The Book that Turned Me into an Emotional Wreck

Hello!

Almost exactly a year ago, I read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It was possibly one of the most emotive books I have ever read and it took me quite a while to recover from it! However, I wrote a review as soon as I'd read it, mainly to try and keep it fresh in my mind as I had to make notes on it for my uni course. I've been looking through my laptop files and found it and I thought I should share it with you, because it really is a truly amazing book.

(Obviously, if I wrote this review at this time last year, it was done before I went to university. Sooooo, just pretend we're in 2013, rather than 2014 and I haven't started my first year of uni yet!)

I am an English Literature and Creative Writing student and, therefore, I have to read a lot and write a lot - both of which thrill me. However, before I go to university and my lectures start, there are a couple of books I need to have read and made notes on. One of which is The Kite Runner.

I have just finished it and, I can honestly say, I have never cried so much at one book in my entire life. In fact I think there are only a handful of times that I have cried at anything this much in my entire life.

It is one of the most harrowing and heart-breaking books I have ever read, without doubt, and I read tons. I've read things like Private Peaceful, which left me speechless and in tears. I even read The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, for my A-Levels last year, and if anyone has ever read this, they will know what I mean when I say it is the most depressing book in the world. The Kite Runner is an extremely close second to both of these, if it's not worse.

I think the difference is that, in The Road, there were only two main characters and that was it, everything that happened was simultaneous, they were living in an apocalyptic world for goodness sake, of course it wasn't going to be all rainbows and sunshine! But, in The Kite Runner it starts off making you think it's going to be exactly rainbows and sunshine and then things happen that make you feel like your chest is being torn open and someone is slowly squeezing the blood vessels around your heart, one by one, so you die in a horrifically slow, and painful, way... Wow, that was dramatic - maybe that should be in The Road. 

Just as you think something good is happening in The Kite Runner you learn different; it changes at a blink of the eye. I feel like all I've done since I hit the seventy-ish page mark is cry, and cry, and cry. And cry some more. And then a bit more. And, yeah, you get the gist. I don't want to give anything away but the point of view is that of a little boy and it's like you're growing up with him and his family. However, you go from liking him, to despising him with so much hatred in your body that you don't know what to do with yourself, to thinking he's okay, to disliking him again, to feeling sorry for him and forgiving him, to being happy for him, to thinking he's an idiot and an asshole (pardon, my language - this book has done bad things to my mental state) to then liking, maybe even loving him again, to blaming him and I'm currently in between blaming him and possibly, maybe, liking him a little bit again. Maybe edging more towards the liking bit actually, after reading the last words:

""For you, a thousand times over," I heard myself say."

Anyone who has already read this book will understand just how cry-worthy this sentence is, of both happiness and sadness - I can't decide which emotion wins over.

The fact that this book has made me feel so many different feelings in the space of a day and a bit just shows how well written the book is. I may not like the book enough to read it again but that's because it's turning me into an emotional wreck, not because it's not expertly written. In fact, to invoke this kind of reaction in a person it has to be well written and has to make you love and hate parts of it strongly enough that it takes over your emotions. Or at least that's what I think. I know that I will never forget this book as long as I live, it has had that much of an effect on me.

For any literature student, you will realise how weird this is because it's kind of a law in novels that you should feel the most proximity with the character whom's point of view it is from, but that isn't necessarily the case in this book. All of my feelings, closeness, everything, lie with the character Hassan in this book. Completely and utterly. I would rather watch every other person in the world (of the book, obviously) suffer than watch anything happen to him. 

The things that happen in this book are scarily close to things that happen in real life and are happening all around us; I think that's part of the reason it provokes such a big reaction from me. The things that some of the characters suffer in this book happen to people in everyday life in certain countries. 

I'n sorry if this was a boring, rambly review about something you really don't give a damn about but I needed to get that out of my system. Also, if you do like to read, then you should read The Kite Runner, you just need to either have a heart of stone or a super-size box of tissues. Oh, and don't read it in public places - I made that mistake and got some funny looks at the tears streaming down my face. My remedy is to have a nice book, that I know is very happy, waiting on the sidelines for the minute I finish this one! Or if you're more of a movie person, I suggest something like Mary Poppins or Cinderella ready to watch afterwards.

