Mulling On Monday #18

  2 Stars

  Here we are, yet another dreary Monday as we approach ugly winter. It’s already wet and rainy here, and not very nice out, so that’s just rather unfortunate.

  But, it means I have to stay inside and do something, so, I get to read. And write, since I’m falling behind on my book and on this site. But whatever, here we are.

  The novel that I have for today was one I read over the summer and did not like, even tough lots of people have classified it as ‘an American classic’. One, I’m not American, so maybe I just don’t get the whole thing, but I did not enjoy this novel one bit. Drawn out and pointless, it was a struggle to keep reading.

  The novel is A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, who died in 2001. It’s been deemed a classic, amazing, and such a great read that I picked it up.

  Well, first of all, this was not the novel I thought I picked up. What I had heard of for such a promising read must be somewhere else…or misplaced.

  This novel could quite easily have fit into a short story, so imagine my surprise when I heard that this was indeed a short story before it even came near this 208 waste of time novel.

  Anyways, there were a few things I liked about this novel, or else it would have earned no stars whatsoever.

  What I liked about the novel was the new cover. The colors and the boy in the foreground with the building in the background is wonderful, and I find it to actually be quite pretty. 

  The characters, eventually did develop well enough, and turned into ‘round characters’, who changed by the end of the story (an extreme case of this would be Leper, who ***spoilers*** pretty much loses it and goes mental, such a contrast to his lovely, quiet self. But no, he stars seeing women’s heads on men’s bodies and limbs falling all over, but no big deal, that’s called character development. What???)

  I also liked the setting; it seemed nice, even though I assumed (wrongly, always read the back covers properly) that it would be in England, not New England. But that was my fault. But I thought that for all the metaphors and whatnot, this was the right setting for it.

  What I didn’t like.

  First of all, the characters were very hard to sympathize with; they were very self-centered and coldly focused on goals that made them hard to like. They were also supposed to be 16-17 years old, but I found them oddly immature, especially in the time they were in. I would guess them to be barley 13 if I had to guess without the author throwing the fact that they are old enough to enlist every second paragraph. 

  Along with strange character flips (see spoiler) and with out of place characteristics, the entire thing was hard to read mostly because of the characters.

This means that I also did not like Finny or Gene at all. And if you can’t like the leading characters, or the character’s whose head you are in, then there might be an issue.

  As for the story, like I said, it could have been condensed into 15 pages with little effort. If it had been a short story, I think I would have enjoyed it more than I did. The idea was half decent, it was just the presentation and the characters that killed it.

  Overall, a novel that should not bear the title ‘classic’ without first being a good novel. It needs more character and a better story development.

Phinny is a star athlete with his entire future in front of him. Gene is a brainy kid who shares the same room with him. Soon they become best friends in .he boy’s school that they go to, a peaceful place where the faraway war seem fake and distant.

That peace goes away when Finny falls off a jump from a Tree that belongs to the Super Secret Suicide Society that the boys made up. Finny shatters his leg, and Gene is hiding a secret that could hurt Finny even more…

In a novel that has been called classic, this will make you question right and wrong, and what really matters as a person.

 

 

Author: John Knowles

Published: December 1, 1984

Page Count: 208

ISBN: 0553280414    (isbn13: 978-0553280418)

Books on my Growing List To Read: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

  So, this has actually been on my list of ‘to-read’ for a while, but, I admit, after watching Disney’s Mulan again, I now have a renewed interest in China. This is because these stories are so intriguing, and old China is extremely interesting.

This novel is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See. This is, I am assured a book that is a ‘must-read’ for all girls from teens to seniors. Therefore, I believe I will try it, and I hope to be impressed.

  It is a novel that takes place in 19th century China, where tradition and men ruled domineered. Set in a remote area, the story of two women is supposed to be engrossing, and to ring true with women.

  Okay, if it rings true with women, why women? Do men not have friendships. Okay, so that’s not the point, but I want to know and understand why this is such a driving point for all of the reviews I have seen.

