Another Modern Cinderella Story

I'm not a big fan of such books. They are too predictable and boring for me. But from time to time I can pick one - to get my brain some rest and to refresh my English knowledge (I usually read these books in English, not with translation). But this one I liked.
Basically, it is a story of a Cinderella. In our time. There are lots of books and movies like that, but there were something charmingly realistic about this book that I fell for it. Or maybe that's writing that caught me. Anyways here I am sipping my tea and writing this review instead of reading something else.
It's quite interesting how you like the main characters. I mean, there's a great chance you'll fall for them, they aren't that stereptypical. They are more like an average people with their problems. Of course the romance and everything was very predictable, but not so boring as I expected. But somehow I turned the pages really quickly, I was totally hooked and read it in one breath. 
Whilst having a man handling her problems Sam manages staying really feministic which I like. She tries her best to manage all by herself and depends only on her own power, that's good model for modern fairy tales. And Jack, he is totally got it. He treats women as they deserve that. Not so protective and not indifferent. Unrealistic type of a man, I guess. Then there are a bunch of different characters you'd not manage to even distinguish - they all are rather flat. But hey, that's chic lit. It's not supposed to be very Ulysses-like at all.
If you like romantic stories - go for it. If you like nice romantic stories - go for it. If you want to spend your time with a pleasant book - totally go for it.
In general, the book is good and light. 

Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Love is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction.

A very philosophical autobigraphical piece of writing. It gives insight into Antoine's thoughts of his job and dedication to this job, about people in general and about life. Antoine was quite a philosopher, underestimated indeed.











I liked his thoughts about all people as beautiful creatures, they can all be Mozarts. But life pushed people too hard and some of them become ordinary, stop dreaming and living and start basically existing.

Of course Antoine was a bit of a dreamer. But I like that trait of character, especially in a grown-up. In a world full of realistic cruelty such people remind me little rays of light. Even if there are heavy clouds they try and try to push their way to shine through and show people lighter side of life.
Generally I agree with him, people are beautiful. Each of us makes his own decision. You can decide to be happy or to be miserable. To be kind or to be bitter. To enjoy life or to treat it as a burden. 

But sometimes there are so many obstacles people just can't manage all of them and be kind and happy after all. It takes a great strenght to face all the difficulties with bravery, to always get up after falling, not to become bitter after all problems.
Life is too short to be bitter. 

ASOIAF by George R.R.Martin

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.














This is by far my most enjoyable post ‘cause A Song of Ice and Fire series has become for me a real windfall. Martin’s books are dope! I had tons of very pleasant reading evening and I remember those times with the sweetest nostalgia.

It is hard to decide what to begin with but I begin with how I discovered the series. As many of us I discovered it through the TV series Game of Thrones. Firstly I really liked the story, but the scenes of violence were too hard for me so I stopped watching since ep2s1. But then I decided to pluck up my courage and continue watching. And I’m really happy I did it. Thanks to my stubbornness I’ve got the whole new magical world. Not Middle-earth, Harry Potter world or Neverland but still it has its interesting sides. 

I should pay tribute to the writing style. Martin’s word cuts deeper than swords. He shows that this game is real, we are terrified to turn the page. His characters are real – here they are, alive, breathing, on the pages, you just need to touch. He uses words for different styles correctly. It’s seems so easy for him to change from thoughts of 11yo girl about dresses and knights to depressing thoughts of a dwarf or heroic bastard’s thoughts. You can easily guess whose exactly chapter you are reading. Sansa always has a second to think about the right accessories for her dress even in the hardest of times. Whilst her sister Arya doesn’t waste a second oh that. The thoughts of death, danger and the opportunity to survive occupy her. Cersei thinks about her children half of the time. The other half of time she thinks about how great she is. Ned is always honorable – in thoughts as well as in deeds. Lannister brothers Tyrion and Jaime are both basically misunderstood. Frankly speaking, it would be interesting to read Taywin, Varys or Littlefinger thoughts. But it would ruin all the intrigue. 
Characters are constantly growing, showing us newest sides of them. You wouldn’t find in the series positive or negative characters. Only white or black. There are shades of grey in them as in real people.  There’s a sin behind each righteous man and misunderstanding behind each sinner. And it’s one of the things which make this series unique. 

