I borrowed this book from my classmate early in the morning. He sort of hesitated because his I Am Number Four is still with me, in my bed lying for weeks already. Actually, I just intended to scan but then I got hooked right from the first page that I continued to read, and read, and read. I finished it by afternoon, I hurried at the epilogue part because Zoilo (the owner) wouldn’t let me borrow it and he’s already going home.

Okay.

The story, in just a phrase, is: a modern take on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast.

I’d say it is a simple book but I loved it. It’s simple because in my opinion, it really follows the fairytale, if I may say, the Disney version mostly, from Lindy the booklover, to the fireplace thing, to the snowball fights, to the Belle-dressing-up-and-Beast-realizes-how-beautiful-she-is, etc. And of course, because you know what will happen, because as I said, it really follows the plot of the fairytale, only that it was set in the modern world.

Unlike other fairytales-in-a-modern-world stories wherein the author brings twists to the fairytale or some elements in the fairytale are just turned into symbols in the real world, Beastly have everything as it was. Like the witch is really a witch with powers (not just a powerful person), then Kyle turns into a beast that’s hairy with claws (a literal beast), etc.

Things that I loved:

• It’s told in the Beast’s point of view so you get to see how rude Kyle was, how airheaded he was and how he had became lonely and sad when he was turned to a beast, and how the Beast actually changed and fall in love with the girl.

• The chat! I don’t want to spoil this part coz there are just tidbits but I had fun reading the chat! Love, love, love it!

• The simplicity of it all. The storytelling was simple and fast-paced, I loved everything about Kyle, about Lindy, even about Kendra, Magda, and Will. Nothing really complex nor any super revelations but it’s still lovable.

• The epilogue. I think maybe it’s because I have read too many novels with hanging endings or sudden endings… I think the book had a good happily ever after ending (okay, that’s a spoiler).

Though, in the rescuing part, I think it’s more of mushy than action. Well, I sort of expected more action in that part.

And I just think SilentMaid deserves a happy ending too, well, she did have a happy ending in the Disney version…

“Love is never ugly.”

I can’t really seem to see the point of the tagline.

I mean it’s about love, it’s about the one who turned ugly.

I just don't understand the point.

La la la la la....

Labels: beauty, books, love

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I found this book in the net when I searched for info about the book Fallen by Lauren Kate, well that was because both tells about fallen angels. And then there are other books about fallen angels too, just like how vampire novels sprout after Twilight.

I'd say I like the book. Maybe 3 out of 5. Unlike when I was reading Fallen (which I haven't even finished reading), the narration was sort of engaging. Not boring in short. Just refer to summaries on the net for the story, or else I'll spoil it for you.

What I like:

1) The narration is good. The author describes things well.

2) Patch annoying Nora. And Patch himself. Sucker for bad boys...

3) Twist. I hadn't expected that. But then the thing is, when I arrived at the shocker parts of the story, I was like, "Oh..." and then that's it.

What I don't like:

1) WARNING! SPOILER! SUPER SPOILER! BUT I REALLY HAVE TO POST THIS! To those who haven't read the book, Patch was a fallen angel and there's this choice wherein he had to save a life so he can have his wings back and become a guardian angel... fast forward... in the end, Patch regained his wings and became Nora's guardian angel. But then in the Hush, Hush world, angels can go back and forth the earth and live with human beings. So even though Patch became a guardian angel, he was still with Nora as Patch the Student, so they can continue with their love. I don't know, I just find it odd. Because I think, since Patch became a GA, he should belong to heaven and so the love would be kind of forbidden. But then it's the Hush, Hush world, it's not my story...

2) I don't feel love between Patch and Nora. Attraction, yes. Lust, definitely.

Sidenote:

I was working on this story about an angel falling in love with a mortal. I promise I started the story way before I read this novel. Sort of GA stuff too, that's why. But then mine was more than a City of Angels thing than Hush, Hush thing. So that's ok...

Labels: attraction, books, love

Super lesson of the day:

"It’s a total lie to say there’s only one person you’re going to be with for the rest of your life.
If you’re lucky—and if you try really hard—there will always be more than one."

That was said by Ely, and it really struck me that I immediately agree.
At the end, Naomi and Ely had their special someones and most of all, had each other.
I can relate, I guess.

Another lesson:

"People say you should wait to be with someone you love, but I think it’s more important to be with someone you like... Don’t do it for the sake of doing it, but don’t wait for a fantasy, either."
- Robin (the girl)

Let's put it this way:

LOVE (fantasy) -- LIKE -- You want to ___ (whatever goes here, like, fall in love)

You want to fall in love. Then you have found this guy you really like. But then you realize you really can't move past the LIKE stage. But then you really like him. So would have to choose: 1) Because you really want to fall in love, and not just like, you will leave him and wait for 'the one' to come, or, 2) You love being with this guy and even though you don't feel you love him, you'll stick with him because he makes you happy...

I don't know if I made my point, but anyways, that's how I would explain it.
I kind of relate with this one too. I kind of had an experience like that... *sigh*

A good point:

"There’s no such thing as a soulmate . . . and who would want there to be? I don’t want half of a shared soul. I want my own damn soul."
-Ely

Sometimes, I can be a sucker for soulmate stuff. But then I guess Ely made a point with this one. I don't think I need to explain, hehe.

About the book:

I love the book!
It's just so honest, so real, so happy...
You can really feel the friendship between Ely and Naomi, understand each of the characters and have fun with them.
It was just a simple story of a friendship tested by some circumstances but then it was narrated beautifully that it was not just simply telling how a friendship was broken and restored. You get to feel the strong bond of a longtime friendship, have fun with Naomi and Ely in their memories, feel their hurt in just a few pages.

What I like:
1) I can feel the homosexual relationship with Bruce the First and Ely. The relationship and feelings just seem so real.
2) I know Naomi is a bitch, can really feel it, haha!
3) I love how the book defined love in terms of Naomi and Ely's friendship. It's not just a simple definition of love for a friend. It's something more than just loving your friend...

Labels: attraction, books, friends, life, love