The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale

  BOOK ONE OF "EVER AFTER HIGH"

  I really, really hate being told what to read. Like "You're too old for this" or "You're not old enough", okay, it's my decision and I read what I want to. That was the case with Ever After High when I got the book. I simply wanted to read it and there was a nice bookish DISCOUNT so if you buy any book(or books) above the specific price and you get The Iron Trial for free. This was a few years ago back in my country. So I thought, why not? I want to read it anyway and get a free book meanwhile? Ok, you got me Egmont! But of course, there was the awful little phrase "But isn't it too childish for you?" I was asked that by a friend. I wanted to snap at her that I don't care about the "age restriction" and I'd read whatever I want. Has this happened to you? If yes, tell me in the comments, please, I don't wanna think I'm the only one.

  As I said, I hate the judging by the cover, which is very pretty by the way. And yes, it's obvious it's something fairytale-ish but what of? The whole design of the book and the cover is awesome, I love the frame in the angles, that's so cute. Also, the keyhole is a pretty good idea with a picture from the animated series of Raven Queen and Apple White. I have the books in Bulgarian but I think the design is the same as in the English ones. The pages inside are simply awesome. There's a border frame on every single one and it's very pretty. 

  In my opinion, the book is very interesting. It isn't necessary to be a grown-up novel to be interesting, right? When I have kids one day, I'd buy them these books, I think they're suitable for a child. Especially when you think Harry Potter was made for kids, wtf?! P.S. Don't hate me but I don't like Harry Potter, sorry. Not everyone is supposed to like it, isn't it? So, I remember watching an animation on TV about Ever After High but it was somewhat unfinished? So, therefore, I assumed I'll learn more in the book series.

That's a photo of my Bulgarian edition. Isn't it cute?

  So, what's Ever After about? This is about the children of the fairytale characters such as Cinderella, Snow White, Evil Queen and so on. That reminds me of the Disney Descendents but it's quite different. The villains aren't isolated on an island and both of their kids study in the same school, aka Ever After High. However, they don't have their lives, to be said so. Instead, they have to follow their parents' path and become good or evil and also live the same story, e.g. Apple White is destined to be the next Snow White and Raven Queen - the Evil Queen. So to speak, that is simply unfair. You have no choice and have to live someone else's life. That's why I wouldn't blame Raven for a second about her decision.

  If I had to choose between a Royal and a Rebel, I'd choose the second one. I completely understand Raven because everyone should have the right to choose and not be destined for something since birth. That sounds stupid and I really hope they'll prove that there's no such harm in not signing the Storybook of Legends so anyone can follow their dreams and not be what they aren't.

  This book is short but intriguing nevertheless. I don't see why I shouldn't read it if you want to. I read it a few years ago and still, I was a teen who has "outgrown" this kind of things but, come on, does people's opinion matter that much?

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

   One of my most favourite books like ever! It was just amazing! It's one of the best books I've ever read so I could say that it has a reason to be one of the greatest books in the classic literature. Not only, it's one of the masterpieces of XIX century. Along with Les Misérables, I think this one is a favourite of mine.

   This book left me both speechless and breathless. I liked it so much that I'd read it only for a few days. The novel is built up so well and has such a remarkable main protagonist. The Count of Monte Cristo personifies himself the true patience and perseverance by doing his revenge. It is really amazing how well-planned is everything and how he patiently does it point by point as a manual. I'd love to have a luxurious hardcover of this book, it's one of my favourites ever and I can talk about it for days!

   It's not a coincidence that's one of the best classics ever, an intransitive bestseller and one of the best adventure novels in the world at the same time one of the most exciting pieces of literature. According to me, this is one of the most outstanding examples of the Romanticism. The author, Alexandre Dumas, père is one of the most famous adventure writers and has written over 400 books. That's quite an impressive number and if they're as long as that one, it'd be really stunning considering how the means of the time e.g. handwriting, I'm not sure if the typewriter was available yet.

   I will deny not that I'm really glad about reading this masterpiece. I've hardly ever read anything more intriguing and delightful. In the core of the book are the everlasting human values: justice, compassion, the ability to forgive which are fighting against the desire for avenge. The story is based on unusual plot, the poor guy, Edmond Dantès who is unfairly accused of something he hadn't done. He's a sailor convicted unjustly and forced to spend fourteen years in one of the worst prisons at that time. However, like Newton's 3rd Law: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.", his revenge is more thorough and devastating than the meanness of his false friends. He becomes the most dangerous enemy of his unsuspecting ex-friends who he destroys one by one. After his escape, he easily enters the circles of the French noblemen to trigger his skilful plan. However, not before waiting ten more years to take his plan into action.

