Review: The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

Description:

Beautiful, flaxen-haired Buttercup has fallen for Westley, the farm boy, and when he departs to make his fortune, she vows never to love another. So when she hears that his ship has been captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts (no survivors) her heart is broken. But her charms draw the attention of the relentless Prince Humperdinck who wants a wife and will go to any lengths to have Buttercup. So starts a fairy tale like no other, of fencing, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, bad men, good men, snakes, spiders, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion and miracles, and ... a damn fine story. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2794395-the-princess-bride

Rating:

8.5

Review:

The Princess Bride, by William Goldman, is a thrilling, romantic, and hilarious tale of risk and high-adventure. The characters are each unique to themselves, and each one of them engaging for a different set of reasons. While the cut-ins do tend to get a little irritating, they expand the scope of the story further than just the tale itself, giving it a personal touch.

                I enjoyed reading The Princess Bride, just as I had enjoyed watching the film (in fact, for the longest time, I never even knew there was a real book, and so I bought a copy the second I found one). There are a lot of extra features in the novel that weren’t included in the film, or changed implicitly, as happens with most book-to-film adaptations.

                Let’s discuss, for a moment, the key aspects of this story.

Characters

The characters, as I have mentioned before, are all rather unique within this tale. A pirate who was once a farm-boy; a beautiful princess who has lost all hope of love; a team consisting of a Spaniard, a Giant, and a Sicilian; A spoiled Prince and his second in command, the six-fingered man; and, of course, the narrator himself.

                That is not to say there are not more colourful characters weaved throughout this story; there are, indeed, many more. And that’s just the thing! The story is so full of life, and character, that the flaws of one character are made up for by another.

                Take Princess Buttercup, for instance. To me, Buttercup seemed naïve and incredibly dense. She did not seem to redeem herself at any point throughout the novel. At first, I thought her character to be irritating, but her lover, Westley, made up for her vapid personality with his own.

                Westley’s character was lively and exciting, but he held a certain level of deadpan and morosity that showed him to be just as flawed as his lover. They complement one another; Buttercup being full of life, but dim-witted, and Westley being clever, but sarcastic.

                The same can be said of the rest of the characters, each complementing their partner/s where they prove inadequate.

Theme

Now, obviously, love and romance is a main theme introduced early into the story, but there is one theme that I’m concerned about. Some might say it is the moral of the story, and I don’t think those people are wrong. I just think of it differently.

I learnt recently that the theme is more than just a moral: the theme of a story tells of the human condition or history. So, rather than romance or adventure or who-done-it, the theme for this story is something reiterated throughout the novel: Life isn’t fair.

And it is a true enough sentiment, because life isn’t fair, under any circumstances. None of the characters featured in this story have any sort of fairness in their lives, just as no human being lives a life of fairness.

I personally adore this theme. It seems morbid in its pessimism, but it is a hard truth of life, and this makes it relatable. It doesn’t placate, it doesn’t offer useless praise or try to undermine authority. It simply is. A statement of fact that nobody, nowhere, can dispute.

End Note

While it did take me some time to finish, this book is definitely one of my favourites. There are places where I wanted to cringe, or cuss at the interruptions of the author, but those moments, I know now, are what spurned me to finish reading. Nothing written the way The Princess Bride was written is written without a purpose in mind.

                I enjoyed reading it, and I would definitely read it again in the future.

Quote

“…I also have to say, for the umpty-umpth time, that life isn’t fair. It’s just fairer than death, that’s all.” (p. 317)

Edition

Goldman, W 2008, The Princess Bride, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, London

Review: The Little Prince

 Description:

The Little Prince is a classic of equal appeal to children and adults. On one level it is the story of an airman's discovery in the desert of a mall boy from another planet - the Little Prince of the title - and his stories of intergalactic travel, while on the other hand it is a thought-provoking allegory of the human condition. First published in 1943, the year before the author's death in action, this new translation contains Saint-Exupery's delightful illustrations.