  What I like about it is that it takes place in China, which sets a wonderful backdrop for novels, and has woven many a wonderful tales, including one of my favourites, Memoirs of A Geisha. I also like that it is a secluded tale, not one buzzing with gossip and city life. I am sick of city life, I would rather enjoy a retreat from it.

  I believe I found this on Goodreads, or perhaps Teenreads, on a must read section. So, obviously it cannot be too bad.

  Which brings us to Goodreads stats. 3.97 rating out of 339804 ratings and 7040 reviews. Popular. And sounds pretty decent, almost guaranteed to be a good read.

  And, by the way, as I was googling this novel, It sounds like there is a movie set to be released based on the book. It’s set for release in 2011. So, now I have to read the novel if I want to see the movie!!

 

A language kept a secret for a thousand years forms the backdrop for an unforgettable novel of two Chinese women whose friendship and love sustains them through their lives.

This absorbing novel – with a storyline unlike anything Lisa See has written before – takes place in 19th century China when girls had their feet bound, then spent the rest of their lives in seclusion with only a single window from which to see.  Illiterate and isolated, they were not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions. But in one remote county, women developed their own secret code, nu shu – "women’s writing" – the only gender-based written language to have been found in the world.  Some girls were paired as "old-sames" in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives.  They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their windows to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

An old woman tells of her relationship with her "old-same," their arranged marriages, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood—until a terrible misunderstanding written on their secret fan threatens to tear them apart. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha , Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship.

-From http://www.lisasee.com/snowflower/

Author: Lisa See

Published: June 28, 2005

Page Count: 272

ISBN: 1400060281   (isbn13: 978-1400060283)

Book Of The Week: Atonement

  4 1/2 Stars

 

  Loved this novel. Absolutely loved it. Everything was very well done, developed, and things were just so well written overall. Ian McEwan knows his stuff when it comes to writing. 

  Every line has something to it, the prose..ah! It’s a lovely, lovely novel that will stick in my head for a long time to come. Brilliant, brilliant.

  I meant to read this over the summer, but instead ended up putting it away for a wile after getting a little bogged down by the start, and with little time to read it between Memoirs of Cleopatra, and this novel. Memoirs won, but I’m glad I ended up reading this one. It is a gem, and I think I will end up watching this movie pretty soon to see if the movie comes close to the novel. It has Kiera Knightly in it, so I believe it could work out well.

  Anyways, the good, the bad, the ugly.

  The good; loved it. The plot is beautiful, the narrative just brilliant, and the simplicity of it great. Loved the subtle twist at the end that changes everything.

  The bad; not much of ‘the bad’ to it, but, like all novels I read that there is not a first-person narrative, I found it hard to get into. Especially with a slower start, and a slightly confusing pace with the twirling plot at the start, it was difficult to keep going.

  And the ugly; this does bug me, personally, but be warned, there is some strong language and descriptions in this novel. I felt that it added to it rather than subtracted from it, but just so you know.

  Overall, thought it was a great read worth the time it took to get into it, and I recommend it. I will have to get back to you on the movie, and see how that works out. Fingers crossed, as it was a most excellent novel.

  Briony Tallis is a thirteen year old girl with a passion for writing. Innocent, protected, and living what seems a simple life in light of the war, she misinterprets a moment’s heated passion and crushes her sister’s newly-fledged dreams in mere minutes.

Her innocence tears the family apart at the seams, ripping a chain of events that alters’ the family forever.

In a novel that makes a distinct point, and tells of love, war, and forgiveness, this is sure to sweep you off your feet and make you think if innocence is really what it seems to be.

Author: Ian McEwan

Published: November 27, 2007

Page Count: 496

ISBN: 0307388840    (isbn13: 978-0307388841)

Mulling On Monday #14

1 ½ Stars (Ew)

This will have to be a quick review, but, nevertheless, it will still be a review. Besides, with this novel, there is very little to say.

So here is a novel that I found on Teenreads. So I went over to Goodreads, and saw the outstanding reviews, and thought that perhaps I would try it.

