Reading Is All There Is

A Little Life is the saddest book I have read in my life. I've watched numerous TikToks of people crying over it and I was curious to know why. I'm an emotional person so I do like reading heavy books, but this was an entirely different level. I feel like you have to be in a good mental state to read it. For me, it was the opposite. I was already depressed, but it was kind of helpful because I thought well at least my life isn't like Jude's . Jude is one of the main characters in A Little Life . The beginning of the novel follows him and his three friends Willem, JB and Malcolm. We learn about their whole lives beginning in college. The author takes us through their struggles and ultimately shows us what true friendship and love is about.  I wish I could give Jude a hug. I don't want to spoil too much about the novel, but many people already know that this book is a lot to handle because the character Jude goes through so much pain. In my opinion, I think he goes t...

Salama lives in war-torn Syria. Her parents and brother were brutally taken away from her. The only family she has left is Layla, her pregnant sister-in-law and bestfriend. Every day Salama risks her own life by going to work at the hospital. Although she was only in her first year of uni studying to become a pharmacist, the war forced her to perform the work of a doctor. Another consequence of the war is Salama's hallucinations. Every day she sees Khawf who reminds Salama of all the horror she has endured. He wants her to leave Syria, but she is reluctant. Then Salama meets Kenan who changes things. He gives her hope.  In the novel, we read how Salama is torn between staying in Syria and leaving for a safer future. She wants to stay in Syria to help and treat the wounded civilians and freedom fighters, but she also made a promise to her brother that she would get out of Syria. What does one do? Stay and fight? Or leave and fight from the outside? Salama is conflicted, starved and ...

Monique Grant works as a journalist, but she wants to write more stories of her own choosing. One day she gets the exclusive chance to interview the famous Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo. No one else has ever had the chance to interview her so this is a once in a life time opportunity to really get to know Evelyn Hugo and the story behind her 7 marriages. The novel is build up of these interviews where Evelyn goes through each marriage while explaining her rise to fame.  I honestly only read this novel because of the hype that it received on TikTok. I must say that I did enjoy reading it. It was fast-paced and entertaining. It also give me insight into what the movie industry used to be like and how many challenges actors encountered - especially actresses. Evelyn Hugo did not have an easy upbringing and she fought her way to the top - oftentimes having to use dirty tricks. Almost all of her marriages were basically ways for her to rise to fame or get ahead career wise. Only one marri...

Sidenote: I am currently studying abroad in Aberystwyth, Wales, and I found this novel in Poundland for 1,50 pounds. The cover and title are what really sold me. Actually, the cover reminds me of the beautiful seaside in Aberystwyth, and the whole idea of borrowing a bookshop is genius. Jude Crawley never got to attend college at the same time as her peers. Her grandmother was ill and Jude was the only person who could care for her since her own parents were busy at their family owned bakery. This meant that Jude had to put a hold on her own dreams.  When we meet Jude, she has graduated from college at the age of 29. She took her English degree part time and is happy because she believes that she can now date her college professor Mack. Sadly, she finds him cheating with another young student and Jude is heartbroken. Another wave of shock hits her as her grandmother tells her that she wishes to move into the new nursery home in town. Jude's parents have also decided to sell t...

Nora Seed is depressed. She still lives in her hometown, Bedford, and has just been fired from the music shop where she has been working for years. Life doesn't seem to mean anything to Nora anymore and she decides to take her own life. This is when she wakes up in the Midnight Library where she is met by her former librarian, Mrs Elms, from her early school years. The library is full of books that are all the possible lives Nora could have. Mrs Elms tells her that she can try out her different lives and stay in the one life that she really wants. First, Nora must look inside "The Book of Regrets" which is quite literally a book full of Nora's minor and major regrets throughout her life. This gives her some perspective as she goes to live out her many lives. In some of them she is an Olympian champion, a wife, mother, pub owner, or a famous musician. In one life she lives in Australia where she finds out that her best friend, Izzy, has died. In another life, her decea...

My heart still hurts from reading Chain of Iron . It was just that good. That is one of the reasons why I love reading so much. I think it is beautiful how words in a book can make me feel so many things. Especially works of fiction. Cassandra Clare is one of my all-time favorite authors. Her books can always get me out of a reading slump. She has an amazing way of writing and creating worlds and characters that you grow to care and love. I've been reading about the Shadowhunter-universe since I was in middle school. I'm in university now and I still feel the same love and excitement for the universe. Cassandra Clare's books will always have a very special place in my heart! Chain of Gold  picks up where we left off in the first book of the Last Hours- trilogy. James and Cordelia are preparing for their wedding. It is supposed to be a joyful day, however, the only reason why they are getting married is to save the reputation of Cordelia who protected James when he was accus...