Completion Date: Unknown :'(
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: HHG - 215, REOU - 208, TOTAL - 423
Most Memorable Quote: Since I'm reviewing two books here, I'm just going to do one quote for each book.
Hitchhiker's Guide:
"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
"Very deep," said Arthur, "you should send that in to the Reader's Digest. They've got a page for people like you." - The only thing I can think to say about this quote is: LOL.
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe:
"'Have some sense of proportion!' she would say, sometimes as often as thirty-eight times in a single day.
And so he built the Total Perspective Vortex — just to show her.
And into one end he plugged the whole of reality as extrapolated from a piece of fairy cake, and into the other end he plugged his wife: so that when he turned it on she saw in one instant the whole infinity of creation and herself in relation to it.
To Trin Tragula's horror, the shock completely annihilated her brain; but to his satisfaction he realized that he had proved conclusively that if life is going to exist in a Universe of this size, then the one thing it cannot afford to have is a sense of proportion."
-- I would love to be in Douglas Adams' brain for 5 minutes. How on Earth does he even think of something like that? I'd imagine my brain would probably explode if I saw "the whole infinity of creation and myself in relation to it." I'm thinking I'll build a Total Perspective Vortex next Tuesday, what do you think? :P
Aaanyway. Those quotes were mostly just to show how clever and wonderful these books are. Because seriously, they are freakin' hilarious.
Hitchhiker's Guide and Restaurant at the End of the Universe are kind of mind blowing, I'm not going to lie! With all the made up words and species and confusing terminology, this guy created his own universe that I've spent 2 books trying to understand. I sometimes have to read over things 3 or 4 times to finally comprehend what is trying to be said.
I really love the characters in these books. You've got a snobby British guy; a pompous, arrogant guy with two heads; a depressed, self-loathing robot; an alien hitchhiker; and one SEMI-normal girl; and they're all stuck together on a spaceship that makes the most improbable things happen. Absolutely genius.
I love the ship and the talking equipment. Every inanimate object speaks and has feelings in these books. One of my favorite parts of Hitchhiker's Guide was when Arthur tried to explain tea and get the ship to work with the drink maker to create it. The ship had to shut down and focus it's full attention to the task, almost killing them, until it finally figured it out. Arthur described the final product as "the best tea he'd ever drunk." The ship was very self-satisfied.
I was amazed at the extreme randomness of these books. Going through the thought process of a whale as it's plummeting to the surface of a planet from space is not something you see in every book; appealing to a foreign alien's desire for independence in order to prevent them from throwing you into the deep abyss of space is not an idea authors normally consider. Douglas Adams simply went where no one else COULD have gone and it astounds me. WHAT WAS HE THINKING WHEN HE WROTE THIS?
If you love sarcasm and dry humor and hate logic, you will love these books. Luckily I do, and I was laughing 95% of the time. But along with the hilarity, this series (thus far) is just absolutely BRILLIANT. The syntax, the word choice, the metaphors, the symbolism...it's all in there and it makes the books remarkable.
Wow, this is a choppy entry. haha. I just can't eloquently describe why these books give me so much joy. Probably because these books aren't eloquent. But they are still fantastic and I vote EVERYONE reads them. I'm sure they had their flaws, but I was too busy laughing to notice them.
So, with that, the answer is 42. :)
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P.S. The reason I'm writing this now and combining these two books in the series is because I will not be reading the next one in the Hitchhiker's series for a while. With English books and my own personal reading, I just don't have time to hit up the next one yet.
P.P.S. I don't have the completion date on here because my dad threw away my list of completed books that I had written down on paper. I had the date on there...but now it's lost and gone forever. :'( I'm very upset about it. Worst thing to ever happen to an OC, let me just say...
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, September 24, 2010
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Completion Date: 09.21.2010
Rating: <3
Number of Pages:359
Most Memorable Quote: "Fiddling with the damp terragon left me so intensely irritated that when I was done I had to stick the ramekin/mise bowls back in the fridge and go watch both the episode where Xander is possessed by a demon and the one where Giles regresses to his outrageously sexy teen self and has sex with Buffy's mom, just to get over it." -- I think we all know why I love this quote. It's because it mentions Buffy. Also because it portrays Julie's eccentric, bizarre personality and writing style quite well -- straightforward, to the point, slightly unstable, and simply funny.
You know, that quote up there isn't the only quote about Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that book! In fact, Julie mentions it quite often, which rocks. That's probably why I love it so much. I always have another Buffy quote to look forward to. And hey, she even referenced Firefly once! She must be a Whedonite. That fact made me love her, even before I learned how seriously funny and insane she is.
Aside from the Buffy-ness of the book, I really liked Julie and Julia. It was great. It made me literally laugh out loud. OUT LOUD. It has been such a ridiculously long time since I've laughed so hard at a book. Granted, that's because I've been reading thrillers and serious, intense books lately, but still. I was so pleased.
Julie Powell has an awesome writing style. It's just so...honest. She doesn't beat around the bush, sugar coat things...she said a couple of things that were awkward enough to make me squirm a little, which is quite impressive. She doesn't hold back. She puts her entire personality on the page, saturating it with witty, unstable goodness.
I was really shocked at how interesting this book was. I mean, it's about an average New Yorker making a blog about cooking a lot -- but the humor and other little side stories made it worth getting through the stuff that I didn't comprehend in the least.
For a book about cooking, there was a tonnn of swearing and sexual references, so be warned. I mean, honestly, it adds to the charm of the book; without the stream of swears and awkward cooking vs. sex comparisons, it just wouldn't be the same! However, this may make it so that it's not for everyone.
Talking about the story, it's pretty awesome, what Julie Powell did. I know I couldn't cook 524 French recipes in 365 days. That's just silliness. She pulled it off though, which is certainly commendable. And now she's all famous, with a book and a movie. Just goes to show, it doesn't matter what situation you're in -- set goals and accomplish them. You never know what could happen.
Well, I liked it. Mostly for Buffy, but for the rest of it, too. ;)
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages:359
Most Memorable Quote: "Fiddling with the damp terragon left me so intensely irritated that when I was done I had to stick the ramekin/mise bowls back in the fridge and go watch both the episode where Xander is possessed by a demon and the one where Giles regresses to his outrageously sexy teen self and has sex with Buffy's mom, just to get over it." -- I think we all know why I love this quote. It's because it mentions Buffy. Also because it portrays Julie's eccentric, bizarre personality and writing style quite well -- straightforward, to the point, slightly unstable, and simply funny.