I hated it. Absolutely hated it. The only thing that saved it from only being a star is the mere idea, and the cool cover.  Everything else was such a turn off for me.

I finished it only becuase I wanted to see if it would redeem itself. But no, I remained disappointed out of my mind.

What I liked was the idea. Ghosts, and a girl who can see one; the mystery of their interlocked pasts. The idea sounded pretty neat.

What I did not like.The entirety of the book, I think.

What really turned me off was the whole ‘sex on top of the stage where a bed magically appears, and to do so while a drama class goes on beneath’. Yeah. That I did not like. And everything just went down-hill so fast from there, it made me sad.

The characters were not as well developed as I would have liked to seen, considering the author had plenty of time to work with, considering the ghost had been a ghost for 130 freaking years. Develop the character please! And the girl was a Disney princess type, with very little to work with, hoping for her prince to save her. Too bad that did not happen.

The characters also tended to be very crude, rude, and while I understand they are supposed to be abusive, there was no need to drop the f-bombs every second word. I not usually strongly opposed to swearing in novels, but it became a little over the top.

The descriptions were also not there.

What was also a turn-off was way things were prestented. It just didn’t work.

Overall, I really don’t recommend this novel, as it is disappointing, and I can’t tell people to read it.

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Published: October 23rd 2007 by Atheneum

Page Count: 320

ISBN: 0689861761    (isbn13: 9780689861765)

Book of the Week: The Two Princesses of Bamarre

4  Stars

I have to put this novel up as book of the week, because I finished it yet again this weekend, and I have remembered how much I adore this novel. It’s quirky, cute, and different.

Yes, it’s yet another young adult novel, but this is, in my opinion, that captures young girl’s hearts.

And what a favorite; two princesses, fighting, magic, swords and a quest. I mean, when you are a young girl or teen this book has everything you could want without being overwhelmed.

I first read this in grade six, I fell in love. Princess and fairy tales with a older Disney quality to it, it was great.

The story is well developed, lopes along at a great pace, and works in the context that the author wants it to. It’s a fun read. It’s enjoyable. It’s a story that forces a princess to grow up and buckle down.

For the most part, I think I loved this novel more than the lovable Ella Enchanted. This novel is about getting over your fears, struggling, and finding the courage you need in the deep spaces.

What I had issues with was the length. It should have been longer, and therefore, a better, more developed ending, but, what can I say.

This is a fantasy plum full of monsters, an impossible quest, and finding things you never knew you had. I love it, and, overall, it’s great for girls who love their Disney princess’, but wish that perhaps they had a little more oomph.

Meet the two princesses of Bamarre. One is blonde and beautiful, courageous, and craves adventure. The other is brunette, tiny, timid, and just seeks a calm life. When the two used to play, it was always Meryl that saved her younger sister Addie from the dreaded grey death.

That all changes in a moment, when Meryl falls while declaiming the epic poem of Drault. This time though, grey death is not a game…and Meryl is not able to save herself.

Mustering up all of her courage, and then some, Addie takes it apon herself to save the sister she admires so much.

On the way, she will discover more than she ever though she would know…and maybe find love to go with it.

In a volume where terror and fantasy collide for young adults, Gail Carson Levine’s The Two Princesses of Bamarre will delight girls everywhere.

Author: Gail Carson Levinge

Published: February 5th 2004 by EOS (first published 2001)

Page Count: 304

ISBN: 0060575808    (isbn13: 9780060575809)

Quick Series Review: Earth’s Children

4-5 Stars

Alright, so I have finished this series for the second time, and I have decided that this series is a keeper, and absolutely magical, even if it is really for adult only, due to the adult content.

It is the series that started in the 80′s, by Jean M. Auel, and continues through to now, with another book, possibly two, coming out soon.Thus far, the novels that have come out are

They are an epic series (yes,I used the word epic) of great magnitude full of beautiful landscapes, people and problems. It is a very unique series in the way that it is presented, even if the idea of cavemen and people in prehistoric time has been used before. However, the information is apparently very accurate, and these novels are considered to be very informative.

