Friday 30 September 2016

MONTHLY READS - SEPTEMBER

Oh, how fast the time flies!

My final year of high school started this month. That means I'm graduating in spring. Yay. And that means my TBR pile had to be put down for a bit to make more space for the books I need to read for school. And let me tell you, reading school books wasn't exactly an easy task since last month, in August, I experienced a terrible reading slump.

Well, I tried to go back to my regular reading habits. It wasn't easy at all, since I was moving the house (again) in the middle of the month. Let's have a look at how I managed. I tried, okay? I tried.


Romeo, Julie a tma (Romeo, Juliet and Darkness)
Jan Otčenášek
Genre: novella
First published: 1956
Pages: 142
Language: Czech
Type: e-book

Rating: 4/5

I read this book for school. And let me tell you, I need to stop having prejudices against Czech authors. The language of this book is so beautiful that it made me grateful for having Czech as my mother tongue. I loved every single written sentence.

This is a story about Pavel and Ester, a Jewish girl, in the time of the Heydrichiade. It's actually exactly what the title says it is — a story about a Romeo and Juliet, two young people who cannot be together because of the Darkness. Darkness here symbolises the nazi Germany. I love books about the second world war and this one was absolutely beautiful and awfully sad. I definitely recommend this book to everyone.


Jane Austen
Genre: novel
First published: 1811
Pages: 261
Language: English
Type: paperback

Rating: 4/5

I love Jane Austen's novels. Reading them is always such a delightful experience. I don't even have words to describe her genius anymore. Just go read her books, it will not disappoint, I promise.



As you can see, I'm still struggling with the reading slump. I hope that after two months of being terrible, my reading will finally get better next month. Wish me luck.

What about you? How was your "back-to-school" month? Any new book discoveries you'd like to share? New books that were published this month you think are definitely worth it? Let me know in the comments!

Tuesday 6 September 2016

RECOMMENDATION | The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

Hello!
Welcome to another one of the recommendation posts. Today, I'm going to talk about a book that was given to me by one of the most interesting ladies I've ever met and that absolutely changed the way I see lots of things now. The book is called The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield.

This book is not only full of things such as running from the government that wants the main characters, but it's also one of the best books containing spirituality I've ever read.

It talks about insights that were mentioned in an ancient Peruvian manuscript, and secrets that are supposed to be changing the world. This books talks about everything from noticing the coincidences happening in your life to controlling dramas we had learned as children to get energy.


I absolutely love this book. I love everything about energies and auras and spiritual (not religious!) things. I definitely think there are people who will say it's rubbish, but this book meant a lot to me when I read it, so I'm passing it on.


Do you know this book? Have you read it? What do you think about it? And do you know any other books that are like this one? Let me know!

Thursday 1 September 2016

MONTHLY READS - AUGUST

Hello, sweet peas!

I'm here today (I'm a day late today, woah, what a mess have I become?) with my birthday month's wrap up. (That's right, I'm an adult Leo now. Incredible.)

Last month, in July, I read seven great books. This month, in August, I experienced the worst reading slump ever. I've read three books in the first week of August and then I just stopped, unable to find the will to read again. In the end, I read only four books. Let's have a look at them, anyway!

Nicole Williams
Genre: NA, romance
First published: 2013
Pages: 310
Language: English
Type: e-book

Rating: 5/5

I continued with reading the Lost and Found series. It just hit me in all the right places and I simply had to read on. This book doesn't revolve around Jesse and Rowen anymore (but don't worry, there's plenty of them in this book). In this one, we focus on Garth Black, easily my most favourite character of them all. Yes, that's right. I like him as much as I love Jesse Walker. 

This story is absolutely heartbreaking. It left me ugly sobbing at three AM after I'd read it in one sitting. I'm so in love with this series and the characters that I feel like my heart might burst out at any given moment. You should definitely read it, but if you need any more convincing, go and read the whole review.


Nicole Williams
Genre: NA, romance
First published:
Pages: 258
Language: English
Type: e-book

Rating: 4/5

I didn't even know it and I was reading the fourth book in the Lost and Found series. I started regretting I started reading the moment I did, because they were all so happy at the end of book three and I was happy for them and all was well. And then it all went to ... yes, there.

I actually don't know what to think about this one. I mean, yes, it was a great lovestory, but I had a few issues with it, that's why I gave it "only" four stars. Like Garth, for example. This whole chivalric I-gotta-leave-they'll-be-better-off-without-me attitude was starting to get a bit annoying, and I'm kind of not sure about the way disability is pictured there. On the other hand, I enjoyed the book and I was kind of sad at this point because I only had one more to go.
Nicole Williams
Genre: NA, romance
First published:
Pages: 192
Language: English
Type: e-book

Rating: 5/5

The final book in the  Lost and Found series once again revolves mainly around Rowen and Jesse, who have to overcome Rowen's health problems that come along with her being pregnant. We, of course, do see quite a bit of Garth and Josie, but the focus is on the former two. It was really a brilliant ending to this amazing series.


The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
Genre: philosophical fiction
First published: 1890
Pages: 177
Language: English
Type: paperback

Rating: 5/5


When I get into a reading slump, re-reading my favourite book helps. I loved the book as much as when I was reading in for the first time. Maybe even a little bit more.



What about you and your August in books? Would you recommend any of your reads to us? And what do you do to avoid/get out of a reading slump? Share all of that in the comments with me!