Rating:

9

Review:

The Little Prince has been one of my favourite stories for a long time now. Full of childhood innocence and the consequences of leaving that innocence behind, it is a lovely story of a young prince and his responsibilities -or, if you'd rather, it is a tale of a man stranded in the desert who finds himself enamoured with the innocence of a small boy. The Little Prince speaks of his journeys across the galaxy, and of his dear flower. His meetings with all the pomp and circumstance of the lonely King; the Businessman that owned it all in his numbers; and a whole slew of other characters that both intrigue and frustrate by turns.

The reason I enjoy The Little Prince so much, I think, is because it's written with such care, so as to be easily understood by its younger readers, while holding a deeper meaning for those more mature. An interesting and highly delightful piece of literature.

Quote:

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” 

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Review: To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee

Description:

"'Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'

Atticus Finch gives this advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of this classic novel - a black man charged with attacking a white girl. Through the eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Lee explores the issues of race and class in the Deep South of the 1930's with compassion and humour. She also creates one of the great heroes of literature in their father, whose lone struggle for justice pricks the conscience of a town steeped in prejudice and hypocrisy." -Vintage Classics.

Rating:

8 ½

Review:

When I was in year 10, I had one of the best English teachers I can remember. There were so few teachers that I can speak of with anything even remotely close to admiration or respect, and she was one of them. She baked for our class each week, and always kept to the theme of our readings. So, when it came time to read To Kill a Mockingbird, we were all quite intrigued as to what she would make (well, at least, I was intrigued. I have a feeling nobody else liked her, but year 10 students are actual heathen and shouldn't be relied upon to be good judges of character). She baked us corn bread and told us the history of Alabama and the rights of black slaves during the time the novel was set.

Now, you may ask what this has to do with my actual review of the novel, and I guess I should tell you.

That year was the first year I ever read To Kill a Mockingbird. The way my teacher spoke highly of the novel only made me more interested, and I blitzed through reading it, even though it meant I'd have to read it twice, I didn't care, by that point. I was in love with the story.

Recently I picked up the book again, though I had figured that over time the narrative would have lost some of its charm. I was wrong, because I still absolutely adore it, and I have an even greater understanding of both the events in the novel, and how well they can be compared to the events of today.

On to the review!

To Kill a Mockingbird is a treasure trove of moral discussion. The story of showing kindness and general human decency to fellow humans who have been persecuted, for nothing other than who they are, is one that I don't think people really interact with enough.

The novel raises important questions that are still relevant today, as to persecution of the 'other'. In asking these questions, and sharing the opinions of the characters, Lee shows great foresight in her writing, and an understanding of human nature that is apparently still missing in many a politician today. 

In her novel, Lee explored the discrimination of class within society, as well as the bigger problem of racial discrimination. She also explores the corruption of the court system, and how prejudices are sometimes more important to people than justice. She uses the perspective of a child -the most prominent example of innocence- to explore these things, with the help of wise old Atticus Finch. There is a lot that I could say about Atticus, but I'll save that for another post.

As it stands, Atticus does have quite a few important quotes that could still be considered relevant today. That in my mind is what makes To Kill a Mockingbird such a terrific novel; the fact that, even now, it still manages to portray the faults that are so prominent within society, and -I dare say- the human race.

I loved this book so much, for so many different reasons. It's heart-warming, it's humorous, and it's fairly easy to follow, as most of the important things are explained.

To finish this post, I would like to leave you with an example of the wisdom Lee has shared through her character, Atticus:

"There's nothing more sickening to me than a low-grade white man who'll take advantage of a Negro's ignorance. Don’t fool yourselves - it's all adding up, and one of these days we're going to pay the bill for it." 

- Atticus Finch, page 241 

___________________________________________

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Drafting reviews

Top 5 Kick-ass Female Protagonists (series Edition)

When we read, we sometimes find inspiration in the characters we read about, whether they're good or bad, male or female. This post is dedicated to the female series protagonists that have inspired me the most during my reading career. These ladies are far from ordinary, and have been a source of both entertainment and exhaustion as throughout their various stories. 

