1984 by George Orwell

The Premise

Big Brother stares out from every poster on the street; he will not tolerate dissent, not even in the mind and for that reason he relies on the Thought Police to uncover every act of betrayal ... 
Winston Smith, a member of the Outer Party, works for the Ministry of Truth and he's responsible for propaganda and historical revisionism. Like any other person in Oceania, he follows the Party's ideology but when he falls in love with Julie, he discovers that life can be different and awakens to new possibilities. They begin to question the Party and they are drawn towards conspiracy ... but at what cost?

My Thoughts:

Reading this book was an interesting experience. There's a lot to take in but also to make us think and question what we know. 

What was really engaging about this book was the world created by George Orwell because of all the detail he put into it but also because of the Party's ideology and how people complied without questioning it. All the surveillance and control in Oceania was quite disturbing and, I have to admit, sometimes scared me! It was so different from what we know today and from what we believe to be righteous, especially because the Party controls every single aspects of someone's life, including what they eat and drink, what type of workouts they do and, most shockingly, their thoughts.

Something that really impressed me was how they manipulated past occurrences just to make them fit the present but also how they would get away with it ... the idea that we can't change the past and that it's unalterable doesn't apply in this book.

I wasn't that impressed with the characters of this book. It was interesting to know so much about Winston and see how conflicted he was about his beliefs- he knew he should obey blindly to the Party's ideology but at the same time he would question it. His character really grew on the third part of the book but I won't say much about it because I don't want to spoil it to those of you who haven't read it yet. As far as Julie is concerned I have to say that I was a little disappointed by her - I actually didn't like her that much. She seemed a bit childish and selfish as far as her resistance to the Party's ideology goes; she would only be against the Party if it affected her private life and she didn't even bother to question the foundations and what had led to the implementation of the current political system.

In my opinion this book is more than just a novel; it's and essay about society and politics that in spite of the fact that it was published in 1949, it's still thought provoking and it makes us question a lot and compare what we now know with what is described in this novel. It's not a light read but definitely worthwhile; sometimes it's violent and grim especially because we are reading about a regime that is quite stern and doesn't allow people to be themselves and where family and friends are depreciated. 

An astonishing book and a must read! 5 out of 5 stars

This is the Portuguese cover

Warm Bodies

The Premise:

R is a young man going through a life crisis - he's a zombie, with no name (he only remembers its initial), no memories and no pulse. However, he seems to be a bit different from his fellow Dead; he craves for something more than just eating other people's brains.

Everything changes when he meets Julie, a girl from the City that, for some reason that he can't quite understand, he decides to save.  A tense yet tender relationship begins between them; Julie brings a new perspective to R's life and he begins to crave a new life, a new chance to breathe and to feel again.

My Thoughts:

I've never been a fan of zombies stories - I don't even watch Walking Dead - and even though Warm Bodies is a zombie book, it seemed to be an exception from what I already knew.

I really enjoyed Isaac Marion's writing style; it was descriptive enough but not to the point of boring you with too many details and even though the dialogues were sometimes pretty basic and simple, you could definitely sense that there was a lot more to them. When R and M talked, they didn't exchange that many words between them- their talking abilities are somewhat limited - but there was definitely a certain complexity and depth to their considerations.  

As for the characters, my favorites were, by far, R and M.  M was witty, sometimes charming - which seems odd for a zombie - and I loved the fact that he was a lady's man, even though he was dead. I loved him and how cheeky he sometimes was. On the other hand, R is adorable. He understands that he's different from the other zombies he lives with and he raises a lot of questions about he's existence and what's going on with the world; I was actually surprised with the eloquence and profoundness of his thoughts - even though he lacked the ability to form long sentences, in his mind he seemed to have no limits. His relationship with Julie was really sweet and I liked the fact that there was a certain naivety to it. He grew a lot during the story and I think that the most interesting thing about him was his determination to change and to be a part of the solution to what is going on in the world.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book because I had never read something like this before. I liked the fact that it showed us a different kind of zombies; in this story, it's sometimes hard to believe that R and M are zombies because there's a lot more to them than just groaning, dragging their decaying bodies and eating people's brains. The only think that, in my opinion, was a little weak was the ending; it was good but I wanted something more unexpected and with a bit more spunk to it. It also left me with some questions ("How did all of this begin and when? Why are thinks changing all of the sudden?" etc,) so I really hope that in the next books of the series I find the answers I need to fully understand what's going on.

I give this book 4,5 stars. It's not your typical story about zombies -it has a lot of great moments that will sometimes make you laugh or think and characters that are surprisingly endearing and not what you would normally expected from a book about zombies.

