As to the precise nature of the blog, I'm fairly confident in the direction I'm planning on taking. You see, while writing about love and relationships and 'What I did today since I got up' can be super interesting, it's not something I'd want to make a career out of. So instead of focusing on those aspects of my life, I'll rather be spending my time, this blog space, and your attention on the things that I really love, the things that've stayed with me for as long as I can remember: my films, my books and my video games. It's a risky move to make, I'm sure in this world of blogging, vlogging, twittering, and liking on Facebook there's a lot of competition to be had, but I'm confident whosoever's drawn to the same stuff as me, will also find their way onto this webpage--and that's when you know you've got 'em by the balls.
So what'll this first blog in ages be about? I'd actually like to start with books. It seems to me that reading as a pass-time is having a hard time competing with its other, more hip and technologically advanced counterparts. Although, judging by the rising number of eBooks and the continuing evolution towards a full-on e-based lifestyle, I guess the art of reading'll survive in one way or another. But I like to keep it old-school and rely on good-old-fashioned printed paper, thank you very much.
The author, one of my personal favourites, that I'd like to spotlight for a second, is Spanish novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafon. And when you think of writers, the picture to your left, to me, seems dead-on. A shy, somewhat introverted guy surrounded by rows and rows of books. He is in fact one of the few authors of which I've read his entire oeuvre, that is to say, his translated oeuvre. So far, he's published four novels, The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game and two young-adult novels The Prince of Mist and The Midnight Palace. I've read all four of them and every time Zafon knows how to get me. The way he can turn a phrase or conjure such a powerful image of a certain place, person or a sensation is stunning and otherworldy at times.For those of you who haven't read any of his works, I can only say: 'Shame on you', but then again, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't offer you some redemption by offering you the chance, here and now, to get up from behind that screen, walk out into the sunlight--or rain, whatever--and run to your nearest bookstore to get a copy, or, go all twenty-first century on me and order it online from your favourite bookshop--Amazon's known for offering great deals, I'm not kidding.
Anyways, back to Zafon now. I can't force you to like the things I like, obviously. If I had the power to do that, such powers'd be better served in politics than in a place like this. Yet if you like a solid story, told through a captivating sense of suspense and clever writing, Zafon's your guy. A good place to start with is either the first two books of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books Trilogy, namely, Shadow of the Wind and Angel's Game (preferrably in that order) or one of his young adult novels, in which case I highly recommend The Midnight Palace. The story is set in Calcutta, a city the Gods have turned their back on (told beautifully through the story-within-the-story Shiva's Tears). Years ago, a horrible accident happened that plunged the city into chaos. In the middle of this chaos, a young man is seen running away with two babies. The man is hunted down by a powerful enemy, but the man is able to fend him off long enough to safely hide the children. The story then revolves around the two babies, their connection to the horrible accident, why this evil is after them, and what secrets lie deep beneath the Midnight Palace. In short, it's a story about friendship, bravery and sacrifice.
In any case, read it, don't read it, I'm just here to give you some suggestions and to write about the things I like--if our interests happen to collide, so be it, if they happen to overlap, all the better. So, it is ten minutes past midnight, this blog has officially been reinstated--feels good to be back, actually. Hope you enjoyed it too.
