All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque

Diana Oppenheimer, A2, Mrs. Huss

All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, is a story about World War I, and a young man who struggles to survive during it. The young man is Paul Baumer, he is a German in the Kaiser’s army, and he has no reason for fighting other than the fact that he signed up to.

When Paul did sign up, he was a zealous young man, full of plans and patriotism. In the ensuing years, though, he discovers the truth about the horrors of war, and about the people he is fighting against. Paul reads the name of a man he has killed and looks at the pictures of his family. Convinced that nothing can come from a war that sets good men against one another, Paul swears to fight for an end to needless killing in the world. However, he and many other disillusioned soldiers like him do not have the chance to: for them, peacetime never comes.

All Quiet on the Western Front completely destroys the popular illusion of “death and glory” on the battlefield. It handles controversial topics, like the morality and realities of war, with clarity and strong imagery. This book deserves a 10 out of 10 rating. I loved it. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes war novels or classics, or both.

"Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk

Zack Ragozzino
Per. A3 Mrs. Huss


Fight Club follows the point of view of an unnamed narrator who suffers from severe insomnia. He dreams of breaking away from his repetitive life and his wish is soon granted when Tyler Durden comes into the story. An explosion destroys all of the narrator's personal possessions and he must live in the care of his new friend Tyler. With the help of Durden, he learns not to rely on his possessions or follow society. With the creation of a Fight Club they manage to create a rebellion to fight back against the rules of authority. While this rebellious attitude starts out as minor, it soon grows to huge proportions to a point where it starts to get out of hand.

I loved this book mainly for three reasons. Firstly, the writing style is very specific and the reader is sure to learn a thing or two about soap making or the creation of napalm. Secondly, the characters are really well written to a point where they never seem to get boring. Lastly, the novel ends with a twist that made me rethink and reread the entire novel. I would definitely give this book a rating of 10/10 because I enjoyed every part of it. The action was thrilling, and the rebellious acts were really entertaining. Plus, there is a lot of themes that characters talk about, and they are easy to interpret. If you enjoy psychological thrillers and are okay with a large amount of dark humor then I would definitely suggest this book.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart follows the story of a young girl trying to prove herself to the world. Frankie believes, and it's quite true, that everyone around her underestimates her. From her parents, to her friends, every assumes she's as simple as a bunny rabbit. However, Frankie is far from it.

The old Frankie, the mildly-geeky, debate club champion was gone. The new Frankie, was cool, collected, and completely brilliant. Especially when she finds out about her boyfriends secret society. And especially brilliant, when she decides to take it over. Sophomore year for Frankie is a big one. From school to family to all the many many pranks to be done.

I give this book a 8 out of 10 because I found it to be intriguing and covered a wide array of ideas and philosophies that I thought were interesting. However some of it was a bit cliche with the main character's romantics as well as the story line was somewhat predictable. However if you're looking for good entertainment, The Disreputable History is definitely a good choice.

Robert E.Lee: By Roy Blount, Jr.

Talented military general, celebrated Virginian, and an overall sound human being; it has finally come time to elaborate upon the once great life of the one, the only, Robert Edward Lee. Though much of his being was unknown, Roy Blount, Jr. uses his outstanding history knowledge to give great character background, as well as show how Lee evolved over his lifetime. With vibrant storytelling and a distinct patriotic writing style, Blount creatively communicates with readers early on in his novel that Robert E. Lee would not only change the state of Virginia, but the landscape of the United States of America.
Engrossed by what made Lee such a great, yet understanding leader in the eyes of his followers, Blount digs deep into Robert's family roots to discover what individuals in his life molded a unique young mind into a strong military man. Being raised in a family where he was looked upon as the son of a convicted felon was not easy in the least, but Robert overcame adversity, becoming Abraham Lincoln's first choice to lead the Union Army against Confederate forces in the year of 1861. But Lee's immediate family, as well as his past history in Virginia was to much to overlook; which led him to overtaking Confederate command in that same year. Robert E. Lee, the first true biography of this American legend, will apeal to history and military fanatics, proud Americans, and all individuals who want to learn more about a man that changed the course of American history. Personally, after reading a wide variety of biographies over my lifetime, I feel that Roy Blount Jr., does a fine job of capturing the utter essence of the once prominent American, Robert Edward Lee. On a scale of one to ten, ten being the best book I have ever read, I rate Robert E. Lee a strong eight, as it was a wonderfully written and informative novel, with the need of minor improvements.

Sincerely,

Zach Bluebond

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

Siddhartha is the story of a boy's search for inner-peace in Buddhist India. While on his journey, he meets te Buddha, betrays one of his only friends, and contemplates suicide. The life during the times of the Buddha are elegantly displayed throughout the story and in a way that those inexperienced can still relate to. The detail in Hesse's writing is precise, his words sharp, and the imagery is picturesque. Hesse achieved the perfect level of strong descriptive words and narrating words to make the book seem balanced. His characterization is not too overpowering but enough to make the reader feel attached to all the different characters. I strongly recommend this book to those who not only enjoy good books, but books with meaning and artistic detail. I do not recommend this book to those who hate all things detailed and interesting because they would rather use the pages as kindling for a giant book burning for other copies of Siddhartha. Personally, I would give this book an 8/10 because I enjoyed it so much, that the story went too fast and I wanted there to be more. I also give Siddhartha this score because some of the parts in the story are awkward, even while reading in your head so here is my warning to those who are not suited. If one is still up for the task, I suggest those who enjoy books that are not all just killing and violence to make this an option for reading. Also, those who enjoy traveling to new worlds and exploring in their reading should definitely check out this book.


