Book Recommendation: Gone Girl

Sometimes, in order to find out if I truly enjoyed a book, I usually have these three aspects to use as my basis for judgment:  

1. how my experience was while I was reading the book
2. how I feel right after I've finished it and if I am able to rave about it
3. If I still every now and then, months after finishing, think about it and remember how good of a read it was

My experience with Gone Girl would be a perfect example of a time when I used those aspects to judge a book. See, when I picked up Gone Girl a few months ago, I didn't know much about it. I only knew that it was about a missing person, and that there was going to be a movie adaptation. Naturally, I ran out and bought the book to see what the fuss was all about. 

Well, I finished it in two days. 

Without spoiling anything, let me just say that everything about this book was great - the writing, the plot, the characters, their development, its pace. However, its greatest strength is definitely its unpredictability. To say that it was unexpected and shocking is a bit of an understatement.

I remember reading this late at night after an exhausting, long day at work, not being able to sleep. All I wanted to do was read more, read faster. I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. It was such a suspenseful page turner, and I couldn't put the book down. Every few chapters or so though, I did find myself closing the book for a second and thinking to myself, "What the heck am I reading?" At times, it even creeped me out, disturbed me, and gave me goosebumps. I remember thinking twice about going downstairs by myself in the dark late at night. Weirdly enough, it was a sure sign that I was completely immersed and believing its story. 

Overall, Gone Girl was engaging, thrilling, and exciting - worthy of the 5 star rating I gave it for sure. If you haven't picked this up yet, give it a try. It's not for everyone, but if you enjoy a thrilling mystery with interesting, believable, and intriguing characters, go for it. 

I would also recommend seeing the movie adaptation as I thought it was pretty brilliant as well. It's out on DVD so you have no excuse, readers! :)

Buy Gone Girlhere

Add to your TBR on Goodreads

Book Recommendation: Ready Player One

If I could describe this book to anybody, it is that it is every nerd's dream. It's a scifi dystopian novel set in 2044 where our world basically sucks. It is so horrible that people prefer to live in a virtual world called the Oasis. The Oasis is essentially a multiplayer game where you get to create your own avatar, similar to games like World of Warcraft. This book is told from a relatable main character's point of view, which makes the reader feel like they're not just reading what is going on, but are actually living it. 

Having played multiplayer games like World of Warcraft, the world was familiar to me and the story just felt possible and realistic. I also loved that the book references so many things in nerd and pop culture from video games, comic books, movies, music, to Dungeons and Dragons. Basically, if you can think of anything nerdy, it's probably mentioned, which makes this book one of the most fun stories I've read in a long time. 

Another thing to note is that the author is just excellent with world building and plot development. He writes so effortlessly that makes it such a page turner, making it difficult for me to put it down. I didn't want it to end. It felt just like any other addicting video game. I found myself staying awake late at night reading, and I was simply stuck in this world that the author created because nothing else mattered while I was reading the story. Another awesome part about this is that not only is it exciting, but this book also has a lot of heart. The characters did that for me, as they were so easy to believe  in, to root for, and to love. 

I highly recommend this book to anybody. If you like a good story and like immersing yourself in different worlds, read it. It's so much fun that I believe it will be appreciated by anyone. But yes, if you are a nerd and you like pop culture, you have to get this book now. For me, it's definitely on my top 3 books I've read this year and I can't recommend it enough. 

Recommendations: Disturbing Books

Since it's the month of October and it's almost Halloween, I figured I should make a list of books that not only I highly recommend, but that I found are incredibly disturbing. These books aren't necessarily horror novels, but they definitely disturbed me to no end, and I do appreciate an old fashioned creepy-can't-get-it-out-of-my-mind story. In no particular order.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 

I figured I would begin with the latest book that disturbed me. This book wasn't perfect, but it was 100% effective in terms of giving me the creeps. It's such a thrilling, suspenseful page turner that left me with a few goosebumps along the way. Gillian Flynn has a knack for creating messed up characters, and she does it so well that I believe every word! I did see the movie adaptation, and I thought it was so good! The actress that played one of the characters here was great, and I highly, highly recommend everybody to watch it, even if you're not interested in reading the book. But the book... always read the book first ;)

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Next up is a classic disturbing book! A Clockwork Orange has Alex, who is one of the most memorable characters ever. He will forever be stuck in my mind. Such a well-structured and engaging story! I do have to admit though that there's something extra special and extra disturbing about the movie adaptation. The actor that plays Alex just truly captures everything about the character, and I love everything about the movie. Such a classic film, and something I wish everyone would watch at least once. 

