Read for: Leisure
Rating: 5
I thought this was a great book! It was fun to read and also a quick read. I saw the movie years ago when it first came out, but never got around to reading the book until now (not my usual order of doing things, but I was young and impulsive) so I knew how it would all turn out. However, I thought it was still exciting to watch the plot unfold and to make all the connections between Stanley's great great grandfather and the life of Stanley at Camp Green Lake. A book where the reader discovers all sorts of connections like that is my favorite kind of book. I especially loved how all the connections weren't explicitly stated. For example, when Zero tells Stanley that his real name is Hector Zeroni, Sachar doesn't go into long detail about how Zeroni is the same name as Madame Zeroni from all those years ago with Stanley's great great grandfather.
From what I have experienced, younger students love this book and I can understand why. There is a memorable cast of characters, a semi-mystery, danger, and it is just a fun read.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
First Meetings in the Enderverse by Orson Scott Card
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 4
This is really a book of four short stories, including the original Ender's Game short story/novella. These stories are prequel-esque to the events happening in the rest of the Enderverse. The stories give a little more background into what was happening on Earth during the first alien invasion, referenced in Ender's Game, particularly the political turmoil. There is one story about Ender's father when he was a boy, one about how his father and mother met, and one about Ender after the end of the Bugger Wars and the emergence of Jane. And of course the original Ender's Game short story.
I like that these stories give more background and for any fan of the Enderverse I think they are good to read, but I wouldn't call it necessary. Actually, the big beef that I have with this book (and the books in the Shadow series) is that Ender is made out to be a victim of manipulation of circumstance, rather than a truly exceptional person. I guess maybe that is what the whole point of the series is--particularly Battle School and how the teachers manipulate the students into becoming war thinkers--but I just can't get away from the loyalty to and hero-worship of Ender and I hate to read anything that makes him seem like anything less.
Rating: 4
This is really a book of four short stories, including the original Ender's Game short story/novella. These stories are prequel-esque to the events happening in the rest of the Enderverse. The stories give a little more background into what was happening on Earth during the first alien invasion, referenced in Ender's Game, particularly the political turmoil. There is one story about Ender's father when he was a boy, one about how his father and mother met, and one about Ender after the end of the Bugger Wars and the emergence of Jane. And of course the original Ender's Game short story.
I like that these stories give more background and for any fan of the Enderverse I think they are good to read, but I wouldn't call it necessary. Actually, the big beef that I have with this book (and the books in the Shadow series) is that Ender is made out to be a victim of manipulation of circumstance, rather than a truly exceptional person. I guess maybe that is what the whole point of the series is--particularly Battle School and how the teachers manipulate the students into becoming war thinkers--but I just can't get away from the loyalty to and hero-worship of Ender and I hate to read anything that makes him seem like anything less.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 4
The final book in the Shadow series! Again, as is the case with much of the Shadow series, I feel that this books read like a huge game of Risk. However, I think that this one focuses on the tactical/strategy approach to war rather than the actual action of war, as in some of the other books, Shadow Puppets in particular.
Card once again demonstrates great writing ability. I particularly enjoy how Peter has evolved throughout the entire series and I can't help but grow to love him. I would compare him to Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, ruthlessly Machiavellian but also tenderhearted; hate him at first but then grow to love him. I have liked Bean better in the three novels following Ender's Shadow, but again in this novel I am not too interested in him. I much prefer Peter's story to Bean's.
One great thing about this book is that we get a glimpse into the start of genetic modification that is present in Children of the Mind.
Rating: 4
The final book in the Shadow series! Again, as is the case with much of the Shadow series, I feel that this books read like a huge game of Risk. However, I think that this one focuses on the tactical/strategy approach to war rather than the actual action of war, as in some of the other books, Shadow Puppets in particular.
Card once again demonstrates great writing ability. I particularly enjoy how Peter has evolved throughout the entire series and I can't help but grow to love him. I would compare him to Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, ruthlessly Machiavellian but also tenderhearted; hate him at first but then grow to love him. I have liked Bean better in the three novels following Ender's Shadow, but again in this novel I am not too interested in him. I much prefer Peter's story to Bean's.
One great thing about this book is that we get a glimpse into the start of genetic modification that is present in Children of the Mind.
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