            So, without further ado, I would like to introduce to my Top 5 Kickass Female Protagonists!

#5. Katniss Everdeen

Now, some of you might be thinking that the sheer idea of Katniss Everdeen being placed 5^th is absurd, and I somewhat agree with you. While I’m not disputing the fact that she is indeed quite awesome, I’ve actually only read the first of the Hunger Games series, and so can’t make any final decision on her placement as of yet.

Katniss Everdeen, leading lady in the crowd favourite dystopian series The Hunger Games, is considered quite the inspiration to many, and as a female protagonist is extremely likeable. She survives in a society that does more to hinder than to help the people, and is considered a hero in her own rights. It is not surprising that she has such an impact on the audience, as she represents many positive traits, despite her own series of shortcomings and faults.

To me, Katniss represents perseverance, strength, determination, ambition, and sacrifice. She is willing to do what she thinks has to be done for the betterment of those around her, and while she is not always stable (who would be, under those circumstances?) she is still a valuable role model.

#4. Rose Hathaway

Rose Hathaway is the main protagonist in Rochelle Mead’s stellar Vampire series, Vampire Academy, and it a seriously badass one at that. Rose is a dhampir in a school full of others just like herself, as well as the young moroi.

She is taking the 4^th place in my list of kickass ladies because, while she is really very kickass, she is also easily distracted by a certain Gaurdian (*ahem* Dimitri *ahem*). She can be a little careless, at times, and very reckless at others, but that does not make her any less of a badass. Even through her flaws, however, Rose proves to be loyal and strong-willed, often leading her to face challenges and obstacles that help her become who she was meant to be.

#3. Clarissa Fray

            In a world of magic and monsters, shadows and those that hunt them, Clarissa Fray finds out the startling truth of who she really is –or rather, what. She is curious –a trait that is one of the best and worst for a young woman to possess, especially when dealing with demons and treachery– and that curiosity leads her to discover the world of angels and demons, and all the things that go bump in the night.

            Clary, the protagonist of the Mortal Instruments series, by Cassandra Clare, takes 3^rd place due to her curiosity, her determination. She is strong-willed, like Rose, but hers is a quieter sort. She was not raised to be what she is, and she takes to it all without bravado. Rolling with the punches, as it were.

#2. Zoe Redbird

            I am personally quite fond of the odd vampire tale, here or there, but it wasn’t Twilight that solidified my love. That title goes to the House of Night series, by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast, and absolutely wonderful character, Zoe Redbird.

Zoe is thrust into a situation that turns her entire world on its head, but she takes it in her stride. To me, she represents the bonds of friendship and the importance of faith, as she and her circle of friends do what they have to in order to protect one another and serve the Goddess.

            She also represents strength of character, and an intense loyalty, both of which I consider important traits within female role models.

            While it’s been years since I’ve read the series, I can still remember exactly why I became enamoured with it. Zoe isn’t an annoying or frustrating character to follow. Sure, like every protagonist, there are some cringe-worthy moments, and even a face palm or two, but I never wanted to cry in sheer frustration at her exploits. It’s was rather refreshing, to be honest.

#1. Maximum Ride

            As one of my all-time favourite series, Maximum Ride has been one of the most influential books I’ve ever picked up. The series protagonist, Max (a.k.a. Maximum Ride), is such a good point of inspiration to look up to, despite her being a fictional character and her own situation being mildly different from that of reality.

            Max is the leader of a flock (not in a religious sense, but a flock of actual mutant bird-kids), and she does everything within her power to keep them together, and as safe as they can possibly be within their particularly troubling circumstances.

            She is loyal to a fault, and always has a plan (even when she really doesn’t). Max, despite being only a child herself, cares for her flock as best she can, despite being faced with mad scientists (sometimes literally), mutant creatures, and the forces of nature. She is an interesting character, not least of all because of her ability to FLY!

