This is my first Stephen King novel! I have always wanted to try one but I didn't want to read a horror one (horror isn't my favourite genre, I'm incrThis is my first Stephen King novel! I have always wanted to try one but I didn't want to read a horror one (horror isn't my favourite genre, I'm incredibly picky with horror books), so my sister recommended this because she knows I love time travel stories.
This one is about a man named Jake whose friend Al reveals to him a secret time travel "rabbit hole" as he calls it, that leads to exactly one place in time, in 1958. When you come back through the rabbit hole to 2011, you can see what changes may have happened due to meddling with history, but if you go back to 1958, time "resets". Because it only leads to that one year, Al wants to try to do some good and change history, and the closest major historical moment to 1958 is the the assassination of JFK. He wants to save JFK, come back to 2011 and never go back, therefore never resetting the timeline. However, Al is too old and terminally ill now and unable to, so he asks Jake to do it for him.
I really enjoyed this novel, it was a different way of handling time travel than most stories these days. Wanting to know if Jake was able to pull off this major change in history is what kept me hooked onto this book. He's a pretty smart guy too, and incredibly (maybe suspiciously?!) resourceful and good at making himself look like he belongs in that time period. Hidden in this novel, there is actually a romance too! Jake falls in love with a woman named Sadie in 1958, and it is actually a very touching and sweet relationship. Along the way, Jake also finds himself endearing himself to the 1958 lifestyle, while keeping his 2011 sensibilities.
I only have two complaints about this book. The minor one is there is no reason (none that I could find anyway) that explains why Jake would agree to do this for Al. Him and Al aren't even THAT great of friends. I'm still not sure why Jake also felt this strong urge to save JFK's life. It just seemed like a very flimsy explanation -- his friend wanted him to do it, so he did.
My 2nd complaint, and the more major one, is that the pacing of the book can be a bit challenging to endure. There's large sections of the novel where Jake is just living 1958 life as a teacher and it's ... a little boring.
The ending was bittersweet but satisfying. I am interested in watching the TV mini series they made of this book in 2016 now, so I guess that's what I'm off to do next!...more
Haha, I'm almost afraid to write my thoughts on this book because I am aware of how controversial this book is ... I got this book through IllumicrateHaha, I'm almost afraid to write my thoughts on this book because I am aware of how controversial this book is ... I got this book through Illumicrate, it was my first box so I couldn't skip. I wasn't going to read it at first because there was so much drama surrounding the book, but eventually I decided to give it a go and see for myself, since I have a copy anyway. The Illumicrate version is gorgeous by the way, I really love the artwork and the beautifully designed edges.
This is basically about fantasy ancient China (called Pangu here), who was just existing normally when one day, a portal opens in the sky and the Romans come in and invade. Yes, the Romans, from Rome. The characters all have names like Augustus and whatever, so it's definitely on purpose. These Romans aren't from ancient times though, they are futuristic. They have computers, jet planes, guns ... although it was also mentioned some of them carry swords, which threw me off a bit. So anyway, I found the story world kind of weird. Not sure why the author decided to make it China versus Rome in this book. It's fantasy, so why not just create entirely new places/cultures? Pangu is identical to China in every way, and Rome seems to be a stand-in for Western civilizations in general. I'm not sure what the message she's trying to say is ...? Anyway, it's just very weird to me and I just couldn't quite wrap my head around this.
The biggest drama surrounding this book is that people are calling it a colonizer romance. In my honest opinion, this book didn't read like a romance novel, it's not very romance heavy. The FMC, Ruying, is from Pangu and is recruited by one of the princes of Rome, the MMC, Antony, to become his personal assassin, as she wields Death magic. She's basically blackmailed into doing the job, she doesn't really want to do it, but is somewhat swayed by his rhetoric that it is for the betterment of both their worlds. Along the way, they both develop a crush on one another, but by the end of the novel,(view spoiler)[ Ruying's eyes are opened, and she knows he's just a liar. (hide spoiler)] I mean, yeah, it's a romance, so interpret it as you want. I just felt the emphasis of this story was more about Rome vs Pangu than the characters trying to develop a romantic relationship.
Ignoring all the drama though, I thought this book was honestly just kind of boring. It has incredibly slow pacing because most of the book is filled with Ruying's repetitive ruminations on how Rome is so evil for invading, how opian (which is just opium; she couldn't even invent a more creative name for the drug?) is so evil, how disrespectful Rome is of Pangu's culture and way of life, etc. On repeat, ad nauseam. I pushed through it. I felt relief when I reached the end of this book.
I was honestly expecting this book to be a lot worse, but in the end, it was kind of ok. It was just really, really slow and kind of repetitive with Ruying's inner thoughts. The story world was kind of bizarre too and not really my thing. But it wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be with some of the reviews I was reading. I don't think I'll continue on this series though....more
This book reads kind of like a thriller or suspense novel, but it is not. It feels like the "thriller" or "mystery" aspects of the story are always inThis book reads kind of like a thriller or suspense novel, but it is not. It feels like the "thriller" or "mystery" aspects of the story are always in the peripherals, but never a part of the main story (e.g. the murder of Pax, a friend). This story is about two women -- Mitty and Lena -- and it is a character-driven story about them rediscovering themselves, identity, female friendships and relationships, confronting your past.
I feel like if I tried to describe the plot to you, it might sound kind of boring, but this book is definitely more focused on the characters and examining their inner thoughts. By the end of this novel, I feel like I understood Mitty and Lena quite well, who they are as human beings. Not a lot actually happens in the story but I found the writing so compulsively readable at the same time. I never felt bored.
Before I read this book, I read the synopsis of course, and noticed it was tagged sci-fi. Yes, there is a little, TINY bit of sci-fi in this book, but it is certainly not the focus. I wish I didn't know it was tagged as sci-fi, because knowing that kind of spoiled the "twist" near the end of the book. I immediately knew what everything will kind of lead to from the beginning of the book.
I found the ending incredibly abrupt however. I literally turned the page and saw the Acknowledgements section and thought, "Hang on, we're done already?!" I supposed it's supposed to be ambiguous and open ended, but I just needed a little more closure I guess.
Altogether a pleasant read. I wasn't blown away by it or anything, but I enjoyed my time....more
I LOVE time travel stories, I will read or watch any story involving time travel. So, I had to read this. I just finished this, and I definitely enjoyI LOVE time travel stories, I will read or watch any story involving time travel. So, I had to read this. I just finished this, and I definitely enjoyed this greatly, but also I am a little confused and I felt like the plot spun out of control by the end of the story BUT I still really liked it, maybe even loved it. Isn't it weird how a book can perplex you but also entrance you at the same time?
