"Master Your Emotions: A Practical Guide To Overcome Negativity And Better Manage Your Feelings" || Quotes And Bits Of Wizdom

Happy new year!

I meant to upload this post before 2024 was over, but life happened and I didn't have time, so I guess it will be my first post of 2025. 

I listened to this audiobook a while ago and it was quite interesting.  I didn't love it, as a matter of fact I only rated it 2/5*, but I did find a few interesting bits about it and a few quotes that put me in thought. So, I thought of sharing those with you and discussing my thoughts on them.

"Events that happen to you bear no meaning in themselves, you give them meaning only through your interpretation of those events."

When I read this phrase my whole view point shifted. I had never thought of it that way. If you think about it, it's right; events are just events, they don't carry inherent meaning. They mean what we make them mean, they take the meaning and importance we decide to give them. 

"Attachment creates beliefs and these beliefs lead you to experience certain emotions."

I guess I had never thought of what it is that creates beliefs. Reading this quote, I suppose that attachment is indeed one of the things that creates and solidifies beliefs in us. Attachment to people, objects, habits, even attachment to inner thoughts, hopes and dreams. It is how we create not only beliefs, but expectations as well. 

Consequently, it's those solidified, cemented beliefs and expectations that we keep, safeguard, treasure, cling on, and often refuse to change that not only create but also affect and change our emotions. It is our inner thoughts and most deeply held beliefs that lead us to experience different emotions. 

So, I guess, if you can realize this, and be conscious about it, you will probably be able to handle your emotions and the situations linked to them. You'll be able to be in control of certain situations, instead of letting them control you and your mental and emotional stability.

"Ego is the identity you have created for yourself. Ego is a need for identity. Ego is only concerned about its own survival."

And

"Ego is neither good nor bad, it's just a result of a lack of self awareness. It fades away as you become aware of it, as ego and awareness cannot coexist."

And

"The ego leads through comparison. It likes to compete with other egos. The ego is never satisfied it always wants more."

These three quotes about ego put me in a lot of thought. I combined them in this post, and put them side by side, because to me, they complete each other and they make more sense when studied together. 

I really liked how the author touched the subject of ego and how he phrased everything. As I was reading this part of the book, something clicked in my mind and I did not expect it. I feel I have nothing to add to these quotes, nothing further to analyze, I just wanted to put them in this post as they are.

"Loneliness is not cured by human company, it's cured by contact with reality by understanding we don't need people. Once you realise you don't need anyone you can actually start enjoying people's company. You can see them as what they are rather than trying to get something from them."

I love this bit, because it's something that I have always thought about. I have often been surrounded by people who felt lonely, and in their loneliness, they would despair and result to wrong solutions, as hanging with the wrong people or making bad decisions in general. I have also felt lonely myself a few times, and I realized first hand that it was not a feeling easily cured or changed. 

Feeling lonely can make you think that you need others to fight this loneliness when this couldn't be further from the truth. This is how we end up surrounding ourselves with people that mean nothing to us, that we don't love or care about, only in order to try and fight our loneliness. The only way to fight loneliness is to sit and work with yourself. Working with your self-esteem and self-awareness can lead you to really understand who you are deep inside, figure out your worth and your uniqueness. It can help you realize if you need others in your life or not, how you need them to be a part of your life, and why you may have that need. 

I've always thought that the most important relationship we each have in life is the one with ourselves. So, once you've mended your relationship with yourself and worked with yourself enough, it should be as natural and easy to be in your own presence, as with anyone else's. And being well with yourself can feel liberating and healing and it's ultimately the only thing that might help you fight loneliness.

"Men imagine that thought can be kept secret but it cannot. It rapidly crystallizes into habit and habit solidifies into circumstance. Thoughts generate emotions and emotions dictate your actions."

I found this one interesting as well. Do thoughts really crystallize into habit and solidify into circumstance? I believe they do. I also believe that our thoughts and emotions can dictate our actions. In that way, some times even our misconceptions and wrong ideas may dictate our actions, therefore leading us to wrong paths. 

"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka || A Book Review

If you were searching for a book that will make you think and give you food for thought, then "The Metamorphosis" is what you're looking for. I can clearly see why this book has been so widely talked about and why there have been so many different interpretations and correlations put into this story over the years.

Gregor Samsa, the main character of the book, awakes from a bad dream, into a mad nightmare, as he has overnight transformed into a big, hideous bug. His first thought upon finding out he's a beetle is how he's going to miss work and this tells you, I think, all you need to know about him. His job and contribution to his family have become the very essence of his character, they have come to defy him to the point where he can't even imagine himself outside of it, even if the whole world turned upside down.

Throughout the story, he realizes just how insignificant he is - leading the reader to also realize how insignificant we all, ultimately, are in the greater scheme of things. As a bug, he's no longer the backbone of his family, its most important member, instead, he has been swept aside, forgotten, and has now become a burden, while the family adapts, finds new means of survival and life continues as it always must.

"The Metamorphosis" is also a metaphor that demonstrates how little, insignificant, and ugly society can make you feel if you are different, and how horribly it will treat you if you don't fit in - not much differently than Gregor's family makes him feel once he doesn't fit anymore. Gregor's family works as a metaphor for the society and this book manages to paint a brutal depiction of them, especially in their state of tremendous turmoil. The truths within the story are all the more obvious by the absurdist, dark humor in Kafka's work, which derives from his self-sarcasm.

The narration is slow and repetitive but not in a negative way. This style of narration perfectly fits the story, as it outlines the story's nature and highlights the surreal dimension of Gregor's condition and his mental state as well. This story probably couldn't have been told any other way. The immobility to which he has been forced through his condition nails us - and the narration - to the ground, making it as slow and excruciating as his first steps in his new condition as a bug. The language is simple and accessible, with a good touch of irony.

The ending is pretty sad. It leaves you with no answers or explanations, it instead lets you draw your own conclusions and lessons from the story. Gregor’s family, and Gregor, cannot stop what is happening. They just have to go on with it and hope to make it through to the other side. Forced into a situation we cannot control, we perish. Such is life.

The "Metamorphosis" is surreal, inexplicable, bewildering, and unusual, yet utterly compelling. It opens several doors of reflection on different themes such as dependence, work, a ruthless world, social relationships, family, powerlessness the futility of human existence, and the meaning of life. This isn’t a story that will ever leave the reader. It’s haunting and told with realistic mundanity. 

"Ikigai" || Book Review

 

I saw this book at a bookstore and loved the cover. It stayed on my mind for a while and when the book got in my hands and I read the synopsis, I decided to read it. This book is a "collection" of advice on how to live a better, longer life mostly based on Japanese culture and Asian practices.

The book does offer some insight and a different point of view on life than what we in the West have been used to. The ideas are mostly mildly interesting but nothing new or grand either. Some of the advice is pretty basic and shared amongst many people worldwide: sleep well, eat well, exercise moderately... Nothing new there... The parts that do have something to offer are the ones talking about less practical, more abstract concepts, like how to approach problems in life, how a sense of community contributes to a better life,

Something that bothered me about the book is that the writer keeps contradicting himself. He will make a statement at the beginning and try to prove it and a few pages later he will make another statement that directly opposes the first one. I can't tell if he realizes he did it and just happens to carry a few contradicting opinions, or if he hadn't realized. 

He also tends to repeat the same ideas - as if to fill pages - but doesn't really put an effort into a more detailed, more in-depth, and more nuanced discussion.

Overall, there are some good bits in the book but it was mostly boring. It offers quick overviews of various concepts but doesn't delve deep into any one topic. It felt like the intent was right but the execution was lost midway. The book may be a good choice for someone new to the self-help genre, but it wouldn't be of much value to someone who has read other similar books before.

I rated this book 2/5* as it was nothing great, but not terrible either. 