What I love about this series is that information. The way it is applied, and the way that when it is put together, it makes up for a great series that you can learn from.

But it is just not the information that makes it; it is the lovely descriptions that encapture you and you can almost see wherever they are around you, and you are in the story. It is beautiful, and I applaud any author that can accomplish this feat.

It is the characters that top this tall totem pole of compliments. They are the head of it, and they control the story with such command that it is hard to believe that they were not actually people, becuase they are so rounded out, so defined that they are a constant that makes the story flow with ease. They control the reader’s emotions without flaw.  Especially the two lead characters, that have the most control over a reader that I have trouble finding in other novels.

I also love how they can make emotions run so high, so quickly, and ultimately make you want to jump right in the story with them.

What I do not like about parts of this series is that it can lull a little in some parts, lagging and dragging, but this is not a huge issue, and other factors soon make up for this. I also do not like that sometimes I want to throw the book across the room when emotions run high and I hate what the characters are doing, but again, this is contradictory to what I have liked. The emotions are part of it, and it is a love/hate thing.

Overall, a very, very good series. However, this is not for anybody under sixteen I think, becuase it is a very mature series.

The Clan of the Cave Bear

Ayla is five when the devastating earthquake hits home and kills her family. Not that she remembers any of that. When the same earthquake hits the Clan, a different type of people, they have to find a new home, and they just happen to find Ayla.

She seems like a strange child, with noises coming out of her mouth, and she cannot ‘talk’ properly; that is, with her hands.

Ayla struggles to fit in with the Clan, but they have trouble accepting her and her powerful, male totem of the cave lion. But acceptation of her is almost all she asks.

Can Ayla survive the trials that are given to her, including the Clan accepting her tall frame and blonde hair? Or will she always be on the fringe?

Published: June 25th 2002 by Bantam (first published 1980)

Page Count: 480

ISBN: 0553381679    (isbn13: 9780553381672)

The Valley Or Horses

Ayla is alone, and desperate. With everything she knows gone, she struggles to move on, and survive, though the ways of the Clan still nip at her.

On her quest to find people like her, the ‘Others’, Ayla finds a valley of horses where she decides to winter. Using her skills and forbidden prowess of a hunter, Ayla is able to fend for herself. In doing that, she ends up living with a horse, and strangest of all, a cave lion.

But when a stranger man is injured Ayla has to overcome barriers…and the shock of meeting one of the ‘Others’.

Can Ayla break down the walls of language and differences?

Published: June 25th 2002 by Bantam (first published 1980)

Page Count: 512

ISBN: 0553381660    (isbn13: 9780553381665)

The Mammoth Hunters

Ayla has now completed her quest of finding one of the ‘Others’. But how will she cope will a whole cave of them? With new people, customs, and ways, the Mamutoi hold a whole new challenge in the way of meeting people like her.

Customs are not the only thing that Ayla has to struggle against. Between her worries once renewed about acceptance, and her strange ways that are hard to understand, Ayla is an outsider once more.

Will Ayla ever find a place to fit in? Or is she destined to always be on the fringe?

Published: June 25th 2002 by Bantam (first published 1985)

Page Count: 656

ISBN: 0553381644    (isbn13: 9780553381641)

The Plains of Passage

Ayla’s journey continues, and she has made her choice. Leaving the culture that she was beginning to understand behind, she travels into the unknown, and the unknown is starting to take it’s toll, as is the constant strain of travel.

Worn by the unforgiving journey, Ayla is beginning to question all that she knows, as well as the unknown.

Ayla soon learns that the vast and unknown world can be difficult and treacherous, but breathtakingly beautiful and enlightening as well. The people she meets, both enemy and friend are different, but nothing has yet shown to be somewhere to stay forever.

The long journey for a home is a strain. Will Ayla ever find that place she can call her own? And will the man she loves ever settle?

Published: June 25th 2002 by Bantam (first published 1990)

Page Count: 768

ISBN: 0553381652    (isbn13: 9780553381658)

The Shelters of Stone

With a home in the horizon, the dangers of travel are also overlooked. But Ayla soon learns that perhaps the most frightening part of the end of the journey is just that…the end.

