Sorry,The End and Pottermore

Now that I have finished writing about my friends and their favorite books. I would like to say sorry for taking so long (over then month). I have enjoyed writing about my friends who I dearly miss. I believe it was an excellent idea and it did help to reduce my pathetic non-reading state.

That brings The End to the My-Friends-And Their-Favorite-Books. Thank you for sticking up to me all these years, Aaryama Somayaji, Meetakshi Behal, Moumuksha Tyagi, Sneha Nanavati and Vidhi Sharma. And to my brother Cambodge Bist too :D 

Additional, news that I have for you is about Pottermore. I have been waiting for this website ever since it was officially announced. JK Rowling has made a computer gaming, social networking and as well as a online store.

Keep viewing The Bookish Life for more book reviews and news.

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Harry Potter Obsession

Harry Potter has been my life for so many years. To be accurate its been my secret second life. I have destroyed a basilisk, I have had detention with Ron Weasley, used Hermoine’s wand and have suffered Dolores Umbridges. I wish my famous second life was real. The truth is I waited an entire summer for That Letter. If you are a fan you know what I am talking about. Yes, the very same, application to enter Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite meeting, He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named several times, I still haven’t got that letter. If you ever read this Headmistress: I need time to show my magical abilities to you, if you agree can 15 year olds join Hogwarts too? I don’t think I can give the OWLS straight away so I’d like to start from scratch and line up with the first years.  Thanking you, your biggest fan, Sanskriti Bist

McGonagall won’t ever read this so my mind tells me but the heart says to give her time and to practice on my hidden magical skills. Accio would be so useful if only I could transform my pen into a wand.  

My Recent Self-Discovery: (or as Kung Foo Panda says it “Inner Peace”)

I realized HP inner peace- it took me 3
weeks, though it took Master Shifu
years!

Before writing this post I thought to write about all the Harry Potter Books, I am glad that I changed my mind.  Harry Potter does not need to reviewed upon such is its power. It took me three weeks to realize its potential (during the period you might have noted my absence). I was thinking. Thinking over and over again. Truthfully I also reviewed up till book three and even asked Vidhi Sharma her opinion about each book. I was serious, determined but a small part of me remained dubious. Therefore, I thought to write about most of my history and what Harry Potter means to me.

Timeline:

Our generation is called the Harry Potter Generation. We grew up with it. Ever since I was little I read about it in magazines, I remember my brother reading a really fat book I use to look at with terrifying eyes (100 pages was world record at that time), I also remember my first grade friend telling me some Danielle Radcliff gossip and watching the first movie in French because my brother was very excited about it he didn’t care about the language.   

I read the book with the very same cover
8 years ago.

Since I am me, I have to be opposite to what everyone thinks. You may as well throw tomatoes and eggs at me now for saying this (you would be sane too) but I hated Harry Potter.  Hate is not a word sufficient to illustrate my emotions at that time. I despised it as much as I despise Twilight now. (Though I know I will hate twilight forever unlike Harry Potter) But the least you can do is empathize with me; I was only Seven years old. Can you imagine that, a seven year old Sanskriti Bist reading Harry Potter because her brother was so eager to make her read it? Truthfully, you can’t because you weren’t there and you didn’t know my brother at that time. As stupid as any seven years old can be I left Harry Potter at its second last chapter and vowed to never read it again. In my mind, I shelved it has rubbish and never to be read pile and I-will-Personally-Kill-You-If-You-read-Harry-Potter-Ever-Again. I was much more mature at that time. I remember saying, how can you believe in such things, there aren’t such things as witches moreover a school filled with them!  You see I was sensible but I loathed things that didn’t resemble my world because I lacked imagination.

But then eventually my seven year old mind ceased to an exit and a new character was born. This character was nine years old, bright, full of imagination and a die heart Harry Potter fan. Yes that was me. Could that dull seven year old Saskriti see that her 12 year old self would be kicked out of a store for reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the day it was released for secretly reading behind a bookshelf because she didn’t have enough pocket money to buy it? Could she ever imagine that her future 14 year self would go to see the seventh movie with the book (and if allowed with Harry Potter apparel)? No she couldn’t. She was a lousy bookworm who believed in facts. She didn’t know that that precise knowledge had some day came from what we call imagination.

The shop in Geneva, Switzerland that kicked me out. It is unfair because my brother read  the entire Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince from the same place and they didn't even kick him. 