Misery by Stephen King

Such memorable characters in here. And some of the most memorable scenes as well. If you're looking for a Stephen King book to read, check this out. It's very different from his other novels, and it's what made me appreciate King as an imaginative author. I do have to mention the movie, as Kathy Bates was incredible in it.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Elis

This list can not exist without this book. Some of the events that are told in this book have been some of the most agonizing things I've ever read. It's one of those rare books that made me put it down several times, thinking I could not continue with it! And yes, the movie... must watch. 

We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

This book is about an unstable kid, and the story is told from the perspective of a mother who also disturbed and unstable. Put them together and you have this realistic story. I have not seen the movie adaptation, but I hear it's well done. 

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

Chuck Palahniuk has always been such an out there author, and I have to include his book of short stories on this list. Haunted is an amazingly well-written collection of disturbing short stories. Its themes vary, but every story is unique and well thought out. 

Because we're talking about disturbing things, I can't leave this list out without listing the most disturbing film I've ever seen - Requiem for A Dream. Based off a novel as well, but I actually haven't read it. However, the movie... *shudders*

Anyway, that's it for my list. Please let me know what you think of my picks, and if you have any recommendations for disturbing books, do recommend them. 

2nd Favorite Book This Year So Far.

I finally picked up the first mystery thriller in the Millenium trilogy by Swedish author, Stieg Larsson. 

I have long avoided this book for many reasons, but I am so glad that I finally just read it, because I absolutely loved it. 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is essentially a mystery where a journalist and a world-class computer hacker team up together to solve the mystery of someone's disappearance. While doing so, the author also delves into each of the character's own stories. I have to say that the character of the introverted and unique computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander - who is the girl with the dragon tattoo- has got to be one of the best written characters I've read about in a while. Though I can not relate with her as a character, I root for her to no end, as she lives her life exactly the way she wants to. 

The plot behind the book is intelligent and complex, and the pacing was very fast. The mass paperback was 700 pages and I read it in two days, and I'm not a fast reader at all. It was exciting, suspenseful, and difficult to put down. 

I have to say that the other thing that really engaged me here wasn't just the story itself, but the fact that this was written by someone like Stieg Larsson. The author said that when he was 15, he witnessed a gang rape and that started his abhorrence towards men that violate women.He became a political activist who truly fought and spoke up about what he believed was right. He was against violence towards women, racism, among others. Because of his background, it was easy to understand why there was so much graphic violence in here. These are things that happen in real life, and there's no use pushing it under the rug and denying it. So yes, it's dark and tough to read at times, and be warned that it can be triggering for some, but knowing the author's background makes it more profound and important, in my opinion.

I absolutely loved the book that I picked up the sequel the day after I finished it because I can't read anything else but this trilogy. So yes, at the end of the day, I highly recommend it! 5 stars!

I try to form words about Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

My blood still howls in my veins like the wind itself,and it shakes the empty nest and asks where all the birds have gone, where have they gone?

----

Burial Rites was a true testament to everything I said on my previous post about why I love reading so much. THIS... this is exactly why I love books. 

Truthfully I expected this book to be good before picking it up, because of so many positive things said about it, but oh my goodness, I honestly did not expect for me to feel this much for it.

First off, Hannah Kent's ability to write a factual-based story is so effortless. She gives you information in the most engaging way possible, and at the same time, lets you in the characters' world. Because of the wonderful narration, it's as if you can really hear the characters speak for themselves and you can really see everything that they go through and feel. The author not only builds this story with excellent pacing and suspense from beginning to end, but she also transports you into that very world she is painting for you. Her writing is incredibly atmospheric, that even in 80 degree weather in California, I imagined that winter chill in Iceland in the early nineteenth century. I could see the scenery, the characters, the events that took place. And the emotions I felt for these characters were indescribable.

I couldn't put this down especially towards the end.  I didn't want to blink, didn't want to read too fast for fear that I would lose these people in the story. "Not so fast, don't end yet," I kept thinking to myself. And when it did end, tears and goosebumps were inevitable. I just wanted to tell everyone how much this story touched and broke my heart.

