review: the blood of flowers

book info:

ages: 14 and up

grades: 9 and up (Years 10 and up)

on sale: now

copy from: library

publisher: Little, Brown and Company

pages: 369 (big pages)

title: The Blood of Flowers

author: Anita Amirrezvani

photo credit: goodreads

In 17th-century Persia, a 14-year-old woman believes she will be married within the year. But when her beloved father dies, she and her mother find themselves alone and without a dowry. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to sell the brilliant turquoise rug the young woman has woven to pay for their journey to Isfahan, where they will work as servants for her uncle, a rich rug designer in the court of the legendary Shah Abbas the Great.  Despite her lowly station, the young woman blossoms as a brilliant designer of carpets, a rarity in a craft dominated by men. But while her talent flourishes, her prospects for a happy marriage grow dim. Forced into a secret marriage to a wealthy man, the young woman finds herself faced with a daunting decision: forsake her own dignity, or risk everything she has in an effort to create a new life. 

When I first started reading this, it seemed like any other story. A village girl with a loving father and mother suddenly face conflict, and travel to the city to seek their fortunes. As I started actually getting into the story, it was interesting to me, and the talk of rug-making and it's processes, the descriptions of colours and their marvellous beauty captivated me. And like I had read in The Caliph's House (my substantial introduction into Arabian culture), storytelling and stories themselves remain a vibrant and rich part of the culture. Ms Amirrezvani wrote several of those stories throughout the book, which I enjoyed so much. These folk stories are always brilliantly written, and I'm starting to view them like a carpet. Rich, beautiful, and artfully woven. I've read many books, and I think they've become favourites, on Iran, Afghanistan and Persia. I find stories of this background to be moving and deep and thoughtful. If you're a historical fiction buff, I'd definitely look for these themes!

The start may be slow, and the middle may seem pointless, but once I had reached the ending, everything made sense. I remembered how young the nameless girl (woman) had been, and saw how she developed over time and experience. It's one of those books that occur over a life-time.

The main character is never named, which I think is a feat considering it's near four hundred pages. It's strange, but also makes me think: are names really important? She developed into such an amazing person, yet goes without a name. Strange. I like her character because she's strong, and when faced with tremendous pressure, she doesn't give in. She respects her parents, and discovers herself along that path. I relate to her in the sense of her struggle with duty for her family (which is really just her mum) and what's best for her: it's a predicament I'm stuck in. So maybe that makes me biased into liking her?

Yet something about her character isn't complete. I think I would've liked for to have fallen in love, to have gone on more thrilling adventures or to have her do...something other than struggle and make carpet! I think her role of a carpet-maker could have been better, she could have gone father with that plot.

The other characters played out just like their roles as supporting characters should. The way women acted, the roles of men, in this time period is really effectively portrayed. In fact, it's still quite common. The heart of Persia still thrives. My mum would tell me "There are some women who sit around and drink and gossip all day. They have nothing better to do" and of course, there's the nagging, spiteful woman that though cliche, appears in real life often. Ms Amirrezvani captures that essence well.

This is written, I think, like a young adult book with adult aspects like sex (there are a few of these) But it works well for the type of book this is. There's nothing else other than that that's suggestive, except for some crude comments from a butcher. If you're a mature teenager, then this may be for you.

This book reminds me of Memoirs of a Geisha, except Arabian style with a carpet-maker instead of a geisha (artist/dancer, charmer) If you've read and enjoyed it, then Blood of Flowers is a great story to go along with it.

This was a plain book in some aspects, yet also very rich with culture and story and struggle. I don't know where to stand, but I think, due to my Arabian Story fever, I'll give this one four trees.

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review: the caliph's house

book info:

ages: 14 and up

grades: 8-9, years: 10 and up

on sale: now

copy from: library

publisher: bantam

pages: 349

title: The Caliph's House

author: Tahir Shah

photo: goodreads

(goodreads) In the tradition of A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun, acclaimed English travel writer Tahir Shah shares a highly entertaining account of making an exotic dream come true. By turns hilarious and harrowing, here is the story of his family’s move from the gray skies of London to the sun-drenched city of Casablanca, where Islamic tradition and African folklore converge–and nothing is as easy as it seems….