Now Finally, Harry Potter…

Besides learning about how to produce a Patronous, Harry Potter has taught more then I could have learnt otherwise. First of all JK Rowling has given me magical characters and a beautiful world but most of all she has given me the magic of words. She’s shown me that I can express myself through my words magically. Did you know how many times she was rejected by major Publishers? 12. “Perseverance is the key.” These are the words that come into my mind every time I sit down and read any Harry Potter. You need to try hard to get what you want to achieve.

Pure-bloods, half bloods, mud bloods. All these are being discriminated along with bests such as Centaurs, Goblins and House- Elves. Looking at this issue carefully, Rowling uses these mythical creatures as her way of showing what is happening in today’s world. There is a constant racial, political and sexual difference among our people. She just shows, that it’s not what you are but it’s because what you do, that makes you so different and special.

There is a constant message of love and how important family is our lives. How much we try to deny it comes to us in the end when we need it the most.

How much I crave for a wand!

The power of the mind is also a valuable teaching I have received from Harry Potter. I know everyday I crave for a wand. With a flick I wouldn’t even have to wake up. I could get all my things while just lying around.  But doing that would take a mind, I would have to memorize the spell, see how it is pronounced and whether to wave the wand of jerk the wand. Its would take a brain to do that and most importantly my choice in the action. Without mind power we have no opinions and we wouldn’t even defend the things crave for.  

Harry Potter has changed lives of millions of children and teenagers all over the world. While researching I found a website called http://www.dearmrPotter.org/ it shows the account of children and how Harry became friends of the friendless, how two sisters became close and how it became a thing worth living for.

War on: Harry Potter and Twilight

I don’t get why there is even a war between them in the first place. Isn’t it obvious that JK Rowling is the better author and has a better story with a good plot. I am officially sick of dissing about twilight. Its about time you twilighters actually read Harry Potter, we’ll see where you stand then. The words below are placed wonderfully by Stephen King:

"Harry Potter teaches you how to face your fears, how to grow, how to become independent, how to accept who you are. Twilight teaches you how important it is to have a boyfriend."

In the end, I like to say thank you to JK Rowling who has changed my way of thinking. Shown me a life that says Imagine... Because it’s worth it in the end. To the boy who lived, you’re just not a book your much more then that. I’ve always believed in you and will for the rest of my life.

  

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Vidhi Sharma

Vidhi and me!

Have you ever had a friend who was obsessed with her hair, but rarely mentions it? I do, Vidhi Sharma is one of those friends, who would change her hairstyle every single day, if only there were no school rules against it. But because of her ‘goody-goody’ nature she refuses to defy her school protocol and has to braid her hair and wear an hair band every single day.

As you see an exact opposite of Aaryama Somayaji. But we are like the best four friends. EVER.  

OUR HISTORY:

Vidhi and I joined our beautiful establishment of what people call school in the same week back in the summer of 2008, the only thing was that she joined four days before me and I four days late. There wasn’t much in the beginning, most conversations went like this:

Vidhi-(Always the first one to take the initiative): Hi, How are you?

Me- Oh, um I am fine. (I had a habit of saying Um a lot back then- when people used to ask my name I used go like UmSanskrtiti)

Vidhi- So do you like the school?

Me- its um-fine

Vidhi- So, uh, How was your old school?

Me- It was fine um great actually.

With all my fines and Um’s we finally did get really close when Aaryama, Vidh, Sneha and I went together to Alchon Public School for our small skit in which Vidhi played as Hannah Montana. We started striking good conversations and that’s why we are who we are now. J Vidhi also got dengue that year, and I still remember that empty seat, the time the whole class prayed for her to get well and she never forgets to remind me of the card I made when she came back healthy and sound. That small spelling mistakes, now haunts me forever. VEARY. 

Coming to 8^th, me and Aaryama decided that we could no longer stand Vidhi Sharma reading more and more Enid Blyton books. So, as our usual selves we plunged her into the world of fantasies. Fantasies are way better then Enid Blyton, I still think so and I am sure that Vidhi is the most thank full to us. We showed her twilight, know I think about it we shouldn’t have because she is a really humble and devoted fan.  It was a huge mistake, but it is amusing, I love arguing about twilight with her, somehow she’s such a huge fan it makes things even spicier.

