Review: I remember loving it when I read it years back, but as I read it again I was disappointed by the lack of character strength and motivation. Most all of the characters let me down in one way or another and I found Vicky to be a very confused little girl. I did see some growth, but not enough to satisfy me. All in all, I would rate this book as okay-at least for me. Once again, years back I held this book in the highest regard.
Friday, July 23, 2010
A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle
Synopsis: About a girl named Vicky who is visiting Seven Bay Island with her family to be with her dying grandfather. Vicky is faced with many heartbreaking challenges including the death of a family friend, the attempted suicide of her ex-boyfriend and her slowly dying grandfather. She also has three main romantic interests that she has to handle with while working on a dolphin-human communications project at a local marine biology research center.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Final Act
Synopsis: About a young woman who is hired as a tutor at a very wealthy home which used to host a famous movie star before they died in a mysterious fire years back. While there she is haunted by what at first seems a ghost, but the longer she stays the more she learns of the true secrets that have been viciously kept away from the world.
Review: I liked this book, but I thought it unoriginal. The whole thing screamed Jane Eyre, and I found that it was very much like Jane Eyre the more I read. I did like the main character though. She was a simply girl with understandable emotions and I felt like I was able to connect with her rather easily. I did also like the description; not too much, yet just enough.
Review: I liked this book, but I thought it unoriginal. The whole thing screamed Jane Eyre, and I found that it was very much like Jane Eyre the more I read. I did like the main character though. She was a simply girl with understandable emotions and I felt like I was able to connect with her rather easily. I did also like the description; not too much, yet just enough.
Once a Princess by Sherwood Smith
Synopsis: About a modern day young woman who is swept away in a reluctant adventure into a magical world. Her father, the king of this magical kingdom, is having trouble keeping his kingdom in line, and when two mysterious men show up on her doorstep, she knows something has gone terribly wrong. As she enters into the world of her early childhood she is faced with difficult choices, including romantic decisions. Who can she trust in this strange world?
Review: I didn't like it very much. Mostly because I did not like the main character. I don't like her kick-butt attitude and I thought she was even bratty. It's one thing to be obstinate and stubborn, but she was down right rude and if it was meant as humor I didn't like it. I couldn't relate to any of the characters. I did however like the story, it was fun and very imaginative.
Review: I didn't like it very much. Mostly because I did not like the main character. I don't like her kick-butt attitude and I thought she was even bratty. It's one thing to be obstinate and stubborn, but she was down right rude and if it was meant as humor I didn't like it. I couldn't relate to any of the characters. I did however like the story, it was fun and very imaginative.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Synopsis: About a young teenager who is raped and her mental recovery process as she learns how to cope and make a life for herself. During this book she struggles to find her identity while at the same time attempts to cope with the horrific issue on her own. This book is the story of a girl who learns to open up and to speak.
Review: I loved this book. I thought it was extremely well written and I felt like I really knew Mel as a person by the end of the book. The author has a gift of knowing how to draw you into their mind and keep you there. Not only was it well written, but it was very funny! I laughed out loud many times while reading this book, I think the humor helped show that there really is a lighter and happier side to life despite the bad.
Review: I loved this book. I thought it was extremely well written and I felt like I really knew Mel as a person by the end of the book. The author has a gift of knowing how to draw you into their mind and keep you there. Not only was it well written, but it was very funny! I laughed out loud many times while reading this book, I think the humor helped show that there really is a lighter and happier side to life despite the bad.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
Synopsis: This book is about a real story of child abuse. Dave Pelzer recalls his own horrifying childhood as he was raised by his mentally unpredictable mother.
Review: It was a depressing book. Throughout the whole novel I repeatedly asked myself, What mother could do this? I felt angry for Dave about the way he was treated at school, by his brothers and even by his cowardly father. The worst/best part of the book is that it is a true story. I admire the author for taking a stand and making his life into something special, and especially for writing this book. This book is truly a testimonial of great healing and I'm sure that it will be a great source of healing for others as well.