            I felt a connection to Max, being around the same age, and facing my own set of challenges, though very different to hers. In a period where I felt like giving up everything, Maximum Ride gave me a reason to keep going, and to be exactly who I was despite everything. The series is the reason I still keep relatively good reading habits, and I’m incredibly thankful for the confidence and assurance Max and her flock offered me. It was like being a part of the flock myself, and that made the biggest difference for me at the time; it still does now, even!

            There we go, ladies and gentlemen. My top 5 kickass female protagonists. Who’s your #1?

A.N.

Hey there!

So, considering my utter failure last year to keep this updated regularly, I’ve decided that, instead of making promises I probably won’t keep, I’ll instead make a reasonable attempt.

            I’m no longer going to be jumping into this head first, with hardly any idea what it is I’m actually posting (awkward). Instead, I’m going to be pacing myself, drafting a little more beforehand, and being especially mindful while editing. This, of course, means that I may not be posting on a regularly basis, or at most that I would be posting this kind of content on a regular monthly basis.

            I thank you for your patience and support, while I try to sort myself out, and I apologize that it’s taken so long for me to do so (only 20 odd years, I’m sure I’ll figure life out eventually).

            Stay posted!

            Em xx

A Novel Review: Eleanor and Park

Hey Bookworms!

I know it's been sluggish to update, but I've finally finished reading my novel of the week (although, it did take me two weeks, because of reasons). So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy the thrilling recount of what my impression of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this piece of literary genius, Eleanor and Park is a young adult fiction novel which follows the experiences of two teenagers, a girl (Eleanor) and a boy (Park), as they meet and slowly fall in love.
Of course, it's never that simple, and there are many challenges the pair must face, but it's an incredible heart-warming journey (even if it doesn't have a conventional happily ever after).

So, with the basics out of the way, let's move on to my thoughts, and what this novel meant to me.

To be honest, this book didn't speak to me like some of my other favourites, but it was still a really fun and interesting read. It had been suggested to me by multiple people who all held it in high regard, and I was really excited to get my hands on a copy, but I think this excitement and the regard of others lead me to have extremely high expectations, rather than being able to read it and enjoy it for what I myself believed it to be.
So, all in all, while it was still a fantastic piece of literary work, for me it was a little too slow paced and somewhat compared to what I was expecting.

Another reason I may have been underwhelmed by the novel is that, within the first few chapters, I was reminded not only of several books I has to read for school purposes, but also of my own ill experiences at the entertainment of my peers.
So, that was less impartial on my part.

I did, however, enjoy the last several chapters or so, as there was just so much happening and I was probably in a much better mindset for that side of things - rather than the slow build romance of the teens, and their various differences.

So, as it did take me two weeks to complete (and a further few weeks to review), I can't say that it was the greatest book I've ever read, but it really was something special, and to me that's still very important.
I will definitely be reading this particular gem again, because it really is a fantastic piece of fiction, even if I wasn't in the right mind to enjoy it the first time.

Have you ever fallen in love? What is your opinion about 'young love'? Can it withstand the test of time? Let me know in the comments what you think!

I have to apologize again for how long this took me to update, but I've been without a computer and a lot of the time my internet is a little shady. Next review shouldn't be too long, though, as I've finally got a new laptop and a bucket load of inspiration.

Enjoy going back to work and school, for those of you who do. I'll continue to sit here drinking tea and reading whatever comes into my hands next.
-Em xx

Love, Anxiety, and Girl Online

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

How did you celebrate the end of 2014/beginning of 2015? Was there food? Fireworks? Friends and family?
I myself wasn't lucky enough to participate in any such event or 'celebration', if you will, but I can't say I'm all to disappointed by how I spent my evening/morning.

I spent my night finishing the last several chapters of Zoe Sugg's debut novel, Girl Online.

Girl Online follows the life (and embarrassment) of a sixteen-year-old UK blogger by the name of Penny Porter (A.K.A. Girl Online), and her incredible and romantic adventure in New York over Christmas and the New Year.