In 9^th as I told you earlier our whole group got dived into three small sections. Vidhi and I kept the deal, we met up in every single lunch time and in all free periods. We tortured little kids (a huge specialty of mine) bumping into them and acting blind. And laughed at there usual “uff! Didi, bas karo!” Besides the usuall, we got to know a lot about each others past, and I most of all got to know a huge deal about Vidhi, her cousins and her house which is filled with 22 family members! She’s amazing I have to tell you, she filled with stories from top to bottom.  

In 10^th we were in the same sections and I love the fact that she didn’t let go of me till I was gone. Thank you "ViSdhi".

  

Top 5 Reasons why I miss you:

5.      I love your family stories, from Holi to Diwali and even your nutty doctor games you and your cousins play. I wish you would put them on Youtube for the world to see, cause they are incredibly astounding.

4.      You are really observant, seriously I do not mean Bella.

3.      You are intelligent, like really intelligent not in a nerdy way. I love the fact that you use your intelligence to help other and me especially in Maths class! And you also point out to my every spelling mistake, you also have the etiquettes check my ruff copy!

2.      I’ll miss your reactions so much! They are just so amazing you should really see yourself in the mirror sometimes. Usually, you give me that weird look, the shut up or Oh God! You are mad look. You are the funest and the best person to hang out with..

1.      You are always there for me. You’ve helped me so much in these three years, I have no idea how I will ever pay back! 

I love you so much, you are the best and the most special friend I have and I am going to miss you tons forever and ever.

To view Vidhi's favorite book series click here: Harry Potter Obsession

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The Iron Knight Cover REVEALED!!!!

I've been waiting for this cover and the e-book novella since 3 weeks! I've been tweeting about it since 19 May and if you dont believe me I have proof:


19 May : "THUD. Me fainting at seeing the ARC cover for The Iron Knight. Nope, can't share yet, but thought I would gloat a bit. (SO PRETTY!)" -Julie Kagawa (@Jkagawa)
19 May: "@Jkagawa You are so MEAN! How could you? At least tell us when the cover will release. *SOBS*" -Sanskriti Bist (@sanskritibist)
19 May: @sanskritibist All I can say is sooooooooooooon. :) - Julie kagawa (@Jkagawa)
19 May: "I just got replied back by the Greatest of the Great @Jkagawa I'm on cloud 9! RT: @sanskritibist All I can say is sooooooooooooon. :)" - That is Sanskriti Bist hyperventilating. 


And today was the day I was waiting for, and seriously I AM NOT JOKING. This is the best cover of the whole year, and so badly worth the wait. 

Most people are either Team Ash (above) or Team Puck, but I am a huge fan of both but will always be loyal to Team Grimalkin the coolest cat ever I mean it, He's better then crookshanks!

Its much better then other three covers and the two novellas. Best cover of the year I tell you. Better the the Son of Neptune, Clockwork Prince, Lola and the Boy Next Door and Inheritance. Just the way I imagined Prince Ash, but those blue eyes that look much much much more better then in my imagination. Julie kagawa has also released her novella 3.5 called Summers crossing which has Pucks POV.  You can read it here FREE at Harlequin's ebook store. 


Imagine my surprise (I believe Free E-book are the boons of God) :


1 June:  And here is the link to Summer's Crossing, which you can download for free. :) http://bit.ly/mzKYcp -Julie Kagawa 
1 June: @Jkagawa OMG! I love you i love you I love you!!! You're the most amazing and lovable person ON EARTH!!! ❤ ❤  -Sanskriti Bist 
1 June:  @sanskritibist *Blushes* Aw, thank you! ^___^ <3 -Julie Kagawa


And besides the free e-book, I cannot wait for Iron Knight which is written from Ash's POV! Its releasing on October 18th 2011, and its my third most awaited book of the year!

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Jace Wayland Casted!

Its officially official,  Jamie Campbell-Bower will play Jace Wayland, the male protagonist of The Mortal Instruments for its upcoming movie flick called the City Of Bones along side Lily Collins. Author of the best selling Mortal instruments and the infernal devices, Cassandra Clare herself tweeted: 

"Yes. Jamie Campbell-Bower is Jace. And I am very happy about it. More info later.:)"

Lilly Collins will act as Clary Fray the protagonist in TMI

Jamie Bower will act as Jace Wayland in  TMI

I am really disappointed after hearing the news. Jamie Bower has played Caius of  the Volturi in New Moon: The Twilight Saga and now he has just finished his shooting for Harry Potter 7 Part 2 in which he will be seen as playing Gellert Grindelwald. So, as Jace in The Mortal Instruments, I don’t think I would like him or his other ex-competitor Alex Pettyfer for Jace's role. Sometimes books shouldn’t be made into movies, and this is one book like many others which I will not agree with to ruin my imagination.

