Title : Strega ( Book 1 )

Author : Karen Monahan Fernandes

I really enjoyed reading this book. i couldn't put it down. It is greatly written, easy to read. can't wait for book 2.

The Ultimate Reading Challenge 2015!

Title : when the siren calls (The Siren #1)

Author : Tom Barry

i was a bit disappointed.
The main story follows Isobel, an unhappy housewife, and Jay, an attractive playful businessman. you can figure the rest ...
while reading the story ! i felt no passion ! it was all unexciting.
the characters were boring , the things that they all had in common were wealth, lies, sex, and cheating.
I wanted to like this book so bad but i just couldn't.
so I'll say it was just OK !

This book takes place immediately after the death of Lord Tywin. While Tommen, becomes the new king of the Iron Throne, due to his age, his mother rules the kingdom for him. Cercei offers a reward for the head of Tyrion Lannister, who has gone missing from his cell Convicted of the killing oh his nephew Goffery.

Dorne is in sadness for the death of Prince Oberyn.

In the North, Stannis’ host grows strong as it stays at the Wall.

Daenerys grow more strong as she conquers one city after another.

Jaime was sent to take care of the last remaining stronghold of the Kingdom of the North, Riverrun.

On the Western Sea, the demand for a new king of the Iron Islands leads to a Kingsmoot. Some of the major participants of this moot are Asha Greyjoy, Victarion Greyjoy and Euron Greyjoy.


the daughter of Doran Martell abducts Princess Myrcella, Daughter of Cercei, and attempts to raise her as the queen, as she is entitled to rule by the laws of Dorne.

Cercei attempts to plot the downfall of Margaery Tyrell, Tommen’s wife , Her plotting eventually grabs the attention of the Faith, which results in Cercei’s imprisonment due to the betrayal of one of her secrets lovers.

Berienne keep her journey to seek the daughters of Catelyn Stark as she promised.

The book ends with a note from George RR Martin explaining the absence of major characters and tha the original copy of Feast For the Crows was too large, so he separated the book, adding the narrative of the other characters in the first section of the following book, A Dance with Dragons.

A Storm of Swords 

after the Battle on the Black Water. King Stannis was terribly defeated , Rob Stark’s attention is turned towards trouble in the North and Balon Greyjoy meets an unexpected end. Even so, the threats are not over just yet, When dead men rise in the North, the Nights Watch is forced to face the threat of the white walkers.

in the South, King Joffery Baratheon is arranged to be wed with Margaery Tyrell, daughter of Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden.
Jaime Lannister, who was previously held captive of Robb Stark’s army in the North makes is way back to Kings Landing, with an injury that keeps him from returning in to the true glory of his previous self. jaime changed completely !

Daenerys Targaryen begins to follow in the footsteps of her legendary ancestor, Aegon the Conqueror. Purchasing an army of strong slaves known as the Unsullied through a suggestion made by Ser Jorah Mormont, Daenerys begins to conquer and sack the cities in the slavers bay, quickly adopting the life of a true queen.

Queen Cercei runs the kingdom.
a treason force the Men of the Nights Watch to elect a new lord commander to face the threat of a great Wildling Host.

a red wedding ! a purple wedding ! unexpected deaths ! this book was truly sad and amazing at the same time !!



my favorite book so far ♥


favorite quotes 

“Every man must die, Jon Snow. But first he must live.”

“Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought honorably. And Rhaegar died.”


“I've lost a hand, a father, a son, a sister, and a lover, and soon enough I will lose a brother. And yet they keep telling me House Lannister won this war.”



my new favorite character : ♥♥♥ jaime ♥♥♥

A Clash of Kings

By G.R.R.Martin

A Clash of Kings is A song of ice and fire Book #2

my favorite indeed !

the main events 

disorder overwhelm the Seven Kingdoms. five kings in Westeros fighting for the irone throne . King Joffery of House Baratheon and Lannister, King Robert Stark of the North, King Stannis and King Renly both brothers of Robert Baratheon and King Balon Greyjoy of the Iron islands.

the rise of Daenerys Targaryan and her three dragons.

Rob stark swore to avenge his father's death marches south, winning and defeating every army who dares face him.

while Renly’s stays in the East.

King Stannis was questioning the validity of Joffery’s rule over the Iron Throne.


Stannis meets Renly at Storms End,and demands him to surrender, claiming that the throne is his by right of law. Renly ignores Stannis’ request, but soon comes to regret it, as he meets a mysterious death by magic.
With Renly dead, Stannis takes over his power and heads out for King’s Landing, and there happens the Battle on the Blackwater.
the Lannisters win with help of The Tyrells who were allied with Renly and joined the Lannisters after his death in the battle against Stannis.

Meanwhile, the armies of the North continue along their victorious path.

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Favorite quotes

“I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid.”

“Valar Morghulis.”

“A hound will die for you, but never lie to you. And he'll look you straight in the face.”

“I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men.”

Title : To Kill a Mockingbird

Author : Harper Lee

 Thoughts

The book follows three years in the life of Scout Finch, her brother Jem, their father Atticus, and their fictional town of Maycomb.

The first half of the novel focuses mainly on Scout and Jem's childhood - their friend Dill, their obsession to know the mystery about their  neighbor "Boo" , and their experiences at school.

