"The Velveteen Rabbit" is an adorable and poignant children's book that adults can also enjoy.
The story begins on theA REAL little gem (pun intended).
"The Velveteen Rabbit" is an adorable and poignant children's book that adults can also enjoy.
The story begins on the Christmas morning, and it introduces us to the splendid Velveteen Rabbit, the Boy and the wise Skin Horse. Other adventures follow in the Spring and Summer as we see the Rabbit's battle with what is real and what is not.
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
'What is real?' is a difficult question actually if you think about it and it is also so simple at the same time. The beauty of it is in the abstractness. The Rabbit has a quality reflection time and also has some doubts. The nursery magic is the final touch to this delightful story.
An interesting finding it that there is a list with and The Velveteen Rabbit is #22.
I can't believe that I didn't know about this book before so thank you, Sil, for recommending it....more
"The Labyrinth of the Spirits" is a masterpiece and is very meta as a book. I loved the feeling to be lost in this labyrinth of characters and stories."The Labyrinth of the Spirits" is a masterpiece and is very meta as a book. I loved the feeling to be lost in this labyrinth of characters and stories.
Zafon's work is a contemporary Wonderland. The series of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books are immortal and will always be remembered.
"Stories have no beginning and no end, only doors through which one may enter them. A story is an endless labyrinth of words, images, and spirits, conjured up to show us the invisible truth about ourselves. A story is, after all, a conversation between the narrator and the reader, and just as narrators can only relate as far as their ability will permit, so too readers can only read as far as what is already written in their souls."
"I have always known that one day I would return to these streets to tell the story of the man who lost his soul and his name among the shadows of a B"I have always known that one day I would return to these streets to tell the story of the man who lost his soul and his name among the shadows of a Barcelona trapped in a time of ashes and silence. These are pages written in the flames of the city of the damned, words etched in fire on the memory of the one who returned from among the dead with a promise nailed to his heart and a curse upon his head."
Zafon sure knows how to start a story. His first sentences are always captivating. And this is yet another fantastic book of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series.
As usual, Zafon brilliantly uses references from classics of literature. To a certain extent, there is a big tribute to The Count of Monte Cristo that I find charming and there are also a lot of Arthur Conan Doyle salutes.
Three reasons why you should read this book if you read the first two: 1. It fascinatingly connects the first two books. 2. Fermin Romero de Torres! 3. You will understand how reading classics can help you escape jail in case you end up there one day....more
Chronologically that's the first of Jane Austen's six famous novels. Maybe that's why the story plot felt a bit rugged and out of place. Nevertheless, IChronologically that's the first of Jane Austen's six famous novels. Maybe that's why the story plot felt a bit rugged and out of place. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed this book, mainly because of Jane Austen's original style.
One striking thing Austen has done in this novel is to beautifully develop the characters of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who brilliantly depict Sense and Sensibility. Elinor is prudent and rational, and Marianne is emotional and impulsive. They utterly balance each other, and their close relationship is a delight to read about.
Some favourite quotes I wrote down:
"I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way."
"I will be calm. I will be mistress of myself."
"It is not everyone,' said Elinor, 'who has your passion for dead leaves."
"It is not what we think or feel that makes us who we are. It is what we do. Or fail to do."...more
Last year (2018) I continued with my Japanese books obsession. Other than that, I read a few surpassing personal development books and a few classic bLast year (2018) I continued with my Japanese books obsession. Other than that, I read a few surpassing personal development books and a few classic books. I'm pleased with my choices, and it was challenging to recommend only ten books.
It is so much easier and efficient to do your reading challenge for 2018 after the year has ended! :D
Also, in 2018 I accumulated many books in my "anti-library" (a term coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb). In result, to discipline myself I came up with a "book ban" that consists of a simple rule - I can buy a new book only after reading 3 books from my anti-library. Of course, it doesn't count if a book is given to me as a present. I strongly hope my friends will read this (maybe I should have started the review with the book ban rule :D). By the way, there’s a word in Japanese for the literary affliction of buying books you don’t read. It's called "Tsundoku" (積ん�). Surprise, surprise. After all, in 2018 I read a few Japanese books, started learning Japanese at Duolingo and ate a lot of sushi, gyoza, ramen and matcha. I can say that a little part of me is Japanese already. :D いただきます
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Hopefully, 2019 will be an awesome reading year for everybody. :)
"The shadow of the wind" should be advertised as anti-sleeping pills because it is a hypnotic book. It's a perfect read full of mystery, love, horror,"The shadow of the wind" should be advertised as anti-sleeping pills because it is a hypnotic book. It's a perfect read full of mystery, love, horror, suspense and a generous pinch of humour. This magic-infused book brought blissful happiness to my reading soul. Furthermore, my heart lifts when I think about the other 3 of the series. Yassss!
Safon is definitely an enigmatic writer. The book was a page-turner and consumed my attention and thoughts for a long time.
"The shadow of the wind" is a meta-book - it's a book about books, and more precisely, it's a book about the exact same book —a book about madness, hearty human spirit and unconditional love.
The characters are brilliantly depicted, in my opinion, although sometimes not everything they say and do make sense. Also, some details around the characters were a bit exaggerated.
There are two lovely quotes about books at the beginning and the end of the book:
"Every book, every volume you see here has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens."
� and �
"A book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us, that when we read, we do it with all our heart and mind, and great readers are becoming more scarce by the day."