There's honestly not much to be said aside from those above, but I will say that this is story telling at its finest. It is a beautiful story that I will remember for a long, long time. 5 stars and nothing less. My favorite read this year so far, hands down.

Day 5: Young Adult Book Recommendations

The Young Adult has always been a great genre to me, I have always read and loved it! I started with books like The Secret Garden, A Wrinkle in Time, The Harry Potter series, The Hobbit... and loved all the coming-of-age themes that come with it.
The YA genre nowadays have definitely boomed, and I think that whatever gets people to read more is a good thing! I do think though that the YA genre sometimes isn't for everyone, but I believe there's some specific titles that everyone will enjoy, love, and appreciate! Here are usually the books I recommend for all ages, whether you do typically read YA or you don't at all.

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• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  - narrated by Death, this is set in World War II about a girl who loved words. Beautiful and poignant book with wonderful writing and unique style! One of my all time favorite books. I will always recommend this book.

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
  - Great science fiction with a young adult character. Do not judge the book by its movie. This book is a classic!
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
  - Another classic that must be read. The original dystopian book, I think!

• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
  - Beautifully told and painfully accurate story of a teenage girl suffering through self-esteem and self-image issues as well as an eating disorder.
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
  - Heartfelt coming-of-age story. I read it in high school. Liked it. Reread it in college. Loved it. Saw the movie adaptation, fell in love even more. It's not a perfect book, but it's a must read!
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - about a Native American boy who goes to an all white school. This is quite a profound, heartwarming and realistic story. 

Those are just some of the fool proof YA recommendations that I think everybody of all ages and tastes would appreciate! What are in some of your immediate YA recs list? 

This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl

I am not sure how to begin this "review," if I could even call it that. If you don't know who Esther Earl is first of all, she was a fellow nerdfighter who inspired so many people in (and outside) the  nerdfighter and Harry Potter community. She was diagnosed with metastasized papillary thyroid cancer in 2006. She died in 2010. She was 16.

This Star Won't Go Out is a collection of her journal entries gathered from her physical journals as well as her online entries. It also has words, letters, and testimonials from her family, friends (both 'in real life' and on the internet). It has doodles, drawings, and photos.

She meant so much to the community and to so many people that John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, though it is not about her, is dedicated to her and her short but amazingly meaningful life. 

I read this book out loud to someone, who has never heard of Esther Earl and isn't as familiar with nerdfighteria. But let me tell you this: it was hard for him to listen to this book because of how emotional it is, and it was incredibly difficult for me to keep my emotions in check. The whole time I was reading, I was on the edge and just wanted to start bawling. My chest was  so tight as I read; I couldn't help but think about how life can be cruel and unfair sometimes. Yet, I also couldn't help but feel amazed and inspired at how a young person can do so much in the short amount of time she had. If there's one thing I know for sure, Esther is so alive in this book, and I felt every word she wrote. 

I also couldn't help but laugh at times. She was funny, light-hearted, positive, and so enthusiastic about life. She was also mature and smart beyond her years. 

I read this in one sitting, and read several parts again in the next few days. All I have to say is I've always been amazed at her story, but more so after reading this. She will always be a special one, and having the opportunity to read her words, as well as her loved ones', was so special. 

The Only Time I Would Recommend a Book I Haven't Even Read

When I recommend a book, it is likely because I have read it and loved it. Never have I felt the need to recommend a title in which I haven't even actually read it yet. However, I had to make an exception for this one. Because... LOOK!

amazon photo

S is written by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Lost, future Star Wars) and Doug Dourst. It is a book that contains another fictional novel written by a famous fictional author. Two readers (strangers to each other nonetheless)  begin to read it separately and write messages to each other talking about it. The book contains their notes, their comments, photocopies of their research, etc.

I first heard of the book's concept on someone's youtube channel (which I will try to find) a while ago. Then, I heard of it on an interview with J.J. Abrams on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I had to have it simply of how unique it sounded, and it intrigued me to no end. I went on a hunt for this one, and though I know I could have easily bought it off Amazon, I made it almost like a challenge for myself to find a copy. I almost gave up one day when I went to a used bookstore near me and when I was about to pay for my purchases, I saw it just staring right at me in the front! It looked so lovely on that stand; it was new and still covered by plastic. I went and got it. As soon as I got to my car, I opened it and took photos. 