NOTE: You will most likely have to read this book again later on in High School. It is still good enough to read more than once.

-Tristan P. per. A2

Nineteen Eighty-Four

Pessimism, negativity, the belief that humanity in it's struggle for power will eventually destroy itself. Not exactly a state of mind you would strive to achieve. Luckily for us George Orwell has already explored the very depths pessimistic predictions. Even luckier, Orwell decided to compose all his delightfully dark prophecies into one delightfully dark book. 1984.

1984 tells the tale of Winston Smith, a simple citizen of the superpower Oceania. Winston rebels against the all powerful Party and it's leader, Big Brother. This rebellion, entirely philosophical, allows Winston to figure out what he truly believes in, not just delightfully dark Party Ideals.

Well of course the phrase "delightfully dark" is entirely subjective. If you so happen to be a believer in totalaristic Communism, then ignore everything negative I say about 1984. In fact 1984 will fill you with the warm fuzzy feelings not unlike those felt when frolicking in fields of flowers. The utopia you dream of has arrived in literary form. Indulge. On the other hand if you believe in individuality, love, family, and everything else that makes us who we are... well you might find yourself shacking your fist at the sky quite often. But by no means don't read this book. It is a truly is great read for anyone of any beliefs.

What makes 1984 such a great book is the unique ideas that have been incorporated into it. Normally absurd and terrible (again, the Communist should be giddy with joy) principals such as doublethink, newspeak, and thoughtcrime are as easily believable as 2+2=4. But wait? In 1984 2+2=5? It's amazing to think of it. That people can be manipulated to such a great extent is one of the fascinating core principals of 1984.

If I were to rate this book, I would have to say a solid 9 out of 10. It is a fascinating story of the discovery of individuality, and then the destruction of said individuality. Not only does it introduce brilliant new principals it brings up one we don't normally like to face. That utopia, the perfect society, might just be the most totalaristic of states.
-Austin Weng, A2

Hurt Go Happy

The subjects of the disabled and animal rights are rarely written about, primarily because they is largely misunderstood. Hurt Go Happy, however, delves into the subject of social issues about the animal kingdom and the disabled very thoroughly. Though Ginny Rorby writes from a modern setting, and though this book is not technically a coming-of-age novel, Hurt Go Happy will leave a strong impression on any reader.
The main character is a 70% deaf girl named Joey, whose mother has forbidden her to learn sign for fear of the public finding out exactly how Joey became deaf. However, Joey meets an old scientist who has a pet chimpanzee named Sukari who speaks sign, and Joey begins to learn to communicate with the outside world. Everything goes well for Joey and Sukari, despite Joey's mother finding out about Sukari. But an unexpected earthquake and Charlie's death puts Joey and Sukari in an unimaginable situation where the survival of a deaf girl's best friend is threatened. Through the cunning and determination only coming from one whose world has been silent for seven years, does a bond of empathy and love develop between the two unlikely and separated companions.
I would give this book a solid 9, mostly because it was far more intriguing than the other book I read. I did not give it a ten because it started off kind of slow, and the only book I have read that I would have given a ten is The Book Thief, purely because of its sheer genius. Had I not read The Book Thief, Hurt Go Happy would be my favorite book. It was very well written, obviously the result of years of research and a talented storyteller. Because Joey cannot hear, the setting is very realistic. Rorby creates a very solid picture of what Joey's world looks like because to Joey, the world sounds of nothing but explosions, nearby lawnmowers, and other loud power tools. Rorby uses quite a bit of figurative language and imagery to convey the setting. It feels like one is actually there, like a shadow observing the plot and characters.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but anyone who feels strongly for the rights of animals should definitely read it. The points of so-called human superiority and animal torture/testing/abuse are emphasized dramatically. Anyone who stands up for the rights of the disabled should read Hurt Go Happy as well. Rorby plainly points out what the hearing think of the deaf, and likewise. An interesting twist is that most of the time, Joey is not jealous of the hearing. She misses the sound of birds and her mother's voice, but Joey is otherwise content to be mostly deaf. Rorby puts an interesting spin of the opinions of the deaf, something I have never seen before. I enjoyed this book very much overall.
-By Rachel Rise, p. A2

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Neeka Safdari

A2 Honors English

9/12/11

Book Review

What Happened to Goodbye

The captivating characters and heartfelt conversations within this book grabbed my attention rather quickly. This story is about a teenage girl, Mclean Sweet, who changes her personality every time she moves, which is very often. Along with the fact that her parents had a bitter divorce and her dad is unstable, she never gives anybody a chance to be her close friend or develop a real relationship with her. Mclean's dad likes to escape his problems and avoid what's truly bothering him; in that way, he is very much like his daughter. Although Mclean knows the separation between her parents wasn't only her mother's fault, she takes the easy way out and cuts off her mom and her mom's new life entirely.