I see this story shelved as romance, and also marketed as such, but I don't think it's really a romance novel, not in the way people think of romance novels, so don't pick this up because you want a "sci-fi romance", I think you would be disappointed if that's your only reason for reading this. Yes, there's a romance in it, and I really loved the relationship, it was so beautifully built, but it's just not what your typical 'romance' novel. It's about an unnamed main female character who is living with a man pulled from the past (1847 to be exact) named Graham Gore. Time travel has been discovered, and the Ministry of Time in Britain has decided to pull some people from the past who were going to die anyway, into present day, and honestly, just see what the heck happens to them. Which sounds all sorts of unethical but I guess they figured, hey these people were going to die anyway so we're really saving their lives.
There's a lot of slice-of-life moments in this book so the plot seems to move at a snail's pace, but I found it so fun to read because it's like the author had a field day with imagining how people from the past would react to the present. The author also has a fun, quirky style of writing which I personally really enjoyed, and if she had a less interesting writing style, I'm sure the slice-of-life chapters of the MC and Gore's blossoming relationship would have been incredibly boring to read, but she makes it very amusing with lots of witty and humorous banter between the characters as well.
There's little bits of a grander conspiracy threaded into the story which all comes to a head in the last portion of the book, and all the secrets and twists are revealed. I was so hooked to reading the last part! But that's also where things got kind of confusing for me for me to keep track of the plot. I mean, when time travel is involved, things can always get a bit confusing; I do wish it was more clear, or maybe I wasn't paying enough attention ...
Anyway, I have been looking up other people's opinions on this book online, and it seems a bit divisive. I personally really enjoyed this, and I hope others will too, but I do get why others are less impressed with it....more
To be clear, I want to give this 2.5 stars, but I will round up.
For most of this book, I felt really confused and I had to look up the ending to have To be clear, I want to give this 2.5 stars, but I will round up.
For most of this book, I felt really confused and I had to look up the ending to have it explained to me. The writing style is incredibly lyrical, to the point that it feels like poetry disguised as a novel. I had occasional moments where I thought to myself, "Am I ... stupid?" What did I just read? And then I'd have to re-read the same sentence of paragraph multiple times to decipher the meaning. Definitely requires deep concentration and focus while reading. In the same vein, however, the writing is very beautiful and I have so, so many favourite quotes from this book.
This is definitely more of a romance novella than a science fiction novella, so if you want to read this because the sci-fi elements sound interesting to you, well, just be warned it's a bit soft on the sci-fi explanations. The romance takes center stage here. The time travel and the time war, the oppositions battling one another, their methods for leaving letters for one another -- everything is kind of vague and not really properly explained, which I think contributed to my feeling of confusion at times.
Overall, it's a decent little novella, a simple story wrapped up in the most beautiful language, and it certainly leaves an impression, at least for me. The last 1/2 or maybe 1/3 of the novella was the best and where I became more invested in the story. Many other reviewers say a re-read is beneficial and while I agree, I don't think I will be re-reading it any time soon....more
I truly suspect that if I had read this book -- like, an actual physical book -- I might not have liked it as much. The narration is very 'conversatioI truly suspect that if I had read this book -- like, an actual physical book -- I might not have liked it as much. The narration is very 'conversational', which I don't normally like too much in novels as I feel it's too casual? Like, I'm reading a text message or something. In any case, I listened to this book as an audiobook because someone said the experience was 100x better, and oh my god, it was amazing. If you have the choice between reading it and listening to it, I highly recommend the audiobook version. It's like listening to your friend tell you a really wild and exciting story that happened to them.
The story is kind of a space thriller, where a space microbe dubbed astrophage is slowly destroying the sun. Earth is in a race to find the solution to this problem as soon as possible, as without the sun, life cannot exist. Even if the sun only dimmed a small percent, it would have catastrophic consequences for Earth. Our main character, Ryland Grace, is an ex-scientist turned schoolteacher who may be humanity's last hope. He is launched on a suicide mission into space to go to a neighboring star, and find out why astrophage is unable to destroy that particular sun. During his journey, a lot of unforeseen (exciting! and scary!) things happen.
The narrator was very engaging! He was not merely reading; he was acting it all out. He was so good with the emotional deliveries. I myself felt very emotional at times. It's not often where I read/listen to a book and I just have to know what happens next because I am so invested in it!
I loved all the characters, but the best character of all is Rocky. Honestly, when Rocky was introduced I was a bit hesitant because he's an honest-to-god alien, and I didn't realize this story involved an alien. Rocky turned out to be simply the best. Yes for an alien he had an oddly human-like personality but that's just the downside of imagining aliens; we are trapped with our human biases when imagining them. The relationship between Rocky and Ryland Grace was very heartfelt and lovely as well.
Anyway, I recommend this book to everyone, it's so good! But I especially recommend listening to it if you can! ...more
THE ONE follows 5 different characters in the future, on their journey in finding out their one true love through Match Your DNA. Match Your DNA is a THE ONE follows 5 different characters in the future, on their journey in finding out their one true love through Match Your DNA. Match Your DNA is a scientific way of finding your soulmate by analyzing your DNA. Not sure on the intricacies of the prodecure; it was explained but I kind of forgot the details of it.
Anyway, the five characters are from all walks of life, and for various reasons, have decided to submit their DNA to see if they have a match. Obviously, if the one you are meant to be with does not submit their DNA, you won't have a match, so some people end up waiting around forever. People still fall in love the "old fashioned" way too.
The five characters include Mandy, a middle aged divorced woman who is craving to start a family; Nick, who is to be wed to his fiancee Sally soon; Chris, a serial killer; Ellie, a very rich CEO businesswoman; and Jade, a young lady whose Match is unfortunately on the other side of the world. None of the 5 characters ever meet up or have anything to do with one another, it's 5 separate stories.
You know, I feel like this concept must have been written about before, it feels kind of familiar, but I can't remember any specific stories or TV shows or whatever that have explored this idea. I'm sure it must have been done before. Regardless, I greatly enjoyed this book. It feels kind of Black Mirror-esque (for those of you who have watched the TV show), so if you enjoy Black Mirror, I think you'll like this. It's also a quick read, as each chapter is rather short. It felt like eating a bag of chips you know, you can't just eat/read one. Before you know it, you're done! A lot of the chapters end on cliffhangers, and there's SO many twists, it really keeps you reading. It's VERY dramatic too.