   The most important characters in the story are Edmond's father, his beloved Mercédès, Fernand, Danglars, Villefort, Caderousse, and the person who he sees as his second father - Abbé Faria, the man with whom he spends all those years in prison. Accordingly, the main conflicts in the novel are about the revenge and retribution. They're embodied in the mysterious personality of the Count of Monte Cristo. He is rich and mysterious and he forsees his actions step by step ruthlessly destroying his enemies. I was impressed by the ease with which he manages to reach his goals faultlessly one by one. Undoubtedly, everything is due to his patience. Without it, he wouldn't have waited so much after being freed to take on his revenge but he knows he has to wait in order to reach full nemesis. I was stupefied how everything arranged as if to help Monte Cristo and he was always the leader. These are the qualities I really envied him and really impressed me.

   There are so many things I want to talk about but I couldn't do it for every single one of them. I wish I could pay attention to every detail in its own way but I would've retold the whole book, wouldn't I? If anyone doubts to read the Count of Monte Cristo, he or she really should do it. There's no place for wonder because it is really worth it! I can promise that'll give you an incomparable experience I can't explain. I feel it and I know I'll never forget this magnificent book... ever.  This book had a very strong influence on me and it will always have a special place in my heart. If I recommend a classics to someone, I would always begin with The Count of Monte Cristo! This book is one of a kind, such masterpieces are very rare in history and this makes them true bookish gems. It's one of the most unique books I've ever read and I don't just like it, I love it!

   So, one thing Count of Monte Cristo taught us is never lose faith and keep on waiting. You should never give up on your dreams until you make them real. So... "Wait and hope!" ("Attendre et espérer!")

   That's a very emblematic and famous quote of the book:

“There is neither happiness nor unhappiness in this world; there is only the comparison of one state with another. Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. It is necessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live. [...]”

- Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

Bookish Delights

Hi guys, I'm really excited to introduce you my new blog design which I really like(purple is one of my favourite colours!). So, I decided to make a post about my bookish delights. There's no specific order but a list of the things, I don't know exactly how much right now.

The title is engraved and the cover is matte and
I'm totally in love.

1. "Engraved" title

That's how I call it when the title on a book cover is kind of engraved on the page. I love protruding letters, the feeling when you touch them ah, there's nothing like it. On a hardcover, the sensation is even better!

2. Matte covers

I absolutely love matte covers! I prefer them over gloss ones. They're so stylish and awesome! I don't know about you but for me, it's a real delight. It's soo nice to touch them because they're so amazingly adorable! I'm really glad that most of my paperbacks are matte instead of gloss. The gloss is... simply gloss, I don't like it very much on books and usually, the titles aren't protruded.

3. Bookmarks out of anything

I like creating my own bookmarks which I usually don't ever use because they're too beautiful to be used. Yeah, #bookwormproblems. I like printing bookmarks so I can have whatever I want to be printed on them as well as DIY some e.g. from boxes of chocolates. But honestly, some boxes are very, very beautiful so I can't resist making a new one which I probably won't use. :D Moreover, you'll have your unique KitKat bookmark, for instance. Oh, and I love bookmarks who go with the book itself, these I really keep brand new.

4. Bookish DISCOUNTS

Ah, is there anyone who doesn't love discounts on anything not only books? Well, that's the easiest way to get out of money and maybe get some not so necessary things. But seeing a HUGE discount on books? Meh, that's another story. A few books on the price of two or three? You have my attention already. Also, I'm sure every book lover keeps an eye very carefully on some websites and bookstores not to miss anything about books and discounts.

5. Wandering in a bookstore

Come on, everyone has done it at least once. My mum uses to tell if I enter a bookstore I can't remember to get out. I simply love window shopping in a bookshop - observe anything and everything, see new releases in person... It's so fascinating!

I really love the hardbacks of this series, so cute!

6. Hardback without the dust jacket

I don't like dust jackets. With them, the cover beneath is simply black or grey or something like that with a simple title. That's boring and the dust jacket usually bothers me when reading. So I put it off and guess what, it looks like any other book, especially classics when I want to be obvious what I'm reading. Besides, the cover made on the actual hardcover it's so beautiful! Unfortunately, most of the hardbacks aren't made like that and it's a pity. 😒 I have a few hardbacks without the jacket and oh, they're simply amazing. One is a children book but I have hardly ever seen anything more beautiful than this!

7. Bookish photos

I love going through bookish instagrams. There are so many and beautiful photos out there! Personally, I have partly a bookstagram which I intend to develop a bit more since I used to post a lot of non-related book posts. You can follow me - @shattered_shelves.

