Hello reader,

SOURCE

I read The Catcher in the Rye a couple of years back to figure out why a lot of people were going on about it. It's considered a classic, written in 1951. Last week I was looking for a new book to read and I decided to re-read it. Best. Idea. Ever.

The first time I read it, I couldn't get into it but this time I was telling myself that I missed out on so much! Granted, it won't be everyone's cup of tea but I love this book so much I just had to hop on here and write a book review about it, in hopes that you may read it too if you haven't already.

The Catcher in the Rye follows 17 year old Holden Caulfield, a rebellious teenager who practically hates everything. The book is written in Holden's point of view as if he's addressing you as the reader while he retells the events that happened to him over a three day period.

J.D Salinger writes in such a way that makes Holden seem like a great storyteller as the story seems like one long flashback but with present events being included.

The story is marvelously intriguing. At first, you'd like to hate Holden; he is not written as a likeable character but he is 'real'; Holden is a brutally honest, vulgar character with a penchant for sarcasm and exaggeration which makes for humourous reading.

As the reader, you get to get in Holden's head and consequently, his life. Though he seems to love telling stories, he isn't really telling the whole story and it's up to you, the reader, to read between the lines and figure it out for yourself and once you do, it'll hit you like a ton of bricks.

I found the book intriguing, funny and heartbreaking. Boy, it killed me. No kidding. (Ha!). There were some parts that reminded me of an equally excellent book, Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallfower.

The Catcher in the Rye is not a long read and the ending (for me) was a bit disappointing in that it ended so abruptly but hey once I forgot the meagre ending I thought about the book and how it made me feel. I got over the disappointing ending really quickly.

Though The Catcher in the Rye is listed as a coming of age book, it is not meant for younger readers because of the vulgarity but it's aimed at teenagers because they are most likely to relate to it and it also offers a message of hope directed at them. I also believe young adults can still read it and relate to it. It actually causes you to examine the world in which we live in and how we're always forced to conform to fit in it.

Check this one of many quotes from the book that made laugh out loud:

"And I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs. I mean if I ever sat behind myself in a movie or something, I'd probably lean over and tell myself to please shut up."

One more that everyone would relate to:

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it."

Oh, how I definitely wish.

Have you read the book before? I'd love to know your thoughts about it. Actually, I want to invite debate because there's something really interesting I learned about the book that was instrumental in making me want to retry reading it again. I'm hesitant to write about it here because it may be regarded as a spoiler but I'll answer questions!

'Til next time,

-Bella

I Felt Alive Today

Hello reader,

Today I woke up on a chilly morning and got ready to venture out of my home and into town to run errands. Venturing out of my home is a big deal where I am concerned because I’m perfectly content with being a hermit and I’d go weeks without actually going out in public. My reasoning is that I have everything I need at home; I work from home on a desktop which means I have no important reason to go out other than running errands, of course. Today however, I was *so* excited.

It started with me being up early. It’s wintertime here in South Africa so it’s a struggle to get out of warm, cosy blankets in the mornings so I give myself a pat on the back for getting out of bed at 5am. *pats self* Anyway I went outside and greeted my dog; the usual morning routine but this morning was different. I felt consciously alive. I took a moment to breathe in the cold air, to look at the trees and flowers moving in the breeze, the birds flapping their wings as they went about their day and I paid attention to my beating heart. I felt glad then, that I was alive. I wasn’t the only one alive; the dogs with their fervent licking and excited jumping, the birds, the trees and even the grass…were alive. I felt comforted that I was not alone.

In my feeling of aliveness, I jogged the short driveway distance to unlock the gate with the dog, Krogan, who is always up for accompanying me whenever I venture outside. I jumped, leaped and skipped. I felt like a kid. To an on-looker, I bet I just looked happy. I was that and more; I was celebrating being alive.