I hope you found my review useful and that you have enjoyed the post. I'd love to read your opinions of the book if you've read it and also any recommendations you may have!

"Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens || Book Review

"Oliver Twist" is one of these books that I've wanted to read for a long time, but never got around to it. I'm very happy I finally read it and even more excited to write a review about it!

The writing is simple, clear, and easy to understand, yet well-structured and concise. It makes sense why it would be a recommended read for school for young students and English learners. The plot, while fairly simple, is tight and solid. The plot points are tied seamlessly with strong narration and beautiful prose, thus making the story even more compelling. The language is easy to understand and beautiful as well.

The characters are well-written, distinct, and memorable. You can clearly see the symbolism and connections between characters and the themes/morals they represent. Oliver represents kindness, pureness, and hope. In short, he represents everything good and positive, trying to survive in this dark and negative world, full of bad and negative people trying to take you down and full of hard circumstances. 

However, as likable and good as Oliver's character was throughout the story, my favorite character has to be Nancy. Nancy starts in a bad place in the story, life has brought her there to survive and she has become cruel herself. She manages, however, to see the error in her ways, to understand what's right, and even to stand up against all evil forces. I loved her character development, I loved how she changed the course of events with her actions/decisions and I was really sad about her ending. To me, she represents all the people who - even in the hardest, darkest of circumstances - make the choice to stand up and make a difference.

The villains were all really disgusting, each one of them representing different bad qualities and all of them equally well-portrayed.

There's some mystery in the story regarding Oliver's real identity and it's interesting how it slowly unravels with each page. The outcome of the story is not the most unpredictable or surprising but it does have quite a bit of suspense and holds your interest well.

I guess, the main message of the story is that goodness, kindness, and mercy can survive through every kind of hardship and will, in the end, prevail. Life is unfair and cruel but Oliver stays strong, grows out of humiliation and abuse, and holds on to his virtues. 

I rated this book 4/5*. It's not hard to see why this book is so widely loved and recommended. It's one of these books that are not only worth your time and attention but one of the books that one ought to read within their lifetime... 

"Rage", by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) || Book Review

"Rage" is one of the first of King's novels that was published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. The book is apparently not available anymore, as Stephen King decided to take it off the market due to its subject and the fear of the implications it might have caused. And while this is a legit reason, I can't help but wonder if the book's poor quality was also considered in this decision. If I had one phrase to sum up how I feel about this book it would be "it's just not very good".

The book is about Charlie Decker, a student who kills his teacher in school and takes several of his classmates as hostages. The reader gets to spend a lot of time in Charlies's head, exploring his thoughts and inner turmoil. 

I can't say I found Charlie's character to be very well-developed and I had a hard time explaining his actions and understanding his "reasoning" for them. This is one of the main reasons I couldn't get into the story. I found it a bit annoying that King attempts to depict him as the victim in this situation, not only by the first-person narration that he has picked but also by the stance he has chosen to adopt for him. Charlie is by no means a hero or a victim of his circumstances, he is an outcast full of unaddressed issues, although he's not always portrayed that way. 

Then we have Charlie's classmates, who although may seem more normal, aren't without issues themselves. I found none of them compelling, relatable or likable. And since most of the novel is spent exploring the dynamics/backgrounds of these people, not being able to connect with them or be invested in them really hinders the story.

Honestly, for most of it, I was just bored. Although I'm usually all about character-driven stories, I just could not - and did not want to - sympathize, connect with, or appreciate the protagonist. The narrative is written in a way that's supposed to make the reader sympathize with him while he's clearly the problematic one. And while he kind of may be the victim of a traumatic past, he certainly is the perpetrator in this case and there is no way his actions could be justified or understood.

I guess that the theme of the story was supposed to be something along the lines that we all become what our backgrounds make us. If that was the case, I don't think it was very well served and I think it could have been executed much better.

"Rage" was not my cup of tea. It felt problematic and it made me feel bored. It's a quick read, the book is short, but despite its short length, it often has a hard time remaining focused. It's definitely not one of King's finest moments, despite his otherwise undeniable talent. I rated it 1* out of 5*. However, it was still interesting to get to know one of King's earlier works and even if I didn't love it, I'm still glad I got to read it.

Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below, I'd love to hear them. Once more, thank you for reading!

The Art Of War by Sun Tzu || A Book Review

I read this a while ago and it was one of the books that are completely out of my comfort zone. When it comes to books I don't usually go for, I tend to pick the audiobook, as a great chance to get more familiar with audiobooks as a medium and with different and unfamiliar subjects as well. I listened to the audiobook in a few hours and the narrator was excellent, but I have to admit that I felt weird reading it, however, in the end, it was still an interesting experience.  

This book is a guide on war, but it could as well be called "The Art of Strategy". What is interesting about it, is that despite it being a guide on war, the advice given could easily be applied to multiple other occasions outside of war or battle. It manages to give simple and still coherent today advice on dealing with conflict, and complicated, messy situations.

Another interesting fact about it is that even though it was written in a particular era, most of the rules are still of use and can apply to the modern-day world and situations. In my opinion, this gives it a sense of timelessness. I can't tell if the other intended to give this timelessness to it, or if it just occurred, but it's definitely there.

The writing style wasn't great, as I felt it was repetitive and a bit tedious at times, but the book is not so much about the wiring itself, as it's for the concepts analyzed and these concepts are worth the read. The book is short but it could have been shorter and more concise, thus helping with the repetidness as well. 

Concluding, this is a simple and accessible book that's unique and memorable in its own way. It was an interesting experience reading it and I'm glad to have read it, and even though I recognize its value, I couldn't rate it more than 2* out of 5*. I didn't love it, but it was a good read and I believe that even if you feel hesitant, you should still give it a chance.

"Farmer Giles Of Ham" by J. R. R. Tolkien || Book Review

This is a book I read back in the summer, but for a reason I cannot fathom I completely forgot to write a review about it. I only just realized this and decided to write a review now, on the last day of the year, even if it's been quite some time since I read it. So here's my last post of 2023 and my last book review of the year...

This was not my first contact with Tolkien's work. I have tried reading some of his books in the past and while admittedly he's a masterful author and his works deserve credit and admiration, there's no doubt about their worth, I still couldn't quite get into them. Sometimes I thought they were boring, or weird, or I simply couldn't "dive" into the story, so his books I'd tried so far, while amazing in their own right, simply were not my cup of tea.

So, when I picked up this book I was reluctant, to say the least. When I finally started reading, I quite liked it and it sucked me in quickly. I bought myself flipping the pages and only pausing when my son - whom I was reading it with - couldn't follow, and by the end, I was so unexpectedly and pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

"Farmer Giles of Ham" is something completely different compared to Tolkien's other works (the ones I'm familiar with, at least). It's a particularly unique and well-written novella. It's a fun little tale aimed at younger and older audiences alike, which stars knights, dragons, giants, and other magical creatures. Don't expect epic battles and endless action, but an enjoyable, entertaining, light-hearted adventure with a fairy tale atmosphere, as well as a subtle sense of humor.

Giles is far from your typical hero/protagonist and while he's brave, he's also smart and cunning. He has an interesting way of dealing with his problems. Instead of taking the predictable direction of immediate action and bloody fighting, he tries to use more careful and smart approaches that border between genius and hilarious. This in itself leaves the tale going in unexpected directions which, in my opinion, is the main clue that makes his character memorable and worth reading.

The story, while short, is still rich in content. It's fast-paced, reads very easily and the ending is satisfying, fun, and pays off. There's a unique atmosphere and worldbuilding, which I couldn't tell you if it's part of some wider Tolkien universe - I suspect it might be - because I don't know for sure but I can tell it stands very well on its own in this story.