Once her dad lands a job at Luna Bleu, they move once again. However, this time, the people at her new school are interesting and understand her. Most importantly, her new friends care about her and she can be herself around them. Mclean finally lets loose and doesn't put on an act or change her name; she stays exactly who she should have been the whole time, just Mclean.

As she matures and learns to value the people that love her, Mclean also realizes that just because her dad is upset with the situation doesn't mean she should feel guilty about still needing her mom. She shouldn't have ever had to grow up so fast and skip the fun that is being a teenager. The message that I got from reading this book was that it doesn't matter whether your house is brown or purple; if your family is there, you'll always belong.

I would rate this book a 7 out of 10, because the characters were intriguing and the message was significant. Recommenation-wise, I'd say you should read it if you like realistic fiction or books about what life is really about. Don't read it if you like blood or murder, it's not anything close to that. If you enjoy books that teach you a lesson, surely read What Happened to Goodbye.

A Nothern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

A Nothern Light was one of the best books I've ever read. Mattie, the main character, has a tough life. Her mother died and made her a keep a very difficult promise: no matter what, take care of the family. Mattie had her own dreams though. She was one of the two students to graduate from high school and be accepted by a college. Set in 1906, Mattie farmed, cooked, cleaned, took care of her three younger siblings, and went to school. A job was all she needed to be able to go to college. Her father was desperate to keep her at home and her mother's request haunted her every footsteps. Eventually she did get a job and she met a woman named Grace Brown. It wasn't that long after meeting her that Grace asked Mattie to burn a bundle of the letters at the next chance possible. Mattie was a busy girl and this proved difficult but before she was able to burn them, Grace Brown was found dead in the neighboring lake. She had been hit in the head and drowned in the water. The man she had been with wasn't there with her at the bottom of the lake. At this time as well, Mattie was being courted by a peer named Royal who was also her neighbor. Mattie was having a tough time making decisions. Marry Royal or not, burn the letters or read them to find the mystery, keep her promise to her mother and stay with her dad, or go to college and get the chance to learn how to write professionally. This book was full of choices, mistakes, and dreams controlling a young 16 year old's life. This is her story. After finishing the book I realized how easy life is now. At this school, college seems like the normal future but for Mattie, school was an opportunity to leave the farming life and live her own and even then, the possibilities and promises keeping her at home was also important. Tough choice. I would give this book an 8 because even though it was a wonderful story with fabulous writing (she used strong voice and imagery), the order got a tad confusing. The author would sometimes switch between her future and past self. I got the hang of it towards the end but at the beginning of the first switch, I was utterly confused. A quirk that really developed the story though was Mattie. Everyday, Mattie would have a sibling open the dictionary and give her a word of the day. By looking at the words given to Mattie, one could try to predict what would happen in the chapter. It was good fun. Fabulouso book!!!!! (not a typo)

"Hurt Go Happy" by Ginny Rorby

The world would be much different if it was silent. In the novel Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby, the heroine, unable to hear most sounds and forbidden by her mother to learn sign language, is alienated from society. Then one day, she meets Sukari, a unique chimpanzee whose owner has taught to sign. A whole new world opens up to Joey, but when tragedy strikes, Joey must fight hard to save Sukari’s life. This novel is one of the best novels I have ever read. On a scale of 1-10, Hurt Go Happy is a 9 for the emotional depth and unique story. The most interesting “quirk” in the novel are the sections where characters are speaking sign language to each other. The author uses imagery and figurative language to draw strong emotions from the reader. This book is recommended to any person, young or old. It is not a challenging book, but it is a novel that can change your life.
Isabel Skene (A-2)

"I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, tells the story of Cassandra Mortmain, a girl who is hardly able to be called a woman. She aspires to become a writer and the novel is written as her journals. Her family lives in poverty, a condition they have been suffering with for five years, close after her mother's death. She has a sister named Rose, a girl who would marry anyone just for their money. After the family meets the Cotton brothers, Simon and Neil, Rose takes interest of their wealth. Throughout the book, Cassandra learns from her sister's mistakes and experiences, gradually growing up to the women she becomes at the end of the novel.

Out of ten points, the book would deserve a seven; the book had an interesting plot, but rambled too much.

Dodie Smith wrote the book as a journal, Cassandra describes it as an "exercise book" for she doesn't write "dear diary" or "dear journal," she uses the journal to exercise her speed writing. When writing about her day, the conversations are what she recollects.

I recommend this books to girls, it does not seem to be a book that would engross boys. Also for people who enjoy romances and fiction.

