much. Okay, I have to admit I am Team Will thats why I like the Clockwork Angle cover more.

Team Will through and through!

Anyway, I cant wait till the book releases in December 6th 2011. I wonder what happens, Tessa,Will, Jem, the Lightwoods! I hope you write faster Cassandra Clare! To all my followers, I cant wait to write about The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices either! What do you think, which cover is better, which is not?

Nanavati & Angles and Demons

2011-05-25T16:16:00.000+05:30

This book has a long, shall I say unforgettable history with me and Sneha Nanavati. Its started in the beginning of 8^th grade. I had just read Twilight, unfortunately liked it and then claimed it was rubbish when I re-read it. (It is horribly rubbish no doubt about that.) I learnt not to trust books that much and most importantly not to believe that every book I read is really good as I used to before. In a away of speaking I became critical to the books I read. I looked for there weakness and enjoyed debating about them. Then came Angles and Demons, not really came in, it was in my house for more then five years but I was finally allowed to read it. It was my first Adult thriller novel which I treasured while reading.

Angles and Demons:

"An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target."

A scientist is found dead in CERN with a symbol branded right through his chest. He is murdered for his discovery of Anti Matter which is stolen. The batteries of the container containing Anti Matter can last up to only 6 hours or the inevitable will happen. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is invited to CERN where he is summoned to analyze this branded symbol. The trail leads form one thing to another and soon Langdon and the dead scientist daughter Vittoria Vetra travel all the way to Vatican City where the cardinals are preparing for the conclave to choose a new pope. Langdons discovery of the branded symbol leaves him mystified. The Illuminati. The Catholic Churches most hated enemy. Science and Religion are finally in phase of a war.

My Opinion:

I loved it when I read it for the first time. Somehow, it inspired me a lot. I hadn’t thought of the world in that angle I was usually so caught up with dragon, dwarves and faeries that I never did have time to see the world as it is, or as it is said in Angles and Demons. What I liked about the book was it was fact to fact true something really unusual for me at that time, it was a new piece of literature I hadn’t bothered with. I liked it so much I talked a lot about it with Sneha Nanavati, she thought it was really fat when she first set her sight to it. But I inspired her with my one key word, ‘Science’. That was the magic word to make her read and there she was flipping from page to another reading it during class, free periods, lunch time at home and on the van. She loved it, she hung on to every single fact and even researched about it. By the time she reached the end, she called her very first book her favorite book of all times!

Sneha Nanavati's Rating:

Sanskriti Bist’s Rating :

Its an extreme a page turner and a great fun read.

Sneha Nanavati

2011-05-25T15:08:00.000+05:30

While reading her name she sounds Indian, and if you’re an Indian you’ll say she’s from Gujrat. Well, both of these things are true; but once you meet Sneha Nanavati or at least even glance at her you will notice that she talks. A lot. You rarely see her mouth closed, its always opening and closing. I’ve got the most experience with that gal, you see, I sat with her for twelve entire months back in 8^th grade. Though I never complained about it most people asked me how I could even stand it. I replied I enjoyed it. I was truthful, because I miss her blabbering mouth now more than ever.

Our History:

Her 12^th birthday was my first day at school. Its not so amazing that that day is so vividly burned into my memory. There was a special assembly for two hours in the scorching heat of July. Gosh, the horror! The western music people were singing that stupid song (no offence) called, “Jesus you're my superhero, You're my star, my best friend!” With there smiley faces and doing there silly dancing actions. It was dreadful, though I do remember one face that kept appearing through out the assembly, she had an orange shirt on with brown capri’s. Surprisingly back in class I saw the same face again and again. The teachers kept asking her to read and she kept answering their questions. I thought it might've been a birthday treat or something but later on as the days passed I realized she was someone special, a favorite of all teachers even if it wasn’t her birthday.

Sneha Nanavati,we have no photos together,
which is really sad :(

Dude, dude, dude. Constant body movement and hand throwing. Not to forget the Yo’s ,Jackie Chan and Lionel Messi. If you ever see a girl like this you’ll know its Nanavati. I got to know her the best when I sat next to her in 8^th grade. We talked about songs (she was in Western Music like Meetakshi Behal), I made her read novels, and guess what she just completed the entire Harry Potter Series just last week! If I weren’t so lazy, I could have written a whole blog about her when we were back in 8^th grade, she is all knowing. But I hope to summerzie her from this post it self and I do hope it will suffice!

Being in 9^th, as I have written in previous posts, the teachers split us apart leaving me all alone. The most lonely bit was not sitting next to her, I really missed the way she chattered all the time. It was fun sitting next to her in geography periods because I knew the teacher would never ask me a question as long as Sneha was around. In English she was the only one in class who put up her hand to read and in Social Studies she quarreled with the teacher about feminine inequalities faced by

Indian women

during the 18^th century. I missed that a lot there was no one in my new class who had enough potential surpassing that of 48 students.

In the beginning of 10^th she left the school. Oh, the Irony! She wasn’t supposed to be the one who was supposed to leave, in fact I haven’t even left yet! But then the inevitable sudden transfer made the circumstances unfavorable in her case. Her dad changed his job and got transferred to Hyderabad. She left in the second week of 10^th grade, leaving us all surprised and unfortunately alone.

