Maratona Literária Adeus 2013: Mini Desafios III e IV

Foram lançados novos mini desafios pelas administradoras da Maratona Literária Adeus 2013.

O terceiro mini desafio consistia em escolher uma imagem que ilustrasse o que o livro escolhido nos fazia sentir.

Penso que esta é  melhor imagem que posso associar ao livro O Despertar da Magia de George R. R. Martin. Sempre que penso neste livro e no mundo criado pelo autor, lembro-me das aulas de História e de quando falavámos das batalhas que tinham sido travadas ao longo dos séculos.

O quarto mini desafio consistia em dar uma opinião sobre o escritor.

Este é já o quarto livro de George R.R.Martin que leio e posso dizer que estou fã do seu trabalho e do mundo por si criado. É incrivelmente rico e detalhado e dá-me sempre a sensação que estou a ler algo que tem história e tradição por trás. Apesar de também ter alguns elementos de fantasia, não é nada que se possa considerar como demasiado irrealista ou despropositado. Para além disso, cria personagens fantásticas (exemplo, Tyrion!!).

Maratona Literária Adeus 2013

Mais um post em português, mas desta vez não será o único :)

 

Uma despedida das leituras de 2013 pede uma maratona literária e foi precisamente isso o que a Catarina e a Silvana resolveram promover. Entre os dias 26 e 30 de Dezembro, o tempo disponível é para dedicar às leituras e aos livros que queremos acabar antes do final de 2013.

Para além de contar as páginas e livros lidos, serão ainda lançados mini desafios nos quais os participantes poderão participar.

O primeiro desafio consistia em deixar uma fotografia da nossa pilha de livros para esta maratona. Tendo em conta que ainda não programei nada, apenas postei a fotografia do livro que estou a ler neste momento, que é O Despertar da Magia de George R.R. Martin.

(péssima qualidade de imagem, é o que dá tirar fotos com o telemóvel)

Para o segundo desafio, tinhamos de transcrever a primeira frase ou parágrafo do livro com que tinhamos iniciado a maratona.

O monte projectava-se por cima do denso emaranhado de floresta, erguendo-se solitário e súbito, deixando ver as suas alturas varridas pelo vento de milhas em redor. Os patrulheiros diziam que os selvagens lhe chamavam Punho dos Primeiros Homens. Jon pensou que realmente se parecia com um punho, atravessando a terra e a floresta, com vertentes nuas e castanhas encimadas por pedra.

Tentarei postar com alguma regularidade os meus avanços na maratona. Até agora apenas posso dizer que comecei com este livro do George R.R.Martin e que espero conseguir acabá-lo até ao fim de semana.

#Friday Reads (18)

So, this weekend I'll be reading Extras by Scott Westerfeld. This is the forth and final installment of the Uglies series. However, this book is a little different from the other three because this is kind of like a companion novel and not a direct continuation of the story.

Here is the synopsis:

It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of "American Idol." Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.

As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rank of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. But Aya doesn't care; she just wants to lie low with her drone, Moggle. And maybe kick a good story for herself.

Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. Aya wants desperately to kick their story, to show everyone how intensely cool the Sly Girls are. But doing so would propel her out of extra-land and into the world of fame, celebrity...and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for ...

I'm already 120 pages but honestly I can't really say if I'm enjoying it or not. I was really curious about this series - it had received such rave reviews! - but then, as I started reading it, I couldn't really connect with the story or with the characters and I wasn't particularly impressed by it. I just hope that this one is better than the other three ...

On another topic, I'll be posting - hopefully soon - my review for A Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón but let me tell you, reviewing this book isn't easy!

#Friday Reads (17)

This weekend I'll be reading La Sombra del Viento (The Shadow of the Wind) by Carlos Ruiz Záfon. I bought this book when I was in Barcelona and ever since then I've been waiting for the perfect moment to pick it up.

Here is the synopsis:

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets--an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

So far I'm 150 pages in and I honestly think that this will become one of my favorite books (not just for this year). I love the author's writing style and the story is incredibly engrossing. Definitely a book that shows a lot of promise and I hope to finish it during the next few days.

Carrie by Stephen King

Synopsis:

Carrie White may have been unfashionable and unpopular, but she had a gift. Carrie could make things move by concentrating on them. A candle would fall. A door would lock. This was her power and her sin. Then, an act of kindness, as spontaneous as the vicious taunts of her classmates, offered Carrie a chance to be normal and go to her senior prom. But another act--of ferocious cruelty--turned her gift into a weapon of horror and destruction that her classmates would never forget ...

My Thoughts:

I'm not the most experienced reader when it comes to horror books. I've read a few but I'm still relatively new in this genre.

Carrie was my second book by Stephen King and, once again, I was completely fascinated by the story he created. It was a really quick read - something that I didn't expect - and it captivated me right from the start.

I was completely awestruck by what Carrie went through, not only at school, but also at home. Her mother startled me and I actually think she was much scarier than Carrie - even though she didn't have her telekinetic abilities. She was too radical in her religious beliefs and the way she treated her own daughter was appalling! As for Carrie, I actually liked her but I also felt sorry for her even after all the terrible things she did. I think it was really unfortunate that people treated her that way and made her feel like a complete outcast ...

Also, I really enjoyed the writing style and the inclusion of different perspectives while the story was being narrated. Some of them were a bit more personal and emotional and others were objective - like the excerpts from books and the questioning led by the White Commission. I thought this was great because the story seemed a lot more complete and thorough - at least when it came to understanding what had led to the tragic events of prom night.

Overall, a great read that took me by surprise. I don't think it's the scariest book I'll ever read - I think Shining was a lot more scary - but I couldn't help but feel that prom night was quite grim and disturbing ... I definitely need to check out more of Stephen King's books!

I haven't watched any of film adaptations of this book but I plan on watching the first one. I'm not entirely sure I want to see the latest since its reviews haven't exactly been the best ...

I give it 4 ou of 5 stars.

Read in November

These are the books I read during the month of November.

Completed the series this year. You can check out my reviews for the entire trilogy here and here

My first book by Cassandra Clare. Wasn't particularly impressed by it and I'm not entirely sure I'll be continuing with this series. I've posted my review here

 Pleasant surprise :) Review here

 Not a favorite ... It was interesting to a certain point but then it started to get too repetitive and less believable ...