Books in my Soul

One of my favorite Bloggers wrote an article about how the movies, music, paintings, and, of course most especially, books that we grew up with become apart of us. I love this theory, and completely believe it.

Do read her beautifully written blog on this subject: Books in my Soul and the further inspired What art is in your soul?

To follow her on twitter @A_K_Anderson

Also C.J. Sullivan has a lovely vlog posted on her blog of her favorite childhood book. Favorite Childhood Book

And now I attempt to peer into my own soul... What has molded me? What were the books of my childhood that have now became apart of my soul? ...

- Island of the Blue Dolphins - It was b/c of her that I had all sorts of wilderness adventures as a child. I even decorated my room with fur pelts (i.e. my mom's minks - she loved that), rocks, and hanging sticks. Not to mention the yarn spider maze trap I turned my entire room into for a time.

Island of the Blue Dolphins - Chapters Specials

- Miss Rumphius - Its actually based on a the real life of a lady that lived in Maine. Miss Rumphius is a librarian who decides to travel the world. And then fulfill a quest her grandfather gave to her to do something to make the world more beautiful. It  was a quest that always inspired me as a child. And strangely enough my life is truly following a similar path. This is a book I feel compelled to pick-up/buy every time I pass by it.

Miss Rumphius - Chapters Specials

- Little Women - I was Jo. Tom-boy. Writer. Philosopher. Not content with settling down. Little Women - Chapters Specials

- Pride and Prejudice - I was a little bit of all of the girls, but I greatly related to the sarcasm and independent thinking of Elizabeth.

Pride and Prejudice - Chapters Specials

- Anne of Green Gables - Stubborn redhead with a ridiculous imagination that always got her in and out of trouble. - Yup that's me.

Anne of Green Gables - Chapters Specials

- Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty/Beauty & the Beast - grew up singing my way through everything. Also believed Prince Charming might actually exist in all his perfection. - not such a healthy belief, that one.

The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales - Chapters Specials

- Archie Comics - I've read more Archie comic books then I've read of all other books combined. I just adore Betty. She is Superwomen! She can fix cars. Play any sport like a pro. Bake cake to perfection. She's a straight 'A' student. She is totally sexy, and doesn't really know it. If there was only one character of all literature (yes, I said literature) I could choose to make an impression on my soul, it would be Betty.

She deserves to get Archie, but he doesn't deserve her. Still, I hope she gets him, just because she loves him so completely.

She gets 4 pics in this blog, because she's that awesome.

Archie Comics - Chapters Special

Do the characters of these various books belong in the same room? Let alone altogether affecting one soul? - curious indeed.  Still, I would hope, had they all known each other, they might have been great friends.

What about you? What books have become apart of your soul?

The Little Prince By Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Little Prince was actually introduced to me by James Dean. It sounds strange, I know, but its true. Years ago, I went through a bit of a James Dean obsession phase. - And it was mentioned, more then once, how he loved this story, and insisted upon reading it to most of his friends. Etched on a sculpture by his memorial tomb is his favorite quote, from this book, "What is essential is invisible to the eyes." Based on this heavy recommendation I had to read it for myself.  If you haven't read this book, let it be James Dean's praise of it, and not mine, that truly motivates you. - It's more fun that way.

Though I was predisposed to love this book, long before I read it, I found it really was/is a masterpiece. Written for children yet laced with philosophical profoundness for sages. I have personally bought five copies of the book, and I periodically give them out to inspire the particularly enlightened.

Saint-Exupery takes the subject of love with all its complexities, and he concisely explains it to a child. "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." "You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose..." "If you love a flower that lives on a star, it is sweet to look at the sky at night. All the stars are a-bloom with flowers..." He further awakens the reader to the sad reality that adults tend to forget what is actually important, and become buried in superciliousness.

It is no wonder over 80 million copies of the book have been sold in over 180 languages. Yet, it still amazes me to see how The Little Prince has become such a culture-craze. Quotes, from this book, can be found anywhere from jewelry to tattoos. Artist's depictions of many of the book's scenes are constantly being drawn. People of all backgrounds seem to be very touched by the universal truths found in this beautiful story about a Little Prince's love for his rose.

Copies of this book are available for purchase here: Chapters

Post Review Notes:

Since writing the above review, I have read some very conflicting reviews on GoodReads, though by far the majority still do love it, I would like to state my thoughts on some of the objections raised.

