Sunday, March 27, 2016

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

Oh, Harry Potter. I have such a long history with this book series, but I won't go into detail in this post. By the beginning of summer I should be done with the whole series and then I will post an epic rambling of my Harry Potter shenanigans. I am currently reading/re-reading the series because I had lie to my husband when we started dating saying I had read all the books. Now that we are married he has made me promise to actually read all the books. In the past I have only read #1, 2, 3, & 7. I skipped #4,5, & 6 which are, apparently, the best in the series. So here I am, finished with book three and ready to plunge into uncharted territory after this post.

So far Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book. It has been in the past when I have read it and it has also been my favorite of all the films. Rereading it was a joy because there was more that I had forgotten than I realized. This book also marks the beginning, in regards to the films, where much is changed or left out. Thus, even though I have seen the movie recently, there was much to be rediscovered.

What I love about this book is that it really broadens the wizarding world for the first time. I love exploring Hogsmeade and learning more about Azkaban and The Leaky Cauldron. The depth of characters like Sirius, Lupin, and Snape is also an aspect of this novel that begins to showcase Rowling's true talent and transcends the book from "children's lit" to just "literature". Hermione begins to shine in her own right during the third year, not just in regards to her classwork and the time turner, but also in her opinions, loyalty, and confidence. She is my favorite character in the series so being able to see her growth and burst out of her shell is always exciting to read. (Plus, who wouldn't love a book where Hermione slaps Malfoy?!)

Harry Potter is a truly defining series of this generation. I am late to the ball game but happy to find that I am enjoying this rediscovery of the book series. Even though I have seen all of the films I am excited and eager to move on to the next book. There is something about reading through these adventures, as opposed to seeing it, that lends the series its magic. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is where that magic begins to pull me in every time.



One Book...

One book you’re currently reading: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

One book that changed your life: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

One book you’d want on a deserted island: Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

One book you’ve read more than once:  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

One book I thought I wasn't going to like, but did: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

One book you’ve never finished: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

One book that made you laugh: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

One book that made you cry: Atonement by Ian McEwan

One book you keep rereading: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

One series you read: Brilliance Saga by Marcus Sakey

One book you’ve been meaning to read: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

One book you believe everyone should read: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

One book about dogs: Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Least favorite book you were made to read: The Adventures of  Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

First book you remember: Rosie's Babies by Martin Waddel

Grab the nearest book. Go to page 56. 5th sentence: Belinda by Anne Rice. "I'd never been to bed with a man after that, though now and then I'd felt a powerful temptation to do it, at least when I was very young".

Monday, March 21, 2016

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I love Jane Austen. I first read Pride and Prejudice when I was 12, (I know, a bit ambitious). From then on I was hooked. I read five of her six novels, as I could never finish Emma. But I remember absolutely loving Northanger Abbey, although now I cannot tell you why. The chance to reread it was an exciting one.

Surprisingly, I did not like it at all. I mean, the novel was funny for sure, but I did not like a single character. Catherine seemed weak and silly. Her imagination laughable. Isabella was transparent from the beginning. Henry felt ridiculous to me for still wanting Catherine even after finding out how naive she is. There was not a true plot and it took three-quarters of the book for something exciting to really happen. Then it finished with an anti-climatic happy ending. The wedding scene was pretty much glossed over entirely. Whereas in other Austen novels the happiness at the end is at least lingered on enough to feel satisfactory.

All in all, I was unimpressed. I could not at all figure out what I loved about it. Perhaps it was that Northanger Abbey is so wildly different from all of Jane's other novels. Or maybe it was that I liked the silly, mystery in it. But to look at it now, almost ten years later, the only thing I can appreciate about it is that it is a nice and comical attempt at a novel. Since it was Jane's first written novel, although not published until after her death, it makes sense why it is an oddball among all of her other work.

It is no longer my favorite Austen novel, but I did still enjoy rereading it. I would not recommend
it as the novel one would use as an introduction to Jane Austen. But for one who is well versed in other Austen novels, it is worth reading. If only to see the growth she made from Northanger Abbey all the way to Persuasion. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Monday, March 14, 2016

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

This is the fourth book I have read by Buddhist monk Thich Nhah Hanh (or Thay, as some refer to him) and it was by-far my favorite. I consider myself a Buddhist and Thay was a big part of bringing me on this path. Prior to this I had read some of his books on specific things but I had not read anything that was on Buddhism as a whole. So I was very excited to begin reading The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching.

Thich Nhat Hanh's light shines through the words and his explanations are not just lists or descriptions, but true explanations of how to implement the elements of Buddhism into one's daily life. I hate referring to Buddhism as a religion, because to me it is more of a life practice, but from what I have read this is as close to a Buddhist "bible" as I have come, (aside from the Nikayas, but that is another story). He writes about the basic elements of Buddhism as well as some of the more complicated elements. He explains the difference between the three main Buddhist schools of thought as a sort of guide for anyone looking to study further. He quotes Buddha and gives his own interpretations. It was just a great book overall.

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is one I want to carry everywhere with me and keep by my bed. It is one I want to reread in sections and as a whole. It is not a book I would recommend unless you are interested in Buddhism or are a Buddhist. Simply because it is a very comprehensive book and might seem dull to someone who tried to read it just for fun. However, if this type of thing does appeal to you, it is a must read. Not only was it comprehensive but it was written in a way that did not make it boring which I think is so important when one is trying to truly learn. Let me know if you read it or have read it and share your thoughts in the comments!

Friday, March 11, 2016

The Young Messiah (Christ the Lord: Out of Eqypt) by Anne Rice Review

Let me begin this by saying that Anne Rice is one of my all-time favorite authors. I will more than likely be posting about her books often. I have read her vampire, witch, erotica, and angel books. I have read her memoir and some of her stand alone novels. However, I had never delved into her two books on Jesus Christ. Part of this was due to disinterest and part of it due to a worry that the books would not reflect that Anne Rice I know and love. I only took the plunge because of the movie based off of the first book, which was released today. (I am hoping to see the movie this weekend and will post a comparative review once I do!) The trailer looked interesting but I wanted to read the book before heading to the theater. So yesterday I snuggled into bed with my husband and devoured the novel.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved it. The Young Messiah, as it was re-titled, is a beautiful poetic novel from the point of view of seven-year old Jesus who does not know who he is. Only that there is something different about him. The novel felt a bit like the first Harry Potter, in a good way, in the sense that Jesus kept accidentally doing things which no one would explain to him and which he was forbidden to discuss. Seeing the childhood of Jesus through his own eyes made the novel move quickly and also made it interesting. Israel was definitely interesting enough in its own right during his childhood, but I think if the novel had not been from the boy's point of view it may have felt more like a historical novel instead of a child's quest for knowing who he is.

I gave the novel 4 stars on Goodreads. I refrained from giving it 5 just because it was not my favorite Anne Rice novel and although it was an original telling of Jesus' story, it was not an original story. Given that it is close to the Christian holiday of Easter I found my timing of the reading was perfect. (I suppose that is why the film is being released this week, too...yay, for my unoriginal thoughts!). The book is fantastic though, for Non-Christians and Christians alike. If you have the time, The Young Messiah is worth it.