It really is one of the best books I've ever read though. It just hurts you a little bit inside; it gives you a completely different perspective on the world though and you can't help but love certain characters.

Katie x

An Ode to a Book

Hello!

I'm sure a lot of you know, and can even just see by looking at this blog, that I love to read.

Well, I read a lot of books whilst I was on holiday but right now I'm on an unfortunate book ban seen as I have a lot to read for my uni course - it sucks. Shakespeare, I hate you... No offence.

However, when I implemented the book ban on myself, I said I wasn't to buy anymore books, nothing was said about re-reading...

So, to get around my self-imposed book ban, I decided to re-read some of my favourite books and it has made me realise how much I truly love one book in particular.

Samantha Young is the author who has provided us with the beautifully wonderful book that is On Dublin Street. So you can consider this blog post either a mini-review or my declaration of my undying love for this book. It's up to you. Although it's probably more the latter.

The story follows Jocelyn (a.k.a. Joss), a girl who has just graduated from university in Edinburgh and is looking for a new apartment to live in. However, she's originally from Virginia but when her parents died in a tragic car crash and she was left an orphan she made the decision to leave after high school and head to the University of Edinburgh.

She falls in love with a luxury flat as well as it's one existing occupant, Ellie Carmichael, unknowingly at that point that she has also met and lusted after Ellie's brother, Braden, too. 

Braden has a well-known reputation of being a womaniser as well as a wealthy businessman in Scotland but this doesn't stop the undeniable chemistry that Joss and Braden share from making an impact on their relationship, but both of them are unwilling to commit to anything serious.

Although we get to know most things about Joss's past from the beginning, she keeps her pain from her friends, and now Ellie and Braden too, something Ellie especially doesn't understand due to her open, chatterbox nature but it's easy to see that Joss's character is used to fending for herself, not being open. 

So there are the basics! I could recite ever moment of this book, easily, but I don't want to ruin it for you, so it's just a quick synopsis type thing!

It's no surprise that I'm in love with Braden. Obviously. I'd worry if I wasn't. He comes across as the sultry, sexy businessman with an epic sense of humour but his character develops into a lot more than that as his friendship with Joss unfolds. We find out about his past, his family and why he values his relationship with his sister so much. To a certain extent, I have to admit, the business side of him strikes me as very Christian Grey-esque but better... A lot better. And a lot sexier. Braden's one of those dream characters who you literally end up dreaming about. Fifty Shades was not a book I massively enjoyed though, and I certainly didn't dream about Christian, so don't let that one similarity put you off!

Joss's character is what draws me to love this book so much. The suffering she had to endure at such a young age made her shut people out because she thought that if she loved and cared for people it not only made her weak but it would lead to them getting hurt. As the story develops, we see her character slowly grow in strength and become more confident with her feelings and her insecurities.

A part of this is definitely because of her new flatmate, Ellie. Ellie is one of those characters who you can't help but fall in love with and just want to swaddle in cuddles; she's so sweet and kind that it makes you want to be like her, even if she is a fictional character! She's so open that living with someone as closed as Joss is difficult for her at first but their friendship blossoms and, as it does, so does Joss's confidence to trust people and open up more - it brings a tear to my eye!

One of my favourite quotes is from Ellie's character and seen as it's one of the few that can't be classed as a spoiler, I'm going to share it with you:

""Did you just call me a numpty?"

"Yup. A delusional one."

"What, may I ask, is a numpty?"

"A person demonstrating a lack of knowledge of a situation; a silly person; an idiot; a dumbass. A delusional numpty: Joss Butler's stupid, idiotic, blind misconception of the true nature of her relationship with my brother, Braden Carmichael.""

I don't know why I love that quote so much, I just do. Maybe it's the humour in the idea that, in Scotland/England/UK in general, a numpty is a concept most people know. The best English teacher I ever had had an extreme love for the word, too, so maybe that's why! It's at this point that you remember Joss hasn't loved in Scotland all of her life - it's like a little reminder.

Of course there are the general struggles on the way but it's the twist about three-quarters of the way through that you don't expect that makes it so different. Most books have some kind of 'shocking' (supposedly) twist near the end that's supposed to make you think it's not going to work out anymore but in On Dublin Street it really is an unexpected but expected one at the same time... if that makes sense. If you're observant enough, you'll spot the signs leading up to it but it has effects that you didn't realise it would and, if you're anything like me, it will have you rocking on the edge of your bed...