The Hobbit

Even though I bought this book last summer, I've only read it this month and since I had already seen the movie, I'll take this opportunity not only to review the novel but also to let you guys know what I thought about the movie as well.

The Premise

The Hobbit (also known as The Hobbit, or There and Back Again) follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lived a quiet life until a great wizard, Gandalf, comes to his house and asks him to take part on a great journey. He will join a group of dwarves whose greatest desire is to defeat Smaug - a terrible dragon - that has taken over their land and their treasure. Their quest won't be easy and they will face unknown dangers.

My thoughts

First of all, let me just say that I was blown away by the fact that J R R Tolkien used to tell this story to his kids before they went sleep! Lucky kids!

I have to admit, my expectations were high so I was a bit afraid I would be disappointed by the book, but fortunately that didn't happen. The world created by Tolkien is amazing - it's magical and spellbinding - and the level of detail he putted into it blew my mind.

As for the characters I have to say my favorite one was Bilbo Baggins. He grew a lot throughout the story and he really surprised me, because he went from being this scared little hobbit who wasn't really sure he would be up for the job, to someone who was respected by others and who looked to no means to make sure his friends would safely arrive at their destination. What I most admired about him was his honor, his kindness and his sense of justice - they were instrumental during this journey and they earned him the respect from the others.

However there were some things that disappointed me a little. I didn't like how some lines of the plot were dealt with by the author; there were parts where I was hoping for something really epic, instead of an expeditious solution, even if it was unexpected. I also think that even though the descriptions weren't long and boring, there were some parts that, for me, dragged for a while; my mind would just go some place else and I wouldn't pay that much attention. Another thing that I have to point out is the lack of information about most of the dwarves that went on this journey with Bilbo - I wanted to know more about them and not just about Thorin.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. It's a gripping tale that really grabbed my attention and kept me reading in hopes of discovering what would happen next. Like I've said before, the world building in this book is amazing and Bilbo Baggins is so endearing that makes us hope that he and his friends arrive safely at their destination. Really enjoyed this book and, hopefully, I'll start reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy this year.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

The Movie

Generally I prefer to watch the movies after reading the book, but this time I made an exception. I was really curious about it and I wanted to see how the world created by J R R Tolkien and his characters had been portrayed in Peter Jackson's adaptation of the novel. The  whole setting is just breathtaking - I was mesmerized! And Martin Freeman, as Bilbo Baggins, is superb; he was the best choice for the part - after watching the movie, I  actually think he was the only one who could have pull off this role the way he did. It was good to see him do something different from what he normally does.

After reading the book I can say that this a good adaptation and it goes into a lot more detail than I would have expected. I would also give 4 out of 5 stars.

Giant's Bread

This was the second novel by Mary Westmacott that I've read; you can check out the review for Unfinished Portrait here.

The Premise

Vernon Deyre is a sensitive and brilliant musician, even a genius. However, his sheltered childhood in the home he loves didn't prepare him to his life as an adult and to the difficult choices that he will have to make to create his great masterpiece. He will learn that there is a high price to be paid for his talent and that sacrifices have to be made in order to be successful.

My thoughts

The book focuses on Vernon but also on the lives of a small group of characters that help us see Vernon from different perspectives. I have to say, neither of them was particularly interesting; they came across as almost one dimensional and I couldn't shake the feeling that what we saw from them was all we were going go get. 

I'll admit, my expectations regarding this book were low; Unfinished Portrait had proven to be a disappointment and I thought that probably this one would have the same fate. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. Even though I wasn't as invested in this book as I usually am, there were enough elements to spark my interest in the novel. The ending was, by far, my favorite part because it really took me by surprise – it was completely unexpected!

I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, especially if you're used to Agatha Christie's style as a mystery/crime writer but if you're thinking about trying something from Mary Westmacott then I would suggest starting with this one.

3 out of 5 stars 

El Palacio de la Medianoche (The Midnight Palace)

This is the second installment in the Trilogia de La Niebla created by Carlos Ruiz Zafón; I've already reviewed El Principe de la Niebla  and you can check out that review here.


The Premise
 
The story begins on a dark night in Calcuta, when an English lieutenant fights to save newborn twins Ben and Sheere from an unthinkable threat. Even though it's not an easy task, he manages to save the twins but not without sacrificing his own life.

Years later, in 1932, on the eve of Ben and Sheere’s sixteenth birthday, the mysterious threat reenters their lives, but this time it seems impossible for them to escape. Fortunately they can count on their friends to help them stand up against the most frightening creature in the history of the City of Palaces.

