Book Review
Lately I have been rereading a number of the books we were asked to read in junior high/high school. Books that I skimmed and absent-mindedly read growing up. I remember my teachers preaching the importance of the lessons taught through these books. The messages embedded in the text. Looking back I couldn't pick them out.... So I decided to go back and take a deeper look into these classics. So here are some of the books that I have been reading lately and my BRIEF takes on them.
The Notebook
THis book was incredible. AS I begin to further my reading experience and journey, I have started to look into different genres. This being my first romance novel may have changed the game. The book, along with the movie, are incredibly powerful. However, the book far surpasses the movie. We are given insight into every thought about this iconic relationship. This book has so much power because it captures everything that true love can be and everything that it can over come. My mind was racing at all times, trying to comprehend the love that these two individuals experienced is captivating. There is so much power in this book. The way that they compliment one another, the sacrifices, the stars that bring them together, it is all so beautiful. If you want to know what it means to be fully in-sync and meant for one another then read this book. It is a great book to be mindful of in your days and I will most definately read it again when I have a significant other. I want to treat the future mrs like a queen and take some notes from this book. AMAZING piece of literature. It differs from the book in that we are only told stories of the past encounters and we are given a timeline of the couples time spent together in adult life, as well as, time spent in the nursing home. I will for sure be reading this book again. GO TEAM NOAH!
Dark Places
This is one of the first murder mystery books that I have read and I have to say that I am now hooked. Through this story characters are developed in such a way that you feel as though you can predict their actions and dialogue. We are given a story that presents different perspectives as we shift back and forth between character's consciousnesses, while also skipping around in time (as we are depicted the accounts of the murder of a family days before the murder, leading up to the murder, and in the investigation years later!!). There are so many angels that seem likely to pan out and so many avenues to explore. This book will shock you! I enjoyed this book very much, it is about a girl that survived her families murder that had been pinned on her brother (the only other survivor) via her testimony as a 5 year old!!!!! She then lives her life oblivious and numb to it all. She refused to look back or acknowledge anything dealing with the murder, that all changes when her trust fund runs out and she is desperate. A club interested in investigating her case funds her pursuit of the truth. WHAT WILL SHE FIND OUT!?
Red Dragon
Honestly might be my favorite book. It is one of my first murder mysteries, but I am fully willing to dive into this genre. This book gives us multiple perspectives. It is not all sunshine and rainbows, this book gets dark. We see investigators and the turmoil they go through with the on-goings of a case. Our main character is a investigator that can empathize with the killers and get into their minds, in doing so, he helps and aids in the investigation as he can see the plays and how they will unravel.... however, it is also very destructive to him as these thoughts consume him and he is at war with himself. There is post-traumatic involved here with an old case dealing with Hannibal Lectar. There are incredible intelligences. Twists and turns, and above all, an amazing view into criminal minds/psychology. I was fascinated with this story!
The Shining
This book is incredible. Unique read. Character development and specific character voice plays a huge role in the success of this book. We are able to fully dive into the minds of each character and the writing style of each character's narration brings a more personal touch to the story. Stephen Kind brings in a lot of background into the story and he brings everything full circle. He alludes at the on-goings and the climactic ending but he brings you there with excitement and anticipation none the less. I even found myself being creeped out at times. Try not to put yourself into their shoes too much or you will not be able to sleep. Creepy book following the lives of a self-destructive father than seeks redemption in the only job available to him. His family is looking for a new beginning and a recovered/restored father to find that the demons had not escaped anyone. A child's gift becomes a curse and a mother tries to keep balance.