Melissa Liu A2

"The Hunger Games," by Suzanne Collins

Kelly, Emily

9/12/11 Pr. A2

Mrs. Huss

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins is a thrilling and action-packed book that takes place many years into the future in what used to be North America. The Hunger Games are twisted games where each city (or in this case district) in the country has to pay tribute to the President by giving up one child of each gender. They have to fight to the death and see who is the last kid standing in an arena being broadcast on live television. With a very messed up, yet interesting plot, this book got me hooked as soon as it started. The main character is a girl named Katniss Everdeen who is forced to go into the games and fight the other children, one unfortunately being a boy who goes to her school and happend to save her life once. In the course of just this one book, there are deaths, romances, and frequent depressing moments, helping to make this book both emotional and bittersweet. I would definitely not recommend this book to any children around the age of ten or younger. It gets very gory and melancholy, which wouldn't be the best choice for young children. Although, what I like about it is that both adults and teenagers could read it. The book is not simple, there being many twists and turns in both the games and Katniss's now changed life. The whole thing is a big, fun to read mess that both adults and teens can enjoy.

Suzanne Collins is creative with the way that she ties everything in and keeps the action going, yet pays attention to crucial details that help the readers to understand what is going on in all points of the book. Her use of imagery is pristine and the way she describes the things going on around Katniss, it makes me feel as if I am really there. The way she gets people to connect with the characters and feel what they feel is so genuine and genius! If I could rate this book, it would definitely be at least a 8.5 - 9.0. This was one of the best books I have ever read in my life! I recommend this to mature audiences who can appreciate and apprehend Collin's writing. There is not much to criticize about this book. There were very few to none moments that I thought were dull or boring. The whole book was enchanting and sublime.

The Hunger Games

Heather Pippus

Period A2

September 12, 2011

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games, a novel written by Suzanne Collins, tells the story of a young girl, Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a small region of the country, Panem, which is oppressed by its power-hungry, cruel government. In The Hunger Games, two children are taken from each of the twelve regions of Panem, one boy and one girl, and they are forced to fight each other to the death, until only one child is left alive. The government of Panem made The Hunger Games after the failed revolt of the people. The games are to prove to the people of Panem that the government is the most powerful force, and to show the people that they have the power to kill their children if they attempt another revolution. During the games, Katniss befriends a girl who reminds her of her sister and she falls in love while trying to save her own life, and kill the other players of The Hunger Games.

I rate this book nine out of ten because it is suspenseful and action packed, but it also includes themes of love and family. In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins brings to life a story of pain and sorrow after losing the people you love and challenging something so much more powerful than yourself, so you can do something you believe in. The Hunger Games has times when it is tremendously violent and frightening. I highly recommend The Hunger Games to anyone looking for a book filled with drama, adventure, love, and a powerful plot line.

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Kamsha,Yuriy

Freshman Honors English A4

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher is a book about teenage boy who starts a swim team of outcasts to prove that disabilities can be overcome. The main character, T.J., struggles with discrimination and oppression throughout the book.

I believe this book deserves a ten out of ten rating, because once you start reading it you become unable to stop. It is a grossly addictive tale of life and loss, and Chris Crutcher does an amazing job of writing a story almost anyone in the world today can relate to. However, this book includes many gruesome and heart-breaking events, and is not for the faint of heart. The author uses particularly colorful language and interesting similes to breathe life into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind crying at the end of a story. Whale Talk will truly move and inspire you, and is one of the best books I have ever had the honor to read.

Girl in Translation By Jean Kwok

Elise Kronquist
Freshman Honor's English
A2

In Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, Ah-Kim(Kimberly) and her mother have just moved to the U.S. from Hong Kong. Poor and barely speaking English, they are helped out by Kimberly’s aunt, Paula, who moved years before and runs a successful clothes factory. Paula moves them into an abandoned and forsaken apartment building and leaves them there to settle. Kimberly begins going to the public elementary school where she has problems understanding English. Though she has difficult life, she is extraordinarily smart and perseveres. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate it a seven. I really enjoyed the language the author used to show that Kimberly could not understand pop culture references and spoke very formally. I also liked that Kimberly did not get the perfectly happy ending, but had to grow to where she is at the end. I think most girls would like this book.

"The Book Thief"

Jones, Sydney

Honors English, Huss, A2

9/11/11

Book Review

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Nazi Germany was a period of moral turmoil. A time in which Jews were slaughtered without a second thought. A time in which people ignored the Führer’s puzzle of lies. A time in which a young German girl learned the power of words.

Markus Zusak opens a window into an entirely different perspective of the Holocaust world. Using Death as a narrator, he tells the tale of Liesel Meminger, a foster child in the home of Hans and Rosa Hubermann. The girl begins her ‘illustrious career’ of book thievery at her brother’s cold and lonely funeral, where she picks up a frostbitten copy of The Grave Digger’s Handbook. With the help of Mr. Hubermann and a bedwetting incident, the black marks on the creamy pages begin to carry images for the young thief. Liesel lives a standard life on Himmel Street, attending Hitler Youth and playing soccer in the road, until the day a Jew comes to hide in the Hubermann’s basement.

The Book Thief deserves a 10 for its original writing and historical plotline. Zusak captures his readers with a poetic style, making you feel as if you are part of the story. Although, to warn you, the author does not disguise the truth of the situation, instead showing you the brutal reality of Germany 1939. I would suggest this book for those who are prepared for an emotionally heavy, yet beautiful story.