In spite of all the realistic characters the plot itself is really twisted. You cannot predict its twists. You can find lots of forums where people discuss different thoughts and theories and it’s really fascinating. All the people have such different opinions and impressions. Many of them remember something you’ve missed and it’s interesting to return to the book and reread this place, rethink it. 

I can’t give less than 5/5 to these wonderful books. Of course, the last two are less dynamic, but it doesn’t make them worse. 

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last.

Four  

 Allegiant is the third novel of a young American author Veronica Roth who writes dystopias for teens. The trilogy is becoming a successful hit as they made a first movie based on the books. And sooner or later It would become more and more popular.

Frankly speaking, I expected a lot from this book but not all of my expectations became truth. Yes, I know that lots of people compare Divergent to The Hunger Games trilogy and I’m not making something new here. But comparing to HG trilogy ending which spoiled the whole thing for me I liked the ending of Allegiant better. It has a happy ending, with some victims of course, but that was inevitable I guess.

Actually the poor and dull writing made me hated it for the first time. I literally slept on the book till I got to the ending where things were more intense. I don’t want to say that I don’t like the book. Author’s got nice ideas, but depicted them in a dull way.

Now about the characters. I really thought Four would be the one who dies. It was obvious. He is loved by the readers, he’s gone through so much and has suffered a lot. His death would be very-very tragic to the readers. But nevertheless what happened can’t be rewritten.

Selflessness. This feature is very common for protagonists. That’s why they are dull. They are heroes, always doing right things and making right decisions. And if not their decisions are considered to be good one way or another. They sacrifice themselves and everything they have. That’s who they are-protagonists. That’s why there’s no surprise in here either.

But despite the dullness of writing and inertia of a plot this trilogy will remain special for me ‘cause it’s message is quite close to me. This message is how to fight a fear. And it makes trilogy very close and interesting to all those teens and adults who read it. I don’t know whether the film would contain this message or not but in the book it’s precious.

All in the entire book isn’t perfect but good. Nice recommendation for those action lovers.

Rating 4/5

Breakfast at Tiffany's review

Good luck and believe me, dearest Doc - it's better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague. Just a country where the thunder goes and things disappear.

How people can do such an amusing film out of such dull book is sorcery for me. And that's not just because of different ending no sir. The book and the film showed us two different women: a woman who found what she was looking for and a woman who still tries to find it and maybe she never will.

Personally I did not like this bookish Holly. She seemed to me rather flat and narrow, a girl who totally depends on someone else. She sort of makes this for living - allowes wealthy men to pay her just for spending time with her or without spending any time. I kind of disapprove such lifestyle, that’s my personal position. She’s young and full of energy - why doesn’t she become someone, why doesn’t she want to become? 

About her character. As a matter of fact I couldn't understand fully her emotions, actions, the reasons for her behaviour. Of course we were told that she has lost her baby, her parents, her 'friends',her beloved brother therefore she was broken and to shelter herself she acted like that. But still that seems quite strange. She really acts like nothing really matters. Like she cries that nobody needs her and can't see really good man (the narrator) who's just always there for her. It seems illogical.

I feel bad for the narrator as he really counted that they could work something out of that. 

I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together.

But Holly Golightly isn’t just a woman. She’s a symbol and by far very bright symbol. The symbol of people’s spirits during the war when being careless was really more preferable than being worried. People tried to be as distracted as they could possibly be and Truman Capote has caught these spirits brilliantly. 

I can't really recommend this book to anybody who wants to enjoy a nice romantic book. But to those who want to read something fresh and different, to feel the spirit of that time this book is highly

 recommended.

The Tales of Dunk and Egg part 1

This is a review of two novellas by George R.R. Martin The Hedge Knight and The Sworn Sword which are from The Tales of Dunk and Egg series and are prequel to A Song of Ice and Fire.