My favorite character was Garm the dog who I found hilarious and I loved every scene he was in.

Long story short, I really enjoyed this book, and I rated it 4/5*. Out of the books I read in 2023, this was the one that positively surprised me the most and left me with unexpectedly good impressions. 

The Last 3 Childrens' books that I Read || Reviews

Hello book friends!

I'm back with some more reviews of children's books. This time I'm going to give you a brief review of the last three children's books that I read with my son, hoping to help you pick the next read for your kids. So, without further ado, here we go...

1.  "Stories From Around The World", by Heather Amery and Linda Edwards
   
   
   

   First, we have this big book that contains a collection of stories from many different parts of the world. More specifically, it shares 22 stories from the following locations: Australia, Persia, Greece, France, South America, New Zealand, Germany, Mexico, India, Scandinavia, Italy, Holland, Morocco, China, Chech Republic, Spain, Africa, Russia, Britain, North America, Japan, Cambodia. All the stories are unique in their own way, as they carry not only the myths and fairytales from various countries but also the essence of the cultures they came from, and part of their philosophy. The stories are interesting and they're painted in their own beautiful colors - literally and metaphorically. The stunning illustrations show beautifully the different origins of the stories and the variety of ideas and values that created them. Most of the stories contain a nice message at the end, and a moral conclusion, so they are educational as well as entertaining. This is a good, solid contribution to literature that develops cultural awareness. My son loved it and we both gave this book 5/5*.

   
   
   
2. "Newton and Curie": The Science Squirrels", by Daniel Kirk
   
   
   

   Newton and his little sister, Curie are two adorable little squirrels that explore the world and learn new things about it. In this book, science is given in a simple way that is easy and enjoyable for kids to understand. The two squirrels are named - as you may have guessed - after scientists Sir Isaac Newton and Marie Curie. While I loved the premise and the idea behind the book, I wasn't too excited about how the two siblings were portrayed. While Newton (the older brother) is curious and actually interested in science and the mechanics behind it, Curie - his little sister - doesn't seem to care much about most of it, and instead, seems to only be interested in playing games and having fun. Not only is she not interested in much of it and doesn't get to do much as her older brother does, thus failing to live up to her namesake, but she also repeatedly dismisses her brother's interest in those things. I can't tell if she was portrayed like that because she is the little one, or because she's the girl. In any case, and even if it was done entirely unintentionally, I didn't like it, because not only it doesn't respond to the truth either way, but it also helps perpetuate wrong and harmful stereotypes. This was the main reason I could give this book the highest rating was 3/5*.
   
   
   
3. 
   "The Story of Space: A First Book About Our Universe": Catherine Barr, Steve Williams, Amy Husband
   
   
   This book was given to my son as a gift and I was excited for it from the moment I saw it. It talks about the universe and the creation of the earth and planets in a beautiful and simple way. The illustrations are stunning, I loved looking at the images and my son loved them as well. This book was both educational and entertaining and it's a book I'd definitely recommend and pick as a gift for young kids to help stir their interest and love for science. My son loved it and his rating was 5/5*. On the other hand, I thought it was more like a 4/5*.

Overall, my son and I both really enjoyed all three of these books, and we want to recommend them all to anyone else who might be interested. We would love to hear your opinions of these books if you have read any of them as well as your own book recommendations.

Until the next time,

Keep reading...

"Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King - Book Review

 

“It always comes down to just two choices. Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

Hello book friends,

So... 2023 started with a book I've been meaning to read for a long time. I have wanted to read this book ever since I first saw the movie adaptation and absolutely loved it.

The movie itself succeeds on many levels; the acting is on point, the directing is fitting, and, most importantly, the storytelling is flawless. This is the reason this story always has always stuck out to me and still ranks amongst my favorites of all time and which is also the reason that led me to want to read the book so much.

It was a short and easy read. It's written simply but not simplistic or shallow in any way. It reads very enjoyably and it has all the suspense and depth in storytelling and character development that this genre needs. The narration (from Red's POV) is vivid and believable, and, the way it's written, makes you feel like you can really hear his voice and get into his head.

This book is a simple and eloquent depiction of endless hope, friendship, and redemption. It is a story about the durability of the human spirit. A story about managing to maintain dignity and humanity even through the toughest of circumstances... A story about patience and endurance... A story about justice and how it's found or, on the other hand, often lost.

Andy is an amazing character overall, and one of my favorite characters in fiction generally. But in this story Andy is not just a character, no, it goes way beyond that. Andy is a symbol. He is a symbol of hope, dignity, and freedom for Red - and probably the other prisoners as well - but he can also become a symbol of hope for the readers as well. A symbol of hope for life in general and how to go through hardships unbroken and... clean... even if you had to get through some stinky situations. Andy's character is so pivotal, that even though this is Red's narration of his own life, it's all about (or mostly about) Andy. 

The characters in the book are physically described differently than what the actors look in the movie, and I don't really mind this change, because both depictions are good and bring something different to the story. Each character's voice however is very accurate to the source material and that was very satisfying. The actors did a great job portraying their respective characters and transferred their voices and distinct characteristics very well to the screen, so much so, that while reading I could hear the actors' voices reciting the words. 

The book leaves the ending more uncertain and open, while the movie gives us a glimpse of the future, which is actually something that I loved about the movie and preferred to the book. I find the movie ending to be more fitting to the story as it gives a sense of optimism and hope.

This is an absolutely beautiful story that I would recommend to anyone as it has so much to offer not only in terms of enjoyment but also in terms of themes, meaning, and messages. This is the significance and beauty of a timeless work. Few stories are so memorable and at the same time so well-crafted. A very well-deserved 5/5* rating! 

Thanks for reading!

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows || Book Review & Book to Movie Comparison

 

My long journey with the Harry Potter series has come to an end - I've finished the Deathly Hallows and I can't help the sense of accomplishment rising inside me. This series and I go a long way back - to the ancient times when I was a kid and tried my best to avoid it due to the hype of the time, to when I became a teen and started feeling curious about it, to then growing older and feeling mad I couldn't participate to conversations about it because I had not read it, to later, when I grew up even more and finally decided to get into it - even if I considered myself too old for it. I guess you could say it was a complicated, love-hate relationship that has come to a happy end.

The "Half-Blood Prince" was my favorite book in the series so far, and I think it's safe to say that I got into the "Deathly Hallows" with high expectations - maybe even unfairly high for the book. I expected a more spectacular conclusion to the series but ended up feeling underwhelmed. Not that it was bad, by any means! No, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either - overall, I think it was fine. I thought it was disappointing in the bits that were supposed to be the strongest and most impactful, yet unexpectedly good in parts that weren't or didn't seem as important. The first half of the book seemed better written and more spread out, while the second half seemed a bit more rushed and a bit abrupt. It felt like the ending didn't get the time or space it needed and lost some of its impact along the way.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

The build-up was very interesting and I enjoyed following the heroes in their quest for the Horcruxes and the Deathly Hallows. Their journey was amazing and I really enjoyed seeing their clashes and reconciliations. I felt like I got to know them very deeply and saw their growth and evolution throughout the story. In this book I got a whole lot of new respect for Harry - I think that in this final book, he was at his best, I enjoyed his every scene.

Since I started the series I had anxiously been waiting to read the entirety of Snape's story. He had always been one of my favorite characters and his story always fascinated me, so I was looking forward to reading the chapters about him. He's not a nice or likable character and I'm not even sure if he's redeemable, but he still has been one of my favorites, because he's realistically deep and layered. He's a character that is walking a very thin line between the real and the fantastical element - he's a wizard, yet he feels as real as your next-door neighbor. And he's one of the characters in fiction that - if I were a writer - I wish I'd have thought and written about.