You know, that quote up there isn't the only quote about Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that book! In fact, Julie mentions it quite often, which rocks. That's probably why I love it so much. I always have another Buffy quote to look forward to. And hey, she even referenced Firefly once! She must be a Whedonite. That fact made me love her, even before I learned how seriously funny and insane she is.
Aside from the Buffy-ness of the book, I really liked Julie and Julia. It was great. It made me literally laugh out loud. OUT LOUD. It has been such a ridiculously long time since I've laughed so hard at a book. Granted, that's because I've been reading thrillers and serious, intense books lately, but still. I was so pleased.
Julie Powell has an awesome writing style. It's just so...honest. She doesn't beat around the bush, sugar coat things...she said a couple of things that were awkward enough to make me squirm a little, which is quite impressive. She doesn't hold back. She puts her entire personality on the page, saturating it with witty, unstable goodness.
I was really shocked at how interesting this book was. I mean, it's about an average New Yorker making a blog about cooking a lot -- but the humor and other little side stories made it worth getting through the stuff that I didn't comprehend in the least.
For a book about cooking, there was a tonnn of swearing and sexual references, so be warned. I mean, honestly, it adds to the charm of the book; without the stream of swears and awkward cooking vs. sex comparisons, it just wouldn't be the same! However, this may make it so that it's not for everyone.
Talking about the story, it's pretty awesome, what Julie Powell did. I know I couldn't cook 524 French recipes in 365 days. That's just silliness. She pulled it off though, which is certainly commendable. And now she's all famous, with a book and a movie. Just goes to show, it doesn't matter what situation you're in -- set goals and accomplish them. You never know what could happen.
Well, I liked it. Mostly for Buffy, but for the rest of it, too. ;)
[CHECK]
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Completion Date: 09.07.2010
Rating: *
Number of Pages:569
Most Memorable Quote -
"All faiths are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable...with faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do, looking beyond the ritual of these walls, they would see a modern miracle...a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control."
-- This is when Camerlengo Carlo Vestra is speaking to the world about the Illuminati and the faults of science. This quote is actually quite accurate about the nature of religion, I find. There isn't a religion on the Earth today that is perfect -- men spin in prejudice, politics, weakness . . . no man is infallable, and religious organizations and opinions are formed by men. However, perfection is not what's important in religion. Religion is a moral compass; it is a source of hope, of love, of service . . . despite all error or uncertainty, religion is the root of so much good in this world, and is beautiful.
So, uh. Yes. That is my religious thought of the day. Does that have anything to do with Angels and Demons, the book? No, not really.
On a more related note, I quite enjoyed Angels and Demons! At first I thought I was going to like The DaVinci Code better, as that one's about the history of art, which I find fascinating. However, as I read myself deeper into the Angels and Demons symbology, plot twists, and pure action-packed-goodness, it simply encaptured me.
Now, let me clarify, this was not the best book I've read in my life. Not even close. I know that last paragraph was raving (and goodness gracious, YOU try to come up with as intricate a work of fiction while mixing in so many hard facts and detailed history -- I mean, seriously!) but there were plenty of flaws with this book. Dan Brown is a freaking genius when it comes to the storyline -- the detail, the twists and turns, the characters -- it's all top notch! I simply find that he could probably find more eloquent ways of putting across the mass amounts of information that he shoves into your face. I mean, you hardly notice this because the plot is enough to excite you and keep you enthralled, but his writing style is certainly simple.
Angels and Demons is altogether a good book. Is it my favorite? nah. But it's really, really good.
As a final note, I really wish I could think like Dan Brown. He must be such a smart guy. Sadly, however, my intellectual level is probably about the same as a puppy. Eh, but such is life. Maybe I'll just write a book about what it's like to be completely, utterly, ridiculously ordinary.
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages:569
Most Memorable Quote -
"All faiths are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable...with faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do, looking beyond the ritual of these walls, they would see a modern miracle...a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control."
-- This is when Camerlengo Carlo Vestra is speaking to the world about the Illuminati and the faults of science. This quote is actually quite accurate about the nature of religion, I find. There isn't a religion on the Earth today that is perfect -- men spin in prejudice, politics, weakness . . . no man is infallable, and religious organizations and opinions are formed by men. However, perfection is not what's important in religion. Religion is a moral compass; it is a source of hope, of love, of service . . . despite all error or uncertainty, religion is the root of so much good in this world, and is beautiful.
So, uh. Yes. That is my religious thought of the day. Does that have anything to do with Angels and Demons, the book? No, not really.
On a more related note, I quite enjoyed Angels and Demons! At first I thought I was going to like The DaVinci Code better, as that one's about the history of art, which I find fascinating. However, as I read myself deeper into the Angels and Demons symbology, plot twists, and pure action-packed-goodness, it simply encaptured me.
Now, let me clarify, this was not the best book I've read in my life. Not even close. I know that last paragraph was raving (and goodness gracious, YOU try to come up with as intricate a work of fiction while mixing in so many hard facts and detailed history -- I mean, seriously!) but there were plenty of flaws with this book. Dan Brown is a freaking genius when it comes to the storyline -- the detail, the twists and turns, the characters -- it's all top notch! I simply find that he could probably find more eloquent ways of putting across the mass amounts of information that he shoves into your face. I mean, you hardly notice this because the plot is enough to excite you and keep you enthralled, but his writing style is certainly simple.
Angels and Demons is altogether a good book. Is it my favorite? nah. But it's really, really good.
As a final note, I really wish I could think like Dan Brown. He must be such a smart guy. Sadly, however, my intellectual level is probably about the same as a puppy. Eh, but such is life. Maybe I'll just write a book about what it's like to be completely, utterly, ridiculously ordinary.
[CHECK]
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Completion Date: 05.03.2010
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 158
Most Memorable Quote:
"When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun." -- I love this quote because it describes, in essence, if you look at each part of that quote, the whole theme of the book. It's a very eloquent way of saying that life really isn't as complicated as it is generally made out to be.
I absolutely loved this book; it is definitely in my top 3 favorite books of all time. It's exceptionally different from most books that I've ever read.
Taoism is a very seldom understood way of life. Many find that the only ones that can fully understand or explain it are those old Chinese philosophers who often seem too distant and impossible to relate to. Benjamin Hoff took the task to explain some fundamentals of Taoism through the beloved and well-known Pooh Bear and all his friends in the 100-acre woods.