I was addicted to the end, but I am giving this book 4 stars because I would have liked if the five characters somehow linked to one another, even if just a little bit. I think the closest we got to that was one of the characters mentioning there's a serial killer on the loose (which is Chris) but that was it.
The title of this book is very similar to the THREE DARK CROWNS series by Kendare Blake (which I greatly enjoy), but this has absolutely nothing to doThe title of this book is very similar to the THREE DARK CROWNS series by Kendare Blake (which I greatly enjoy), but this has absolutely nothing to do with it. It just struck me as similar so I ended up picking it up to read from the library.
The book is categorized into the fantasy genre at the library, in the YA section. I would agree it's YA, but I personally think it's less fantasy, and more science fiction. I was actually really confused at first because I thought it was "regular" fantasy, possibly steampunk-ish without the steam... the beginning of the book opens up with an old school fantasy type map of the world, which I think is what started this expectation; but as I read, I realized it's more sci-fi. Actually I'm still a bit puzzled because other parts of the book seem almost medieval, and then some hi-tech piece of technology will be thrown in. Jarring is a better word for how I felt. I never could quite grasp the setting.
FOUR DEAD QUEENS takes place in the fictional nation of Quadara. It is one nation, divided into four regions and each region is ruled by a queen. Each region is also specialized in something or another, and the people of that region have come to reflect their specialization. The Archia region focuses on farming and manual labour (like, to the point that their queen bans technoology on the island); Toria focuses on trade and seafaring so their people are naturally very curious people; Eonia focuses on science and technology, and their people have learned to suppress their emotions like robots; and Ludia focuses on the arts, fashion and leisure so their people are energetic and "spoiled".
Really neat idea of a nation divided into 4, each having its own ruler. Only problem was Quadara is supposed to be one nation but it felt like four different ones. It didn't seem like there was ANYTHING uniting the four regions. The queens even go out of their way to block their people from traveling to different regions. The beginning of the book starts with an Archian begging his queen to allow electricity in their region and she's like lol nope, go farm the old fashioned way, peasant. The main character also notes lots of "racism" or whatever you call it between regions, looking down on anyone who is from Ludia or thinking Eonists are all a bunch of heartless robots. Wasn't sure if I was supposed to be worried for the nation or just the main character's region of Toria.
That's the other thing, some regions felt positively medieval. Then you have others where they've basically got freaking Bluetooth and fast trains and holograms, and you're like "oh man, these people are still on horse-and-buggy tech, poor guys". I mean, their queen is literally making their lives harder instead of better!!
Anyway, the story follows Keralie, a young thief (called 'dippers'). She works for Mackiel, and basically steals stuff to re-sell at Mackiel's auction house. One day, she steals a comm case from an Eonist messenger named Varin. The comm case contains very secretive information about the four queens -- each one is about to be assassinated. After realizing what the comm case contains, Keralie and Varin try to solve the mystery of who the case is supposed to be delivered to, from whom, and how can they save the queens. Interspersed between Keralie's POV chapters are the four queens'.
Overall I liked this book enough to read every page, but I don't think I would ever re-read it or follow it if it became a series. It's imaginative and I think the author put a lot of effort into the writing and the plot. I just don't think the world and the plot was for me. The story was predictable. The "mystery" wasn't actually solved by the characters despite them trying to play detective; rather the mastermind was revealed by a sudden POV chapter from the mastermind who explains all her plans. I wasn't really a fan of the characters either. The villains were cartoonish, Keralie is an arrogant girl who is flirtatious at really weird and inappropriate times (in my opinion -- running away from people literally trying to kill you is a strange time to flirt. Like, she and Varin were at risk for drowning and she suddenly wonders if Varin might undress her and see her naked or something, I don't know, it was weird), and Varin has the personality of a potato.
I wanted to find out what happened at the end though, so I guess I liked it enough for that!
Edit: I realized I did not mention anything about the romance between Keralie and Varin. Honestly, I kind of forgot about it. I guess that says enough about their relationship....more
Um, so, this is one of those weird situations where I'm done reading the book and I thought it was just okay. Then I go on Goodreads and see everyone Um, so, this is one of those weird situations where I'm done reading the book and I thought it was just okay. Then I go on Goodreads and see everyone and their mom and dog LOVES this novel and has given it 4 or 5 stars. Everyone's reviews are just gushing about how this book is the best thing since sliced bread. It has won freaking awards! And I just thought it was okay??? I mean, did we read the same novel? I usually have the same opinion as the masses (not really a hipster or anything), so I don't know what happened here. But I wasn't really as impressed as everyone else.
Okay, so what is MORE THAN THIS about? Well, this is the kind of novel where I can't tell you too much about what it's about because it'll actually probably just ruin the story. 99% of the fun of this book is finding out, little by little, what the heck is happening. Still, I will make an attempt. A boy wakes up in a seemingly random location. He has very little memory as to what has happened to him and he's pretty much naked. The only thing he knows for sure is that his name is Seth.
Seth wanders around this strange world that doesn't have anybody else in it. He seems to be the only person alive in the whole world. And the world seems like it has gone through an apocalypse or something; everything abandoned and dusty. He gets flashbacks of his life, his regular life, where he lived with his mom, dad and brother Owen in America. He remembers his friends and how they pulled stupid pranks together. But he doesn't know where he is now or what's happening. He begins to suspect that he's in hell, that this is the world after death. But surely there's more to this world than this endless wandering?
My first Patrick Ness novel was his most recent, THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE. I also thought that was just ok. I decided to try this one specifically because it got so many rave reviews. You see, I really want to like Patrick Ness' novels. I've heard so many great things about him, I want to join in on the fun! What the heck happened? Did something go whoosh over my head? I don't know. I totally understand the story, I don't think it's a matter of me not "getting" anything. People say this book is moving. But I didn't feel anything even close to being moved at all.
For the first third of the novel or something, Seth is literally alone. And don't get me wrong, Patrick Ness is a terrific writer, absolutely! However, the first third was pretty dull. I did like slowly discovering the world with Seth, but to be honest, he discovered everything a bit too slow for my tastes. The book later got interesting when the other characters entered the plot. Then there was the discovery of what's really happening (hint hint, it's kind of like The Matrix) and that got more interesting. But when I reached the end of the novel, I was just like, "That's it? This is the novel that got so many people in love with it?" I understand the story, but I don't get why people love it.
I think there's supposed to be something inspirational and hopeful about this story. But because it's science fiction and the fact that I didn't find the Matrix-style plot all that relateable, I guess the effect was lost on me.