Obviously I loved this book. It spoke to me (and 80 million+ others), and is the kind of philosophical book I enjoy. Certainly I appreciate that not everyone enjoys that type of story. And quite often when a book is so overwhelmingly loved it is met with an equally passionate wall of hate.

However, I think as far as the accusation of it " trying too hard to be profound..." goes, the year it was published should be taken into consideration. And I would like to explain why I feel this way. Today, we may have thousands of books that are packed with profoundness, but this book was the grandfather of those, published in 1943, right in the middle of world war II. There was not much like it at the time.

Pointed statements were made about racism/xenophobia, the fallibility of leaders, the lack of humanity in the commercial world, and in general the foolishness of the human condition. Granted it does have a depressing tone which reflects the author's disillusionment and perhaps bitterness with his own life. Nevertheless, it was a powerful message at a time when the world was falling apart at the seams, and I believe it deserves some respect for that alone.

In the end, at the heart of this story, the message is fairly simple: all the distractions and garbage in the world mean nothing... Love is what gives life importance. - And I think that's a message worth sharing.

Of Beast And Beauty by Stacey Jay

Release Date: July 23, 2013 | Hardcover

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra is raised merely to sacrifice herself someday to ensure her people''s vitality. In the desert outside, Gem, a mutant boy, fights to keep his people from starvation. Neither dreams that together they could return balance to their world. Isra, a Smooth Skin, bound by magical covenant to the city of Yuan, wants to help the Banished people of her city, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits the blind princess believes she also possesses. One night, Gem is captured while trying to steal the city''s enchanted roses, and he becomes Isra''s beastly prisoner from the desert. But when Isra enlists the aid of Gem to help her grow herbs that will prevent mutation, she discovers just how human he is, and she begins to question everything she''s been raised to believe. As dark secrets from the past are revealed and Isra''s sight returned, she will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

I am pretty excited about this soon to come summer release. It sounds like it has some really intriguing plot potential, and I haven't read many retellings of Beauty and the Beast.

Much thanks to mindfulmundanes.blogspot.ca for bringing this to my attention!

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Jan 29, 2015

I had totally forgotten wanting to read this book. I am very pleased that I finally did!! It was great!!


"But he that dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose. " - Anne Bronte

I have loved that quote for many moons. It was this quote that initially inspired me to buy this book. 30 pages in I was regretting the purchase, not to mention I'm not a huge fan of first person. I pressed on though I was not expecting to like this story, much less love it. But it very quickly grew on me, and then reminded me of a belief I've long forgotten... a belief in the power of love.

Its altruistic in an endearingly primitive way. I gave it 5 stars not b/c it was written perfectly, it wasn't necessarily, -at times its down right cheesy- but b/c it has been a long time since a book has made me hope for a fairy tale-like love. And I couldn't put it down until I knew the fate our two heroes.

The loyalty of Isra's maid, Needle, moved me. She is an incredible character throughout the story; completely selfless and the most beautiful, in my opinion. It is so human to believe we are ugly. To not see our own beauty. To quickly believe the worse of ourselves and our enemies. The story battles this like a hero. There are many parallels to the situation of our world... such change, and healing needs to happen for us too.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I didn't have a clue what this book would be about, and the fact it was in teens made me nervous. My twitter friends recommended it to me several times. Even then, it was only after a desperate soul called me at Chapters (I work at Chapters) praying that we would have a copy that I finally decided to put one aside for me as well.

When I read the first two paragraphs I nearly died thinking 'OH NO! This book is about depression and cancer!?' I don't think I would have picked it up, had I known, and thank god I didn't, because it was fantabulous!!!! Let me say it again: FANTABULOUS!!! A FIVE STAR BOOK! Do you even know how long its been since I've read a five star book!? Jane Austen.

Hazel Grace is an enlightened 16 year old girl, and the narrator of her seemingly inglorious story of her battle with pain and social apathy. "Sickness really does eat up one's passion for life." "That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt." However, 17 year old Augustus is quickly introduced to the plot and suddenly Hazel has an equal to challenge her mind. It was not long before I had to pry the book out of my hands, find a note book, and start writing out quotes that I'm sure I will be using for years to come. That and a dictionary, from time to time, because words like "hamartia" are regretfully not in my vocab. - Even google's blogger is trying to auto correct the word, right now, which makes me feel a bit better.

The plot moved at a perfect speed, no sooner did I ask a character/plot question, in my head, then it was answered. I felt like I was digesting such a feast, and yet with each page I was still ravenous. The seamless way Green wove Shakespeare and Maslow's Hierarchy all into one story reminded me of Malcolm Gladwell's genius. Both have a way of effortlessly explaining complexities and making it palatable.