"Pride and Prejudice"

Isabelle Sackville-West

Honors English

Book Review

9/11/11

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is the story of the Bennets, a family containing five, unique daughters. The eldest Jane is beautiful and kind, Lizzie her younger sister is a lesser beauty, however, has a much deeper personality. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia are the youngest daughters. They are unruly and have no self-control whatsoever. The Bennets have a chaotic but entertaining family. All that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet want for their children is to be married and happy, so the majority of the book is spent trying to acquaint the girls with various gentlemen. the main character of the story is Lizzie; we watch her feud with her family, help her sisters, and work through a topsy-turvy love.

I rate the book an 8 out of 10, and I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a slightly calmer read. Jane Austen's victorian style of writing uses very clever imagery and has a smooth flow and pace. The story itself has many exciting twists in the plot, though they mostly occur at the end. The reason, however, why it was marked down is because there were times when the story was slow and nothing of particular interest happened. As a whole Pride and Prejudice is a heartwarming story of love and society that I highly recommend.

"Little Women"

Gu, Shannon

Honors English, A2, Huss

9/11/11

Book Review

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is one of the most famous coming-of-age stories ever written. The story takes place during and after the Civil War, and tells the tale of the four March sisters' lives during that time. They all aspire to become mature adults, but many obstacles stand in their way; sometimes it's their vices, sometimes it's each other, and sometimes it's even themselves. However, they do not meddle and do nothing in the ten years portrayed in the book. All the experiences thrown at them bring about valuable lessons, and the sisters learn to utilize and cherish them. And of course, what's this book to be without a big portion of romance?

I give this book a 7 out of 10 mainly because it is too optimistic for my taste, has a lack of a major conflict, and the characters are somewhat unrealistic. However, the events in the story are 100% relatable because they are what people constantly experience in life: jealousy, anger, sadness, etc. and I love that part about it. With each chapter comes a different experience as well as a moral, and Alcott does a good job in portraying each experience through her characters. I recommend this book to girls of all ages or anyone who likes descriptive, romantic and classic stories; Little Women fits perfectly into all of those categories, and it is a must-read if you want to find a story that you can wholly relate to.

"Wuthering Heights"

Kim, Justine

Honors English, A2, Huss

9/11/2011

Book Review

Wuthering Heights by: Emily Brontë

Wuthering Heights is a tale about fierce love that is stronger than death. The narrator of the story is Mr. Lockwood; a tenant that starts living at Thrushcross Grange. His landlord is a mysterious, laconic man named Heathcliff. When he pays his landlord a visit at his house: Wuthering Heights he has a singular experience there, so much so that he wants to learn more about the house and its owner. From his housekeeper; Nelly he manages to get her to talk about her experience at Wuthering Heights (she used to be a servant there). The whole plot is told through the housekeeper telling a story to Mr. Lockwood. In the beginning, an old family lived at Wuthering Heights; the Earnshaws. One day Mr. Earnshaw found an orphan gypsy boy on the streets and brought him home, that was Heathcliff. Mr. Earnshaw had two children; Catherine and Hareton, they were both repulsed by him in the beginning (Nelly as well she was still a child). Hareton tolerated him but Catherine became best friends with him. Later on the friendship became love. Many obstacles and people stood in their way but they loved each other until the end, but their love was selfish. It hurt many people, but their love stays strong throughout the whole story even in the hands of death. This book earns a solid 10, the events in the book play out in an unpredictable and exciting way. The reader wonders what happens next, and sometimes it's completely different from what is expected. Brontë makes the reader hate Heathcliff and Catherine for hurting people and then sympathize them for their unwavering love. The characters are well developed and their personalities are all unique. How the story is told through Nelly's experience is interesting and new. Brontë keeps the reader on their toes and surprises them with unexpected events. Even people who aren't interested in love stories will enjoy this book. It is very dramatic and would attract readers who enjoy passionate stories. Wuthering Heights is a book that would appeal to many different people, and even readers with doubts about this book can try it for a challenge.

The Street Lawyer

Hoter, Zohar

9-11-11

A2, Huss, Honors English

The Street Lawyer by John Grisham

John Grisham's thrilling drama The Street Lawyer, lawyer Michael Brock is on the fast track to a partnership at D.C. law firm Drake and Sweeny when he and several other lawyers are taken hostage by a homeless man who was wrongfully evicted by the firm. A sniper kills the man and the hostages are freed, but Brock conscience is irreversibly scarred and he can no longer work in his comfortable office. He leaves Drake and Sweeney for public interest law, but takes a secret with him and vows to avenge his captors death. On a scale of one to ten, this book earns a nine. While telling the story of Brock's journey to the streets, John Grisham also tells the stories of all those people around him. The homeless who walk into his clinic seeking legal advice, the other public interest lawyers, even the wife who is seeking a divorce, their interactions with Brock and the subplots that arise from this all have equal attention. This style of telling several stories and having active plots could easily be unfocused, but manages to maintain a focus on the original conflict that arises at the beginning. The author also uses enough imagery and detail that you can follow Brock down a bad street to a homeless shelter in your mind. This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys suspense and drama, but may put off some readers with its legal basis.