Inspired by the Moroccan vacations of his childhood, Tahir Shah dreamed of making a home in that astonishing country. At age thirty-six he got his chance. Investing what money he and his wife, Rachana, had, Tahir packed up his growing family and bought Dar Khalifa, a crumbling ruin of a mansion by the sea in Casablanca that once belonged to the city’s caliph, or spiritual leader.

With its lush grounds, cool, secluded courtyards, and relaxed pace, life at Dar Khalifa seems sure to fulfill Tahir’s fantasy–until he discovers that in many ways he is farther from home than he imagined. For in Morocco an empty house is thought to attract jinns, invisible spirits unique to the Islamic world. The ardent belief in their presence greatly hampers sleep and renovation plans, but that is just the beginning. From elaborate exorcism rituals involving sacrificial goats to dealing with gangster neighbors intent on stealing their property, the Shahs must cope with a new culture and all that comes with it.

I had seen raving reviews about this book, and was intrigued. I've fallen in love with Middle Eastern culture, and have myself knowledge of it's beauty and richness. So I thought, wow! Now, I've never really been into "biographical" sort of books, but I, craving Middle Eastern books, decided to read it anyway.

Upon getting through the first few pages, I was bored. Mr Shah just writing about buying house and moving and blah blah blah. Yet, I don't know what force compelled me to keep reading, but I did. I can say that I truly did enjoy it, and even more so knowing that it wasn't fiction, but that these people really do exist and their actions happened and so on. 

Monsieur Tahir is truly wired like a writer. His conversations, instead of saying "Oh...okay" when people say strange things, he inquires, He asks "why?" and "what?" and in return gets very interesting, and intruiging answers. These answers kept me alive throughout the books, as well as the strange culture of Jinns. It's like the very heart of Morocco, the heart of Islam. Jinns. I immediately thought of genies, like from Aladdin's lamps, yet these Jinns are different. I, like Monsieur Tahir, was skeptical at first. In fact, I still don't believe in them, yet, like Monsieur Tahir, they enchanted me. And played a central role actually. I love how this book introduced me to Arabian culture and Morocco's vibrant way of living. More than anything, I've become enchanted with the land even though I've never been there before.

The writing was well done, and I think that if it were any other author, that this delicate story would have been destroyed. It's strikes a good combination of story, description, and poetry. The only reason I didn't like it, I guess, was the lack of...adventure. I know, it's a "historical novel" and that there isn't going to be a grand adventure. I guess because this takes span over a year, and not a lifetime like The Kite Runner or something. If only it had been longer than a year, no? But nonetheless, it's a good book! It wasn't "Ohmygosh!" and it wasn't "Meh". Somewhere in between, so I give it three and a half trees.

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feature and follow (7)

Hello!
   I'll just sum up my "tweaked" rules:

• You are not required to follow me, only if you like my blog!
• You can leave a comment and I will seriously consider reading your blog if I like it

I believe in people following because they like/want to, and not to be forced because of a blog hop. Anyway!

What was your favourite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?

photo credit: goodreads

I actually don't remember most of the books I was required to read. However, this year's summer reading included The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I made a completely amazing dialogue journal (split pages into two sides, write a passage on one side, and discuss it on the other) that I will take pictures of to show you all. It included making a table of context (since the book is missing one) and my own, painted cover of the book as well as a book cover for my notebook :)

Usually, people hate summer reading books. But I think they're chosen for a reason: they have depth. (well, as far as all my summer reading books have gone) and they really mean something. I'm always curious by required reading at school, because I know it's going to be either ridiculously amazing, or confusing. 

What about you?

P.S. Recently revealed my new writing blog (voyage: http://voyagedelapaix.blogspot.com/) I would love it if you could visit :) Thanks!