But here I am rambling on about the writing style and not the plot. In part, because I don't wish to deprive you from peeling each layer of this onion yourself. And the other part, being, because the style was so fantastic that I feel a healthy portion of this review should just praise it.

One can't help adore the love that blossoms between Hazel and Augustus. Pity and laugh with their blind friend Isaac. And muse at the complexities of Hazel's parents position.

Suffice it to say, "I fell in love <with this book> the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

P.S. Big Thank You to all my Twitter peeps who recommended this book to me! @charlie_n_books
For more info on the book and the writer please visit: http://johngreenbooks.com/the-fault-in-our-stars/
If you wish to buy it you can find it here: Great Deals!!

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

There has been a lot of buzz over this novel, so I willed myself to start it, and then happily finished it.

Hester Prynne is a strong stubborn adulterous wife in a Puritan society, who's character I quickly fell in love with. After spending her pregnancy, plus some, in prison, she's forced to walk through the town, cradling her baby girl, and to stand on a high scaffold in silence. The town's people watch on in disgust, many wishing her dead. At this most inopportune moment, her long-lost unloving husband wanders back into town. Coldly he calculates his revenge as he stands with the rest of the crowd. Everyone urges her to divulge the name of her lover. Loyally, she endures their prodding and remains silent.

Its a beautifully written tragedy, and my heart broke into a thousand pieces at the end.

""Shall we not meet again?" whispered she, bending her face down close to his."

I strongly recommend reading it, though I will admit Hawthorne is quite wordy in his intro. The old English used poses a bit of a challenge, but it is well worth it in the end.

For a book published in 1850, I'm actually shocked by its message. It questions sin, and asks the reader who really has the right to judge?... it begs for pity, mercy, and compassion. A few movies have been made of the book. Demi Moore starred as Hester Prynne in a more recent retelling, and Emma Stone starred in Easy A which was inspired by The Scarlet Letter, and is referred to several times throughout the movie. I'm sure it was a very powerful book for its time, and probably why these ripples still touch us today.

The Scarlet Letter can be purchased here:
Chapter's Indigo: The Scarlet Letter Special

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I'm very happy to be writing this review. I found it a pleasure to read.

To be honest, when I first heard this book was a twist on the Cinderella story I yawned. - I felt the Cinderella market had been milked, for that matter, fairy tale retelling in general, but especially Cinderella. However, this was actually a twist.

Cinder is not the sweet song singing helpless girl typically portrayed as Cinderella. Rather, she has angst, and is physically handicapped by today's standards. Treated as an outcast by a world that considers human's with artificial modifications (aka Cyborgs) to be inferior mutants, she tries to hide her cyborg parts, and somehow wills herself to persevere. She is a bold intellectual character with issues, and I like her. She's not a girly-girl, she gets excited about junk yard digging for car parts, and is quite often a dirty sweaty mess, but she knows who she is. - Or at least, she thinks she does, until she finds out she hasn't got a clue.

Watching her relationship grow with Prince Kai is no less intriguing. Any teenage girl would be bound to have insecurities when standing next to the world's cutest bachelor, but Cinder has cyborg parts to hide on top of that. The fact that this all takes place in New Beijing adds a unique flavor.

The dystopian society, Meyer creates, is a refreshing blend of Cyborgs, androids, ID chips, hover cars, Lunars on the moon with strange powers, and a deathly plague with no cure. Think Cinderella meets Sailor Moon meets Star Wars.

I eagerly await the release of Scarlet! (For my review on Scarlet click the following link: My Scarlet Review).

Right now Cinder can be purchased online or in any book store, and me being the Indigo girl that I am, here is a link, it's on sale:
Chapter's Indigo: Cinder Specials

Not to be ignored is the Prequel to Cinder which is: Glitches and the side story of The Queen's Army - the latter of which lends great promise to the Second book to come in the lunar chronicles. These are short stories that add to the plot depth.

To my knowledge Glitches (Kobo.com/Glitches) and the Queen's Army (Kobo.com/The Queen's Army) can only be purchased online for e-readers for 0.99

For another excellent review of Cinder check out these links:
Susan Bloggin bout' Books - chance to win a copy!

Brittany's The Book Addict's Guide

To read an amazing interview with Marissa Meyer, and a sneak peek on Cress:
My Friends are Fiction