A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A Classic.  I have enjoyed trying classics out since I was never forced to read them in high school or college, well not the cool ones like Bronte or Austen or Dickens.  This year it so happened that I didn’t have anything to read the week of Christmas and I realized that I had never read A Christmas Carol, a classic in all sense of  the word.  I have seen so many adaptations of this story in film version that I cannot keep count, but I have never even attempted to read the book.  I have seen it live, a somewhat poorly performed musical rendition in Branson MO many years ago.  I have watched the Mickey’s Christmas Carol, The Bill Murray’s Scrooged, and within the last year or so I saw Jim Carey’s A Christmas Carol, animated, sort of.  I have grown up around this story, but never read one of Dickens’ words and I have not known the story from reading it with my own eyes. 

I loved it.  It is the story of redemption, a story of second chances.  I think of all of the wasted years, Scrooge missed all sorts of chances throughout his life and will have to make up for all of his poor decisions late in life, but he got a second chance.  When I think about it, we all get a second chance each morning when we wake up.  We have another chance to live life to the fullest and how many of us waste it.  We waste it by being lazy, not thinking of others, or our search for money, career, or possessions.  I think that Dickens’ gives us a great reminder that even if we are not visited by spirits in the night, we can still wake up and live each day like it’s our last.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Bible Based Friendship

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Meet Denver, a homeless man in Dallas Texas and then meet Ron Hall an international Art dealer that allows God to move through himself and his wife to make a new friend.  Seeing both sides of the story, Denver grows up as a modern day slave in Louisiana that as an adult hops a train to escape and ends up in Texas.  He is homeless for eighteen years when in walks the Hall family in the local homeless shelter to volunteer their time.  Debby Hall is a prayer warrior who listens to God and pushes her husband to cultivate a friendship with Denver.

I don’t want to go into any detail of the story.  This book was an excellent read.  I laughed and cried and it made me think.  I couldn’t believe how things turned out, but as a Christian I have to believe that God is in control even as hard times come and life hands us all sorts of events that we don’t know how to react.  This thought provoking story was well worth the read and I would suggest it to anyone.

My favorite section of the book is where Denver is asking Ron about why white people go fishing and they “catch and release.”  Denver explained that when he has gone fishing, it was for food not for fun and Ron quickly realized he was not only talking about fishing, but Denver was concerned that Ron was going to catch Denver’s friendship and when he was finished with him he would release him.  I thought this was an excellent picture of what a pity friendship looks like.  I have seen it happen before and I have probably been guilty of this act of catch and release friendship.  A thought provoking concept. 

This was my last book club choice for Olive Books Book Club and everyone who read it, loved it.  What did you think?  Have you read it, or do you want to?  Keep Reading my Friends!

Team Jem or Team Will?

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Tessa Gray longs to know what she is.  She has a unique ability to become anyone in the world as long as she is in possession of a personal object of the person’s.  As she has taken refuge from the evil Mortmain with the Shadowhunters she has learned more about their way of life.  Of course there is a love triangle between Tessa, Will Herondale and Jem Cairstars.  She is attracted to both of the Shadowhunters even though Will is a pompous, egotistical punk and Jem is slowly dying.  As the story continues, the destiny of the Institute, the refuge in London for any Shadowhunters, hangs in the balance, Charlotte, Henry, Jessimine, Will, Jem and Tessa fight to find the location of Mortmain and work to discover his plans.

Of course if you look back on my previous blogs you will find that it is no surprise that I love Cassandra Clare.  I have read all of the Mortal Instruments and now the Infernal Devices.  Her writing captures and forces the audience to fall head over hills for her characters.  I can tell you anything you want to know about Jace and Clary.  They are exceptionally written and I can’t wait until their story comes to an end and then again I want her to continue the series forever.  Jem, Will and Tessa are much the same.  The characters are so developed and the plot is wonderful so I not only read these books, I devour them.  Who doesn’t want to read about half human half angel beings fighting demons so we mundains can have a demon free world?

I love Tessa, she is a reader and that is always fun for other readers to enjoy. 

This book’s conclusion is heart wrenching.  I could not believe everything that took place at the end.  Without spoilers, there is death, celebration, reconciliation, misery, surprise.  I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.  If you are any sort of fan of fantasy or Young Adult literature, Cassandra Clare’s series come highly recommended from me!  Keep Reading my Friends! 

There are Definitely Perks

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a part of the everyday life of a boy who is a freshman in high school?  This book is a set of letters written to an unknown recipient that “Charlie” pours his soul to during the course of his first year of high school.  We experience a lot of his firsts, his first kiss, date, new friends, drugs, and alcohol and the audience grows to love his character throughout the entire book.

I loved Charlie.  He was an excellent, honest, true character.  Although I could not relate to any character in the book I still found myself routing for Charlie, wanting what’s best for him and hoping that nothing bad ever happens to him.  I loved his friendships and the person he became through his relationships with his new friends, his teachers and even his family. 

This book reminded me a lot of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, that is a book in a different style, but about a girl going through a horrible time starting high school and feeling that she has no voice in her struggles.  This had the same tone, but entirely different take. 

I also loved how it was a 90’s book.  I remember going to my oldest cousin and my step-brother’s high school graduation in 1993.  I remember the style of the clothes and the attitude of the students and I can picture these parties and dances and everything Charlie was talking about I could see it through his eyes even though I was quite young during that time.  Rocky Horror Picture Show was a consistent section of the book.  I also remember loving RHPS about this time even though I was too young to know what was actually going on. 