In this book, everything from the basics of what Taoism is to the principle of the Uncarved block is explained in terms that I could relate to exceptionally well. I discovered that, whereas it's a beautiful belief system, etched with simplicity and harmony with the Universe, I would suck as a Taoist. A quote from the book simply made me giggle, as it explained me so well:
"The surest way to become Tense, Awkward, and Confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much."
That...is me. I think. And I think. And I over think. And I over think my over thinking. And honestly, you will never meet some one more tense, I'm almost incapable of relaxing; awkward, I suck at making conversation and being around people; and confused, I'm pretty sure my mind is permanently boggled by things like religion, politics, and boys; and I can definitely see that it's my need to think about things through and through that's to blame. I would love to be a Taoist, but my very nature seems to be against it.
The point in all this rambling about how much I would suck as a Taoist is that I have a lot that I can learn and take from a book like this. Whereas I can't call myself a Taoist, I can attempt to apply Taoist principles to my life to make myself happy, and a book that can help me understand how to do so in simpler terms is a great book.
"Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got."
Knowledge, and wisdom, and skepticism isn't everything in the world. It's important to stop and smell the roses every now and then, and not get all caught up and stressed over things that are going on. According to Taoism, the pieces will fall where they may and worrying about it serves no one. Sometimes, every now and then, you don't need to figure everything out and you need to just accept things for what they are.
"Now, scholars can be very useful and necessary, in their own dull and unamusing way. They provide a lot of information. It's just that there is Something More, and that Something More is what life is really all about."
I loved this book so much. It was just so...good. Read it.
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 158
Most Memorable Quote:
"When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun." -- I love this quote because it describes, in essence, if you look at each part of that quote, the whole theme of the book. It's a very eloquent way of saying that life really isn't as complicated as it is generally made out to be.
I absolutely loved this book; it is definitely in my top 3 favorite books of all time. It's exceptionally different from most books that I've ever read.
Taoism is a very seldom understood way of life. Many find that the only ones that can fully understand or explain it are those old Chinese philosophers who often seem too distant and impossible to relate to. Benjamin Hoff took the task to explain some fundamentals of Taoism through the beloved and well-known Pooh Bear and all his friends in the 100-acre woods.
In this book, everything from the basics of what Taoism is to the principle of the Uncarved block is explained in terms that I could relate to exceptionally well. I discovered that, whereas it's a beautiful belief system, etched with simplicity and harmony with the Universe, I would suck as a Taoist. A quote from the book simply made me giggle, as it explained me so well:
"The surest way to become Tense, Awkward, and Confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much."
That...is me. I think. And I think. And I over think. And I over think my over thinking. And honestly, you will never meet some one more tense, I'm almost incapable of relaxing; awkward, I suck at making conversation and being around people; and confused, I'm pretty sure my mind is permanently boggled by things like religion, politics, and boys; and I can definitely see that it's my need to think about things through and through that's to blame. I would love to be a Taoist, but my very nature seems to be against it.
The point in all this rambling about how much I would suck as a Taoist is that I have a lot that I can learn and take from a book like this. Whereas I can't call myself a Taoist, I can attempt to apply Taoist principles to my life to make myself happy, and a book that can help me understand how to do so in simpler terms is a great book.
"Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got."
Knowledge, and wisdom, and skepticism isn't everything in the world. It's important to stop and smell the roses every now and then, and not get all caught up and stressed over things that are going on. According to Taoism, the pieces will fall where they may and worrying about it serves no one. Sometimes, every now and then, you don't need to figure everything out and you need to just accept things for what they are.
"Now, scholars can be very useful and necessary, in their own dull and unamusing way. They provide a lot of information. It's just that there is Something More, and that Something More is what life is really all about."
I loved this book so much. It was just so...good. Read it.
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Sunday, March 28, 2010
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Completion Date: 03.17.2010
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 456
Most Memorable Quote: "We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us: and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence." -- p. 326.
Pretty neat quote, eh? I thought this a beautiful description of God and how powerful and wonderful He is. The context of this quote is when Jane is worried about Mr. Rochester and she realizes that God wouldn't let a creature He created suffer.
Jane Eyre was an excellent book. It took me about a million and a half years to read, but the story was top notch. Though disguised as a regular classic romantic novel, the book is not only about love but really about overcoming adversity and trials, about God and religion, about independence and forgiveness. It's a very compelling story and there is plenty to take away from it.
Jane Eyre, raised an orphan in an abusive family, was not supposed to succeed in life. When sent to Lowood school she makes friends and role-models, but also suffers humiliation and malnutrition and loses her best friend to illness. She eventually ends up teaching at that school and heading to Thornfield Manor to be a governess to live a simple life. There she tutors Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward.
When Mr. Rochester and Jane meet, Jane is certain Rochester doesn't think much of her. Later she is surprised to find out that he was quite taken from the very beginning. Of course they fall in love, but Bronte made it far more complicated than that. This novel was actually very intriguing at points; it wasn't the usual predictable classic, but it threw in some really shocking plot changes. Events occurred that caused Jane to run away and be taken in by St. John Rivers.
After a while of feeling discontented without Rochester, though happy that she has a family with St. John and his two sisters, Jane goes back to find Rochester to make sure that he's doing alright. There she finds tragedy and worry. I wondered how on earth they could resolve the story in the amount of time that they did and it was difficult to get through the last 100 pages or so, but it was totally worth it -- the book was resolved in a satisfying way for me.
It was just such an interesting book. I love the style of writing and Bronte made a very compelling story for me to read. I suggest this book to anyone who cares anything about their own well being. ;) READ IT.
Sorry about the crappiness of the review. It's like, 2 AM.
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 456
Most Memorable Quote: "We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us: and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence." -- p. 326.
Pretty neat quote, eh? I thought this a beautiful description of God and how powerful and wonderful He is. The context of this quote is when Jane is worried about Mr. Rochester and she realizes that God wouldn't let a creature He created suffer.
Jane Eyre was an excellent book. It took me about a million and a half years to read, but the story was top notch. Though disguised as a regular classic romantic novel, the book is not only about love but really about overcoming adversity and trials, about God and religion, about independence and forgiveness. It's a very compelling story and there is plenty to take away from it.
Jane Eyre, raised an orphan in an abusive family, was not supposed to succeed in life. When sent to Lowood school she makes friends and role-models, but also suffers humiliation and malnutrition and loses her best friend to illness. She eventually ends up teaching at that school and heading to Thornfield Manor to be a governess to live a simple life. There she tutors Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward.