My Thoughts

Even though this book is part of a trilogy, there isn't any connection between the stories but there's definitely a common theme to the whole series; they are all mystery novels with enigmatic villains that look to no means in order to succeed.

I have to say, I think this book was better than El Principe de la Niebla because it had a lot more mystery and some parts were actually kind of scary. The way it was written was really captivating and it grabbed my attention; I swear, sometimes I couldn't put the book down because I was so eager to know what would happen next.

The way the mysteries were introduced to us was really good, because the author only shared with us little pieces at a time instead of just blurting all out at once. It actually gave the story a great pace; it was fast but not to the point that you couldn't understand what was going on.

As for the characters,  even though Ben, Sheere and their friends had interesting stories, it was the villain - Jawahal - that really stood out for me; we was incredibly enigmatic, there was a lot of mystery surrounding his past and the reasons that lead him chase after the twins and even after knowing more about his story, I couldn't help but feel even more drawn to this character. He was really smart, a man ahead of his time with great hopes for his country and a big desire go change its course for better.

Overall I've been really enjoying this series and I'm looking forward to read the final book - Las Luces de Septiembre (The Watcher in the Shadows).

I give 4 out of 5 stars to El Palacio de la Medianoche

Hedge Knight

I have to admit, I've never been the biggest fan of stories set in medieval times with fantasy elements, but George R R Martin has taught me to appreciate this genre. So far,I've been really loving what is has written and Hedge Knight is no exception.

The premise

Night falls over the life of one noble knight and brings the dawn of his squire's knighthood. Dubbing himself Ser Duncan the Tall , he sets forth to the tourney at Ashford Meadow in search of fame, glory and the honor of upholding his oath as a knight of the Seven Kingdoms. However, keeping an honest path doesn't seem to be the tendency anymore and his chivalry could compromise his future.

My thoughts

This graphic novel is an adaptation of a short story that takes place 100 years before the events of A Game of Thrones.

I liked it a lot because, in my opinion, it added to my impression that the series created by George R R Martin is a story that seems to have a lot of history and tradition on its foundation. I particularly enjoyed how it was connected to what we already know from the series and how we got to know more about some of the more distinguished families and the legends that surround them. I also thought that Duncan was really commendable and the fact that this was basically a story about honor and how we should always follow through with our commitments.
Great story with a great message.

4 out of 5 stars.

La Mécanique du Coeur

Today I'll be reviewing one of the books that I had on my bookshelves waiting for me to pick it up (fortunately it didn't have to wait that long).

La Mécanique du Coeur - also known as The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart - tells us the story of Jack, a boy who was born on the coldest day ever with a frozen heart. In order for him to survive, Madeleine - the midwife - grafts a cuckoo clock to his heart; according to her, he will have to lead of life free from strong emotions, including love. However, when Jack meets a little singer from Andalucía things change ...

Jack is an interesting character. Even though he's a teenager, he still seems like a small boy when it comes to his dreams and his expectations; he's a dreamer and his dreams seem to give him a sense of purpose, they direct his life and determine what he does and how he does it. Because of that, he ends being somewhat naive and childlike - here and there, not too often - but in a way that makes us empathize with him; he also has this amazing ability to love unconditionally and with such tenderness that warmed up my heart.

What was also really interesting about this book was the way the human heart - has an organ and has the source of love (and the problems that come with it) - was "portrayed"; it demanded our attention, almost as if it were another character in the story.

I think this was a great way to start my readings for 2013. This book was different from what I had read until now, because it's not your typical love story where everything is pretty and has an happy ending; it's kind of gothic and bittersweet. I enjoyed reading this book because it made me laugh, it made me think and the fact that the band Dyonisos - in which the author is the lead singer - created an entire album dedicated to this book was like the cherry on top of the cake. Listening to the CD was a great bonus because it's like the story is being sung to you and you feel a lot more engrossed by the book. Loved the whole experience.

4 out of 5 stars

Death Note - Vol. 1 - 3

I’ve only read the first three volumes of this series and so far I’m really enjoying it!

At first this might come across as a simple story, that’s just there to entertain us but I think it’s more than that. Light (the main character) is intriguing, complex, incredibly smart and has a very particular sense of justice; his idea of creating his own utopia is something that I had never seen on another story.  Even L – just as smart and intriguing as Light – is a really captivating character, especially given his quirks and how he analyses facts.

Of course this series raises some moral questions – what’s right or wrong, the implications of having the power to decide who gets to live or not, among others – but I believe that’s what makes the story a lot more rich and captivating.

It’s incredibly addictive – as soon as I finished one, I would start the next one right away! I strongly recommend this series.