I loved the suit.  The secret santa gift from Patrick.  I loved that Charlie wore it to school and was teased without mercy but his friends thought he looked great.  I loved that he got everyone a gift that Christmas and it matched their personality perfectly because Charlie was an excellent Wallflower.  He knew them all and he had these great perceptions about all of his friends that made sense and even if they didn’t know it was something they needed or wanted it would sting them down to their bone marrow because that’s just how Charlie was.  He knew them through and through. 

I have no criticism about this book.  I loved it.  I read it in 24 hours and I wish that I could turn around and re-read it immediately, although I cannot because I have my ever growing shelf that can get out of control if I don’t do something about it.

Thanks for reading and I hope this blog makes you want to read this book immediately.  Keep Reading my Friends!

               

Perfect Girls don't Exist.

Pretty Little Liars: Perfect by Sara Shepard

Perfect is the third book of the series.  Things are getting worse for the 4 ex-best friends that were separated after their best friend Ali’s disappearance.  With Aria she’s been kicked out of her house, Spencer is having black outs that have been happening since she was very young.  Hanna’s best friend Mona now hates her and is spreading all sorts of rumors about her, and Emily has just been shoved out of the closet.  There are a lot of misdeeds going on, hopefully the girls can figure out who A is or there will be nothing left of their lives to continue to live for.

I have a hard time relating to any of the girls in this series, I guess if I’m forced to it would be Hanna, she’s confident, yet not and she’s got the same insecurities that most teen age girls have about her weight, and other issues.  I can see my teenage self in her, and I hope that a change is coming for her, she seems to be making a good change with Lucas. 

This is a fun read, but there is not a lot to say about it.  I would not read these novels if you are trying to enhance your reading and intellect, but if you want a fun YA read then these books are perfect.  Keep Reading my friends.

How will Oscar Die?

The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

I liked Oscar and I hated him.  What a crazy life.  One characteristic of Oscar that I liked is even though he was a sad and lonely creature he found escape in sci-fi books, Comics, and other nerd culture.  He found other gamers and even tried to draw others like him, but to no avail, he was always alone.  I loved his sister and no matter what was going on in her life, she always loved Oscar and wanted him to have the best life.  She still traveled and did what she wanted in life, but always kept a close eye on Oscar through friends and staying in touch. 

It was immediately apparent that the author of Oscar Wao was in academia.  The introduction that explained a Fuku, which was the theme of the entire book and also the footnotes throughout the book carried the story line and gave interesting facts on Dominican history.  If these two stylistic features alone were not enough proof of Diaz’s background, the short blip about the author on the back explains that he is a professor at MIT. 

I was very confused by the narrator and the point of view pretty much the entire book.  Every time a chapter began I didn’t know who it was about until almost a page into the book or who was telling me about the chapter.  This was a good thing and a confusing thing.  It kept me on my toes, but also made me want to scream.  Each chapter took on the attributes of the characters within that given story and I enjoyed them all until it got to Oscar’s grandfather’s story.  That was the longest most boring chapter, but necessary to explain why Oscar’s mother was the way she was.  Even now, I do not feel confident in my reading and understanding to say who I believe the true narrator was, was there one?  Was there two?  I am unsure so I will not even disclose that information. 

When asked by a fellow book club member if I liked the book, I told her that it was better than a kick in the head.  But I could not say that yes I loved it or no, I didn’t like it at all.  I had mixed emotions about how I felt at the end of the book.  I will just say that it stretched me and it made me dig way back and try to remember some of my Spanish from high school and college. 

Keep Reading my Friends!

 

The Dark is Something to Fear

Fear: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant

This was by far the best of the Gone novels up to now.  I would be lying if I said that I didn’t like this series, but I haven’t LOVED it like I thought I would.  It has been interesting and that is why I have continued to read and buy these books.  If I’m being completely honest (and why wouldn’t I be honest in my own blog) at some point after each book I have contemplated giving up, but I’ve wanted to know how it all ends, so I continue. 

What I liked about this book, compared to the first four books is that we know what’s going on outside of the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone- an anomaly that appeared that we now know dispersed everyone over the age of 14 out of the 20 mile bubble that has trapped the children of Perdido Beach, California).  I liked knowing that Connie Temple, Sam and Caine’s mom has been tirelessly working on getting her sons back and freeing the other children from the bubble as well. 

What I did not like was I feel like I have even more questions than before I knew what was going on outside of the FAYZ.  What happened to all of the kids that have made the jump on their 15^th birthday?  We heard about 2 of them, Mary being one of them, who when she made it out was so unrecognizable the hikers that found her called animal control.  There was mention of the twins, but Connie Temple never said if they were ok when they came out on the other end. 

I also did not like the baby becoming the Darkness or the gaiaphage.  The idea of a baby growing up really fast, even in the womb, and standing upright and walking on day 2 of life has been done before.  It was weird even then, when the audience had an explanation, with Breaking Dawn, Book 4 of the Twilight Saga, we found out that half human half vampire babies grow very fast and get to a certain age and stop growing.  Doesn’t make any sense, but the audience gets over it because we love the characters and want what’s best for them.  With Fear, even Diana is scared of her unborn child and therefore the idea of a fast accelerated pregnancy and birth is not good. 

Well this is book five, one more to go, the next book is called Light.  The first positive title so far, maybe, just maybe good things are coming to the kids of the FAYZ, for a while there I wasn’t so sure.  Light will be here in April 2013.

So, have you read this series?  Are you in love?  Keep Reading my Friends!