tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25963620781616661872024-03-14T11:14:51.917+05:30Fictional FortressFictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-43470893190620171472016-08-12T18:52:00.000+05:302016-08-12T18:57:48.641+05:30BOOK REVIEW: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fe/Harry_Potter_and_the_Cursed_Child_Special_Rehearsal_Edition_Book_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fe/Harry_Potter_and_the_Cursed_Child_Special_Rehearsal_Edition_Book_Cover.jpg" width="423" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29056083-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child---parts-one-and-two" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.in/Harry-Potter-Cursed-Child-Rehearsal/dp/0751565350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470993248&sr=8-1&keywords=harry+potter+and+the+cursed+child+book" target="_blank">Buy on Amazon</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>My rating: 2.5/5</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><br />
</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
‘The eighth story, 19 years later’ This phrase when associated with Harry Potter is more than enough to get any reader, any person who grew up with the Boy Who Lived excited. I vividly remember when the first announcement about the play came out because I was equal parts excited and heartbroken, knowing that my chances of seeing the play live in London was as good as Umbridge being known as the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts. And then, as if my prayers were answered, the news about the script book came out and I was over the moon. Never mind the fact that it wasn’t an actual novel but the fact that I’d be getting to go back to my favorite fantasy world and seeing the new generation as well the old was enough for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
So on the day of the release, I rushed to the nearest bookstore and snagged myself a copy. Despite having read the books when they came out, I was never lucky enough to experience a HP book launch so this occasion was doubly exciting for me. The whole day was something special as I got to interact with so many fellow Potterheads, all strangers initially but united by our shared love of the magical world. It felt like hanging out with some good old friends. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
After reading this book, (there were several times where I just had to stop and take a break because the things happening were utter madness), I was left feeling quite conflicted and disappointed. There was this sense of nostalgia but it wasn’t enough for me to look past the flaws.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
There are so many reasons to justify my low rating. I can blame it on the stiff writing that I’m praying did not come from Jo. I can blame it on the awkward play format that made it difficult to emotionally connect to the story and the characters.But I won’t because I was expecting these things. I knew beforehand that this was just a script and not entirely Jo's work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
My disappointment comes from the flimsy plot and the carelessness with which our precious characters were handled. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The grown up version of the trio seems to be deprived of their magic (not literal magic) and authenticity. People change all the time and I get that but there were times when I couldn’t even recognize some of the characters because of their actions. Taking away the basic foundation of a person’s character was a low blow. Take Harry for example. I simply refuse to believe he would ever be a bad or inattentive father. Sure their might be a few bumps along the road but Harry in this book was unbelievable. As someone who grew up an orphan and often mistreated by the rest of his family, I’m sure he would know the kind of damage that could do to a child and would never inflict it upon his own children. Dumbing down Hermione and Ginny, using Ron as nothing more than a comic relief, all this will never sit well with me. I guess that’s all there is to say about the characterization without getting into major spoilers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Moving on to the plot, I don’t even know where to start. I get that this is just a play but that is no excuse for the lack of thoughtfulness and gravity that I associate with all the Harry Potter books. Do the writers even know how much planning Jo did for this series? She had the whole thing mapped out way before she even got to writing the final book and it shows. Comic one-liners are forced into scenes where they do not belong, making it awkward and there were way too many convenient solutions by resorting into deus ex machina. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Also, this book basically contradicted everything we’ve learnt about time-travel in the Wizarding world. Jo had the time turners destroyed for a reason because dealing with time travelling is a messy business. It’s like the writers here never read Prisoner of Azkaban and conveniently tweaked all the laws of time travel for their own benefit. What even… :/<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Don’t even get me started on the origins of Delphi. What do they take us readers for? Stupid and gullible? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Moving on to the new generation, Albus Severus Potter you troubled child. Albus made my heart ache in the first few pages. I could see how being Harry Potter’s son isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world but his impoliteness, his self-absorbedness and teenage angst started infuriating me by the time I was halfway into the book. Albus feels this need to prove himself so he plans to do so by correcting one of the many wrongs done by his dad and from there on, madness (not the god kind) ensues.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The only saving grace about this book was Scorpius Malfoy. He is literally the only likeable character in the book. Who would’ve thought, right? He is kind, compassionate, troubled, a wizarding geek, brave, funny and just a sweetheart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
There’s so much more I’d like to talk about but I want to keep this review spoiler free so I’m gonna stop now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
All in all, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child works more as a fanfiction (and not a good one) than an actual continuation to the series. For me, Harry Potter ended with ‘All was well’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEkMqQqarow_ST7JXhY9cLlbdbf3BEt4_9IufV0nm80UPyeACW4QxfuhjijWpcRQO_P5gheyd_St4Y6kRIojNuWlKxaFF68KgPCJkZot4pWaIVdy3yQJKzazWpPxshWYPBb3BfoiBwFPe/s1600/IMG_9207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEkMqQqarow_ST7JXhY9cLlbdbf3BEt4_9IufV0nm80UPyeACW4QxfuhjijWpcRQO_P5gheyd_St4Y6kRIojNuWlKxaFF68KgPCJkZot4pWaIVdy3yQJKzazWpPxshWYPBb3BfoiBwFPe/s200/IMG_9207.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-48507952427499664372016-08-03T18:05:00.001+05:302016-08-03T18:05:26.211+05:30July Wrap Up: #MugglesToWizards Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our two month Potter extravaganza finally ended just in time to pick up Cursed Child. We are overwhelmed by your support and love. Thank you for taking this journey with us. All your posts, messages, and giveaway entries made our June and July extremely special.<br />
<br />
Here's what unraveled in July, we read the last three books, watched remaining movies and peeled our eyes for the release of Cursed Child!<br />
<br />
<b><i>TBR for July</i></b></div>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHglgT2hNds/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Fictional Fortress (@fictionalfortress)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-06T05:59:25+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 5, 2016 at 10:59pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b><i>Some more pretty Potter art and pictures </i></b></div>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 42.962962963% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIVzWhWj1Kj/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by K (@driftingfirefly)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-26T22:00:10+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 26, 2016 at 3:00pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHXOIOehiBe/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Shonazee (@ofinkandpages)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-02T14:42:00+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 2, 2016 at 7:42am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BISAg4jjAzJ/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Varsha (@_wovenwithpages)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-25T10:38:13+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 25, 2016 at 3:38am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIot8l2D1p7/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Saiesha🌸🐰, 18/🇮🇳 (@beingbooked_)</a> on <time datetime="2016-08-03T06:18:30+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 2, 2016 at 11:18pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>The last lap plus Potter and Queen Rowling's Birthdays</i></b></div>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIMVfAUB1Eb/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Fictional Fortress (@fictionalfortress)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-23T05:46:01+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 22, 2016 at 10:46pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIarqNLgidX/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Michelle (@michellebookaddict)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-28T19:29:09+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 28, 2016 at 12:29pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>The End</i></b><br />
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BH-AJyyhuXN/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">47 days, 174 hours (Yes, I count) 🙊, 3422 pages and COUNTLESS EMOTIONS later, I FINALLY FINISHED HARRY POTTER SERIES. . . . I always used to think that being an old soul I would never appreciate these books as they are loved and appreciated by others. I mean, it's about magic. And what will be exciting about some students learning magic. But what I didn't understand as an HP virgin that a bit of magic is needed in your life. . . . I deeply regret not giving this series a chance before and I apologize for watching the films first and spoiling myself for so many things. . . . Having said that, I won't pass the opportunity to say that I am so OVERWHELMED by this ride. It truly feels like I've converted from a Muggle to a Wizard. . . . I always say that for me a good book is that, that makes you feel, evoke emotions and Harry Potter did exactly that. You get attached to characters, cry over the death of the most inconsequential person, laugh when they laugh and feel elated when the characters do. . . . I wish I can go back to my 11 year old self. I wish I get the Hogwarts letter and I wish every person reads these books because not only the people in this series grow, you do to. . . . I'm so overflowed with emotions that forming anything coherent is difficult for me right now. . . . To everyone who took part in #MugglesToWizards I'm really thankful that you joined me in this journey because I wouldn't have done this alone. . . . Ps. BRING ON ALL THE TUMBLRS AND REDDITS NOW . . . . . #MugglesToWizards #HarryPotterReadathon #JKRowling #SorcerersStone #ChamberOfSecrets #PrizonerOfAzkaban #GobletOfFire #OrderOfPheonix #HalfBloodPrince #DeathlyHallows #DelhiBookstagrammer #BookstagramIndia #BookPhotograpghy #BookstagramIndiaFeature #BooksOfInstagram #Potterhead #BookstagrammerOfDelhi #IncorrigibleReviews</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Mahima (@incorrigiblemusings) on <time datetime="2016-07-17T16:10:15+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 17, 2016 at 9:10am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIbwmBXjDRa/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">I started reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on the 4th of June, and boy have I come a long way! From No. 4, Privet Drive to Godric's Hollow, from that time at the zoo with the snake to the dragon at Gringotts, from Butterbeer to Polyjuice Potion, from Wingardium Leviosa to Expelliarmus, and from being a muggle to finally a wizard I have had the most fun being a part of this beautiful piece of literature. J K Rowling dedicates the seventh part of the dedication of the seventh book to all those who stayed with Harry until the very end. Well yes, it's been a pleasure being there for the book just as much as the book has been there for me. And I say thanks to you Queen Rowling for making us feel human enough to be able to love something so much. To make us believe that we have a little more love in us and that we are just as human as Harry is, to your beautiful words that made us feel so much that we might have shed some tears in the process, and to everytime you taught us something new by giving Albus Dumbledore a voice like no other. Thank you so much for introducing me to my new favorite fictional female Hermione, to redefine the bonds of family with the Weasley family and to help us understand that we don't always have to be tied by blood relationships to make that extra effort for some one. All of this will stay with us till the very end because isn't the whole point of it all to be a better, braver, kinder version of ourselves? 😊 A huge thanks to @fictionalfortress for making this journey even more fun with their amazing readathon #mugglestowizards. 💞 #brunchbookchallenge #thefinchbook #igreads #bookstagramfeature #connectreaders #bookstagramindia #shelvesquest #2016readingchallenge #bookriot #readharderchallenge #booknerdigans #prettycovers #jkrowling #harrypotter #bloomsburyindia #Bookstagram #shelfjoy #bookstagramindiafeature #indiansread #booklove #youngadultfiction #bookishfeatures</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Shefali. (@shefalirane) on <time datetime="2016-07-29T05:31:31+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 28, 2016 at 10:31pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b><i>Ended our readathon with Cursed Child release party</i></b><br />
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIhOZsyjIM7/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Varsha (@_wovenwithpages)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-31T08:28:11+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 31, 2016 at 1:28am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
We hope you guys enjoyed as much as we did. Thank you, thank you for joining us!<br />
<br />
<b>And All Was Well.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
P.S: Join us as we take on the genre Historic Fiction, this August. Details <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIXL4x9BMBK/?taken-by=fictionalfortress" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw2Hz5zKYPjHSxrAFUn9Aip3dG2NfjdyDL4ETcIMuhBAei0meA_WEAB6HznmHNcmomy2AenR66hi2NlpI7ZbXWzi9xvjnaG8B9dodYk8aDo-NisbmC_8KtHv0NrWOO4v7E322qczQOyDw/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw2Hz5zKYPjHSxrAFUn9Aip3dG2NfjdyDL4ETcIMuhBAei0meA_WEAB6HznmHNcmomy2AenR66hi2NlpI7ZbXWzi9xvjnaG8B9dodYk8aDo-NisbmC_8KtHv0NrWOO4v7E322qczQOyDw/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-35933194093749773802016-07-05T12:43:00.001+05:302016-07-05T15:28:25.379+05:30June Wrap Up: #mugglestowizards Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We wanted to revive reading in the club, and what better way to start than with Harry Potter!<br />
A lot of us have grown up with this magical world, waiting for the letter, hoping to be the next Quidditch legend, while others have magically resisted the charm till much later. This June & July, we made the resisting a little difficult by hosting two month long Harry Potter readathon, with movie marathons, giveaways, what not! (We're hosting the readathon along side Mahima from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/incorrigiblemusings/" target="_blank">incorrigiblemusings</a> and Chetana from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chetanaholla/" target="_blank">Chetanaholla</a>)<br />
And the response we received has been phenomenal! With the first four books read, three movies watched, and two giveaways down, June has been quite magical.<br />
Here's what transpired this month,<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Announcement: </i></b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BF1ZiUWSUoU/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Fictional Fortress (@fictionalfortress)</a> on <time datetime="2016-05-25T14:56:06+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 25, 2016 at 7:56am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<b><br />
Readathon started with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and the first prompt for the giveaway was, "<i>Your Journey To Hogwarts</i>", this story by Chetana warmed our hearts, go on , read on if you haven't,</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGGgFYLxrc6/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">It was in September of 2000, when I was 11, that I first laid eyes on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I was excited because my dad had just gotten back from a trip the night before and if I was lucky he would sometimes bring me and my sister books. I an upstairs to my parents bedroom and lo and behold I find a stack of books on their bed. I saw a book about a couple of books down the stacks whose name I couldn't really see, but I could see a "ha" and half of an r. I thought it was a Hardy boys book which was exciting in and of itself but when I picked it up it was this book with a boy expressing bewilderment in front of a train. I had never heard of it so I have it a go. I devoured that book and fell in love with this world that Rowling created. The next time I was at a book store I had to pick up the next couple of the books in the series that were out. I have to thank my dad for introducing me to this world and my mom for not getting pissed at me for constantly reading this series and buying the books. I read the 1st HP book close to 10 times in the first couple of years I'd gotten it and I still reread the series every couple of years. This was my journey to Hogwarts. I'm taking part in the #mugglestowizards Read-a-thon being held by @fictionalfortress </a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Chetana (@chetanaholla) on <time datetime="2016-06-01T06:20:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 31, 2016 at 11:20pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b>Another beautifully put "<i>Your Journey To Hogwarts</i>" post by Pologeebee,</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGHuZXCMjRt/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Remember your first HP read? My journey to Hogwarts started on a random day and on a random street in Calcutta. Well the street isn't that random. Not like 4, Privet Drive though. It was Esplanade, Calcutta. I was walking with Baba and saw Harry Potter books being sold at a shop. An uncle had told me about it and I was willing to spend my father's money on it. It was a random choice. I came home and forgot about it. It was sometime later that I picked it up and just couldn't read more than the first few pages. It was forgotten again, just like Riddle's diary. Finally, I picked it again and this time I did not let go. Seven books, eight movies, some extra books, arrival of a new movie spin off and a play later, it has stayed with me. Hogwarts is home and it will remain so forever. As Rowling said, "Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." Welcome aboard! #mugglestowizards</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by PGB (@pologeebee) on <time datetime="2016-06-01T17:44:43+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 1, 2016 at 10:44am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b>Some went as far as displaying their Letter To Hogwarts on Muggle net, we wonder what Ministry Of Magic will say about this,</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGZZuscSXMV/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">My journey to Hogwarts: One day I got my letter and I was in. That's it.😉 ~ There's a Harry Potter readathon going on and I couldn't post earlier but today's the last day of book one.</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Arzoo🐾 (@arzoobibliophile) on <time datetime="2016-06-08T14:30:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 8, 2016 at 7:30am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b><br />
Some made art in celebration of the readathon, do you see our <i>happy tears</i>? Do you?</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 36.9444444444% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHaOWf9jY7u/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by K (@driftingfirefly)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-03T18:41:40+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 3, 2016 at 11:41am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGOdJUZnRIT/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Parinitha P (@pari617)</a> on <time datetime="2016-06-04T08:28:39+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 4, 2016 at 1:28am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 41.5277777778% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHduvrcgTzM/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by The Daily Drawphet | Snigdha (@thedailydrawphet)</a> on <time datetime="2016-07-05T03:22:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 4, 2016 at 8:22pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b><br />