"The War of the Worlds"

Tanveer, Ammas

per. A2, Honors English

Book Review

9/10/11

"The War of the Worlds"

by: H. G. Wells

H. G. Well's classic science fiction novel "The War of the Worlds" is a gripping tale regarding the struggles between man and martians as the later tries to enslave the human race. The novel follows one man, who will only be referred to as "The Narrator" due to the fact no name is provided for him through the entirety of the novel, as he tries to escape what seems to be the inevitable fate of death due to the coming of the martians. The martians murder a great deal of people which could easily be compared to humanities countless recounts of the killings of innocents by diverse forms of mankind. As the story progresses readers will be unable to place the book down as time and time again one will wonder whether or not The Narrator will survive through the novel. I enjoyed the this science fictional tale and would rate the novel from a scale of 1-10, as a strong 7. H. G. Wells wrote this novel in a peculiar way which I would have to describe as a kind of memoir due to the fact of the recount of the war with the martians. I would have to conclude that this book would appeal to the following audiences: readers who enjoy action and adventure, science fiction and fantasy, and suspense and thrillers. This book is a worth wild read and a great deal better than the 2005 film adaptation.

Schindler's list

Jase Jacobson

9-10-11

Per A2

Schindler’s List

The Holocaust; one of the worst pieces of human history, also one the most used subjects for books, movies, T.V. shows, and the media. The story of Herr Oskar Schindler however, is a level above anything else I have ever read or watched. It is the 100% true story of a man saving lives by putting his own at risk, of good versus evil, and it shows just how drastically a man can change. That an important German business manufacturer can have an epiphany and give all he is to protect a couple hundred Jews.

I would give this book a solid eight; I wouldn’t give it a ten because of how the Author chooses to present the story. He wrote in a boring style, presenting only facts and leaving no room for real literacy. Luckily, the story didn’t have to be tampered with at all to still be incredible. Though that doesn’t change the fact that the writing style was hard to digest. It sort of reminded me of Tolkien’s writing; factual, interesting, but soulless at the same time. I believe that the Author could have been more creative with how he presented everything. And for that reason I would only recommend “Schindler’s List” to people who want to know the story, and also have an advanced vocabulary, not people who are looking for an entertainment source.

"Fragment" by Warren Fahy

I like the way author Warren Fahy has begun Fragment. The book follows the scientists and crew of a scientific reality television show exploring remote places around the world on a boat. Rather than having a few main protagonists, the novel has a rather large collection of characters. Fahy’s successful use of 3rd person makes this large cast relatively easy to follow. He jumps between all the characters, providing clever and important insight into each of their current thoughts. But this is not overwhelming, as he clearly illustrates who will be more important to the story by the depth of his descriptions.

One of the main things I like about the way Fahy introduces the characters is how he ties his descriptions of them into the story line. He introduces the characters while the opening events are occurring, briefly explaining enough to give the reader an idea of the characters’ personalities. This mixture of direct and indirect characterization works well for this book. The background he gives about the characters does not distract from the events, but instead relates to why they are on the boat. Overall, I think that the way he follows the events and describes the characters adds to the story greatly. Fahy does not spend too much time before diving into the action and mystery that looks to make the rest of Fragment great.

Perks Of Being a Wallflower

I wrote my blog post in a Microsoft Document, and I am not able to copy and paste it. This will allow me to post because copy/paste is allowed in the comment section. Sorry for the technical difficulties. Thanks! -Keely

"The Unsavvy Traveler" by Pam Houston

Section 1: page 94

Though this book attempts to be feminist with its cast of empowered and determined female characters, it falls short of its initial goal. The book does not quite live up to its promise to show that failing once does not make you a failure. Rather, it just shows the failures of women. All this book does is reaffirm the values of hardcore feminists, prove the point of many sexists, and provide entertainment for the middle ground readers.

To a hardcore feminist, this is a book about being in a bad scenerio and making the most of it. The mistakes made by characters in this book can easily be blamed on other factors like weather, bad tour guides, and other tourists. Therefore it can be noted that the women in this book are put in bad situation but, through hard work and determination, overcome their challenges and becomes victorious. In the situations where success in not found, it can be said that despite their efforts, they technically failed but their positives attitudes made them winners. No matter what happens, you can put a feminist spin on this book.

On the other hand, this book is very easy to view from a sexist point of view. This book is basically about women being dumb and messing up. A typical character in this book sounds something like this, "I'm freespirited, blond, and naive. Also I decided to move to a foreign country without knowing anything about it or speaking the language. Then I left my belongings in a ________(restaurant, beach, etc) and when someone took my things, I was super surprised! Why is everyone so mean to me? Just because I make no attempt to adapt your culture doesn't mean I don't deserve respect too!". It is very easy to see the characters as dimwitted and clumsy people who make every possible mistake. A true sexist would see this as an example of why women are inferior to men.

To one who is neither a sexist nor a hardcore feminist, this is merely a humourus book with little depth. The book is worth a few laughs and sends a minor message of perserverance. Unfortunately, the cover is much more bold than the messages in the book.