With a place to stay forever, and the chance to meet the man she loves parents, she is once again worried about acceptance and her strange ways.

With plenty of danger and thrill, any step towards home could soon be their last, with the dangers that llay between her and their final destination.

Will Ayla finally find a home and a place where she belongs?

Published: April 27th 2004 by Bantam (first published 2002)

Page Count: 789

ISBN: 0553382616    (isbn13: 9780553382617)

I highly recommend this book to people who love historical fiction, or any adult who has the time to sit down for lenghly periods of time to enjoy such an immense novel.

Alright, so that is it for that so called quick review. Enjoy.

Book of the Week: The Stone Angel

4 Stars

For the book of the week, I had to go through my shelves and find something different. This is what I unearthed. The Stone Angel, by Margaret Laurence.

I remembered reading this a while ago, and I found myself liking it again. So, here it is, this week’s novel. 7

What I like is that the characters are strong, and stay very consistent. There are no weird changes in them that make you wonder where they whipped that out from, so I have no complaints there whatsoever.

The story line is good, the flashbacks essential, even if the tone of the story was a little…heavy.

What I did not like was the strangeness of who Hagar was, is and how she treats others. I mean, at times it was really confusing. I did not like it. I also found the ending to be disappointing, and awfully a buzz kill.

I also did not like that the story was violent, and the way that everything was tied up. But that was just me, and trying to put certain feelings to paper (keyboard) is a little tricky.

Overall? A good, read, but not one to take lightly.

Hagar Shipley has lived through hell, and now her life is drawing to an end. It’s the late 1960′s and Hagar finds herself being drawn back into the past, replaying over the events that made her the bitter woman that she finds herself to be today.

With that, comes the sad consequences and questions that cannot be answered. But there is one last grope at freedom before her ninety years plus years are up.

In a novel that it questioning and deep, The Stone Angel is a book for those who have their own lives to question, and what the consequences might be.

Author: Margaret Laurence

Published: January 1st 2004 by McClelland & Stewart (first published 1964)

Page Count: 344

ISBN: 0771047088    (isbn13: 9780771047084)

Mulling on Monday #11

2 Stars

Late, I know, but here it is, another Monday.

And while I know that I banned myself from any Nicholas Sparks, this is from a while ago, and I just forgot to put it up. So there. Yet another reason as to why I should go on a Sparks boycott for the time being.

Alright, so I am back and have just finished yet another Nicolas Sparks novel, one that I was unsure if I wanted to read because of who it was half inspired by; yes that would be Miley Cyrus.
So this novel gave me mixed emotions. It was overall written well, as in the Nicholas Sparks brand, but it seemed to slug through certain parts, and yet in some chapters you were bewildered as to where the time went.

Then there was the story line itself.

I am not 100% sure of what story Sparks was trying to tell here. The different elements of the story could have been good plot lines themselves. However, they were all put together in a giant, emotional mixing bowl. It felt at times like you were reading three different stories, and you just happened to know the characters.

What was most disappointing for me was the fact that I was able to put down the novel after, and just read another book. It was a “yeah, okay, that books done.” moment, which is something no author should be looking for.

I also found it awfully predictable. I knew what was going to happen chapters in advance.
Overall, it was an okay novel, though I am glad that I only borrowed it and did not buy it as I had originally planned.

Ronnie’s life is a mess, and it just keeps getting worse.

A shop-lifter in New-York, with slipping grades and a blind hate towards her father, things cannot get any worse when she is condemned to spend the summer with him, in a small town. It’s her own personal hell, come to life.

Things don’t get better fast. That is, until she meets a guy. And from there, everything changes into a different angle.

From the award-winning author Nicholas Sparks, comes a novel that tell of the power of summer love.