I have never been this excited to start reading a book in a while. It sounds like even if I end up not liking the story itself, I think I would still admire and appreciate how incredibly creative this work of art is. Sounds like it would be an awesome reading experience either way.

Have you read it? What do you think of this unique idea? Definitely puts book design to a whole other level. I think it's neat, and I can't wait to dig into it!

Most Influential Books In My Life

I love a lot of books. However, I've learned that the favorites list and the most influential list are two completely different things. Today, I'll list the books that have been influential in my life in some way. I will try my best to say NOTHING as to why they are important. I challenge you to do the same. 

• The Harry Potter series 
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 
• 100 Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda
• Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
• The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
• The Stranger by Albert Camus
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

List yours down below or create a separate post! I would love to know your list. You can state your reasons, but I challenge you to not say anything or much at all.

So far, here are other awesome bloggers that did the challenge:
Adam at Roof Beam Reader
Melissa at Avid Reader's Musings
Sarah at The Everyday Reader
Chris at Wild Moo Books
Brona at Brona's Books

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Rating: 4.5

Picture taken by Mhitchner 

Reading this was similar to the feeling you get when you fall in love. It starts off seemingly innocent, as you are first introduced to the story and its characters. I mean, you just picked up this book because everyone keeps talking about it. You don't expect anything to come out of it though, but you just want to read it and try it out. You start getting to know the book a little bit more, see who the characters are and what their lives are all about. Slowly, but surely, you start digging through deeper layers that you didn't know were there this whole time. So one day, you realize, wow, I really love this book. You can't even part with it; you start taking it everywhere you go. I for example, chose to bring it with me during a day trip to the beach, and read it during my lunch breaks at work. 

It was a lovely thing, to hear about these characters and their lives. When they were sad, my heart broke for them, when they wanted something, I wanted for them to be successful in achieving them, and when they had happy moments, I found myself smiling too. 

Like all books (and most relationships) it had to end somehow. As I got closer to the end of the book, I had this irrational fear that after this story, I would never, ever read about these characters again. I would never be in their world again. And when it did end, I basically cried. 

All in all, the book was such a fast-paced page turner, and I could not put this book down. I adored the characters in this book. I believed in them, empathized with them, and rooted for them. I understood their perspectives completely, and I loved the fact that they were all flawed, making them so believable and relatable. I liked that the book also covered a lot of touchy, sensitive topics, but Jojo Moyes truly handled them all very well, and explored them in the most realistic way possible. 

Highly recommend this book if you like contemporary fiction! It is so much more than a love story, and even if you end up not liking it as much as I did, it's such a fast read that you wouldn't even know you passed the time. 

currently reading this wonderfully written book!

I am not even halfway done with this book, but I am already in love with it.

I hope it ends well, and that I end up loving it when I'm done with it, but so far, it's awesome.

I love the writing especially, and the fact that it is incredibly bookish.

I mean, look at this part here! (contains no spoilers by the way)

I am sure some of you will feel like you could have written this part! I know when I read it, I automatically got up and took a photo of it. I knew I had to show you guys.

Ereaders can be awesome, but it's certainly not for everyone!

:)

Hope you are having a wonderful week so far. 

Recommendation of the Month!!

I know I have been M.I.A. lately, mainly due to me slacking off and being completely uninspired. I haven't read much lately to be honest, but today, a friend of mine reminded me of a good book that I have already read but have yet to recommend to you.

If you are a fantasy reader and fan like I am, you have to try The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. The first book in the series is The Name of the Wind, and it is simply fantastic. I can't tell you what it's about since I don't want to spoil too much, but it's just one of those books you can not help but adore. It is wonderfully crafted by the author; its characters and settings so rich it'd be hard to tear yourself away from them.

Simply put, these novels make up one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. It has everything that I love about books and reading, and if you like the said genre, try it out. If you don't trust me, I hope the thousands of 5-star reviews will encourage you even more! Happy reading!

Book/T.V. Show Recommendation!

I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I have been watching the show, The Game of Thrones, for a while now. I have to say, I am getting a little obsessed with it.

To be honest with you guys, before HBO made this epic fantasy-ish show, I didn't know that it was just an adaptation of a very popular book series, which I know is a shame. I only started reading the books when I found that out. That being said, I read the first book and managed to finish it in two days. I loved it. I was surprised at how easily I fell for the characters. They're believable; as the author, George R.R. Martin, really knows how to paint them in such a realistic way. I especially love the fact that this series has many strong female characters. For a fantasy/medieval power story, this is definitely a big deal!