Some other beautiful pictures that turned up during the course of the read-a-thon,</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 42.8703703704% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGYZMmhGrE4/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Sumedha (@i.rock.books.rule)</a> on <time datetime="2016-06-08T05:06:33+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 7, 2016 at 10:06pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 37.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BG9EJjtp7eL/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Amrita (@bookishreveries)</a> on <time datetime="2016-06-22T10:54:32+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 22, 2016 at 3:54am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHEYQmaDpZC/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Shefali. (@shefalirane)</a> on <time datetime="2016-06-25T07:04:57+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 25, 2016 at 12:04am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br />
<br />
Was quite a month, wasn't it? Well, July is going to be even better with last three books, four movies, and FOUR MORE GIVEAWAYS!<br />
<br />
<b><i>If you haven't joined the readathon yet, what are you waiting for? Join us now, it's never too late to read/re-read Harry Potter. All you have to do is get your HP books, read them, post about them using <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mugglestowizards/" target="_blank">#mugglestowizards</a>. That is all.</i></b><br />
<b><i>See you then?</i></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7qG0COuRw1G3MjLEYTN76_VPtbmQLJZYDeY-JJRm5zc6eeiarwuL376I5RjNmO7hFeZj8WDigYxiKZa37kM_L7jL58HkCSJOp4O9Q2lez3l9bS0ld3-4rpi3zs0TAhH33DPYjGvJA4oT/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7qG0COuRw1G3MjLEYTN76_VPtbmQLJZYDeY-JJRm5zc6eeiarwuL376I5RjNmO7hFeZj8WDigYxiKZa37kM_L7jL58HkCSJOp4O9Q2lez3l9bS0ld3-4rpi3zs0TAhH33DPYjGvJA4oT/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-47244644203071170752016-06-28T20:19:00.000+05:302016-06-28T20:28:29.418+05:30Book Review: The Lovers Dictionary by David Levithan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I first saw this book at the used bookstore, I realized that I'd seen it around on Bookstagram. I didn't know what it was about, I usually don't know what the books I'm going to read are about since I love diving into the unknown. But I didn't want to buy a book I wouldn't enjoy, so I decided to read a couple of pages in the store while bae scourged the piles of dusted books for something I'd like.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMri62yYkYJCS_b4PDi-TzIWVTdwmHNh_1pBXDHWqjrtF6q6Xbx80u1Qysdh4972KXWczLXrqDKjwQOcsvOs6NBwZrZSaqKBkxuyQ1FhalB7iNK4irgTJz8uTuCk8NnV_KQwIzsYiCFiD/s1600/loversdictionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMri62yYkYJCS_b4PDi-TzIWVTdwmHNh_1pBXDHWqjrtF6q6Xbx80u1Qysdh4972KXWczLXrqDKjwQOcsvOs6NBwZrZSaqKBkxuyQ1FhalB7iNK4irgTJz8uTuCk8NnV_KQwIzsYiCFiD/s640/loversdictionary.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Add to </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9279177-the-lover-s-dictionary?from_new_nav=true&ac=1&from_search=true" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
</span></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /> As soon as I read the first few pages I knew that this book was a keeper. I knew that I would from time to time flip pages and read out randomly from it. That some definitions would stay with me, that some would make me want to flip the book in the middle of the night to read precisely what's written. It's a quick read, an hour/ an hour and a half tops. What I love about it is how the author has given us the story of two unnamed characters through different definitions, different phases of a relationship. Each page has one word, and a random snippet of the relationship that fits the definition of that word. Some definitions are one line long, some a paragraph and others a page long. The book literally is written in a dictionary form.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ6-jTnqfXdE2Z9poe47nhLqCjQhwFEJzynvYOi2NvtCCVcfmQzsjiSWfERTK2nsJ_p41ZcyTQBz2EXyb1GlZ456M2jN0QTVRRGWvLHSu1BFUSOSpve5jzukljfo11htbfXGNi26xsVUF/s1600/PIC+3+FOR+REVIEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ6-jTnqfXdE2Z9poe47nhLqCjQhwFEJzynvYOi2NvtCCVcfmQzsjiSWfERTK2nsJ_p41ZcyTQBz2EXyb1GlZ456M2jN0QTVRRGWvLHSu1BFUSOSpve5jzukljfo11htbfXGNi26xsVUF/s640/PIC+3+FOR+REVIEW.jpg" width="574" /></a></div>
<br />
The author has turned the mundane moments into something you'd yearn for yourself in future. The comfort of being around someone you love. The nasty truth behind happily ever afters which isn't all roses but a lot of thorns. A lot of self-doubts, insecurity. Jealousy. A lot of being sure just to become unsure again. Of how the fights are continuous. But also of how you have somebody to share morning kisses with, or start your day with champagne cause why the hell not? It's the mundane beauty of relationship conceived from the first flirty dates to the cozy nights spent in each other's embrace. </div>
<div>
A very cute & adorable story of most relationships.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGXdPSNDdLkx3xbFjXiJDiJCXXkpAVjYZAa3kbR2SxXLcZKn6yvZLNEG3C0h8AohxdlUvfcmS6_pimiXklWCASidTFMO7hm6gf22v5ygMgLhQN8HtVmBQYg09Z88o5TDZaQCfKXmrjfCc/s1600/pic+2+for+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGXdPSNDdLkx3xbFjXiJDiJCXXkpAVjYZAa3kbR2SxXLcZKn6yvZLNEG3C0h8AohxdlUvfcmS6_pimiXklWCASidTFMO7hm6gf22v5ygMgLhQN8HtVmBQYg09Z88o5TDZaQCfKXmrjfCc/s640/pic+2+for+review.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><i>Have you read The Lover's Dictionary? Did you like it?<br />
<br />
</i></b></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEine9gRaV5y1y85GxurqngkVArpsRygbzJOUmp3fLyE-iimAAnb4Xmmi0KS7DfLypoM2A1UTG6e40xAYVXPe6UNhNf_VL1rLSaEPtd18VcN2MYVkrbkgeSjPY-BdiCc7jn_vMaTI2zQPUds/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEine9gRaV5y1y85GxurqngkVArpsRygbzJOUmp3fLyE-iimAAnb4Xmmi0KS7DfLypoM2A1UTG6e40xAYVXPe6UNhNf_VL1rLSaEPtd18VcN2MYVkrbkgeSjPY-BdiCc7jn_vMaTI2zQPUds/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-48275050163644597832016-06-14T13:26:00.000+05:302016-06-14T22:14:18.189+05:30Reading Schedule 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS68oOSCrgsofVOm1tmsIU09DlBNPAOV9h7VfNp1k6I7S3Wl8lRGffO22v-6_7mfqbtF6H0Zd2Q7OiQzbH6CLd-0EISdcr3E3hA5A9veXiXjC0anv2s5BTiCquV4ZV4oXLne23POsV2rL9/s1600/wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="589" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS68oOSCrgsofVOm1tmsIU09DlBNPAOV9h7VfNp1k6I7S3Wl8lRGffO22v-6_7mfqbtF6H0Zd2Q7OiQzbH6CLd-0EISdcr3E3hA5A9veXiXjC0anv2s5BTiCquV4ZV4oXLne23POsV2rL9/s640/wreath.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Now, we used to announce our monthly book themes & book in spotlight a week before the new month begins, but we've realized that it doesn't give our readers enough time to buy/borrow the books and/or set their TBRs for the month, so here we are, with a reading schedule for rest of the year. This will give you plenty of time to arrange for the books and set your TBRs.<br />
<br />
Let's dive straight into it, shall we?<br />
<br />
<b><u>June-July:</u></b> It's Pottermania at Fictional Fortress. We're reading all the seven books, watching 8 movies + hosting 6 giveaways! You cannot ask for anything better, can you?<br />
For reading schedule, go <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGCO_2xSUtl/?taken-by=fictionalfortress" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
For movie schedule, go <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGhHKn7yUgE/?taken-by=fictionalfortress" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
To join the readathon, all you have to do is start reading the books and post about them online using the tag <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mugglestowizards/" target="_blank">#MugglesToWizards</a>. For more info, check our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fictionalfortress/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OuxT_I9RxFK_YRliBjGp_UMFhWwoJX-AOyHIBeo_MG4fTgY5RXUaVIMQpGLKryv3oTUNVWnwRwCel1-bnxia5o605ELk0spKvZ7w_qosIaRRPR2mFJI97s4Qcq7Jb7wFNjBHw-pFxEAl/s1600/13245333_1780578902164314_3557879932444487242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OuxT_I9RxFK_YRliBjGp_UMFhWwoJX-AOyHIBeo_MG4fTgY5RXUaVIMQpGLKryv3oTUNVWnwRwCel1-bnxia5o605ELk0spKvZ7w_qosIaRRPR2mFJI97s4Qcq7Jb7wFNjBHw-pFxEAl/s400/13245333_1780578902164314_3557879932444487242_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b><u>August Theme:</u></b> You asked for <i>Historic Fiction</i>, you get <i>Historic Fiction</i>.<br />
Our Pick: <i>Such A Long Journey, Rohinton Mistry.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519eA9i2AhL._SX316_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519eA9i2AhL._SX316_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.in/Such-Long-Journey-Rohinton-Mistry/dp/0571230571/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465880296&sr=8-1&keywords=Such+A+Long+Journey%2C+Rohinton+Mistry" target="_blank">Buy on Amazon </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19660.Such_a_Long_Journey?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><u>September Theme:</u></b> It's the month of <i>Banned Books!</i> Let's be the rebels we are and read the gems that have been banned.<br />
Our Pick: <i>Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bgaSsivQL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51bgaSsivQL.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12781.The_Satanic_Verses?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
<i><br />
</i> <br />
<b><u>October Theme:</u> </b>We'll be reading books along the theme of <i>Mental Health</i> during Oct.<br />
Our Pick: <i>Em and the Big Hoom, Jerry Pinto</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxX4-a3nPxe3slP5d2m0-bc3DfwlFGAkKnAc23APtza-MCZLBewjgGldzt2i4HbCE3N82_zCin_utLs-wHefcpUJvMgptrjaYV1ONONTc6LqyS5nVby6yjB9slINoYDalhHDNP2CKbDWE/s1600/ment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxX4-a3nPxe3slP5d2m0-bc3DfwlFGAkKnAc23APtza-MCZLBewjgGldzt2i4HbCE3N82_zCin_utLs-wHefcpUJvMgptrjaYV1ONONTc6LqyS5nVby6yjB9slINoYDalhHDNP2CKbDWE/s1600/ment.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.in/Em-Big-Hoom-Jerry-Pinto/dp/9382277315/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465880986&sr=8-1&keywords=Em+and+the+Big+Hoom%2C+Jerry+Pinto" target="_blank">Buy on Amazon</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13601144-em-and-the-big-hoom?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
<i><br />
</i> <br />
<b><u>November Theme:</u></b> <i>Graphic Novels</i> month it is!<br />
Our Pick: <i>Munnu by Malik Sajad</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwW1-rOw0f5JqU1rhiKVNg-RtL27o6UeZkd8l1Afk7Wzx-ecogvoahy9jUZiC5Kb-QKpk-WSiZtgJwkriewyFg9qulax4tA3HC7NnEnja8y2a6yV4LO6UJ3452Z-Wcm7peQvYEK_atSYr/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwW1-rOw0f5JqU1rhiKVNg-RtL27o6UeZkd8l1Afk7Wzx-ecogvoahy9jUZiC5Kb-QKpk-WSiZtgJwkriewyFg9qulax4tA3HC7NnEnja8y2a6yV4LO6UJ3452Z-Wcm7peQvYEK_atSYr/s400/cover.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.in/Munnu-Boy-Kashmir-Malik-Sajad/dp/0008165629/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465881915&sr=8-1&keywords=Munnu+by+Malik+Sajad" target="_blank">Buy on Amazon</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25394441-munnu?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="text-decoration: underline;">December Theme:</b> <i>Holiday Theme Books</i> read along.<br />
Our Pick: Instead of a book, we pick <i>Ruskin Bond</i>. The snow capped mountains and pine trees call!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/02020/25_YT_RUSKIN_BOND_2020096g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/02020/25_YT_RUSKIN_BOND_2020096g.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.in/Ruskin-Bond/e/B01D2X1L8G/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1465890076&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Buy his books on Amazon </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/46603.Ruskin_Bond?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Add his books to Goodreads</a></div>
<br />
<br />
To participate in any of these read-a-longs all you need to do is pick a book revolving around the given genres/themes, read & post about them online using #ficfortressreads.<br />
The "Our Picks" are the books we recommend you pick & the ones that we will be reading in the said months :)<br />
<br />
<b><i>We hope you join us in reading these themes and books as well as in discussing them at the end of the respective months. Happy Reading!</i></b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-25539175373120923612016-06-07T13:11:00.001+05:302016-06-07T13:11:26.995+05:30BOOK OF THE MONTH REVIEW - MRS. DALLOWAY BY VIRGINIA WOOLF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxzW8TLW4XtYF_dQFE6qOjFkerUWelEiJpefKKO-wrrr6XWCBMbZpzQc6qNY283RgbSUY7Bz4R3gva_o2dgHg3jHt6AcPmsngY7B5mGEt01kHGdPYPi39C2B9_0BNX6p8XDo09WFsbnse/s1600/6c97cf18746739.562ce99326d02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxzW8TLW4XtYF_dQFE6qOjFkerUWelEiJpefKKO-wrrr6XWCBMbZpzQc6qNY283RgbSUY7Bz4R3gva_o2dgHg3jHt6AcPmsngY7B5mGEt01kHGdPYPi39C2B9_0BNX6p8XDo09WFsbnse/s320/6c97cf18746739.562ce99326d02.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Genre : Classics, Fiction, Feminism, Women Literature</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14942.Mrs_Dalloway?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mrs. Dalloway was written by Woolf in 1925, when the world,
particularly Europe, was experiencing a lot of changes in all fronts.
The story is set in those days of modernism; and revolves around a woman
named Clarissa Dalloway, the wife of a rich influential bureaucrat, who
loves throwing parties and socializing. The entire story is set in a
day of Mrs. Dalloway's life, where each character tells a story about
his or her life. Each character directly influencing Mrs. Dalloway,
looks back on a day when they were younger, when Clarissa turned down
her friend, Peter Walsh's proposal for marriage. Mrs. Dalloway is one of
the classics which have been widely read and appreciated around the
world.<br />
What I loved the most about Mrs. Dalloway is it's
representation of the characters. A typical London morning in 1925 will
have all the prominent characters in the novel. Clarissa is a socialite
who arranges parties and indulge in socializing with high class families
to share gossips and talk about life in London. What is even more
special about the timeline is that it is set in 1925 which means the
story encapsulates the old fashioned ways of living and the new
modernist approach to life. Clarissa Dalloway, is taught from her early
childhood how to become the perfect wife in a rich household, and that
just represents how women had a certain role in lives. While she is not
happy about the ways of life, she has not been able to break out of it.
On the other hand, several characters, break out of the perception to
become independent and "different" from the women in that time.<br /> The
novel has no chapters, just a steady flow of thoughts which jumps from
one character to another to form an entire day of activities,
impressions and views. Every thought, every view has a specific opinion
on life in 1920s, every argument had different approaches and every view
had its consequences. Every character has a personality so strong and
so different, it's hard to talk about just one character. A character,
Septimus Warren Smith is particularly interesting in the story, who is
apparently written as a double to Clarissa. While both of them doesn't
appreciate the way of life, Septimus breaks out of it by killing
himself. And when Clarissa comes to know of it, she describes it as a
defiance; she sees it as a way of escaping from the world of mishaps and
misfortunes.<br />
Virginia Woolf is a genius, and someone who has read at least one of her works will agree with me when I say this.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
-NIVEDITA </div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-74136857415973287142016-05-30T23:52:00.001+05:302016-05-31T00:01:22.207+05:30Guest Review: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since May was a #readclassics month at Fictional Fortress, one of our lovely club members, Kadbury (she blogs at <a href="http://writerandtales.me/" target="_blank">Writer and Tales</a>) is taking over to review Crime and Punishment for us (there's also some exciting giveaway info at the end, you're welcome)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over to you, Kadbury;</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.fulltable.com/vts/aoi/e/eichenberg/cp/SH933.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://www.fulltable.com/vts/aoi/e/eichenberg/cp/SH933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><i>Book Title:</i></u></b> Crime and Punishment</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><u>Author:</u></i></b> Fyodor Dostoevsky</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><u>Genre:</u></i></b> Classic Lit</div>
<br />
This is one of those huge books that everyone sees in a shop and gets intimidated by. Yes, it’s a classic written by a Russian author. First off I would like to warn all readers that the names and pet names of every character can be slightly confusing. Some editions have a list of all the names and pet names of each character at the start or end of the novel. My suggestion is that you buy one of these editions.<br />
<br />
This book is large in size but the story as a whole is not hard to understand and is pretty universal. It raises questions regarding morality, crime and justice and these are answered to an extent. It isn’t packed with philosophy and is pretty straightforward so everyone can understand it.<br />
<br />
Our titular character, Raskolnikov is the quintessential individual who finds fault with everything in the world. He has a high opinion of himself and his ideals and is plagued with thoughts of putting his ideals into practice (like some other individuals we find around us *cough* Trump *cough*) .It is his ideals and warped world view that lead him to perform an unconventional unlawful act. The book explores his psyche and his worldview after his consciousness becomes ruptured.<br />
<br />
Crime and Punishment is an exploration of society and the psychology of an individual removed from society. It tries very hard to find a balance between being preachy and being too philosophical. There is a clear dichotomy between religious faith and idealism. Even if you don’t want to go into the depth of the story ,on the surface it is a nerve wracking narrative that keeps you on the edge of your toes . It is not a whodunnit but the suspense is palpable throughout.<br />
<br />
The multiple side stories are engaging (sometimes more than the main story) but all the characters and their narratives get tied together towards the end. Parallels can be drawn between the minor characters and the main. Each character and plot point serves a purpose.The characters are a microcosm of society as a whole.Realism was after all Dostoyevsky’s strong suit.<br />
<br />
Towards the end, I started getting a little fed up with the protagonist but all other characters managed to save the narrative (And there were many). As a reader, I would say that at a point you get frustrated with the protagonist and stop enjoying the story. The female characters in the story are also too conventional and I didn’t like any of them. The questions raised by the story make it worth a read but I wouldn’t say it was an enjoyable read throughout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E6GB5pFndClc3OIt5Axc-NhCAXQCj02TeYoinWgt2zXtU0JMtf_ZoXOB_Glf35vuou2G4rHRJw-lXhjKbffpGx74_CGM5br7EUbfbF15qvN5vRDEB0VUl5wSoH2w6QDw268PA1NNm5w2/s1600/IMG_20160523_154319.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E6GB5pFndClc3OIt5Axc-NhCAXQCj02TeYoinWgt2zXtU0JMtf_ZoXOB_Glf35vuou2G4rHRJw-lXhjKbffpGx74_CGM5br7EUbfbF15qvN5vRDEB0VUl5wSoH2w6QDw268PA1NNm5w2/s640/IMG_20160523_154319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
For those of you interested, I'm giving away Penguin editions of Crime & Punishment, and Fathers & Sons (as pictured above) on my blog, to participate in the giveaway, go <a href="http://writerandtales.me/index.php/2016/05/23/penguin-classics-giveaway/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><i>What are your Favourite classics?</i></b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-91656498893666449062016-05-18T12:46:00.001+05:302016-05-18T14:27:26.255+05:30Book review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCOAz35UB7w4xXDq-IbtfHffuEOcuDVsYOW2RQqryJcUhxJp4l1j3OoDizBbJ6oIHkv8GCM6WdSlR8G7hd4Jsx87TFgJOrVbdW4Tg2xFRjnf1bwuXzxLiEWzJN4r9uVNwSquESu9dGy4F/s1600/18798983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCOAz35UB7w4xXDq-IbtfHffuEOcuDVsYOW2RQqryJcUhxJp4l1j3OoDizBbJ6oIHkv8GCM6WdSlR8G7hd4Jsx87TFgJOrVbdW4Tg2xFRjnf1bwuXzxLiEWzJN4r9uVNwSquESu9dGy4F/s400/18798983.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre: Retelling, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798983-the-wrath-the-dawn" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><i><b>“Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky.”</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I have to
be honest, when this book first started getting hyped up, prior to its
publication even, I wasn’t interested. But lately, I’ve been in the mood for
books set in the Middle East, retellings of the Arabian Nights, so I had to
pick this one up. </span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; line-height: 107%;">Suffice to
say, <span class="apple-converted-space">this one </span>actually lived
up to the hype. <strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Everything about this book, the plot, the writing, the characters, and
the world-building was fantastic. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Each day, the Caliph of Khorasan; Khalid weds a
new girl and at dawn, she is executed. When </span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shahrzad’s best friend falls victim to this,
she volunteers as the next bride and vows to kill the Caliph and avenge her
friend’s death. The night of her wedding, Shahrzad extends the date of her
execution by telling stories to the Caliph. This way, she manages the
impossible feat; she lives to see the next day. And the next. And the next.