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new blog: voyage!

Voyage, pronounced "voy-aah-j" Like in that French accent. Now, for some shameless promotion :D

Hi readers! 

  This is actually a premature post requesting you all to visit and/or follow my new writing blog, Voyage. See, I'm having it designed but it's taking longer than expected. I'm not angry or anything, I'm just really excited. It's going to be simple and sweet and cute, and not professional like Pages is. A pleasant change I'm looking forward to! It's going to be more personal as well, seeing as I don't feel personal posts would fit well into the character of Pages. :D

the URL: http://voyagedelapaix.blogspot.com/
(It'd love it so much if you could stop by)

Why Start a Writing Blog?

 Anyway, a writing blog? I've seen many authors who had started blogging about writing and eventually got published, and I thought, "Well, that's a great idea!" Blogging has proven to be a motivator for me, knowing I had hundreds of people reading and  would be disappointed in me. I've started to really enjoy reading, and reading frequently (which is great, because before, I'd only read when I had time and just toss off books and go on with my life. Now, it's just great fun).

 My writing hasn't gone well. The writing itself is great, as many of me critique friends have told me, but it's like a flower. Ephemeral, short-lived, fleeting: but amazingly written. But I can't have a twenty page, unfinished novel published! I have to finish it! I mean, getting published is a reasonable dream. Not like, creating a wormhole to travel through time and space, or discovering a planet with intelligent life forms. It's going to happen eventually, but not in my life time. (I just had a vision of myself as a granny, watching television and learning that it happened. I'd eat my words then)

A Flaw

 Now, I notice a flaw in my writing blog idea. I've seen loads of bloggers who balance both books and writing in the same blog. And I don't want to be a "professional" writing blog, talking about querying and how to sell books and getting agents etc...I just want a blog to...blog about stuff. SO no, all things books will stay here.

Changes to Pages?

I'm going to focus more of reviews from now on, and I'm considering reviewing middle grade and children's books, as well as YA and adult fiction. What do you think? OF COURSE, the only outlier will be the 600 followers giveaway, as a sort of treat for you all where I'll have giveaways for paranormal books, as well as contemporary and historical fiction.

Thanks!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post, and hopefully stopping by my new blog (I was about to say "newborn child")

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review: hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet

book info:
ages: 13 and up
grades: 7-8 and up (Years 9 and up)
on sale: now
copy from: library
pages: 290
publisher: Ballantine Books

title: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
author: Jamie Ford

photo: goodreads

In the opening pages of Jamie Ford's stunning debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Henry Lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle's Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has made an incredible discovery: the belongings of Japanese families, left when they were rounded up and sent to internment camps during World War II. As Henry looks on, the owner opens a Japanese parasol.

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a story of Chinatown, America during the time of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour and is truly both bitter and sweet.

I had seen average ratings for this book, but decided that I'd give it a go anyway. I struggled to get through the first few chapters, and as I went on, though the idea of the story was sentimental and interesting, I knew that I could stop any time and not care what happened.

I have just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns which was the epitome of bitter-sweet, and this book didn't stand a chance, unfortunately. It may be unfair that I'm comparing it to such a great book, but I think even if I hadn't, I still would've thought this was mediocre.

Henry is, at first, a boy with no character. He obeyed his father and became friends with a Japanese girl named Keiko. They both had no character. The only unique thing about Henry is that he likes jazz music, and that seems to be something big in the story. It does have significance, but I don't like how that was the only thing that seemed to set him apart. 

The backdrop, or setting, is interesting. It seemed like I was walking in an old American film. I think, in this case, the film would have been better than the book. I think it was quite...emotionless. Henry's relationship with his wife was just...nothing. His relationship to his friend Sheldon was just...there. A book without emotion is like a heart without love. I think that's what killed this book. Everything is fine, the storyline, the plot, the characters: but it's like a fish bone with no meat. The emotion was missing and it killed it.

