[Book] Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Goodreads
Started on: May 28 2013

Finished on: June 10 2013

Synopsis

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want--husband, country home, successful career--but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.

Review

I actually finished the book a week ago. I wanted to reread a few pages of the book before I did, plus I was sort of lazy to write the review. xD 

~~~

Eat, Pray, Love tells a story of how the writer herself; Elizabeth Gilbert, journeys to three different countries in search of herself and God. 

I listened to the audiobook which was read by the author; Elizabeth Gilbert, and I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook, Elizabeth/Liz, just made it a whole lot better in my opinion. When I listened to the first chapter, I said that I wouldn't read the book but just listen to the audiobook. But hell was I wrong about that.

I got so into the book that I started taking Liz's advice on meditation and learned a few more words in italian. And buying the book was on the top of my shopping list. 

The book was written in such a way that shoots out flashbacks during her time around the world. So it kind of confused me a little bit. But everything seemed to put itself together in the end. 

Throughout the entire book, I kept thinking of myself in her place, and wondering whether I would have the guts to do all the things she did and be who she is now. This book changed me in a way. It made me a lot more spiritual than I already am. She actually taught me a whole bunch of things about life. Being only 19, I take all she's written a lesson that will surely help and guide me through my future.

This book actually made me realize how us women actually evolve our life into being obsessed with men; well most of us do. We like someone, then we fall in love with them, then we breakup, then we try to get over them, and when we think we're over them, we're actually not, then 6 months later of not seeing the guy, you're still not over him. We're all stupid.

This book got me motivated to go and find what I want in life and get it. It got me so motivated that I started meditating every night before bed to clear my mind of all the negativity and anxiety that I've been getting. 

When I went to buy this book at the bookstore, I couldn't find it. When I used to go to the bookstore I would always see it being displayed on the rack or somewhere that people can easily see it. I literally had to go around the bookstore a few times to find it. I was stupid enough to think this book would be in the fiction section. Eventually I found it between two large books, and it was the last one there as well.  

This is a book that I would definitely reread over and over. It actually brightened my life a little bit more. 

Oh and I purposely took my time with this book. I wanted to understand and let everything Liz was trying to mean sink in. 

I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading autobiographies, self help, and get inspired by what people do with their lives. If you're lost, if you don't know what to do with your life, pick up this book and give it ago. 

[Books] The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

Goodreads

Started on: June 4 2013

Finished on: June 8 2013

Synopsis
The hero-narrator of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it. There are many voices in this novel: children's voices, adult voices, underground voices-but Holden's voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself. The pleasure he gives away, or sets aside, with all his heart. It is there for the reader who can handle it to keep.

Review

The Catcher in the Rye is listed as one of the book that one must read before they die, so I decided to give it a go.

Holden Caulfield is around 16 or 17 years old. He leave school and sets out to New York for a few days before he goes home. He's on his own, he's loaded, and he has a craving for something new; at least that what I think of it. 

Holden is very adventurous, and seems like he's just winging everything, and is impulsively doing whatever it is he wants. He goes around New York, calling up people to go out with him in the middle of the night. I'm surprised they actually accept his invitations. It seemed like he hasn't slept in days. I'm also pretty surprised that he has the guts to do all that he did what he was roaming NY. 

I don't really know that exactly the plot of the story is. All I can say is that it's a weird book. A kid who goes around New York, who spends all his cash, and then what? I think I know what teachers ask their students to do a report on this book. It actually makes you think. 

The book is weird, good, and it's a classic. It being weird and slightly pointless makes it on the list of books one must read before they die. 

The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger. A must read, just for the hell of it. 

[Books] Teaser Tuesday: June 4 2013

Hey everyone!! 

Happy Tuesday! ^.^

It's always so much fun participating in these memes! I dunno why! xD

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Current Read

Goodreads

"Here's what he said: 'The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.'"
Page 188 

I don't really know how I feel towards this book. It's not my kind of genre but I'm giving it a try! xD

Have you all read Catcher in the Rye yet? If so, what did you think of it? If not, then why not give it a try! ^^,  

Have a great day everyone! :)

May 2013 Favorites

Hey everyone!

I thought I would shave my favorites for the month of May, since it's now over :(
I honestly don't keep track of time anymore.

So here are my favorites:

 