To Kill a Mockingbird
One of my absolute favorite books. So well written, and purposeful. STRONG characters and character development, great narrative voice. The family on-goings are something that I want to strive for. Atticus treats and speaks to his children as adults and calls upon them to be intellectuals. The book itself is filled with so many great lessons. Justice, the rights allotted to human beings and them being upheld, sticking to your guns no matter the backlash or public opinion/standing up for what you believe in, taking a stand when you need to... no matter the cost, not judging a book by its cover, and so on. I absolutely love this book. It takes place in a southern town as civil rights is starting to pick up steam. We track an intellectual family that is respected but appears to be somewhat on the fringe. There are crises that arise throughout the book ranging from town gossip geared towards the tendencies of one of the children, town gossip on parenting style, old town myths, to racism and the legal system. It is a powerful book and it takes you on a great ride.
Make Your Bed
This book is written from a Navy Seal Admiral. It is a collection of experiences and lessons taught through seal training and a life in service. Pointers on how to live your life for the better and create change. The lessons and teachings of this book are so inspiring. He speaks on the importance of cooperation, the power of starting your day in a disciplined manor through making your bed and how that creates promise for task completion, the undeniable power of hope and the inspiration one person can muster up with it, to judge people based on their will power and their heart, that life is not fair and will never slow down so you had better push through and persevere, how failure is a learning experience and hardens you, to dare greatly produces results, how standing up to adversity (bullies) is a must in your life, how the darkest of times call for the best of your efforts to rise out of them, and to never ever quit. The implications of quitting far outweigh the momentary struggle. This book is incredible and there are so many take aways. It is a short and quick read, but something to keep at your bedside and reread every now and then. After each chapter I found it best to write down some notes and fully dive into the content.
Catcher in the Rye
I am not sure about this book. The character himself is a highly intelligent adolescent that does not care to jump through the hoops that school places in front of him. He has trouble owning up to his responsibilities. Most of the book he is pessimistically ranting about the issues of the world and how he views most people/interactions/situations as phony. The story itself is about him being kicked out of school and spiraling down this slippery slope. He is afraid to face the disappointment on his parents faces when he finds out and he seems to go on a bit of a break-down-induced escapade. The feeling of life beating you down is familiar to all of us but I thought that the character would get out of his slump but he maneuvered through the book constantly picking apart people and blaming. There is light at the end of the tunnel but I wanted more light. I went into it thinking that I would be blown away by this classic novel. In the future I would like to revisit it and see if I am more inclined to buy into it.... actually in writing this description I am appreciating it more than I had previously.
Great Gatsby
I did not appreciate this book until my second time around. It is a story of LOVE, classes, extravagance, excess, whooing, and temptation. A man builds himself into the man he deems worthy of his one love in life. Together to be separated by the war he has a life long love and he does a great many things to build himself into a man he thinks would be worthy of her. Time pulls them apart as she finds another and they find their way back to each other to have tragedy fall upon them. In an era in time where class and lineage meant a great deal there are rifts created. Love triangles are prominent in this story. Failure to move on from the past. How the past impacts one's trajectory, how the past creates expectations of one's future, and so on. There is a lot of myth and mystery behind this book. The era the book takes place in is a fast paced one and creates an exciting read. Egos clash to secure the heart of a woman. Who will win?
The Giver
I LOVE this book. It is an incredible concept. A Utopian world that removes all of the human aspect of being human. Depicting a Utopian world than would readily be thrown away for a flawed world filled with humanity. Emotion, depth, experiences are removed from society to make way for obedient and practical living. It is a black and white world and one person is in charge of all of the memories of past generations. Experiences, emotion and feeling, desires, ambitions, are all lost. The world is filled with itineraries, precision, and pre-determined tracks in life. Society has become a well oiled machine. This book is about someone letting humanity back out into the world and sharing the things that make us most human for the first time within his society. He harnesses all of the good and all of the bad in the world. All of the best and the worst parts of human nature and our history and still decides that the human element and experience is worth sharing with his world. The Giver can take the pain, memories, and hardships of people an absorb them. He harnesses all of the suffering. He can implant hope, love, and compassion. It is an incredible concept and one that is worth sharing. It makes you think about the human experience, the little things in life, perspective, and so much more. A world void of the human experience is not worth living once you know of the other side.