I did like the ending, I liked how it tied with some elements in the beginning. I love the cover, and how it ties well into what the book is about. I'm sad to say that's as far as my interest in the book goes. I recommend it to people who are interested in this time period and Asian-themed historical fiction, 

to read along with: Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

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review: a thousand splendid suns

book info:
ages: 16 and up
grades: 10 and up (Years 12 and up)
on sale: now
copy from: library
pages: 372
publisher: Riverhead


title: A Thousand Splendid Suns
author: Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years, from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding, that puts the violence, fear, hope and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives, the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness, are inextricable from the history playing out around them.
Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heartwrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love, a stunning accomplishment.

I am stunned. Is all I can say. I just finished reading it two minutes ago, and I'm shocked. The story is heartbreaking, sad and hopeful and absolutely emotional. This story has the same profound effect as The Kite Runner.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the best book I've read in ages. Emotional, heartbreaking, bittersweet...amazing.

Mariam, the young girl who starts the story, is a character who is innocent and hopeful to see her father, a rich man who cast her and her mother out of his household, and visits her rarely. She was one dimensional at first, but later, as the story progressed, layers and layers of complexity, past and present mixed together to create a pitiful character that is Mariam.

The story suddenly breaks into the story of a girl that lives in Mariam's new neighbourhood, the daughter of a mother: Laila. Laila and her best friend, Tariq, later form the story that I found most heartbreaking, of friendship and love that endures bloody war and harsh life. . She's beautiful, with yellow hair and green eyes, and he's beautiful in his own right, with a stump where his right leg used to be. It's their story that nearly made me cry, that made me love this book

Hosseini has this way of telling the entire life, lives, of characters from start to finish. Just like in The Kite Runner, with the innocent start of two boys that later turns into an equally, if not more, heart-wrenching story of struggle and friendship: A Thousand Splendid Suns starts off simple. At first, I was a bit confused, unsure of what was going to happen and what was happening, but then as I continued reading, everything fit together perfectly. Small little things have big meaning later on, and the start ties with the end, like a full circle.

The rich Afghan culture as a setting, the Taliban, the war and the social changes truly made this book shine. Rather than just being a backdrop, and having the characters take centre stage and placing more importance on them, the culture and the characters are intertwined. The story of Mariam, Laila and Tariq shines light to an even bigger message of the time of Soviet power, the rise of the Taliban and the effects it has and had on Afghanistan. I think, to portray everything as a whole in such a way, makes A Thousand Splendid Suns a true historical fiction novel.

There is violence, and sometimes it was so hard to read, I just wanted to skip the pages. But it's that raw type of writing that makes this book have such an impact. It's one of the best books I've read in a while, and I wish I had spread the book out over  span of at least a week, and not two days. I don't think I'd like to go back and re-read it, to experience the pain all over again or to read about these unknowing characters and wanting to say things like "Don't do that!" First time read only :)

This is my first time giving five trees to a book, and I say it's well deserved. I recommend this to all readers who think they're mature enough. There's a lot to handle in this book :)

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topic: nasty or noble?

source: tumblr

" And he understood human nature so deeply, not just our great capacity for virtue and for goodness, and for love, but our capacity for pain and destruction and anger." Tom Hiddleston on Shakespeare

There's something about the way Mr Hiddleston (Mr Hiddleston, haha, why am I so formal? I don't know him personally, so I don't feel like I'm privileged to address him on first name basis) says things, about the characters he plays or on human nature itself, but whenever he says something like this, I get very inspired. Mind you, I haven't taken psychology or studies on human nature at all, so I don't speak from professional knowledge. 

"I believe we are born clean slates, and we all have a capacity to be nasty or noble"

Nasty or Noble?

They're two halves of a whole, I think, and we have to embrace both parts in ourselves. A person that is completely nice, completely passive and serene, is empty. He that never yells, or speaks his mind in fear of others judging him, and just sitting back is he that's a grey, empty, unfeeling person. I might have already said this, but it resounds in my mind the quote that someone once said "The opposite of love is indifference" A person who is 100% noble (I think that person doesn't exist) is not 100% human.