"Tortilla Curtain" by T. Coraghessan Boyle

Page 130 out of 355

I'm not going to lie; I've pretty much fallen in love with this book. "Tortilla Curtain" by T. Coraghessan Boyle tells the story of two contrasting characters Delaney and Candido. Delaney is white, liberal and privileged, while Candido is an illegal immigrant living off sardines in a state park. After their initial encounter when Delaney accidentally hits Candido with his car, their lives are forever intertwined. "Tortilla Curtain" is a social commentary on the current status quo in the United States. A few of the topics that it hits on are the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, and the hypocrisy of democracy especially with the upper classes. To truly understand the author's themes, you have to look beyond face value. The author switches back and forth between Delaney and Candido to provide a contrasting effect, Delaney lives in the lap of luxury, while Candido is struggling to make ends meet. This is symbolic for how in contemporary society there are people that have everything, as well as people that have nothing. I guess that's the price we pay for living in a capitalistic society.

A few of the community leaders at Arroyo Blanco, the posh community that Delaney lives in, lobby for a gate to be built around the cul-de-sac, to keep out the "undesirables." The gate is a social barrier that is meant to screen out the minorities. This goes against all liberal ideals, because last time I checked being a liberal was about being open-minded and accepting all cultures. I guess the point that Boyle is trying to make is that people only stick to their morals only when it benefits them. History proves that whenever the economy goes sour, the blame is put on immigrants.

To me this book is more or less an accurate portrayal of the status quo, not to mention Boyle has a talent for making his characters in his books come alive. I personally believe one of the main selling points "Tortilla Curtain" is its intense realism, and how believable the two characters Delaney and Candido are. Boyle's obsession with small details only adds onto this effect. For example take this excerpt from the first page where Delaney is having a flashback, "Everywhere he turned, he saw those red-flecked eyes, the rictus of the mouth, the rotten teeth and incongruous shock of gray in the heavy black brush of the mustache..." (1). Instead of diluting the real world like a lot of authors do, Boyle chooses to tell things like they are.

The real deal-breaker for me is the imagery in this book. I'm a real sucker for vivid descriptions of nature, and it is just my luck that Delaney is a professional nature writer. The language in the columns that he writes are impeccable, take for example, "Who am I, striding into the buttery glaze of evening sun amidst stands of bright blooming mustard that reach into my elbows and beyond?” (76). The bottom line is, this book has everything that I look for, a little social commentary, some nice nature imagery, and is a story that is realistic enough that I can relate to.

"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

(2nd group, same book...)

After hearing rave reviews from many about this book, I was excited to see what I thought of it. I must admit, I was a little nervous about it being a distopian novel, as I am more keen towards books grounded in reality, but it turns out there was no need for worry. The novel has managed to hook me in, and it's hard to put the book down after finishing a chapter.

After reading the first few chapters, (mainly 1, 2, and 3), I must say I was not totally interested in the story. The way the story proceeded seemed slow and lagging, and it was hard for me to understand the full picture of what was happening. Part of it may be the point of view from which the story is narrated: a 30 year old woman, Kathy, who is looking back on her experiences at the mysterious boarding school which she attended for all of her childhood and teen years, Hailsham. The way the novel kept moving between the present and memories of Hailsham was confusing for me as the reader, and didn't exactly captivate or excite me to read more.

Luckily, I caught on to the gist of the plot by chapter 3, and began to be sucked in to the mystery of Hailsham, and the secret of why the students there are special. Ishiguro has a very subtle but witty way of pulling the reader in by writing about fairly ordinary situations between students, that could happen at just about any school, but then adding in little events or side notes by the narrator that make me start to wonder what is actually going on at this boarding school for "special" students.

What truly separates this novel from others of its genre, so far at least, is that the author does not take the abnormalities about life at Hailsham to extremes or overexaggerates any situation. The plot seems very believable, as if this could actually happen and these people could exist. There is no alien babies or evil magicians (you get the gist...). The hints that anything is out of the ordinary are very subtle and believable. For example, the students at Hailsham cannot have children of their own, and they have heard a little about how they will become Donors when they are adults. The mystery of these ideas brought up are just enough to keep the reader guessing at what will happen, but don't disinterest the reader by being too out-of-this-worldly.

Overall, after reading the first 8 chapters, I am very impressed with the author's writing technique and the plot of the book, and am excited to see what comes next. If the book keeps going as it has, this could end up being a very worthwhile read in my mind.

"Never Let Me Go", by Kazuo Ishiguro

As much as it pains me to conform, I can think of no other way to start this post that will not be a “corny joke”. Therefore, I am on page 111, the end of Part I. Actually, I don’t think it is possible for me to start without said joke, so I will now cut myself off before I ---. (Sorry, but that was censored because it was turning into a joke).