Most especially though, he sure knows how to tell a story in an incredibly engaging way. It is such a complex story though that I don't think I will write a proper review for them because it will be hard to do so without spoiling it.

So, I'm just going to go ahead and say that yes, you MUST read the books. They are so well written, the characters are awesome, and the combination of many different types of genres is just pure entertainment to me. And yay for strong female characters ;)

As far as the show goes, I love it. I believe that it is good to be watched on its own, whether or not you have read - or planning to read - the books. I think it tells the story well, and the actors do a very, very good job portraying such badass characters.

Book Recommendation of the Week

I haven't done one of these 'book recommendations of the week' in a while, so I thought I should. And to be honest, with all the books I've specifically recommended before, I am not sure why I have never suggested Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, when it actually may be one of my favorites!

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Genre: Science Fiction

When I Read It: 2010

Initial Impression: I used to be not into science fiction as much for some odd reason. It's not like I didn't like the genre, because I obviously enjoyed sci-fi movies and shows. Unfortunately, as far as books go, I have just never found a read that I enjoyed. So, when I picked this up, mainly because of countless suggestions from guy friends (including my brother) I was a bit skeptical.

What I Thought: I LOVED IT.

Why I Loved It: It had everything I would want in a sci-fi/adventure/fantasy type of novel. It was intriguing and interesting, engaging and exciting. I had a hard time putting it down, and I was just so into the entire story and the entire world the author created. Also, I absolutely adored the main characters. And for such a character-driven story, that part was crucial. To me, I was completely immersed in what was going on. Simply put, it's an entertaining story, and it's told perfectly.

Who Should Read It: To be honest, I think everyone should pick this one up and try it out. It's one of those books that can be good for everyone. It doesn't really matter what type of reader you are - and how old or how young you are - it's still going to be a good story at the end of the day.

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

Genre: Adult Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

The thing is, I would not even consider this as a "novel" or a "story" - at least not in a traditional sense. I am sure someone else will see it differently than I do, but for me, that's how I felt about this book.

I don't really see a plot. I don't see an actual story. I do see bits and pieces of it, but I also feel like it's too short, too abrupt, too spaced out, too scattered. At times, I felt like it wasn't even making any sense. There were moments when I disliked the narrator. Moments when I couldn't really grasp what was truly happening.

However, I really liked it.

The Lover's Dictionary, to put it simply, is one of a kind. For one, the idea is unique - to 'tell a story' not in order, but alphabetically. I sure haven't read anything like that.

And the writing is great; David Levithan creates such wonderful prose effortlessly. You can just collect countless quotes from here, and be inspired by each of them. In fact, I feel like typing some of them out on a board, framing it, and displaying it on my wall.

Would I recommend it? Definitely. But I would advise you to to go in this book without expectations, but with an open-mind. It's a different kind of reading experience for sure.

...

ineffable, adj.

These words will ultimately end up being the barest of reflections, devoid of the sensations word cannot convey. Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how many words there are, there will never be enough.

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

Genre: General Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Review: I love a good love story every once in a while, and this was the perfect read for me. It was such an engaging book, as simple as the story is. It's about two lovers, who shouldn't be lovers, and it tells of their heart-wrenching journey together. It could have easily been boring and contrived, but somehow, the author makes it work. There are moments when it was predictable, but the thing is, this is one of those books where it's the journey towards the end that matters, and not necessarily just the conclusion itself.

I loved the characters; thought they were realistic and likable, and I found myself empathizing with them. I love the writing - very old-fashioned. I also liked the overall pace, even though at times I found myself wondering that in the event that some chapters were edited out, if it would have been the same, and I think it would be. I didn't really mind, because I was enjoying the flow and the story itself overall despite the unnecessary chapters.

So to recommend or not to recommend? Well, I highly recommend this to fans of good love stories - albeit a bit cheesy, I thought it still worked. I would also recommend this to contemporary Fiction readers and fans. And if you liked/loved books with the style similar to The Time Traveler's Wife, One Day, The Violets of March, Suite Francaise, then there's a chance you might enjoy this too. For me, I really liked it. It's not a favorite necessarily, but man, I really felt for this story. For that, I'm giving it 5 stars.