And on the other, extreme end, and occurs more frequently than the former, are those that are wholesomely nasty. Allowing oneself to become bitter, or mean-hearted, is allowing oneself to go the deepest, lowest pits of self-esteem and hurt. One can reach that place by just being sad and isolated, like I was for a time being, and it's clear whether or not one has reached there. The choice that has to be made is whether to fix it or not.


Striking the perfect balance, with preferably more nobility than nastiness, is easily done. When you feel like you're in a particularly grim mood, it happens to me when I'm hungry or tired, quickly try to remedy it and hold back any mean words or things you wouldn't normally say. Countless times, I haven't been able to do that, and I ended up hurting the people I love. It's not a good feeling! Lately, I've been preventing it from happening and I feel good about doing so later on.

Good or Evil?

I don't believe that a person is either good or bad, like black or white. There are, quoting a popular phrase "shades of grey" inside a person, and it's up to he or she to decide which to side to use and when.

In Literature

Like Mr Hiddleston said, all shades of humanity are explored in Shakespeare's works and I think it's brilliant. But how about in more commonly, sometimes more popularly, YA books? We take our complex personalities for granted, and it comes naturally while writing and reading, to understand people. What's more exciting is exploring the ugly side of human nature, in these books, and it's what's read about most often. In my previous posts on kindness and compassion, I mentioned how these actions/traits are  missing from YA books. Yet, I think it's good that books explore the ugly side of people's because usually, it'd remedied, and it's necessary to bring out the bad side of someone, to show it to readers, and also show the capability of overcoming that gunky, slimy bad things and break open the shell to become a re-discovered butterfly. Gosh, that just sounded so lame (haha!), but I hope you know what I mean?

On Male Characters: specifically "The Nice Guy"

Since most YA is written from the female perspective, and I think it's because the writers are female, that it's difficult to understand, yet alone write, male characters. Sometimes, I believe they're too shallow. There's either the nice guy or the bad guy. And the bad guys are more complex, have that small, tiny heart that's still capable of love. But the nice guys: they're just pure sugar: it's like they're not even worthy of having human characteristics, and are this one dimensional person with no layers. 


But of course this problem wouldn't be present, if there weren't any love triangles! My gosh, I'm growing quite...sick of reading love triangles. I've come to expect them, and them I'm happily shocked when I don't see one (very rare occasion!) Anyway, I'd just like to ask, if there are "nice guy" "bad guy" characters, to make them have both good and bad qualities, and not just based on looks, but their personality, traits, and feelings.


I feel like I have just ranted about the same thing a thousand times, in different wording. I'm so sorry if I just sounded preachy the whole time. Did you enjoy this post, or topic posts in general?

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what do you think?

Hello friends!
  Soon, it's going to be the start of a new school year for me, and I want to bring about some changes to this book blog. I like the way it is. Simple, sweet: just reviews and topic posts, the occasional interview and giveaways. However, I feel like I'm not servicing to your interests so I decided to change things, but I want to know how you feel about it.

There are already many giveaways planned for this year, guaranteed, and I know how popular those are, haha. But would you guys like to see more:

• interviews
• book spotlights
• guest posts
• blogger interviews
• excerpt reveals

And if so, what genres are you all most interested in seeing? I've added my opinions:

• Young Adult (YA)  <---yes!
•  Middle Grade (MG)
•  Romance <---if it's in the YA genres
•  Chick-Lit
•  Fantasy <---YA
•  Paranormal
•  Contemporary <---YA
•  Dystopian <----YA
•  Mystery/Thriller
•  Historical <---Adult or YA

See, I'm singing up to be a host on this blog tour website that has this as part of the sign-up. Before I do, I want to know if you guys would want to see these changes, and how. Personally, I'd just like to add a few giveaways and do interviews. I'm not really into guest posting, as you all follow me for my content, not someone else's. I'd love it if you guys could fill out the survey below!