Anyway... While I love his story's plot twist and I absolutely loved how it was portrayed in the film, I didn't enjoy it as much in the book. Not because of the - admittedly - more sympathetic portrayal of his character in the movie, but because of the way that it was written. I expected that reading his memories about Lily would be heartbreaking and sad. Instead, it felt a bit awkward and even though it gives you more of an understanding of the characters, it didn't feel as emotional as I expected. I got a whole lot of new respect for Lily and she became more likable to me. Yet, the chapter lacked the feeling that the movie successfully created - maybe it was the montage, maybe it was the directing, or maybe it could just be me, but it was how I felt.

The scene of his death was absolutely heartbreaking and I liked it more in the book than I did in the movie. It was still very sad in the movie too and I liked how they changed his final words, but how he tried to avoid Voldemort, to run back and warn Harry, tell him the truth, reveal what he knew, even in the last moment, even if he knew his end was near... He was about to die and he still struggled to complete his mission and his promise to Dumbledore. Not so much to save Harry, which would have been noble if it were the case, but I think more out of respect and loyalty to Dumbledore, but, even more than that, I think that he did it all in a desperate attempt to try to redeem and forgive himself, to try and take back the bad he had done.

A scene that I did not expect to be emotional, but ended up getting to me, was the scene after Harry has "died" and speaks with Dumbledoor (or his ghost, I guess?). I really loved reading about his conversation with Harry and seeing Harry finally understand some things. But most of all, I loved reading about Grindelwald and his relationship with Dumbledore - that was indeed unexpectedly heartbreaking to me.

Okay, let's address the elephant in the room (or in the book, I guess)... I had heard so many people complain about the epilogue and I couldn't understand why. The epilogue in the movie was okay; it felt nice and it was subtle enough. But I confess, reading it in the book, it was seriously bad! I hated it! I'd rather not have read it at all. Still, if it had to be there, it should have been written differently, because it felt cringy and kind of out of place. The dialogues felt off, and the characters felt different (and not in a nice way, as if they grew up and matured, no, they felt out of place).

I preferred the way that Voldemort dies in the book compared to how he dies in the movie. The whole fighting scene between Voldemort and Harry was much better in the book than in the movie, even though ideally I'd like it to be longer and more developed. Voldemort died just like any other simple person, not any different than a simple muggle, than any other human without magical abilities. He died such a simple, humiliating, and unceremonious death. He failed to defeat his biggest fear and enemy; death itself. And all because of his ignorance and his arrogance... His dying like this not only makes a lot of sense but feels very right and proper, poetic even, as his whole story, his character arc goes full circle with his self-destruction. On the contrary, his death in the movie retains a sense of mystery and mythos around his whole existence.

Doby's death was really sad and it was interesting to see Harry's reaction to it. He was really brave and saved everyone, but he couldn't save himself in the end.

Fred's death was sad, but not nearly as heartbreaking as I had expected, or as it should be - at least for me... I understand that it all happened in the middle of the battle so we could not spend too much time with it at the moment, but still, I think it could be better. On the other hand, when we later see his family mourning him, that lived up to my expectations...

I was really mad at Lupin and Tonks, not only for their whole story when they were alive, but also for their death! The fact that they died and how they died made me mad!

I thought that Kriecher's character was quite interesting in this book and I really liked his character arc and how he "changed", but I wish that we'd seen a bit more of him afterward.

I loved seeing Ron and Hermione's relationship evolve and progress throughout the book. All of it; their ups and downs, their fights, and their reconnections, it all made sense and it was all nice and wholesome. In my opinion, these two were made for each other and there couldn't possibly be anyone else for either one of them. I don't understand the people that didn't like them together and support that they should have ended up with other people.

Do I even need to talk about Harry and Ginny? I think it's universally accepted that the films absolutely butchered their relationship dynamic and Ginny's character. I also think it's widely accepted that in the books Ginny is a lot more interesting and their relationship is more realistic, cute, and natural. Again, just like Ron and Hermione, to me, it's pretty obvious that they were made for each other and are supposed to end up with no one else but each other. 

It was also heartbreaking to see Draco's decline and how he fell into his own trap. I felt sad for him and for Narcissa. I think that all of them realized that they had been on the wrong side and that, in the end, the only important thing was their family. Their redeeming quality was their love for each other and their willingness to fight for each other. Narcissa's final act of defiance against Voldemort (not revealing that Harry was alive) for the sole purpose of protecting her son, her daring to lie to Voldemort in his presence was impressive.

***END OF SPOILER SECTION***

Overall, it was an okay conclusion to the series and a nice read. It left me mostly satisfied and I had only a few complaints about it. While it was a nice book overall, it was by no means my favorite from the series. That's why I gave this book 4/5*. Now, having read all of the books in the series, if I had to put them in order of preference, I'd put them as follows:

• From most to least favorite:

1. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
2. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
3. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
4. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
5. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
6. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"
7. "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"

I'd love to hear your thoughts about the book and how much you liked/disliked it. Please, feel free to share your opinions and tell me how you'd rank the books/movies according to your own preference.

"Avatar The Last Airbender: North And South" || Book Review

 

Hello book friends!

I know I have been away for a long time and I'm sorry for this, but life has been chaotic (mostly in a good way, thankfully) and it has been hard for me to keep up with everything, but at last, I'm back. I'm back with a review of one more of ATLA's comic book series, and this time it's "North and South". 

***NON-SPOILER SECTION***

I finished reading these just yesterday and I wanted to lay down my thoughts as quickly as possible, as they are fresh in my mind. To me, these three comic books were a tad underwhelming compared to the others in the series, but not entirely disappointing. The first two parts, in particular, were a bit boring to me, but luckily the third part is where the story picks up and finally gets more interesting. The pacing was a little weird for me, because, as I mentioned, the first two parts were slow and kind of boring and the build-up only starts halfway through Part II and it's slow, while Part III feels much faster and more interesting. As a result, the first two parts feel boring, while the last part - even though it is much faster and more exciting to read - feels crammed, as it's full of all the major events and information. 

This time, the story focuses on the South Pole, Katara, and her family for the most part. It deals with pretty much the same themes as some of the previous installations: tradition vs modernization, and keeping up with the times while maintaining a distinct cultural identity and connection with your past/history. As a consequence, there aren't many new things to explore there that haven't already been explored and this resulted in the whole thing feeling kind of repetitive. It makes sense both as a character and thematically that Katara would go through something similar to Aang and it also makes sense worldbuilding-wise since this is a changing world and everyone in it will be involved sooner or later. However, having already seen it a couple of times in the same universe before as a theme, it's unavoidable that it would feel repetitive.

***SPOILER SECTION***

It was great that in this trilogy we got to see some of the real Sokka again, his cleverness, his wit, and his insight, not just the funny, goofy side that we saw in the previous comic books and which was disappointing. Sokka in the original series was an amazing character; he wasn't just funny, he was insightful, creative, and resourceful, and he was deep and multi-dimensional. The comic books used him for comic relief a bit more than they should, ignoring all of his other great qualities. He may be goofy and playful, but he's also mature. Luckily, in this one we got to see more of him; I love how he deals with changes, how he views the future and the world, how he keeps an open mind and how he is able to get these things through to Katara, as well. He not only consoles and comforts her, but he also helps her see and understand, without being afraid to be honest with her. He speaks sense, he is the voice of reason, but, in this case, he's also the voice of emotions and empathy, as he's able to understand their father's feelings more quickly and better.

It was nice to see Katara and Sokka dealing with their father and his new relationship with another woman, such a long time after their mother's death. It was interesting to see how each of them views the matter differently and why. What was more important though, was that even though they approached it differently, both of them still reached acceptance in the end and dealt with their feelings. It was also nice to see Katara deal with her feelings about her mother. While we see her talk about her mother multiple times in the series, I don't think that we've ever seen her have closure with this open wound as we did in the final part of this trilogy. The final scene, where Katara speaks to her mom's grave was very emotional and touching and brought tears to my eyes.

