Author: Margaret Mitchell
Published: 1936
Gienre: Historical fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Review
Its hard for me to write this review. It actually is. To express my feelings on this novel. To express how powerful this novel is. To express how heartbreaking it is. To express the myriad of emotions I went through while reading it. I finished reading it just a few minutes ago and wanted to wait for a while before I would write this review, but I couldn't. I feel like expressing all the things I feel about this novel, all the powerful emotions I experienced reading this novel, right now.
''Gone with the Wind'' is the story of Scarlett O'Hara and set in the Old American South, starting a few days before the American Civil War. Scarlett is the pampered daughter of Gerald O'Hara, the owner of Tara, a huge cotton plantation, and lives a sheltered life, a privileged, carefree life. Scarlett has admirers and ''beaux'', but loves Ashley Wilkes, a neighbor, only to discover that Ashley has made his made up his mind to marry Melanie Hamilton, his cousin, who is like him in tastes, gentle and refined, unlike the wild, coquettish Scarlett. This breaks Scarlett's heart, but being embittered, she makes up her mind to marry Melanie's brother Charles, mostly because she wants to make Ashley jealous. However, immediately after all these, the Civil War starts, and all the young men she knows have to go to the war. The war, however, devastates their lives, devastates their lifestyle. Very soon, everything is shattered, not just their old dreams, but also their old lifestyles, their civilization. Scarlett, the sheltered daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, has to make her way through the clutches of poverty, a girl who never had to get her hands dirty has to work in the fields to ensure food for herself and those she loves. This is the story of Scarlett O'Hara, of her plights and the people she loves and the things she loves and the lengths that she can go to achieve what she wants. This is the story of Scarlett O'Hara who faces defeat and endures only to hold her head high once again.
''Gone with the Wind'' is an intensely powerful novel. This is a novel that spans several years and introduces us to many, many characters. This is not just the story of Scarlett O'Hara but also that of the people around her, the places she knows and lives in. There is so much depth in it all. The most remarkable thing about the novel is the character development. These characters are so richly development, they have so much depth. Scarlett O'Hara is a character I often disapproved of. She is a character that can often be annoying and irritating. She is a character that I often found stupid. But at the same time, I applauded her when she triumphed, I felt sympathy for her when she was cornered by those around her. I appreciated her when she- though rarely- developed warm feelings for those around. It took me around two weeks to finish reading this huge novel, but by the time I finished reading the novel, I had grown so attached to her, I knew her thoroughly and had followed her through her journeys and her trials and tribulations. She is a flawed protagonist, often an anti-heroine, yet she is so human, she is such an excellently developed character.
There are many, many other characters. One of my favorite characters- if not my very favorite- is definitely Melanie. She is such a wonderful person, a person who always tries to find the best in everyone. And I loved the way friendship- a deep, deep friendship- is developed between Scarlett and Melanie. No matter how much Scarlett thought she disliked Melanie. Then there are characters like Rhett, Mammy, Ashley, Aunt Pittypat, Will, Uncle Peter, Gerald, Grandma Fontaine- and many other excellently developed characters.
I know I am returning to the topic of Scarlett once again but I am doing it because I need to. She is such a richly developed character, she indeed is. And the way she has to go through her trials and tribulations, her struggle to survive in a world greatly changed- and the way she took care of everybody around her in the hard, hard times. I know she can be annoying. I know she can stupid. Even disgusting at times. But she is a human being. Sh experienced so, so many things. Margaret Mitchell makes sure that we get an inner view of Scarlett's heart, and the deep human emotions and feelings- whether good or bad- she goes through throughout the novel- is described with so much depth!
This is a story of love and hate and misunderstanding and stupidity and devastation and most importantly, human nature and human emotions. The book moved me and touched me in a hundred different ways with its depth.
5 out of 5
Author: John Green
Published: 2012
Genre: Novel, Romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Review
''The Fault in Our Stars'' made me heartbroken and sad, but it also made me smile, laugh, and love. It made me love the characters, it made me love the story. It is a beautiful young adult romance that is sad but optimistic, a tearjerker, and strangely, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
Hazel Grace is a teenager suffering from cancer and because of that, she is always required to carry an oxygen tank with her. When attending a support group consisting of teenaged cancer victims, she comes across Augustus Waters. Augustus's cancer caused him to lose a leg. The two become very close, and with the passage of time, their bond turns into deep love, as they understand each other, support each other. But their lives are shadowed and followed by cancer itself.
I loved Hazel. Our protagonist. I really admired her. I really appreciated her strength, her humor, her easygoing nature, which she could maintain in spite of the fact that she had cancer. She was a strong protagonist, she indeed was. Augustus Waters is also a strong character, and I really liked the things that he did for Hazel, even sacrificing something so that Hazel could meet her favorite author.