8. The library from the Beauty and the Beast

Okay, I don't know how much this is a bookish delight but... I want the library from the Beauty and the Beast. I'm exactly that girl who wants the library while the others dreamed of the prince. For me, this is the ultimate most magnificent library ever! If I have something like that, I'll be the happiest person EVER!

9. Falling hopelessly in love with a fictional character

Tell me about it. Lately, I've been reading Ben Hope series by Scott Mariani and I fell totally in love with the main character Ben Hope. I was fangirling almost all of the time but how can't I? He's sexy, he's badass, he's just... one hell kind of a man. I feel him like my bookish soulmate, really. I haven't read about anyone more perfect than him. I simply love Ben!

10. When reading real life doesn't matter

I like switching off the 'real life button'. I can simply fall in the book, sitting somewhere nice and cosy. That seems the perfect holiday plan for me. I can be all by myself with tons of books as if I've vanished from the world. Reading is a chance to travel and explore, learn and have fun. It's all here in one place - a book.

11. Reading a hilarious negative review in Goodreads

I like reading funny negative reviews. When people are mad they say the first thing they have in mind and it sounds hilarious. I know from great personal experience. I'm sarcastic and when I'm angry about a book, I come up with amazing expressions which make even me laugh.

A total of eleven. What are your bookish delights?

The One by Kiera Cass

   BOOK THREE OF "THE SELECTION"

  This is probably the prettiest of the three dresses on the covers till now. This white thing is totally gorgeous! Really maybe most glad I own this exact book in my library of the whole series, but anyway I got each of the books and I don't mind it at all even if I wonder where to put them as I don't have a great place for books.

  All this time I was trembling in anticipation to know what's going to happen, and adding that I was in school, and I didn't have enough time to read, I almost got anxious to finish it. I read it the very first moment I had the chance to. 

  Here was already something of a connection, but also a culmination of the history of America singer. I have no words to describe my impression and the thrill of the last to know what will happen, especially after those rebel attacks that led me to negative thoughts on the very end.

  The One is a really fascinating and captivating book! Maybe for a finale is really great, at least a final to America’s story. I couldn't have imagined it this way, but... This also doesn't fall much below my expectations.

  To be honest, I liked more Maxon from the very beginning, not only because he was a prince, although that was not a reason to throw away, but somehow, America and Maxon were so much alike. Ever since their first meeting, where things have evolved not very friendly, as America was not very polite, but when I think of what else she has done, it was the least of it.

  A truly unique story and a proper ending! As it’s written on the cover of the book, “Only one can win!” I recommend it along with the previous two, of course, I can't miss them. It is worth reading all the books since they are not that long and you will even be amazed at how quickly the time has passed by reading these amazing works!

“Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.” 

“This isn’t happily ever after. It’s so much more than that.”

The Elite by Kiera Cass

  BOOK TWO OF "THE SELECTION"

  The cover of this book is more challenging and bolder, which reveals by itself that its content is quite different from the previous one. Maybe red comes perhaps a little too much for me because I'm not a big fan of this colour. But red is usually the aggressive, challenging, vicious colour and it's very appropriate.

  The second book was no less good than The Selection. There are only six left in the competition, which is written even at the top of the front cover. It is precisely under this that they are subordinate and are a sort of "sludge" of all thirty-five girls. It's obvious that the battle for the prince and the throne becomes much more fierce. America does not know who really likes and what she wants. Perhaps this is the biggest conflict in the whole book, it all comes down to her choice, not to all these dangers to society. To the very end, she is uncertain and confused, even for a while to drop out. When this happened I was shocked: what would happen if America dropped before the end of the selection? It wasn't going to be something interesting and maybe the series itself would have lost its meaning.

  Because of my very big curiosity sometimes I glance at the last pages only to take an eye on whether there will be a hit, I just prefer to be prepared in advance so that the shock wouldn't be too big. I did it this time, of course, but I did not understand what was going on, yet I had not read a page from the whole book, how do I expect to know what might have happened to provoke it? That's why it's not good to cheat and look at the end - too much of a spoiler and no understanding at all.

  I read it on the road we I went to Burgas(a city on the seaside of Bulgaria) and I took the two/three hours of going back and forth to read the book. I had reached half the previous day and I finished it. I really liked it, and I know the third one was coming out until September*, and I just did not have the least patience to come out to read it because at the end of The Elite it was really interesting!

  *The review is old, I've read the series when they've been published.

Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo

  The Hunchback of Notre-Dame or its original title Notre-Dame de Paris. Actually, I speak French so that's why I prefer the original title. The first reminds me of the animated film which is too far from the reality. It's made for children so it's rather false because... well, death's not a good thing for little kids to watch. However, a Victor Hugo novel isn't appropriate for young at all. His style of writing is very... complicated and hard to perceive. Maybe his books are difficult even for adults, what about young people. Well, I've read this book as a teen at the age of 15 maybe? Because I wanted to and I've always been strong mentally and I love to challenge myself. And Hugo's books are really a challenge.

  I can say no bad thing about one of the best authors of all time. I think his works are much better than those in the 10th Grade Literature classes that corresponds to the age in which he lived. That's the 10th grade in Bulgaria and we have to learn some very stupid things, well even the fact saying they're obligatory makes me sick and I'd hardly ever read anything at school. Because 1) boring and 2) I hate making me do something that's equal to the opposite, aka not doing it at all. That's the thing with me. In fact, this book has been featured in the program, but apparently, it has been dropped, which is a shame. Victor Hugo is truly a classic and absolutely professional. It is no coincidence that he is one of my favourite authors.

  From the beginning, I knew that this story was familiar to me. And I remembered that as a kid I've watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame, an adapted version for children. In the course of the novel, it became clear how much adapted, because a lot of things do not match, but Andersen's Little Mermaid in the original is far from being Disney's (and most of the fairy tales if one thinks). There was, however, a reason to cut out or change some things, but basically, the main characters are the same - the gipsy Esmeralda, Quasimodo, Abbath Faria and other characters from the novel. All the while, however, I associated the images of Quasimodo and Esmeralda with those of the film, because that was how it came to me from inside and I just did not know how to imagine them any other way.

  I think the book deserves its attention and its style of writing is at a totally different level. Somewhat difficult for me to read those parts in Latin because I have no idea of it, even I could not read the Old French, it is completely different from modern French which we know today. The whole story and everything in the book is at a completely different level, clearly showing that it is not a reading for a child. It is written quite well and everything is described in the smallest detail, for which I can only admire this incredible author.

  In a typical Hugo style, he seems to condemn his characters to a tough fate. But there seems to be something beautiful about it, and even the sad end seems wonderful in his novels. His characters are doomed to their destiny even before life has swallowed them. It affects the poor circles and the action develops around such people, especially in Paris at the time. His books are undoubtedly related to the historical period in which they were created in the 19th century, which couldn't be otherwise, but so characteristic of Romanticism. Particularly Notre-Dame de Paris, which tells not one story and a terrible fate. That's what impresses me in classical books, and it has attracted me the most to read them. And Victor Hugo became one of my favorite authors because of our similar styles and ... the tendency to the sad end (I definitely have one). It may not be half as much as Les Miserables, but the Notre-Dame de Paris is no less good. I read it first and I can say that I am extremely glad to have both of them paperback.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Yeah, I've been away for two months or three? That's not good for my blog, not at all. But I'd had exams and coursework to do, and going home... I was very busy. Well, it's the new year so new beginning and I'll do my best to be at least regular and have several posts monthly. It's a shame to abandon my blog in such a way! Okay, now about the review.

  The book captivated me from the very beginning. First, I had seen the movie and I've never actually watched it, but it was enough for me to read the book. It is really small and is read extremely fast but is meaningful and captivating enough.

I chose this cover because it's so... nice and simple. The Bulgarian is the same and I just love it.

  Nicholas Sparks is another favourite author of mine. He's a real classic, and a lot of his books are screened and that's just commendable. I can think of a dozen names that have movies and it's always with famous actors such as Shane West, Miley Cyrus, Zack Efron and others. I have the desire to read other books by Sparks, but I haven't done it yet.

  The story of Jamie and Landon is beautiful and sad at the same time. The nasty thing is the end because she's ill and maybe that sound a bit like The Fault in Our Stars. However, I do not like John Green's books, they are not my cup of tea and Sparks is quite different and in my opinion better author. I am amazed at the fact that at the very beginning of their dating Jamie knew that he would fall in love with her, she was just wondering what would happen.

  This book is so sad and so beautiful. It made me cry. I feel so sorry for Landon and I wished the ending was different because hey, it's just not fair but I think many things in real life are not fair at all. Overall, that's a small but very meaningful book indeed.

  I recommend it to anyone who likes romance because it is unique and it is worth spending a little of your time on something like this. It will not take more than a few hours, I guarantee it. And then it will make you feel satisfied that you read it and that you were part of this walk to remember...

“Love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it.”

- Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

 That's a very, very favourite quote of mine.