BOOKREVIEW#71 Wind Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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The Little Prince is among my most beloved books because the way I was introduced, the way I got to know and the way I still find ways to reconnedt with the book is . just . so . magical.

To begin with, I only read the book for a book report back when I was in first year high school. We were tasked to choose our choice of title to make a book report on and the person I've been crushing on at that time recommended The Little Prince to me. It's L's favorite book, that's why, and given a chance to read L's favorite book (for school even) was something I just can't let pass.

Upon reading, I was so grateful for L's effort to really persuade me to read The Little Prince. At that time, I had no idea what I was missing out on. It came to a point where L had to really detail with me the bullet reasons why I should trust the book recommendation. I'm glad I did for now, here I lie, wanting to complete every single special edition of The Little Prince. I was already gifted with one of the collectible prints. Next in line, something I wish to receive on one of my birthdays, is The Little Prince pop-up book. It's been years since I found out that there's such a thing as a Little Prince pop-up book and until now, I want to have one--without buying one! I want it to be a gift, so it'd be more meaningful to keep. 

To know more about the Wind, Sand and Stars, read after the jump! For more book reviews, go to this page. Don't forget to join my book club on Facebook! The Fallen Series is available at Fully Booked!

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With all that love, it was just right that I also get to know the man behind The Little Prince, author Antoine de Saint-Exupery. In his book, Wind, Sand and Stars, he narrates his personal story of the craft, the art and the mysteries of being a pilot.

"The perfect machine dissembles its own existence instead of circling itself upon our notice."

My Experience of Wind, Sand and Stars is enriched with a new found hope in people and in myself. His words brought a deeper meaning to the literary figures that inspired and also in a way molded me my deep attachment to The Little Prince. His words are overflowing with a good natured and a gentle optimism, he is ever-hopeful and learned not by a sheltered cause but by a first-hand experience of what its like to face life head on. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through his goggles and seeing the world differently, less skewed and void of heartlessness. He shared how learning is not in teaching but in discovering. How places are best understood not where they are plotted in maps but how they are lived in--how they remain rooted and tied to the umbilical cord of this inter-connected world, our inter-connected lives.

One of my favorite sections of the book is when he started talking about death and what we usually leave behind when we do pass away. Throughout the book, I witnessed his strong admiration to passionate crafts and craftsmen like flying and pilots, and gardening and gardeners. Most obvious was his usually reference to the latter, to which he gave a beautiful anecdote about death. He shared how when gardeners die, they worry not of the life (their life) that they lose or will leave behind, but rather worry about the life (the lives, plants in this case) that would lose his love and attention. How when we die, it isn't always about what we lose as a part of this world, but it is also, sometime more about, what the world loses in losing us. It is a selfish thought to think that the world would miss out should we be gone, but it is inspiring to consider that if we work on becoming a productive individual, one that fulfills or strives to fulfill a certain purpose, it is truly going to count should we inevitably deny our personal participation to the world's endless growth. Likewise, it is selfless to think not of the opportunities we will lose, but rather the sudden change we impose on people, things and events that rely, need and worse, love our presence.

Yes, there is beauty in solitude but it's magical and perhaps annoying to realize that aloneness is the hardest of addresses to reach.

Last but not the least, I fell in love with how he shared a metaphor about trusting the motor of an engine because it is made of goodness. I think in life, when everything just seem to fall apart, the least we can do for ourselves is to trust in our goodness and know that at the end of the day, we will do all the best that we can to not let ourselves down. Never give up on yourself, especially when things aren't going your way, because our hearts are strong, they beat day in and out, and will not stop, will sometimes work the double shift, just to get you going, until you reach where you should arrive.

I feel so inspired by this book. I hope you also try to bask on the inspiration and the magic the Wind, Sand and Stars can grant you. 

What's the most recent book that inspired you?

Wind, Sand and Stars is available at Fully Booked. For more information or to reserve a copy, simply tweet Lucy www.twitter.com/_fullybooked!

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