I guess for the majority of the book, I kept thinking that there will be 'more than this' to MORE THAN THIS, hahaha. Lame jokes. It's not that this was a bad book. I guess I just got way too hyped up over it, and you know, I don't think this kind of novel is my cup of tea at all.
Should I just give up on Patrick Ness?? Maybe he and I just don't mesh. I don't know. We'll see ......more
I’m not sure what it was with this second book, but it didn’t quite catch my interest like the first book did. Maybe it’s because it’s the second bookI’m not sure what it was with this second book, but it didn’t quite catch my interest like the first book did. Maybe it’s because it’s the second book in the series, or maybe it’s because I’m reading this one a year after I read the first, or maaaybe it’s because book two was published almost twenty years after the first. I don’t know. I thought The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy was funny, witty and creative. I thought book two was immature, aimless and nonsensical. And I’m not sure why! Because, if you have read this series, you would know that being silly is kind of the whole point of the books. Yet I found the silliness in book one to be more understandable than book two! Strange …
I am not even too sure how to describe the plot of this book because it was kind of all over the place. Our main characters decide they need to eat some food after what happened in the last book, so they are looking for a place to eat when they end up at the restaurant at the end of the universe, Milliway’s. Of course, during their journey the gang ends up going through a series of wacky adventures, including meeting the man who runs the entire universe.
So from what I understand, a lot of people like book two and think it’s just as good, if not better, than the first. Apparently, I have a dissenting opinion, haha. Maybe I just don’t “get” this one, but I wasn’t very engaged with the story at all. It was all just very bizarre. And I know it’s supposed to be bizarre. I can’t really pinpoint why this book felt different from book one’s silliness. And to top it all off, I can’t even really remember what I just read, because the plot felt like it went all over the place. It was all kind of a blur, especially since the book is so short.
This is going to be one of my shorter reviews since I don’t really know what else to say about this book. It was “okay”. I will continue the series because I own all five in a box set so I’ll get around to it eventually. Book two hasn’t exactly made me excited for book three, though....more
I purchased this for sale a while back. The massmarket paperback version had just come out, and thus, all the hardcover e4.5 stars, rounded up for GR.
I purchased this for sale a while back. The massmarket paperback version had just come out, and thus, all the hardcover editions at the bookstore I usually frequent had their prices drastically reduced to single digits. Intrigued by the cover and the synopsis (H.G.Wells as the main character? He’s one of my favourite classics authors, so this I had to read), I decided to give it a go. It sounded like everything I love in a novel — fantasy, science fiction, time traveling, a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, reading, books — and I have to say, I was not disappointed. There’s even some steampunk elements thrown in.
The Map of Time boasts three plots that are interwoven with one another. Well, the jacket flap says they are interwoven but to me, it really felt like three separate stories that lightly relate to one another. Reading some other reviews of this book, this seemed to be a turn-off for many readers and I completely understand. It kind of turned me off too, a bit. I like multiple plot novels as much as the next reader, but The Map of Time felt a little too similar to reading three short stories that have similar characters in the same world, instead of one novel. Don’t get me wrong, the three plots did interrelate with one another, but not as much as one would have thought.
The Map of Time has H. G. Wells as a central character in each of its three plots. H. G. Wells is, as many people know, a classic science fiction author, who wrote works such as The Time Machine and The Invisible Man. In the first plot, H. G. Wells helps a rich young man named Charles Winslow save the life of his cousin Andrew, who wants to commit suicide because the love of his life was killed by Jack the Ripper eight years ago. In the second plot, H. G. Wells helps a young man named Tom Blunt keep up an elaborate lie to save the life of a wealthy young woman whose desperately in love with Tom. And in the final and third plot, H. G. Wells tries to solve a puzzling series of murders where it appears as if the victims had a hole burned right through their body by a heat ray, an invention from the future.
Despite the disconnected feeling I got from the three plots that supposedly intersect one another (but not really), I still found this book to be absolutely mesmerizing and difficult to put down. It shocks and surprises you time after time. Whenever you think you got something figured out, it throws another curveball at you. It really feels like a magical adventure, full of good humor and really fun, clever writing. I found all three stories deliciously entertaining, addicting and full of good humor. The writing itself is brilliant, grandiose and quirky. I honestly didn’t even realize it was a translation of the original novel until I read that somewhere. I think someone described this book as a “magic show” somewhere and I think that’s a perfect description. Time and time again, I was dazzled, only to have the truth revealed … and then somehow, I get dazzled again.
Every character is unique in their own way and very memorable. They all have very elaborate backstories, which at times, can seem a bit excessive. Even rather minor characters, such as Andrew’s father, have their entire life biography revealed to you. I suppose I would ordinarily be annoyed by all this superfluous information that has no real bearing on the story, but I found even the backstories of these minor characters curiously interesting. It didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book one bit.
You don’t need to have read any of H. G. Wells’ works in order to appreciate this book fully, although I’m certain it may help a bit (I, myself, have only read two of his works, none of them being The Time Machine which was featured so prominently in The Map of Time). It does a wonderful job of inspiring you to read his novels though, although it does spoil everything. So I would suggest reading Wells’ book first then this one second if you already intended to read The Time Machine. All in all, a brilliant story that got me through being stuck at home due to snow, and a power outage (heh). I definitely recommend giving this book a shot, hopefully you will like it too. I am looking forward to reading the second in this series, The Map of the Sky....more
The first H.G. Wells book I ever read was The Island of Doctor Moreau, and even though I’ve only read one of his books, I liked it enough that I consiThe first H.G. Wells book I ever read was The Island of Doctor Moreau, and even though I’ve only read one of his books, I liked it enough that I considered myself a fan of his works. The Invisible Man is now my second Wells book. I picked it up as an easy and light read for commuting to and from school. It’s great reading some of the first science fiction stories written, and The Invisible Man is one that, for me, has always seemed like a pretty famous one. I really enjoyed this book, it was clear and easy to read.
The story begins with innkeepers Mr. and Mrs. Hall taking in a mysterious, nameless guest who is dressed in a hat and heavy coat, with bandages wrapped all around him. The stranger keeps to himself in his room for the most part, but everyone begins to grow suspicious about him. Eventually, they find out this stranger, Griffin, is an invisible man! He was originally a scientist, and being invisible was interesting and neat at first, but he quickly realized how burdensome it was. He is trying to become visible again, but with no luck so far. When no one will help him and try to capture him, Griffin’s temper fires up and plots a reign of terror against the small town.