The novellas take us to the times when Targaryens ruled. The possible purpose of writing these novels is to show the readers the world before the game of thrones began when the Targaryens were at the peak. All the information we receive from a standpoint of hedge knight – possibly nobody, unimportant person who travels and works from time to time on different master. These works perfectly fit into fantasy category showing us knights. tournaments and beautiful ladies in all their glory and feasibility at the same time. The readers will be totally caught up with the narration – you can hardly say that it wasn’t written by a young knight. The thoughts, the colors in which he sees everything, naivety – narration is just brilliant.In the novellas we can clearly see that the author intended to show – book is a book and life is a life. Good guys won’t fight bad guys just because you want so. Or princess will not marry the hedge knight – she simply can’t allow it to herself. These realistic moments may be that point, that target which drives people to buy Martin’s books.
Characters. As a main characters we’ve got Dunk – the hedge knight, and Egg – from Targaryens who decides to travel with Dunk for some time seeking adventures. Both treat each other very well, almost like friends. Although Dunk never forgets about the Egg’s origin. These character’s attitudes are shown very well through their actions. Dunk values Egg’s opinion above all and Egg shows a lot of dedication to serving his knight.Generally I like these novellas. They are not bad. And I’m interested in continuation. I’d recommend it to all The Game of Thrones series fans, A Song of Ice and Fire fans and people who simply like fantasy and short stories.

Paper Towns by John Green

“What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person.”

 Frankly speaking, I was quite skeptical whilst reading this book. I kept waiting when “Paper towns” would turn into “Finding Alaska” but that didn’t happen. Instead I liked this book way better.

This book was more educational for me – I mean life lessons. I learned that one should never make a person just an image or idolize this person; to take anybody as they are not trying to change them. Even if they don’t support your beliefs, don’t share your dreams and goals, don’t agree with you. I wish I could read this book when I was a teenager – that would be much more useful. But I didn’t. Anyway, the main thing is that I read it and learnt from it,

I don’t really see anything remarkable in main characters separately but they make up pretty nice team. Margo’s behavior I understand – partially, but not quite right. She could just believe in Q and live a life in paper world by being a human, real, not paper. Escape is easier than having a courage to face your fears. But she made a choice.

I gave this book 5 points because of life lessons.

 Rating 5/5

Up at the Villa by W. Somerset Maugham

This short story had been written by one of my most favorite writers Somerset Maugham. It depicts the story of a young widow who seems to made her mind up about everything in her life – a convenient and well-to-do marriage, but this one night changes the way of things go completely. Having survived this dreadful night alongside with chiseler Rowley she starts to understand more about herself and her desires.

I like the way Maugham once again shows in very realistic and true-to-life way that it’s almost impossible to judge people only for one thing. Only true varieties of fortune and troubles will show them who they really are. Edgar, a man who she’d known for so long and who loved her for so long, making a proposal. Even if there’s no love in her heart she considers this proposal very serious and positive matter ‘cause Edgar’s rich and honorable man. She thinks she’ll be bored to death but at the same time hopes that they won’t see each other very often. On the other hand there’s Rowley – a man of bad reputation and his proposal means nothing to her. But one night only, the night which brought her tons of troubles, showed who she really needed when the one turned his back on her and the other was happy to be near and help her.

Mary discovers not only her interest for Rowley but understands that she doesn’t want to be bored. She doesn’t want to avoid her husband and live in unbearable boredom. On the contrary, she wants to take risks a lot!

In this story personally I like Rowley. The man is true to him and to the others, doesn’t pretend to be who he really isn’t and this is very valuable. Plus he doesn’t hesitate to demand and take what he wants.

All in all the story is quite pleasant and quick to read.

Rating 4/5

The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding

The second part shows us no-more-single Bridget. Apparently, relationship are hard too, there’s little fairy tale to them. Trying to understand these mysterious creatures – men – Bridget gets herself into new and new adventures.

Firstly everything seems so fairy tale: Mark Darcy is actually in her bed, he’s not ideal more like a humble and simple, but still he’s hers man and she is lonely no more. But then suddenly her ex-friend Rebecca appears trying to steal Mark by all means. The situation becomes more difficult while Bridget’s reading psychological books and listening to her friends’ advice. Bridget thinks that Mark has dumped her for Rebecca while Mark think Bridget has dumped his because of all the nonsenses she read in those books and listened from her friends. And that is when all the madness begins.

Harry, the builder obsessed with fish and fishing, leaves Bridget with a huge hole in a wall that was made to enlarge her flat but everything remains the same about this. She’s trying to overcome her break-up with Mark by taking new and challenging work but failing it. All the personal issues in her friends’ lives, her mothers’ obsession with Africa and its culture, imprisoning in Thailand for caring drugs-not hers of course-all this is seems to be a rock bottom. But there is always a way to overcome any trouble and again Mr. Darcy helps her.