It's so well written, the characters are so lovable and, for anybody who lives near Scotland or even just in the UK maybe, the setting in this book will seem so familiar to you, it will feel like you're there. 

I only live about two hours away from Edinburgh and there is not a single detail in this book that isn't true when she's talking about the streets of Edinburgh and the castle and all of the lovely fine points about the place - it makes me want to go back there so bad! I've seen quite a lot of reviews where people have complained that the book could probably be set anywhere, Young just says it's Edinburgh, but anyone who knows Edinburgh will know there is only one place this book could have been set and it's already there.

For those of us who fall in love with books and characters so easily, Samantha Young has kindly provided us with a series which follow different characters from the book whilst still letting you know how your favourites from the previous book are getting on! It's perfect!

This is in my top five favourite books... maybe even my top three, actually! I feel this book deserves all the love and more. A million out of five stars, easily (yes, that is possible)!

If you're looking for a book to read then this is definitely it... unless you're not into the kind of YA fiction genre, although I still think you should give it a go because I think there's something for everyone in this book.

Happy reading!

Katie x

Review: The Divergent Trilogy

Hello!

If the fact that I'm studying a whole lot of English at university doesn't tell you that I love to read, then here's me telling you: I love to read.

This means that I have a massive bundle of books that I'm dying to tell people about and I can't wait to share them with you!

The first book review is going to the amazing trilogy that is Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant, by Veronica Roth. 

Get ready to fall in love, and I don't just mean with Four.

Chances are, you will have at least heard of Divergent, if not the rest of the series, because it was recently in cinemas worldwide and, from what I've heard, the movie was a massive hit. Theo James was exactly how I imagined Four, so ten million points to the casting peoples for getting him.

For those of you who haven't heard of the series, or don't know what it's about, first of all, where have you been?! Secondly, it's a story set in a dystopian world where there are five factions: 

Abnegation (the selfless), 

Dauntless (the brave),

Candor (the honest), 

Amity (the peaceful), 

and Erudite (the intelligent). 

Every year, a choosing ceremony takes place where all sixteen year-old's must choose which faction they want to be a part of. However, before this, they have undergone an aptitude test that tells them which faction they are best-suited to.

It tells the story of how Tris, the main character, leaves Abnegation and joins Dauntless, leaving her family behind. Here she meets Four, her instructor during the difficult initiation process and they instantly have a connection. However, when she learns something dangerous about herself, something she has been told to keep hidden, she realises that something bigger is happening within the factions and that she might be able to do something about it.

I don't think I can even explain to you how much I absolutely adore Divergent. It's amazing. It's written beautifully for a start but it's just so easy to get into, it flows so well, and you quickly become attached to characters (although you'll later learn your lesson for doing that). I love the dystopian, futuristic world too, it's so different from anything you would think of in life yet it completely absorbs you into their way of thinking.

I also love the strength that Tris's character has, she's self-reliant and doesn't need anyone else to fight her battles for her but I think it's great that Veronica Roth made her character so selfless and brave, too.

I don't think I need to say much about Four. If you read the book, you will know exactly how much I love him and why, because you will too. He comes across as a really masculine and mysterious character however, as the book, and the whole series, goes on, you slowly start to find out who he is and how much depth there is to his character, you start to see the softness inside him that just makes my heart melt. As a little side-note, I believe there are more short stories, being released on Kindle, from Four's point of view, for us Four addicts - Eeeek! 

I think the subtlety of the relationship between Tris and Four was done perfectly. It wasn't the main focus of the book and it didn't take away from, or take over, the story line. The gradual build-up to their relationship worked perfectly as a break from the action going on throughout the book.

I don't really want to say much about the second and third books because I feel you wouldn't necessarily understand what I was talking about if you hadn't read the first but they were both amazing too (obviously). 

I whizzed through the series in just one weekend, and they're not particularly short books either, but I just couldn't put them down. So make sure you have nothing planned when you start reading these because you won't want to stop!

Five out of five stars from me, I love these books soooo much! 

Go read them, I promise you won't regret it!

Katie x