The Kite Runner
I have never read a book and been so emotionally invested. This book will make you experience such a wide range of emotions that it may not be good for your health. The story pulls such strong emotion out of you that it is hard to ever put it down. There is great historical and cultural background to this book. So many things are at play in this book... class systems, loss, infidelity, self-discovery/identity, loyalty and disloyalty, guilt, love, war, pride, family HISTORY, and so on. Everything in this book comes back into play at one point or another, it all ties back into itself. You are faced with one of the worst antagonist imaginable in this book and our main character is even shed in an unflattering light for most of the book. Honor plays a major role in this book. This book is guilt in life and how the past can haunt your life. Actions taken to redeem ones self, how shattered lives can still show glimmers of hope. The problems that arise in everyones' life no matter your socio-economic status. There are so many layers to this book. It blows me away every time that I read it. This may be my favorite book.
Fantastic Beasts (screenplay)
This is a fun read. It is another glimpse into the Harry Potter world before Harry's time. Our main character is not your typical hero as he is more awkward and uncomfortable in a lot of the on-goings of the story. The story itself is an epic story that depicts magic in America! We have left Hogwarts! There are issues arising as the magical world is nearing exposure and there are forces at work that are trying to create a conflict between humans and wizards. Their is a lot of turmoil and tension building, the suppression of ones-self, a hint of romance, standing true to those you care about, and so much more. Newt (the main character) is a powerful wizard in that he utilizes his magical creatures to bring a different style of fighting and unique problem solving skills. The magical world is expanded and we get a glimpse into more of the Harry Potter universe!
Lord of the Flies
I loved this book. It is a classic that depicts a group of children that are plane crash survivors. They have crash landed on an island and are asked to self govern. We see ideologies and leaders clash. Witness civilization and rule collapse which gives way to savagry on the island. Characters are very symbolic and developed well. We see a dehumanization of the boys through the book and it is a heck of a ride. This book refers a lot to a great fear, which ends up being human nature. Without grownups and societal law everything begins to crumble on this island. A great read.
The Outsiders
This book is incredible. The character development is stellar and the plot takes you on quite the ride. Through the book there are so many lessons and morals. It is all about these kids being stereotyped and judged for the lives that they were born into. It is about the class system and the ways in which they clash. Privileged and not. Greasers and Socs (social-clubs or the upper class). WE find that the grass is not always greener on the other side and that everyone has problems. The book depicts people that want to get out of the life they were born into and struggling to do so. The different way that people respond and react to similar life situations and that you cannot judge a book by its cover. It is such an emotion and thought provoking book! You will experience all of the feels whilst reading this book. Sadly it seems as if some stories are not meant to change, life can dictate a person's trajectory in certain situations, innocence is lost, in life tragedy will hit and you need to find those people who will stand by you through thick or thin... and hold onto them. Stay golden Ponyboy, do not lose that view of admiration and astonishment in the world as you grow older. A sunrise should always stay a sunrise.
Fault in Our Stars
Wow. I was truly blown away by this book. Two adolescent kids that have cancer find love in the most improbable of circumstances. There is intellectual talk about live, life after, leaving your mark, the universe demanding to be felt, chain reaction of loss, and so on. Pain/suffering/love/loss there are so many layers to this book. It pains a realistic picture. Life is not as glamorous as universally depicted, but there is still so much beauty in the fault in our stars. There are so many unfair things in the world but you cannot change some of the hands that you are dealt, but you can chose to live the life you want to live with the time that you have. You can live with pain, you can live with loss, we see loss in many different ways in this book and can see how differently these vacancies are felt. I am a huge fan of the witty banter, of the charm involved in the love story, but I am also very attracted to the intellectual conversations that ensue in this book. Such a great book. There is symbolism, there are life lessons, SO MUCH INSIGHT, and so much more. Every character in this book is incredibly intelligent and has such a unique stance and view of the world. All of these views come forth in discussion and it makes for such interesting concepts/thought processes to form.