I went to town and I met up with a friend of mine from school then I met up with another friend. I spent hours talking to them and that’s one thing the internet doesn’t give you; real human interaction and let me tell you, I was glad to meet up with friends for once instead of always visiting my cousins. It felt great to catch up and it reminded me how a lot has changed since high school. We’re all older, hopefully a little wiser and we’re all just starting out in our careers.

I’m pleased too, that I’ve simplified my life, most specifically the business side of my life. If you follow me on Twitter you’ll see that I have been busy with Allebasi and it underwent a whole new makeover and you can check out the website here. It took me ages, a whole lot of stress and worry but now that it’s done, I am able to breathe again. Kudos to a simple life!

What I really loved about today was that for the first time in so long, I felt content. I didn’t feel as if something is missing or wrong in my life and I didn’t worry about fixing that problem. I was in the moment and guess what, I lived. Really lived.

I want you to tell me the last time you’ve felt alive. What went through your head then? Could you describe the feeling?

‘Til next time

-Bella

Book Review Tuesdays: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Hello reader,

Before reading The Book Thief, I’ve read talk about it and I decided to check out some reviews. The first one was written by a young woman who was so mad about the book. She wrote that the book made no sense and that it’s narrated by death for no reason whatsoever. This made me want to read the book even more. What literary crime did the book commit to inspire this person’s ire? And you know what? I’m so glad I read the book.

Image

The book follows a young Liesel Meminger, whose mother takes them into foster care because she couldn't care for them. Unfortunately, her brother dies on the way. The story is set in Germany during World War II. The very first book Liesel steals is called The Grave Digger’s Handbook, which she stole at the cemetery where her little brother was buried. The book became her only link to the past because she finds herself thrust into the care of Hans and Rosa Hubermann and her mother disappears, never to be heard from again. Liesel’s new life at the Hubermann’s becomes one of childhood innocent where Liesel befriends a boy on her street and one of veiled excitement and danger; bought on by further book stealing and the tension of the war.

One day a Jewish man from Hans Hubermann comes knocking at their door, asking to be hidden and thus began a secret friendship between Liesel and the young man by the name of Max Vandenbrug who is to have a lifelong impact on Liesel’s life.

Perhaps at this point you’re thinking that it might be similar to The Diary of Anne Frank but you’d be wrong. This book is much, much different that it immediately sucked me into its pages and I was mentally devouring it at every chance I got. What makes it brilliant is that it’s full of metaphorical connections like Liesel’s book stealing, which formed a catalyst that drives the entire story. In fact, it’s like 3 separate stories in one; Liesel’s and the world outside, Liesel’s and the world inside and Death’s. Each one is interconnected into one intense story. It's quite interesting because usually we don't hear or read about the effects the war had on innocent German children.

It’s understandable why the book is narrated by Death. It is actually clear from the very first chapter (I mean, its set during the Second World War! There’s bound to be a lot of deaths) and I was left wondering whether the person who reviewed it has even read the whole book.

As for the characters, there’s plenty to make you fall in love with (and make you wish you hadn’t). Liesel is quite a character that young girls and even young women could aspire to be like. She’s strong, highly intelligent, fearless and resilient. Props for strong female characters, yay!

Markus Zusack has truly penned a classic that I believe would be read for generations to come. His winding of metaphors and multiple storyline is done so well that it comes together like a colorful crocheted blanket and I wish I could be as profound with metaphors or similes as he is. This book can be read by adults and young adults alike because in all, it forms a perfect metaphor for life. It thick (delightful for book worms) and I wished it didn’t have to end but when it did it hit me like a sack of potatoes. I wanted more; I wanted to have some kind of closure. You know why? Because there are times when the book would take your soul and wrench it in half and times when you laugh through the tears. As much as it’s full of sorrow, the book is full of humour and above all that; it will change your life, whether you want it to or not.

The Book Thief gets 4 and a half stars, most definitely! 

Have you read the book before? What did you think of it? Let's compare notes!

'Til next review,

-Bella