Quickly, Shazi realizes that nothing is what meets the eye and Khalid is more
than what the world thinks him to be; a ruthless, cold-blooded killer, who has
his own skeletons in the closet.</span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #181818; line-height: 107%;">"</span><span style="line-height: 15.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #181818;">This boy-king, this murderer
. . . she would not permit him to destroy another family. To rob another
family. To rob another girl of her best friend–of a lifetime filled with
memories that had been and never would be."</span></span></span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">I absolutely love the
setting of this book. It's a Middle Eastern/Arabian setting that's wonderfully
depicted. Renee incorporates such rich culture and customs into her book from
the food to the decorum, the speech to the costume, and the tales to the
geography. This book is big on sensory details. And her writing style makes it
all the more colorful and enticing. I
felt as if I were transported to another place, another time, where golden
sands buried powerful secrets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i style="line-height: 15.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNg9MT01RZ7A_Pe06Q5P26qDk9cYMPfAt4QKK4NH10zVSkt-4Bb-1EoAyfFMn1wiigU6XbMCnaX31geLZq29NCiNLCkrjh2YCrCbl27zgGRxY_c3i4AMqRUZ3TleNKEyWxHSVeW8L7sck/s1600/twad1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNg9MT01RZ7A_Pe06Q5P26qDk9cYMPfAt4QKK4NH10zVSkt-4Bb-1EoAyfFMn1wiigU6XbMCnaX31geLZq29NCiNLCkrjh2YCrCbl27zgGRxY_c3i4AMqRUZ3TleNKEyWxHSVeW8L7sck/s640/twad1.png" width="537" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shahrzad (Shazi);
the Calipha of Khorasan</b></span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVI5NDnPdSHkOFX-9f-KBzwO4dScJ92NeTZ-h1XAabN-igR0JdG12rr-8Gk2PRAhSaskHJkZHObbp2LvuDn_4KbCCt8wvdjm97u_Pj5c9ulZJw7_z5QuZu_yrIUhcSrrtvkNdqUOXSbq8/s1600/tumblr_o6l5ziQjZb1qzhg1no1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVI5NDnPdSHkOFX-9f-KBzwO4dScJ92NeTZ-h1XAabN-igR0JdG12rr-8Gk2PRAhSaskHJkZHObbp2LvuDn_4KbCCt8wvdjm97u_Pj5c9ulZJw7_z5QuZu_yrIUhcSrrtvkNdqUOXSbq8/s400/tumblr_o6l5ziQjZb1qzhg1no1_500.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She has
made it my list of favorite female protagonist. She’s feisty, smart, bold and
reliable. You can always count on her to not do something stupid. Her sarcasm,
bravery, stubbornness and lack of indecisiveness made her a refreshingly
wonderful main character.</span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Khalid,
the Caliph if Khorasan, the King of Kings </b></span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDSNGkMlwstnGqkwWzgSU_vmA2fVefi0LhQB0pQS73GZqDqodnwOECazB5RHQZrX8rJW0gw5_Y4dLw8lJlPQp3idaXDzNMDSsM7W7fpZ55Vnoub9CGwLwG6ONpNrtPBTUd0pewPYw1vyQ/s1600/tumblr_o776o7e0W81tftua9o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDSNGkMlwstnGqkwWzgSU_vmA2fVefi0LhQB0pQS73GZqDqodnwOECazB5RHQZrX8rJW0gw5_Y4dLw8lJlPQp3idaXDzNMDSsM7W7fpZ55Vnoub9CGwLwG6ONpNrtPBTUd0pewPYw1vyQ/s400/tumblr_o776o7e0W81tftua9o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">To me, it
was clear from the beginning that Khalid wasn’t mindlessly murdering girls so I
didn’t out </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">rightly hate him like Shazi did. Khalid is enigmatic and elusive. He's thoughtful and caring behind his icy facade.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> His closed
off and standoffish attitude made it hard to relate to him but once we get a
glimpse behind that icy facade, you can’t help but adore him. Khalid is the kind of character that grows on you as more about his past is revealed. He's a well-rounded and complex character that I really loved by the end of the book.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The romance in this book is beautiful. It develops slowly, from hate to grudging acceptance to love. Their relationship is that kind that transcends all odds and I was rooting for them despite everything being against them. Khalid had a bleak childhood and Shazi is the perfect contrast to that and Khalid in turn checks Shazi's reckless nature and they just fit like puzzle pieces.</span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.</span><br style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.” The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest.</span><br style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">“No.” His hands dropped to her waist. “Destroy me.” </span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The other characters
that I really enjoyed seeing were Despina, Shazi’s haindmaiden, Jalal; the captain
of the guard and Khalid’s cousin whom I absolutely adored. His unwavering loyalty
to his family was inspiring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">There was just
something really special about the story. This one mainly focused on Khalid’s
secret and the romance and yet the plot was unique. Not much of action takes
place but there were lots of hints here and there that I’m sure will be
addressed in book 2. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">This isn’t everyone’s
cup of tea but I do suggest giving it a try if you’re looking for something
unique with a strong heroine and some good romance. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkndmSAJUHSVWf0jxhfpy-Za_bvxIerKhNUVy5eOdaXmD6mEPk3K4px8E6WxaMqGlTW4poHNac9QwhHekjIQ65VLw2MJaUnTJKAz5B6WEKoWV3rW05OiiaXPIYgyZ_2uqr8bKNjiBXFDOw/s1600/IMG_9207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkndmSAJUHSVWf0jxhfpy-Za_bvxIerKhNUVy5eOdaXmD6mEPk3K4px8E6WxaMqGlTW4poHNac9QwhHekjIQ65VLw2MJaUnTJKAz5B6WEKoWV3rW05OiiaXPIYgyZ_2uqr8bKNjiBXFDOw/s200/IMG_9207.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-2221415659373733092016-05-06T00:46:00.001+05:302016-05-06T01:03:25.893+05:30Hacks To Buy Books For Cheap Online<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you're viewing any article on this blog, then it's quite fitting to assume that you're a bookworm. So are we. And being a bookworm is more of a lifestyle choice as most of you would agree. Each bookworm has his own resource to read books from. Some borrow from libraries, others from their book-hoarder friends and few others download ebooks.<br />
If you happen to be the book-hoarder of your group, then this post is for you. If you're planning on starting your own lil library (read: book hoarder noob), then this post is for you too. Being a book hoarder doesn't come in cheap, but here are ways you can save some monies and make wise choices while adopting books from online sources.<br />
*For Desi Bookworms only*<br />
<br />
<b><u><i>1) Compare:</i></u></b><br />
Comparing prices from all the online shopping portals is rule number 1. We know, it's tedious and who the hell has got the time? Well, let me make it easy for you, presenting: <br /><a href="https://www.indiabookstore.net/" target="_blank">India Bookstore</a>, a website which will compare book prices for you. Just type the name of the book you're looking for in the search bar and voila! compare and buy the desired book from the site offering it for the lowest price.<br />
Your welcome.<br />
The only problem here is that the site doesn't include Snapdeal, in which case you might want to do the work and check the price of the book yourself.<br />
<br />
Indiabookstore is available as an app for android users.<br />
<br />
<b><u><i>2) Book Deals:</i></u></b><br />
We all love us some online good book sales. But the problem is we often get confused as to what to buy and if the price could go any lower yada yada. Cue <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1009350245745680/" target="_blank">Book Deals For Broke Bibliophiles</a>, this facebook group handled by the mysterious and equally brilliant <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007025898991&fref=ts" target="_blank">Broke</a>, not only notifies you of ongoing sales but also highlights/posts the best deals that are available. How awesome is that? Ironically, most people have turned broke after joining this group because, books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlJZqC8_3WjcgFX2dF76XGaWPm-D3hLydO4mtWGK6CP2jv23cfkUGxqKPTFAtF3RbOj_gS7N5TW35ngwA1rmz3o4-zTYmPhheMS4JtvrYnOI_e99jsLipfEzfqxMXsqpK0w3k4fczg6Lt/s1600/10704084_1552322415011940_1323131537908005285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlJZqC8_3WjcgFX2dF76XGaWPm-D3hLydO4mtWGK6CP2jv23cfkUGxqKPTFAtF3RbOj_gS7N5TW35ngwA1rmz3o4-zTYmPhheMS4JtvrYnOI_e99jsLipfEzfqxMXsqpK0w3k4fczg6Lt/s320/10704084_1552322415011940_1323131537908005285_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Bow before thy master Broke</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Apart from book deals, there are readathons and book meets and so much bookish fun! If you're not a part of this group, you're missing out on the book party life, so join now!<br />
<br />
You can also find the deals on Broke's twitter handle, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=broke%20bibliophile&src=typd" target="_blank">@BookDealsIndia</a> and for some interesting book recs, follow Broke on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/broke.bibliophile/" target="_blank">broke.bibliophile</a><br />
<br />
Broke also has an app called <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bt.saag.app" target="_blank">BookThief</a>, available for android users. Download the app and get notified of the best book deals. Such Technology. Much Awesome!<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>3) Money-back:</u></i></b><br />
This hack will not only help you in book shopping but for other kinds of online shopping as well. <a href="http://www.goodfind.in/invite?email_token=14588428475274" target="_blank">Goodfind</a>, is a site which provides cash back if you shop via their site. This video will help in understanding how >><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/138064265" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
To register on Goodfind , please use this <a href="http://www.goodfind.in/invite?email_token=14588428475274" target="_blank">referral link</a>, thank you!<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>4) Used Books:</u></i></b><br />
If you don't mind buying used books, then you might find <a href="http://www.bookchor.com/" target="_blank">BookChor</a> appeasing. This site sells used books, most of the people we know who bought from the site have had a very good experience. They send bookmarks and handmade notes along (sometimes free books too), how cute is that? And you can get books for as cheap as 30 bucks! Yes, you read that right, 30 bucks! Free shipping above Rs.200/-<br />
Use the tag <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/bookchor/" target="_blank">#bookchor</a></i> on Instagram to check book hauls of people who've purchased from them.<br />
BookChor is also available as a mobile app for android users.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Another great way to buy used books is via <a href="https://www.olx.in/" target="_blank">OLX</a>. I bought a hardcover of A Dance with Dragons for Rs.300, hardcover you guys! So, keep an occasional check for you might stumble upon some really good negotiable deals on really good books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0zSODYwmWhmpVUlvsdKZ_EJHQTVWaIGlxlQVFx8Ns2sXQqv-Z2xzP_nhOQIP5kaHq9hg0szLzKyCXRjm_nrAW8IoNRrdW6ZobOkKAT-arfat9YQfq4N0YjnNE569ynjPz0PLjt4E7zXW/s1600/photo+%255B14765%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0zSODYwmWhmpVUlvsdKZ_EJHQTVWaIGlxlQVFx8Ns2sXQqv-Z2xzP_nhOQIP5kaHq9hg0szLzKyCXRjm_nrAW8IoNRrdW6ZobOkKAT-arfat9YQfq4N0YjnNE569ynjPz0PLjt4E7zXW/s640/photo+%255B14765%255D.JPG" width="593" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Hardcover I bought from OLX for dirt cheap, jealous much?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Those were the hacks, hope you found them useful. I was not paid to endorse these sites and have only mentioned them since I've found all these very useful in my very fervent online book shopping. And if you happen to use any of these hacks, do let me know how you liked them or if they were of any help!<br />
<br />
<b><i>Do you know of any other hacks, share them with us! :)<br />
</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vrhYi2G71czOjPVKlWmGeR-hvTPXPaTZe1qQN4KcXQDWkuqcLuHCRPo7-3xlNx7BA98EgHsnGGyWjHAGmbiT5gjQPL8a_kMmp_ID0SU7UAcVg-UGvdlaFYDP15ePBDlu2nm8rZsQp4w8/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vrhYi2G71czOjPVKlWmGeR-hvTPXPaTZe1qQN4KcXQDWkuqcLuHCRPo7-3xlNx7BA98EgHsnGGyWjHAGmbiT5gjQPL8a_kMmp_ID0SU7UAcVg-UGvdlaFYDP15ePBDlu2nm8rZsQp4w8/s320/Untitled.png" /></a></div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-6833114151629162552016-03-26T21:20:00.002+05:302016-03-26T21:21:26.646+05:30BOOK REVIEW: THE LOWLAND BY JHUMPA LAHIRI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmAPmeQQqKt8_FyszCH58Z-lKz3fO5KVvLv3zhJ46lPIJfL_7hk9bjOBIk0vb1HCJ7NtKH33ubThO5Ih61BucWljcv0uEqGVD1COU1c4KpXg1AvrVQHKMA-IfyKZa8kzn6-gVq0n1Fbyu/s1600/90.Jhumpa-Lahiri-The-Lowland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmAPmeQQqKt8_FyszCH58Z-lKz3fO5KVvLv3zhJ46lPIJfL_7hk9bjOBIk0vb1HCJ7NtKH33ubThO5Ih61BucWljcv0uEqGVD1COU1c4KpXg1AvrVQHKMA-IfyKZa8kzn6-gVq0n1Fbyu/s400/90.Jhumpa-Lahiri-The-Lowland.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre: Historical fiction, Contemporary, Indian </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262100-the-lowland" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>There are rarely any books which grips your from within and just breaks you into a million prices and yet you smile by the end. The Lowland is that rarity; it is that gem which everyone should read at least once in their lives and live it. It gives you lessons no textbook can give, love equal to what our parents give and life that nothing in this world can give.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Lowland tells the story Subhash and Udayan, two brothers who are alike from outside but far different from inside. While Subhash believes in his future which is as ordinary as a life can be, whereas Udayan lives for a future which will make every life better in Kolkata. Both of them, when faced with reality chooses their own path. But Udayan, amidst of his wild life, gets killed, Subhash's dream of an ordinary life dies with Udayan.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>This is a story which will neither grab everyone's attention, nor maintain it. This book will be easily forgotten, of you do not pay attention to it. But once you read it, out will never leave you. It will affect you and it daily life. As an Indian, I often wonder about my future, and reading this book makes me wonder if it's as bright as it seems. Although set in a time way before my birth, I strongly believe, most of the events might still be relevant in present times. Often, we forget what's more important and what's right and take decisions without thinking about its impact on our future.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Lowland, in its essence, gives an important emphasis on what the future is like. It's never like what we think about. The ones we love leave us, the ones we live for stop trying. It's a cycle of love and disappointment, and this book proves that to us beautifully.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I don't know if this review in any way justifies the way how I felt about this book. But, pick it up. This won't disappoint you! </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>-Niv</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-90557951902738340722016-03-09T13:02:00.002+05:302016-03-09T13:05:31.351+05:30Me Before You by Jojo Moyes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYk-S29jjNAFefIKkyP-Gd_ddbLhmL5fThPp2AIH3xIIFUk-P6OxoLZRM88_qZl50_ZXzhhzG6vtYy6E3wUWNJhKL0cwGobZEj_mrU5gfdnSIH2M71swqY9YJE6BkVLLKdHMtBeJYWn1H/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYk-S29jjNAFefIKkyP-Gd_ddbLhmL5fThPp2AIH3xIIFUk-P6OxoLZRM88_qZl50_ZXzhhzG6vtYy6E3wUWNJhKL0cwGobZEj_mrU5gfdnSIH2M71swqY9YJE6BkVLLKdHMtBeJYWn1H/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction, Fiction</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15507958-me-before-you" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Romance is the only genre where I’m not open to experiments. I read the books which has a lot of hype, or whose blurb strikes as different. If I Stay by Gayle Forman is one of the few which actually made to the list of my top favorite romance reads. And now, I’m quite happy to say that Me Before You made into that list as well. To find such a heart warming love story is actually making me believe in romance again.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There were two reasons why I picked out up. First, I recently saw the trailer of the movie adaptation and without even having known anything about the story, I was intrigued. Secondly, the hype around it was too much to bear! The book was actually attracting me towards it. I couldn’t sit around for another sign, and so when the trailer released, I thought it was time.<br />
And boy was I stumped! I had started only the first chapter and and before I knew, I was reading the 8th one. It took me exactly a day and a half to complete this book.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I had a lot of thoughts while reading the book. The issue addressed here is a very delicate one. But Jojo Moyes treated with equal parts of humor, love and reality. More than the actual story, what really struck me was how Jojo Moyes managed to pick up the topic and create a story with such precision and quality. The ending was real. So real, that I found myself crying but actually feeling satisfied. I cringed every time, something happened to Will. It’s always like the end is near. Despite how it ended, for me, it was a happy one. Everyone accepted his decision by the end and that’s what counts.<br />
Another aspect which struck me was the characters and their roles. Every character had some important role to play in the manner the book was to end. No character seemed useless. I couldn’t get around to the question that how an author could write with such details and not go wrong anywhere.<br />
Needless to say, her writing is beautiful. So beautiful that it is difficult to concentrate on the world around and carry on with our existence. With her book, it’s difficult to even think that we have a life.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am so impressed with this book that I’m afraid to read it’s sequel. Often good books fail to give a good aftermath of the actual story. And that is exactly why I never pick up a sequel to a book on which everything ended perfectly. The next book can ruin anything or can just glorify it. At this point, I’m not sure if I’m ready to give it a try!</div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-72142513199699710062016-03-04T21:42:00.003+05:302016-03-04T21:42:47.863+05:30March Theme and TBRs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello there Readers!<br />
