I am almost regretting my decision of picking up this title for my post. “When I was Sixteen”. It’s kind of making me look old, very old. Feeling like its been a very long time since I was sixteen. I am not old, not at all. I am just sixteen plus five years and few more just here and there. Not more than that.
So, now that I have clarified that the above title has nothing to do with my current age, I would like to go ahead on my post.
Lamb In Love
The reason that I am going all nostalgic about being sixteen is a book. “Lamb in Love” by Carrie Brown. I picked up Lamb in Love after my read of Dan Brown’s Inferno.
Brown (Dan) – Brown (Carrie) sitting next to each other – in the Library. Funny 🙂
If you, by any chance go by the list of books that I have read, you will notice that I have seldom read love stories. I don’t even remember the last time I have picked one. So, I was very enthusiastic about reading a love story after such a long time. But, man it was slow.
When I was Sixteen
It was so slow. that I have never felt the urge to use my book as pillow to sleep before. It was a love story between Norris and Vida, both in their late years, around forty. They and their cute love of just waiting and looking at the other one through the corners. Shy and coylove, oh I am so over it now. So over, that I just couldn’t finish it. Just can’t.
That’s when I realized, that I am no longer that sixteen year old, who used to love this type of slow and romantic love stories. I have so much outgrown this lovey dovey stuff, it startled me a little. :O
When I was Sixteen
How I used to think of a prince charming, riding on an ultra white horse? I used to think of the, first sight love, butterflies in stomach and tinkling of bells.
Saw your prince and fall in love at the same moment. I used to think of that slow pacing introductory love, which used to take months to say hello, to love of your life. How stupid I was to think of finding ones soul-mate in that first sight. That blush of cheeks and stammering of words when you saw them. Cupid struck!!!
It was damn cute, but very funny, now to think of it. I see now some of these fifteen and sixteen years old, but I don’t see that innocence or say stupidity. I see love but no lovebirds. Maybe a few, but rare species now, almost extinct.
I don’t miss that period of my life, it was silly and adorable at the same time. Now, I have my soul mate. Bells don’t ring in my ears but birds do sing and sometimes I blush too 🙂
When I was Sixteen
On that note, maybe I’ll try reading another love story, pretty soon…..
I can proudly say that I have read all the books by Dan Brown. Yes, all of them. Journey started from “The Da Vinci Code”. I liked that book and then started reading every other book coming out of Brown’s closet, but never find the passion that first love (first book) had.
Dan Brown with Dante
Inferno, like all other Brown’s work, has so much to offer in terms of art and cultural details from the eyes of Robert Langdon. Oh Mr. Langdon, I love you. I love you for the pure genius that you are. Although, I do not believe that you would be as athletic or as charming (looks wise) as depicted in the book. But, still I love you. Love you for the sheer knowledge explosion that you are. Love you for the company that you can give while visiting breathtaking arts exotica.
Robert Langdon
This time also Langdon got a beautiful travel companion, Sienna. What is different is, his journey. Journey to hell, Inferno. Book is a downright dedication to Dante’s Inferno the Divine Comedy. The way story unfolds it makes you wonder if you are really going to hell and going to meet the three-headed monster called Satan. It’s an amazing journey when you are running through the magnificent museums in Florence, that too with Mr. Langdon.
Inferno
Inferno
Journey started with the projector that Robert found, showing Map of Hell. An altered map of hell, giving clues to where to go next. As in most of Langdon adventures this too has lots of clues and secrets hidden in plain sight, secrets leading to the amazing journey of investigating masterpieces of art through the streets of Florence and later to Istanbul.
Istanbul – Hagia Sophia
Mostly what I like in Brown’s book is the information about some secret societies and cult sciences that he offer. This book also has that but it’s not that intriguing as in earlier books. However, I like the burning idea of growing human population as the basic theme of book shown in contrast to Dante’s hell and Black Death. The way past integrated so beautifully in modern times of medicines and WHO is wonderful.
Dante
Inferno
Problem that I had while reading the book was, in the end it became very repetitive. It looked like author wanted to convince everyone with Zoborist’s point of view and to put forward a horrifying picture of our future. Done well, but way too much, according to my reading style.