 I've never participated in a blog tour before, so this is all new to me. It seems like a load of bloggers do it, and I think I should modernise my old fashioned blog, haha :) 

P.S. I may be adding some of what you say to a new page I'm making for opinions about my blog. If you want me to post what you say and link to you, do tell me!

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feature and follow #6

It's another feature and follow Friday! For all you newcomers (I'm not sure if there are) here are my "tweaked" rules for the hop, which I hope are acceptable:


I don't like Feature and Follow Friday's because it forces people to follow this blog, of whom are not really interested in my content, and are only interested in getting followers for their blogs. I know this isn't true for everyone, but it's an underlying concept. Therefore, I've changed it a bit to fit me. Why? Because a blog that doesn't grow is stale and boring. And as a blogger and person, I'm constantly craving meeting people and interacting.

SO If you're visiting (thank you so much!) here's what's happening:

• If I followed you, you are NOT required to follow me back: only if you want to
• If you follow me, I'll seriously consider following you back, but it's not guaranteed

I know it's part of the hop, that it's basic courtesy to follow you back, but...I'm not sure I can do it. I don't believe in following a blog that I don't think I'll enjoy, even though you're an awesome person. Gosh, I feel like I'm just ruining the fun of this hop. SORRY!



I don't particularly like this week's question because it's not much of a discussion. However, I get a gift card, yes!



Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?

Well, I don't really celebrate Christmas, but I understand :D Whatever that costs....well, I do have a very expensive book in mind that I've always wanted, but new it would be...ridiculous.

Water Shows the Hidden Heart by Roma Ryan:

In 2005 shortly after the release of Amarantine, Roma Ryan self-published the 'Water Shows the Hidden Heart' book that further developed the song's storyline. This limited hard-cover edition also featured a foreword by Enya, information about the Loxians and a selection of Roma's poems. The book was later reprinted and included in the Deluxe Collector's Edition of Amarantine boxed set. The second edition omitted Enya's introduction and added colour images and a different selection of Roma's poetry. Both editions are now out of print.

People call me strange, but Enya is my favourite singer ever. I've been a huge fan of hers since grade school when I heard her playing on the radio. I hadn't really listened to music that much, but when I heard her song "Only Time" on the radio, I was entranced. She introduced me to music, and hers is amazing.


The second book...I want to own a book that I truly enjoy and wish I had, not a new upcoming release that I don't know whether I'll like or not. So...I think I'd love a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last, and only five lucky children will be allowed inside. But what they find is even wilder than any of the wild rumors they've heard!

On Goodreads, it got nearly a continuous stream of straight 5 stars. It totally deserves it. I remember laughing aloud and smiling the whole time while reading this, the voices shouting in my head and the taste of chocolate dripping on my tongue. I should probably get a copy so I can re-read it until the end of time :D

Thank you so much for stopping by! Leave a comment and I promise I'll visit your blog :D What were your two choices?

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review: a map of the known world

Hi readers! I'm going to try something new with this review. I read a post on (Candace's Book Blog) about what people look for in a review, so I'm going to make this one to see if I can improve my reviewing skills. Tell me what you think! (P.S. this is a book I read quite a few years ago, but never reviewed)

book info:
ages: 13 and up
grades: 7-8 and up (Years 9 and up)
on sale: now
copy from: Amazon
pages: 243
publisher: Scholastic Press

title: A Map of the Known World
author: Lisa Ann Sandell

photo: goodreads

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

They say no land remains to be discovered, no continent is left unexplored. But the whole world is out there, waiting, just waiting for me. I want to do things-I want to walk the rain-soaked streets of London, and drink mint tea in Casablanca. I want to wander the wastelands of the Gobi desert and see a yak. I think my life's ambition is to see a yak. I want to bargain for trinkets in an Arab market in some distant, dusty land. There's so much. But, most of all, I want to do things that will mean something.