When Mr. Rochester and Jane meet, Jane is certain Rochester doesn't think much of her. Later she is surprised to find out that he was quite taken from the very beginning. Of course they fall in love, but Bronte made it far more complicated than that. This novel was actually very intriguing at points; it wasn't the usual predictable classic, but it threw in some really shocking plot changes. Events occurred that caused Jane to run away and be taken in by St. John Rivers.
After a while of feeling discontented without Rochester, though happy that she has a family with St. John and his two sisters, Jane goes back to find Rochester to make sure that he's doing alright. There she finds tragedy and worry. I wondered how on earth they could resolve the story in the amount of time that they did and it was difficult to get through the last 100 pages or so, but it was totally worth it -- the book was resolved in a satisfying way for me.
It was just such an interesting book. I love the style of writing and Bronte made a very compelling story for me to read. I suggest this book to anyone who cares anything about their own well being. ;) READ IT.
Sorry about the crappiness of the review. It's like, 2 AM.
[CHECK]
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Completion Date: 7/10/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 165
My Most Memorable Quote: This book was chalk full of awesome sauce quotes. This one is just kind of explaining the government's reasoning and frame of mind.
"If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides of a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, topheavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than people worry over it."
Fahrenheit 451 is rather 1984-esque. Society has made people thoughtless and narrow minded. This America is filled with lawlessness. Everything is set up for the very purpose of entertainment. Don't worry, be happy. Forget war, forget knowledge, forget anything that causes you to worry, be bored, or to think.
Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman. Not one that puts out fires, but one who starts them. His job is to burn books. Anyone caught reading or possessing books is, at the minimum, confined to a mental hospital while the books are burned by the firemen. He's always enjoyed this job, but one day he meets a girl who gets him thinking about things in a new light. Clarisse McClellen makes him start asking why. Why does he burn these books? What could be in them that is worth burning? Eventually this causes him to rebel, get caught, and go on the run.
Honestly, I found this a lot easier to grasp and understand and compare than 1894. Is it because I'm pretty much disgusted at the thought of books being burned, so I payed closer attention? Possibly. But, really, I found it very easy to compare to today's society. The main comparison is that people really are looking for the greatest convenience.
It's that kind of mind frame to which people are really subjecting themselves these days. Why should I read the DaVinci Code if I can just see the movie? BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN WORK. DUH. Oh my land, my computer is so slow, maybe I should upgrade so that I can get to different facebook pages quicker! GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE, YOU PANSIE! Oh, why should I care about politics? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR TAXES, YOUR FUTURE. BE AWARE OF IT.
I feel like my generation is underestimating the importance of learning and thinking! People spend way more time watching Spongebob than reading books. People don't need to write letters anymore, they have e-mail. There's no need for face to face communication, we have texting. What is it that the smartest, most talented people are trying to develop these days? More convenience. Trying to make things easier and more "fun." But how can you learn the same amount when you're working so much less?
I think this book really depicts this problem very well. Ray Bradbury writes very clearly and eloquently, and though it went over my head once or twice, I feel like I got some good things out of it, and people really need to read this book. It's fantastic. :)
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 165
My Most Memorable Quote: This book was chalk full of awesome sauce quotes. This one is just kind of explaining the government's reasoning and frame of mind.
"If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides of a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, topheavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than people worry over it."
Fahrenheit 451 is rather 1984-esque. Society has made people thoughtless and narrow minded. This America is filled with lawlessness. Everything is set up for the very purpose of entertainment. Don't worry, be happy. Forget war, forget knowledge, forget anything that causes you to worry, be bored, or to think.
Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman. Not one that puts out fires, but one who starts them. His job is to burn books. Anyone caught reading or possessing books is, at the minimum, confined to a mental hospital while the books are burned by the firemen. He's always enjoyed this job, but one day he meets a girl who gets him thinking about things in a new light. Clarisse McClellen makes him start asking why. Why does he burn these books? What could be in them that is worth burning? Eventually this causes him to rebel, get caught, and go on the run.
Honestly, I found this a lot easier to grasp and understand and compare than 1894. Is it because I'm pretty much disgusted at the thought of books being burned, so I payed closer attention? Possibly. But, really, I found it very easy to compare to today's society. The main comparison is that people really are looking for the greatest convenience.
It's that kind of mind frame to which people are really subjecting themselves these days. Why should I read the DaVinci Code if I can just see the movie? BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN WORK. DUH. Oh my land, my computer is so slow, maybe I should upgrade so that I can get to different facebook pages quicker! GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE, YOU PANSIE! Oh, why should I care about politics? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR TAXES, YOUR FUTURE. BE AWARE OF IT.
I feel like my generation is underestimating the importance of learning and thinking! People spend way more time watching Spongebob than reading books. People don't need to write letters anymore, they have e-mail. There's no need for face to face communication, we have texting. What is it that the smartest, most talented people are trying to develop these days? More convenience. Trying to make things easier and more "fun." But how can you learn the same amount when you're working so much less?
I think this book really depicts this problem very well. Ray Bradbury writes very clearly and eloquently, and though it went over my head once or twice, I feel like I got some good things out of it, and people really need to read this book. It's fantastic. :)
[CHECK]
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Completion Date: 6/18/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 192
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was pretty difficult because there was a lot to learn in the book. I chose this one just because I felt like it. It just kind of shows how he looked at death and all that stuff.
"--he would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying. Instead, he would make death his final project, the centerpoint of his days. 'Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what ahppens to me. Learn with me.' "
Tuesdays with Morrie...such a good book. So very sad, but another one of those books that you learn from. The moral of the story is, basically, that we just need to pay more attention to the important things in life; like family, and love, and just being positive and stuff.
When you read about this man whose days are running thin, who is completely dependant upon other people and can't do anything for himself, you wonder how he could not be racked with self-pity. I'm pretty sure I would be. I would pretty much pity myself all the time. I'd be embarrassed by the things people would have to do for me. He, on the other hand, was just always positive. It's absolutely amazing.
This book was very close to making me cry. It is so sad. You become attached to Morrie throughout the book, and as you read about his withering body, you feel some pain. At least, I did. But honestly, it's spectacular. I could read this book a million times over. If you haven't read this book, I'm sorry, but you have to.
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 192
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was pretty difficult because there was a lot to learn in the book. I chose this one just because I felt like it. It just kind of shows how he looked at death and all that stuff.