The second part of the book is about problems that faced Atticus for defending a black man accused of raping a white woman and how it effected the children.

this book is amazing !! Atticus is so inspiring ! respectful, wise.
Scout, Jem and Boo touched my heart.
its a great book.

Title : The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author :  Stephen Chbosky

I Love this Book.

innocence, first love, friendship, family,  death and life

it touched me deeply.

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.”

 

 

The Bell Jar

 

 

This is a poem by Sylvia Plath included after the book

Mad Girl's Love Song

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said,
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least then spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

 

---

 

I really wish I had read this book when i was depressed. I could have related so much more to Esther's character.

i felt that Sylvia Plath was sharing a part of herself in this book and i really couldn't separate Esther from Sylvia in my mind.

a very powerful beautifully written novel.

 

I tried not to think about Plath committing suicide as I read the book, but it was there.

 

This is one of those books that everyone should read.

" I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am. "

A Game Of Thrones

By : G.R.R.Martin

i'm a huge fan of GRRM ♥
and one word : this book is just FANTASTIC

the story begins with the King, Robert Baratheon, riding north to Winterfell to visit Lord Eddard Stark and his family (his wife (Catlyn Stark), his five children (Rob, Bran, Rickon, Arya and Sansa) and his base-born (bastard) son, Jon Snow) . Lord Eddard (Ned) is a close friend with the king, and played a big role in the rebellion that gave the king his power. King Robert took the Iron Throne from the Targaryens who ruled Westeros for three hundred years.
. Robert’s visit was to ask Ned Stark to return south with him to Kings Landing, to be the King’s Hand after the suspicious death of the previous Jon Arryn.
meanwhile Ned's wife , Catlyn receives a letter from her sister (Jon Arryn's wife) , claiming that his death was not a natural one, but murder by the hands of the Lannister family. This letter is what encourages Ned to accept the King’s request and ride south to Kings Landing, to serve as a hand while at the same time investigating the cause of Jon Arryn’s death.

When Ned Stark leaves for Kings Landing, he takes his daughters Arya and Sansa with him. leaving his wife with their sons Robb and Bran who mysteriously fell from a tower, while Jon joined the Night's Watch.

a tension and problems grew between House Stark and house Lannister (Queen Cercei (The king's Wife) and her two brothers, Ser Jamie of the Kings Guard and the imp Tyrion), a very powerful family from the West.

Lady Catelyn was convinced that the Lannisters who tried to kill her son. so she left her sons and traveled to Kings Landing and was led to believe that Tyrion Lannister ( the imp ) is the responsible of that , so she hunts the man and captures him. She takes him to the Eerie, in the Vale at her sister to punish him for killing Jon Arryn and the attempt to kill Bran.

and While all of this happen , word reaches Kings Landing of a last living member of House Targaryen, A girl, by the name of Daenerys Targaryen the rightful queen of the iron throne, and if she were to return to Westeros she could break everything that Robert Baratheon’s rebellion had worked to achieve.

at the end of the book, the Seven Kingdoms collapse when King Robert dies, and Joffery Baratheon (his son) becomes the king , who is a tempered evil young boy with a lust for violence and causing pain.

after a lot of investigation Ned Stark figures that Joffery is the son of Queen Cercei Lannister and her twin brother, Jaime Lannister. which leads to his execution !

the execution of Ned Stark break off the North from the seven kingdoms and his son Robb becomes the King of the north, he is willing to avenge his father's death.

***

i've missed a lot of events but i tried to put only the essential.

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favorite quotes 

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

 “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”

“Fear cuts deeper than swords.”


 “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.”

 “Silence sometimes yielded more than questions.”

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Favorite characters 

Tyrion ♥ Ned ♥ Arya ♥ Jon

Title : Paper Towns

Author : John Green

One of the reasons that I liked this book were the characters and the mystery in the story !
Quentin and through his search for Margo he finds out that Margo wasn’t the girl he thought she was or the girl she pretended to be and this makes Quentin think about how people are different versions of themselves when they are with different people !! At one point, he thinks Margo might have committed suicide and he really worked hard to find her ... at some moments I felt I was getting angry at Margo for hurting Quentin and i thought she was just a drama queen who wants all the attention on her ! but in the end I understood why she had to do what she did and i kinda fell related to Margo ! her need to escape everything ! and all of her actions were justified.

If you have read any of John Green’s other books and liked those, you should definitely pick up this book as well! it is just really well-written, the characters are really interesting and it makes you think about some questions in life.

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Favorite quotes
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“That’s always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they’re pretty. It’s like picking your breakfast cereals based on color instead of taste.”

“It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world.”

“I’m in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met.”

“When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in. The light can get out.”

“As much as life can suck, it always beats the alternative.”

"she loved mysteries so much that she became one.”

Title : The Phantom of the Opera

Author : Gaston Leroux

Gothic ! Horror and Romance ♥

"The Phantom of the Opera" .. Poor Erik , the angel of music , a musical genius who hides in shadows , living beneath the Paris Opera house, his life changed when he fell in love with a young ballet dancer named Christine, a girl he has secretly been giving singing lessons.
But when a young man named Raoul who's also in love with Christine shows up , a deadly madness invades Erik's mind which will determine the fate of not only Christine, but of the entire Paris Opera House.

I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
I loved it ♥