I had read Ms Sandell's Song of the Sparrow. It's a brilliant story told in verse of Arthurian legend. I loved it.  Now, I'm reviewing a book now that I read about a year ago, so my thoughts aren't fresh. On goodreads, I had given it five stars (I can't give half-star ratings, so I think it was a 4.5)

A Map of the Known World is a simple and sweet, heartbreaking story about a girl discovering the secret life of her brother after his death, discovering love and along the road, herself. 

The story is truly believable. I could feel Cora's pain over losing her brother, it's real. Her family troubles are real and the writing. Her emotions were near tangible and I think that what she's missing is what's supposed to be missing. Cora's brother just died! I can expect her to feel hollow. 

Her relationship with Damian is real as well. I would say it's cliche to fall in love with one's brother's best friend, but to fall in love with one's brother's best friend when one's brother is dead? And when this best friend was there? That's a lot of complexity in the relationship, and it played out wonderfully. I liked how Cora didn't completely drown herself in him, and still focused on uncovering her brother's artistic past and coming at terms with his death.

 Damian is not the typical bad boy. There's raw feelings with him, and he doesn't curse or tease or play with other girls. There's something missing about him too, and once again, it's supposed to be that way (or at least, I think so)

I think that getting the way a family functions after a death of a member is incredibly difficult to write. There are so many feelings and emotions tangled together, and writing it in a way that makes sense to a reader is hard to accomplish, but Ms Sandell did it amazingly. Most authors, when someone dies, ignores the family and follows around the main character. However, in A Map of the Known World, the importance of family is actually written out, and I loved it.

The plot wasn't fast and action-paced: it was slow. Slow in the best meaning possible. Slow meaning that it was just the right pace for this type of story. It's about three hundred pages with slightly big lettering, and it takes place over the course of about a month or a bit longer than that. That's why it's detailed, and the pace is perfect.

I remember really enjoying this book, and being in awe of it's brilliance. However, I think the story could've gone deeper, and I really wanted to explore the characters more, though I'm sure the mystery around them is what makes it good...ahh, I liked it but it isn't the absolute epitome of the best, you know? I'll mark it down to 4 and a half trees

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historical fiction: prepare to see more of it!

Historical fiction is one my most favourite genres, but I just haven't actually gone out and picked them up. Getting books from the young adult section at my library is easy, it's several bookshelves along a wall that are all YA. However, going to the adult fiction section is like, about eight massive bookshelves one after another: so getting books there has been a put-off. I do plan, however, when I go to volunteer there again this Thursday, to hunt through that section. I shelve adult fiction for now, so it'll provide me with that opportunity, hehe :D

What inspired me to actually start on historical fiction is this historical fiction blog called The Tiny Library. I'll be reading and reviewing a lot of books that Sam has mentioned, yay! It's really exciting. What to expect:

photo credit: goodreads

• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• A suitable boy : a novel by Vikram Seth
• In Arabian nights : a caravan of Moroccan dreams by Tahir Shah

I'm pleased to read Arab/Indian historical fiction. I'm slightly biased because I am Indian, so I'll be able to understand a lot. And my family hangs out with Pakistanis and Sikhs and the whole awesome bunch, so I'll also have background info on Arab based historical fiction.

So what do you think? Do you have any historical fiction suggestions? It'd be cool if they were slightly older, so I can get them at the library, I haven't got the time or money to drive all the way over to Barnes and Noble (quite a distance from my house) you know? Thanks!

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Six Hundred Followers!

Hi guys! I'm really excited to announce that I have achieved six hundred followers! That's an amazing achievement that I never thought I'd get, back when I had around two hundred followers. It seems like 600 is the magical number of followers that makes one a "high up" blogger. The number of followers shouldn't matter, as quality of content is the only thing that should, but nonetheless, it's an observation I've made.