So what do you think, will you watch the movie, are you content that Jamie Bower has been selected to act as Jace?

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Twilight Dissing

Twilight. How much do I abhor this word. Come in front of me, I dare you, I can talk hours, hours about it, if you don’t believe ask all my friends especially to all the twilight lovers in our school. I am nightmare to their kind. I haunt each and everyone of them to their sleep till they ultimately agree twilight is rubbish, terrible, revolting, disgusting, trash, vulgar, junk, ghastly, hideous, atrocious, appalling, loathsome, beastly, obnoxious, dreadful, horrible, vile and most definitely THE WORST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ.

Twilight:

“Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.” – Goodreads

My Opinion:

As you can see it’s the first time I’ve used someone else’s synopsis of a novel. Can you see the reason why? I wrote the synopsis at least 3-4 times before copying it out straight from Goodreads. Each time I wrote I couldn’t help but writing negative points about it. The only thoughts that kept reappearing seemed inappropriate to jot it down on my blog. So all of you who keep asking me why I hate it so much here are the reasons:

Dissing About Twilight:

1. Bella Swan: *You’re a soulless git, You moron!* I’d love to meet you someday, oh how much fun will we have! Ha, it’ll be the death of you I swear! In serious mode now: Bell Swan, perfect name, yes. Ordinary girl, no problems with parents and agrees to everything that they do without complaining. All in all she has no personality other then being annoying, irritating and exaggerating her sighs, crying and swooning obsessively over Edward’s hotness. She has no goals apparently and she cant see her future and life without Edward. What is happening to this generation! This is not the 18^th century in which women have to be so reliable in men. How can someone be so dependent on a boy? How can someone even change themselves, sacrifice there family and friends never to see them ever again for some pathetically shiny vampire? Ugh, the thought sickens me, I’ve never read a protagonist so selfish. She uses Jacob as a substitute when Edward goes away. When he comes back she marries him leaves Jacob heart broken! There are heights of selfishness Bella Swan. I just wish to say, I HATE YOU!

2. Edward Cullen: To all the Twigirls out there, would you really like to have an obnoxious stalker watching you while you sleep? Seriously its unhealthy and in a way really discussing. Sheesh! Edward is so possessive about her it must creep you out, if it doesn’t you should truly visit the doctor sometimes. He follows her around 24/7, because he think that if he doesn’t she’ll get hurt. Oh wow Edward your such a savior! Another thing about him is that he has mood swings through out the day, how can someone like him! He’s just so irritably immature for a 109 year old!

3. Love or Lust?:   Bella: You’re beautiful!

                                      Edward: Oh, Your beautiful too!

                                      Bella: No you’re so good, so shiny your perfectly handsome

                                      Edward: No I think you’re good too.

This is what twilight is about. Think about it, is it love. Why do they love each other? Edwards loves her smell (ugh. GROSS.) and Bella loves his hotness. If Edward truly had ever loved her, he would’ve stayed away from her. And most importantly if Bella hadn’t been an idiot things would have been different. They didn’t even know each other how can they suddenly not live without each other? Gosh these two are brainless.

4.  Plot: Come to think of it, what is the plot? Is it Bella describing Edwards physical appearance in ever two pages. I think that’s right. That is the plot. Seriously speaking, was the romance between them the plot? No that’s unlikely but that’s what 400 and something pages were written about wasn’t it? And the rest 30 were about her fainting? There was no story. The End.      

5. Planning: Stephanie Meyer is the most brilliant planner I have ever seen. She’s a genius. I am not joking. In fact how can she make millions of girls swoon over the twilight books? What made me like them when I first read it? Two years ago I discovered the answers after re-reading the entire saga. Bella and Edward have no personality as such which make them stand out. There both plain and dull as ever. Now imagine a teenage girl reading twilight, she’ll put herself in the position of Bella and puts in all her personality into Bella’s character. So now Bella is half dull her and half this very die-hard twilight fan. When Edward comes in , the twilight fan puts her, mixes of all her crushes together and form a super human being who is all in all perfect and has all the traits she wants. Then and there she puts all that personality in Edward. Did you get it? How can you even relate to her! You have to take this seriously because this is what is happening to you right now. Meyer’s a goddamn physiologist!  And its high time you get over it.

