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.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 4
J.K. Rowling writes with her usual witty and charming style in this book of wizarding fairy tales--so, true stories in the wizarding world. Some of the stories are funny, some are serious. At the end of each story are Dumbledore's notes, which are interesting to read but I can't remember being especially blown away by them. Like most Harry Potter fans, I enjoy the hidden nuggets that Rowling leaves in her writing which act as clues to bigger mysteries. There are a few present in these stories, but I suspect that they would have more clout if the series wasn't already finished.
The most rewarding story is probably "The Tale of the Three Brothers" which first appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is a fun story to revisit, but it makes me want to read the entire series again.
Rating: 4
J.K. Rowling writes with her usual witty and charming style in this book of wizarding fairy tales--so, true stories in the wizarding world. Some of the stories are funny, some are serious. At the end of each story are Dumbledore's notes, which are interesting to read but I can't remember being especially blown away by them. Like most Harry Potter fans, I enjoy the hidden nuggets that Rowling leaves in her writing which act as clues to bigger mysteries. There are a few present in these stories, but I suspect that they would have more clout if the series wasn't already finished.
The most rewarding story is probably "The Tale of the Three Brothers" which first appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is a fun story to revisit, but it makes me want to read the entire series again.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 3
I'm not going to lie, I was a bit bored by this. The story centers around a couple in the sixties (or maybe seventies ... I don't remember) on the first night of their honeymoon and goes between the man and the woman's perspective, as well as giving backstory on their lives. McEwan' writing is, as always, flawless. His ability to be compelling with words is probably what kept me reading for the entire novel.
The novel focuses more on the intricacies of two people from very different backgrounds interacting together than plot, so maybe that is why I found it boring. Based on the two other McEwan books that I have read, though, this seems to be his style. He likes to explore character development and let that be the exciting feature of the book. For some reason that technique seemed to fall flat in this book.
Rating: 3
I'm not going to lie, I was a bit bored by this. The story centers around a couple in the sixties (or maybe seventies ... I don't remember) on the first night of their honeymoon and goes between the man and the woman's perspective, as well as giving backstory on their lives. McEwan' writing is, as always, flawless. His ability to be compelling with words is probably what kept me reading for the entire novel.
The novel focuses more on the intricacies of two people from very different backgrounds interacting together than plot, so maybe that is why I found it boring. Based on the two other McEwan books that I have read, though, this seems to be his style. He likes to explore character development and let that be the exciting feature of the book. For some reason that technique seemed to fall flat in this book.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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