5 out of 5 stars

The Time Machine

This was the second time I tried to read this book and, fortunately, this time around I managed to finished it – actually I read it rather quickly. I’m not the biggest fan of sci-fi books but I thought I ought to read this one since it’s considered a classic within this genre.

I liked the first 20 pages of the book because the story seemed more dynamic at this point; there was more interaction between the characters and I liked how we were introduced to the concept of time travelling. However, I can’t say the same about the rest of the book; I didn’t enjoy the writing style – too descriptive -, it became a bit boring and difficult, at times, to keep a certain level of interest on the book.

Reading this book ended up feeling more like a duty; I didn’t enjoy it that much but I kept reading because it had been sitting on my bookshelf for years and I just wanted to read it so I could finally take it out of my to be read pile.

3 out of 5 stars

El Tiempo Mientras Tanto

I had never read anything from this author - actually, I had never heard of Carmen Amoraga - but when I was at the bookstore I decided to pick this up; it seemed like a light read.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book because I didn't expect t get so caught up on its story! The writing style is really simple, we are always dealing with the same small group of characters and it didn't dwell over details that didn't mater to the story.
What I also liked was the fact that it was focused on a character that actually didn't interact (at least directly) with the others throughout the story - she was on a vegetative state and at the verge of dying; what was really interesting about her story (Maria José) was how she had made such a great impact on other people's lives, even though she didn't seem like the type of person who would have such an ability.

4 out of 5 stars

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I just finished reading this book and have to tell you, I feel the urge to pick up again and reread it! Yes, this book is that good!

I loved the fact that we were reading the letters written by Charlie and that we got to understand how he saw the world, his perspective and how he dealt with issues that at the age of fifteen mean the world to us. Charlie is definitely a special character; he's naive and true to himself  and even though he was exposed to a lot of things - sex, drugs, alcohol, among others - he always remained genuine and didn't become a completely different person. I also liked his relationship with Bill, his English teacher, and how important books and reading were to him during his journey on this book.

I really enjoyed the fact that it was about real people and that it was the kind of story that dealt with a lot of the issues that we have to deal with throughout our teen years (mostly); it made the story a lot more realistic.

This book was everything I was expecting it to be and more! It captivated me, it fascinated me, it made me laugh, it made me think ... overall, it was intense! A must read! 

5 out of 5 stars

Perfect Chemistry

“Two different worlds. One true love”

After reading this and seeing the cover of this book I kind of knew what I was getting myself into. I knew this was going to be the typical love story between two teenagers that belonged to different and never should have fallen in love with each but, surprise surprise (or not) …. they did!

I’ll admit, the book was entertaining and I couldn’t put it down; I flew through the pages and I actually delayed all the work I had to do just to finish the book. Yes, it’s incredibly cheesy and it’s filled with all the clichés that we’ve all grown to love but sometimes we just need to read something like that. There were times I said to myself “Oh God, I can’t believe you used that cheesy line!” but I just couldn’t put the book down!!

It’s not brilliantly written and the characters aren’t that special but this is like when you’re on a diet but you’re really craving for chocolate or candy – you know  you shouldn’t  and that there are better options but you just can’t help yourself and you pick it up any way because you know you’re going to enjoy it!!

4 out of 5 stars 

The Shining

Let me just start by saying that this was not only my first horror book but also my first novel by Stephen King. This book had been sitting on my bookshelf for years but last week I finally decided it was time to get out of my comfort zone and read something different, from a genre and an author that I didn't know that well.

I think there was something addictive about this book because there were moments when I couldn't put it down! I loved how the plot kept building up and getting more complex and how the characters developed. But I also have to mention the hotel where the whole story took place because, for me, that was one of the strongest points of the book;  I think it was really interesting the way this place was almost personified - to a certain extent, it actually was - and how it influenced the characters' behavior. There were times I felt that the hotel was practically one of the main characters of the book!!

I have to say that even though we had well written characters with very specific traits and complicated backgrounds that made them stood out, what really surprised me was how powerful this family was as a unit, how they tried to overcome, together, the harsh period they were going through, how they hoped for better times.

I haven't seen the movie adaptation yet but I'm planning on doing it soon, especially because I've heard great things about it; however, some people have pointed out that it's different from the book but just as good, so I'm really curious about it.

I have to say, overall this book was a surprise because I wasn't expecting to like it  as much as I did! There were some creepy moments that actually scared me but I wanted to know - so badly - what was going to happen next that I just kept going. I would definitely recommend this book. 

4 out of 5 stars

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Book Review Blogs.