Not Harry Potter-Good

Currently Reading The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling:

I am still reading it or rather struggling with it. i chose to read it because I am a very loyal and passionate Harry Potter fan and I genuinely like J.K. Rowling's style. But the tone that is so endearing in children fantasy novels is not so appropriate in a story like The Casual Vacancy.

I have read roughly 100 pages and I am becoming somewhat tired of the seemingly unending gossip. The reactions to Fairbrother's death that Rowling describes look so idiotic. I mean it appears that the characters have literally devoted their lives to gossip and they have nothing more to be proud of than the news of death of their opponent. I am not at all surprised by the ludicrous nature of prejudice that the Pagfordians have against Fielders; that is not unheard of. What surprises me is the way they act about it. In short, the behaviours descriptions are not realistic at all and are overly dragged. They would be suitable for a children's novel but this one cannot qualify as children's because of the subject of story. Moreover there are a number of badly placed jokes. And it drags everything.

I am not sure how much gossip people can enjoy,may be a lot but I certainly cannot enjoy so much gossip-reading.

It might not be a bad story; that is still to see. But it is an average one. Not the one that should have won goodreads choice awards. I mean people who chose to read this book are mostly those who liked Harry Potter series (that is my opinion about most people; there certainly are exceptions). I dont understand how these people can like the casual vacancy just as much. They are so different. So I agree with those who say that it is popular because of J.K Rowling's name and not the content. This book is an average read. Its not bad but it is not great either.

So thats all for now. I hope someday I shall be able to complete it.( My mind simply drifts to other things while reading it and I miss a lot of things. its mostly gossip, so no worries there)

Millennium ends !

Oh I am not halluccinating. I know millennium ended 12 years ago.


I am actually talking about the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I finished the last book today and already feeling a little nostalgic. And sad that Larsson will never write again. He died before this series was published.
So a little about The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest. It has the best name among the three in series and it also has the best story to tell.

It was amazing.

I was literally glued to this novel. couldnt just put it down and study. I chose a rather damaging timing to start it, that is in the middle of my semester finals. But no regrets. I enjoyed it very much.

It was an extremely complicated plot involving large scale political crimes, journalism, social injustice and national security issues. But Larsson had a gift with complicated plots and knew how to do justice with it and how to make it enjoyable. I mean I do not find it particularly funny to find nothing at the end of mind-spinning course of events that some authors enjoy so much to write. But Millennium series ends as well as it starts.

It was fast-paced and enthralling, conveying the intelligence and knowledge of the writer. The way he chose to unravel the mystery ensured that the reader cannot even think of leaving it unfinished.

(sorry for not being understanding of those who did leave it unfinished but that is my opinion and how I felt).

Once again I did not like the writing style very much which I think is because it is a translation. But the story is just amazing.

What I really feel sad about is that it was the last in Millennium trilogy and I really want to read more of Stieg Larsson but here nature intervenes. I enjoyed all the three books, especially the first and third. Of second, I did not like the beginning (which constituted almost one fourth of the novel) but it was more because of rough editing; the story was still good.

I shall probably write more on it but for that I have to think. It was not a figure of speech when I said that it has a complicated plot.

So for now, good-bye Millennium. !!

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Updated Review:
The Notebook is the story of a very deeply-in-love couple. It starts in a promising way. I think its good for almost all the first few chapters, although it still lacked the depth it must have. The story of a romantic couple required a better description of feelings and emotions but there is just the ordinary conversation. I think the whole novel should have a tone close to that in the prologue. The last chapter just drags on and on without anything to tell. It always makes people sad to read about old people's account of life. so the last part actually make you cry but that doesn't make the story any better.

So in a nutshell, I do not consider it a waste of time;it was pretty good but not a great one. 

Still I have some favorite quotes:

"I am a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough."

"And it had changed him forever. Perfect love did that to a person, and this had been perfect."

"My dearest Allie,
The porch is silent except for the sounds that float from the shadows, and for once I am at a loss for words. It is a strange experience for me, for when I think of you and the life we have shared, there is much to remember. A lifetime of memories. But to put it into words? I do not know if I am able. I am not a poet, and yet a poem is needed to fully express the way I feel about you.in times of grief and sorrow I will hold you and rock you, and take your grief and make it my own. When you cry, I cry, and when you hurt, I hurt. And together we will try to hold back the floods of tears and despair and make it through the potholed streets of life."