I loved seeing Zuko's progress; how he's evolved not only as a bender but also as a character and a leader of his people. His role in this trilogy is small, it was, however, great to see him again.

Gilak was a thoroughly nasty and horrible villain, he really made me hate him. Even though he was disgusting, and I didn't feel sad about his death, I thought his story was indeed tragic.

The ending was wholesome and sweet, as it gets the message of unity and friendship across very nicely. The image of all these different people from different places just sitting together and eating food from their homeland was all that was needed. It was a satisfying conclusion to the story and a good pay-off for the build-up. 

***OVERALL THOUGHTS AND RATING***

So, overall, I thought that even though this trilogy was a bit underwhelming compared to the rest of the comic books, it was still a good installation and I liked it. I rated Part I 3/5*, and it was my lowest rating of the three since it was the one I liked the least. Then I gave Part II 4/5*, because it picked up and was more enjoyable. I also gave Part III 4/5*, because, even though I liked it more than Part II, it still didn't quite reach 5* for me. So, overall, I'd say it's like a 3,5/5*. Now, is the slow build-up worth it? Is the end satisfying enough? Of course, it is. This is still quite an enjoyable read and has all these ATLA traits that we already know and have grown to love, even if it's not as great as the rest.

Thanks for reading!

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" || Book Review & Book to Movie Comparison

As you read this series, Harry's story has been a part of you, his world a part of yours, and, by this point, the story has not only become a part of you, but it gets deep under your skin in a way that you couldn't even imagine. And, if you ask me, this is a trait of meaningful and powerful storytelling.

***NON-SPOILER SECTION***

It took me 5 months but I'm finally done with it! And while it took me a long time to read, that doesn't mean I did not enjoy it. Quite the contrary, I absolutely loved the Half-Blood Prince more than the previous books in the series. If you'd like to see what I thought of the previous book in the series, before reading my - admittedly huge review - of this one, you can find the full review here.

In the time after I had finished the book, when I was thinking about it, I was struggling to find anything wrong with it, anything that bothered me or that I'd like to change, but I couldn't find anything negative, to say or anything I'd like to change about it. This book managed to stay in my mind after it was over and, even more, it managed to leave me with positive impressions only. Perhaps, the only thing that was not great about the Half-Blood Prince would have to be the movie that was inspired by it and which completely butchered the source material.

"The Half-Blood Prince" may be a big book, but it is in no way boring or tiring. It doesn't stall, it doesn't drag out with minor, unimportant details, and it doesn't sway from the subject. Conversely, it hits the subject right to the core, without hesitation and delivers what it promises. The book is thick with plot and dense with story, conflict, and suspense. 

The pacing is great and the story's flow is smooth and consistent. The characters and the relationships between them evolve naturally and get more interesting as the story progresses. The writing and storytelling are artistic. The book has a very strong beginning and a very engaging ending that leaves you wanting more, it leaves you thirsty to just go to the next one immediately. 

***SPOILERS AHEAD*** 

This book is captivating from its very first moments! The first chapter is incredibly intriguing and it doesn't even include one of the main characters! The only familiar character in the first chapter is Fudge, a guy we don't even like as readers, while the other characters are new and not of major importance. Yet, this chapter not only gets all the new, significant information through successfully, but it does so in an intriguing way. It sucks you in and it manages to have you on the edge of your seat from the first pages.

Then, there's the second chapter which is one of the best things I've read in the whole series in general! It's perfect; full of mystery, darkness, conflict, and suspense. It has so many layers - not all of which can be understood in a first read - so much subtext hidden between the lines, and at the same time, it's artistically written! All that I can say about this chapter is that I read it and then went back to reread it because once was not enough! What's more, is that the more I read it, the more things I understood, and the experience was a bit different each time, even if the text remained the same. The tension had me on the edge and I kept thinking how it would have felt if I hadn't been familiar with the story. 

This is actually one of the things that I find magical about this book. There's so much subtext, so many things are implied, yet left unspoken, that the whole context behind each and every scene can change, it can be perceived differently depending on how much you know (or maybe even suspect?) about the story. Every bit of dialogue, every interaction hides a hidden meaning behind what is obvious in a first read. This is probably one of the reasons that make the coming plot twist one of the - in my opinion - best plot twists in fiction. There are other reasons for it as well, but this is a subject for a different post (which I will probably be making after I'm done with the whole series). 😉

One of my favorite things about this book has to be Tom Riddle's backstory and the flashbacks of his life. We finally get to see his background; where he came from, how and why he came to be Voldemort, why he believed what he believed and did what he did. And, to be honest, I felt that most of it made sense. Now, don't get me wrong, killing people doesn't make sense in general, but it makes sense for him, for his character and life. The fact that he became like this, that he ended up to his conclusions about life, death, family, and love (or the lack thereof) makes absolute sense if you look at his past experiences, his identity, his upbringing, and his perception about others, about the world and, most importantly, about himself. None of it is justifiable, but you can see why and how it all came to be and you can understand it. It is part of what makes Voldemort the complete, solid, and compelling villain that he is.

You know what is absolutely disappointing? The fact that none of this rich and compelling backstory is featured in the movie! Okay, almost none of it - there's that one memory with Slughorn that was done halfway decently... But where is everything else? The "Half-Blood Prince" is basically about Voldemort and the Gaunts and Voldemort is in one memory, while the Gaunt family isn't even mentioned! His backstory is the whole point and the core of how they hope to defeat him and this is how much attention it got? In exchange for what? Cringy, angsty teenage romance?! Just... No!

The teenage romances are present in the book as well and they are given a fair amount of time, but they're not given nearly as much attention compared to Voldemort's story and they're more substantial instead of shallow, superficial filler scenes! In the book, it feels like the most gravity is given to Voldemort's story, to the mystery behind the Half-Blood Prince, to the mystery behind Draco rather than to the romances. In the book, the romantic subplots are exactly this - subplots - they keep happening on the side, as the actual plot progresses, and they're great just like that; side stories, subplots! Whereas in the movie, the romantic sub-plots are being over-utilized at the expense of the actual plot. Why wasn't Voldemort's mother ever mentioned? His father, his fascination with important artifacts, and why he picked them amongst other objects to be his Horcruxes? All these were fascinating to read about, not to mention crucial for the story, so we should have more of these in the movie.

Talking about Voldemort's mother, I kind of felt sorry for her and what she had gone through. This doesn't in any way justify her bewitching his father, what she did was inherently and undoubtedly wrong, but again, even though it is wrong, you can understand her and where she's coming from. For her character, it makes sense that she acts this way because she doesn't know any better. She was infatuated with him and saw nothing wrong with her actions. But she only managed to hurt herself even more with her actions. By the time she understands she has made a mistake and tries to correct it, hoping that Tom Riddle senior will reciprocate her feelings, she finds out that there is no possible positive outcome for her. She doesn't only lose the man she was in love with, but her family as well (which was not much of a family, to begin with, but that's probably beside the point), and she is left abandoned and alone in the world. She has known nothing but abuse and neglect by her family, rejection by her love interest, and is now left alone, penniless, and helpless with a baby in her belly. I can't help but feel deeply sorry for her tragic life and her even more tragic fate! 

On the other end, I felt absolutely appalled and infuriated by the rest of the Gaunt family! Rowling knows her characters well and does a great job portraying them not only descriptively, but also in a way that evokes strong feelings. Morphin and Marvolo both disgusted me and I was glad that they met the ending they deserved! In the hands of their descendant! Again, you can see why Voldemort despises the lot of them and how he struggled to "climb" above them. Anyway, getting on...

