Two books that will blow your mind.

These are two recommendations of books I think everyone should read, that have the power to affect you in a very deep personal level:


The House of Leaves by Mark Z.
Danielewsky

This is by far the strangest book you'll ever read, that is, if you manage to finish it... It's a book about a book that's never existed about a movie that's never existed about a house that's never existed which happens to be larger on the inside than on the outside. Get it? Neither do I. This book will mess with your mind a little, will haunt you at night, and drive you to the limits of insanity. The thing is, you won't regret reading it.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

One Hundred Years of Solitude is a very appropriate title for this book, not just for the story, (which doesn't make much sense until the end) but also for the hollow sense of loneliness you experience when you're done with the last page.
This book gave me the worst book hangover I ever had; so many questions unanswered, so many mysteries that go unsolved, so many things to explain. As for the author, he doesn't care about about your suffering, he has done his job, he has submerged you into a world where the ordinary and the impossible blend without apology, a world in which you'll be trapped long after you finish reading One Hundred Years of Solitude.

The Dark Tower Series

"The Man in Black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed..."

Every time I hear the word 'epic,' I can't help it but to think of 'The Dark Tower' series, by many considered to be the greatest work of horror fiction writer Stephen King.

The complete saga was written over a period of 20 years, and it represents one the best works of fiction of all times. What makes The Dark Tower so special? If you ask me I'd tell you the mix of different genres and a very original story makes the series genuinely unique. The Dark Tower is not a horror, or fantasy, or quest, or western, or science fiction, or post apocalyptic story; it's all of them blended together in one gripping and compelling work of art.

The story revolves around Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger, who travels across Mid-World in a quest to find The Dark Tower: the center of the space, the center of time, and the center of life. Along with his companions, Roland looks for the weakening Tower desperately, before it collapses and sweeps the whole universe out of existence.

If you're looking for a book that contains the mythology and mysticism of The Lord of the Rings, but with a modern science-fictional setting of parallel universes, time traveling, multidimensional worlds and post apocalyptic landscapes, The Dark Tower awaits you.

Umbra Floating Book shelf--Transform your books into a work of art!

One of the most important things for bibliophiles like me (besides the books themselves, of course) is having a nice, safe, organized place to put our books. If you don't want your books to be scattered all around your desk, tables, bed and whatnot, but at the same time you don't have enough space for a traditional bookshelf, Umbra Floating Book Shelves are your solution!

These modern and practical book shelves can hold up 15, 20, and 30 pounds depending on the size you buy. They're easy to install, and free a lot of space for your room! 

These are some pictures of my own shelves already installed:

Small--for all you paperbacks and most hardcovers:

Large--for overly large hardcovers and even textbooks:

Double--I don't recommend these as they come asymmetrical sometimes and look kind of bad:

You can buy different models of shelves and other home decor products here. Or you can buy them directly from Amazon here. The prices vary from $13 to $18 depending on the size and model.

Some customer reviews:

I bought one of these to store some antique books given to me by my father. I put this shelf up in my son's room and it instantly added character and charm. I hope to purchase a few more because I have more books to go around. This shelf really does become concealed and it makes your books a piece of artwork! Would look fabulous clustered together on a wall. A+!--by Rachel , 2010-05-18 23:58:17.0

I bought four of these and I want to buy more. Excellent product, easy to install and a great price!--by Rebecca , 2010-05-18 23:59:15.0

Definitely a great way to keep your books safe and organized without giving up space and style!

Inferno--The new Dan Brown book

It's hard to find a person that has never heard of Dan Brown, a bestselling author that has sold over 200 million copies around the world, of which two of them, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons , have been adapted into films. Now in 2013, and beside the premise of a new movie adapted from his previous published book, The Lost Symbol, starting to film this year, millions of fans--including myself--await for the premiere of Brown's latest book: Inferno.

Inferno already figures in the top bestselling lists of  bookstores like Amazon and Barnes&Noble with  millions of copies sold already. Not impressed? The book has not been released yet (May 14 is the great day) and it is expected to beat The Da Vinci Code own record as the fastest-selling adult cover of all times, with more than 81 Million copies sold.

In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces…Dante’s Inferno.
Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust…before the world is irrevocably altered--Barnes&Noble overview

According to my past experience with this author I can almost assure you this: If you're not a Dan Brown Fan, you'll be; if don't like thriller, you will; if you've never read a book more than 200 pages long, you'll be begging for more; if you don't like reading at all, you'll love it. All of this will happen after you finish reading Inferno.

As for me, both a Dan Brown and Dante Alighieri's fan, the wait is killing me...

The name of the Wind -- A review

The Name of the Wind marked a milestone in my early career as a reader; it became the first book I ever read a second time. The story is told in first person by Kvothe, a presumably dead arcanist that protagonize both the hero and the villain of his own legend. Set in the most believable fantasy world you'll ever heard of, The Name of the Wind will immerse in one of the most epic tales of mythology, adventure, danger, mystery and love ever written. Such is the success of this epic fantasy debut by Patrick Rothfuss that many (including myself) would compare it to The Lord of the Rings itself:

 Fantasy readers-a notoriously discerning group-tend to dole out praise judiciously, which makes the reception of The Name of the Wind, the first volume in Patrick Rothfuss's The Kingkiller Chronicle, that much more remarkable. Critics are already throwing around comparisons to some of the biggest names in fantasy, including George R. R. Martin, Tad Williams, the recently deceased Robert Jordan, and even Tolkien. They praise Rothfuss's fresh take on the genre's conventions, particularly a shifting narrative that keeps the action moving. At nearly 700 pages, The Name of the Wind isn't meant to be knocked off in a weekend. But readers who pick up Rothfuss now-and, according to critics, that won't be a small number-can say they knew him back when. -- Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

If you love fantasy (or even if you don't, as I'm not a big fan of the genre myself) and have been waiting for the next Harry Potter or Game of Thrones to come out, you definitely have to give The name of the Wind a read: a great story, original and unique, that will hold your interest until the last page.