<br />
It's a new month, and it's time for us to reveal the theme and book in spotlight,<br />
<br />
In case you're new, Fictional Fortress hosts monthly theme based read-a-longs and every month we choose a book in spotlight, usually an Indian author to promote the under-rated gem that Indian Literature is. At the end of the month, we host virtual book discussions for which you can sign up when the announcement is put up on our Instagram.<br />
<br />
This March we're going to read books by <b>Woman Writers</b> in the view of Woman's Day on 8th.<br />
Any genre, any number of books, as long as it's written by a woman, we'll allow it ;)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszYOc1vyN_cuUbdYdogS5VQBSA2QdFnVeFNtVSOLMCfO50xWqP93w7XgT8_rGu2zFIzwadmC7n-szEplsnJ4uMXCWcXTWYJ2wv6AvJ3EuT4w5JYDnjDL7QQQ4Lcxl1j3MmwO_C7d-N7wM/s1600/blogger-image--161120256.jpg" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Book-In-Spotlight for March</i></b> is The Lowland by the celebrated Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri. This book was short-listed for a number of awards including Man Booker prize in 2013.<br />
If you've heard of this book and never found the chance to pick it up, now is the time. And if you haven't heard of this author/book, google people, google right now and add this book to your TBR!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366930267l/17262100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366930267l/17262100.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><b><u>BOOK-IN-SPOTLIGHT FOR MARCH</u></b><br />Add to </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262100-the-lowland" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's the book trailer if you'd like a peek:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/57oe5jf6AGs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/57oe5jf6AGs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We really hope you join us this month, here are some of our TBRs and current reads for March, if you have any recommendations or if you'd like to share your reads, use the hashtag #ficfortressreads on social medias to stay connected with us (and get featured mayybe)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28dZpomN-L67CFzqCEjXk0viaTgsbqIySEtI-nJmt8sJdqmd8q30vQ5MiHixUrkDQdurwp6rstvP75z-rpzSu-Le3lzMUJVernuN_2u_DeBqxeVJXe1D_jVOli6KEq00OcAdQNiZ5HFBE/s640/blogger-image-1221071949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28dZpomN-L67CFzqCEjXk0viaTgsbqIySEtI-nJmt8sJdqmd8q30vQ5MiHixUrkDQdurwp6rstvP75z-rpzSu-Le3lzMUJVernuN_2u_DeBqxeVJXe1D_jVOli6KEq00OcAdQNiZ5HFBE/s400/blogger-image-1221071949.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<h1 data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"The ambitious </span><a data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0/=1$entity0/=010" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/marchtbr/" style="border: 0px; color: #125688; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#MarchTBR</a><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.2" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span><br data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$newline1/=10" /><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.4" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I've planned to read these six books this month. As you can see they are from different genres but written by female authors. This is part of the </span><a data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text2/=1$entity0/=010" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ficfortressreads/" style="border: 0px; color: #125688; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#ficfortressreads</a><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.6" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><a data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text2/=1$entity1/=010" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/readathon/" style="border: 0px; color: #125688; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#readathon</a><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.8" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> that they host every month and this month they are reading books by female authors." ~</span></i><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.8" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pologeebee/">Pologeebee</a> on Instagram</span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<h1 data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs0K6vogq6oyJlMyqLngo1botRFFJ59cn986SAvQf8LQZ6cv-xpYKeYiLS9-VN9B04N7_YWYFJxuvkXGg6M44VGRCCq5nN6QGWd3CMq5YUFYCL-HAWXc5VttKFjyObYIJEqx6F6UwxLzs/s1600/blogger-image--301759207.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs0K6vogq6oyJlMyqLngo1botRFFJ59cn986SAvQf8LQZ6cv-xpYKeYiLS9-VN9B04N7_YWYFJxuvkXGg6M44VGRCCq5nN6QGWd3CMq5YUFYCL-HAWXc5VttKFjyObYIJEqx6F6UwxLzs/s1600/blogger-image--301759207.jpg" /></a></div>
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"My tbr for </span><a data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0/=1$entity0/=010" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ficfortressreads/" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #125688; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">#ficfortressreads</a><span data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.2" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">March theme which is books written by female authors on account of </span>women's day2016" ~ </i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nidhi_ajay/" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Nidhi Ajay</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> on Instagram.</span><br />
<h1 data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6NOPeAPfrAkyIpUXnus-JgfhuNL9EmM-ee5vXjzuM4C584yI15NBSxhRw-hOZXZK1N-quzyNavZlit-0CDONJyxgHSgR6-4g9cRM582B_icNTpCormexOnCbNX8zp8vWv4BOzWi4WC8T/s640/blogger-image--762902927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6NOPeAPfrAkyIpUXnus-JgfhuNL9EmM-ee5vXjzuM4C584yI15NBSxhRw-hOZXZK1N-quzyNavZlit-0CDONJyxgHSgR6-4g9cRM582B_icNTpCormexOnCbNX8zp8vWv4BOzWi4WC8T/s640/blogger-image--762902927.jpg" /></a></div>
</span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".6.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".6.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>"I have never read any book written by Cassandra Clare. So I started reading Clockwork Angel and holy mother of cow this book is amazing 😍 only a few hundred pages left now."</i></span><span data-reactid=".6.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arzoobibliophile/" target="_blank">Arzoo Naqvi</a> on Instagram.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R_Ony8CER9M7EfkxNO5SA1ZEwrSHyhNebxLnsgOdji6jXSwwusxMqODMDDm0N4JFzGzvMvKMFFrfPpPGsg2bAmvKY4M6cT1hpwEYqqE256j7Tb145zlB_gRcIhOTlHHefiATIvHvd5mi/s1600/blogger-image-1092258448.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R_Ony8CER9M7EfkxNO5SA1ZEwrSHyhNebxLnsgOdji6jXSwwusxMqODMDDm0N4JFzGzvMvKMFFrfPpPGsg2bAmvKY4M6cT1hpwEYqqE256j7Tb145zlB_gRcIhOTlHHefiATIvHvd5mi/s640/blogger-image-1092258448.jpg" /></a> </div>
<i>"I usually don't do TBRs, but here's one for the Fictional Fortress March Readalong, books by woman authors. I'll keep adding books as I go about, provided I finish these in time 🙈"</i> ~ <a href="http://fictionalfortress.blogspot.in/p/about.html" target="_blank">Shonazee</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Of-Ink-And-Pages-445769462284798/" target="_blank">Of Ink And Pages</a> on Facebook.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
</span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQH0K14DNIc9UndcWfdrV3CtfHTW9pjR82AzPVme92iM52_M_PV4i-uC88lvClaboZHKiBGctW4mEwLuE76kbFs6ckCRp4R95vBH-_sGsHTH8UTZLjLpxfxWLquD8S0_-PEqSj0b5DcT1/s640/blogger-image--655108462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQH0K14DNIc9UndcWfdrV3CtfHTW9pjR82AzPVme92iM52_M_PV4i-uC88lvClaboZHKiBGctW4mEwLuE76kbFs6ckCRp4R95vBH-_sGsHTH8UTZLjLpxfxWLquD8S0_-PEqSj0b5DcT1/s640/blogger-image--655108462.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">"</span><i style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Despite a busy month, I plan to read more from Women writers but to start off with I'll be reading these three gems. All three authors are celebrated, and it feels great to finally read some of their works." - Nivedita, The Book Loving Nerd</i><br />
<div>
<i><br />
</i></div>
<div>
<i></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_etlUf2tbLGlwx-H8qV08pMol1IqHbndXMcAyhx0Y_HM4pSadOEAiYlQwmgIzVWyWo9j1-rvyBcM8P0-1PaAhXs8M_pdZqXmKxkWkie8uM1fPYlhyphenhyphenZz544b2YJxEBsrEaDx9fXwx84TP/s1600/blogger-image--243352225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_etlUf2tbLGlwx-H8qV08pMol1IqHbndXMcAyhx0Y_HM4pSadOEAiYlQwmgIzVWyWo9j1-rvyBcM8P0-1PaAhXs8M_pdZqXmKxkWkie8uM1fPYlhyphenhyphenZz544b2YJxEBsrEaDx9fXwx84TP/s640/blogger-image--243352225.jpg" width="640" /></a><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">" I'm re reading Cassandra Clare's books as Lady Midnight is releasing soon. I also decided to read the two classics; Jane Austen's The Beautiful Cassandra and Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market. 😀"</span></i></span><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"> ~ </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/varsh_24/" style="font-style: inherit;">Varsha</a><span style="font-style: inherit;"> on Instagram</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br /><i>What are you reading this March?</i></span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".4.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div>
</div>
</span></h1>
</div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-89532106453327123872016-01-31T19:06:00.002+05:302016-01-31T19:06:09.214+05:30Book Review: The Martian by Andy Weiner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today, one of our wonderful club members, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arzoobibliophile/" target="_blank">Arzoo Naqvi</a> is taking over the blog to talk about her FAV sci-fi read, The Martian. Here's what she has to say about this thrilling adventure:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytTk9ea_FERFUSQjMCdyMdlrMP4zNhZInmfhqz_c7qOdqD5XMbU9NudHcy1HM1lmIYnfXFQu_bWz-xpejX8b-sBEC-_AL3MxEqeR1d7p7nMiU0A9OAxLDXgHSMoRRjgBwhAPUjdeR0yFw/s640/blogger-image--1659410637.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />Add To <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18007564-the-martian?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Martian is a thrilling sci-fi novel with a hearty dose of Humour written by Andy Weir, a genius.<br />
Our hero, Mark Watney, is one of the first few people to walk on Mars and would possibly be the first one to die on the planet after his crewmates abandon him post a dust storm presuming him dead. Fortunately, the injuries were minor. Mark had to struggle with an extremely foreign territory, chances of starvation and possible death due to lack of oxygen.<br />
Mark, a badass botanist, has to grow four years of vegetation on a planet where nothing grows.<br />
He's smart, intellectual and funny. He has an unbreakable, unshakable, unmovable will of coming back to Earth.<br />
<br />The Martian is known to be a cross between Cast Away and Apollo 13. Well, it only takes a genius to produce their baby and Andy Weir did all his research, maths and science calculations by himself.<br />
He did not have any acquaintances from NASA. It was only after the release of this book he made friends with a lot of smart people from NASA and elsewhere. The book was first self-published online by the author, it gained massive popularity once Crown publications decided to publish its physical copies in paperbacks and hardbacks.<br />
Just when you thought sci-fi was about to die, The Martian was all over the internet and everybody was talking about it.<br />
<br />We all need to be like Mark. Everybody needs a Mark Watney in their lives.<br />
He knows how to handle situations under (literally) high pressure. It was worth the hype.<br />
The book gets a little too intellectual sometimes for an average person but it's all right. It's fun. Sometimes it feels as if the reader is reading somebody's blog. Mark is so hilarious that sometimes you'd need to put your book down and have a hearty laugh about what you just read.<br />
Every calamity is briefly mentioned in the book but how Mark overcomes those rough times is described in a better fashion. The writing is simple.<br />
I cried in the end. It was so overwhelming.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>What are your fav sci-fi reads? <br />To join our virtual book discussion on this theme; hit us up with a mail.</i></b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-956019410671303182016-01-19T12:25:00.000+05:302016-01-19T12:25:45.776+05:30ALL OUR YESTERDAYS BY CRISTIN TERRILL : SCI-FI - THEME OF THE MONTH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGbHTVDqlLBC3njsyS2FNUOlrLMGUTbcVkb53YFUVtgqDISwciv-c4zqpK-WLPE8EJq7YwGUJJWMxgy7Xe9w7fM2yFSHAngjKWjmEhWrjQOi4vNpV3U67roJ6LthOynB4x4SbNiCkgl36/s1600/174511051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGbHTVDqlLBC3njsyS2FNUOlrLMGUTbcVkb53YFUVtgqDISwciv-c4zqpK-WLPE8EJq7YwGUJJWMxgy7Xe9w7fM2yFSHAngjKWjmEhWrjQOi4vNpV3U67roJ6LthOynB4x4SbNiCkgl36/s320/174511051.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
GENRE: Sci-fi, Young Adult, Dystopia</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13514612-all-our-yesterdays" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></div>
All Our Yesterdays, is a sci-fi novel mainly based on the concept of time travel. To say that the concept was stunningly executed, is an understatement. It was not just the concept, but the plot, the characters and the writing also, equally contributed to the book's success in being the best sci-fi book.<br />
To begin with, let me talk about the plot. Without revealing much, this book revolves around Em, who is currently held captive by Doctor who is ruining this world one by one. When one day, Em finds a note saying she has to complete a final instruction in the note, she finds herself fighting against the Doctor, and killing her one and only love. I am not a big fan of romance, and I never even look towards sci-fi novels, and when I find a book with romance AND sc-fi together, I knew I shouldn't pick it up. But I did. And, boy was I surprised! I literally breathed the book, taking everything like wind. Writing a proper review is still very difficult for me, because I'm still inside that book, and I refuse to come out of this.<br />
The characters of this book were mind-blowing. The protagonist Em living in the future, is everything from badass to caring. She is definitely my favorite literary hero. On the other hand, Em's past self, Marina, is a very different, though not opposite of Em. Like every other girl, who cares about her looks, and wants to fall in love with the perfect guy, Marina is everything Em is not. But, what is strikingly similar about them is their caring nature, their love, and their strong personality. The male leads, James and Finn, love interests of Marina and Em, respectively, are pure awesomeness. And what is strangely beautiful, is the love triangle which seems to grow out their their relationships. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>“I've been scared of so much stupid crap in my life. Making a bad grade or not fitting in. God, I was scared of <em>you</em>. And it was all such a waste. None of it matters now that the <em>real</em> scary shit is here.”</b></blockquote>
Lastly, what stood out for me is the writing. No matter how great a plot is, and how striking the characters, what binds a story together is its writing. I often find myself bored when the writing is not good. and if the writing is good, I'll love it no matter what the story is like. In this case, the writing was so good, that it was a cherry on the top, for such a powerful story and such amazing characters. Cristin Terrill writes beautifully, yet powerfully. It makes a lasting impact, and even when the story ends, you'll find yourself wanting for more.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>“The truth is, the world is a f*cked up place sometimes.”</b></blockquote>
What are your Sci-Fi reads this month, tell us about it with the hashtag #ficfortressreads on any social media. </div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-88613260984470999622016-01-02T20:04:00.000+05:302016-01-02T20:04:10.819+05:30Varsha's Top 5 Reads of 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2015 was a wonderful year for me in terms of reading. Even though I couldn't read as much as I wanted to (thank you Uni), I enjoyed almost all the books that I did read and also discovered so many new authors.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
1. THE LUMATERE CHRONICLES BY MELINA MARCHETTA</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0qr3fOMKmm-qamV7JFG6zQmTCFOfYZalpTPdtGe0Bji4cLEvoXOatAAQ70NIbRzX6a0IB8ULKJdvj05sjnOuFGQfIrP6mrmncnQDJf-1i9lEZ8DmZC1crZJJYCzEK466HEWex6giNcU6/s1600/IMG_6041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0qr3fOMKmm-qamV7JFG6zQmTCFOfYZalpTPdtGe0Bji4cLEvoXOatAAQ70NIbRzX6a0IB8ULKJdvj05sjnOuFGQfIrP6mrmncnQDJf-1i9lEZ8DmZC1crZJJYCzEK466HEWex6giNcU6/s400/IMG_6041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre: High Fantasy</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/57115-lumatere-chronicles" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The amazing series tops my reading list for 2015. Melina Marcehetta has this way with words that just leaves me awestruck and having read her contemporaries, I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started this series but boy was I wrong. This series is full of real characters, mystery, action, adventure and hope. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What's the first book about? It starts with three friends, a prophetic dream and a blood pledge, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Followed by an invasion, a terrible curse and the struggle of one people to take back what they lost. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This series deserves all the love in the world so go read it, ya'll :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="readable" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>“Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words?”</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