I love that we finally get a glimpse of who Snape was and how he was as a student through his forgotten book. Of course, this glimpse we get to see of him will leave a different impression on the reader depending on how familiar they are with the story. I, for example, had watched the movies before reading the books and I had been spoiled for a great deal of the story. So when I was reading the book - knowing the outcome beforehand - I could read between the lines, see all the different layers, and spot the "crumbs" that had been sprinkled along the way, which I would not have been able to detect if I had no idea about the truth. I kept imagining what I would have thought and how I would have felt if it was my first contact with the story. My reactions, thoughts, and impressions of the characters would have been entirely different. The whole book would have been an entirely different experience.

Anyway, it's great to finally know that Snape was a good student, kind of a prodigy as it seems. He was creative enough to figure out all these things about potions and create his own spells from such a young age, and at the same time, he was malicious enough to create such an evil spell. You can see how dedicated he was and how much he loved magic. It was also very interesting for me to see him teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts for the first time. The scene of his first lesson was mysterious and captivating to me; we finally get to see his fascination with the subject, his affinity for the Dark Arts, and why he would actually be a great teacher for it. 

Snape is actually one of my favorite characters, if not my most favorite character, in the Harry Potter universe. He is immensely interesting, layered, multi-dimensional, and generally fascinating to read about. He's by no means a great person, he has flaws and problems and has made big mistakes. I can see all of his different sides clearly, I'm not idealizing him and I'm not blind to his dubious nature. In fact, this dubious nature and his grey morality are some of the things I love more about him and about fictional characters in general. I enjoy reading about him and his life, even in the moments when he makes me hate him. He's one of those characters in fiction that I wish I could have written myself. His role in this book is big and important, not to mention ambiguous and controversial - more so than ever before - and this makes him even more fascinating to me.

I like Draco's sub-plot in this book; it is dark, mysterious, and thrilling and it was refreshing to see Harry finally be right about something 😂 . What I like more about it is how you see Draco gradually change throughout the story and everything he goes through - all of which culminates in this book. The change may not be big, or obvious yet, but I believe this is the starting point for a different life for him. 

Draco realizes that he's been lied to his whole life. He thought that he was supposed to be this death eater and make his father proud, but he realizes this is actually not true. This isn't what he was meant to be at all, he's not made for it. He doesn't want it, he's scared for his and his family's lives and, by the middle of the story and toward the end, he becomes increasingly more hesitant, he only does it because his life depends on it. He slowly comes to the realization that he's not actually meant to be a death eater, that there is something else inside of him. By the time we get to the scene where he's crying in the bathroom, you get from hating Draco and feeling infuriated by his cockiness to a point where you actually feel sorry for him. I felt sad and pity for him and I knew by that point, that no matter how dark things he'd choose to do, he wasn't completely beyond saving. It's heartbreaking to see his struggle, his confusion, and how this whole thing slowly destroys him.

Harry feels a lot more interesting in this book. He feels more mature like he can finally stand on his own feet and be more independent and more determined. I like him more as time passes, not that he ever was particularly unlikable, he was always nice, but he gets better. 

The relationships between the characters are great. They feel a lot better and more natural than in the movies where they felt awkward. The relationship between Harry and Ginny evolves nicely and naturally and even though I couldn't care about its portrayal in the movies, in the book it's pretty wholesome. Especially the scene of their first kiss is adorable and it baffles me why it wasn't included in the movie! The scene was simple, it could be made short and it would have been so much cuter than what we got!

The relationship between Ron and Hermione is a lot nicer in the book too. The romance between them feels inevitable, like it was meant to be, like it couldn't be any other way and I love this. I have to admit though, I did find the final scene between Harry and Ginny (at Dumbledore's funeral) a bit cringy. 

I didn't care much about the Tonks-Lupin pairing, but it wasn't bad either, just kinda meh for me...

I never really liked Fleur, but I also didn't hate her and I couldn't understand the hate Ginny and Molly had for her and to the point they had it. I was glad that she proved them wrong in the end and proved that she really loved Bill and was willing to stay by him. She was fierce in this scene, the scene itself was great, it had a lovely outcome (as Molly finally accepts her) and I found new respect for her.

I really liked Slughorn; I thought he was so much fun and he was also an interesting character with a lot to offer to the characters and the story. The scene where Harry tries to get the memory from him was both hilarious and smart at the same time! I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Dumbledore's death is depressing. I can only imagine what reading it would feel like to someone who's not familiar with the story. It wasn't shocking for me, because not only was I familiar with it, but also because I think it was foreshadowed quite a bit. Still, this doesn't make it any less tragic. Specifically, the part where they find his body is chilling and heartbreaking. The scene of the murder itself is full of suspense and emotions and, once again, hidden meanings. Draco's hesitation, Snape's apparent resentment, Harry's inability to do anything... all of it is great! 

And it was all so perfectly portrayed in the movie as well! For all its flaws and inaccuracies, this movie has a few redeeming qualities. The actors, for one thing, play their roles perfectly, they all display great acting. And, more specifically, Alan Rickman (R.I.P.) is phenomenal as Professor Snape! Every scene he's in is precious, and especially the murder scene is absolutely flawless! It's just a bit different from the book, but it's a great interpretation of the original, nonetheless. In fact, the moment where he confesses to Harry that he is the Half-Blood Prince is even better in the movie!

***END OF SPOILERS***MY RATING***

I don't know what else there is for me to say about this book without repeating myself and without just saying how great it was over and over again. This post is already too long as it is... 😅 It was a great book, definitely my favorite in the series so far and it could also probably rank among my favorite books in general. The writing is great, the plot is rich, and the characters are perfectly developed... I can't find a fault with it, which is why I rated it 5/5*. It deserves this rating and it deserves your time and attention. 

The build-up from all the previous books is definitely worth it when you get to this book and to what seems to be the fascinating ending of the next book. I've already started reading "The Deathly Hallows" and I can't wait to dive deeper into it.

Until then...

4 More Children's Books Reviews

 Hello friends!

I really enjoy reviewing and writing about children's books, so I decided to make one more post like these. If you'd like to read my opinions on some more children's books, you can check my previous relevant post here. 

Here are the last 4 children's books I read with my son and how I felt about them...

"Frog is Frog" by Max Velthuijs

This is a very cute little story that talks about how everyone is different and it's okay. Everyone has their own strong points, abilities, and characteristics and we should be proud of who we are and what we're able to do. Focusing on other people's strong points or advantages doesn't only feel bad, but also doesn't help unravel who you really are and your actual unique qualities. It carries a beautiful message for children and it does it in a simple and fun way. I gave it 3/5*. Out of the three books, I think that this one was my favorite, the one that resonated more with me and made me feel and think.

"Frog in Love" by Max Velthuijs

One thing I like about this series is how it uses different animals to show the different people in the society. So Frog is in love and his loved one is different, but of course, it doesn't matter to him. This book deals with many complicated emotions and shows how in love and friendship what matters is not our differences, but the things that connect us. It also shows how other people's opinions won't mean anything if your love is honest and real. It is a heart-warming story. I gave this one 3/5* as well and out of the three books in the series, this was definitely the sweetest.

"Frog and a Very Special Day" by Max Velthuijs

Frog has been promised that today is a very special day, but can't seem to figure out why, so he goes around trying to find out. If I had to find a message in this book, I guess it would be that we can make our "special days" by ourselves and not simply by waiting for something extraordinary to happen out of the blue, or maybe that good and thoughtful friends are what make a day special. Out of the 3 books that I've read from this series so far, this one was my least favorite. This is why I gave it a lower rating 2/5*. But it is still a fun little read.