"--he would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying. Instead, he would make death his final project, the centerpoint of his days. 'Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what ahppens to me. Learn with me.' "
Tuesdays with Morrie...such a good book. So very sad, but another one of those books that you learn from. The moral of the story is, basically, that we just need to pay more attention to the important things in life; like family, and love, and just being positive and stuff.
When you read about this man whose days are running thin, who is completely dependant upon other people and can't do anything for himself, you wonder how he could not be racked with self-pity. I'm pretty sure I would be. I would pretty much pity myself all the time. I'd be embarrassed by the things people would have to do for me. He, on the other hand, was just always positive. It's absolutely amazing.
This book was very close to making me cry. It is so sad. You become attached to Morrie throughout the book, and as you read about his withering body, you feel some pain. At least, I did. But honestly, it's spectacular. I could read this book a million times over. If you haven't read this book, I'm sorry, but you have to.
[CHECK]
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
Completion Date: 6/11/2009
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 96
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was a toughie; There are just so many amazing quotes in this book! I almost want to do them all but . . . that would be a lot. So! I'm just going to do two. The first of which just kind of hit me because I just moved and I've found it to be true.
"Ever has it been that love knows not it's own depth until the hour of separation."
The second is when the Prophet was asked about joy and sorrow, and he goes on to explain that they are interwoven; You can not have joy without sorrow. I loved this quote, I thought it was just so cool and explains joy and sorrow really well, and kind of turns sorrow into a more positive thing.
"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."
Well, I love The Prophet in a different way than how I love Pride and Prejudice; There are so many lessons you learn from it. It's absolutely incredible. While Pride and Prejudice just gives me warm fuzzies because I love Mr. Darcy, The Prophet just leaves me in awe of all the things I can learn from it. This book explains emotions such as love, joy, pain, and sorrow; but it also explains things like beauty, buying, houses, clothing . . .. Somehow or another, he always finds a way to bring it back to religion and God, or applying it to your own goodness, and it's amazing! I mean, really, I was encaptured in the words I was reading; Trying my best to apply it to myself and to learn from it. I really liked, at the end, when he says,
"Less than a promise have I given, and yet more generous have you been to me.
You have given me my deeper thirsting after life.
Surely there is no greater gift to a man than that which turns all his aims into parching lips and all life into a fountain.
And in this lies my honour and my reward, --
That whenever I come to the fountain to drink I find the living water itself thirsty; And it drinks me while I drink it."
It's crazy, I know. I still have to read it a million times to even get any understanding out of it. I mean, that really is a gift and I don't think anyone really thinks about that. That metaphor right there goes pretty far over my head, and every time I think about it, I get different meanings from it, but I think that's what's so great about it.
Well, this was just an intense book. I'll definitely have to read it again when I'm older and have more of an understanding of life and things like that, but I really learned a lot from it right now. I would suggest it to most people. :)
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 96
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was a toughie; There are just so many amazing quotes in this book! I almost want to do them all but . . . that would be a lot. So! I'm just going to do two. The first of which just kind of hit me because I just moved and I've found it to be true.
"Ever has it been that love knows not it's own depth until the hour of separation."
The second is when the Prophet was asked about joy and sorrow, and he goes on to explain that they are interwoven; You can not have joy without sorrow. I loved this quote, I thought it was just so cool and explains joy and sorrow really well, and kind of turns sorrow into a more positive thing.
"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."
Well, I love The Prophet in a different way than how I love Pride and Prejudice; There are so many lessons you learn from it. It's absolutely incredible. While Pride and Prejudice just gives me warm fuzzies because I love Mr. Darcy, The Prophet just leaves me in awe of all the things I can learn from it. This book explains emotions such as love, joy, pain, and sorrow; but it also explains things like beauty, buying, houses, clothing . . .. Somehow or another, he always finds a way to bring it back to religion and God, or applying it to your own goodness, and it's amazing! I mean, really, I was encaptured in the words I was reading; Trying my best to apply it to myself and to learn from it. I really liked, at the end, when he says,
"Less than a promise have I given, and yet more generous have you been to me.
You have given me my deeper thirsting after life.
Surely there is no greater gift to a man than that which turns all his aims into parching lips and all life into a fountain.
And in this lies my honour and my reward, --
That whenever I come to the fountain to drink I find the living water itself thirsty; And it drinks me while I drink it."
It's crazy, I know. I still have to read it a million times to even get any understanding out of it. I mean, that really is a gift and I don't think anyone really thinks about that. That metaphor right there goes pretty far over my head, and every time I think about it, I get different meanings from it, but I think that's what's so great about it.
Well, this was just an intense book. I'll definitely have to read it again when I'm older and have more of an understanding of life and things like that, but I really learned a lot from it right now. I would suggest it to most people. :)
[CHECK]
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Completion Date: 6/9/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 367
My Most Memorable Quote (New to the blog!): Yeah, that's right, I'm going with the famous first line. It's just completely epic and very possibly the greatest first line in the whole wide world. It just immediately takes you into the story and tells you what's up. So here it is, My Most Memorable Quote of Pride and Prejudice:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
If you know me, you know that I love this book with a passion. I am such a girl, I know, but it's just amazing! The book is extremely well written, Jane Austen is a genius. You know, I can't help but love the story. It's so romantic, and as much as I like to pretend that I'm a tough, awesome sauce baller, I am also a hopeless romantic. The story just flows beautifully. The characters are just so well developed; you feel for all of them. You feel their embarassment, you feel their pain, you feel their joy . . . SO GOOD.
Well, the story is just incredible. Elizabeth is strong, independent, witty, and just awesome sauce. Mr. Darcy is so proud, but just so incredibly amazing! Their relationship is developed so well, I just love it. My heart melts every time I read that ending . . . .
Well, it's just an amazing book. Many people think that this book is just for girls, but I would respect anyone for reading Pride and Prejudice. It's a wonderful book!
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 367
My Most Memorable Quote (New to the blog!): Yeah, that's right, I'm going with the famous first line. It's just completely epic and very possibly the greatest first line in the whole wide world. It just immediately takes you into the story and tells you what's up. So here it is, My Most Memorable Quote of Pride and Prejudice:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
If you know me, you know that I love this book with a passion. I am such a girl, I know, but it's just amazing! The book is extremely well written, Jane Austen is a genius. You know, I can't help but love the story. It's so romantic, and as much as I like to pretend that I'm a tough, awesome sauce baller, I am also a hopeless romantic. The story just flows beautifully. The characters are just so well developed; you feel for all of them. You feel their embarassment, you feel their pain, you feel their joy . . . SO GOOD.
