Life as of late

Hi readers!

I know the focus of this blog lately has been to solely share lengthier book reviews than the ones found in my instagram account (@olivinebooks), given that here I have zero restrictions when it comes to character limit.

However, I’ve been meaning to share a life update for a while now, I just wasn’t sure when the right time would be. But then again, there’s that saying that goes: “If not now, then when?”. So here I am.

I moved to Spain four months ago. I was previously living in Peru, where I’m from. This isn’t my first time moving countries. It’s actually my third. Having moved countries before, you’d think I’d be used to it by now. But the truth is, absolutely not. I’m not the adventurous type (I’m an INFJ & Type 5, if you know, you know — otherwise you might want to look it up).

I’m a dual citizen and the idea of moving had been roaming my mind ever since I came for a visit 7 years ago. However, something always stopped me: fear of change. It’s funny (in the ironic sense, not humorous) how limiting fear can be. But circumstances changed between the end of 2020 and the start of 2021. I’ve changed too, I’m no longer that insecure girl in her early twenties who was too scared to take any risks. So now that the opportunity arose, I knew it was time to take a leap.

It took me some time to process everything. Not to mention the jet lag, my sleeping schedule was severely affected that first week lol. But looking in retrospective, while these past few months have felt like a total whirlwind, stepping out of your comfort zone provides so much space for learning and self-development. Even now, when I go for walks around the city, I still can’t believe that I’m here.

Anyway, here I share some snippets I’ve taken these past few months. Enjoy!

P.S. Do people still read blog entries? I feel so 2016 doing this.

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Review: The Da Vinci Code

Wow. I can’t believe it took me this long to read The Da Vinci Code. This book has been in my house for years, I had even forgotten about it. My mom bought it back when the movie was going to the released. Even after watching the movie, for some reason, it never caught my attention. That was until recently, when I found this copy while doing some rearrangements. I read the first few pages and was immediately hooked.

Here’s the book summary: While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call during the night. The curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.

I think it’s important to keep in mind that there’s a thin line separating fact from fiction here. Dan Brown chose a conspiracy theory to elaborate on the entire plot. Most of the references mentioned are true, it’s evident that the author did previous research. However, it’s also true that he made adjustments so they can fit the story. So basically, this book should be taken for what it is: fiction.

Putting aside all controversies, it was an engaging, fast-paced mystery. The plot undergoes so many unexpected turns, it will leave you gasping until the very end — where all the puzzle pieces finally come together. Even though I’ve seen the movie more than once, I don’t recall that much from it. So I was taken by surprise with most of the events that occurred in the book. Now that I’m done, I’ll definitely be rewatching it soon.

It’s written in third person, and while Robert Langdon is the protagonist, we also witness the perspective of other characters which makes it more interesting and easier to understand. While the prose itself is not outstanding, Dan Brown did a great job at writing intermittent cliff hangers that were resolved in later chapters.

Anyway, this book makes me want to book a flight to Paris and visit the Louvre Museum ASAP! Also, Tom Hanks fits perfectly the role of Langdon.

Rating: 4/5