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Synopsis: As Gen sits miserably in prison he find himself brooding over those dooming, jubilant boasting words, "I can steal anything", which he proudly claimed to one of the city's busiest taverns. On a dare, he successfully steals the King's seal, and carelessly shows it off in the tavern, only to be arrested and taken to prison. After weeks of rotting, stinking, waiting in the dark cell he is called to an interview with the Maggus, the King's advisor, and offered a job. In another kingdom, the Maggus is convinced that there lies a powerful, ancient artifact given by the God's to the rulers of ages past called, the Gift. Realizing his opportunity to escape his suffocating cell, Gen accepts.
Review: I was very entertained. Though it was a little slower the first half of the book, a lot of traveling, I never got bored. Gen, the anti-hero, was a lovable character, despite the whining, and the coward that he claimed to be. I don't think I have ever been so surprised at plot twists! They were entirely unexpected and I loved them! I think the book was well developed and well thought out. The characters all likable. I can't wait to read the next books.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Synopsis: in this world, there are people born with special skills labeled Gracelings. this book is about one particular Graceling, named Katsa, who is subject under her cruel Uncle's reign who is the King of one of the seven kingdoms mentioned in the book. Since her uncle discovered that her Grace enabled her the talent to fight with unbeatable skill, he has used her to carry out violent punishments since the time she was eight. Now Katsa has begun to have an internal struggle over her assignments from her uncle, which caused her to create a secret society called the Counsel in which the members would help citizens of the kingdom when the king would not. Everything about Katsa's life will change once she finally meets her match in a fight. A man named Po has come to her uncle's court and Katsa soon finds herself on an adventure of a lifetime that will challenge her physically, emotionally, and romantically.
Review: More! I loved it! I thought that the story was very original and interesting. The plot had just enough twists and turns to keep my mind entertained, not bored or overwhelmed, and the characters were very well developed. The ending was completely unpredicatble- in my opinion- and though I disagreed with Katsa's decision regarding her romantic life, I was still able to connect to her character. I will be reading this one again.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Witness by Karen Hesse
Synopsis: This book is a short free-verse style book of short snippets from several different characters. It was a harder story to follow because not all of the information was just given to you and you could only figure it out through everyone's different perspectives and opinions.
Review: I finished it in a huff. I didn't like it when I finished it, I felt that the ending wasn't satisfying. But as I reflected on the book I found myself more and more appreciative of the way it was written and could even find satisfaction in the ending. Perhaps I read it too much like a novel and read it too quickly.
Review: I finished it in a huff. I didn't like it when I finished it, I felt that the ending wasn't satisfying. But as I reflected on the book I found myself more and more appreciative of the way it was written and could even find satisfaction in the ending. Perhaps I read it too much like a novel and read it too quickly.
Getting Away with Murder by Chris Crowe
Synopsis: A non-fiction book about the case of the Emmett Till murder trial. The book goes into extreme detail of the trial and the details surrounding the case including a little bit of Emmett's life before his murder.
Review: I liked it but I got bored about 2/3 in. I thought the trial was put into excruciating detail and could have been summed up a little better. I suppose the book's purpose isn't about "summing it up" though. I thought it was well done. Though you could tell what the author's feelings were regarding the case you could still see the true story. The facts were very well put and organized well. I liked the flow of the book and the transition from topic to topic. It was very well done.
Review: I liked it but I got bored about 2/3 in. I thought the trial was put into excruciating detail and could have been summed up a little better. I suppose the book's purpose isn't about "summing it up" though. I thought it was well done. Though you could tell what the author's feelings were regarding the case you could still see the true story. The facts were very well put and organized well. I liked the flow of the book and the transition from topic to topic. It was very well done.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
War Is...
Synopsis: The best way to describe this book is a collage of various facts and personal experiences regarding warfare. While much media portrays the glorious, honorable and patriotic side to war, this book illustrates the inglorious, and perhaps more realistic side to war.
Review: I was very influenced by this book. My own opinion has undergone serious renovation because of the personal experiences given from those who fought in both recent and old wars, the frightening facts about war that we don't give enough attentions to, and the well-organized explanations on how war effects us directly and indirectly.
Review: I was very influenced by this book. My own opinion has undergone serious renovation because of the personal experiences given from those who fought in both recent and old wars, the frightening facts about war that we don't give enough attentions to, and the well-organized explanations on how war effects us directly and indirectly.
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