"Ouch!" by Ragnhild Scamell

This book was definitely the one my son and I had the most fun reading and came back to re-read it a couple of times. It tells a story about a Hedgehog who has just finished building his nest but has been caught and keeps getting in trouble as different things get stuck on him and his friends hurry to his aid. The illustrations are simply beautiful and very much to my taste, I really enjoyed looking at them. The story is simple, but it is fun and the writing is wordy and very enjoyable overall. I think that it would be a nice way for children to get in touch with and start learning numbers because every page keeps counting how many things got stuck on the Hedgehog. My son is 5 years old, but this one could definitely be read to younger children as well, as it is simple and fun. I gave it 3/5*, even though it feels more like a 3,5*, but not quite a 4* either.

Overall, all of them were nice and I would recommend them if you're looking for something to read with your children. I would love to hear your opinions about these books if you've read them and I'd also love to hear any recommendations you might have.

Thank you for reading!

"Avatar The Last Airbender - Smoke and Shadow" || Book Review

 

Hello friends!

I'm back with another comic book review. This time it is "Smoke and Shadow" from the universe of Avatar the Last Airbender. If you want to read my last ATLA review ("ATLA - Team Avatar Tales") you can check it out here.

 I was very eager to read this one, because of things I had heard about it or because of scenes from it I had stumbled upon on Instagram or Youtube. The story is interesting and keeps you turning the pages. It is rich in action and feelings as well. The pacing is a bit off in the first two parts but really takes off in the third part and it definitely pays off. I enjoyed these comic books as much as the previous ones, although admittedly I thought that Part 3 was better than Parts 1 and 2. This is why I rated Parts 1 and 2 with 4* and I gave Part 3 a 5* rating.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

My main objection to this story is that it takes place in a very short period of time, so much so that it doesn't really make sense for many of those things to change like this and take place in such a short period of time. As I understood it, the story takes place over the span of a couple of days, so it was weird to me that over just a couple of days - or even a couple of weeks - a group of people (like the Safe Nation Society) would grow so popular amongst the common people, that they would have so much acknowledgment, support, and trust that they're heroes. It seems strange to me that, even with the children disappearing, there would be so much and widespread unrest within a couple of days of the investigations starting. It would make more sense and it'd be way more impactful if it was implied that the whole thing took place over a period of a couple of months; they could show us an exhausted Zuko, a desperate Aang, a devastated Mai, and even an arrogant, almost-victorious Azula. It would also give Ukano more time to regret his decisions and change his mind, whereas, the way it is now, it seems like he make each decision overnight and changed his mind every other day.

I wasn't a fan of Mai and Kei Lo at all, but I lived for the cute little moments between her and Zuko. I really wish and hope they get together in the future. The hints and the electric moments between them were great and really got the vibes through. It was quite open-ended between them but I am certain that these two will end up together eventually. They belong together!

Ukano drove me mad at the beginning but I was happy to see him change his mind in the end and help the children. It was nice to experience his change of heart, his character arch and also the evolution of his relationship with Mai. 

Kiyi was hands-down the most adorable and precious thing in the whole story! I really loved her, I thought she was so cute, I loved seeing her so much in love with her big brother, and I was excited to see her fire bending!

There was something deeply satisfying about Ursa finally facing Ozai and their scene was short, but it was very strong and conveyed what it needed to very well. The ending in general was satisfying and tied many loose ends together, but it still left so many questions to be answered in the next comic books, so I'm really eager to read more of them soon!

That's about it for today's review...

Thank you for reading!

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" || Book Review, Book to Movie Comparison & Discussion

***MY GENERAL THOUGHTS***

I started and finished this book in 2021, it was actually my last book of the year. However, I have been postponing writing the review for it for about a while now because I felt conflicted about it. My feelings for it were unclear and my thoughts complicated. I couldn't decide how I should rate it and I'm still unsure as I'm beginning to write this review, so I just hope by the end, when I'm done with it, I will have come to a conclusion. So I will just try to lay my thoughts down and see if I can figure it out, but if you'd care to see my previous review of this series for "The Goblet of Fire" before reading this one, you can find it here.

First of all, I'd like to mention that I have watched the movies before reading the books so I had a good idea what was coming and I've also read plenty of spoilers online, watched videos about the whole series and I had a very good idea about it in general. More specifically, the fifth movie is one of my favorites (if not my favorite), so a good part of my confusion and indecisiveness about this book may come from the high expectations I had about this book because of my love of the movie. Another reason for my high expectations may well be the good impression I had of the previous book which I enjoyed thoroughly. Then again, I don't think it's just me being biased, because I could point at some legit issues with this book, some objective problems. To cut the long story short, let's get to it... I apologize in advance for the super long post, but I had so many things to say (and I didn't even say everything I've been meaning to say, I had to cut out a few of the smaller, more insignificant parts). I just couldn't stop myself.

***NON-SPOILER SECTION***

Once more in this series, we have an enormous book, in fact much bigger than the rest. Even though the pacing is good, the story flows nicely, it doesn't get tiring or boring and it does have things to say, I still think it could have been a bit more compact. It wasn't by any means one of my big problems with the book, in fact, this was one of the least significant problems I had with it and I would probably not have even noticed or minded if the rest was flawless. But the fact of the matter is that plotwise this is kind of the middle point of the whole story, so it has this feeling of a middle book. We have a significant plot point in the previous book (Voldemort coming back to life) and then this book which is basically people not believing Harry, the Ministry messing things up and then everyone coming to the realization they should have come to one book ago. And then we have the next books, where we all know that some pretty heavy things happen there. So this book is a long, suspenseful build-up to the next and a midway point to the overarching story. So, it being so long when it is a transitional book, even though is not the most important problem, still doesn't really help.

The writing is great for one more time, I think there's no doubt about Rowling's skills as a writer, so I won't further analyze this, there is no need.

This book has a good amount of worldbuilding; new details about the world, new magical beings, new settings and it all is certainly very entertaining. We learn more about giants which I wasn't so crazy about, we learn a bit more about centaurs that I already liked. I really enjoyed the addition of the thestrals and I thought they were amazing! The change of setting from Burrow to Sirius's house was definitely interesting and different and gave the book a whole other dark feeling, but at the same time, I found it to be funny at times what with his mother's portrait shrieking and all (even though, I could have done without all the cleaning and decluttering scenes).

The general mood and atmosphere of this book are obviously darker than the previous ones and it's to be expected as the story gets more serious, the characters grow up and the story matures with them.

***SPOILER SECTION***

We had quite a few new characters in this book. I really enjoyed the addition of Tonks in this book; I liked her and felt like I was vibing with her on many occasions. She is strong, smart, and funny and definitely adds something different to the story. Luna of course is great and loveable and we get to see more of some of the villains - Death Eaters. I also thought that the addition of Phineas Nigellus - even as just a portrait - was entertaining and I wish we'd seen more of him! And, of course... Umbridge... Now, what can I say about her that hasn't already been told? She is absolutely revolting and she gets worse after each page! She is an absolute tyrant, the embodiment of our worst fears in a teacher as students and a representation of all things foul that have to do with authority and its abuse. I was happy that in the end she got what she deserved. 

I really liked the Order of the Phoenix and how all the characters we already knew are now united in this team and they work together for a common purpose. It's nice to see them all together and to see a bit more of their personality. It's also nice to see them all team up no matter their feelings about each other; whether they like or hate each other.

The D.A.D.A. parts were also very interesting and I really loved seeing the students working together and learning new things together. Although I didn't care about Harry and Cho's relationship and it was obvious from early on that it wasn't going to work between them.

Fred and George were really funny for once more just doing their thing and I really loved what they did to Umbridge and how they dramatically left the school!

