Aspiring Paranormal Romance Writer » Reviews

Used Books vs New Books

aerynna — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:32:15 +0000

I have a love of used books. The smell, the texture and the emotions being evoked from holding those used books. I just love dear old, used books that have been thumbed, maybe highlighted and a bit of frayed edges. They have cool covers that have the art that isn’t seen today anymore. It doesn’t matter if it’s paperbacks or hard covers, they rock. I love browsing used books in a used book store, just looking at books that would bring me curiosity or something intriguing behind those pages. Also, the reason why we should stick to used books is because they’re environment friendly and doesn’t kill any more trees. We should take it as a grain of usefulness to protect our trees yet support the used book stores by frequenting them. However, ever since Internet has taken over the world, used online book stores are also nifty. I like either Abe Books or Half.com for really good deals. Growing up, I love just checking out thousands of books on shelves, everything from romance to horror to nonfiction. I just go there every week and buy a pile of books with my own allowance. I just love entering used book stores. It enthralls me. It brings so much memories. I’ll always be a hardcore used book worm, even when there’re Kindle and iPhone apps that brings e-books to your fingertips.

Sweeney Todd

aerynna — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:47:34 +0000

I watched this movie, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a few days ago. I thought it was well done and brilliant. It may not win an Academy award, but Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter did a superb job as Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett, respectively. There are some lovely twists to the story with just right touches of melancholy and insanity. I thought Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett complemented each other very well and I love their fashion sense to match the dreary drab of London. I love it when they didn’t really downplay the evilness that exists in humans’ hearts. Tim Burton, one of my favorite directors, did a great job of giving a hint of darkness that dwells in human hearts. I always thought that people were either good or evil and that no one likes the innocent or virtuous, or that they were plainly blind and dumb to the ways of the world. Pain goes hand in hand with loss of innocence. It’s like waking up in a new dawn of real humanity rather than fabled one. The way evil characters destroyed the innocent, it was brilliantly played out without showing the obvious that happened to the young barber, his wife and their infant daughter. But I liked it that it has a gem of an ending that allows one bird to go free while the others didn’t get away in the tangle of deception and confusion. The ending has a dual twist that I liked very much. I love the singing and flair of their imaginative planning. I highly recommend this movie for those who have dark Victorian tendencies.

Golden Compass Trilogy

aerynna — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:25:04 +0000

I received these books from my mother, who is also a book fanatic like me, and I was instantly absorbed into the story of Lyra, one of the main characters in the trilogy. It basically deals with a young girl who came into a golden compass of sorts and ended up in other worlds with a young boy, Will. But I’ve not reached to the end yet. It talked about “Dust” or the dark matter that exists in the universe that aren’t seen by human eye. For some reason, the plot line reminded me of the infamous “Paradise Lost” by English poet, John Milton. I remembered reading the poetry when I was a young teenager (growing up my parents had these old fashioned books of all well known authors, poets, scientists, mathematicians, etc. covered in old fashioned way with gold embossed letters) and then I was transported to this world where Victorian era/ industrial revolution technology existed. It had references to the Bible, especially the “original sin”, “Adam and Eve,” and “the serpent.” These books are a must to adorn the shelves of steampunks everywhere! Without going into details about what the stories are all about, I read some reviews and complaints from a certain group of people who protested against the movie “Golden Compass” and the books. At first, I didn’t know why they were so upset and wouldn’t show them to the children since these books are written for young adults. As I read through first two books of the trilogy, I realized with a surprise that I am getting on what the author’s trying to say between the lines. I’m on the third book The Amber Spyglass and it was getting closer to the point where the author reveals his belief or opinion on God. Let’s say he was definitely an atheist or so he seemed. But I cannot deny the beauty of his writing and I was impressed the way he wrote because he was able to come up with alternative worlds of his own imagination and, I’ve read a lot of books in the past, I’ve not found a book that is similar to his imagination in the way he write. So, let’s say his books are eye opening and you’re going to be in for a ride. I strongly support in freedom of speech and thought, and I don’t think anyone should censor this author’s books because what other way can we come up with thoughts and assessments of our own if not censored by parents or schools? I cannot imagine a world where everything is being censored before it hits the shelf. I can understand why Christian parents didn’t like the books. But they have to remember that the books are purely fiction and isn’t used to brainwash children but to enlighten them to different way of thinking and imagination. Kids always have active imaginations which is very normal. So, I encourage everyone to keep an open mind when reading Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.