-Melina Marchetta </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V9Qhb1Kq51THMJbLuOJKe7-2T9NGGA1cZTRRzJ2TIMKaJAsyJnpAGorLMEmMnmjHCztbckkUPDGldsTEUdTcLy035KMReAh5ByuoF7vJvG9A2A-thUGIKmOKS44-dXKJAtHAqWZhyajm/s1600/IMG_6043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V9Qhb1Kq51THMJbLuOJKe7-2T9NGGA1cZTRRzJ2TIMKaJAsyJnpAGorLMEmMnmjHCztbckkUPDGldsTEUdTcLy035KMReAh5ByuoF7vJvG9A2A-thUGIKmOKS44-dXKJAtHAqWZhyajm/s400/IMG_6043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre: Fanstay</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23437156-six-of-crows" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A book centered around a heist? It has to make my list :P I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up loving this book because I am not a fan of Leigh Bardug's Grisha trilogy. But this one blew my mind. In this book, six misfits come together to pull off an impossible heist and I loved every page of it. The plot was epic and crazy and adventurous and just grabs your attention and does not let go till the very end. The world building is done beautifully and what I loved the most about this book is the characters. All of them were so incredibly well fleshed out and the interactions between them was so entertaining. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Highly recommended. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"<b style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><i>“A gambler,a convict,a wayward son,a lost Grisha,a Suli girl who had become a killer,a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse.”</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">-Leigh Bardugo</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qQZC2bW9ho1FdNX6d5btufMkYZgVewI8vsOi2ueNYp3ckFMpx6mYpe_8THiyOFGmEsXhJ-q8BR16x00PzrD9RMmFMILbFtKMV2v_zMkZkH5R5xfPYGy5ngSVU3Kyho3e7K0C4gYiaC2q/s1600/IMG_6045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qQZC2bW9ho1FdNX6d5btufMkYZgVewI8vsOi2ueNYp3ckFMpx6mYpe_8THiyOFGmEsXhJ-q8BR16x00PzrD9RMmFMILbFtKMV2v_zMkZkH5R5xfPYGy5ngSVU3Kyho3e7K0C4gYiaC2q/s400/IMG_6045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre: Fantasy</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17378508-blue-lily-lily-blue?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of the best sequels I've ever read. Blue Lily, Lily Blue is the 3rd book in The Raven Cycle quartet and is one of the most unique books I've ever read. I was mesmerized by the complexity and ingenuity of the story. Blue Lily, Lily Blue took my breath away. It was everything I wanted it to be and so much more.</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Seers, clairvoyance</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, Welsh kings, dreamers, all this sets up this vivid, palpable atmosphere that I could feel deep in my bones. The last book, The Raven King is my most anticipated release of 2016.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><blockquote style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<b>". . . what she didn't realize about Blue and her boys was that they were all in love with one another. She was no less obsessed with them than they were with her, or one another, analyzing every conversation and gesture, drawing out every joke into a longer and longer running gag, spending each moment either with one another or thinking about when next they would be with one another."</b></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Maggie Stiefvater </div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
4. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas</h3>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhWFX2bjv5hgk58jhs-Cf0i-OUBphu6BMXCRZragIk4SCPGTVoeKENmmc4n0r4w_s4VYTcSLJRp3HbGKmBFCs3dCcpRHfAqHO7TI5LdpT_gnhzrnnRM5urIKgGtZfmuztl9mUK_kFjchw/s1600/IMG_6042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhWFX2bjv5hgk58jhs-Cf0i-OUBphu6BMXCRZragIk4SCPGTVoeKENmmc4n0r4w_s4VYTcSLJRp3HbGKmBFCs3dCcpRHfAqHO7TI5LdpT_gnhzrnnRM5urIKgGtZfmuztl9mUK_kFjchw/s400/IMG_6042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre: Fantasy</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23848145-queen-of-shadows" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Besides Winter, QoS was my most anticipated releases of 2015 and it also turned out be the best in the series so far. I love how this series keeps getting better with each book and the characters, they grow stronger and deadlier, more fierce and passionate. We see in QoS how they're a far cry from the characters we met in the fist book, hardened by blood and betrayal. Maas is a genius for the way she went about the character and plot development. The plot in this one was constantly changing and Maas' writing was fantastic. I loved the changes of mood and atmosphere, how quickly it happened and yet it did never left me unbalanced. Cannot wait for the next book. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="text-align: left;">“They joined hands.</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">So the world ended.</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">And the next one began.” </span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">-Sarah J Maas </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">5. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCtgPX71_m55dWZsvXelDpNaJGXDd7ElYFviSGvRwppBHaYtfG-XPWZS7kwZptm9sGiQOjEtm58vUsjG8a2cvJxAZt-Drdq83HpBDTbDZioDw9plMCB6UynOGE-zeRoSpv49kAOF5f1Dq/s1600/IMG_6046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCtgPX71_m55dWZsvXelDpNaJGXDd7ElYFviSGvRwppBHaYtfG-XPWZS7kwZptm9sGiQOjEtm58vUsjG8a2cvJxAZt-Drdq83HpBDTbDZioDw9plMCB6UynOGE-zeRoSpv49kAOF5f1Dq/s400/IMG_6046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Genre: Fantasy </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15839984-cruel-beauty?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a touch a Greek mythology. It's everything a fantasy lover could ever ask for. It had everything I look for in a book; an imperfect heroine, unpredictable mystery, fascinating setting and backstory, characters that are as real as you and me and beautiful writing. This wasn't a light read but I liked that it showed the most evil aspects of human nature and the dark and twisted side of fairy tales. This book was truly mesmerizing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><strong><i>"He is a monster, I said. Maybe I m a monster to pity him.”</i></strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">-Rosamund Hodge</span></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</h3>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-13309558587126654992016-01-01T13:18:00.000+05:302016-01-02T12:52:22.756+05:30NIVEDITA'S TOP 5 READS OF 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2015 was a great year, both in terms of personal life and reading life. Not only I improved my reading habits, I also discovered so many good authors, and I can't wait to read more in 2016. Choosing 5 out of 78 books read this year, is very difficult. But, nevertheless, here's my top 5 books of 2015:<br />
<b><u>1. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b> <b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu1o0nmmVUZsEECTqclcbjw7keCAwuj9XlvJnK_taF6DgSIQ3FJ-W8TczoYcFtSinWld5KmYkLIMImy3Cq_ifyd8hV5WllWrjq6mSgqsqPXN2748FNNolsqr7u80c7ViFbT2MCERIOP8_/s1600/IMG-20151230-WA0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu1o0nmmVUZsEECTqclcbjw7keCAwuj9XlvJnK_taF6DgSIQ3FJ-W8TczoYcFtSinWld5KmYkLIMImy3Cq_ifyd8hV5WllWrjq6mSgqsqPXN2748FNNolsqr7u80c7ViFbT2MCERIOP8_/s400/IMG-20151230-WA0016.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(source: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ts16_queen/" target="_blank">Tuba on Instagram</a>)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Genre:</b> YA Dystopia</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20560137-an-ember-in-the-ashes?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was probably my first fantasy read in 2015, and definitely my favourite. This book made me fall in love with the fantasy genre, and it inspired me to discover more beautiful books in the genre. Everything in this book is perfection, including the writing, the setting and the characters, and if you are still thinking of the reasons to pick up, then here's one more: the cover. I mean, judging a book by its cover is a bookish sin. But, how can someone say no to a golden spine? Pick up, pick up! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFi2Fk-JuBqp-cKMrd3Jckh0hIGgMSgwVxpglmAmBv_34qp4CzExQ298nUmlpJHpGLbDkSP6h2FDFFvI6toqQjjYcVy5PvNesT_NwY6lg4kxgtyYbzIaJRu7BfK8WN6KT28rpZCeiCFJ6/s1600/11260589_1505127133149119_15853214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFi2Fk-JuBqp-cKMrd3Jckh0hIGgMSgwVxpglmAmBv_34qp4CzExQ298nUmlpJHpGLbDkSP6h2FDFFvI6toqQjjYcVy5PvNesT_NwY6lg4kxgtyYbzIaJRu7BfK8WN6KT28rpZCeiCFJ6/s320/11260589_1505127133149119_15853214_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre : Adult Fiction</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11974605-the-help" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is my last read of 2015, and definitely the best. I've been putting this book off for so long now, but when I finally picked it up, it changed everything. It is set in Jackson, Mississippi, at a time where black maids were considered "diseased". This book gives such an inisght into the lives of black maids working for white mistresses. I cried, and cried till the tears went dry. This book had me hooked from the beginning till the end, and it is not the story, the writing was so beautiful. I urge everyone to read this as soon as possible. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3. The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAgWjY-bOZvcPCW7-h_iJ_gxWvJ7qveNEE4CVJ3aEz5ZAq2gc2VxZc-lBCmfNuuqY43grC_Ek-P5FyHI0S70yoTOexKYQXWjGkIY9SUgSjWOrAqvVjNU-X2ZtkJIIlL9JYfAeZcDduz8Z/s1600/_20160101_113704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAgWjY-bOZvcPCW7-h_iJ_gxWvJ7qveNEE4CVJ3aEz5ZAq2gc2VxZc-lBCmfNuuqY43grC_Ek-P5FyHI0S70yoTOexKYQXWjGkIY9SUgSjWOrAqvVjNU-X2ZtkJIIlL9JYfAeZcDduz8Z/s320/_20160101_113704.JPG" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Genre : </b>Psychological Thriller</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22557272-the-girl-on-the-train" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I read many psychological thrillers this year, including Gone Girl, and despite loving Gone Girl, this book made it to the top five. Why? Because it's mind-blowing. I was expecting something else, and I got something else and even more. I do not have words to explain how amazing this book turned out to be. Even though it has a lot of mixed reviews, I would still want everyone to give it a try. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>4. The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aUDiCjFk9VVQ-Fn4X0xRpNeZrogUgJXk2YAX1DeAo5WhchUsuEXSP7SxkcNRbmoCLROr3BLUZl0D9LNJIk65PLBi_j267J5-cCLuNv9qZL7iNxVw2s40e8ba70skD3LaCzjmqaVZlZsS/s1600/_20160101_124401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aUDiCjFk9VVQ-Fn4X0xRpNeZrogUgJXk2YAX1DeAo5WhchUsuEXSP7SxkcNRbmoCLROr3BLUZl0D9LNJIk65PLBi_j267J5-cCLuNv9qZL7iNxVw2s40e8ba70skD3LaCzjmqaVZlZsS/s320/_20160101_124401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre ; Contemporary</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4950.The_Hungry_Tide" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It would be unfair to not add an Indian book to this list. So, here's a book which changed my perspective on Indian books. Amitav Ghosh'd writing not only captures your heart, but also breaks it into thousand pieces. The story was so powerful, and so beautiful. If there is anybody who hasn't yet read this book, make this your priority. It sent in the hauntingly beautiful Bay of Bengal, and it just makes you want to live inside that book because of its vivid imagery of the life there. So creepy, but so beautiful. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>5. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmjUY84VJnDMW4JNLqwRdNihG4ZKsImjLqQeMyfc-qX6fxAsxN7IXLPkXI40tMhqmsAo1aYItzMKVSzwiWdjWaOI00ATuwiy0jBHvI7hxNv4i2b1FYBcrKC0kGENTUmbUWUWYYn5SEd8M/s1600/12292625_564941683668165_2066659737_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmjUY84VJnDMW4JNLqwRdNihG4ZKsImjLqQeMyfc-qX6fxAsxN7IXLPkXI40tMhqmsAo1aYItzMKVSzwiWdjWaOI00ATuwiy0jBHvI7hxNv4i2b1FYBcrKC0kGENTUmbUWUWYYn5SEd8M/s320/12292625_564941683668165_2066659737_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Genre : Historical Fiction</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Add to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year was pretty good for Harper Lee, because the sequel to this book just got released. This book has been in my life since ninth grade, when my favourite teacher suggested this book to us. I tried reading it then, but it was too much for me. I bought this book this summer, and devoured it the moment it was in my hands. And god, I know why everyone wants to read it. And why everyone loved it. AND WHY EVERYONE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE SEQUEL. This book is another anecdote on the kind of life that existed in southern USA where racism was it its peak. This book should be read at least once in a lifetime. </div>
<br /></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-35290492624095791242015-12-30T20:08:00.002+05:302016-01-02T12:46:21.889+05:30Shonazee's Top 5 reads of 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2015 was the year I read all the mainstream novels. All the popular ones that I kept putting off for no reason.</div>
This year I made time for all of these books and here are the one's that I absolutely LOVED in no particular order because I cannot rank them. I tried, okay? Really tried, but couldn't.<br />
Make sure you read these if you haven't because these are definitely worth the hype and high expectations.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>The Hunger Games Trilogy:</u></b></h4>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLLL9g-lNwWAVYBOMJTHvFm9TNf05hGhEG4Gf3peLlUOJdkuDXegC8YJec7Hoz_wdrZp-LND9aZ5Wd289iBQvD1rxXhL7e_s4RvecWJOEfNvcDrjPwCFbkCe2yu7yYsQv7zA272j0BpHg/s1600/thg+watermarked.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLLL9g-lNwWAVYBOMJTHvFm9TNf05hGhEG4Gf3peLlUOJdkuDXegC8YJec7Hoz_wdrZp-LND9aZ5Wd289iBQvD1rxXhL7e_s4RvecWJOEfNvcDrjPwCFbkCe2yu7yYsQv7zA272j0BpHg/s640/thg+watermarked.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Genre:</i></b> YA Dystopia</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Add To <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7938275-the-hunger-games-trilogy-boxset?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
<br /></div>
I'm pretty sure that all the mortals have already read this series and I was prolly the last one to embark on this crazy, badass journey. But if you haven't, then please, please read this series. I mean, this series right here is going to be a YA Dystopian classic someday, you'll see.<br />
There's suspense and thrill and hold-your-breath-moments and awwws (Peeta) and ouchs and basically, it's everything you'd want in a page turner.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Simon vs The Homo sapiens Agenda By Becky Albertalli:</u></b></h4>
<div>
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_5XFSCx1F86sU0wMwr7TljVpiFhKWb-4KK7cY4u4usxCMqhufEmgGv8W1FrNKRyum4dqgd4hS8KW61wrA5JdMaJqie2G19_3SYMI6r5D5VsHYaTVHsFkOFUL3ArVG7XHCAeow3XNJPFg/s1600/IMG_5765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_5XFSCx1F86sU0wMwr7TljVpiFhKWb-4KK7cY4u4usxCMqhufEmgGv8W1FrNKRyum4dqgd4hS8KW61wrA5JdMaJqie2G19_3SYMI6r5D5VsHYaTVHsFkOFUL3ArVG7XHCAeow3XNJPFg/s640/IMG_5765.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><u><br /></u></b> Some books give you warm smiles and tight hugs. This is one of those. You'll melt into a puddle, you'll be filled with this fuzzy feeling called love. Although it's a light read, I did have a hangover after finishing it. Good stuff. Stuff that made me blush when I recalled a few scenes or dialogues and people around me thought I was either in love o going cray-cray.<br />
So please please do yourself a favour and read this book.<br />
I'm sure you'll love it, if you do however get around to reading it, you can drop me a message, we'll fangirl and swoon over Simon and Blue.<br />
<br />
Add To <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19547856-simon-vs-the-homo-sapiens-agenda?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">Goodreads.</a><br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>The Lunar Chronicles By Marissa Meyer:</u></b></h4>
<div>
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJL09LYf2DxnoJriOQ85en0xkyP-v7kfWy6YEgt6_u7T-Usv_XtTXa9eKQc7DWAuItGfEoSHBHwP-09jRyufhOOQUStQ8EcG930gGoBStNLLLIThyphenhyphenHV5CsMF_ViESbwcwd7Puw9cg50Dk9/s1600/CINDER.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJL09LYf2DxnoJriOQ85en0xkyP-v7kfWy6YEgt6_u7T-Usv_XtTXa9eKQc7DWAuItGfEoSHBHwP-09jRyufhOOQUStQ8EcG930gGoBStNLLLIThyphenhyphenHV5CsMF_ViESbwcwd7Puw9cg50Dk9/s640/CINDER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Book One of The Lunar Chronicles, Cinder</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Genre:</i></b> Sci-fi, Fairytale retelling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Add To <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Scifi? Check<br />
Badass female characters? Check<br />
Fairytale? Check<br />
Hot HOT potential book boyfriends? Check<br />
Action and sass? Check<br />
These are the first fairytale retellings that I've read and they are SO GOOOOD!<br />
A little predictable, because retelling, but apart from that, this series keeps getting better and better with each sequel.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Between Shades Of Gray By Ruta Sepetys:</u></b></h4>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNX2GQ_ajxE3QRw3GazyBZgX6fiIs0iW5JU_Am7rofMG6HZCeA9ukHCcT2jgHBhkmWN9S-7Z7R5E8jS4VlrLOR01TDQ7SnUa0zDywALwaiYys1buUihGgBc0J_rCnvxVlMknZOM8Geiao/s1600/IMG_6025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNX2GQ_ajxE3QRw3GazyBZgX6fiIs0iW5JU_Am7rofMG6HZCeA9ukHCcT2jgHBhkmWN9S-7Z7R5E8jS4VlrLOR01TDQ7SnUa0zDywALwaiYys1buUihGgBc0J_rCnvxVlMknZOM8Geiao/s640/IMG_6025.jpg" width="633" /></a></div>
<b><u><br /></u></b> I read this book as a part of the Fictional Fortress's read-along. This historic fiction shows us the ugly and courageous side of humans. This book is full of suffering, pain and truth.<br />
It's sad, yes. But a must read nevertheless.<br />
Cause some voices have been clamped shut and this book brings them out in the loudest of pitches. For the people of Lithuania, for the people who have suffered injustice because of egotistical bastards in power, read this book. Read it.<br />
You can read our review of this book <a href="http://fictionalfortress.blogspot.in/2015/10/book-review-between-shades-of-gray_5.html" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<br />