One of the most interesting parts of the book for me was the Occlumensy lessons! I really enjoyed reading about them and about everything that was going on between Harry and Snape. Snape is consistently, throughout the book, one of my favorite characters, whether he's being his worst or his best version and in this book we get one of the slightly better versions of Snape. He - even though grudgingly - actively tries to help and guide Harry, he tries to give him some insight, some understanding, and he helps the Order a lot. Even when he gets mad and lushes out, it feels understandable in the circumstances of the book (like for example when he got mad after Harry saw his memories). One thing I disliked, however, was that Harry didn't pay much attention to his Occlumency lessons. Actually, it felt as though he was just wasting what was being offered to him, like he didn't care and didn't even try to gain something out of this. It even got me thinking that maybe Snape was justified in considering him arrogant.

One thing I liked about the books, in general, and even more in this book in particular, is that we get to see a lot more of Harry's actual personality that could not be seen that much - if at all - in the movies. I really love Harry's sass and his sarcastic remarks, they make him really stand out and be more interesting as a protagonist, while in the movies he's more "meh". Even though in this particular book we didn't just get to see his sass and humor but also a more annoying side. Harry spends the best part of the beginning of the book being grumpy, whiny, and really irritating in general. I'm not talking about the moments when he's anxious about what is happening in the world and when he is reasonably feeling left out. These are all understandable and I could totally feel them. I'm talking about the moments that he was a whiny baby, constantly complaining, refusing to understand why certain things had to be the way they had to be, refusing to listen to whatever he was being told, and just being the shadier part of an angsty teenager. He even went looking for trouble with his cousin which is not like him generally and who knows how things would have gone if the dementors had not arrived. He's even being a twat to his friends when he finally finds them because he was feeling left out. Thankfully, this doesn't last too long and he comes around, but just in time when he comes around and seems to be back to himself, Sirius starts being the whiny complaining baby who refuses to understand and follow rules!

But I think it's about time to talk about one of my main problems with this book and that would have to be the scene in the Department of Mysteries, which is also supposed to be the most crucial, important, and climactic scene in the whole story. This whole chapter suffers. And it's not just my personal opinion or preference. No, this chapter has some objective problems, the main of which I found to be the lack of clarity. There were moments that I was completely lost and I couldn't understand where the characters were, how they got there and where they were going! One moment I thought we were in the dark spinning room, then suddenly a brain jumps towards me, then I thought we were in the shining room but no apparently we were right back to the dark room which had already started spinning! There was a moment when I couldn't tell if these people were getting in the room or these other people were getting out of it! Did Bellatrix chase them in the dark room or out of it? I kept rereading sentences to understand what was happening and it didn't always help, so a couple of times I had to just accept the chaos and move forward with the story. I feel like all these different rooms and places weren't really all that necessary. It almost feels like Rowling went like "Okay, this is the Department of Mysteries so we need to make it MYSTERIOUS!" and she just went ahead and took it way overboard! So yes mostly confusing and unclear but, thankfully, the important bits were done well and clearly. Even if the majority of the scene was hectic and confusing, the main plot points within the scene (Sirius's death and the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort) were very clear and strong and I enjoyed them!

As for Sirius's death, it was sad but it didn't touch me as much as I expected, especially after seeing how heart-wrenching Cedric's death was in the previous book. Sirius's death in the book didn't feel as devastating to me and I didn't like how Harry's reaction was written, because again it didn't touch me. Or at least, not in the way I'd expect it since this was Harry's last living family member. It should be devastating and painful to read but to me, it was a bit "meh". Maybe it was supposed to be this way, maybe it meant to show that Harry is in some sort of limbo after witnessing and experiencing so many horrible things, maybe he simply feels detached. Even his sense of guilt for his godfather's death didn't feel real to me. The discussion between Harry and Dumbledore after the battle was interesting and heartfelt but not so much in the parts that had to do with Sirius's death, but more so in how it explained Dumbledore's attachment to Harry. This part was something we hadn't seen before and we got to see it in this book for the first time. It was a sweet moment that restored all the lost ground and lost trust between them.

***COMPARISON WITH THE MOVIE***

The fifth movie is one of my favorite movies in the series and so far it's definitely my favorite book to movie adaptation. It's not as faithful as some of the previous ones, but I think it's the best, anyway. Because it does an excellent job in including what really needed to be included while excluding all the unnecessary bits. The movie is compact and strong.

The portrayal of the characters is very accurate to the book and the acting is simply flawless! The new cast members are all on point and the older ones give great performances. Umbridge is depicted perfectly and she is as loathsome as she was in the book, Tonks is great, Luna's actress is perfect, the addition of Helena Bonam Carter as Bellatrix is chilling and Voldemort is of course still perfect!

Most of the parts that were changed I feel were made better. Like for example, in the movie, Harry doesn't go looking for trouble with Dudley, instead, Dudley is being just the usual bully he is and he goes looking for trouble until they're attacked by the dementors. This feels much more true to both their characters and I feel that actually, this is one of the best opening scenes of all the Harry Potter movies as it's interesting, intense, and perfectly sets the tone and mood.

Another example; the scene in the Department of Mysteries is greatly simplified and works much better. I mean creating such a complex department surely is admirable, but does it work as well in terms of storytelling? In my opinion, the simplified version works better. This scene in the movie is not only simplified by reducing inessential details but it's also enriched by increasing all the important and interesting character dynamics. It was so much better that all of the students got to fight together as a team in the movie, whereas in the book, each person was unconscious in a different room and away from the main action. I also liked better the fact that they all heard the prophecy right then and there, while in the book the prophecy is smashed and Harry only finds out after being told by Dumbledore. 

I liked Harry and Sirius's relationship more as it was portrayed in the movie rather than in the books; it felt more emotional and heart-warming. And Sirius's death was also better in the movie in my opinion. His last words, the moment when he died, the moment when Harry saw it and how the movie went silent while we saw Harry's reaction, the pain on his face... it was heart-wrenching as it should be and, while we had a nice bonding moment with Harry and Dumbledore afterward, we were at least spared of all the pointless mess Harry made of his office.

One thing I liked more in the book and I think could and probably should have been included in the movie was Mc Gonagal being attacked by Umbridge and her followers. It was so sad, Hagrid's reaction was priceless and when she finally came back toward the end it was just perfect! Even though this particular scene was missing from the movie, we still got to see quite a bit of Mc Gonagal's fierce and kick-ass spirit and her rivalry with Umbridge, but I have to admit, it was a bit richer in the book and it was totally worth it!

***MY FINAL THOUGHTS AND RATING***

Having laid all my thoughts down, I can now resume by saying that I generally enjoyed this book very much. It does have some issues that I can't help but notice and point out, but it's still a very good book overall with a very interesting story. I didn't love "Order of the Phoenix" as much as I loved "Goblet of Fire" which is still my favorite of the series so far, but I still enjoyed it thoroughly. Story-wise I liked the "Order of the Phoenix" more than "Prisoner of Azkaban", but "Order" was objectively not as well-written as "Prisoner" or "Goblet", both of which are excellently written, while this one has a couple of problems.

It may seem that I have criticized the "Order" too much, so maybe you're thinking that I didn't like it, but this could not be further from the truth. The truth is that I really liked it and I thought it was a great book! I just liked it a little bit less than the previous book in the series and I thought that it wasn't as perfectly written as some others in the series, but it's still a great read that's worth your time and attention. 

So, my rating for this book is going to have to be 4* out of 5*, because it didn't really touch this 5* perfection for me, but it was still pretty good and I couldn't possibly give it a lower rating as I feel this would be unfair. It's the same rating I gave to the "Prisoner" which I didn't love as much as a story, but was more well written than this one, so same rating, different reasons. This book is my second favorite of the Harry Potter books so far. I am curious about the next books and can't wait to see what'll happen and what I'm going to think of them.

Thank you for bearing with me through another huge post! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Feel free to share your opinions about the post and about the book; I always love talking with you! 

Thanks for reading! Until the next time!