At the end of a book Bridget comes to the conclusion that men aren’t really different from women and are easily understood. All we have our fears, not very pleasant experiences, all we do stupid things and all we suffer from loneliness. It appears that we are not very different after all.

Interesting and easy book. The first one was better to me but still you can find a lot of exciting and edifying moments here. 

Rating 3/5

Angel Uncovered by Katie Price

To begin with I started reading this just because the book was extremely cheap but now I regret for having paid for it at all. This book is a total time killer. There is no originality in the plot as well as in characters. Moreover characters are full of clichés.

Having read the book I’ve came across the information on the Internet that this book was Ghost-written. That’s not surprise actually celebrities often do this. Not all of them are Hemmingways though.

Let us start with an analysis of characters. The protagonist Angel (actually hate the names in this book. Angel Summer, Honey. Is that for real?) has married her Prince Charming in the previous book but it’s not the happily ever after she imagined. After Honey was born she suffers from postnatal depression. Angel is tormented by feeling not connected to her daughter and husband. However, as we will found out later, he cheated on her in that exact time of her depression. With her friend. There you go, Prince Charming. What is more he tries to show as a guilty one. But Angel suspected that suicide would be the best option to draw the man’s attention. I’m not trying to minimalize this action. I just don’t think that the author should do this move, should depict a suicide like something that can help to save marriage. Later on Angel meets another Prince and picks him.

Characters are total clichés from head to toes. I constantly had this feeling of irritation when author tried to show Angel as a positive character because she only did boob job and other WAGs had a lot of silicone. Or because she likes to buy clothes in average shops (but not all the clothes). This is just something I can’t understand.

 Anyways I don’t recommend it to anyone. This book is time and brain cells killer. But if you have nothing to read at the beach it may be in hand. 

Rating 1/5.

"We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin

The story in “We” takes place in the distant future. In that world everything is logically and mathematically simple. There’s no place for emotions and feelings. But once the protagonist falls in love all the instincts overpower the logics. He’s jealous, a minute without Her makes him insane, he waits for her near her house for hours. He considers that this state is illness. The presence of souls is actually an illness. Till the very end of a story he suffers trying to cure this illness. For he is devoted to the great Benefactor this is a real torture. That was a really interesting thing to create an intrigue because usually protagonists in dystopias want a revolution. The Government is really afraid of rebelling and quickly promotes new operation during which a human being is deprived of imagination. This operation is mandatory.

The Benefactor calls D-503 and asks about revolutionaries but D-503 stays silent. Then the Benefactor suggests D-503 that he was useful for revolutionaries only because he had access to Integral (he was an architect). D-503 suddenly realizes that maybe this was true. But till the end of a story it is still unclear whether I-330 loved D-503 or she just used him. After all, D-503 was forced to this operation. He lost his soul. Of course after the operation he gives out all the information about revolutionaries, their names and plans. He just doesn’t find the sense in blanching over them. One by one they are tortured and killed. During the questioning I doesn’t take her eyes off D, that was very powerful moment for me. What she was thinking about dying? Did she curse him? Did she try to guess why he did it? Or did she understand everything looking in his empty eyes?

Therefore the System fought a man. Fought humanity.

Interesting moment: during the entire story D-503’s thoughts are very chaotic. His beautiful soul recognizes all the small things which are hidden for others – what an illogic sky on that day or that leaves on a trees are like fire and his friend O is all round and kind herself. But after the operation his tone is calm, logic, sentences are not like a bright mosaic of moments, emotions and feeling.

This book has become one of my faves. It touched my soul deeply.

Rating 5/5

City of Ashes review

Summary: 
Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

My thoughts:

In the 2^nd book we dig deeper into Simon-Clary relationship which became more romantic. Clary feels a little bit strange about that and safe at the same time – this is Simon, she knows him for so many years and she can really depend on him. No secrets, no lies, she know who he is. She feels it’s the right decision to be with him although she doesn’t love him like a boyfriend.

Along with this she’s still in love with Jace who appeared to be her brother and everything is a bit complicated. He feels the same way about her and this confuses and frustrates them both. The episode when the Queen of fairies made them kiss and Simon pissed off, run away and almost got killed by vampires makes her feel really guilty about her feelings for Jace. As a result Simon becomes a vampire and Clary constantly torturing herself because of this.