I love all the Barcelona references. It's delightful to connect the events to real places: "This city is a sorceress. It gets under your skin and steals your soul without you knowing it."
Safon has a galore of jokes in his pocket, some of them even literature related. "Latin young man, there is no such thing as a dead language, only dormant minds." "To my dismay, the day was turning out to be longer than the brothers Karamazov."
Other amazing quotes and notes:
"Never before had I felt trapped, so seduced and caught up in a story,' Clara explained, 'the way I did with that book. Until then, reading was just a duty, a sort of fine one had to pay teachers and tutors without quite knowing why. I had never known the pleasure of reading, of exploring the recesses of the soul, of letting myself be carried away by imagination, beauty, and the mystery of fiction and language. For me all those things were born with that novel. This is a world of shadows, Daniel, and magic is a rare asset. That book taught me that by reading, I could live more intensely. It could give me back the sight I had lost. For that reason alone, a book that didn't matter to anyone changed my life."
"In this world, the only opinion that holds course is prejudice."
"Army, marriage, the church and banking - the four horsemen of the apocalypse."
"You are facing the enigma of nature, and womankind is an indecipherable maze." :D
"Love is a lot like pork: there's loin steak, and there's bologna. Each has its own place and function." // Fermin of course :)
"Money is like any other virus: once it has rotted the soul of the person who houses it, it sets off in search of new blood."
"Those who really love, love in silence, with deeds and not with words."
"Sometimes we think people are like lottery tickets, that they're there to make our most absurd dreams come true."
"Coincidences are the scars of faith. There are no coincidences, we are puppets of our subconscious desires."...more
[image] I'm sure there will be a movie based on this book. Remember my words. :D
I had an enjoyable time withEleanor Oliphant is outstanding, isn’t she?
[image] I'm sure there will be a movie based on this book. Remember my words. :D
I had an enjoyable time with this quirky and a bit socially awkward persona. She has an impressive vocabulary and rebellious spirit. My favourite part is her plan to "cut the mustard" regarding the "husband material". :D
Eleanor has the same routine for the last 9 years - going to work, going home, drinking two bottles of vodka on the weekends, so she is not drunk but not sober as well. She has a call from “Mummy�, who is in prison for I-wont-tell-you-what, every Wednesday. Some pieces of her life start to shift, and we see her personality unfolding. She hits bottom to start seeing her own thoughts and opinion and not her mother’s.
It’s an exciting journey and a delightful read.
In my opinion, the book is something in between “A man called Ove� and "Bridget Jones diary"....more
I've done it at least ten times and every time I find something new and inspiring.
The book itself is precious to I will never get tired of reading it.
I've done it at least ten times and every time I find something new and inspiring.
The book itself is precious to me as it was a present from my dear and loving aunt.
It's not difficult to expand your imagination and grasp the world full of magic, beauty and mystery revealed in the book.
The book is simple and profound at the same time. This is the main reason, in my opinion, that makes it accessible to people of all ages. It doesn't matter if you are a child or an adult. There are so many layers of meaning and also a lot of philosophy.
If you haven't read it, give it a chance. After all, you can read it in about 2 hours, and the benefits you can gain are forever.
I know for myself that there are many re-reads yet to come. Many more hours in this marvellous ambience.
P.S. I've challenged myself with reading "The Little Prince" in as many languages as I can. So far, I've accomplished Bulgarian and English. Italian is yet to come, and there is a distant dream to read it in French. One fine day. :)...more
A really good combination of a pretty simple and hilarious novel that has its depth and serious topics. Ove is an unforgettable character - very grumpA really good combination of a pretty simple and hilarious novel that has its depth and serious topics. Ove is an unforgettable character - very grumpy and having a big heart at the same time....more
I couldn't resist listening to the new Audible version read by Hogwarts characters. My favourite character Luna Lovegood (Evann----2nd read----
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I couldn't resist listening to the new Audible version read by Hogwarts characters. My favourite character Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) is reading my favourite tale "The Fountain of Fair Fortune". Fantastic narration by everybody, especially Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) and Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs). It was delightful to listen to.
Also, it is kind that the audiobook continues to raise funds for J.K.Rowling's charity foundation Lumos....more
Maybe the best book in the series so far. I noticed that this is the first book where Rowing is not over-explaining the things that happened in the prMaybe the best book in the series so far. I noticed that this is the first book where Rowing is not over-explaining the things that happened in the previous books. I mean everybody can start the series from the first, second, third or fourth book....more
I want to emphasize that the author has organized the story very well not only in this particular part but in the series of books so far. Every littleI want to emphasize that the author has organized the story very well not only in this particular part but in the series of books so far. Every little thing that is happening is synchronized and is part of the big puzzle. Also I find her books very good for practice "thinking" because after each event that is happening in the story you can sit down and think what is behind the mystery because she is giving us clues on what is needed to decipher the story so even without reading the final part (that is explaining what really had happened) it is feasible to understand it on your own before that and that's why I assert the series of books is an excellent choice especially for children (and of course not only for children). Another thing that I was very happy about is the Bulgarian presence in this book - Viktor Krum in one of the leading roles. ...more
Now I'm officially a big fan of Harry Potter. I don't know if I already admitted but I was a little bit ashamed to talk to people that I'm reading HarNow I'm officially a big fan of Harry Potter. I don't know if I already admitted but I was a little bit ashamed to talk to people that I'm reading Harry Potter (now I'm not) because it is very exciting and amusing book. It's fast reading and is good to be read in original....more
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