|
im_a_bookwyrm
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: im_a_bookwyrm
Gender: Female
Interests: Wheel of Time, Dune, Green Rider, Black Jewels, Riftwar, Isabel Allende, David Eddings, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Star Wars, Tamora Pierce, Discworld, Hitchiker's, Runelords, His Dark Materials, Count of Monte Cristo, Charles de Lint, Dianna Wynne Jones, Elizabeth Kerner, Symphony of Ages, Dhampir, Edge on the Sword, Ray Bradbury, Shadowleague, Garth Nix, Jane Lindskold, Madeline L'Engle, Patricia C. Wrede, Lord of the Rings, Crown Duel, Wind on Fire, Icemark, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Young Wizards, Anne Rice, Wicked, Sara Douglass, Narnia, Guy Gavriel Kay, Mercedes Lackey, Katherine Kerr, etc.
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
AIM:  khn9139
AIM:  ashandareismai
Yahoo:  ashandareismai
Member Since:
11/18/2005
|
|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| My apologies to anyone who has been wondering where I was these past
months. It's been really hectic at home, especially with the beginning
of the new school year and the work, activites, and testing that come
with it. To catch up a bit, I will sum up the highlights of what I have
read since I last posted, giving only the titles, authors, and ratings.
I hope to get back to real reviews later, but... who knows?
The Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay - 4.5
His Majesty's Dragon / Throne of Jade / Black Powder War - Naomi Novik - 4.0
Honored Enemy - Raymond E. Feist - 2.5
The Know-It-All - A.J. Jacobs - 2.0
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - 3.5
The Thief Lord - Cornelia Funke - 3.0
Terrier - Tamora Pierce - 4.5
Firebirds Rising - Sharyn November, editor - 3.0
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho - 4.0
Shadow's End - Sheri Tepper - 3.5
The Soprano Sorceress - L. E. Modesitt, Jr. - 3.5
Eragon - Christopher Paolini - 2.5
The Last Light of the Sun - Guy Gavriel Kay - 4.0
| | |
| 4 stars
I was a bit skeptical of this book at first; it's
not my usual fare. But I figured a book that has to do with books can't
be that bad, and I was really glad I decided to read it.
We follow Leisel, the heroine, from her adoption
through her growing up years.We see her struggle to learn to read, then
steal books, write books, and be given books. All the people she
encounters are realistically portrayed, so you don't want any of them
to leave the story, even those that you love to hate.
There are all sorts of ironies: par example, a book
of comfort written on painted-over pages of Mein Kampf. The literary
quality is quite high, perhaps English class worthy (i.e. symbols and
themes abound, the writing is sophisticated but easy to read, it is
easy to comment on tone and diction, etc.).
There is a bit of a depressing mood through the
book, as it is narrated by Death (who sometimes gives away the plot or
tries to throw in too much suspense!) and takes place in WWII Germany,
with all the brutalities therein.
Yet, overall, this book really moved me, which I
think is the highest quality one can find behind a spine and pages.
"Rudy and his sisters each tapped a different domino
and they watched them fall until the tower in the middle was brought to
its knees. The girls cheered. Kurt, his older brother, arrived in the
room. 'They look like dead bodies,' he said (410)."
"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right (528)."
| | |
| 3 stars
This book certainly has an interesting premise. The main character, Max
Trader, switches bodies with a man named Johnny Devlin. Max realizes
that Johnny is disliked by everyone and dirt poor, and tries to find a
way back into his old life. Meanwhile, Johnny begins to make a mess of
Max's life in all aspects, having fun all the while at this new
opportunity he has to make trouble; he never wants to leave this body.
The book also investigates the people that both characters know and the
changes they notice in Max and Johnny.
For anyone who has read any of DeLint's Newford stories, you'll come
across some familiar people and things: Jilly, Sophie, Geordie, Bones,
the Dreamworld, etc. My main complaint with the book is that it spends
too much time talking about small characters who usually share similar
ideas or feelings. The book gets drawn out towards the end with such
redundancy, then ends in a surprise twist that I'm not sure I really
liked. But, it was well-written, insightful, and an entertaining read.
Most of all, perhaps, I like the way the title has multiple meanings:
Trader is the main character's name, a trader is what he becomes when
he switches bodies, and various characters have to trade something of
their own (e.g. as payment). I love differing connotations.
"And all I've got is Max. Then she corrected herself. All she had was
Max. All she'd allowed herself before this was first her mom, then Max.
Nobody else seemed to measure up. But now she found herself wondering,
was that the real reason, or was it more that she didn't measure up? That she couldn't
face up to the responsibility that having friends involved? But that
wasn't entirely it, either. The thought of making friends scared her so
much she didn't even bother to try anymore, because it was easier to
stay aloof and not get hurt. You can't have too many friends. (310)"
| | |
| 5 stars
Everyone hears about this book and goes: oh it's that book about the
boy and the tiger in the middle of the ocean... But it's so much more.
The book has a deep religious questioning, speculations on animal and
human behavior, and interesting facts about survival, zoology, etc. The
style is engaging; there is just enough irony and humor to captivate
without being overdone. I could not put this book down. Life of Pi
is an apt title: the first part is his childhood and adolescence, the
second part his voyage on the lifeboat, the third his telling of the
story. All of this is interspersed with author's comments and character
anecdotes. At the end, it is hard to tell what is the story's "truth"
and what is completely made up - I mean, a carnivorous island?! This
book really made me think and had a flowing plot. I'm afraid I snapped
at people when they interrupted my reading and said flowing plot.
(Interesting note: the book has a nicely rounded 100 chapters, number
97 being simply two words: "The story," which I believe is the shortest
chapter I have ever encountered.) I hate to say more and spoil anything
for those of you who might wish to read it. Simply put: Life of Pi is a bestseller for a very definite reason.
"I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life. (203)"
"'Isn't telling about something - using words, English or Japanese -
already something of an invention? Isn't just looking upon this world
already something of an invention?' 'Uhh...' 'The world ins't just the
way it is. It is how we understand it, no? And in understanding
something, we bring something to it, no? Doesn't that make life a
story?' (380)"
| | |
| 4.5 Stars
This is a very evocative novel by Allende, one that left me engrossed
in it. It starts out with the quirky tragedy of "Rosa the Beautiful"
and goes on to tell of her fiancee, Esteban Trueba. The book then
follows Esteban through his entire life, telling of his family, his
temper, and his political views. This book emphasizes forgiveness and
true love in the time of political upheavals (I think in Peru). The
writing, though translated, flows well, and the images conjured seem
real. Perhaps Allende goes into too much detail at times, either boring
the reader or, toward the end, horrifying the reader with the violence
of dictatorship. It truly is an odd combination of romance and
politics. More of the romance, I'd say, but enough politics to make
this book definitively liberal. There are some confusing times where
you don't know whose point of view you are reading, yet altogether The House of the Spirits is quite a worthy book.
I am aware that there is a motion picture adaption of The House of the Spirits,
yet I have not seen it and am unable to make comparisons. I do intend
to see the movie later, if only to see if the screenwriters stayed true
to the book.
No quote; I don't have the book with me right now. You can pretty much
open to any page and find a decent quote, there are so many interesting
or satirical phrases.
| | |
|
