Breaking Dawn and the Twilight Saga: Review

This review contains spoilers...

Although, I'm mostly a fan of historical fiction when it comes to reading books, I also have an inclination to reading fantasy sometimes. I adored the Harry Potter series for example as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy to name some of the most popular fantasy stories.

Sometime ago, I came across the name Twilight on a message board while browsing the NET. I was hooked by the story immediately and made it a point to look the book up. I became very keen after reading the summary of the first book and was intrigued to start reading especially because this was Stephenie Meyer's debut book and because suddenly it became highly popular due to the movie coming out. I bought and read the brilliant introduction book before I saw the movie. I fervently believe that books transmit much more emotion and are more enjoyable than watching movies and so I wanted to experience the emotional ride of fully reading it without actually knowing beforehand what was going to happen.

Throughout the whole series my favourite part (especially being a hopeless romantic), was Bella and Edward's relationship. I love how it evolved during Twilight, enhanced during Eclipse and reached its climax during Breaking Dawn (in several ways :P). New Moon is my least favourite book of the four mostly because of Edward's absence which lessened the brilliance of their relationship, although needless to say I really enjoyed it too.

Breaking Dawn was the cherry on the cake and despite other people giving it poor reviews, I really and truly enjoyed it. In fact, I finished it much earlier than I thought, it being a huge book. The first part is wonderful for those (like me :P) suckers for romantic and happy moments. As the book paced and entered into Jacob's POV, I began to like Jacob more and more. Jacob was not one of my favourite characters but I started to like him more and more in Breaking Dawn and he is in fact one of my favourite characters now. This was because he was being reasonable in the last book. He pissed me off in New Moon and super annoyed me in Eclipse but his reputation with me was saved during the brilliant Breaking Dawn :P. I also loved how Bella's character evolved throughout the series and I even liked her most in Breaking Dawn. As Felix told her, I think immortality really suited her :P. I'm not going to rant about Edward. I'll be a little biased him being my favourite character. :)

The third part of the book is the best part of the saga in my opinion. Meyer did an excellent job to round up the saga quite nicely and I'm still reeling with excitement due to its massive ending. ( I finished reading it about an hour and a half ago). I don't know what to say anymore, except I love Meyer's diction in the book. The intense descriptions created by her made me feel like I was really Bella rubbing shoulders with Edward's marble, strong own shoulder and Jacob's russet fur :P. By the way, as you may have well noticed, I can now safely say that I have become a proud fan of paranormal romance.

I'm sure this review did not do any proper justice to the wonderful saga which I'm already starting to miss like crazy but it's a miniscule part of the praise it deserves from me. A message to all those who did not read these massive books... do yourself a favour and read them. Why anyone would choose to skip them and wait for the movies to come out is beyond me but that's just my opinion.

On to another book :)... Most probably, this time it will be a historical fiction. Can't wait :)

Ta ta xxx :) See you later :)

Silent Honour: Review

Silent Honour - Danielle Steel

In her 38th bestselling novel, Danielle Steel creates a powerful, moving portrayal of families divided, lives shattered and a nation torn apart by prejudice during a shameful episode in recent American history.

A man ahead of his time, Japanese college professor Masao Takashimaya of Kyoto had a passion for modern ideas that was as strong as his wife's belief in ancient traditions. It was the early 1920s and Masao had dreams for the future—and a fascination with the politics and opportunities of a world that was changing every day. Twenty years later, his eighteen-year-old daughter Hiroko, torn between her mother's traditions and her father's wishes, boarded the SS Nagoya Maru to come to California for an education and to make her father proud. It was August 1941.

On December 7, Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese. Within hours, war is declared and suddenly Hiroko has become an enemy in a foreign land. Terrified, begging to go home, she is nonetheless ordered by her father to stay. He is positive she will be safer in California than at home, and for a brief time she is—until her entire world caves in.

With clear, powerful prose, Danielle Steel portrays not only the human cost of that terrible time in history, but also the remarkable courage of a people whose honor and dignity transcended the chaos that surrounded them. Set against a vivid backdrop of war and change, her thirty-eighth bestselling novel is both living history and outstanding fiction, revealing the stark truth about the betrayal of Americans by their own government...and the triumph of a woman caught between cultures and determined to survive.

taken from goodreads.com

I was never an actual fan of Danielle Steel. I only read 3 of her books before Silent Honour and was not particularly super impressed. However, I stumbled upon this book during a book sale and because it fell under the label of historical fiction thought I'd give it a go. Now that I have finished it, I can say that I'm glad I did so.

At first, I was kind of sceptic about it. The diction seemed kind of juvenile especially when compared to the witty diction used by John Grogan in Marley and Me, my previous read. However, as I immersed myself into the story, I found the diction very comfortable and flowing to read, and I would have finished it sooner hadn't I enjoyed the story so much that I did not want it to end (I willingly dragged the story myself :P)

I love how Steel tackled the themes of love, rejection and racism in the story and although the story's period is too contemporary for my taste, I was really into it. It was interesting to get a different side of Pearl Harbor's story and I thoroughly enjoyed the insights, Steel gave into the Japanese world. I found myself emphatising greatly with the character especially with Hiroko and even shed a few tears at some of the poignant moments.

All in all, I really enjoyed the book and will definitely add any of Danielle Steel's historical fiction to my growing to-be-read list anytime soon. This was my first very own book review and so I'm open to all forms of criticism. Feel free to comment.

Regarding my current read, I came across Breaking Dawn while on holiday a few days ago and being a fan of the Twilight saga, I am now shifting myself from a world of WW2 bombs to one full of vampires, in order to conclude Meyer's series :)

Tata and take care xxxx