Add To <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824322-between-shades-of-gray?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Goodreads.</a><br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Fangirl by Painbow Rowell:</u></b></h4>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MJlHEXVErSk9rlvZiHgMJ2ju_gsqO_C9fnXUtG1yfY4mftlxXZdkoRMOOIfitpQJWJ_dclmQASG0AoCmEKSc-3KvliIBIgItvK9PxTiQ7sUKqaNX7qQ-S3JbwDHZ8Eb5W8wJ87O4I62V/s1600/FANGIRL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MJlHEXVErSk9rlvZiHgMJ2ju_gsqO_C9fnXUtG1yfY4mftlxXZdkoRMOOIfitpQJWJ_dclmQASG0AoCmEKSc-3KvliIBIgItvK9PxTiQ7sUKqaNX7qQ-S3JbwDHZ8Eb5W8wJ87O4I62V/s640/FANGIRL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Genre: </i><span style="text-align: left;">YA Fiction</span><span style="text-align: left;">Add To </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068905-fangirl?from_search=true&search_version=service" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
<br />
This is a cozy read. When you're sad or depressed, this book will wrap the arms of familiarity around you.<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Those were my top 5.<br />
If you're interested in taking a peek at all the other books I read this year, visit my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23447649-shonazee-somani" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><i>What about you? Which books moved you / made you laugh / changed you this year? <br />Tell us in the comments!</i></b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-6515437299627449872015-12-24T17:31:00.000+05:302015-12-28T14:17:20.984+05:30Winter Reads & Recs by Readers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><b>Hola!</b></i><br />
<i><b>This December we're reading books that bring out the holiday spirit & joy,</b></i><br />
<i><b>here are some books that our club members are snuggling up with,</b></i><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IfI8hsgKLlFHiKLbP0Biga9aTomwAn2tQrp1hKF3g5XfEjsAcz8CSM4SHTBDTFyjauSf7fUb5OF2g-sQ851Q5vfVY3AYNuIVzmYtVUE1DLwBHkPl4VlD4arh9X5ZvYbWCMHJ1JFgwSft/s1600/IMG_5894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IfI8hsgKLlFHiKLbP0Biga9aTomwAn2tQrp1hKF3g5XfEjsAcz8CSM4SHTBDTFyjauSf7fUb5OF2g-sQ851Q5vfVY3AYNuIVzmYtVUE1DLwBHkPl4VlD4arh9X5ZvYbWCMHJ1JFgwSft/s400/IMG_5894.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyoSMBMnQuQH2jq_GbG9ed9yzNAEAh1uV0f1v-PUWBNofRgwngRvB3coXITVS5IPtFeEyeWEcczXDZ5iBx3FGw_RLwBEz31rxPJCNY82lv_2GAor-cmyoBVV8vH1Ir5TnTymstPf5SCAI/s1600/blogger-image-1720011663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyoSMBMnQuQH2jq_GbG9ed9yzNAEAh1uV0f1v-PUWBNofRgwngRvB3coXITVS5IPtFeEyeWEcczXDZ5iBx3FGw_RLwBEz31rxPJCNY82lv_2GAor-cmyoBVV8vH1Ir5TnTymstPf5SCAI/s400/blogger-image-1720011663.jpg" /></a></div>
<i style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Nothing says Christmas like LoTR rereads(and ugly jumpers)🎄🎅📚☕ </i><br />
<div>
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_slythrns/" target="_blank">_slythrns</a></i></b><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyq4M-TPgAHA2pOk_p0DnMu9LIKsqzUXaBXLhqzdmruc0syX06oqiX07s7LYazPhQbxDZk-jMOmGsFm-zOBfnw9zBazwxnxnyeGo4jMTx-LDDpo42YcHW6l-0zj4LUINc9qasfq3TzBPj/s1600/blogger-image-1792199652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyq4M-TPgAHA2pOk_p0DnMu9LIKsqzUXaBXLhqzdmruc0syX06oqiX07s7LYazPhQbxDZk-jMOmGsFm-zOBfnw9zBazwxnxnyeGo4jMTx-LDDpo42YcHW6l-0zj4LUINc9qasfq3TzBPj/s400/blogger-image-1792199652.jpg" /></a><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br /><br />"This holiday season, I'll be reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I'm so ashamed to say I haven't read Little Women yet and therefore I have decided to read it this winter. ❤" says one of our bloggers Niv (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nivthebooklovingnerd/" target="_blank">nivthebooklovingnerd</a> )</i></span></h1>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfft-v761zVX3y6o_f64bPFMlbcGbo5pcWKE60FH2uWCzi_cMh0OOZG8_ohaVqdXVFEMuTFLmQZCmFqNlq9vU1ckIiIDr_zQXq4LYsHvhxjAeFqtKjQyMlPUCaanQnv6ZXYCcuVwuAgu2/s640/blogger-image--891443938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfft-v761zVX3y6o_f64bPFMlbcGbo5pcWKE60FH2uWCzi_cMh0OOZG8_ohaVqdXVFEMuTFLmQZCmFqNlq9vU1ckIiIDr_zQXq4LYsHvhxjAeFqtKjQyMlPUCaanQnv6ZXYCcuVwuAgu2/s1600/blogger-image--891443938.jpg" /></a><i><b><br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/i.rock.books.rule/" target="_blank">Sumedha</a> says, "<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">This came in today.. I'm getting so much in the feel of </span>christmas<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> already❤️😍😍</span></b></i></div>
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.2" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I gifted this to myself😂</span><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$newline3/=10" /><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.4" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hope you are spending your holidays reading, as i am❤️👻"</span></i></span></h1>
<div>
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.4" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjA4qx2c-N4v2lyxUFPBDUAeBXkH635C_AzdbGpXlY__aJ5lhD-sliJ9PN8PCbAR1sInFHi0-SFP0dTM3oXQ3-V5hJegaQEiwGfdYL1OTaKcJbxAuJrcU7lYwHFSkaFjykmgUlUX6vKuO/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjA4qx2c-N4v2lyxUFPBDUAeBXkH635C_AzdbGpXlY__aJ5lhD-sliJ9PN8PCbAR1sInFHi0-SFP0dTM3oXQ3-V5hJegaQEiwGfdYL1OTaKcJbxAuJrcU7lYwHFSkaFjykmgUlUX6vKuO/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: right;"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><b>And according, to our blogger <a href="https://instagram.com/varsh_24/" target="_blank">Varsha</a>: Nothing says Christmas like this beautiful book. My True Love Gave To Me is a collection of cute and perfect holiday stories. All of them take place in the month of December and focuses on different holidays like Christmas, Hanukah and New Years and I love nothing more than curling up in bed with this book to get me into a holiday mood."</b></i></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitygn62zZBCzCa4H6BwFnv9iOMfnzZn7u_RoTCTaU7VEQU-u-7urcyzlIMlMX6-F0t0eal02_WLRNi653J8iZ91WiMQF1msu9b7tHihF1IAu8BqY5OOAdo3cF3aBGLSOjtNRGKIV1OwxLr/s640/blogger-image-1100212657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitygn62zZBCzCa4H6BwFnv9iOMfnzZn7u_RoTCTaU7VEQU-u-7urcyzlIMlMX6-F0t0eal02_WLRNi653J8iZ91WiMQF1msu9b7tHihF1IAu8BqY5OOAdo3cF3aBGLSOjtNRGKIV1OwxLr/s1600/blogger-image-1100212657.jpg" /></a><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>"He talked about the ocean between people. And how the whole point of everything is to find a shore worth swimming to."</i></span></span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>- Becky Albertalli, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda///</i></span></span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of my favourite quotes I've read this year. This is my Christmas read for </span><a data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0/=1$entity0/=010" href="https://www.instagram.com/fictionalfortress/" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #125688; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@fictionalfortress</a></i></span></h1>
<div>
By <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arzoobibliophile/" target="_blank">Arzoobibliophile</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP_WIYvQkScnjZ4Sk6ScA9EgVfR3o1uoqnGj8YdSUY3Wb3Li5MLMSU0-4-Stdr5Wdbl5CIA4WBT4ostiHG3QvGDOUwLvL_ynN1JpJjLze8M_QZ3A7HAO25qBS0l2H5b5TpGV_W1xDqX0E/s640/blogger-image-1689615510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoP_WIYvQkScnjZ4Sk6ScA9EgVfR3o1uoqnGj8YdSUY3Wb3Li5MLMSU0-4-Stdr5Wdbl5CIA4WBT4ostiHG3QvGDOUwLvL_ynN1JpJjLze8M_QZ3A7HAO25qBS0l2H5b5TpGV_W1xDqX0E/s1600/blogger-image-1689615510.jpg" /></a><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>For <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bookish.mel/" target="_blank">mel</a> , Harry Potter is her go to winter read. </i></span></span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"There's no better place to spend Christmas than at Hogwarts, with the Yule Ball, the Christmas feast in the Great Hall, a trip to Honeydukes in Hogsmeade with a stop at The Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer.</span><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$newline1/=10" /><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.2" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No better place to spend winter either, with snow on the grounds and roaring fires in the great fireplace in the Gryffindor common room { or your house common room if you're not a Gryffindor 😉 }.</span><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$newline3/=10" /><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.4" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In fact, I can't think of a better place to spend any day, any time of the year!"</span></i></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h1 data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIi3LROqL8KMRUR370ZnIkO8nr0mR8A9C8eC26niEZYFfh5hZ7Z2krZrHhu32rG_z9kWZMirNIsnsngJZLLyHsq1q8OeKQUNhMBScf9mFs55URKxx-dtjh8z2iDOSosDg4dQFpFhzyp8J/s1600/blogger-image--623864987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIi3LROqL8KMRUR370ZnIkO8nr0mR8A9C8eC26niEZYFfh5hZ7Z2krZrHhu32rG_z9kWZMirNIsnsngJZLLyHsq1q8OeKQUNhMBScf9mFs55URKxx-dtjh8z2iDOSosDg4dQFpFhzyp8J/s400/blogger-image--623864987.jpg" /></a><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.0" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Winters have Harry Potter written all over them. Don't ask why. That's just how it is. Especially when the copy you own is illustrated. </span><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$newline1/=10" /><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.2" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Also how cute is the Harry Potter badge? " says another one of our bloggers, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ofinkandpages/" target="_blank">Shonazee</a></span></i></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBwPtm4fs93xxr8VaIuBG7q6KKeHnqKGOidK2ff-Dt-TZi_BpeKxhbpqOiQmS_1v9RZTtn3TGvBCUMADCIgn0-Skd6ATwpvY8gS11fLbJ2eSiVGilNemfuLuWEItb8Y2c-8DV4Wtw-9yB/s640/blogger-image-235563818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBwPtm4fs93xxr8VaIuBG7q6KKeHnqKGOidK2ff-Dt-TZi_BpeKxhbpqOiQmS_1v9RZTtn3TGvBCUMADCIgn0-Skd6ATwpvY8gS11fLbJ2eSiVGilNemfuLuWEItb8Y2c-8DV4Wtw-9yB/s640/blogger-image-235563818.jpg" width="640" /><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></a><b><i><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-reactid=".0.1.0.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0/=1$entity0/=010" href="https://www.instagram.com/thephotodiary/" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #125688; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@thephotodiary</a> says, "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-align: left;">I choose our Bond, Ruskin Bond to define the holiday season. 🙌 I grew up reading Ruskin Bond; I'm still growing on his works. 💚 Everyone who loves Ruskin Bond will agree with me here."</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<b><i>What are you reading this Winter?<br />Share your reads using #winterswithff<br />Stay tuned for a vvv important announcement :) </i></b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-51403855670637728802015-12-13T14:33:00.002+05:302015-12-13T14:35:51.980+05:30December Book In Spot-light: Seahorse By Janice Pariat Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The <b>"Book in Spotlight" </b>for December is the retelling of the Greek myth of the seagod Poseidon and his male devotee Pelops - <b>"Seahorse"</b> by Janice Pariat. A beautiful and under-rated gem, I hope you pick this up and love it as much as I did. This book has been shortlisted for <a href="http://www.thehindulfl.com/the-hindu-prize-short-list-2015">The Hindu Prize For Literature 2015.</a><br />
And here's how I met this beauty and what I think aboot it,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2ewXuW9HA3_O8kk5bDBVVDtRLkwZxU5C8-2zVLPSPBUit4V-qH2aJ7v2eis-kTvcWmDbUtJqil7SL6-KL45bNj4AQJcUuhAoOcbGOpJeeTZfv_kbcwrb8BuavC_84gvW2Di6cNz_p1Oi/s1600/seahorse.JPG3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2ewXuW9HA3_O8kk5bDBVVDtRLkwZxU5C8-2zVLPSPBUit4V-qH2aJ7v2eis-kTvcWmDbUtJqil7SL6-KL45bNj4AQJcUuhAoOcbGOpJeeTZfv_kbcwrb8BuavC_84gvW2Di6cNz_p1Oi/s400/seahorse.JPG3.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><b><u><i>Title:</i></u></b><i> Seahorse</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><i>Author:</i></u></b> Janice Pariat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Publisher:</u> Vintage, Random House.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Published On:</u>November 21st, 2014</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Page count: </u>294<br />
<b><i><u>Review By:</u></i></b> Shonazee</div>
<b><u>Blurb (via Goodreads):</u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;">Nem was not like his college classmates. Instead of crowding around a TV set, Nem opted for lonely walks where he could indulge his passion for photography, until the night he saw Nicholas, a young professor from London, with another male student. The affair is passionate and brief. When Nicholas returns to London, Nem must move on. He graduates and soon finds success as a critic in New Delhi’s burgeoning art world. Then comes an invitation to speak to artists in London, and the past is suddenly resurrected. As London's cosmopolitan art scene envelops Nem, he is haunted by the possibilities of a life with Nicholas. But Nicholas eludes Nem, avoiding a reunion with his old student, but leaving clues that lead to someone else: Myra, a woman Nem thought was Nicholas's sister. Brought together by their love for Nicholas, Nem and Myra embark on a surprising friendship.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;">Janice Pariat explores the concept of emotional memory with the inquisitive mind of a scientist and the prowess of a poet. Rich, immersive prose drives a story with international scope, one that seeks answers to the age-old mystery of what binds us to others, and how we can ever let them go.</span></span><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><br />
</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHiRPTJevNLSVldI4fyA81JNarSebhJlClIFodDtTdc3UNkCGeJ_y0SOrPgAVSOjwXHrl4VHJtsE1pSxHDUjXBeN_k3ttV47oMSFzFMMFfcBthniPuGtOCUQCrWmb1A8CbBVhRtCKF6jV/s1600/seahorse.JPG2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHiRPTJevNLSVldI4fyA81JNarSebhJlClIFodDtTdc3UNkCGeJ_y0SOrPgAVSOjwXHrl4VHJtsE1pSxHDUjXBeN_k3ttV47oMSFzFMMFfcBthniPuGtOCUQCrWmb1A8CbBVhRtCKF6jV/s640/seahorse.JPG2a.jpg" /></a></i></b></div>
<b><i><br />"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What if that was all we ever wanted? The things that didn't happen."</span></i></b><br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The Setting & My Introduction To Seahorse:</u><br />
This November I met one of my virtual book friends for the very FIRST time. Saying I was nervous about the meet-up would be an understatement cause I'm literally Cath from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell when it comes to meeting new people buuuut this girl, we hit it off instantly. No awk- hi's or hugs. We bought books to swap, duh, of course, we did.<br />
I gave her three of my precious, Twenty love poems by Pablo Neruda, The Shadow Of The Wind and our prev club pick, The Illicit Happiness Of Other People.<br />
She gave me Water For Elephants, The Year Of Runaways and Seahorse.<br />
Being the kind of confused soul that I am, I spent an entire week, yes, an entire week and I'm not even exaggerating or kidding - to decide which book I should start with.<br />
I was just going through Seahorse, glancing at the first lines and before I know it, I'm on page 10. Like whaaaat even!<br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b><b style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">"We are shaped by absence. The places that escape our travels, the things we choose not to do, the people we've lost. They are spaces in trellis on which we trail from season to season."</b><br />
<b><u><br />Review:</u></b><br />
This book ranks second on my Fav book beginnings (First being, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33600.Shantaram?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Shantaram</a> by Gregory David Roberts)<br />
And so it began, my love affair with this beautiful book.<br />
This book is the definition of beautiful writing. It's glorious. Yes, glorious.<br />
I literally marked every alternate page for the quotes that I <strike>liked.</strike> loved.<br />
The author seamlessly shifts between the past and present. New Delhi and UK, leaving us in wonder and awe.<br />
You'll fall in love with Delhi's summers and London's bleak days. That is how good it is.<br />
It is a story about incomplete, open gaping wounds. About the love of your life leaving without a goodbye or explanation. Just vanishes. Leaving you wounded. And forever trapped in past.<br />
All those feels wrapped up in this book.<br />
I did enjoy the story but was too busy admiring the writing to actually connect/relate to the story or characters. Having said that, you should definitely pick this book up. I'm not kidding when I say it has gems embedded in it. So go get your treasure chest in the form of this book.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4kaYoQWMZeGB2MkyeDVXirOkGt1mfjtZsGYULBrsTHISkuuiMAXRgovmgBc02hF-ZMGlrdpjsS9PVMhXZz0wIbtewcSaHCAktggXd7E61slefemH1byF9XTQaSAaz3vIUuYKgUcYbZoa/s1600/seahorse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4kaYoQWMZeGB2MkyeDVXirOkGt1mfjtZsGYULBrsTHISkuuiMAXRgovmgBc02hF-ZMGlrdpjsS9PVMhXZz0wIbtewcSaHCAktggXd7E61slefemH1byF9XTQaSAaz3vIUuYKgUcYbZoa/s640/seahorse.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u>Bite-sized Review:</u></b> Beautiful, mesmerizing prose.<br />
<br />
Also, click <a href="http://janicepariat.com/?portfolio=video-portfolio/seahorse" target="_blank">here</a> to check the book trailer out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18px;">"We treasure the incomplete, for it lends us many lives - the one we lead and the million others we could have led. We are creatures of inconsistency. Passionately partial. Unexecuted. Unperformed. Undone. Unaccomplished. And un-concluded."</span></i></b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-68210948418803878722015-12-11T11:17:00.002+05:302015-12-11T12:01:23.180+05:30Club Changes & December Read-along Announcement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hii guys!<br />
We have made some big and important changes and we want you to be a part of it as we step into the new.<br />
Without further ado, let's jump right into them,<br />
<br />
Firstly, we want to clarify that the book club is international. We will not only cater the Indian reading crowd, but our services are available across borders and time-zones. So yes, we're now an <b>online, international book club. </b>Already waiting for the giveaways, are we? :P<br />
From December, instead of having Books of the month, we plan on having a Theme of the month. We will also pick one Indian author book every month for "Book In Spotlight"<br />