Well, the story is just incredible. Elizabeth is strong, independent, witty, and just awesome sauce. Mr. Darcy is so proud, but just so incredibly amazing! Their relationship is developed so well, I just love it. My heart melts every time I read that ending . . . .
Well, it's just an amazing book. Many people think that this book is just for girls, but I would respect anyone for reading Pride and Prejudice. It's a wonderful book!
[CHECK]
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Completion Date: 5/26/2009
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 519
I'm not really in the mood to write an especially long or deep review about this book. Sorry. I mean, I definitely could say some stuff in this review, but I'm really not into it.
So! Basically this book is extremely different from the musical. Not especially happy. I mean, it was a good book. It may have gone a tad over my head at points, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It really puts the whole Wizard of Oz thing in a whole new light. It shows that, though Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) was wicked, her intentions weren't such. She had her beliefs, she just carried them out in a more...rude...way. Another thing I liked about this book was that it confronts the nature of evil and good vs. evil a lot, and it's really iteresting to read. It makes your brain work extra hard.
There are some things that I certainly did not like very much in this book. Sex and language were the main things. The Turtle Heart/Melena affair, a few F bombs, Fiyero and Elphaba's affair, were a few of the...risque things that occurred. The thing that I really didn't appreciate very much was describing the night at the Philosophy club in such detail. Very little was gained from that. I suppose that it was just to explain what happened to Tibbit, but Gregory Maguire certainly gave me a little too much information, in my opinion. I can see how Fiyero and Elphaba's affair was necissary to the story, and I didn't mind that too terribly much, but describing human/Animal sex did not make me happy. I'm just warning people that this is not an innocent book in the slightest. Just beware before venturing into the book.
You know, I mostly really liked the book. It's very well written, and it shows that even the Wicked Witch of the West has a soul (even if she, herself, doesn't think she does). All she wanted is forgiveness. It teaches an excellent lesson, and it really is very entertaining. I will admit that this book is certainly not for everyone, so just proceed with caution. :D
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 519
I'm not really in the mood to write an especially long or deep review about this book. Sorry. I mean, I definitely could say some stuff in this review, but I'm really not into it.
So! Basically this book is extremely different from the musical. Not especially happy. I mean, it was a good book. It may have gone a tad over my head at points, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It really puts the whole Wizard of Oz thing in a whole new light. It shows that, though Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) was wicked, her intentions weren't such. She had her beliefs, she just carried them out in a more...rude...way. Another thing I liked about this book was that it confronts the nature of evil and good vs. evil a lot, and it's really iteresting to read. It makes your brain work extra hard.
There are some things that I certainly did not like very much in this book. Sex and language were the main things. The Turtle Heart/Melena affair, a few F bombs, Fiyero and Elphaba's affair, were a few of the...risque things that occurred. The thing that I really didn't appreciate very much was describing the night at the Philosophy club in such detail. Very little was gained from that. I suppose that it was just to explain what happened to Tibbit, but Gregory Maguire certainly gave me a little too much information, in my opinion. I can see how Fiyero and Elphaba's affair was necissary to the story, and I didn't mind that too terribly much, but describing human/Animal sex did not make me happy. I'm just warning people that this is not an innocent book in the slightest. Just beware before venturing into the book.
You know, I mostly really liked the book. It's very well written, and it shows that even the Wicked Witch of the West has a soul (even if she, herself, doesn't think she does). All she wanted is forgiveness. It teaches an excellent lesson, and it really is very entertaining. I will admit that this book is certainly not for everyone, so just proceed with caution. :D
[CHECK]
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
Completion Date: 3/26/2009
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 240
So...I've decided that perhaps I've been going into a little bit too much detail on these book things. What I mean by that is that I give you pretty much the entire plot of the book. Mostly. Shouldn't I be letting you find out for yourself? I mean...if it's a good book, I wouldn't want people ruining the plot for me. Anyway, I'll probably just go into a little less detail for you.
A Long Way Gone is a true story. It's a memoir...duh. It's even in the title. Anyway! It's a very sad story about a boy who is running from the Revolutionary Union Front (RUF or rebels) in the country Sierra Leone. He is eventually put into the army to fight these rebels. His experience there is absolutely brutal and takes away his humanity, really.
He is in the army for a while before he gets taken out and put into a rehabilitation program. He finds family and eventually goes to New York City to live. There's a lot more to the story, and it's really fascinating to see how this boy learned to be a boy again, rather than just a soldier. Yes, it's very sad at some moments and rather gruesome at others, it's a very good book and is highly recommended by me. :)
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 240
So...I've decided that perhaps I've been going into a little bit too much detail on these book things. What I mean by that is that I give you pretty much the entire plot of the book. Mostly. Shouldn't I be letting you find out for yourself? I mean...if it's a good book, I wouldn't want people ruining the plot for me. Anyway, I'll probably just go into a little less detail for you.
A Long Way Gone is a true story. It's a memoir...duh. It's even in the title. Anyway! It's a very sad story about a boy who is running from the Revolutionary Union Front (RUF or rebels) in the country Sierra Leone. He is eventually put into the army to fight these rebels. His experience there is absolutely brutal and takes away his humanity, really.
He is in the army for a while before he gets taken out and put into a rehabilitation program. He finds family and eventually goes to New York City to live. There's a lot more to the story, and it's really fascinating to see how this boy learned to be a boy again, rather than just a soldier. Yes, it's very sad at some moments and rather gruesome at others, it's a very good book and is highly recommended by me. :)
[CHECK]
Monday, March 16, 2009
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Completion Date: 3/16/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 204
A Separate Peace by John Knowles is really an incredible book. It takes place in the early 1940's at Devon, a boarding school in New Hampshire. World War II is raging on and this book shows how the seniors at Devon see the war and deciding whether to enlist.
The main characters in this story are Gene Forrester, the narrator, and Phineas, or Finny, Gene's best friend. Their personalities really aren't especially similar, Finny being more athletic and carefree as opposed to Gene who takes life more seriously and is an extremely good student. But they are best friends. The story also follows a few other characters, though not as heavily, the main ones being Brinker Hadley and Elwin "Leper" Lepellier. An accident occurs that incapacitates Finny, and this book follows how Gene and Finny lived through the summer and fall sessions at Devon and how they mature in who they are and in their take on the war.