Despite her really complicated relationship with boys she’s straight towards her feelings to her father – she totally hates Valentine. And she’s clueless how to conquer him while Jace is still can’t decide which side to take.

Rating 5/5

City of Bones review

Finally this day has came – this glorious, shining day when I found time to write  City of Bones review. I’m currently reading the fifth book in series and totally in love! I literary had no time to sit and write down my thoughts – that’s how much overwhelmed I was with this story.

The main character Clary meets Shadowhunters – people invisible for the others, who fight the demons and other bad guys. The big thing is – not that fact, that Clary sees them, not that fact that there’s world hidden within the world she grew up in – but that fact that her mother was a Shadowhunter. So as Clary.

Clary meets Isabelle, Alec and Jace. Certainly Clary falls in love with way-too-gorgeous-for-her Jace and considering that Alec is in love with him Alec and Clary’s relationship are far from BFFs. Her mother went into coma, family’s friend Luke betrayed them. Simon, Clary’s BFF who’s secretly in love with her – the only human being that keeps her sane. She’s completely clueless about her past and secrets of her family but something is definitely going on – something big.

In this book you will find everything: mystery, adventures, detective and love – love is the main thing always. So many people will definitely LOVE this book. The writing style is very nice and delightful. It’s hardly possible to shut the book without finishing it.

Recommend it to everyone.

Hopefully my review on the 2^nd book will come as soon as possible. Cheers!

Rating 5/5

Inferno review

Summary:
In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

My thoughts: 

The last book by Dan Brown about Robert Langdon’s adventures.  The book’s been written in usual for Brown light manner. The book has the basic formulae in it’s core – adventures+the pieces of art and symbols in it+charming lady and a little bit of flirtation. Any of such book can make a nice movie.

My rating is 4 out of 5 just because it’s Brown and his books used to amaze me. But this time it was a little boring, predictable and very filmlike. Overpopulation idea was fresh and interesting. And Sienna’s story shocked me. But all in all that’s just fun read and no any special moments for me. Recommend to everyone who likes books-like-movies.

Rating: 4/5

Insurgent review

“Like a wild animal, the truth is too powerful to remain caged.” 

Summary 

One choice can transform you, or destroy you. Every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves, and herself, while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

My thoughts

Okay I’m pretty sure the third book will be the most desirable for me. Ever.

Really brilliant piece of writing. The language is light, the plotlines are unpredictable. Truly great series.

The whole thing with Four and Tris relationship bothered me a lot throughout the book. I thought at some point the breaking up was possible. And it felt so bad. Because Tris lost her parents, killed her friend, the burden of guilt was way too heavy for her. But it all ended up well. And I really like Tobias for that – for him being so understanding and loyal, reliable and thoughtful.  Instead of being angry because of Tris’s hidden purposes he tried to believe her and check the information. Because in the whole world she’s the only thing he can be sure about. I’m glad he’s not like other characters in such type of books – stupid and blind until something undeniable happens for them to believe.

The characters in this book are rather changed, we found out a little bit more of them. Christina. She was really upset because Tris has killed her boyfriend. Not even upset but angry and furious. But still she founds power to forgive and forget – very nice and reliable character in books so far. Uriah. How’s it even possible not to like him? I mean everyone thought his brother was a traitor and he was cool about it because he knew his brother like no one did and didn’t really believe in him being a traitor. His love Marlene dies and he’s cheerful because it is the way he lives. Laughs through pain and loss. Lynn. What a great character she was! Loyal no matter what. And honest. It’s shame she faded away. Fernando – we hadn’t opportunity to know him for long, but what we knew he was brave and kind. And of course he died. Peter. I’m not satisfied with his line here. It could be such a nice plot twist – he hates Tris and then saves her life because he’s not that bad. But no he is and it’s tragic. And it makes his good deed not so bright.

But who really amazed me is Caleb. Like what the hell he did? It’s really hard to think of him as a traitor because he is such a nice character. He was. Can’t believe he really found an excuse for his deeds. Such a shame Tris still cared about him after all. He’s her brother though.

The whole book I didn’t like Four’s mother. Like I feel she’ll do something that will hurt him a lot. The whole family thing is painful for him maybe that’s why he tried really hard to believe her and didn’t listen what Tris said.