The book is so well-written and irresistible that it's easy to fall in love with it. While the love story itself is beautiful and emotionally intense, the overall novel has a great depth. While it indeed is a tearjerker, it has humor even in it's darkest moments, it is witty and sad, heartbreaking yet optimistic and heartwarming. Strange, isn't it? While the book left me heartbroken, I was overwhelmed by the time I had finished it. It was romantic, it was sad, it was emotionally intense, yet witty, optimistic, and to sum it up, beautiful.
4.5 out of 5
Published: 2013
Author: Veronica Roth
Genres: Novel, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Review
''Allegiant'' is the final book in the ''Divergent'' trilogy.
After the death of Jeanine Matthews and the victory of the factionless, Evelyn takes up the duty of leading the city and the people, and abolishes the faction system, much to the displeasure of many people. Evelyn also declares that nobody will be allowed to go outside the city, defying the instructions found in the Edith Prior video at the end of ''Insurgent''. However, members of a rebel group, led by Cara and Tori, known as ''Allegiant'', defy the tyrant Evelyn's authority. Instead, they plan to go outside the city and discover how the people outside the city's borders need their help. Tris, Tobias, Christina, Peter, Caleb, Cara, Uriah and Tori decide to go outside the city's border, and they manage to do so. Outside the city, they come across shocking revelations: the greatest secrets about their entire lives, about their city. They come to know that what they had seen, their lifestyles all along were nothing but lies and made-up things. Throughout their lives they had believed, they had known certain things, but after leaving their city, they come across such strange revelations that makes them realize the truth behind everything, the truth behind the city, the confinement, the factions, and above all, the truth about themselves.
''Allegiant'' contains revelations, extremely important revelations. We come to learn the backgrounds of everything in the series in this novel. We come to know about the background of the city, the background and history of the things in the trilogy.
''Allegiant'' is indeed a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. While I really liked it, I didn't exactly love it in the way I loved it's predecessors. There are important revelations in this one, and it was wonderful to know get an insight on the past of the city, the real reason the city was formed, and the truth behind the faction system. The romance between Tris and Tobias is great in this one as well, with nothing becoming sappy, but is really emotional. The character development is excellent like it's predecessors.
I have loved the ''Divergent'' series. I really admired the storytelling, the character development, the excellent emotional depth, the endless secrets and mysteries and the revelations! The ending of ''Allegiant'' was really good- I was in tears several times while reading the book. Overall, it is a good conclusion to the wonderful series. I really liked it.
3.5 out of 5
Author: Veronica Roth
Published: 2012
Genres: Novel, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Romance, Mystery
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Review
Insurgent, the sequel to ''Divergent'', begins the very moment it's predecessor ended. Tris, Tobias (Four), Caleb, Marcus and Peter are on their way to the Amity compounds. They hope that the peaceful Amity will protect them- and help them during this extremely dangerous time. Though they are welcomed by the Amity, they have to leave the Amity compounds within days for certain reasons. They then take shelter with the factionless- and they come to know that the factionless are now organized against the injustice and tyranny of the Erudite. The once-organized factions have now fallen apart: Abnegation has been destroyed, with only a few members still living. Half of the Dauntless support the Erudite, and are known as ''Dauntless traitors''. The other half, not having been instigated by the Erudite, is residing with the Candor. The factionless, supported by the loyal Dauntless, are planning to take down the Erudite authority.
Tris has faced many tragedies. She has lost her parents. She had to kill one of her best friends, Will, in order to save herself. She does not know if Christina will ever forgive her. Tris has to face many more struggles, many more choices, many more difficult situations, many more hardships. Jeanine Matthews, leader of the Erudite, is hunting for the Divergents. And then there is a big secret, a big mystery: according to Marcus, there had been a certain information that the Abnegation had been protecting, information that sheds light on the mysterious things that are beyond the city. Jeanine Matthews now possesses the information. This information is so vital, so important that it can change everything...
Oh well. What an exciting ride ''Insurgent'' was! I really loved it. Just like I had loved it's predecessor. It is action-packed, exciting, and with numerous twists and turns. And like it's predecessor, it also has everything: emotional intensity, great character development, romance, adventures, secrets, mysteries, revelations.
One of the things I am simply loving about this series is the great character development. There are simply so many memorable characters. Tris, Tobias, Christina. Tris is a remarkable heroine. She indeed is. Selfless, brave, and in spite of going through so much sufferings she fights on. An unforgettable heroine she is. I really liked the chemistry between Tris and Tobias.
And there are characters whose true colors are revealed in ''Insurgent''. There are characters who played minor roles in the first novel but play important roles in this one. I admired the excellent characterization.
In the previous novel, the main focus was on Abnegation, Dauntless, and Erudite, and in this one, Candor and Amity are well-explored as well.
