It's a Books World

Goodreads summary:

Penned by English Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling in 1894, The Jungle Book is a collection of allegorical stories that take place deep in the Indian jungle. The most famous stories of The Jungle Book are those featuring a young feral boy named Mowgli who was raised by wolves, is friends with a panther, and was educated by the animals of the jungle. Also popular in this collection is “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” about a mongoose who protects his human family against cobras.

A treasure trove of children’s literature The Jungle Book from Word Cloud Classics is a chic and affordable addition to any library.

My opinion and comparisation with the Disney movie version and the new 2016 version:

When I was a kid I always watched the Disney version, but after that I never rewatched it. Last sunday I did and I was shocked by how much I remember of the storyline, but that I knew nothing about the moral. Usually, this always happens, so we shouldn't be that shocked, right? I was very pleased with the moral and after I watched the movie I started watching the book.

The book is so different than the movie, but the moral is the same. In the book you don't have chapters just about Mogli, but about the world and other animals. The other difference I noticed, is that the book really focuses on the imperialism and colonialism and especially from India and Great Britain. This shouldn't be a shock as well, because Rudyard Kipling came from India, but grew up in Great Britain. Because of this it gave me the same feeling as Burmese Days by George Orwell and it's one of the reason why I gave this story (even though it's different than the Disney version) 5 stars. It's so good and very moving. The book is also more political and real, which I liked as well.

After I finished The Jungle Book, I watched the 2016 version, which is now in the cinema and really hyped up. I personally LOVED the movie, even though it's also a bit different than the book. I should've finished The Second Jungle Book before I should've watched the movie though, but this version stayed more true to the book (even though some events were different), but in the movie they never talked about India and/or Great Britain or about colonies. That's what I've noticed in the Disney version as well. The movies are more universal and spoken in a way that the entire world can relate to it, which is fine as well! I love both movies and the original books and I also want to re-read it and re-watch is as many timas as I can, for many reasons. 

I loved every single page, the moral, the writing style etc. Oh let's talk about the writing style! There aren't just stories, but also poems and songs in it (no the most famous song was not in the book, it's a shame!)! Kipling was very clever there and it was fun to read as well. 

If you really want to know more about the political stuff, but still want to read about Mowgli but with a new aspect, I highly recommend checking out the book. Especially the Word Cloud edition. Even though the Disney version is for children, the original book(s) are not (in my opinion), so even as an adult you can still read it. 

What is your opinion about the original book? What differences did you notice about the Disney movie and the new one?

Goodreads summary:

"The dearest and most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice."  —Mark Twain

My dislikes: Being an orphan, having red hair, people twitting about my red hair, being called "carrots" by Gilbert Blythe. My likes: Living at the Green Gables with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, my bosom-friend Diana, dresses with puff sleeves, renaming Barry's pond the Lake of Shining Waters, coming top of the class. My regrets: Dyeing my hair green. Smashing a slate over Gilbert Blythe's head. My dream: To tame my temper. To be good (this is an uphill struggle). To grow up to have auburn hair!

My review:

I loved Anne of Green Gables so much! It's so fascinating that it's still relevant today (first print was in 1908) and that's is so very relatable over the entire world and the topics that were discussed in the novel. It's written so cleverly and I absolutely loved it. It only took me so long to finish it, because I was thinking about my own life and making changes etc. etc. 

The story is about growing up and the main character is so like me so it was really eye opening to read about it. Anne is so witty and clever and goes for something more every single time and she also realises how important familiy is (and I also have red hair ha, well I used to not it has turned naturally into brown(ish). The story is also about forgiveness and that you have to remember that everyone has a shield and that you might be surprised how people actually really are (and it's about feminism as well.) Even though it's a classic, it's very easy to read and with all the discussed topics I highly recommend it for everyone. 

What is your opinion about Anne of Green Gables?

Goodreads summary:

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down these dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books.

The classic novel of a post-literate future, Fahrenheit 451 stands alongside Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World as a prophetic account of Western civilization's enslavement by the media, drugs and conformity.

Bradbury's powerful and poetic prose combines with uncanny insight into the potential of technology to create a classic of twentieth-century literature which over fifty years from first publication, still has the power to dazzle and shock.

My opinion:

I loved it! This book is so unique (btw, I haven't read Brave New World and 1984 yet, so I don't know how unique it actually, but when I've read them all I will do a comparisation)  and good and it really makes you think. Yes we know that back in the days books had to burned and we should be glad now we have access to all the stories etc., but the story itself has so much more to say. For example how important books are. So if you're reader you're going to love it and if you have people around that don't understand how you can ''enjoy'' reading: explain this book to them. It has also other morals (about life and love) in it. Part III was a bit weird, but it's definitely worth to reread for multiple times in your life. I think it's a must read for everyone. 

What is your opinion about Fahrenheit 451?

Goodreads summary:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

My opinion:

I like the story, because it's unique and was creepy at the beginning, but I wasn't hooked or anything. It took me nine days to read it, even though it has only 488 pages (and that says something). I also didn't get some of Ruby's decisions, but okay. I hope the sequels will be better. There is nothing more I have to say about this book, so yea. If you like dystopians, you will also like this one I guess.

What is your opinion about The Darkest Minds? (No spoilers about the second and/or third novel please haha)

Goodreads summary:

The citizens of the One State live in a condition of 'mathematically infallible happiness'. D-503 decides to keep a diary of his days working for the collective good in this clean, blue city state where nature, privacy and individual liberty have been eradicated. But over the course of his journal D-503 suddenly finds himself caught up in unthinkable and illegal activities - love and rebellion.
Banned on its publication in Russia in 1921, We is the first modern dystopian novel and a satire on state control that has once again become chillingly relevant.

