Review: Aleph by Paulo Coelho

Title: Aleph
Author: Paulo Coelho
Started:  23/10/11
Finished: 24/10/11


Synopsis:


The Aleph is an encounter with our fears and our shortcomings - a search for love and forgiveness, and the courage to confront the inevitable challenges of life. Aleph marks a return to Paulo Coelho's beginnings. Facing a grave crisis of faith, and seeking a path of spiritual renewal and growth, Paulo decides to start over: to travel, to experiment, and to reconnect with people and the world. On his journey through Europe, Africa, and Asia, he will again meet Hilal - the woman he loved 500 years before - and this encounter will initiate a mystical voyage through time and space, through past and present, in search of an opportunity to rewrite his own destiny.


Review:


Coelho takes you along with him on a spiritual journey of self-discovery. He writes about his sojourn across Russia and meeting a Turkish girl called Hilal who helps him discover where he is now, where he was in the past and where hes going in the future. Together they discover their destiny through the Aleph.

Paulo wrote Aleph in a very personal level. It deeply challenges one to stop and think about life and every inch of its complexity. This is a fresh read out of my usual Paranormal genre. Finally, something that'll inspire me a lot more than usual. Paulo writes wonderful inspirational passages at the turn of every page. Though the book lacked any type of plot and may seem bumpy and very all over the place. Its revelations, creativity and inspirational content is the only thing that is holding this book together. It really makes you reconsider everything you do in life and your obstacles.

Paulo Coelho has and always have been able to create inspirational work that will hit you straight in the heart. This may be for some readers and not for others. I'll stay right in between this one. It was good but not that good. 3.5/5 stars

In My Mailbox #28

A weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we post all books we have received where in the mail, bought or got from the library.

Last week, I completely forgot to put up an IMM, thanks to my exams and the fact that I was reading a Highlander series. Haha. That doesn't matter since I only got 1 book last week.

GOT ON PAPERBACK:

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Dreamland by Alyson Noel

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning 

 EBOOKS FROM AUTHORS:

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Squeeeeeee~)

The Girl in the Box by Sheila Dalton

My Japanese Vacation by Casey White 

What did you get on your IMM this week?

Review: Falling Under (Falling Under #1) by Gwen Hayes

Title: Falling Under (Falling Under #1)
Author: Gwen Hayes
Started: 18/10/2011
Finished: 22/10/2011
Goodreads | Review List | The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review:

Once again, I dove right into a book with contents that are unknown to me. Was it about Vampires? Werewolves? Fairies? Witches? Angels? No. It isn't. I like surprising myself and I did just that when I begun this.

British Theia Alderson has moved to the states when she was 13. Now, at 17, her father made sure she didn't do anything wild, improper, rebellious, and irrational. He made sure she couldn’t harm herself with anything that isn't right. Then suddenly, Theia starts dreaming of a devastatingly handsome boy, who the next day began his first day of school. Why was she dreaming about a stranger before she even met him? Whats the strange pull she has for him? Why has she realized that this strange pull replaced her fear after Haden reveals what he truly is to her?

All these questions answer themselves as a reader gets through the book. I didn't like the beginning. I dislike how fast Theia yearns for Haden so much after they just met. It didn't seem like a "crush" like it was stated. It was more like an "obsession" from both their parts. It threw me off from the start, too many cliché’s But as the story started to pick up, and the story got over the "I love you even when I just met you" stuff. It became exciting and the events kept rolling in. Haden's mother is our antagonist in this one. She wants nothing more than to have Haden marry and become heir and in not a normal sense.

The author wrote wonderful secondary characters that constantly save the main characters butt. Best part is they're rather funny. They fit perfectly in the plot.

Falling Under is a vibrant read from an excellent debut author, who managed to creep me out a bit with her direct descriptions. Despite it's flaws it still was an enjoyable read. 3.5/5 stars.