Robert Langdon
Next thing that I am waiting now is to see this one also as a movie (hopefully coming in 2015). Actually to see the handsome TomHanks playing – The Robert Langdon. 🙂
I was just wandering in the library and wasn’t able to pick my read. Normally I select my books from the online catalog of library before actually going there. But, this was spontaneous visit and I was kind of getting lost in piles and shelves of books. Strangely, with so many options before me I was not able to choose one. So indecisive of me.
Saw this book. It was on the outer display unit. Liked the cover and short recommendation and picked it up. Yup! just like that.
I soon realized my mistake of randomly picking up a book like that, as I began to find its introduction of characters pretty lame and lackluster. It’s very nonconforming with me that I don’t like dull and single layer characters. So, as I was going through the characters of its three protagonists, all females, I found them very generic and lame. They are like women living across the street, you saw them occasionally, waving, chatting and soon fading away.
One thing which irritates me in the beginning was that the chapters were written with the perspective of the three characters, not like a single observer or story teller. Like each chapter devoted to single one of them – Callie, Suzy and Debs, all having their own voice. It somehow confuses me in the starting as each female says her part of the story with her own perspective when you were already immersed in the previous one. Each has a different take on her surroundings and life in general.
But after reading a moment or two, I realized that how much depth this has given to the whole story. Now, with the proceeding of story I was visualizing three characters telling their story with utmost honesty and specifics, telling stories of their longings, their shortcomings, their struggle, pain, suffering and love.
This novel is listed as a thriller, so I was waiting for that one twist and turn which will spice up this old neighborhood kind of story. It came, though late. By then, you were just wondering if this story has anything else to offer other than telling us how not to be a single mom? Or How to track your husband’s extra-curricular activities? Nonetheless many would be interested in finding it out J
Mystery weaves into the story is pretty smooth and intricate. It flows with the story and suddenly you realize that how did you miss the indications in earlier chapters. It’s written in a very well absorbing and captivating way. After a point I was just not able to put myself to sleep without completing the book, in the fear of what will happen to the poor little girl? Not me poor girl from the novel L
The big drawback or the disappointment that I have with this story is that the end was so one sided. I would have loved to see the whole drama unfolding from Suzy’s eyes. Her perspective was totally wiped out in the end, which if shown could have added more depth and meaning to the narrative. Oh! I am so fascinated by the psychos. One thing to credit Suzy, she truly believed in keeping your friends close, and your enemy closer…. J
Now I am going to sleep and then maybe a trip to the library. This time I am getting Dan Brown’s Inferno. Good Night. ZZzzzz………
There are few books which I like and there are those which I wonder why would I picked up in the first place.
The Darkest Minds come somewhat in between. I liked it when I was reading it but it ended so abruptly that I can’t figure out even that it has ended. The only problem with the book is that it has no ending.
With books coming in parts like a season of a TV soap, it becomes a fashion for authors to write a book and then leave it abruptly so that their next part will be received with lots of curiosity. But isn’t it like cheating your readers. Readers who bought a book thinking of a completion a closure of the events talked about in the book.
Well, leaving this flaw behind, the book is a good teen fiction. It’s got a good grip on the plot. Sometimes it stretches itself like the journey of Ruby with Lee and Chubs in Betty. Too much time is consumed in detailing out who is sitting where and wearing what. It does paint a picture in front of your eyes, but it’s a very detailed picture, kind of distracting when you are focusing on the characters and their behavior with each other rather than their wardrobe.
The thing that I liked in the book is the character of Liam. He has explained layer by layer and each of his layers is better than the before. Ultimately his character comes out as a very modest and genuine hero. The Clancy’s character was also well drawn out but frankly I have to read the next part (Never Fade) because I do think that there is more to him which can be explored.
Strangest thing in the book was Chubs. Yes, the cute but with attitude boy who was never shown as very powerful in the book throughout but in the end he kinds of shown as a superman who came and save Ruby from the dreadful and deadliest powers of Clancy. Hmmnn.
I know I have not talked about Ruby. I would love to but she is a confused character and rightly so. She has gone through so much in very tender age and that explains her confusion.
Overall a good book, worth reading but with a sudden death/end. Wouldn’t have picked it for reading if would have known this fact before.
My Journey So Far.... 