I’ll now start at the beginning, which, generally, is a good place to start. However, that is not how Kazuo Ishiguro started “Never Let Me Go”, instead using a number of flashbacks to tell the story (but more on that later). The very first line disappointed me, because, after being assured that this is an all-around wonderful book by the cover, the first lines tell, “My name is Kathy H. I’m thirty-one years old, and I’ve been a carer now for over eleven years” (Ishiguro 3). My initial reaction was one of horror; I figured that I’d just condemned myself to a forced reading of an extremely boring book (which is generally my impression when I read a sentence like this). I suppose that the author did a good job of instilling curiosity in the reader with the “I’ve been a carer” part, but I decided that if the first lines had nothing more interesting to say, this could not be a very interesting book.

However, after reading to page 111, I can say my initial impression was incorrect. “Never Let Me Go” is interesting and captivating enough that I read the beginning as fast as any Grisham book. As I mentioned earlier, the story of Part I is told in flashbacks of the main character’s childhood at a place called Hailsham. Each flashback nicely flows into the next, retelling the narrator’s childhood effectively. The placement and order of the flashbacks is also easy to follow, because each flashback is triggered either by the previous one or something happening during Kathy’s current life. The fact that the novel is told by Kathy in first person allows the reader to better follow the logical order of the flashbacks; for this style of writing, I would have to say I think third person would be ineffective.

One of the factors that originally drew me to this book was the promise that it was a dystopian novel. While it certainly appears to be such, so far it is the type of dystopian novel that spends forever luring the reader into a sense of calm that contrasts with the dystopian parts (such as Kurt Vonnegut’s short story “2 B R 0 2 B”, where the ‘perfect society’ is contrasted with the fact that every time a baby is born, someone must volunteer to die if the baby is to survive). I appreciate this style of writing, but I am generally more intrigued by dystopian novels with much more of a strong, mysterious, and foreboding dystopian factor throughout the book.

For now, I would say that I am enjoying “Never Let Me Go”, and while I hope the next few parts of the book ‘pick up the pace’ in terms of plot, I am looking forward to finishing the novel.

Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea

On page 43 out of 127

Note: Our versions of the book differ (Mine isn’t illustrated, Abby’s is), so the page numbers/number of pages will differ. It’s a real bummer, since I really like picture books. It’s also a bummer because my version of the book is ridiculously overpriced. Eh. Onto the review, post, commentary, analysis, whatchamacallit.

After analyzing several poems with complicated language and trying to figure out the not-so-straightforward ideas in them, the simplistic plot of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea has been extremely refreshing. However, it took some getting used to. I found myself rereading sentences because they took actions and compressed them into such simple phrases I needed more time to visualize what had just happened. It starts off with an interesting plot, but it isn’t interesting enough. There’s a boy who’s always addressed as by “the boy”, and there’s an old man who’s always addressed as “the old man”. The first twenty pages are spent describing the relationship between the two and the poverty the old man faces and the old man’s unlucky fishing past, along with a very controlled conversation about baseball where the voices between the old man and the boy blend together because the dialogue isn’t characterized enough. The baseball conversation references to some players that I’ve never heard of and I doubt most of the people who read this book will understand because most readers of Hemingway aren’t exactly baseball fanatics, and even if they are the baseball conversation isn’t really relevant to anything. It also contains a bunch of dialogue that each of them seem to know is imaginary but that both of them seem unsure of, so the reader can’t be sure of it, and I haven’t found any part of it very helpful to the plot in any way. The second twenty pages are filled with descriptions of the old man going fishing and how he keeps following a bird to get the fish the bird seems to find. Then, he almost catches a dolphin. But he doesn’t. And he assumes that there’s a stray one around. It’s a little too optimistic for his bad luck streak he appears to have, and I can’t tell if it’s still part of his “imaginary” dialogue seeping into his personal thoughts.

My favorite part? When he sees a Portuguese man-of-war and uses the most description used in the entire 43 pages so far. And then…“‘Agua mala’, the man said. ‘You whore’”(Hemingway 35).

That’s right. He calls a jellyfish a whore. If there’s anything in the world I would’ve least expected, it was the combination of those two words. And there’s good reason to it, too. Hemingway goes on to explain by saying that the Portuguese man-of-war looks pretty, but stings hard, and then has the old man talk about how much he likes turtles because they eat the Portuguese man-of-war. In this, I find some probably unintended amusement, where first, we have jellyfish whores, and then, we have, by the symmetric property, whore-eating turtles.

However, the book quickly shuffles backward into its original state, except the old man finally catches something: An albacore tuna that he decides to use as bait, despite his poor living conditions, apparent bad luck streak, and the fact that the boy has already given him bait and appears to have the intent to continue doing so. However, the old man’s delight is very short-lived and confusing to me, since for some reason he has gone forty day’s without a fish, but right after catching a fish, tries to trace back to when he first started talking to himself. Then, he says something to himself about baseball, only to quickly tell himself not to think about baseball. Which makes me wonder: “What is the importance of baseball in a story about fishing? Did the random though of baseball even have to be mentioned?”

Unfortunately, our page division ends right in the middle of one of the seemingly important parts of the story where he is, so far, almost catching another big sea creature. Maybe, it’ll be one of his beloved sea-turtles. I’d be interested to see the inner conflict in him under that occurrence.