Books & Wanderlust

Traveling is one of the things that I strongly desire to do after graduation. To be honest, I have never been out of the country so that pretty much explains my serious case of wanderlust. I even have this small wooden journal where I listed every place I wanted to visit someday. I wish to go see every touristy and local destinations or perhaps just let my feet take me and discover the places for myself and along the way meet interesting people. The adrenaline from almost getting lost, excitement on finding the way back and probably a hundred other unpredictable experiences will be the most memorable things of the trip, the ones we least expect. ;)

Reading influenced my desire to travel and it made me feel as if I were really there...in that moment. The adventure, the culture, the languages... are all fascinating. I've always wanted to create a travel/book post like this so I made a list of some of the books I've read that greatly fuel my wanderlust:

Clockwork Princess

by Cassandra Clare

Release date: March 19th, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Margaret K. McElderry

Source: kayodeok.wordpress.com

                                                                     Destination: London

When I was reading the Infernal Devices I thought Blackfriars Bridge is only a fictional setting because of the genre (interestingly the name sounds like from a fantasy book too) then after reading the afterword of the author I found out that it is an actual place. The bridge has been an important place for the characters and I just think that it's really an awesome feeling what it's like to stand on the same spot where the writer imagined the characters were standing on. London is a mixture of old and new so wandering around the city would also be amazing (either with Will or Jem or BOTH, a girl can dream, right?) ;)

Anna and the French Kiss

by Stephanie Perkins

Release date: December 2nd, 2010

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Source: http://thesireniccodex.blogspot.com/2013/11/bookish-vacations-anna-and-french-kiss.html

      

    Destination: Paris

The picture above shows Shakespeare and Co., the antique bookstore across Notre Dame where Anna and St. Clair went. I remember that he also bought a book for Anna. Aww...For a book lover like me that is totally awesome St. Clair! 

What more can I say *happy sigh* it is Paris...totally a heaven for artists and the hopeful romantic.

Un jour bientôt Paris! Someday soon... :)

Reawakened

by Colleen Houck

Release date: August 11th, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Source: www.liberty-int.com

Destination: Egypt 

Adventure in Egypt? Count me in! I've always been fascinated by history, mythology and mysteries so the book and setting is a no-brainer. A tour inside the pyramids (sans booby traps) and the beauty of the great sphinx would be an ideal and exciting experience.

The Fault in Our Stars 

by John Green

Release date: January 10th, 2012

Publisher: Dutton Books

               

Source: www.hdwallpapersnnew.net

Destination: Amsterdam

Last but not the least, a picturesque place worthy of instagram! Haha. A bittersweet place for every TFiOS fans out there. Gus and Hazel's stroll around Amsterdam made it a must-visit place for me. I think to personally wander around the place would be a feast for the eyes. I guess I would be torn between capturing as many pictures as possible or taking in my surroundings with my naked eyes.

A very lovely place

Have you visited any of this place or do you plan to? What other places base from books would you like to visit? Leave a comment with a link of your blog post if you also made a list of places base from books and I'll make sure to stop by your blog!

By the way, it's been a long while since the last time I posted here, I miss y'all and blogging. It's good to be back! :D

Guest Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Hardcover: 485 pages

Release date: March 27th, 2007

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Bought

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? 

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.... 

One of the best books I’ve read this year.

The story revolves on three major characters: Clary Fray, Jace Wayland, and Simon (I really don’t know Simon’s surname.). Book one mainly centres on Clary discovering her true nature as a Shadowhunter while she gets help from new friends to find her lost mother. While at first reluctantly acknowledges the world of Shadowhunters, she discovers things little by little what makes someone being so different good.

The book itself is great! It’s actually nice to read a new series other than HP (although I never get tired of re-reading it) and to focus my attention to more action-packed YA novels. The characters were often very credible, but on other scenes, they make me confused. The story is perfectly woven by Clare, and many new terms were introduced (like Mundane, Runes, and the like) so new to me it’s often confusing. Anyhow, the story depicts some serious butt-kicking scenes that make me want to jump, like the scene where they run on vampires on Hotel Dumort. The book also features many mythical creatures, not just vampires and werewolves, but also faeries and warlocks.

I think that the most relatable topic here on the book is the topic about friends falling in love with another. Clare takes a serious tone on this topic and managed to do well. Girls who are independent, strong and at the same time vulnerable, can relate well to Clary. The main theme the novel shows is being strong. Clare writes characters that are so bold and strong it’s so magnificent to read.

The factors that I liked the most in this book are the story and the characters. They blend so well that the vivid pictures form in my head when I read it. My favourite part of the book is the part where Clary managed to kill a Ravener demon by using Jace’s Sensor. On contrast with my favourite part, my least favourite part of the book is the part where Valentine and Jace reveal to Clary that Clary and Jace are siblings. So much for the romance.

The book intimidated me to read it because of the rave reviews written about it. And they were right. It’s so amazing. Have I already said that it’s one of the best books I’ve read so far? It blows my mind whenever I sit and read the spellbinding story Clare had written.
I surely recommend this book to all YA book lovers, and to those who want to switch to action-packed novels.

Patrick

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