Nail Polish - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003PZNLZ8
Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation -http://www.boots.com/en/Bourjois-123-...
Bath & Body Works Stress Relief Scented Oil (I couldn't find the actual scented oil :( ) - http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/produ...
Starbucks Water Bottle - http://www.starbucksstore.com/glass-w...

Color Club Nail Polish in the Color AN21 Twiggie.
I just had to get this color when I went to the salon store. Plus I wanted a new springy green color shade. 

Bourjois 123 Perfect Liquid Foundation in the color N53, beige clair light beige. 

I've always wanted to try out liquid foundations since my current powder foundation makes my face a little bit too dry. I spent about 30 minutes trying to find the perfect foundation for my skin type and color. There was not attendant lady to help me out so I basically had to do it all by myself; which I think gives me more freedom xD 

So far, I'm enjoying this foundation! 

 Bath & Body Works scented oils - Stress Relief, eucalyptus spearmint

I've burnt this oil so many times in the past month of may. (why did that sound so, anti-ecofriendly o.o) Since last month was what seems like my month of actual self discovery, I've grown accustomed to meditation and yoga onto my daily/weekly schedule, and this scent helps me get into the spiritual vibe for some reason. 

Books:

 

Beautiful Redemption (Castor Chronicles #4) -http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/79...
Eat, Pray, Love - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...

I've reviewed Beautiful Redemption in Castor Chronicles Review.

I started listening to the Eat Pray Love audiobook and I am really enjoying it so far. It is a book that will really get you inspired to do more with your life, or if you're lost in life and have no idea where you're going, I think this will be a really great book for you. I won't say much since a review will be coming up in a few days soo yeahhh.. xD 

These are my May Favorites, Oh! and I made a video about it too! Yay for video! 

Have a great day! 

[Books] Too Hot To Touch by Louisa Edwards

Goodreads

Started on: May 12, 2013

Finished on: May 31, 2013

Synopsis

When it comes to competitive cooking, Max Lunden is no stranger to winning…though he’s never been great at working with a team. A master chef—and major hunk—he’s traveled the world, picking up new cooking techniques as well as beautiful women. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family’s Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers one too many cooks in the kitchen—and she’s every bit as passionate as he is…

Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner’s oldest, and hottest, son. Now a chef herself—competing in the biggest culinary contest in the country—Juliet will be cooking side by side with the one man she’s always admired…and desired. But despite their simmering attraction, Juliet is determined to keep her cool—no matter how hot it gets…

Review

I'm finally done with this book! I don't know why but it felt like I took forever getting through this book.

Too Hot To Touch.. How can you not pick up this book? It has a shirtless guy on the cover and the title is already as tense as it can get!

This isn't a love story, it is a sudden romance of rekindled high school crushes, with a cooking competition right new to it. Juliet Cavanaugh ran away from home (I wonder why her mother was never really worried that she left home for 6 years) and what luck, she is taken in by her best friends family; the Lundens. The Lundens eldest son, Max Lunden left around the same time Juliet/Jules left home. He left to explore and learn different culinary techniques of the world. The Lundens own their own very successful restaurant, but as years past, business has been going a little bit down. The Rising Star Chef competition seems to be their last resort into becoming a successful restaurant again. Max is called home by his mother to join the competition with the rest of the team, and guess who's in the team? That's right, Jules Cavanaugh. Tense fire goes back and forth between Jules and Max for the first  few days of his return, which will obviously end up into becoming something more. This book tells a story of how the team gets through the competition and the drama that's behind it all. 

I was very excited to read this book, I bought the first book off book depository since they didn't have it in bookstores where I'm from. So I picked it up, read the first chapter, and thought, "hmm...maybe it'll get better, most books do". As I kept reading further, it got a little exciting but not over the top exciting. It was okay. As I move further, I began to get bored. I really wasn't feeling the spice of this book. As much as I love cooking and as much as I love reading a romance that involves cooking, I expected the book to be a lot better. 

The writing was alright, I noticed a few unnecessary details, but then got used to them as I went through the book, In a few chapters, there are peaks into the judges of the competitions life, and they relationship. I am not sure if I enjoyed this interval or not. I practically skimmed through the last few chapters of the book. 

The book cover and synopsis really drags your into the buying the book. Shirtless guy cooking plus the tense synopsis, it makes you go "oooooo... what's going to happen?"

Overall, I think this book is a one-time-read kind of book, just like how some movies are one-time-watch only movies. It was an okay book. I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series, I don't know, maybe I will in the future. But right now, no.