I thought at first, being an invisible man, it might be about a guy who was scared about what was happening to him and desperately trying to fix himself. I suppose that’s what I would do if I ever found myself in his position. I never expected the invisible man to go crazy and start trying to kill people! When I thought about it, I guess it does make sense though. Being invisible surely could drive someone mental, and it does feel like Griffin, in this book, felt angrily jealous of visible people. I do think he started to go off his rocker there a bit, towards the end, though I think he was a person with anger issues to begin with. It’s really quite crazy how Griffin, a man people can’t even see, stirs up an entire town to start a sort of witch hunt for him. I mean, the guy’s invisible, you can’t see him! How can you find someone that is literally impossible to see? It kind of goes to show that anyone can cause a ripple in a pond, although of course, it helped that Griffin was sufficiently ambitious already.
This is science fiction after all, and I was pleased that there was an scientific explanation for how it is possible Griffin became invisible at all. Of course, it’s pseudo-science since humans can’t really become invisible (… as far as I know … !!) but it just goes to show how Wells established himself as a sci-fi writer and not simply a fantasy writer. Otherwise, this entire story can be brushed off with a magical explanation. But it’s not magic, it’s science!
This was a great read and it’s a very short book to boot, so if you like sci-fi, or you like classics, or you just like books in general, try giving this book a go!
P.S. The book edition I posted for this review is not the actual edition I read. I actually read this edition, which is free ebook with the iBook app, on my iPhone. It didn’t have a “cover”, so I just picked a random one as a stand in. I didn’t actually read this Modern Library classic edition, but I liked the cover....more
If you’ve read my reviews for the first two books of this series, you might be wondering why I bothered reading book three, Reached, at all, since I dIf you’ve read my reviews for the first two books of this series, you might be wondering why I bothered reading book three, Reached, at all, since I didn’t really like the first two books that much. Well, my line of thinking was something like, “I’ve come this far, it’s the last book.” I didn’t really care about how the story was going to end, but I did want some sort of closure with the series. Well, I got to the end and it’s pretty much the same as the first two books, though somehow this one managed to be even more boring.
So, the Rising (the rebellion) is supposed to be up and fighting the Society in this final book.During all this, there is a Plague going around and our main characters are trying very hard to find the Cure for. Even worse, the Plague mutates, so that their previous Cure no longer works and they have to find a new one. And of course, during all these events, it is expected (as the third and final book in the series and all), that Cassia is going to finally make a proper decision between Xander and Ky, the two boys who are in love with her.
It all sounds very exciting, but it wasn’t. I thought book two was going to be the most boring book in the series, but I was wrong: book three is! The first 300-ish pages of this book, it honestly felt like nothing was happening. There is nothing that happens that sticks out in my mind. There was just so much “fluff” writing. It felt like the author wanted to be “deep” and thoughtful in her writing, but none of it was convincing. And while I normally like poetry, I don’t buy what this book (or rather, this series) has done with poems. They become almost like a form of currency, people trading bits of poems to get what they want. Why would a bunch of rebels who can’t even write decide that poetry was worth anything? I hardly think their Society mandated education would help them learn how to appreciate poetry, especially poetry that was written decades or even centuries ago. Maybe modern poetry … Anyway, I digress …
I kept expecting the Rising to finally do something against the Society. (view spoiler)[But there was no fighting, no nothing! I don’t NEED there to be actual fighting to be interesting, but I did expect something exciting to go down. Instead, I got this super anti-climatic realization from Cassia that the Rising and the Society are one, that the Society engineered the Rising to make people think there’s change and be satisfied. (hide spoiler)] The reveal was not very exciting and the events that followed this realization were pretty boring!
The love story between Cassia, Xander and Ky ended very predictably too. I did not expect the “leftover” boy to find love too, but he did. That didn’t make me feel happy though. I feel that having the “leftover” boy find true love suddenly just undermines the “leftover” boy’s feelings for Cassia during the entire series. If he can love another girl so soon after Cassia makes up her mind about who she wants to be with, then he never truly loved Cassia at all, you know?
I don’t feel satisfied after reading this final book, but I can’t really say I’m disappointed either. I just feel nothing, like none of it mattered....more
I’ve always wanted to read a James Patterson book, and I thought picking a YA one would be a good place to start since I like YA books. I guess I had I’ve always wanted to read a James Patterson book, and I thought picking a YA one would be a good place to start since I like YA books. I guess I had higher expectations since he is such a big name author. I felt a little let down, but I still want to see where this series goes. Also, this book is “YA”, and I opened this book up with that in mind, but it is actually more of a middle grade book.
The Angel Experiment is the first book in an eight book series about a girl named Maximum Ride and her friends. Max and her six friends are 98% human and 2% avian. They were lab experiments created by scientists. Each of them have a magnificent pair of wings on their back, and each of them also have unique powers. The six of them were rescued from the lab by a sympathetic scientist named Jeb and for the last four years were raised in a secluded house high in the mountains. Two years ago Jeb disappeared though, most likely dead. One day, out of the blue, Erasers — werewolf-like creatures also created by those same scientists — crash their hiding place and kidnap the youngest of their group, a little six year old named Angel. Determined to get their friend back, Max and the others prepare to journey to rescue her, while at the same time, hoping they will be able to find more about their past before they became ‘mutants’.
I think my problem with this book was the way the story progressed. The characters had clear goals to get to, but for some odd reason, would get extremely easily distracted and do something else for a few chapters before remembering, “Oh yeah, we have to rescue Angel.” There were also chapters where they did things that didn’t seem necessary to the plot, like attend a concert or eat in a restaurant. Granted, the chapters were very, very short, so it’s not as if I had to spend an agonizing number of pages reading about mundane activities, but still. The Erasers also showed up at regular points in the story to shake up Max and her friends, but they always win the fight and manage to get away. Very predictable, and kind of reminded me of children’s cartoon shows where the bad guys show up but the good guys always, always win.
The ending was also rather disappointing as well. The climax was not very climactic and it all happened very, very quickly. I was pretty surprised to realize I have reached the end of the book. The ending didn’t feel very conclusive, which I suppose is intended as it is the first book of a series, but it felt rushed and abrupt.
Other things I was not too happy about was the juvenile style writing (I do realize it’s a kid’s book, but the writing was still pretty lackluster) and the characters being rather one dimensional.
