Symptoms Of Bibliophilia [Beware]

So you’re here, why? I don’t know it really depends but I’m assuming you are frightened, frightened for you life most probably because Bibliophilia is a serious condition. It has no cure and when one acquires any of these symptoms just one, well the person is definitely with no doubt what so ever suffering it.

Bibliophilia is experienced everywhere, to anyone and at any time. Despite the random probability of it happening, not much carry such profound “disease” let’s say. If you’re thinking that you suffer from it, then do please have a look at this short list of my discoveries as a Bibliophile.

You suffer chronic Bibliophilia when :

1. You Cannot Stop Reading

It could be about anything, but the main root cause is this simple act. The act of consistently reading all day at all times whatever the reading material may be. It could be the newspaper from a week ago or a random receipt from Starbucks (Interesting stuff you could find there!)

2. You Cannot Move On From A Book After Finishing One

This my friends is one solid symptom that could just smack you in the face saying “You’re a Bibliophile bro” But moving on is one thing and moving on from a BOOK is another. Bibliophiles cannot get this horrible symptom down, never has anyone done it.

3. You’d Rather Smell Like A Book Then The Fancy Better Smelling Perfumes

Okay this I have to agree with, numerous times I’ve caught myself rubbing a newly opened book on my face celebrating each sniff I made during that. I know it’s weird but I suffer bibliophilia.

4. You Believe That The Spine of a Book Is More Important Then You’re Own Spine

You know that crunchy feeling when you’re non-reader friend just opens up the book and bends the spine like “damn it! This book is the portal to heaven I MUST OPEN IT EVEN MORE” Yes I’ve experienced that and I remember crying inside for a week. (I claim no truth of the final line of this paragraph)

5. You Want To Write A Book But You Don’t Write A Book

It’s peculiar how bibliophiles always revel in the thought of being published and having their names on kids walls I mean that would be great but sometimes some of us just aren’t cut out for it. But Bibliophiles never stop dreaming! (Doing is of slight chance)

6. You Sometimes Have Two Of The Same Book

One is for reading over and over again and the other is for display purposes on the glorious book shelf! Trust me, this is NOT OCD.

7. You Buy Books But Don’t Read Them, Collecting Them Perhaps

It’s true I believe. I’ve been to second hand bookshops and have come across brilliant books costing less than a McDonalds Burger and finding myself buying then storing them into my Book Cornucopia accepting that it will be lost there forever without me reading it again.

8. You’d Rather Read A Good Book Then Go To The Coolest Party In Town

I know that these days, the more parties you go to the cooler you be – not to mention popular. But bibliophiles prefer to stay at home against a warm fireplace reading a good book.

So there most probably is more, I’m still in an extensive research of myself trying to understand why we are who we are. But I’m pretty sure there’s more! I’d love to know! Helps a lot with what I’m trying to conjure here! Comment them down below!

I hope this was a fun read! Adios 🙂

[Being a Bibliophile is not bad at all, this was just written for humor and for fun!]

My thoughts on “A Clash Of Kings” by George R.R. Martin

Photo Credit : http://www.bookworld.com.au

The day has come. I’ve completed another epic book by George R.R. Martin. It took me approximately 16 days to complete A Clash of Kings, which contained 1009 pages! I started reading it on the 24th of January and finished it today, February 9.

Before moving on, I’d like to warn you that this review would be a complete example of the worst non-spoiled review for the reason that there would be lots of it (spoilers I mean). So if you’re here just to know whether it’s a good read or not then scroll down to the bottom of the page where I’ll be giving my “final recommendations”. But if you’re here just to see another reader’s point of view or you don’t really care about spoilers then read on!

Okay so on the previous book (A Game of Thrones), Lord Eddard dies, Sansa captive in King’s Landing with King Joffrey, Arya is lost and Bran crippled, Rickon, well he’s still the same old him and Robb becomes the Lord of Winterfell.

Before the civil war started after King Robert’s death, claims have been made by those who thought to be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. Specifically, claims by Stannis Baratheon, Renly Barathen and Joffrey Baratheon. Beyond King’s Landing, Robb, Eddard Stark’s son claims King of the North and Balon Greyjoy King of the Iron Islands creating a huge war between them in Westeros.

A lot of things happened in the book to be mentioned but the above paragraph is what I think to be the basic premise of what the book is about.

So here’s what I think. I think the book is just as great as the first. Though it still contained extremely violent themes and others not common to Fantasy books (so far that I’ve read) A Clash of Kings was even better.

Sophie Turner playing Sansa Stark on the HBO series “A Game of Thrones”

Two new characters are introduced here, Ser Davos Seaworth (A former smuggler, turned to a Knight under King Stannis Baratheon) and Theon Greyjoy (Former ward to Lord Eddard Stark and heir to the Seastone Chair.) And along are characters from the previous book, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Bran Stark and Arya Stark.