There are twists and turns in this novel, culminating in an amazing cliffhanger ending. There are many secrets, many revelations in this one. Overall, with excellent characterization, mysteries, revelations and twists, ''Insurgent'' is an excellent sequel to ''Divergent''!
4.5 out of 5
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Published: 2005
Genres: Novel, Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Review
At First Sight is the sequel to the novel True Believer.
When I began reading ''At First Sight'', I didn't really have much high expectations from it. Sequels often aren't as good as their predecessors. I had loved ''True Believer'', but I wasn't sure if my feelings would be the same for ''At First Sight''.
I was pleasantly surprised. I loved ''At First Sight'' as well. I really, really, really loved it. In fact, I'm not sure if I love it as much as I had loved True Believer, or even more than that! ''At First Sight'' beautifully continues the story of the protagonists, Jeremy and Lexie, and it's an emotionally intense, powerful, and very touching love story.
Jeremy and Lexie are waiting for their baby and also preparing for their marriage. As he had promised, Jeremy has moved to Boone Creek.
Jeremy starts suffering from writer's block. It becomes really painful for him. The time is supposed to be happy, as they are looking forward to their wedding. But things get even more problematic, as Jeremy starts receiving mysterious emails, that makes him suspect Lexie and wonder if she has been wholly truthful about herself...
Like ''True Believer'', ''At First Sight'' also has some mystery in it. But that mystery isn't about some mysterious lights. The mystery is about the characters, about Lexie's past, if she had really lied to Jeremy about something, or hidden something from him.
But the whole novel is not about this mystery. This thing is just a part of it. The novel follows their developing relationship, and their eager anticipation for their daughter.
''At First Sight'' is, in various ways, quite different from ''True Believer''. ''True Believer'' had a different atmosphere in it, the suspenseful, mysterious light on one hand (and Jeremy's research about the topic) and on the other hand, Jeremy and Lexie's relationship. ''At First Sight'' is beautiful in it's own way. The only focus in this novel is Jeremy and Lexie, their troubles and happy moments, and their waiting for their daughter. A beautiful story.
The supporting characters from ''True Believer'' are present here, and some of them get more depth: Lexie's psychic grandmother Doris, and there are other characters like Rodney, Rachel, Mayor Gherkin, Jed, who get more depth and importance in this novel.
A beautifully told love story, tearjerker, emotionally powerful, and overall simply beautiful, I really loved ''At First Sight''. I found it much more touching than it's predecessor.
4 out of 5
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Published: 2003
Genres: Novel, Romance, Thriller
Rating: 5 out of 5
Review
The Guardian is the best Nicholas Sparks book that I have read, till now. It was such an intense story, such a wonderful mixture of romance and thriller! And the characters... such memorable characters, such excellently developed characters! I just loved this novel!
The protagonist, Julie, is a widowed woman. She lives with her dog, Singer, in a small town named Swansboro, and works in a hair salon. She starts dating a handsome engineer, Richard Franklin, and though they have a comfortable relationship, Julie starts feeling Richard is not, somewhat, the right person for her.
Work causes Richard to leave the town for a few days, and in that time, Julie gets more close to her best friend, Mike. Gradually, she discovers that she is in love with Mike, and Mike shares the feelings. When Richard returns a few days later, she tells him that she loves Mike, and they (she and Richard) should stop seeing each other.
Mike and Julie spend some happy days. But the comfort suddenly disappears as Julie starts getting mysterious phone calls. She comes to realize that Richard wants to take revenge, he wants to get her back. Richard's actions start to get dangerous, intense, and Julie and Mike and their other friends live with constant fear...
Officer Jennifer Romanello investigates the case, and over the time, she finds out more about Richard, about his past, his background... and as the story keeps getting intense...
I just loved this novel! It was really so intense, such a pageturner! The first part, where Mike and Julie realize their love for each other, was really very sweet, and this love story was quite different from the typical Nicholas Sparks romances.
From the time when Richard starts his dangerous plans, the novel starts getting intense, thrilling, scary!
The characters were memorable. Most of them. I think that this novel has the most memorable cast of characters among the Nicholas Sparks novels that I've read. I'll first discuss the positive characters. Our protagonist Julie is sweet , and she has become my second favorite Nicholas Sparks heroine, after Katie of ''Safe Haven''. Mike was really sweet as well. And then I really, really, really liked Officer Jennifer Romanello. I loved how she was so understanding, that she really cared about Julie and Mike. I really liked how she works hard to find out about Richard's past and his background. And then there were Julie's caring friends: Mabel, Emma, and Henry. And then there was Singer, Julie's dog. Singer was really so sweet!
Richard... he was a well developed villain, and readers start hating him as his past starts to get revealed.
''The Guardian'' was really a page-turner, an absolutely intense, engrossing novel that I could not put down! It's a beautiful, amazing novel. I loved it!
5 out of 5