It was an easy book to fall in love with, as both the layout and the plot of the novel are fabulous. The text size is easily readable and not migraine inducing, as I have found with smaller font sizes. The chapters are short and perfect for reading before work, during lunch-breaks, or before bed without having to worry about leaving halfway through a chapter (which is always super annoying). I'm in love with the cover art, as it's both simple and aesthetically pleasing, which is always a nice addition to any bookshelf.

It's easy to fall in love with the characters in this novel, and to feel inspired by their different experiences and personalities. Penny, especially, inspires a sense of understanding, and is generally a very relatable character. As somebody who once suffered from panic attacks, and now has friends who suffer similar, if not the same, anxieties, I find Penny's story to be quite relevant and even helpful in the case of dealing with the fears and stress anxiety causes.

On that note, of course, I'd like to just give a general trigger warning for Girl Online, because there are mentions of panic attacks and even brief descriptions of the experience (as well as various ways to help with calming down after or during an attack). I know for a fact that this kind of mention is a trigger for some, and so just a warning if you do choose to read and you're affected by the mention of panic attacks then you may want to proceed with caution. It's a truly inspiring journey through anxiety, facing fears, and falling in love, so even though there are a few triggers throughout, as well as a generous serve of secondhand embarrassment, Girl Online is ultimately a very helpful and fun novel to read.

As always, of course, this work of fiction would not be at all possible without the lovely author, Zoe Sugg, a.k.a Zoella (popular YouTube personality and Beauty blogger). A four year work in progress, Girl Online is a fun-romantic-exciting-dramatic work and was a pleasure to read, and I sincerely suggest it for readers who also liked The Fault in our Stars (John Green) or Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell).

I hope 2015 brings you some kind of happiness, and that you stick to at least one of your New Years Resolutions.

Keep Reading!

Girl Online, Going Offline xx

[ See what I did there? You'll get it if you read the book ;) ] 
-Em xx

A Good Book is Hard to Find... or is it?

I've often heard it said that a good book is hard to find. Personally, this has always just sounded like an excuse to not read, or not look, for fear of being underwhelmed. In my humble opinion, this is the backwards way of looking at it; it's never hard to find a good book, for no book is inherently good or bad, but rather it is far more difficult to find the right reader.

Just like books come in different genres, people have different tastes. While some enjoy reading of fantasy realms -tales of knights and princesses, of floating palaces and underwater kingdoms, mermaids and pirates and perhaps even an ogre or two- others might prefer a more realistic retelling or adventure -of spies and sabotage, detectives and deadlines.

From Murder and Mystery to Horror or History, each person approaches reading with their own, unique, perspectives; just as every author approaches writing with their own unique set of parameters.
I have often found, in my -admittedly few- years as an avid reader (though I cannot be faulted for my four year old self's inability to read, and I have long since surpassed that unfortunate setback) that finding just the right book for any specific taste relies both on the reader and the author, as the author relies on the reader to read just as much as the reader relies on the author to write. (that may not make sense now, or at all, but it does to me and I'm the one writing so shh).

I myself have more of an eclectic taste, when it come to choosing what I read next, and am guilty of judging a book by it's cover more times than I would personally care to admit. Though it is not the preferred method of finding a book, it has not steered me wrong as of yet (and neither has my tendency to always always read the blurb before making any kind of solid decision). As it so happens, my personal library has benefited from this, and it has been suggested that I make use of the few talents I have to share with the world (or, well, perhaps not that far) my opinions as I go.

As it so happens, with both school Christmas freshly passed, I have added to my collection and now find myself with ample time to enjoy the finer things in life, such as a good cup of tea, beautifully scented candles, a relaxing bubble bath, and a good book.

So, in lieu of anything better to do with my time, this blog is dedicated to books and the endless stories we fall in love with, as well as the appreciation of both the art of writing and of reading, because you can't have one without the other.

Happy Reading,
- Em x