When I started to read I turned frail in sadness for Sansa and Arya. The results of what happened in A Game of Thrones really turned their futures ill. Arya was suppose to be brought back to Winterfell after she sneaked out with the Night Watch’s men and posed as Arry, a young boy (No girls were accepted to the watch). On the way they are captured by Lannister men and brought to Harrenhal where she played as a serving girl. Sansa on the other hand stayed as Joffrey’s betrothed. With him she is beaten either when Joffrey is displeased with her or he’s just really pissed off. Poor Sansa.

On the other hand, Bran is declared temporal Lord of Winterfell while Robb went out to war along with Catelyn Stark (their mother), rallying Tully and Stark Banners against the Lannister army. And in his endeavor to do so he also wins numerous battles in their homeland destroying thousands of Lannister men.

Tyrion however is brought back to King’s Landing as Joffrey’s Hand. Where he secretly plots his own attacks to preserve King’s Landing from the abominable attack of Stannis Baratheon.

Kit Harrington playing as Jon Snow.

Jon Snow is now a solid part of the Watch where we find him part of a scouting party beyond the wall. Where at the end he is stuck with Qhorin Halfhand as they both are hunted by wildlings. At the end Qhorin decides to lure them in and allow Jon to “yield” to these wildlings in order to learn their ways but not be a part of them (secretly). But in all this, an army of a thousand is said to walk on an attack to the wall led by the King beyond the wall, Mance Ryder.

Daenerys Targaryen still believes to be the Queen of all, as she is the mother of dragons .(on the first book, she hatched three dragon eggs on Drogo’s funeral pyre – thus owning three dragons who she named Viserion, Rhaegal and Drogon)

The story just gets compelling as you trudge into its deeper parts. Suspense gets intense by the page. It was cool to find out that the Stark direwolves are a lot bigger now, bigger than horses. Jon and Bran being skinchangers was cool too.

The epic Tyrion Lannister. Played by Peter Dinklage.

When I reached the ending parts of the book where the war started to commence. I started to feel giddy and excited. The vividness to which he described the scene was amazing! At Davos’s chapter, you’ll see him riding his ship the Black Betha as he moved closer to the shores of king’s landing as he shouted commands passed on by his sons. And When you do “see” you’ll feel the suspense, the curiosity of what lies beyond. You’ll hear the drums played while the oarsmen followed the beat and the taunts that meant battle was coming “Ahoooooooo, Ahoooooooo”

Then deeper into the war, Tyrion leads an army while he falls into a killing frenzy splicing heads with his axe. Wildfire spreads into the sea killing most of the Baratheon men. It was thrilling to read, though it was extremely graphic, the way it was portrayed was just super! It was extremely shocking though how Stannis lost the war, I totally expected him to win since along he had his brother’s army of more than thousands obvious to overthrow King’s Landing. Turns out, Lord Tywin Lannister withdrew from his battle against Robb and took Stannis by surprise.

Final Recommendations

Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) with her dragon, Drogon.

Here’s what I have in mind to those who haven’t read the book. If you’re really into books like these where there’s lots of blood, semi complex politics, wars with sword and shield and medieval settings then you should definitely read this one. But to make it even simpler, if you loved A Game of Thrones, then this  won’t fail you. I’d give this a 9 out of 10 < I took the last point out for the gruesome negative emotions one would feel as the story progresses. So beware!

How I read my books!

A Clash of Kings (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hey there guys! It’s the first of February, the afternoon’s great and I’m feeling bookish today!

I haven’t posted anything about books lately (which would be a penalty for ignoring the half of my niche). Since A Clash of Kings is still hundreds of pages away before reaching the end, why not make a post about HOW I read it, in general my books.

I know that the whole question on “How to read” is self explanatory. You pick up a book, open it and start reading. Well, as a book reader (worm) I always wanted to know what would be the most efficient way of reading. Sometimes I’d search tips on how to read faster or what time of the day is it best to read. And all other kinds of questions. Questions that need answering to improve my reading experience.

In time, after enough questioning and research I’ve come up with my own way of reading. My own way of sustaining my comfort while I read as much pages as I can.

books (Photo credit: brody4)

To explain this as well as I can, let’s picture a scene. Visualize a room with a window on one end. A desk adjacent to it and on it is a laptop and other things from pens and papers. Picture me or anyone else (it could be your favorite actor, favorite sports player, or even Justin Bieber) sitting on an office chair just next to the desk itself reading a book. (Regarding the book, it could be any book too.) Also, if you want an even better image try painting the walls cerulean blue or ocher , whatever color you like. On it could be retro paintings or black and white portraits of yourself. On the ceiling could be a chandelier or just the normal energy saving light bulbs. Maybe add some furniture perhaps (besides the desk). In one corner would be a blue bubble seat, on the other a television with a Playsation set below or anything that you usually find there. And down below would be a lacquered wooden floor shining against the light of day.

Now that we have a character and a scene here’s what he does or let’s say what I do (if you’ve pictured myself instead of anyone else).

Here’s what my iPod Touch timer looks like. ( Photo Credit : askabouttech.com )

Majority of people usually read and let time lose its meaning and pass along. But what I do is take my iPod and set a time limit of 30 minutes. Why? Well, I’m an easily distracted person and even though books are better than all things some just get on the way and I’d do that instead. So by setting a goal for myself not only do I get to monitor my daily reading hours I also get to improve my self discipline. I’d most of the time have four sessions a day, if I don’t feel the vibe I’d take on three. Sometimes five if I’m in a really good mood.