I am old

As I was browsing through my Reading List, trying to find blogs I've loved and grew up blogging with, I realised that nearly all of them have just...stopped blogging. I did that once too, I might have stopped with them and a generation would have died: but I didn't. I feel like a survivor. I mean, I had great affiliates like Cate from Sparrow Review and Liz from Cleverly Inked:

Now they've both gone, and my only affiliate left is Precious from Fragments of Life. It's sad to not see them around any more. Jenn from Book Crazy has formally stopped blogging. Fortunately, not all of my old favourites have entirely left. Kate from the Neverending Bookshelf and Bookworming in the 21st Century (another one that I love) actually continued blogging together. Brizmus is still around on twitter and Teens Read and Write is still functioning after all these years.

What 600 Means To Me

I honestly don't know. I don't think 600 followers makes the quality of my blog better, so I'll just be posting the same as usual, just to a larger audience. Of course, it means I'll have to keep up with and connect with my readers though. Have surveys, ask what you all want to see and such. Ruling by the masses :D

600 also means something to me, as a person. That perseverance reaps benefits, and to never give up what I enjoy doing, because things will get better. Now, I don't really mind how many followers I get. I feel like my hunt to get more followers, that thirst, is over. I mean, 700 or 1000 would be nice, but I'm not going to stay up nights or days just devising tactics to get followers. The storm is over, and now it's just time to relax and blog. It's a great feeling!

Celebration?

I'm working on this 600 Follower Giveaway Event at the moment, asking authors and publishers to donate to the pot. I'm still working on all of this, so it may take a while to actually get out there. If you'd like to donate, I'd love for you to get in touch with me (raokiki6(at)gmail(dot)com) and we can discuss it :D

Thank you

Thank you so much, my readers, for sticking with me for four years, through ups and downs you've been there, and it's amazing. You may remember when I was at 8 followers, or 100, or 200 and so on, and I hope you're proud to have seen me come this far! It's all because of you readers, that this blog has been possible! I haven't forgotten you, my old friends, and I can't wait to get to know my new ones!

Some GIFs to describe this sentimental moment:

A big hug to each and every one of you!

is what I'm doing now

And last but not least:

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my books

Well, really the books in the bookshelf. I've taken a picture of my bookshelf before, but not the actual books that I own. Welcome: to my books! This may kind of look like bragging, but I don't usually buy books like many other bloggers, so I don't have too many fantastically envy-worthy books to share. 

First, I have my prized Harry Potter collection! I'm sad to say I've mis-located the Chamber of Secrets and I still need to get my own copy of The Half Blood Prince. I know they're the necessities in every bibliophile's library but...I promise I'll get to it! My favourite series ever: Harry Potter!

US Editions

Thanks to my Mum and Dad for getting them for me :D

By the way, I was just eating some Kit-Kats while re-reading a bit of the Deathy Hallows:

I unwrapped it in a strange way, so don't think I was like, mad with chocolate hunger or something, haha :D But I have been! It's been ages since I've actually had chocolate. Before this, I managed to sneak peanut M&M's at the cinema/theatre with my friend Rachel. Before that, I hadn't had any for months!

10,000 pounds for the perfect break. I tried. But it's so hard! Maybe next time :D I think the contest is over though... anyway: on with the books!

The Signed Books 

Cleopatra's Daughter and Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran (in my favourites: great historical fiction!)

This is Hilary Duff's signature in her book, Elixir (which isn't a good book: a cliche Disney-type story) I watched her shows and movies (Cheaper by the Dozen) I can say it's my first celebrity "autograph"!

May you find many hours of happy reading with Shadows Cast by Stars- Catherine Knutsson (thank you!)

The awesome swag that came with it!

Another one of my all-time favourites: Eden by Keary Taylor. A fantastic, loveable dystopian novel.

Some of my favourites that I actually own:

A really emotional and thrilling book: like, amazingly brilliant. You must read this.

I love this cover. I love this book. It's so lovely.

My first Michelle Moran book: absolutely amazing! Even if you don't like historical fiction: you should give this one a go.

 Sorry if the pictures are so massive, and the horrible pastel colour of my bedspread. :D What do you think?

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