However, I did really like the concept of the lab created mutants and it was actually a pretty fun and humorous book as well, even if it is kids’ humor. I do find myself wanting to find out more about Maximum Ride and why the scientists think she will one day “save the world”. The book definitely has appeal, I was just not too crazy about the actual flow of events in the story. If you are looking for a book aimed at actual young adults, I think this series is a little too young, but if you don’t mind middle grade books, I think the book was pretty fun. It has its flaws, but I hope it gets better in the next installment. Admittedly, I am not this book’s target audience; I think actual kids would find this book pretty engrossing....more
The first book, Matched, didn’t really impress me that much but I kind of wanted to find out what happens anyway, so I got this second book from the lThe first book, Matched, didn’t really impress me that much but I kind of wanted to find out what happens anyway, so I got this second book from the library. Unfortunately, I liked Crossed even less than I like Matched. In a nutshell, Crossed was boring. At least in the first book, stuff happened. Nothing much happens in this book. You could probably skip this book and jump into the third one with little problem.
In Crossed, the story is narrated by both Cassia and Ky in alternating chapters, unlike the first book. Ky has been sent to the Outer Provinces for “work”, but really, has been sentenced to die. Cassia, desperate to reunite with Ky, goes with her work group to the Outer Provinces as well, and when the perfect opportunity arises, runs away with the help of a new friend, Indie. Together, they try to find Ky, who has also escaped from his “work”. Together, their little group try to piece together fragments of clues that hint that there is a rebellion group, the Rising, which Cassia and Indie want to find and join. Ky, on the other hand, has reservations about joining the Rising. Or, in short, there is a rebellion called the Rising, which Cassia and Ky end up joining. Boom, that’s the whole book.
The entire plot of this book could have been condensed and packed into whatever the next book contains, or the previous book. To me, this book’s plot is simple and short, but the author stretched it to fill one book’s worth. The result was a book that moved at a snail’s pace and felt like nothing much was happening most of the time. At the end of the book, I felt like the characters and the story have not progressed very far from where they were when Matched ended. Even Cassia and Ky’s relationship felt stagnant, and in this book, a bit overdone. I can tell the author was trying to make their relationship more deep and meaningful, but it did not work, at least for me. Cassia and Ky’s relationship always felt a bit forced to me, but it’s like full force in this book. Over and over again, the two of them monologue’d about how much they love one another, how they would do anything for one another, writing/thinking poetry about one another (literally). I felt like they were trying to convince me that they were deeply in love, but it came off as too forced instead.
Also combined with the thin plot was the author’s writing style. I think the author writes really well and beautifully. I have no qualms with Ally Condie’s writing. The problem is she writes almost too well. The boring story combined with the poetic, dramatic writing style of the author meant reading a lot about overly wordy passages, another reason why I think this book feels like it was really forced.
Lastly, the setting of this book was quite stagnant and never changed very much. We are no longer in Society where there’s all sorts of different places the characters could visit. We are with Cassia, Ky and their friends running around a canyon for the entire book. There are only rocks, caves and rivers which were repeatedly described.
All in all, I was not impressed with Crossed. I know I wasn’t that crazy about Matched either, but I did think it had potential to get better, so Crossed was rather disappointing. Am I going to read book three? Well, I’ve come this far and it’s the last book, so I’ll probably read it for the closure....more
So, in 2011, I read the book Cinder, which is the first book in the series. I loved it, and knew I was going to read the rest of the series. But then,So, in 2011, I read the book Cinder, which is the first book in the series. I loved it, and knew I was going to read the rest of the series. But then, as it usually happens, the wait between installments causes me to forget (because I'm not very good at keeping up with book news). I was recently reminded of this series when I saw the fourth (and final!) book in bookstores and I thought, "Oh my gawd, the last book is already out?!"
So it's been 4 years and my memory is a little hazy on what happened in Cinder, but I still found Scarlet very enjoyable to read. I wonder if I would have liked it more if I read them back to back?
I did not know the Lunar Chronicles features a different fairy tale heroine in each installment. I think this is an awesome idea! In this second book in the series, the new fairy tale heroine featured is Little Red Riding Hood. Cinder (as in, Cinderella), the cyborg mechanic from the first book, is still a main character.
Scarlet begins with 18 year old Scarlet who is looking for her lost grandmother. Her grandmother has been missing for the past two weeks and the police don't seem to care. A chance meeting with a mysterious street fighter named Wolf brings her closer to locating her beloved grandmother. Wolf appears to know more about the whereabouts of Scarlet's grandmother than he is letting on. As Scarlet and Wolf investigate the disappearance together, Scarlet realizes that whoever took her grandmother, took her because her grandmother knows about the true identity of the missing Lunar princess, Selene.
In the meantime, Cinder is stuck in prison due to the events that happened in the first book. Reluctantly resorting to her Lunar capabilities of mind control, Cinder escapes with fellow prisoner Captain Thorne, a devilishly handsome rogue of a man who just so happens to own a large cargo spaceship. But escaping is just the beginning -- the entire world is looking for her, because the Queen of Luna, Levana, is furious that Cinder has ran away. If Cinder is not found in time, Queen Levana is threatening to war against the entire Earth.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Wonderfully written and a nicely paced story. A lot of my liking has to do with the fact that I am just a sucker for fairy tale retellings. I love this series because it is just by far one of the most imaginative fairy tale retellings I've encountered in my 'travels' (in the book world) so far. I mean, sci-fi fairy tales?! It sounds crazy but it works in this series.
Also, Little Red Riding Hood is not a fairy tale that usually gets the novelization treatment. There's tons of Cinderella retellings, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc. but LRRH is, I suppose, too short of a tale to flesh out into a whole novel. Well, I guess it's true, it IS a short fairy tale. But Marissa Meyer found a way to incorporate LRRH into the existing Lunar Chronicles world, and I just loved the way it all fit together.
If I may have a complaint though, it did bug me a bit how Scarlet and Cinder's paths didn't cross until near the end of the novel. It's a bit like reading two separate stories until that point. You have all the stuff that's happening with Scarlet and all the stuff that's happening with Cinder, and for a long time, I didn't even think the two characters were going to meet. They do, eventually, of course, but it was pretty darn near the end. Just a small complaint, I think if they could have met earlier it would have been fantastic.
Anyway, if you enjoyed the first Lunar Chronicle book, I am sure you will also like book two. I am really looking forward to the third book, Cress, which apparently features Rapunzel! And the fourth and final book, Winter, that was just released a few days ago, which features Snow White. Exciting stuff!...more
The final book of the Across The Universe YA trilogy! In case you haven’t read my reviews of the previous two books, I am a big fan of this series andThe final book of the Across The Universe YA trilogy! In case you haven’t read my reviews of the previous two books, I am a big fan of this series and really enjoyed books one and two. Needless to say, I greatly anticipated book three, Shades Of Earth, especially since book two ended on such a cliffhanger! Because I found books one and two to be absolutely fantastic, I did have rather high expectations for book three and I’m happy to find that it completely lived up to my expectations! (Sadly, I think the cover is really atrocious and doesn’t link itself to the first two books at all).