Okay the timer has started, I begin to read. While I read all sounds are muted and the room is turned tranquil, then I’d wear my favorite red neck pillow. It really makes reading an even more pleasurable experience.Try imagining a world without neck pillows, it would be insane!!

Fifteen minutes have passed and I’m on half a chapter, as I read I don’t vocalize. Or in other words, hear voices in my head. That cutesy tiny narrator in your head, I lost that long ago. Turns out that when you read visually not “verbally” in your head the average speed in which you read speed up twice!! Though it could only be achieved by long periods of practice, I still think I’m getting there. ( Right now I have a speed of 350 wpm [ words per minute ] )

Girl reading a book. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A minute is remaining, and I’ve read a chapter and a half. At this point I’d slow down my reading and pick up my bookmark stuff it into the spaces between and take some rest. And I’d call it done. After, I’d contemplate and think about what I just read or I’d go straight to things that I usually do like getting onto WordPress or updating my status on Twitter (which I don’t do frequently).

At some days I’d do all these while laying down on my bed which is even more comfy. The only bad thing is that, drowsiness? It becomes inevitable.

Well, this is how I read. But I wonder, how do you guys read? Do you follow a schedule? or do you read when your heart desires to? Comment below! Share your ways of reading! And maybe where. Thanks for reading guys! Hope you have a happy 1st of February! 😀

My thoughts on “Assasin’s Apprentice” by Robin Hobb

Assassin’s Apprentice

I’ve been wanting to post a book review about this for a long time now, I just didn’t have the time for it back then so here’s what I’ve got in mind.

Assassin’s Apprentice. Another one of the epic fantasy books I’ve got, it’s the first one in the Farseer Trilogy and I’ve got all three. ( I’ve only read the first two and will be posting a review each on the last two soon. )

The book was written by Robin Hobb a pen name for Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden who used many other pseudonyms during her writing career, which is pretty cool. At my first look I mistook her for being a male, I mean no contempt! She’s an awesome writer!

The first book revolves around the young bastard son, FitzChivalry, of the suppose-to-be King-in-waiting, Prince Chivalry. In the Kingdom of Six Duchies, FitzChivalry is claimed by King Shrewd, lord of Buck and allows Fitz to be part of the Farseer line as it his rights as well. But as bastard he is, he becomes a tool of the King, not much of a grandson but a tool. Fitz becomes a secret assassin of the king and we watch him grow as one, we watch his training and everything that happens before becoming one, we watch him evolve from a mere boy to a killing machine.

Robin Hobb (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alright so that’s the basic overview of what the story is, don’t worry about spoilers because there is none in it. Well what can I really say about this book? It’s amazing! I’ve never been really attached to a book before, I mean like really attached. Though the Game of Thrones would be first in my list, Assassin’s Apprentice is fit to contend.

Robin Hobb is really great in creating a solid realistic character as she did with Fitz. Since the book is somewhat like a diary, written in the first person (FitzChivalry’s perspective) you get to see what he feels and what he thinks, Robin Hobb did really great in writing him. You could really sense the realism as FitzChivalry tells us his story, I sometimes forget that this is a Fantasy book not a true story. And I myself have been moved by some of his glum moments, there is a relation between Fitz and the reader somehow that makes this book so good!

First edition cover image by John Howe

Even though, there were a few parts that I didn’t like about the book. Well that would be its pace. Sometimes I’d be caught in a scene and just keep flipping pages but then sometimes I’d put the book down just to give my eyes a bit of rest. Why so? There were a few parts that just went so slow!! Most of the reviewers I’ve seen said that the first half of the book is just boring and long, well I do agree with that 100%.

But to think of it, the superfluous information that made the book “boring” was essential to keep Fitz a full person. I mean, do you think that our lives would be interesting all the time? Well not all the time. These parts of the book somehow intertwined the latter awesome parts, it molded Fitz to what he would be in the future, boring or not – all were important. And this comes to another cool thing about the book is that things actually happen to Fitz for a reason.

Let’s have this example. Okay, let’s say I ate a cheese, but a reader would see that as a filler, something to keep the flow going in a chapter. Then later on, who would know that the cheese affected my digestion system and thwarted my productivity? So you can’t say that it’s just a filler, it happened and there’s a consequence. And that is how it works in the Assassin’s Apprentice.

If you’ve read the book though, you’d notice that a  few entries were written before each chapter about the history of the six duchies, the elderlings or anything pertinent to the book. That’s one thing I didn’t like too, though it didn’t really annoy me, it just contested my patience sometimes.

To read it or not? I say READ it! There’s no other book that would enrapture you and just feel sorry and happy during the time. A participation is there, a subtle relationship so elusive that you won’t even know it’s already been there after a touch of the book’s cover. The only thing that would stop you from reading it is your patience, if you find reading books containing 600+ pages hard to read well you’d never experience the awesomeness!

Thanks for reading my book review guys! Tell me what you thought about it 😀