Stephanie Meyer

6. Writing: How well you write! Ooh I want to write like Stephanie Meyer some day! My foot! She cant write. She cannot! When will you people get that. At times, I prefer garbage over her dialogues! How can someone describe a vampires voice as velvet! I am sick of Stephanie Meyer and her Edwards velvety voices! The most ridiculous things of all was that he sparkles. Why Meyer why!? Why do you keep making a fool of yourself? People, the world of books don’t start and end with Stephanie Meyer! If you want to look for young adult novels there are millions of them out there waiting to be read. Books like twilight should be banned from existence.

7. The New Harry Potter- WTH! How dare you! Twilight will never be the new Harry Potter, because Stephanie Meyer cant write how can you even compare her to JK Rowling? Anyway if you had a mind these are two different genres we are speaking of.  I don’t even like putting Harry Potter and Stephanie Meyer in the same sentence what sort of Harry Potter fan am I?

I don’t see where dissing about twilight will get me. But I sincerely hope it will keep you away from reading this atrocious novel. It could have been built better with talented hands, a bit of imagination which does not include the word sparkle and obviously not the clichéd over used plot.

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MuMuksha Bharti Tyagi

At first impression: “She’s really shy”, “Mumuksha should talk more often”, “She’s great but should talk to us more”

We had been in that dilemma for a month, not only us but as well as 36 other students and all the teachers.  Is it the same Molly (nickname) we saw just last month we questioned to ourselves after the summer holidays. The truth was that we had never seen the real side of her. When we saw it, it was the biggest shock we had received that year. Indeed it was the same Molly standing on top of the chair singing Pichhle Saat Dinon Mein Maine Khoya Kabhi Khud Pe Hansa Main, Aur Kabhi Khud Pe Roya! Nana Na Na Na Nana Na Na Na!

Our History:

This time it did not begin in 7^th grade and thankfully I was no longer the new kid. All of us had passed to the new class we were now 8^th graders. The new kid was now Mumuksha Bharti. I remember saying ‘Hi’ to her and asking her new school, she was very happy that day I had no idea why at that time, but I soon realized that to be happy was her nature. Sneha Nanavati was the first person of our group to actually sit next to her and make contact with her. All of us were too busy in our selves. Slowly we learnt that she was the most intelligent of all of us, she had done IGCSE when were doing CBSE she was a year ahead of us. She kept interrupting the science teacher and asking her questions of higher years. She became a really good friend of Aaryama Somayaji  because they lived near by. Gradually she got introduced to our entire group.

MuMuksha, Me, Vidhi  and Meetakshi!

In 9^th, again I hate to repeat it that we got separated. But we never lost contact with each other. She was just next door so met up with her when we both had the same free periods. She is a sort of person who has friends all over the place in every section of the school. She also knows the maids and who knows maybe she also knows the nursery kids too. If you ever walk with her to the school ground or her favorite place, the cafeteria you’ll have to pass through so many obstacles she calls friends on the way. A two second walk will take you 20 minutes. She knows so many people, it’s a miracle she remembers all of them. Another of her habits it to eat a lot. She goes from table to table and eats peoples lunches, its lucky she knows so many people. I remember one day I hanged with her the entire time during lunch period which is 20 minutes, can you imagine she ate 16 lunches. She couldn’t finish all of it that’s why I and Meetakshi had to help her. Trust me it wasn’t that fun, there was too much food.

In 10^th the most devastating thing happened, usually I am the one who get left alone, this time it was her who had been separated. I missed her acting, singing making the atmosphere around her happy just with her presence.

Top 5 reasons why I miss you:

5.      You have such a good talent, and your one the best actors out there. I will forever remember that Dolly Bindra act you did. The funniest thing was that all your neighbors came into see what the commotion was about. There were guards present too right?! LOL!

4.      I’ve never seen a person eating so much food and still your so thin. It’s magic!

3.     You’re confused about everything. I’ve never seen a person so confused I’ll miss that!

2.     You make everything so lively. I’ve rarely seen you crying, your so happy most of the time, your either singing most of the time or showing the new acts you keep making. You make everyone laugh.

1.  You’ve helped me so much, Maths, SST dramas and most importantly you been the most supportive friend. 

To read  about Mumuksha's first book click here: Twilight Dissing

Its my opinion on Twilight, though Molly didn't like it either.  

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