You can join us for the theme or book in the spotlight or both.<br />
You are free to choose whichever book you'd like to read as long as it fits the theme. And needless to say, you can read as many books as you want to.<br />
At the end of the month, we plan on having <b><i>virtual book club meets</i></b> where we'll all talk about all the books we read and what we liked about them, how our perspectives changed and how our lives changed and how we laughed a lot, cried a little, you're getting me?<br />
Obviously, the meets will have a limited number so you might want to sign up as soon as we put the announcements up.<br />
We're still working on the virtual meet part and are very very excited. More info on that later.<br />
Meanwhile, why don't you get yourself wrapped up in warm blankets, with a big cuppa hot chocolate and sunggle with books relating to our December theme, which is -<br />
"Winter/Christmas/Holiday"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwAA_KXUVUBidO9mj7O38VqXJXQMBe5yFj_mYDHbqDj5YWU2j5TM3IWJbUHjGKyCCfbZwlZrndWnhiURMTK2W_x4qGIW3s4GJjK71WpoZQ04Ae3P62yJVJs16s6xR-f3iEMPyFNDmT8cR/s1600/dec.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwAA_KXUVUBidO9mj7O38VqXJXQMBe5yFj_mYDHbqDj5YWU2j5TM3IWJbUHjGKyCCfbZwlZrndWnhiURMTK2W_x4qGIW3s4GJjK71WpoZQ04Ae3P62yJVJs16s6xR-f3iEMPyFNDmT8cR/s640/dec.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
We'll be sharing our FAV winter themed books through the month, so can you.<br />
Use #winterswithff and let us know which book you're planning to read or which book you'd recommend to fellow book members or your current reads or YOUR FAVS.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiGpjCnlwhRzYvsKrf39uQ_0S-i5Wd3f3DY0Lq-EjVaRu8DTNZxM3qfBpdIvpzjr4OzQdkiVgT3FuT_QMnW1z1wD3hw5LJ-dBsQY4RMlb06H_hqnJ4MqCKuoRe2ZPdaeZyfa9mBAUGOBs/s1600/winterswithff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiGpjCnlwhRzYvsKrf39uQ_0S-i5Wd3f3DY0Lq-EjVaRu8DTNZxM3qfBpdIvpzjr4OzQdkiVgT3FuT_QMnW1z1wD3hw5LJ-dBsQY4RMlb06H_hqnJ4MqCKuoRe2ZPdaeZyfa9mBAUGOBs/s640/winterswithff.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Also, stay tuned for our Book In Spotlight. More on that tomorrow :)<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Are you joining us this December? Would you be interested in a virtual book club meet? Let us know in the comments down below!</span></i></b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-71379200470667147682015-11-12T00:51:00.001+05:302015-11-12T00:51:18.841+05:30Book Blast: When Our Worlds Collide by Aniesha Brahma <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>About the Book:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPJGru4QzRgCnzY7KmRrguvt6zY-lrX5bvPx54VL0uYzsXYLjf0Bor0-y3LTi1lNnuiGcV99fFl5tkdH-7WwoUGMM-PeoAf_MUHj28tHUhq_Q2WHSuuM66pfyFqaTXYD_FCDb_Enl8zbx/s1600/9788180320828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPJGru4QzRgCnzY7KmRrguvt6zY-lrX5bvPx54VL0uYzsXYLjf0Bor0-y3LTi1lNnuiGcV99fFl5tkdH-7WwoUGMM-PeoAf_MUHj28tHUhq_Q2WHSuuM66pfyFqaTXYD_FCDb_Enl8zbx/s320/9788180320828.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Akriti has led a pretty much sheltered life. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zayn has been shuttled from city to city when he was growing up. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She is comfortable watching her life from the sidelines. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He wants to feel rooted to a place he can call ‘home’. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They meet each other quite by chance. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And both seize the chance to be someone they both need in their lives: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For Zayn, it’s a 'Partner-In-Crime'. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For Akriti, someone who just knows how to be there for her… </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When their worlds collide, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is not what either of them expected it to be. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zayn has a steady girlfriend. And Akriti has a crush on him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What happens when these two become friends? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The biggest adventure of their lives? Or the road to heartbreak? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What happens when two completely different people collide? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do they become friends? Or, is their friendship doomed from the start? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">'When Our Worlds Collide' is the story of two twenty-three-year olds, Who are finally growing up and finding their feet in the world. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A tale of friendship and love, crushes and betrayals, messes and second chances, Marriage and divorce… and the elusive happily ever after! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Book Links:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27398860-when-our-worlds-collide" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.in/When-Worlds-Collide-General-Press-ebook/dp/B017EL0B2E" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>What inspired When Our Worlds Collide? </u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>(Background of how I came up with the plot.)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
I guess the thing that I intrigued me was the fact that it’s not always about the happy ending. Sometimes, it just the story that is more important. Because if every girl who fell in love with a guy, got her feelings reciprocated and rode off into the sunset, it wouldn’t be real life. It would be a fairy tale. I did not want to write a fairy tale. I wanted to write a story that seems real, that people could relate to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So I thought about this girl called Akriti who develops a crazy crush on a guy she meets quite by accident. She realizes later on that she would never act on those feelings because he has a girlfriend. A girlfriend that I did not put in the story as an obstacle, but as something that is very much a part of our lives. How often have you heard the joke, “everyone I like is either gay or taken?”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When I first began to paint Zayn with words, he was not called Zayn. He was called Piyush. In a short story called, “The Walk” (which is up on my blog), Akriti and Piyush take an evening stroll through Gariahat, talking nineteen-to-the-dozen. But once I concluded that short story, I felt as though there was more to their story. They could not just be friends who met up, walked and talked.<br />
<br />
I began to piece together their histories, how their lives would intertwine with each other, how they would be drawn to each other’s lives like magnets against all odds. I wrote out the entire plot outline, added the secondary characters of Ayoub, Suzanna and Surbhi. (Each of them scheduled to appear for an interview of their own on my blog.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Akriti and Zayn’s story basically tests the limits of their friendship. I am sure people can relate to it. They would be able to relate to the drama, the fun and the heartbreak that accompanies crushing on your friend.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After fleshing out the story a little, I decided to do something that I had never done in my earlier works. I decided to introduce characters from another work of fiction of mine in this story. The other novella would then act as a companion to this novella. So, that was a lot of fun. We will let you guess who those characters might be because we want readers to tell us who they want to read about next!<br />
<br />
A question that I am sure will be asked of me is if this story was based on real life. Well, I am always inspired by real life. In fact, sometimes I put people I know into my stories. One such example for this particular tale is Suzanna was inspired by Diptee di, and she picked out the name herself. Although she named her character after the Suzanna from Ruskin Bond’s short story and novella, Susanna’s Seven Husbands. I just insisted on using a different spelling.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As for who Akriti, Zayn and Ayoub are based on: well, some elements for Akriti were borrowed from some pretty women I know. Ayoub was a figment of my imagination, and Zayn had been based in part on someone that I used to know. But my imagination made him into someone I wanted him to be. Not the person that he really was.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Coming back to When Our Worlds Collide, I was determined to tell the story of a mad crush and how it ends realistically in the story. Do they get their fairy tale happy ending or don’t they? You will just have to read the novella yourself to find out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>About the Author:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fHWs2EZ3J_MEwebMmr4ffqUVBcXbXsbOyX7PshnNOb-VGGgX-no7-UV_wFnfjXo-N_EmojtgvBpgRPcxpGo9-KabxBUt1QNNkaWoh3ARVHjwvTVPkVSLVjRcdRV5g2cbAARNWMN8zy_O/s1600/Aniesha+Brahma+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fHWs2EZ3J_MEwebMmr4ffqUVBcXbXsbOyX7PshnNOb-VGGgX-no7-UV_wFnfjXo-N_EmojtgvBpgRPcxpGo9-KabxBUt1QNNkaWoh3ARVHjwvTVPkVSLVjRcdRV5g2cbAARNWMN8zy_O/s320/Aniesha+Brahma+2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aniesha Brahma knew she wanted to be a writer since she was six years old. She was schooled in Dolna Day School and went on to pursue B.A., M.A., and M.Phil in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur Univeristy. She currently lives in Kolkata, with her family and five pet cats. The Secret Proposal was her debut novel, followed by The Guitar Girl. She was a contributing author with her story The Difference, in the anthology: Voices, Old & New. When Our Worlds Collide is her third work of fiction, and first novella.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Stalk Links:</u></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnieshaBlog/" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aniesha.brahma" target="_blank">Facebook</a> * <a href="https://twitter.com/aniesha0912" target="_blank">Twitter</a> * <a href="https://instagram.com/aniesha_brahma/" target="_blank">Instagra<wbr></wbr>m</a> * <a href="http://www.anieshabrahma.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6573284.Aniesha_Brahma" target="_blank">GoodReads</a></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VURzxzdmM6nrTx-znC4xtQ8KhEQPtVkUPV5XM6CtkLwsn7v211BTk8yjtcdYKkwafnSkRuweU62Mp5d4HNcUGqF-vMPqS5qooHV7OUTdvxNqzJlidGgeBAHLmIBBXVRit9kXXnH4cvSP/s1600/WOWC+BB+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VURzxzdmM6nrTx-znC4xtQ8KhEQPtVkUPV5XM6CtkLwsn7v211BTk8yjtcdYKkwafnSkRuweU62Mp5d4HNcUGqF-vMPqS5qooHV7OUTdvxNqzJlidGgeBAHLmIBBXVRit9kXXnH4cvSP/s640/WOWC+BB+Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><!-- start InLinkz script --><br />
<br />
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=580503&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
</script><br />
<br />
<!-- end InLinkz script --><br />
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div></div>Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-21819055972719494522015-11-06T10:32:00.000+05:302015-11-06T10:33:56.323+05:30Book Blast: Faith Of The Nine by Sachin Dev<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>About the Book:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iI2NqzfshQQ8Ov8vILVPQYrFSMhjxfeKQSmPnexNDZrSKuVBqstvMboRAGDU3EHrriiO5xnYcDHXD7BJSGd32HCo9JyFKl4_v1x-ZwC5gh_-rILV_0rWffwvadmPcK8v5Cs0M5s01OaW/s1600/9789352013937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iI2NqzfshQQ8Ov8vILVPQYrFSMhjxfeKQSmPnexNDZrSKuVBqstvMboRAGDU3EHrriiO5xnYcDHXD7BJSGd32HCo9JyFKl4_v1x-ZwC5gh_-rILV_0rWffwvadmPcK8v5Cs0M5s01OaW/s320/9789352013937.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Third Yuga is slowly drawing to a close. Nam – the greatest Empire on Janani – is going to face some fierce winds of change. Seers foresee omens of death and destruction in the return of the Banished One – A God who will claim the ashes of this world as revenge. While out in the streets, rumours abound - of older forgotten powers stirring.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Caught in this maelstrom of a power struggle between Gods are three ordinary lives: General Fateh, the most celebrated soldier in Nam who starts to question his faith, Ishan – a gifted orphan who struggles to comprehend his destiny and Abhaya – a young monk in search of truths about this world. Their choices and actions will shape the destiny of this scarred world that becomes the playground for vindictive Gods.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">In a world where Rakshasas arise out of left-over traces of Maaya and twilight forms the portal to countless worlds around us for Daityas and Yakshis to dance through, a God is only as powerful as those who believe.And when Gods rise, faith of men will be tested…And broken.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Buy Links:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Paperback: <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/faith-nine-english/p/itmec8awrpxnwvzv?pid=9789352013937" target="_blank">Flipkart</a> * <a href="http://www.landmarkonthenet.com/faith-of-the-nine-by-sachin-dev-books-9789352013937-31382137/" target="_blank">LandmarkOntheNet</a> * <a href="http://www.infibeam.com/Books/faith-nine-sachin-dev/9789352013937.html#variantId=P-M-B-9789352013937" target="_blank">Infibeam</a> * <a href="http://www.pustakmandi.com/Faith-of-the-Nine?search=9789352013937" target="_blank">Pustak Mandi</a></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">eBook: </span><a href="http://ebooks.newshunt.com/Ebooks/default/Faith-Of-The-Nine/b-107899" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Newshunt</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> *</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sachin_Dev_Faith_of_the_Nine?id=9ki3CgAAQBAJ" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Google Play</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d_fbGZ0LQseWxeVJQfalVE-5M2Sr7UQo1wN1wn8pH2dvEM-6jvOsOo3CCLnTbDUgR3c2o0XLDnYMVq1JVJtT59bI4t_swnVrdVB3hfyuV3AummhbqlG0gqOa9eQhyphenhyphenK5eaVclqUUA6x80/s1600/cover_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d_fbGZ0LQseWxeVJQfalVE-5M2Sr7UQo1wN1wn8pH2dvEM-6jvOsOo3CCLnTbDUgR3c2o0XLDnYMVq1JVJtT59bI4t_swnVrdVB3hfyuV3AummhbqlG0gqOa9eQhyphenhyphenK5eaVclqUUA6x80/s640/cover_2.png" width="640" /></span></a></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Fantasy for Adults</u></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN">When you usually ask around for<br />recommendations for Fantasy for adults, you end with Game of Thrones at the top<br />of the list. Followed perhaps by scores of Shannara books. (Which by the way<br />are still coming out! Terry Brooks is a phenomenal author!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN">Because for most of us ( especially more so<br />in a country like India) we are wary of being found reading a book whose cover<br />looks like Chandrakanta the old Doordarshan series we used to watch as kids. So<br />we still get by with the Harry Potter series and sometimes don’t think much<br />beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN">So I’ve been reading only fantasy (or<br />broadly speculative fiction that counts Fantasy as one of the main streams –<br />Sci-fi & Horror being the other mainstay besides countless sub-genres) for<br />the last fifteen years now. Ever since I picked up LOTR & Dune ( by Frank<br />Herbert. Masterpiece! ) in college. I’ve suffered looks of disdain by<br />colleagues/ fellow travellers as I was nose-deep in some fantasy western (Namely<br />– Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. Yes. He writes stuff outside of horror<br />too!) But I cared less than the backside of a rodent for such. I was living in<br />a different world and I was loving it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN">So this, is an attempt to list down some<br />fantastic gems I discovered during this journey of mine and to let the broader<br />world be aware that Fantasy has come a long way from the tales of a young farm<br />boy setting out to find his destiny (which involved throwing a beautiful ring<br />into the volcanic fires of Mordor!) I will also try and slot them into<br />different sub genres as I know them. Makes it easier for recommending, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN">Epic<br />fantasy. </span></b><span lang="EN-IN">Magic<br />that will leave you spell bound. Political manoeuvrings. Tricky backstabbing. Adventure.<br />Kingdoms or worlds at stake. All this and more! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-IN">Mistborn<br />Trilogy & the on-going Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson</span></i><span lang="EN-IN">. The on-going series is a massive ten part magnum opus and it<br />reflects all things great and fun about the genre. Cannot recommend enough of<br />this guy. He is prolific when it comes to writing. Churning out at least 1-2<br />books every year. Year after year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-IN">Promise<br />of Blood ( Powder Mage trilogy # 1) by Brian McClellan</span></i><span lang="EN-IN">. Sometimes called Flintlock fantasy This guy is setting the fire to<br />the keg with this explosive debut novel in this series that deserves to be read<br />more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-IN">Gentlemen<br />Bastards series by Scott Lynch</span></i><span lang="EN-IN"> – Chronicling the<br />life and adventures of a thief and petty crook, Lock Lamora and his friends,<br />this is also one stunning piece of work that any lover of mayhem and adventure<br />should definitely be getting his hands on. <i>Lies<br />of Lock Lamora</i> sets up the rollicking pace of this series and it’s on<br />book-3 now – with the rest of the books eagerly awaited. You should jump onto<br />this ship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN">Grim<br />Dark Fantasy.</span></b><span lang="EN-IN"> This is modern fantasy with a lot of<br />writers jumping into bandwagon. Brutal, gritty, splashed with blood and gore –<br />and darker themes explored. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-IN">Malazan<br />Book of the Fallen</span></i><span lang="EN-IN"> – 10 book series that is<br />COMPLETE and mind blowing by <i>Steven<br />Eriksen</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN">Any book by <i>Joe Abercrombie</i>. This guy is truly the emperor of this sub-genre<br />with his brilliant books setting out to explore darker spaces within a man’s<br />mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-IN">Broken<br />Empire by Mark Lawrence</span></i><span lang="EN-IN">. Be warned, this books may<br />be a bit too intense but are shining example of what a writer can do to twist<br />the readers into his dark worlds. It features a 11-year old sociopath who sets<br />out to conquer the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-IN">Prince<br />of Nothing trilogy by R Scott Bakker</span></i><span lang="EN-IN">. If you like<br />your fantasy philosophical, dark and heavy this is your one stop. His second<br />trilogy is incomplete and eagerly awaited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN">Military<br />fantasy. </span></b><span lang="EN-IN">Yes,<br />there is something like this. And <i>Myke<br />Cole</i>’s first trilogy starting off with Control Point is a wonderfully<br />accessible entry point into such worlds. Combining the best of military fiction<br />with fantasy worlds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN">Silk<br />Road Fantasy</span></b><span lang="EN-IN">. Again a recent phenomenon of readers<br />getting bored of medieval European settings for their fantasy tales. Notable<br />books are <i>Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay</i>,<br />