I have a feeling that new government would be worse and that weak and exhausted group of people that left would need to organize revolution more effective that they did. The thought that the whole world exists without fractions etc. terrifies them and it’s understandable. It means the whole their life was a lie. The cliffhanger is the worst – you just really don’t know what to think and what the characters would do.

Can’t wait for the next book – Allegiant. 

Divergent review

Can’t believe I’ve read it only now. Don’t know what stopped me but still I read it so I’m ready to express my opinion.

I’m a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y-i-n-l-o-v-e with this book! Haven’t started reading the second one, but I’m pretty sure I’ll love it. Nicely depicted the world of the future Chicago – people are divided into five fractions due to dedication of a particular virtue. The government does everything possible to make people alike and to think in that way they can be controlled. Only divergents – people who can decide themselves therefore government doesn’t control them – are dangerous to the leaders. Once leaders find out about divergent – he or she will be killed. So it makes life for Tris – the main character and divergent as well – pretty difficult. On her way through the whole plot she gains a lot of new features of character, new friends, new habits, new tattoos and the first love. Tris is lucky enough to have such a helper like Four – or Tobias. He’s also a divergent and her love. At the end of the book Tris looses almost whole her family and her brother Caleb and Four are the only ones she cares for.

Talking about favourite characters I can’t deny that Four is amazing. He’s smart and strong and helpful and no matter what he has only 4 fears – pretty spectacular huh? In childhood he suffered from his father’s  abuses and does everything possible to become a member of another fraction. And he becomes the best.

If you like action, dystopia and well-written love plotline you will love this book because there’s a lot of this. I can’t wait to read the second part – Insurgent. 

 "… but sometimes it isn’t fighting that’s brave,it’s facing the death you know is coming."

TFIOS review

I had a feeling I just should write a review on John Green’s incredible book. I think it touched a lot of us.  A story about teens that should face death.  From the very beginning it isn’t right okay? Kids shouldn’t think of death, they have a whole life before them to live, they have to love, to have fun, to be a little careless. But it is when cancer came and interrupted their lives. Yes, this book is about cancer and how people struggle it. But believe me it’s not like all the books on this topic. You’ll never hear some kind of complaining from Hazel even when she knows she’ll die and this is just some time doctors gave her to live. And she’s cool with it.

What is more Green gave us totally charming male character – Augustus, who thought he fought cancer but at the end cancer fought him. Physically, I mean.  Handsome, smart, totally positive kid – I felt something should happen to him, everything can’t be that good for long. And despite Augustus’s really bad state of mind and body at the end of journey he understood clearly that even if he hadn’t become someone special for the world – he was so for Hazel. This kid’s achievement is far ahead something most people can achieve.

Among all these life-death topics John managed to draw a really great love story which wouldn’t leave anybody untouched. Relationship without unnecessary crap, without fights and jealousy. Everything’s just as it should be: simple.

To my mind this book should be really enjoyable (well yes you’ll cry a lot) for everyone. If you are lost and don’t know what to do with your life – I recommend you this book. If you ever have loved – I recommend you this book. If you ever were hurt – I recommend you this book. If you want to feel something really worth feeling – I recommend you this book.

Okay?

TLOS review

"Courage is one thing no one can ever take away from you" 

 Despite my huge love for young talent Chris Colfer, I tried to stay unbiased. In fact, I’m rather strict critic and thought (and was afraid) that I wouldn’t like it. Or at least wouldn’t be the greatest fan of it. But the truth is – I loved it. Totally loved it.

The story is about Alex and Conner, twins who went through difficult times in their family. After their father’s death they lost their house, their mother was desperate to work harder and harder and rarely spent time with them. One day their grandmother came to visit them and gifted the book – The Land Of Stories. It was firstly her, then their dad’s property. What is more, kids enjoyed listening and reading fairy tails from this very book. As you can guess, the book was kind of a portal to another world- a world of fairy tails, where Cinderella and Snow White were real but nobody believed in technology.

The book’s writing style is nice and easy, makes the story enjoyable to read. Kids went through a lot of different adventures in this magical world, met nice people and bad people, deafened trolls and found out a lot about they own family, made friends with people they only read about.

It’s easy to define that Colfer is really fond of fairy tails, only true admirer could create the very new world and fulfill it with its own beauty and magic, love and friendship.

While reading I really missed childhood. This magical world captures everyone who is willing to believe.