The first two books in this series are about a young teenage girl, Amy, who was cryogenically frozen aboard the enormous spacecraft, Godspeed, along with many other humans, to become colonizers of a newly discovered Earth-like planet dubbed Centauri-Earth. It is a 300 year journey, but Amy is accidentally unfrozen 50 years too soon by a boy named Elder. Elder is the leader-in-training of the shipborn humans, the ones who were born, lived, and died, on Godspeed all their lives in order to keep the ship operating for so long. Not to get into too much detail, but Amy and Elder discover a huge conspiracy/secret about the ship which takes up the first two books in the trilogy.
In book three, we have finally landed on Centauri-Earth! I have looked forward to this moment for a long time, ever since the very first book. I wondered if the new planet is going to as wonderful as the characters believed it could be, despite the unknown dangers they are also aware of. Seriously, I really, really looked forward to it! The book did a really good job dragging out my curiosity for as long as possible. Maybe some people will see that as a bad thing, but I loved it — I hung onto every word that I read, and kept telling myself ‘one more chapter, one more chapter’. Every chapter seemed to add more and more questions to my list, and I was just dying to know what this new planet was all about. This was the kind of book where once I started reading, I couldn’t stop.
(view spoiler)[One thing I wasn’t completely satisfied with was the new character of Chris and his role in the story. It didn’t really make sense to me why, when the Godspeed survivors landed, the Colonel (Amy’s dad) would let Chris into their colony and pretend to everyone that he was actually a part of the group the whole time. That just seemed farfetched and ridiculous to me. I don’t know about you, but if I was starting a colony on a new planet and ran across a strange human being who was not a part of my group, I wouldn’t invite him to simply pretend he was with us all along and not tell anyone. Wouldn’t you want to get more information from him? Anyway, that one part seemed off to me, but not enough to seriously distract me from the story. (hide spoiler)]
I think it’s just crazy (in a good way) how Beth Revis keeps coming up with secret after secret for Amy and Elder to discover. The entire series has been such a roller-coaster ride. I enjoyed the direction Shades Of Earth headed towards in this book and I liked the happy ending as well. I don’t really have much else to say about this book because I enjoyed reading it so much — stayed up super late to finish it! — and found very little to complain about. I really, really recommend this YA series, hope you will like it too!...more
I’ve heard a bunch of good things about this series, so I looked into it. I was a bit surprised that it was a children’s series, because the people whI’ve heard a bunch of good things about this series, so I looked into it. I was a bit surprised that it was a children’s series, because the people who were praising the series didn’t seem like the type who read children’s books, but I was looking for something easy to read during my commutes to campus, so why the hell not? It seems like a light hearted read, which was exactly what I was looking for.
Artemis Fowl is a genius and millionaire 12 year old. His father mysteriously disappeared years ago and his mother has been depressed and holed up in her bedroom ever since, leaving little Artemis on his own most of the time. This is fine by Artemis because he’s quite independent and in fact, very mature and advanced for his age. It’s also beneficial that his parents aren’t really around because Artemis is a criminal mastermind, and not having the parents around makes his criminal activities a little easier to conduct.
His latest crime? Kidnapping a fairy. Yes, a real fairy! Artemis has big plans to obtain some fairy gold as per old legends and myths, but little does he know what the fairy world is really like. He captures Captain Holly Short, a member of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) unit, and her colleagues are determined to rescue her from Artemis’ clutches.
The idea of Artemis as a criminal mastermind really appealed to me for some reason. A lot of children’s books often have a more traditional protagonist, someone more heroic and ‘good’. This is the first children’s book I’ve read where the protagonist is a self proclaimed criminal mastermind; it made for a rather interesting read. Artemis isn’t actually a bad guy, he just happens to dabble in criminality because it’s the only way to get what he wants. There are some things that he wants — such as his father’s return, or for his mother to notice him — that can’t be bought with money.
I was a little surprised that there was a fantastical element to the book. When I was looking up the series, I guess I somehow missed the fairy stuff, which I know is really hard to miss when you’re looking up Artemis Fowl on the internet, so no, I don’t know how that happened. You can imagine my surprise when I’m reading and reading and suddenly fairies are introduced. I know fairies are an integral part of the Artemis Fowl series, and for the most part I didn’t mind them, the fairies are alright. But I hated the dwarves. They just seemed too silly, even for a children’s book. I mean, one of them had an attack where he shot poop out his butt … so weird! And yes, I know, this is a kid’s book and I’m a mid-20′s adult, but I’ve always considered myself a kid at heart. Even I felt a little “WTF” when I read that part.
As for the actual story, it was alright too, a little simplistic but entertaining enough. Reading this book was kind of like watching a Saturday morning cartoon, it was funny and charming. It easy to pick up and put down repeatedly, which is a good attribute for a commute-ride-book. Never had a problem following the story. I’m not dying to know what happens to Artemis next, but I wouldn’t mind reading book two to see what misadventures he gets up to later. This book was certainly fun to read, it had its silly moments and laugh out moments, and lots of action too....more
I am in love with this novel, I really am. Recommended to me by a friend, at first I was kind of wary of the book. I gave up on it after the first 5 pI am in love with this novel, I really am. Recommended to me by a friend, at first I was kind of wary of the book. I gave up on it after the first 5 pages on my first try because, I admit, I found it difficult to read and I wasn’t really into it. Left it to sit on my bookshelf for five months or so. Then the movie came out, which I kind of wanted to see, but ended up not doing that either. I’m not sure what caused me to pick up this book nearly a year after I bought it, and a handful of months after the movie’s release. Who knows?
But I did, and I’m so glad I gave it another shot. Long after I finished the last page, I am still thinking about this book, still ruminating and trying to come up with how everything links together. This is the kind of book not everyone will like, I admit. It has a unique structure to it that, as one of the characters state (out of this context), that could either be hailed as revolutionary or gimmicky. I think even people who like this book might not “get” it one hundred percent. I love it though, I love everything about it: the characters, traveling through time, all the settings, the crossing of literary genres. I think it’s a brilliant novel, and the writing is so amazing. I am quite blown away by what a chameleon the author is, able to adapt and mold his writing style and writing voice to fit the different time periods and characters. If you told me six separate authors wrote each of the six novellas, I would believe you.