Upcoming:
Harry Potter Series- AGAIN.
The Uncommon Life
My Favorite Books:
Kite Runner
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Outsiders
Fault in Our Stars
Series:
Harry Potter
The Notebook
THis book was incredible. AS I begin to further my reading experience and journey, I have started to look into different genres. This being my first romance novel may have changed the game. The book, along with the movie, are incredibly powerful. However, the book far surpasses the movie. We are given insight into every thought about this iconic relationship. This book has so much power because it captures everything that true love can be and everything that it can over come. My mind was racing at all times, trying to comprehend the love that these two individuals experienced is captivating. There is so much power in this book. The way that they compliment one another, the sacrifices, the stars that bring them together, it is all so beautiful. If you want to know what it means to be fully in-sync and meant for one another then read this book. It is a great book to be mindful of in your days and I will most definately read it again when I have a significant other. I want to treat the future mrs like a queen and take some notes from this book. AMAZING piece of literature. It differs from the book in that we are only told stories of the past encounters and we are given a timeline of the couples time spent together in adult life, as well as, time spent in the nursing home. I will for sure be reading this book again. GO TEAM NOAH!
Dark Places
This is one of the first murder mystery books that I have read and I have to say that I am now hooked. Through this story characters are developed in such a way that you feel as though you can predict their actions and dialogue. We are given a story that presents different perspectives as we shift back and forth between character's consciousnesses, while also skipping around in time (as we are depicted the accounts of the murder of a family days before the murder, leading up to the murder, and in the investigation years later!!). There are so many angels that seem likely to pan out and so many avenues to explore. This book will shock you! I enjoyed this book very much, it is about a girl that survived her families murder that had been pinned on her brother (the only other survivor) via her testimony as a 5 year old!!!!! She then lives her life oblivious and numb to it all. She refused to look back or acknowledge anything dealing with the murder, that all changes when her trust fund runs out and she is desperate. A club interested in investigating her case funds her pursuit of the truth. WHAT WILL SHE FIND OUT!?
Red Dragon
Honestly might be my favorite book. It is one of my first murder mysteries, but I am fully willing to dive into this genre. This book gives us multiple perspectives. It is not all sunshine and rainbows, this book gets dark. We see investigators and the turmoil they go through with the on-goings of a case. Our main character is a investigator that can empathize with the killers and get into their minds, in doing so, he helps and aids in the investigation as he can see the plays and how they will unravel.... however, it is also very destructive to him as these thoughts consume him and he is at war with himself. There is post-traumatic involved here with an old case dealing with Hannibal Lectar. There are incredible intelligences. Twists and turns, and above all, an amazing view into criminal minds/psychology. I was fascinated with this story!
The Shining
This book is incredible. Unique read. Character development and specific character voice plays a huge role in the success of this book. We are able to fully dive into the minds of each character and the writing style of each character's narration brings a more personal touch to the story. Stephen Kind brings in a lot of background into the story and he brings everything full circle. He alludes at the on-goings and the climactic ending but he brings you there with excitement and anticipation none the less. I even found myself being creeped out at times. Try not to put yourself into their shoes too much or you will not be able to sleep. Creepy book following the lives of a self-destructive father than seeks redemption in the only job available to him. His family is looking for a new beginning and a recovered/restored father to find that the demons had not escaped anyone. A child's gift becomes a curse and a mother tries to keep balance.
To Kill a Mockingbird
One of my absolute favorite books. So well written, and purposeful. STRONG characters and character development, great narrative voice. The family on-goings are something that I want to strive for. Atticus treats and speaks to his children as adults and calls upon them to be intellectuals. The book itself is filled with so many great lessons. Justice, the rights allotted to human beings and them being upheld, sticking to your guns no matter the backlash or public opinion/standing up for what you believe in, taking a stand when you need to... no matter the cost, not judging a book by its cover, and so on. I absolutely love this book. It takes place in a southern town as civil rights is starting to pick up steam. We track an intellectual family that is respected but appears to be somewhat on the fringe. There are crises that arise throughout the book ranging from town gossip geared towards the tendencies of one of the children, town gossip on parenting style, old town myths, to racism and the legal system. It is a powerful book and it takes you on a great ride.