I refuse to spoil the plot of such a magnificant book because people should really just read it. I was captured into the story from the beginning. A Separate Peace is not only extremely entertaining to read, but it also contains in it's pages many important lessons you can learn. I probably could've just read the whole book in a night if it weren't for facebook (yes, that is my weakness). If you have not read this book, read it. I doubt you will be disappointed.
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 204
A Separate Peace by John Knowles is really an incredible book. It takes place in the early 1940's at Devon, a boarding school in New Hampshire. World War II is raging on and this book shows how the seniors at Devon see the war and deciding whether to enlist.
The main characters in this story are Gene Forrester, the narrator, and Phineas, or Finny, Gene's best friend. Their personalities really aren't especially similar, Finny being more athletic and carefree as opposed to Gene who takes life more seriously and is an extremely good student. But they are best friends. The story also follows a few other characters, though not as heavily, the main ones being Brinker Hadley and Elwin "Leper" Lepellier. An accident occurs that incapacitates Finny, and this book follows how Gene and Finny lived through the summer and fall sessions at Devon and how they mature in who they are and in their take on the war.
I refuse to spoil the plot of such a magnificant book because people should really just read it. I was captured into the story from the beginning. A Separate Peace is not only extremely entertaining to read, but it also contains in it's pages many important lessons you can learn. I probably could've just read the whole book in a night if it weren't for facebook (yes, that is my weakness). If you have not read this book, read it. I doubt you will be disappointed.
[CHECK]
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
1984 by George Orwell
Completion Date: 3/4/09
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 267
I have to admit to you, this book went slightly over my head. This is a rather heavy book, I must say. This book is extremely difficult to explain or to give the basic plot of due to the complexity of the story. It is basically set in a time where all is controlled by "The Party", including thought, action, etc. Everyone thinks, acts, and works for the Party and Big Brother.
"Ministry of Truth bureaucrat Winston Smith is the protagonist; although unitary, the story is three-fold. The first describes the world of 1984 as he perceives it; the second is his illicit romance with Julia and his intellectual rebellion against the Party; the third is his capture and imprisonment, interrogation, torture, and re-education in the Ministry of Love." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_book#Plot (I'm sorry, I just couldn't phrase it much better).
In terms of the book itself, 1984 was extremely well written and very interesting. It used a very wide vocabulary, it went into great detail, this book was just very well put together. But what made this book so . . . interesting and incredible was the way it could be applied to life today. Of course it's shown at a magnified scale, but some things in that book could be slightly frightening.
Some parallels were rather obvious and caught my attention immediately. One was at the beginning of the book when Winston goes to the movies. The movie that he sees shows many brutal killings, of a lifeboat full of children who get blown up, of a man fighting to stay alive and being shot down. Meanwhile, the people in the theater are applauding and laughing and yelling in encouragement.
Now think of movies today. People spend, oh, $9.50 to see movies just like that. What are the "Saw" movies all about, really? It just shows a bunch of people getting brutally murdered in different ways. No, most people don't shout and laugh at those movies, but there's a sick sort of enjoyment that people see in it that compels them to spend x amount of dollars to see it.
Other things, not so obvious, were the Party's slogans. War is Peace. Slavery is Freedom. Ignorance is Strength. Also things like "newspeak", "doublethink", etc. I find that newspeak can definitely be applied to the world today. Our vocabularies are steadily becoming more narrow, despite the copious amounts of words available to us. We look for what is simplest, therefore lessening our ability to think. (it's a good thing I read all the time...my brain capacity is growing rather than shrinking! whoo!) Think of texting and its effect on young minds, using acronyms that soon enter their day to day speech. Omg, lol, ttyl, brb, all of these I've heard used by peers in actual conversation at some point or another. I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of them right now. This simplifying of the human language, and therefore human thought, was the main objective of the Party. If they could control thought and speech, they could control humans and their world.
This may not be making any sense. I'm probably totally off on lots of things, but there are a lot more connections that I could make from this book to life today. This is what really made this book worth reading. You just go through and as you read, connections are made in your head and you're just in awe by the end of it.
This is in no means a happy book, but it IS a good book. I would suggest it to anyone.
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 267
I have to admit to you, this book went slightly over my head. This is a rather heavy book, I must say. This book is extremely difficult to explain or to give the basic plot of due to the complexity of the story. It is basically set in a time where all is controlled by "The Party", including thought, action, etc. Everyone thinks, acts, and works for the Party and Big Brother.
"Ministry of Truth bureaucrat Winston Smith is the protagonist; although unitary, the story is three-fold. The first describes the world of 1984 as he perceives it; the second is his illicit romance with Julia and his intellectual rebellion against the Party; the third is his capture and imprisonment, interrogation, torture, and re-education in the Ministry of Love." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_book#Plot (I'm sorry, I just couldn't phrase it much better).
In terms of the book itself, 1984 was extremely well written and very interesting. It used a very wide vocabulary, it went into great detail, this book was just very well put together. But what made this book so . . . interesting and incredible was the way it could be applied to life today. Of course it's shown at a magnified scale, but some things in that book could be slightly frightening.
Some parallels were rather obvious and caught my attention immediately. One was at the beginning of the book when Winston goes to the movies. The movie that he sees shows many brutal killings, of a lifeboat full of children who get blown up, of a man fighting to stay alive and being shot down. Meanwhile, the people in the theater are applauding and laughing and yelling in encouragement.
Now think of movies today. People spend, oh, $9.50 to see movies just like that. What are the "Saw" movies all about, really? It just shows a bunch of people getting brutally murdered in different ways. No, most people don't shout and laugh at those movies, but there's a sick sort of enjoyment that people see in it that compels them to spend x amount of dollars to see it.
Other things, not so obvious, were the Party's slogans. War is Peace. Slavery is Freedom. Ignorance is Strength. Also things like "newspeak", "doublethink", etc. I find that newspeak can definitely be applied to the world today. Our vocabularies are steadily becoming more narrow, despite the copious amounts of words available to us. We look for what is simplest, therefore lessening our ability to think. (it's a good thing I read all the time...my brain capacity is growing rather than shrinking! whoo!) Think of texting and its effect on young minds, using acronyms that soon enter their day to day speech. Omg, lol, ttyl, brb, all of these I've heard used by peers in actual conversation at some point or another. I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of them right now. This simplifying of the human language, and therefore human thought, was the main objective of the Party. If they could control thought and speech, they could control humans and their world.