Book Recommendation of the Week

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

Genre: General/Literary Fiction

When I Read It: 2008

Synopsis: For fifty years, Anna Schlemmer has refused to talk about her life in Germany during World War II. Her daughter, Trudy, was only three when she and her mother were liberated by an American soldier and went to live with him in Minnesota. Trudy's sole evidence of the past is an old photograph: a family portrait showing Anna, Trudy, and a Nazi officer, the Obersturmfuhrer of Buchenwald. Driven by the guilt of her heritage, Trudy, now a professor of German history, begins investigating the past and finally unearths the dramatic and heartbreaking truth of her mother's life. Combining a passionate, doomed love story, a vivid evocation of life during the war, and a poignant mother/daughter drama, Those Who Save Usis a profound exploration of what we endure to survive and the legacy of shame.

Why I Loved It: I like historical fiction, especially books that surround the WWII era. And the story itself was so well-written and engrossing that I finished this in a day. It's been a while since I've read it, but there are certain parts in the book that I still remember so well until today. Memorable characters and events, great writing, and a believable, heart-wrenching story.

"Life is so often unfair and painful and love is hard to find and you have to take it whenever and wherever you can get it, no matter how brief it is or how it ends."

Book Recommendation of the Week!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade - Fantasy, YA
Synopsis: Percy Jackson, discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. He learns that the legendary being of Greek Mythology exist, and have always existed, including monsters, cyclopes, empousi, Titans, and the Greek Gods, including the Twelve Olympians themselves, who dwell on Olympus; now situation on the mythical 600th floor of the Empire State Building. The books talk about his many adventures.

Initial impression: Fun and simple MG novel. I do love anything mythology-related, especially Greek mythology, so I knew I'd find it interesting. But it ended up being one of the best reads of 2010 for me. And one of my favorite book series in the fantasy genre.

Why I Loved It: The characters are so awesome. Greek Mythology is awesome. The adventures here are awesome. The plot and character development... yup, awesome. You get it ;) These books are exciting, fast-paced, and just plain fun. It also cured my Harry Potter hang over a little bit. That's always good, right?

Why you might like it: For the same reasons why I did. And if you like Greek mythology, you'd enjoy this one.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Genre: Fiction - science/fantasy, thriller

Rating: 5 stars

Review: Growing up, I was surrounded by dinosaurs. Dinosaur books, toys, figurines, inflatables, computer themed games... mainly because my brother was a huge dinosaur 'enthusiast'. He was only 5-6 or so and he had every single dinosaur name embedded in his head - literally every dinosaur from A-Z. So it was a given that I became somehow interested in them too. When I first saw the film adaptation of this novel as a kid, I was half terrified and half in love.

Years later, I finally managed to read the book by Michael Crichton. I have no idea why I waited this long, but I got to say my first reaction after finishing it was - WOW. It was awesome, awesome, awesome. And yes, better than the movie!

As a reader, I was so excited and entertained that I did not - would not - put the book down. I'd be up late at night reading this one, and couldn't stop.
As a reviewer, it was a dream for me to read. The story line was highly original; as original as any plot line can be. The story had a great mixture of science, action, drama, and adventure and I absolutely loved all these aspects equally. The writing - superb. The only thing that I can think of that might turn other readers off, even though I actually enjoyed those parts, were the detailed explanations of scientific and genetic technology.

Another great thing I loved is that even though we all know the story here is 100% impossible, it didn't seem like a nutcase, if that makes sense. It was still actually believable. That I have to say, is fiction at its best. The author, Crichton, has created a story that have lasted through the years since its publication, and that I believe will continue to astonish future readers as well. Having said that, I highly recommend this novel - definitely one of the best books I have ever read.

Recommendation of the Week: The Forgotten Garden

Genre: General Fiction

When I Read It: 2009

Initial impression: What a beautiful cover! It was what initially attracted me to this novel. It felt a bit like Jane Austen-like, so I was sold. I also was very intrigued with its complex synopsis on the back cover.

Why I Loved It: It's a lovely story, to put it simply. The characters, plot line, and their development were flawless. And the overall feel of the writing was just great; it seemed like such a rich and classic tale - very reminiscent of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It did also have the same Gothic-like aspects from Jane Eyre, which I especially enjoyed as well.

Who would most likely like/love it: Any reader who enjoys a good story that seems to follow some aspects from the Classics and fairy tale re-tellings.

If you've read this book, let me know what you thought of it.

For my official review for this book, click here.