Top 5 reasons why I miss you:

I miss your debating, I love the act that even if you don’t know much about the topic, you keep on expanding your small little points and talk so much about it that the other people grow silent and believe what you say.

You’re exploding with questions. There isn’t a peaceful moment in which there is no question for me. You annoy the teachers with your questions and with out knowing leave us with no studying at all. Thank you.

You’re like a ball oozing with energy. Hyper? Yes, a lot. There are only once in a blue moon opportunities to see you sad, lazy or even in a mood.

You try your hand at every single thing or at least try to learn it. Books, Football, Painting, Dancing, Singing, Debating, Elocution, Poetry, Doge ball (ahem!) god knows what else you can do!

You’ve been there for me all these years, I wish I could be there for you now.

To read the review of Sneha's favorite book, click here Nanavati & Angles and Demons

Meetakshi & Matilda

2011-05-16T18:32:00.000+05:30

Meetakshi Behal has never been a book-reader. Most of what she has read and enjoyed is Roald Dahl. Her favorite books are Matilda and Twits. Before writing this, I asked her to choose between the two. She was utterly confused and basically had no idea. Stepping in her shoes I find that I am in the same position as her, for Matilda and The Twits are both equal for me. Randomly, I picked up Matilda and here is my Blog review:

Matilda:

She had horrifying parents who never attended her and was the least loved in the family. Matilda Wormwood was never the favorite child. Her father was a car salesman, her brother went to school, and her mother went to play Bingo several times during the week. Gradually she became independent. And by the age of five she had read everything in her house.

The library was the only sanctuary where she further developed the passion for reading books. She was never appreciated for what she was and then she decided to punish her parents whenever they did something awful to her. After being caught has the culprit of many mischief’s it was decided that Matilda would go to school at Crunchem Hall.

Miss Trunchbull, an evil headmistress believed all children to be warts. She locked them up, made them eat huge heaps of cake and even throw children out of windows by their hair. Miss Honey her class teacher was the only nice adult she could talk too. When Miss Trunchbull is assigned to take over Matilda’s class, she realizes her potential. Matilda has psychokinetic powers which she decides to use for good.

My Opinion:

You’ll never find a person saying, I hate Matilda or I couldn’t even go though the first page. Nope. Not a single soul in the entire planet would say that. The book is that good. You wont even hear a criticism about a single page. That is the magic produced by Roald Dahl.. Its meant for all ages and conveys a powerful message easy enough to catch, even for me when I first read this book back in 2^nd grade. Believe in your self cause you are filled with potential. It could’ve been like those self help books but the way Roald Dahl. carries his words out makes it amusingly entertaining for his readers. Its funny, carries a message and inspires you, it’s the perfect must read book.

Meetakshi Behal

2011-05-16T17:57:00.000+05:30

Meetakshi Behal and my freind
Vidhi Sharma

There are always people in your friend circle who are really duffer, like me or just outstandingly brilliant like Meetashi Behal. She’s one of those people who is extremely perfect in her studies. You will never see her grade below then A and in a test there are 99.9% chances that she has gotten a 20 out of 20. In fact, just recently she scored 20 on 20 in a Math test. You can see how perfect she is. She never gets in trouble and there is not even a single teacher in school who doesn’t know about her. She is always there, a little shy creature sitting in the back of the class and getting (god knows how) mind boggling numbers.

Our History:

Well, as you might already know I joined our school back in 2008, when we all were in 7^th class. I didn’t know Meetakshi a lot back then. She was always translucent and I have to admit really shy. A few words of communication went between but not enough. All I knew about her was that she was a member of the Western Music Choir and all she knew about me was that I was some new kid from

Switzerland

. I don’t exactly remember how we became really close friends, the process was gradual and the outcome completely remarkable, that I am sure of.

We had became friends in 7^th grade but became even closer in 8^th. I found out that she was ecstatic about Video Games and loved The Sims, she loved music and was a huge Scorpion and Simple Plan fan. I also spent some of my math classes sitting beside her, I have to tell you the girl is pure genius in Math. Partly I got good grades when she taught me, otherwise I am sure I couldn't have done it on my own.

In 9^th, we were all separated in to three sections, Meetakshi wasn’t in my class, in reality I was the only one in my group which was separated. We made more contact though Facebook because we rarely had time to meet up at school. Her periods weren’t free when mine were and the break time was only 15 minutes. But thanks to the great social networking site, we didn’t forget each other and hopefully never will.

Now that Meetakshi and I are in the same section in 10^th; I feel really bad to let you go when I finally had you.

Top 5 Reasons Why I Miss You:

5. I miss the part when Lentheng Sir comes to pick you up from the lunch break, You never want to leave us and attend your Western Music duties, do you? I miss your voice.

4. You've been so helpful to me, though out the years, I have no idea how I would’ve even passed in math!

3. Sometimes you re-repeat your stories, but I love hearing them from you again and again.

2 . You’re a slow poke like me. You don’t understand half of the jokes and the other person has to repeat it for you or explain them to you. Exactly, like me.

1. You make me smile, at the most awkward, embarrassing or Oh-God-What-Am-I-Going to do moments. Thank you for being there for me.

To see Meetakshi Behal's favorite book: (click here) Meetakshi & Matilda

Meetakshi and I eating Our Chuski's