This may not be making any sense. I'm probably totally off on lots of things, but there are a lot more connections that I could make from this book to life today. This is what really made this book worth reading. You just go through and as you read, connections are made in your head and you're just in awe by the end of it.
This is in no means a happy book, but it IS a good book. I would suggest it to anyone.
[CHECK]
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Completion Date: 1/22/09
Rating: O
Number of Pages: 754
Breaking Dawn is the fourth novel in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. It is divided into three "books", or sections, all but Book 2 are told from Bella's perspective, the second being told from the point of view of Jacob Black. In this book, Bella gives birth to a half-vampire-half-human hybrid (silly). Jacob "imprints" on the baby, Renesmee. Turning a child into a vampire is strictly forbidden by the Volturi, so they come after the Cullens to get rid of the vampire child. Little did they know that Renesmee wasn't bitten, she was conceived the normal way. I think you all know what way I'm talking about, and if you don't I will not be explaining it to you. The rest of the story is just the Volturi coming to kill the Cullens and the Cullens attempts to stop them.
I do not understand why this series is so popular. I found the story kind of . . . dumb. Not to be rude or anything, but I just found it rather pointless. I found it mildly entertaining and it was fairly well written, but I feel that this book, not to mention the rest of the Twilight series, is more of a guilty pleasure than anything else.
The story just didn't do anything for me. Though the concept of the book could be interesting, I don't feel it was portrayed well. The characters also never did much for me. Bella always seemed kind of annoying to me. She was just so clingy and dependant on Edward, it just seemed kind of silly. I've never known that to be the way people really are. On the other hand, if you're looking for reality you don't want to look at a book about vampires and humans in love. Then you have Edward who is just so perfect it's kind of ridiculous.
I found Renesmee (what the junk? Renesmee?) and Jacob's relationship really weird. When I found out that he imprinted on her I rolled my eyes, I really did. The worst part of the entire book was when Edward called Jacob "my son". That was really insane.
Another thing that I will only touch on briefly is the *ahem* love life between Bella and Edward. Are you serious? I found that kind of unnecessary. I mean, I'm a 14-year-old Mormon who, whenever she hears the word "sex", blushes and starts giggling uncontrollably, but I still didn't see what that added to the story.
The whole thing wasn't all that bad. I found it kind of interesting and exciting at some points. I like a few of the characters; Alice, because she's just all cute and stuff; Emmett, because I thought he was just funny; Aro, because I just thought he had a smooth exterior that almost makes you like him even though he's the villain. I found the Volturi to be an interesting part of the story that kind of touches on politics and the fear involved there.
When it gets right down to it though, this book was . . . meh.
[CHECK]
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Completion date: 6/17/08
Rating: <3
Number of pages: 241
The Road follows a father struggling to keep his young son alive as they try to make it to the South in what seems to be post-apocalyptic conditions, having only a shopping cart for supplies. They face many struggles along the way. They are forced to improvise masks in order to prevent breathing in the ash that practically makes up the atmosphere. The only humans that are left are cannibals, their 'food-source', and refugee scavengers looking for food. There is no sunshine, no plants, no animals, no food. The father coughs blood every morning and is aware of the fact that he is dying. He struggles to protect his son from attack, exposure, and starvation. In the end, all they have is each other.
The Road was a book that I had trouble putting down. The depth of the characters and the story was incredible. Both the boy and his father had many layers that you continued to see throughout the book. For instance, the boy's attitude and initial disposition makes him out to be well beyond his ten years, however once you actually scrape the surface of the boy's character, you see that he's just a scared little kid trying to be brave for his dad. Throughout almost the entire book, I just wanted to give the boy a hug.
This book had many themes and I got a lot out of it. You definitely saw courage, endurance, and fortitude. Through all that these men went through, they still worked to keep faith alive. Some nights it felt like it wasn't worth it, but they didn't give up. They met adversity straight on we need to adopt that same attitude.
There were some things about the book that were not my favorite. I didn't like Cormac McCarthy's rough writing style. In that, I mean that he didn't use quotation marks, he often left out some punctuation, etc. The story itself didn't leave for much complaint. I'm sure that when I read it again, I may be able to find it's flaws, but why look?
I just think that this book showed the struggles of the little family beautifully. You feel for these fictional characters. When they feel scared, you feel scared. When they feel hope, you feel hope, etc. etc. etc.
This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. McCarthy certainly did an excellent job. You may not feel the same way, you may think it's absolutely horrible in every way, but as for me, I could read it over and over again.
[CHECK]
(woo hoo! First review!)
Rating: <3
Number of pages: 241
The Road follows a father struggling to keep his young son alive as they try to make it to the South in what seems to be post-apocalyptic conditions, having only a shopping cart for supplies. They face many struggles along the way. They are forced to improvise masks in order to prevent breathing in the ash that practically makes up the atmosphere. The only humans that are left are cannibals, their 'food-source', and refugee scavengers looking for food. There is no sunshine, no plants, no animals, no food. The father coughs blood every morning and is aware of the fact that he is dying. He struggles to protect his son from attack, exposure, and starvation. In the end, all they have is each other.
The Road was a book that I had trouble putting down. The depth of the characters and the story was incredible. Both the boy and his father had many layers that you continued to see throughout the book. For instance, the boy's attitude and initial disposition makes him out to be well beyond his ten years, however once you actually scrape the surface of the boy's character, you see that he's just a scared little kid trying to be brave for his dad. Throughout almost the entire book, I just wanted to give the boy a hug.
This book had many themes and I got a lot out of it. You definitely saw courage, endurance, and fortitude. Through all that these men went through, they still worked to keep faith alive. Some nights it felt like it wasn't worth it, but they didn't give up. They met adversity straight on we need to adopt that same attitude.
There were some things about the book that were not my favorite. I didn't like Cormac McCarthy's rough writing style. In that, I mean that he didn't use quotation marks, he often left out some punctuation, etc. The story itself didn't leave for much complaint. I'm sure that when I read it again, I may be able to find it's flaws, but why look?
I just think that this book showed the struggles of the little family beautifully. You feel for these fictional characters. When they feel scared, you feel scared. When they feel hope, you feel hope, etc. etc. etc.
This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. McCarthy certainly did an excellent job. You may not feel the same way, you may think it's absolutely horrible in every way, but as for me, I could read it over and over again.
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(woo hoo! First review!)
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