Tara's Books

Books of 2011 - Book 26

Somehow it feels very fitting that this was the last book I read this year. I think it might be because the first book was the first one I read, first one that wasn’t forced on me by school anyways.

This sequel was absolutely brilliant. I got it for christmas and hadn’t even meant to read it this quickly (finished it in an evening and a day) but it just gripped me right from the start. I probably would have stayed up to finish it that first evening if it hadn’t been the 30th and I knew I’d never stay awake very long into the new year if I stayed up late the night before as well. And I just love greek mythology so this series is extra awesome for me. I’m kind of like Annabeth in my knowledge of the mythology, I always feel like Percy’s kind of an idiot for not knowing what/who some things are XP
Anyways, the story was brilliant and I loved the new character of Tyson and the closer look it gave of Clarisse. Also the ending, light knows I wasn’t planning on buying a new book so short after christmas but since I got one I already had I’ll definitely be exchanging it for the next book in the series, if I can find it in bookstores here anyways x.x

And so that was my last book read in the year 2011. I had hoped to manage more, but I guess there’s always next year. I mean… this year. So that’s my new year’s resolution this time around I guess, to read more books in 2012 than I did in 2011.

Books of 2011 - Book 25

I usually don’t count books I’ve read before but I give this one a slide because even thought I have read it before I’ve never actually read it in English (and I was a child when I read it in Icelandic too, it’s been more years than I can count).
This story is so magical. I had forgotten quite a few things from in there so the experience was almost like reading some parts for the first time. I don’t really have any more words for this story, I’m pretty sure everyone knows it anyways ^^

Books of 2011 - Book 24

*contains spoilers, but not if you’ve seen the movie*
I loved this book. I really shouldn’t have let my sister force me to watch the movie. I always wanted to wait until I had read the book but she somehow convinced me since I really had no idea when I’d get my hands on the book and we happen to own the movie. Not like the movie made the book any less wonderful, not at all, the movie was great. But if I hadn’t seen the movie light knows I’d have died on the inside when the book said Westley died. Both times. I’d have cried my eyes out, both times, and when Inigo seemed to be dying before managing to kill the count. Especially with Westley’s second death and Inigo since the author stated that warning; “Some of the wrong people die.” I actually cried a bit anyways, or more like teared up, because I was afraid Inigo might die in the book and they had just polished it up into a happier ending for the movie. I’m really glad that wasn’t the case.
*no spoilers after this btw*

But this book, oh this book is one of the most amazing ones I’ve ever read. I just finished it a few minutes ago so I’m still in that hype you have right after finishing a book, that period of time where you can think of nothing else but the book and even if you tried you couldn’t start another story of any kind just then, book, movie or tv show or anything at all. Not even an old story you’ve heard before or watching the next episode of a tv show you’re already inside. No other story can be entered during this time, at least not for me. Then again, maybe I’m just strange. But anyways, amazing amazing amazing and wonderful book that I can’t even put into words how wonderful it was. And it’s not just my odd book-finishing-hype talking, it really is brilliant. No matter what kind of books you read I’m certain you’ll love it too if you haven’t read it, and if you haven’t I advice you to do so.

That’s the cover of the one I read, a 25th anniversary copy I borrowed from my aunt. Why didn’t I borrow it sooner and read it before watching the movie? Cause she lived in another country and I had no idea she had a copy, that’s why. Would have asked her years ago if I had known, or even suspected. Anyways, enough babbling for now and I love this book.

Books of 2011 - Book 23

Can you believe this was the first Neil Gaiman book I ever read? I’ve adored the author just from quotes, movies and reputation for years. Which sounds really silly saying it like that, but I did, I absolutely loved him. Which in turn sounds like I don’t after reading this, which is completely wrong. Now I just love him even more.
I guess it’s just like with so many other books, I want to read them but it often takes forever for me to get the chance to do so. Darn me for not being born with English as my native language, I could have started so much sooner x.x (Of course I don’t mean that, I love my language too and wouldn’t want to trade it for the world). But now this one is off the list and wow, just wow. As always the book is a million times better than the movie (which is so weird because I loved the movie, enough to put loved in both bold and italics) and have seen it countless times. And I firmly believed it would be better before starting it too. People keep telling me that starting with such high expectations might leave me disappointed but with books it just usually doesn’t happen because they are always so much better than I ever dreamed they would be.
Anyways, Stardust. Amazing fairy tale, wonderful characters, Faerie is now officially on my list of places I want to visit (or at least the market if I can’t). If you like fairy tales, adventure and beautiful words then for the love of books read this one.

P.S.: Only thing I missed from the movie was Captain Shakespeare, he was epic.

Books of 2011 - Book 22

As with the other Discworld books I’ve read this year this is what I have to say: Terry Pratchett is awesome and amazing, discworld novels are fantastical, if you’ve read one you know exactly what I mean and if you haven’t you should start reading them right now.

Also, this one is so far one of my favorites ^^