This book is essentially six novellas that connect and relate to one another in vague ways. Only the first half of each six is revealed in the beginning, except for #6. We get the full story of #6, and then the novel goes backwards, telling the finishing half of the rest of them. To put it plainly, the order of the stories go 1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-3-2-1.
1. The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing, set in 1850′s. Adam Ewing is an American notary who learns about the enslavement of the Maori people during his time away from his home in San Fransisco. On his journey back, he falls ill and is being taken care of by the slightly eccentric doctor, Henry Goose. This first novella is his journal that he is writing in as he sails ship back to America.
2. Letters of Zedelghem, set in 1931. Robert Frobisher is an aspiring composer, down on his luck. He finds work helping famous composer Vyvyan Ayrs compose his music. During his stay at Ayr’s home, he receives the sexual advances of Ayr’s wife, gets in a multitude of arguments with Ayr himself, and becomes interested in a book called The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing. He writes about his days in the form of letters to his lover, Sixsmith.
3. Half Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery, is set in the 1970′s. Luisa Rey is a journalist bent on exposing the hazards of a Californian nuclear power plant. She is searching for the Sixsmith report, which exposes the dangers of the power plant, but the nuclear power company will stop at nothing to make sure the report never gets out. Luisa Rey finds Sixsmith’s letters to Frobisher during her search for the report.
4. The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish, set in our present day. This is a humorous story about Timothy, a publisher, who is fleeing his client’s gangsters. Timothy’s brother sets him up with a hotel to hide out in, but it turns out to be a nursing home, which will not let Timothy leave. As Timothy tries a variety of escape methods, he also comes across a manuscript for an unpublished novel called Half Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery.
5. An Orison of Sonmi~451, set in a dystopian future in Korea (or what used to be Korea). Sonmi~451 is a fabricant, a genetically engineered clone. She is giving an interview to an Archivist before her subsequent disposal, explaining how she came to join rebels against the corporacy and the use of fabricants as slaves, and her role in the whole conspiracy. At one point in the story, she comes across an old film called The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish.
6. Sloosha’s Crossin’ and Ev’rythin’ After, set in an apocalyptic future even further than the previous story, in what used to be Hawaii. Zachry is a member of a primitive but peaceful valley tribe that lives in fear of another tribe on the other side of the island, the Kona, who are fierce warriors and cannibals. They worship a goddess called Sonmi. One day, they are visited by a Prescient — a far more technologically advanced people — who stays with them to learn and study their ways. The Prescient is greeted warmly and everyone loves her, except Zachry, who is wary of her true intentions. It turns out the Prescient needs a guide to a mountain top where abandoned observatories lay. The valley temple fear the mountain, believing it to be haunted by the devil, but Zachry reluctantly takes her, where it is revealed to him through an old hologram device that Sonmi is not a goddess, but someone who lived a long time ago.
As you can tell, this novel is huge in scope. It is a novel about truth, power, freedom, captivity, power, greed, love, loss, and so much more. There are elements that thread the six novellas and link them together; for example, in each story, there is a character with a comet-shaped birthmark. You won’t be able to link together everything the first time, probably, which makes it have incredible re-reading and re-re-reading value. I personally love trying to figure out how things link together, trying to figure out the overarching themes and how they play out in each novel. If you don’t like that kind of stuff, well, the six novellas are really wonderful, clever and exciting stories all on their own as well, and you can certainly read them each separately if you like, instead of the Russian-dolls-way the author has structured it.
Oh yes, and I did actually end up seeing the movie after I finished the book. The movie stays mostly true to the novel, though I found it emphasized love and romance a bit more than the book did. Really wonderful stuff here. I am not, however, going to go around recommending it to everyone I know, because I know not everyone will appreciate the novel in the same way, though I wish that was the case. It’s a very daring novel, ambitious in scope, the kind that is going to be challenging for some people to like, and easy for others to engage with. I, as you know by now, fully enjoyed it. It is a novel that will stay with me for a while yet....more
A sci-fi classic that I have been interested in for a while now, and bumped up on my reading list because I heard there was movie coming out! And I loA sci-fi classic that I have been interested in for a while now, and bumped up on my reading list because I heard there was movie coming out! And I love it when books get turned into movies, regardless if it turns out good or bad. Of course, after I finished reading it, I realized the movie isn’t until much later this year so I needn’t have rushed. Oh well! I’m glad to have read this book anyway, even though it wasn’t exactly everything I dreamed it to be, it was still good.
Ender’s Game takes place in the far future. Humans are involved in a sort of turf war with an alien race of insect-like creatures, and the humans are seriously outnumbered. The war is close, but now humanity’s only hope rests upon the shoulders of one genius six year old boy — Andrew “Ender” Wiggin. Ender is a “third” — in this future, there is a population policy where only two kids are allowed per family, except in cases where the government deems the family to have good genes and can have a third child. Ender’s older brother and sister are brilliant geniuses as well, but not good enough for the government. However, Ender checks out and is taken to Battle School, where he is to be trained for years to become a commander that will hopefully defeat the aliens once and for all.
So, the story sounds a little funky and in some ways, it is. It has strong themes in childhood, military, human relationships and is a coming-of-age story as well. I really loved the messages this book brought about regarding these themes. I thought they were interesting and thought provoking, especially watching Ender’s personality change throughout his years in Battle School. He went from being a pretty nice but sheltered boy who was bullied and picked on, to a tough, no-nonsense kind of boy. The other characters were interesting as well, and I wish there was more on Ender’s brother and sister, Peter and Valentine. They were secondary characters who had their own plot too, but I felt there wasn’t much about them. It was a shame because the three siblings’ relationship is so complex and interesting. They both feared Peter, and as for Peter, I couldn’t really tell if he loved his siblings or wanted to kill them.
Other aspects of the story were kind of strange from a realistic point of view. For example: you definitely have to understand that Ender and the rest of his battle school classmates are not normal six, seven, eight, etc. year olds. These are geniuses that the government has monitored for years, or the government has persuaded certain families to give birth to. Ender and his classmates certainly do not act like you would expect of children. Many times I forgot they were even children! There is a little explanation throughout the book as to why the government/military can only use children for commanders, which kind of made sense from a philosophical or theoretical point of view. But then later, you’re like, “But … he’s six!” (Or eleven, or however old he was at the time).
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It does feel kind of dated when you’re reading it, the same way you can read a Jane Austen novel and know it must be old because of the language used. I don’t think I enjoyed it enough to continue reading the series — maybe, if I get free copies or something — but I do look forward to the movie and seeing how they will interpret everything on the big screen....more
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