iseefeelings's reviews
201 reviews

While reading Anne of Green Gables, I can’t help but think about purchasing a whole box set for this lovely Canadian literature’s treasure. It has been so so long since the last time I got hooked on a book series like this. I didn’t know it feels that good and refreshing to have a book which brings me back to the little me I once was and eases the harshness in life.
I was so afraid that any dramatic incident would come to Anne but after all, the book is just like a mellow song; it soothes my wounded heart and lifts up my poor soul. Life suddenly becomes a little bit brighter, dreamier to me. I miss the little me who was daydreaming all the time. But I’m not Anne, I don’t have the fearless spirit like her. I love how she has her flaws but never hesitates to improve herself; she enjoys little moments in life with such a dear young heart. I just want to be her kindred spirit somehow.
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(236)"I've been making mistakes, and each mistake has helped to cure me of some great shortcoming."
(237)" 'Don't give up all your romance, Anne,' he whispered shyly, 'a little of it is a good thing - not too much, of course - but keep a little of it, Anne, keep a little of it.' "
(312)"When Matthew was here he liked to hear you laugh and he liked to know that you found pleasure in the pleasant things around you,' said Mrs Allan gently. 'He is just away now; and he likes to know it just the same. I am sure we should not shut our hearts against the healing influences that nature offers us. But I understand your feeling. I think we all experience the same thing. We resent the thought that anything can please us when someone we love is no longer here to share the pleasure with us, and we almost feel as if we were unfaithful to our sorrow when we find our interest in life returning to us.'"
(319)"'When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes - what there is of green glory and soft, chequered light and shadows - what new landscapes - what new beauties - what curves and hills and valleys farther on.'"

Although Mary Poppins is such a classic in children's literature, I must admit that I'd never read the original book before. I just know more about the author - P.L.Travers - after watching Saving Mr. Banks years ago. I don't think there is much to say about the text. The story seems incohesive yet it still evokes the magical charm somehow. Besides, Genevieve Godbout's illustrations are so mesmerizing: the sharp edges, soft shading together with the muted colour palette - her work is really unique and a perfect match to this book.

⁣⁣I'm pleased with both the great design and such concise content. This is a good handbook for any poetry enthusiast. I want to embrace poetry more, take it easier and feel it closer than before.⠀ ⠀
***⠀
The book conveys the meaning and practice of poetry in different creative formats (which I'm truly appreciate). I got some useful tips and read a few mesmerizing excerpts from inspiring poets I hadn't even known before. Can't wait to have some more poetry books on my shelf!⠀

A funny one but it didn’t give me goosebumps at the end like other books of Tintin, though.

Even at the very first impression, I could feel that Edward Gorey's illustrations are brimmed with such gloomy, dark humour throughout all the black and white drawings, I just love it. Plus, his rich vocabulary is so mesmerizing.

***

However, while I've been reading this book for a few times, I don't think I truly got the meaning behind it. As what I found on the internet, most of the readers are just confused like me and still, they appreciate his art and words.

***

For a better understanding of this book, I recommend you to read a short blog post called 'The Headless Bust by Edward Gorey' on www.slaphappylarry.com.


***
Here is my favourite verse in the book:

['Initial, dash cannot conceal
The fact that everything is real,
But whether it is also true
Is left entirely up to you.']

I Am The Book is a collection of poems written by various authors. It’s all about the joy of reading and each poem opens a different prospect of it.

These poems are easy to follow along, interesting word-playing and rich imagery in each verse so anyone who find joy in books can surely relate and pick out a favourite poem for themselves.

Meanwhile, I didn’t feel much impressed at first glance when it comes to the illustrations but Yayo’s work turned out to be a good fit for the painterly technique and his great sense of humour in the creative execution.⠀
⠀

⁣A joyful book celebrates both literal and imaginative adventure in the fairground of two kids. ⠀
Sheree Fitch's word-play capture the emotions of her characters playfully ("Hop up to knee knock rockety rock swiggle sway creak squeak rickety ratcheting up! up! up!" or ""Back and forth we swingsway / this-a-way wish away / sleepy-eyed night sky rock-a-bye", “Nighttime falls on the fairgrounds/ Dark’s glitter sparks a dare”). ⠀
Yayo's work is a really good fit with his humorous way to illustrate the book and his vibrant, high saturated colours brighten up the night adventure (I bursted into laughters when seeing a Ferris wheel shown with a giant pig at its center!). ⠀
I could feel the love between the siblings when the little girl told her brother to look at the stars so that he would not be scared to be up so high during the ride, that just melted my heart!

1. I had been procrastinating on reading the last few pages of this book and coincidentally, I finished it on new year’s eve, fifteen minutes before the start of 2020. It was bitter to see how a man who had loved life with all his heart quickly sank to the bottom of hopelessness.

2. I have to note that this book is not in a letter form but an autobiography edition which the editors only kept the vital parts in Vincent van Gogh’s life.
I must admit that the reason I gave this book 3.5 stars is not because of the content of Vincent van Gogh's letters but this poor quality of the book itself. I was frustrated in the first half of the book and I had to put it down so many times. There are many grammar errors, typos, untranslated French words (which seemed to be so crucial to understanding the context of what van Gogh wrote), lack of annotations - all of them just drove me insane and it took me more time to finish the book. Thus I would prefer to have another translated version of the painter's letters for sure (please let me know if you have any suggestion).

3. Despite all of this, I’m touched by Vincent’s earnest, diligence and his love for life. He seemed to stay loving when talking about people, no matter how many times they were the ones who made his life more miserable.
Surprisingly, I realised that some rumours about his life are not quite true (he was a loner but he did have friends, his relationship with Gauguin was unique but the dramatic event actually didn’t end their friendship, he once had a lovely family with the one he saved the life and cherished with all his heart, he also fell in love so many times but everything ended badly).
I remember reading some comments, indicating that van Gogh said about what happened to him differently than what the truth is. But who can say which is the actual truth of it all?
I just know that he is so genuine: his admiration for the old friend, the way he refused to be on a newspaper as a fine painter because he didn’t think he did enough to have the applause, the way he asked for financial help but trying to 'sell' the art to his brother to keep his dignity.

4. What haunts me the most is how mental illness plays a vital part of him putting the end to his life, how he wished to stay sane and to make art but his health condition seemed to be uncontrollable. He defended himself that he still loves art and life “very much” but in the last letters, the doubt crept in after times and times he stood strong and believed in his work through all the ups and downs. These words from the letter that is known to be with him on the dying bed broke my heart, “Well, my own work, I am risking my life for it and my reason has half-foundered.”

I actually wish that I could see more photos in this book but still, I'm amazed by how patient Nic Bishop was in order to take the photographs of these marsupials. I feel sad since I only care more about the huge variety of animals after having seen the bushfire disaster in Australia recently. So many great facts about unique creatures that I'd never heard or seen before, which is really inspired me to work on a new illustration project for this year.