8littlebookshelves

    Half way through 2024 and I thought it's been a while since I wrote about book covers. Hence, I reviewed the books I've read so far and made a short list of my favorite covers. Here are my top 5:   1. Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis   This touching novel follows Stella Grant and Will Newman, two teenagers with cystic fibrosis who fall in love while being treated in the same hospital. Despite their mutual attraction, they must maintain a safe distance of five feet to avoid cross-infection. The story explores their struggle with their illness, the rules imposed on them, and their desire to connect, ultimately leading to a heart-wrenching and poignant conclusion. Book Cover This design is so great and yet I can't exactly but my finger on what makes it so great. For one, of course, it is the contrast between a larger dark blue (almost black) background and dark elements such as the roots branching off and, on the other side,...

    Of all, you will probably know The Neverending Story , as it is the most famous work of Michael Ende, and you might just know it because of the movie. But: There is so much more and, well, you need to read them! Why? How else would you know what a pseudo giant is, how life time is mastered and distributed or how powerful your imaginations and your dreams are? What all of Michael Ende's works have in common is that they are very unique stories. There are no others like them. They are super creative and as fanciful as books get. Plus, they each mix adventure, the fantastic, profound experience and life wisdom into one epic tale. The stories teem with funny instances and humor, making reading them all the more enjoyable. For instance, one main character meets a gigantic, ancient turtle called Morla, who has an allergy against youth, sneezing so forcefully, the boy almost gets blown into the swamp. I will focus on the three major works (no spoilers). Momo , Jim Button and Luke...

Some might know the novel from school, as a set book, some, being a book worm, might know it simply because they love reading: Either way, To Kill a Mockingbird is a world-famous work of literature. But what makes it so special?   The Story The book was published in 1960 – that’s 64 years from today. And yet, it is still as popular and well-read as ever. One reason for this is that addresses universal topics. So, what is To Kill a Mockingbird about? The story is set in a town in Alabama in the early-mid 1930s, amidst the difficult times of the Great Depression. Jean Lousie Finch is the main character, through whose eyes we experience the unfolding of events. She is six years old and lives with her father, a lawyer, and her older brother. Jean hears of a new client her father is appointed to defend: Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a young white woman, a man, who’s left arm is left useless and crippled after an accident. It becomes apparent that, through th...

  It's supposed to be a book series for youngsters/ young adults, yet  – like the Harry Potter books  – has gained popularity in older readers as well: His Dark Materials is a fantasy-sci-fi-trilogy by Philip Pullman, which touches upon a wide scope of topics. It has even been made into a movie. But: You need to read the novels! Here is why (no spoilers!) ...   What's it about The first volume, sometimes called Northern Lights , sometimes The Golden Compass , starts with the main character Lyra, a mischievous 12-year-old girl, growing up without parents, who picks up on some secrets. Then her friend goes missing and she sets out to search for him. In Lyra's world every person has a 'demon', a manifestation of soul, coming in the form of an animal, that can change its shape until a person reaches adulthood. Her demon is called Pantalaimon. He, of course, accompanies her on her quest, where she encounters all kinds of creatures, like armoured polar bears, magical t...

Now, before I start on this book list, I want you to know that I'm not a super spiritual person. A more fitting term would be that I'm interested in anything philosophical and psychological, which includes personal growth, the meaning of life, new experience, new views, self-reflection and so on. By this path I do enjoy spiritual books and there are indeed some great ones out there. Here I'd like to introduce you to my Top 10 of my favorite spiritual books  – fiction and non-fiction. 10. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, non-fiction A classic within the genre of spiritual books: Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment presents itself as a discussion about how people interact with themselves and others. The concept of self reflection and presence in the moment are presented along with simple exercises for the achievement of its principles. The book is very powerful, universal, very relatable and so important for our modern times. It of...