A HANDMAID'S TALE - Margaret Atwood
How have I not read this book before? Amazing. I found myself still thinking about it days after finishing it. I've only talked about it with women but I would be very curious to know how men reacted to it (know any?). Brilliant writing, story, terrifying in the sense where you can almost picture it happening and then realize it is actually happening in some part of the world. I think all I want to say is: YOU NEED TO READ THAT BOOK.
Fave quote: "We thought we had such problems. How were we to know we were happy?"
"Maybe it's just something to keep the Wives busy, to give them a sense of purpose. But I envy the Commander's Wife her knitting. It's good to have small goals that can be easily attained."
"Every month there is a moon, gigantic, round, heavy, an omen. It transits, pauses, continues on and passes out of sight, and I see despair coming towards me like famine. To feel that empty, again, again. I listen to my heart, wave upon wave, salty and red, continuing on and on, marking time."
WE WERE LIARS - E. Lockhart
One of these books you just can't put down because you NEED to know. I'm always torn about these stories because yes it's a great page turner but I'm also so focused on figuring out what happened and how it ends that it feels like I don't quite enjoy the overall story as much as I should. I don't want to say anything about the story because it's a book you need to pick and start reading without knowing anything beforehand. Kind of like Gone Girl only "lighter" and with younger characters. Only thing I didn't like is the writing style. I struggle a lot with short sentences because I'm so used to french literature and it's never ending paragraphs and sentences. But it's perfect for this type of story I guess. Anyway, recommend it!
Fave quote: "The Universe is seeming really huge right now," he told me. "I need something to hold on to."
FANGIRL - Rainbow Rowell
My second book by the author after Eleanor & Park. Quite similar in many aspect. It feels like the author likes to go with very "normal" characters mixed in with more serious issues like mental illness or domestic violence. The book is kind of divided in two: there is the main story about Cath going to college and trying to fit in. But she is also a fanfic writer and the book has a lot of passages of that story Cath is writing about Simon Snow (which is also basically a Harry Potter fanfic). There is even a book coming out based on Simon Snow, which apparently everyone is excited about. Except me I guess. I found myself kind of ignoring these passages because I was so much more interested in the "real" story. I felt like I could relate quite a lot to Cath being a massive introvert and all but I'm not sure people who are not like that enjoyed it as much (would love to know what you all think). Basically enjoyed the main story but nothing super special about that book.
Fave quote: "You're not the ugly one." Levi grinned. "You're just the Clark Kent." Cath started checking her e-mail. "Hey Cath," Levi said, kicking his chair. She could hear the teasing in his voice. "Will you warn me when you take off your glasses?"
"And sometimes you held somebody's hand just to prove that you were still alive, and that another human being was there to testify to that fact."
THE ROSIE PROJECT - Graeme Simsion
Unlike We Were Liars where all I cared about was reaching the end, this one was all about the journey. It takes very little time to know how its going to end but it's so not what the book is about. The story is lovely and fun to read and it's just like going on a road trip with no destination, you simply enjoy the ride. Very quick, summer style type of book that I very much liked. Will definitely read Book 2 (the Rosie Effect).
PS: if you love Sheldon Cooper you will love the book ;)
Fave quote: "I asked you here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
"But I’m not good at understanding what other people want.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ said Rosie for no obvious reason.
I quickly searched my mind for an interesting fact.
‘Ahhh…The testicles of drone bees and wasp spiders explode during sex.”"
How have I not read this book before? Amazing. I found myself still thinking about it days after finishing it. I've only talked about it with women but I would be very curious to know how men reacted to it (know any?). Brilliant writing, story, terrifying in the sense where you can almost picture it happening and then realize it is actually happening in some part of the world. I think all I want to say is: YOU NEED TO READ THAT BOOK.
Fave quote: "We thought we had such problems. How were we to know we were happy?"
"Maybe it's just something to keep the Wives busy, to give them a sense of purpose. But I envy the Commander's Wife her knitting. It's good to have small goals that can be easily attained."
"Every month there is a moon, gigantic, round, heavy, an omen. It transits, pauses, continues on and passes out of sight, and I see despair coming towards me like famine. To feel that empty, again, again. I listen to my heart, wave upon wave, salty and red, continuing on and on, marking time."
WE WERE LIARS - E. Lockhart
One of these books you just can't put down because you NEED to know. I'm always torn about these stories because yes it's a great page turner but I'm also so focused on figuring out what happened and how it ends that it feels like I don't quite enjoy the overall story as much as I should. I don't want to say anything about the story because it's a book you need to pick and start reading without knowing anything beforehand. Kind of like Gone Girl only "lighter" and with younger characters. Only thing I didn't like is the writing style. I struggle a lot with short sentences because I'm so used to french literature and it's never ending paragraphs and sentences. But it's perfect for this type of story I guess. Anyway, recommend it!
Fave quote: "The Universe is seeming really huge right now," he told me. "I need something to hold on to."
FANGIRL - Rainbow Rowell
My second book by the author after Eleanor & Park. Quite similar in many aspect. It feels like the author likes to go with very "normal" characters mixed in with more serious issues like mental illness or domestic violence. The book is kind of divided in two: there is the main story about Cath going to college and trying to fit in. But she is also a fanfic writer and the book has a lot of passages of that story Cath is writing about Simon Snow (which is also basically a Harry Potter fanfic). There is even a book coming out based on Simon Snow, which apparently everyone is excited about. Except me I guess. I found myself kind of ignoring these passages because I was so much more interested in the "real" story. I felt like I could relate quite a lot to Cath being a massive introvert and all but I'm not sure people who are not like that enjoyed it as much (would love to know what you all think). Basically enjoyed the main story but nothing super special about that book.
Fave quote: "You're not the ugly one." Levi grinned. "You're just the Clark Kent." Cath started checking her e-mail. "Hey Cath," Levi said, kicking his chair. She could hear the teasing in his voice. "Will you warn me when you take off your glasses?"
"And sometimes you held somebody's hand just to prove that you were still alive, and that another human being was there to testify to that fact."
THE ROSIE PROJECT - Graeme Simsion
Unlike We Were Liars where all I cared about was reaching the end, this one was all about the journey. It takes very little time to know how its going to end but it's so not what the book is about. The story is lovely and fun to read and it's just like going on a road trip with no destination, you simply enjoy the ride. Very quick, summer style type of book that I very much liked. Will definitely read Book 2 (the Rosie Effect).
PS: if you love Sheldon Cooper you will love the book ;)
Fave quote: "I asked you here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
"But I’m not good at understanding what other people want.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ said Rosie for no obvious reason.
I quickly searched my mind for an interesting fact.
‘Ahhh…The testicles of drone bees and wasp spiders explode during sex.”"
PS: I Updated my 26 books in 2015 challenge. How are you all doing so far?
