Book Review: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Little Prince had been a book I've been eyeing for a while. So when I saw it in Kinokuniya I immediately picked it up. I've heard a lot of good things about this book, but I was really intrigued as to how and why such a short book could leave an impact on many people. Now I know why.

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: Moral allegory and spiritual autobiography, The Little Prince is the most translated book in the French language. With a timeless charm it tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to travel the universe, learning the vagaries of adult behaviour through a series of extraordinary encounters. His personal odyssey culminates in a voyage to Earth and further adventures.

This books talks about a man whom encounters the Little Prince and the events are told from his point of view. I don't want to talk to about the plot because, for the most part I am a firm believer that it is better when you read a book without knowing much about it beforehand.

This book just fills you up with warmness and shatters your heart and soul at the same time. I feel like while reading this book I grew a bit, if that makes sense. It has that effect. It has a lot of magical symbolism that I found very refreshing and beautiful. The book also contains moral lessons. I think a lot of people would be able to associate many situations and experiences in their life. It made me smile and it hurt me. To sum it up, it is beautiful. I think that this book is not meant to be read once. You need to pick it every once in a while.

One important aspect to me of the book is the rose.
ah the rose.

Spoiler Alert: Read the things below at your own risk.

Books that I want to Re-Read #1

The other day I was gazing as my bookshelf (which is a daily ritual; I may be a bit, just a bit in love with them.) and I was thinking that there are many book that I want to re-experience because I enjoyed and I feel like its been a while so, I need to re-freshen my memory because when you read so many books, its hard to remember everything about every book. At least its not the case with my brain, it lets go of information in order to store new ones, which sucks.

Therefore, I picked a few that I surely do want to read sometime soon. But, I don't know if this is an issue for you dear reader; it surely is to me, I do not have time to re-read books. There are so many other books that I want to read and start. I remember last summer I had to wait for an order I placed and I didn't have any new books to read. I felt very out of place and as if I was naked without a new book to dive into. After spending some time sighing about it, I decided to pick up my absolute favorite book (I love a lot of books, but this one hold a very special place in my heart and every single limb that's inside of me, moving on..) The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman, I did not regret re-reading it. It was amazing and reading it for the second time made me even love it more. I am sure this will be a book that I would always go back to and read annually. Anyways, so now I am thinking, what if it is the same case with all the other books that I really enjoyed? This is the reason I chose to do this post. I hope I would read at least two of these books by the end of 2014 because I also want to read all those other books, so I am only trying to be reasonable.

 Credits to my sister since she took the photos. 

 I do not know why I have this special bond with this book. I love how its written as letters, the tone of the novel just appeals me very much and of course, Charlie.

 This book is absolutely beautiful in every aspect. Its also about books which is a major plus. I've read all the three related books and I think this is my favorite out of them. I really want to re-experience it again.

 This is another book that I have this bond with. I don't know why. I've read it a while back, so I want to see my attitude towards it now that I'm a bit older.

 I love Sylvia Plath. I have to urge to dive back into this book and re-experience it which is why I have to re-read it again.

 Here is another book with a very special bond. I think this book made me fall in love with literature and all the literary techniques. To me, its flawless. 

This is a beautiful book, with such a fresh tone that I cannot find in any other books I've read. It has this special thing that I can't really place my finger on. However, I do feel like it lacks something which is why I want to read it again and see how I feel this time. 

There are many other books which is the reason this post is only #1. The reason is many of the books I've read that I want to re-read I do not own. I borrowed them and fell in love with them and so I need to buy them so that I can read them again. Once I buy them, or decide to make another one then, I surely will make #2.

Please let me know if you want me to make any particular post in the comment section below, I would love to get some new ideas. :-)

Until next-time,
Alya

Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne de Maurier

Let me start of this post by telling you how this book stole my heart. At first, when I had absolutely no idea what would it be about, I somehow got the feeling it might contain magic realism of some sort. Then once I started it, I was kind of let down by the fact that it was a pretty normal classic. However, after the first sitting of this book, I connected it a lot with Wuthering Heights (so if you love that book there is a fat chance you would like this one as well.) I can't tell why, it just did of some sort. I always have this feeling where I would group some books into the same pile if they have the same vibe (I guess that's what you can call it.) I may make a post at some points of books that have the same vibe.

I love the inside of this book. It has the authors autograph, it adds a nice unique touch to the novel.

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady's maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives--presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave.

I would not say much about the plot because I feel like its better you read this book without knowing before hand what could it be about. First of all, the pace of the novel was slow and that is because we are able to enter the protagonist's psychological state  and understand through her, the novel. The book uses the stream of consciousness technique, again for us to understand things through the character. The atmosphere- despite it being slow- is tense and that is why it still reels you in. 

The book is very enjoyable towards the end, I couldn't put it down. I did not expect some things to occur. To me at least, the book was very unpredictable. I personally found the book very easy to read and follow, unlike some other classics that require your full focus. I don't want to say more, because then it would ruin the plot. 

If you are intimidated by classics and you do not know where to start, if you like some romance, suspense and a shock in the end then, Rebecca is the book for you. 

Happy reading,
Alya

Trip to Dubai

A couple of weeks earlier my sister and I went to visit my family in Dubai. I haven't been in Dubai for a couple of years now so, a lot has changed and I've been to many new places. It was a really nice way to spend my spring break. So here are some pictures from the trip:

Real dinosaur skeleton in Dubai mall. 

   

I didn't have many pictures of Kinokuniya :( I was too busy being over-whelmed there. 

I'm ending this post with a picture of my cousin's room and her beauuuuutiful books. Her room is effortlessly beautiful. 

Love,
Alya