My opinion:

This story could have been told so much better in my opinion. There was no plot at all and most of the time you didn't even know what was going on, which made it very boring for me. I understand why it's an important classic (it's classified as the furst dystopian (because I finished it; the last 2 pages told you everything) and that many dystopian authors were influenced by it, but again; it was boring. I couldn't give it 1 star because I know how important that story was). The writingstyle was also very unique (written as if someome wrote his story in a notebook and then just published it), but it didn't work for me. It's because it's so short (only 203 pages) that I continued reading. Overall it was just okay, but I hoped it would have been a better novel.

What is your opinion about We?

Goodreads summary:

Just out of high school, Emi Price is a talented young set designer already beginning to thrive in the L.A. film scene. But her artistic eye has failed her in one key area: helping her to design a love life that’s more than make-believe. Then she finds a mysterious letter at an estate sale, and it sends her chasing down the loose ends of a movie icon’s hidden life. And along the way, she finds Ava, and at long last, Emi’s own hidden life begins to bloom. 

My opinion:

I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either. This is one of those books that will be better as a movie than a book, because

- I really liked the plot

- I like the storyline

- It's a lesbian story and main person is black (so unique)

- It would be a cute movie

But I didn't like the writingstyle at all. The writinstyle was so easy and most part where in script style (even the overall storyline) which made it also look just as if you were seeing the movie. That's why I really think this would be perfect for a movie. I didn't care for the book itself that much. As a book it was just ok, so that's why I can only give it 2 stars (2 stars means to me that it was ok). 

Have you read this Everything Leads To You? What is your opinion about it?

Goodreads summary:

This delicious, steamy debut novel chronicles the adventures of Nan King, who begins life as an oyster girl in the provincial seaside town of Whitstable and whose fortunes are forever changed when she falls in love with a cross-dressing music-hall singer named Miss Kitty Butler.

When Kitty is called up to London for an engagement on "Grease Paint Avenue", Nan follows as her dresser and secret lover, and, soon after, dons trousers herself and joins the act. In time, Kitty breaks her heart, and Nan assumes the guise of butch roue to commence her own thrilling and varied sexual education - a sort of Moll Flanders in drag - finally finding friendship and true love in the most unexpected places.

My opinion:

I really, really liked this book. It is a different one than what I've read before, and so good. This is a historical fiction with a lesbian main character and she also stands up for social issues. I also really liked the theatrical aspects of this book. Those two things made me really like this book. I can't give it 5 stars though, because there were some minor things that bothered me (Nancy) and it was something very slowly. That is was a slow read was also because I really wanted to remember the story and I didn't want it to end (same thing happened with Great Expectations and Burmese Days) and the writing style made it a slow, but beautiful read as well.. It was also sometimes a little bit over dramatic, but that made it also realistic in a way.

At last I want to to be aware that there might be lesbian sexscenes and language, so if you're underaged or don't want to read about that, then don't read it. However, I liked those parts as well and that made the story also very realistic.

This was the first book of Sarah Waters that I've read (this is also the first novel she has written) and I really want to read all of her works now.

Have you read Tipping The Velvet? What is your favorite Sarah Water's novel?

My summary:

There are 6 essays in total:

1. How do we weep and laugh at the same thing: conflicts of emotions, mind opener
2. On conscience: coinscience makes us fight with ourselves.''For why should pain make me confess what is true rather than force me to say what is not true?
3. Fortune is often found in reason't train: ??
4. On pushing cowardice: punishments: when?
5. On the vaniy of words: persuading people with words/speeches
6. To philosphize is to learn how to die: happiness and blessedness teach how not to be afraid of dying

My opinion:

I really liked all of them and they were very moving, except the third one. I think it was because of my lack of English to fully understand this essay. I've never heard of Michel de Montaigne before and because of this Little Black Classic I want to read more of his essays, but then maybe in Dutch. I always have loved philosphy books and this one did not disappoint me at all. I also really liked how the topics were so various and this is actually a Little Black Classic that didn't disappoint me, because this is what I had in mind with this collection.

I also created a shelf on my Goodreads account where I have an overview of all the Little Black Classic I've read so far, so if you want to buy/read one and want to know if I've read it and what my opinion was: click here.

Have you heard of Michel de Montaigne before and if so what have you read by him?

Goodreads summary:

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with  Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

My opinion:

I really, really liked this book, but I had a few problems as well. The first one is that there were way too many pov's. I could have lived with that if there were only four pov's, but there were even more. I loved the Winter and Jacin parts and wish there were only those pov's, but that would have been impossible with the storyline, so I understand it. But more than four just made it confusing cometimes.

The other thing that bothered me is that is was way too long. I don't mind big books (my edition has 823 pages) but it was just dragged out way too much. More than 200 pages shorter would have been fine as well.

Because of those two reasons I can't give this book 5 stars, but I still really liked it and in total this may be one of my all time favorite series, so I highly recommend all the books. This series is so unique, but still predictable (because of the fairy tale stories). I love the feminism aspects of this series as well and in this book/series there was also the dystopian feeling to it and y'all know how much I love (that might be the wrong word haha) dystopian stories. If I had to choose my favorite book in this series, I'd choose Cinder. That's an unpopular opinion, I know but I really, really love that book.

What is your opinion about WInter? What is your favorite book in this series?