Make Your Bed
This book is written from a Navy Seal Admiral. It is a collection of experiences and lessons taught through seal training and a life in service. Pointers on how to live your life for the better and create change. The lessons and teachings of this book are so inspiring. He speaks on the importance of cooperation, the power of starting your day in a disciplined manor through making your bed and how that creates promise for task completion, the undeniable power of hope and the inspiration one person can muster up with it, to judge people based on their will power and their heart, that life is not fair and will never slow down so you had better push through and persevere, how failure is a learning experience and hardens you, to dare greatly produces results, how standing up to adversity (bullies) is a must in your life, how the darkest of times call for the best of your efforts to rise out of them, and to never ever quit. The implications of quitting far outweigh the momentary struggle. This book is incredible and there are so many take aways. It is a short and quick read, but something to keep at your bedside and reread every now and then. After each chapter I found it best to write down some notes and fully dive into the content.
Catcher in the Rye
I am not sure about this book. The character himself is a highly intelligent adolescent that does not care to jump through the hoops that school places in front of him. He has trouble owning up to his responsibilities. Most of the book he is pessimistically ranting about the issues of the world and how he views most people/interactions/situations as phony. The story itself is about him being kicked out of school and spiraling down this slippery slope. He is afraid to face the disappointment on his parents faces when he finds out and he seems to go on a bit of a break-down-induced escapade. The feeling of life beating you down is familiar to all of us but I thought that the character would get out of his slump but he maneuvered through the book constantly picking apart people and blaming. There is light at the end of the tunnel but I wanted more light. I went into it thinking that I would be blown away by this classic novel. In the future I would like to revisit it and see if I am more inclined to buy into it.... actually in writing this description I am appreciating it more than I had previously.
Great Gatsby
I did not appreciate this book until my second time around. It is a story of LOVE, classes, extravagance, excess, whooing, and temptation. A man builds himself into the man he deems worthy of his one love in life. Together to be separated by the war he has a life long love and he does a great many things to build himself into a man he thinks would be worthy of her. Time pulls them apart as she finds another and they find their way back to each other to have tragedy fall upon them. In an era in time where class and lineage meant a great deal there are rifts created. Love triangles are prominent in this story. Failure to move on from the past. How the past impacts one's trajectory, how the past creates expectations of one's future, and so on. There is a lot of myth and mystery behind this book. The era the book takes place in is a fast paced one and creates an exciting read. Egos clash to secure the heart of a woman. Who will win?
The Giver
I LOVE this book. It is an incredible concept. A Utopian world that removes all of the human aspect of being human. Depicting a Utopian world than would readily be thrown away for a flawed world filled with humanity. Emotion, depth, experiences are removed from society to make way for obedient and practical living. It is a black and white world and one person is in charge of all of the memories of past generations. Experiences, emotion and feeling, desires, ambitions, are all lost. The world is filled with itineraries, precision, and pre-determined tracks in life. Society has become a well oiled machine. This book is about someone letting humanity back out into the world and sharing the things that make us most human for the first time within his society. He harnesses all of the good and all of the bad in the world. All of the best and the worst parts of human nature and our history and still decides that the human element and experience is worth sharing with his world. The Giver can take the pain, memories, and hardships of people an absorb them. He harnesses all of the suffering. He can implant hope, love, and compassion. It is an incredible concept and one that is worth sharing. It makes you think about the human experience, the little things in life, perspective, and so much more. A world void of the human experience is not worth living once you know of the other side.