<i>Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin<br />Ahmed</i>, <i>The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN">There are multiple other books that are<br />genre-benders mashing up the good things in one genre with another. It’s a gold<br />mine out there and I would urge all readers who ultimately like a good story to<br />keep exploring beyond the walls and gates of Hogwarts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>About the Author:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q8KneXMwxIDNzYlA60mYPBDrBK-GfD128934NmN5-2ZjGyw10JxLef1fSZ_iNztKyFduNKIV9DHQX82_MDzlY4blnpEQl45gK0c5-KBa6cAidsYA_k6rsAdlhAGIz4ti7NMQmVN-eBxR/s1600/Author_Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q8KneXMwxIDNzYlA60mYPBDrBK-GfD128934NmN5-2ZjGyw10JxLef1fSZ_iNztKyFduNKIV9DHQX82_MDzlY4blnpEQl45gK0c5-KBa6cAidsYA_k6rsAdlhAGIz4ti7NMQmVN-eBxR/s320/Author_Photo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sachin discovered Tolkien in his teens, alternative rock as a new adult and digital marketing in pretty much his late twenties. These still form a large wedge in his circle of life. Travel, radio and theatre have also figured in that ever-expanding and diminishing circle.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">On perhaps a more prosaic note, he is an engineer from BITS Pilani and holds an MBA from Indian School of Business. Attribute the love for numbers and pie-charts to this. He is currently based in Bangalore and happily married to Harini. He spends an inordinately large amount of time chasing after his two dogs (who love the free life a bit too much) when he is not busy dreaming up fantasy worlds full of monsters. And beautiful Yakshis, of course.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">He can usually be found ranting on twitter under the handle <b><a href="http://www.twitter.com/xenosach" target="_blank">@xenosach</a></b>, devouring books and talking about them on his <b><a href="http://fantasy-smorgasbord.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a></b>. You can always stalk him online at his official <b><a href="http://www.sachindevt.com/" target="_blank">website</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh13a7VuVpOnswlty7jf1EIFtD3VCDI-dKdvA-t-P05MeldTi-B0sQqxuVe0kbQVqFZLPxR2r6tNkPkOHAf6iEfroPlfXCp9RN-S6AP5fPbkl3-A-9f_drq6JMOVxV7vpibn5ZYQdtvRo/s1600/Cover+Reveal+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsH_-1b7sIzp3pF-3WvcPwiqIlHjm_NXPucDvZB4eeluvBY7y_igO-4JBgUpVCMmvz0avz2O7Yje_oybqzQ1CiVVV2xRa9GEVwzYXQnWIQjO76WPXYevSeRnzUyVYO6Z6adygNJ50Jj0nd/s1600/Book+Blast+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsH_-1b7sIzp3pF-3WvcPwiqIlHjm_NXPucDvZB4eeluvBY7y_igO-4JBgUpVCMmvz0avz2O7Yje_oybqzQ1CiVVV2xRa9GEVwzYXQnWIQjO76WPXYevSeRnzUyVYO6Z6adygNJ50Jj0nd/s640/Book+Blast+Cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<!-- start InLinkz script --><br />
<br />
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=579038&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
</script><br />
<br />
<!-- end InLinkz script --><br />
<!-- start InLinkz script --><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-58235486525445372832015-10-29T23:05:00.001+05:302015-10-29T23:05:34.547+05:30November Read-along<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Hellooo people of the book world!<br />
As you guys already know, we'll be reading only ONE book in November because, exams.<br />
We asked you guys to vote for the book you'd like to read with us and after a week of voting, the result was a TIE between Me Before You and Ready Player One.<br />
<br />
Since Goodreads was acting weird and wasn't letting us create a new poll, we ended up having a tie-breaker-face-off-poll for 24 hours on Instagram and it's time for the result,<br />
Behold, this November we are going to read<br />
*drum rolls*<br />
<br />
<b>Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. </b><br />
The fictional Fortress is taking a detour to the future and you're are very much invited.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMum5dj_VLINXMb-yfMjJR2Yp2TJmUTp6zrfCwW49dEWRStNCy7ZAGGMV8JQn2vlUzvSTcbWZIp5Dem3hyHu0-Trk0A3JYxXxTwQdrQ25Yqn1ZOacc5OwZkmxBNFVAl-It5WiTB-nEGAW/s1600/nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMum5dj_VLINXMb-yfMjJR2Yp2TJmUTp6zrfCwW49dEWRStNCy7ZAGGMV8JQn2vlUzvSTcbWZIp5Dem3hyHu0-Trk0A3JYxXxTwQdrQ25Yqn1ZOacc5OwZkmxBNFVAl-It5WiTB-nEGAW/s400/nov.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u>FicFort Notes:</u></b><br />
1. Make sure to tag your progress, comments anything related to this read on social medias with #ficfortressreads.<br />
<br />
2. Some accounts will be featured on our IG through the month. Only criteria, use the tag.<br />
<br />
3. Keep a look-out for the pre-discussion thread on Goodreads, cause that thread is gonna come in handy to: find a buddy for buddy reading, *if* there are any book deals, you'll be informed. Also, if we find e-books, those will be given away.<br />
<br />
4. Spread the word!<br />
<br />
Happy Ready Soldiers!<br />
<br />
<b>Are you joining us for the November Read-along?</b></div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-31757573142470247242015-10-19T20:45:00.002+05:302015-10-19T20:49:03.711+05:30November Read-along: Book Nominees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello Readers!<br />
<br />
It's time to vote for the book you'd like to snuggle up with next month.<br />
This November we will be reading one book instead of two, because exam season. You get to pick, so, choose wisely, here are the four contenders:<br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling:</u><br />
<br />
For all our readers who wanted us to add non-fiction to the read-along, we present to you this<br />
hilarious memoir.<br />
<br />
Read the blurb, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10335308-is-everyone-hanging-out-without-me?ac=1" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bAZ8Y1y65vBeFgdBOnwrRSIOc-RX__-iPfaLniqoVbePVzdx9eRSiX9ZgR7GOyfKJUjbEPMpmi0ZK6NMJT1OSpjYd3JN-FXoQS2SyLyohaM_XVyVwuK-gif0DJEPoQqFNYwTtcO2w4c3/s1600/books1120chaney.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bAZ8Y1y65vBeFgdBOnwrRSIOc-RX__-iPfaLniqoVbePVzdx9eRSiX9ZgR7GOyfKJUjbEPMpmi0ZK6NMJT1OSpjYd3JN-FXoQS2SyLyohaM_XVyVwuK-gif0DJEPoQqFNYwTtcO2w4c3/s400/books1120chaney.jpe" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shonazee's Pick</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">2. Me Before You, Jojo Moyes:</u><br />
<br />
Most people who've read this book complain of a hangover. So, if you're looking for a tear-jerker, you have come to the right stop. Also, this book is being turned into a movie that may come out sometime next year.<br />
<br />
Read the blurb, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15507958-me-before-you?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUBEEMhm11-cfn4sjMoGIiIAikbobD6XM8kuzPK5OjXMYrnrrTG0KQCzZNYhyphenhyphenIF8BESDA1Yk4XXwZjU7HaeLCW0lme_t4iMOW0MRGtP1qvlQxv3VLIskjIyxbeds3OapO6UxrlcqE9UQI/s1600/Me-Before-You-book-cover-Jan-12-p122-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUBEEMhm11-cfn4sjMoGIiIAikbobD6XM8kuzPK5OjXMYrnrrTG0KQCzZNYhyphenhyphenIF8BESDA1Yk4XXwZjU7HaeLCW0lme_t4iMOW0MRGtP1qvlQxv3VLIskjIyxbeds3OapO6UxrlcqE9UQI/s400/Me-Before-You-book-cover-Jan-12-p122-1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Somdyuti's Pick</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>3. A Thousand Nights, E.K.Johnston:</u></b><br />
<br />
A YA Fantasy retelling of One Thousand And One Nights. This book is full of folklore, legends, fairytales and magic! Also it's a new release, this book came out on October 6th 2015.<br />
<br />
Read the Blurb, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21524446-a-thousand-nights" target="_blank">here.</a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvTLodvLqLGYkwrthzUoRwYNFVYPzbsRESnA_ITZV1Bg6kwMZrxXN1Hjs7t-8VkiuVW2aBMOEWVvHxJCwQRdMZSpcHxCTdGFyJPM1VCv8NAweUCjBJJ1k2Yh8L3DZHi87AlEe3PgZbTO7/s1600/athousandnights_cvr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvTLodvLqLGYkwrthzUoRwYNFVYPzbsRESnA_ITZV1Bg6kwMZrxXN1Hjs7t-8VkiuVW2aBMOEWVvHxJCwQRdMZSpcHxCTdGFyJPM1VCv8NAweUCjBJJ1k2Yh8L3DZHi87AlEe3PgZbTO7/s400/athousandnights_cvr.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Varsha's Pick</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>
<b><u> <br />4) Ready Player One, Ernest Cline:</u></b><br />
Sci-Fi. Futuristic setting (read: 2044). Video-gamers.<br />
If any of these words interest you, pick this book up already! (Not already. November, pick it up in November. Meanwhile, vote. okay?okay.)<br />
<br />
Read the blurb, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9969571-ready-player-one?ac=1" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOVNWPkD4e1xwYgCfqN33-tgD6SG3HdqObgvcotCb896FFFiRoafRet-_OaBGp74bMRWs_CULfaoKI_ANTTsBTy-LHsjzY2vq43iER-g7NvZGc1go-9LnxwFKJnW7LgclYVoja8cRaIRn/s1600/Ready_Player_One_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOVNWPkD4e1xwYgCfqN33-tgD6SG3HdqObgvcotCb896FFFiRoafRet-_OaBGp74bMRWs_CULfaoKI_ANTTsBTy-LHsjzY2vq43iER-g7NvZGc1go-9LnxwFKJnW7LgclYVoja8cRaIRn/s400/Ready_Player_One_cover.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Niv's Pick</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Vote here:</div>
</div>
<div id="gr_poll_widget_125185">
<div style="width: 300px;">
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<strong>November Book Of The Month Poll</strong><br />
<br />
It's time to cast your vote again. Hurry up, go go go!<br />
<br />
May the odds be in your favour.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-method="post" href="https://www.goodreads.com/poll/vote/125185-november-book-of-the-month-poll-it-s-time-to-cast-your-vote-ag?answer=782792" onmouseout="this.style.background = '#D5D0B0';" onmouseover="this.style.background = '#BBB596';" rel="nofollow" style="background: #D5D0B0; border: 1px solid #382110; color: black; display: block; margin: 3px; width: 100%;" target="_blank">Me Before You</a><br />
<a data-method="post" href="https://www.goodreads.com/poll/vote/125185-november-book-of-the-month-poll-it-s-time-to-cast-your-vote-ag?answer=782790" onmouseout="this.style.background = '#D5D0B0';" onmouseover="this.style.background = '#BBB596';" rel="nofollow" style="background: #D5D0B0; border: 1px solid #382110; color: black; display: block; margin: 3px; width: 100%;" target="_blank">A Thousand Nights</a><br />
<a data-method="post" href="https://www.goodreads.com/poll/vote/125185-november-book-of-the-month-poll-it-s-time-to-cast-your-vote-ag?answer=782793" onmouseout="this.style.background = '#D5D0B0';" onmouseover="this.style.background = '#BBB596';" rel="nofollow" style="background: #D5D0B0; border: 1px solid #382110; color: black; display: block; margin: 3px; width: 100%;" target="_blank">Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?</a><br />
<a data-method="post" href="https://www.goodreads.com/poll/vote/125185-november-book-of-the-month-poll-it-s-time-to-cast-your-vote-ag?answer=782791" onmouseout="this.style.background = '#D5D0B0';" onmouseover="this.style.background = '#BBB596';" rel="nofollow" style="background: #D5D0B0; border: 1px solid #382110; color: black; display: block; margin: 3px; width: 100%;" target="_blank">Ready Player One</a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /><br />Results will be declared on 25th October'15.<br />
<br />
Until then, stay rad, keep reading!</div>
</div>
</div>
<script src="https://www.goodreads.com/poll/widget/125185-november-book-of-the-month-poll-it-s-time-to-cast-your-vote-ag"></script></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596362078161666187.post-8656615043472673132015-10-09T20:40:00.002+05:302015-10-09T20:41:59.328+05:30Book Blitz: First Brush On The Canvas edited by Priyanka Roy Banerjee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRZRH5FFmCNB04Mnh0o5cbF92_MvqBRmvoNfRue69ryf8V5A9eROA0w7ekBhTZeMHabnsc77QGDC6IEQv7GThLZnBJtn8XRc6oUIgP7fknM4xXGRSDDiha2o0HkLL_jZBFzig-GiEqJum/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRZRH5FFmCNB04Mnh0o5cbF92_MvqBRmvoNfRue69ryf8V5A9eROA0w7ekBhTZeMHabnsc77QGDC6IEQv7GThLZnBJtn8XRc6oUIgP7fknM4xXGRSDDiha2o0HkLL_jZBFzig-GiEqJum/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRZRH5FFmCNB04Mnh0o5cbF92_MvqBRmvoNfRue69ryf8V5A9eROA0w7ekBhTZeMHabnsc77QGDC6IEQv7GThLZnBJtn8XRc6oUIgP7fknM4xXGRSDDiha2o0HkLL_jZBFzig-GiEqJum/s1600/Cover.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>About the Book:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Graham, Daniel, their friendship, life and death.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vampires, guardians' adventures at night. Coffee, love and a new couple. Imli and her mother in a complex web of darkness. A small town girl confused about virginity. Michael Jaikishen and his writing endeavours. Child adoption by a gay couple. Mahabharat - a modern tale in an epic form. The spine-chilling tale of Tina and Uncle Joe. A juicy love story by our guest author Sujata Parashar. These and many other unputdownable stories in this book.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">First Brush on the Canvas is an anthology comprising selected stories from Melonade (2014), a nationwide writing marathon organized by <a href="http://writersmelon.com/" target="_blank">Writersmelon.com</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://bit.ly/1ha7o8b" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="http://amzn.to/1Iygfqr" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br />
</span><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><u><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Melonade Authors’ Intro:</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Uttiya Roy</b> – Nourished with Bangla literature, he aspires to change the world someday writing in English. His days pass blending Life Science textbooks with poetry. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Upasana Bhattacharjee </b>– We catch ‘em as young as they get! Our youngest writer is still a student, but that doesn’t reflect in the matured story she’s written dealing with inconclusive logics and paradoxes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Stuti Chandra </b>– She writes because she’s alive. This lovely lady is from Patna and has dipped her nose in English Literature at Delhi. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Shaily Bhargava </b>– A photographer, a logophile and an Equity Technical Analyst – all in one. She reads and writes in Noida, accompanied by beautiful clicks through her lens and lots of Coffee. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Arunav Chowdhury </b>– Have you met this Proletariat Axomiya before? He’s a movie buff and a news junkie rolled into one, who writes wonderful modern takes on the age old Mahabharat. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rafaa Dalvi</b> – A Mumbaikar, an engineer, a blogger and a prolific writer. He’s already made his presence in three anthologies and likes to experiment with different genre. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Diptee Raut </b>– A quilter, a blogger, a quirky mom, an amazing writer and our co-winner of Melonade’4. She’s one bundle of positive energy who can spin stories and weave quilts simultaneously. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Abhishek Mukherjee</b> – Have you read his blog posts yet? Though he likes to believe he’s only a Cricket Historian, you have to read his humorous takes on Mythology to believe he’s the best. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Anwesha Ray</b> – An amazingly sensitive writer, she lives and works in Bangalore with her family. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Avishek Basu Mallick </b>– He’s the winner of Melonade’4. If you wish to laud him for more, he’s an engineer and an MBA, working in Bangalore and a featured writer on Sportskeeda.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Arijit Ghose</b> – Blend Carnatic music with exceptional satire and the result is Arijit Ghose. Cheeky, expressive and vocal – we hope he becomes a great writer someday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Amit Nangia </b>– For those working in MNCs for years, he’s your inspiration. Amit’s first novel has just released after facing many rejections but that didn’t deter him from writing. Climbing the rocks, gliding in a parachute, bungee jumping or making cocktails; nothing could elevate his spirits as much as writing did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tnahsin Garg </b>- Tnahsin often exercises his freedom by convincing other folks that ‘free will’ does not exist. His first novel ‘The Prophecy of Trivine’ is a science-fiction based in India.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sujata Parashar</b> – Author of the immensely popular ‘In Pursuit Of’ trilogy, and a wonderful poet. She contributes articles to various websites and magazines, and is a social activist. She’s a guest author in the book. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://b00kr3vi3wtours.blogspot.in/2015/10/tourannouncement-first-brush-on-canvas.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdf13Zky-hySRz6TF34vkGvX9xN95EnhdihpPjd3hNb_9ROL9XCKxfrVb7kHKs4G2XGBf9i4ZccewtHBya9EZF8RDEHtxOMPm_xBYXc9zY3sLQVE3B_9MVqZn5CPRo_-2j3wVxt3YMRT-/s640/Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><!-- start InLinkz script --><br />
<br />
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=569814&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');
</script><br />
<br />
<!-- end InLinkz script --><br />
<!-- start InLinkz script --><br />
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div></div>Fictional Fortresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01429646113184321828noreply@blogger.com0