The Kite Runner
I have never read a book and been so emotionally invested. This book will make you experience such a wide range of emotions that it may not be good for your health. The story pulls such strong emotion out of you that it is hard to ever put it down. There is great historical and cultural background to this book. So many things are at play in this book... class systems, loss, infidelity, self-discovery/identity, loyalty and disloyalty, guilt, love, war, pride, family HISTORY, and so on. Everything in this book comes back into play at one point or another, it all ties back into itself. You are faced with one of the worst antagonist imaginable in this book and our main character is even shed in an unflattering light for most of the book. Honor plays a major role in this book. This book is guilt in life and how the past can haunt your life. Actions taken to redeem ones self, how shattered lives can still show glimmers of hope. The problems that arise in everyones' life no matter your socio-economic status. There are so many layers to this book. It blows me away every time that I read it. This may be my favorite book.
Fantastic Beasts (screenplay)
This is a fun read. It is another glimpse into the Harry Potter world before Harry's time. Our main character is not your typical hero as he is more awkward and uncomfortable in a lot of the on-goings of the story. The story itself is an epic story that depicts magic in America! We have left Hogwarts! There are issues arising as the magical world is nearing exposure and there are forces at work that are trying to create a conflict between humans and wizards. Their is a lot of turmoil and tension building, the suppression of ones-self, a hint of romance, standing true to those you care about, and so much more. Newt (the main character) is a powerful wizard in that he utilizes his magical creatures to bring a different style of fighting and unique problem solving skills. The magical world is expanded and we get a glimpse into more of the Harry Potter universe!
Lord of the Flies
I loved this book. It is a classic that depicts a group of children that are plane crash survivors. They have crash landed on an island and are asked to self govern. We see ideologies and leaders clash. Witness civilization and rule collapse which gives way to savagry on the island. Characters are very symbolic and developed well. We see a dehumanization of the boys through the book and it is a heck of a ride. This book refers a lot to a great fear, which ends up being human nature. Without grownups and societal law everything begins to crumble on this island. A great read.
The Outsiders
This book is incredible. The character development is stellar and the plot takes you on quite the ride. Through the book there are so many lessons and morals. It is all about these kids being stereotyped and judged for the lives that they were born into. It is about the class system and the ways in which they clash. Privileged and not. Greasers and Socs (social-clubs or the upper class). WE find that the grass is not always greener on the other side and that everyone has problems. The book depicts people that want to get out of the life they were born into and struggling to do so. The different way that people respond and react to similar life situations and that you cannot judge a book by its cover. It is such an emotion and thought provoking book! You will experience all of the feels whilst reading this book. Sadly it seems as if some stories are not meant to change, life can dictate a person's trajectory in certain situations, innocence is lost, in life tragedy will hit and you need to find those people who will stand by you through thick or thin... and hold onto them. Stay golden Ponyboy, do not lose that view of admiration and astonishment in the world as you grow older. A sunrise should always stay a sunrise.
Fault in Our Stars
Wow. I was truly blown away by this book. Two adolescent kids that have cancer find love in the most improbable of circumstances. There is intellectual talk about live, life after, leaving your mark, the universe demanding to be felt, chain reaction of loss, and so on. Pain/suffering/love/loss there are so many layers to this book. It pains a realistic picture. Life is not as glamorous as universally depicted, but there is still so much beauty in the fault in our stars. There are so many unfair things in the world but you cannot change some of the hands that you are dealt, but you can chose to live the life you want to live with the time that you have. You can live with pain, you can live with loss, we see loss in many different ways in this book and can see how differently these vacancies are felt. I am a huge fan of the witty banter, of the charm involved in the love story, but I am also very attracted to the intellectual conversations that ensue in this book. Such a great book. There is symbolism, there are life lessons, SO MUCH INSIGHT, and so much more. Every character in this book is incredibly intelligent and has such a unique stance and view of the world. All of these views come forth in discussion and it makes for such interesting concepts/thought processes to form.
Upcoming:
Harry Potter Series- AGAIN.
The Uncommon Life
My Favorite Books:
Kite Runner
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Outsiders
Fault in Our Stars
Series:
Harry Potter
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