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Published: September 8th 2009 by Grand Central Publishing

Page Count: 405

ISBN: 0446547565    (isbn13: 9780446547567)

Mulling on Monday #10

3 Stars

It’s double digits for Monday Mulling now! Crazy how far this little project of mine has come, and the dimensions I have added to it. Sure, it’s only been a couple of months, but it’s still really, really neat.

Alright, so I read this a while ago and decided that it was high time I reviewed it.  It’s Girl With a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier, a novel that has been acclaimed, and even added into some schools as part of the English curriculum. It’s a simple and unique read, with the topic being about art and the behind the scenes of how the piece was made; after all, everybody recognizes it, even if nobody really knows the why behind it.

This book was on my ‘to read’ list before I started it. I think that I wanted to read it because of the topic; it sounded different, historic, and sounded like a novel that I might enjoy because of the ‘behind the scenes of history’ aspect.

However, by the end, I was a little disappointed.

It is not as compelling as I had hoped when I started the novel; as a matter of fact, it is sort of dull, in a sad way. For a novel that I had been waiting to read for a while, it was a very big let down.

For one, it was slow. It was also very much predictable, which made me angry at some points. When I read a novel, I do not want to read to the end just to see if what I thought was going to happen was right. I want to be kept guessing at every turn, and have all of my ideas about what is going to happen proved wrong. Sadly, this did not happen for me.

I also found some of the book to be vague and blotchy. I felt like I was missing pages sometimes, only to flip back & realize that no, it was not just me.

And, of course, my always-there-nitpick: the ending.  Random.  Strange. Just not good. Could have been done way better than it was, but sadly, was not.

What I did like, however, was the easy pace of the story, with the tension just in the right places. I also really liked Griet, other than her weird thing about her hair. But even then, she is relatable.  She is real. She is a normal sixteen year old in the 17^th century, struggling with life. It is something that any teen girl can relate with, even with the different day and age.

Overall, disappointing for me, but for others interested in the story behind the paining, it offers a pretty good look behind the curtain.

Griet’s life is changing faster than she thought would ever happen. After her father’s accident, she finds herself the family rock, and the only source of income. There is but one problem; she is a maid in a catholic household, in a town that is mostly protestant. Forced to live with her clever and pinching mistresses, and her secretitive painter master, Griet has a hard time adjusting. But this is only the beginning of a hard and strange life that will lead into decisions that might cost Griet everything she’s worked for.

Author: Tracy Chevalier

Published: August 30th 2005 by Plume (first published January 200)

Page Count:256

ISBN: 0452287022    (isbn13: 9780452287020)

Quick Series Review: Wildflowers

4 Stars

I admit, I am very hesitant to write a review on this series, as most days when I sit down to attempt a review of this novel, I can never really get anything concrete on the page. There is so much to say, and most of it seems contradictory to everything.

The Wildflowers series is by V.C Andrews. She is known to write novels that are a little…different. Because of this, perhaps even in spite of, here is the review.

I like this novel…when I am in a certain mood. The subject matter is a little iffy, so I am going to say that this is definitely an adult book. Then again, it’s hard to say, becuase I have read worse in the young adult section. It is just that it deals with big issues and realistic ones too, specifically dealing with teens. So while I say it is an adult novel, I am also going to say that it is suitable for high-school kids, or mature kids who can handle the subject matter and the graphic scenes, which occur every part.

What I like is the realism, and the way that Andrews gets her point across. Sure, it gets a little graphic for some scenes, but I have a feeling that people see worse on TV every night. It is just becuase it is very strong, I suppose, and that is what makes me wary to share this.

However, it is real in a good way. The characters are rounded out, and you really get into the story when you read it. It can hit close to home to those who have parents going through a divorce. It is also written so that you feel like you have stepped into the characters shoes. The descriptions and everything is well done.

What I could have done without was the graphic scenes. The stories are all quite short as well.

I have also heard that this does not seem as V.C Andrews’see as it was, becuase it was partially (?) written by a ghost writer. I have not had a chance to read any of her originals, as I have also heard that they can be pretty iffy, and a lot worse than this series. (Though I do admit, I also really enjoyed Ruby.)

Overall, good for those who like reading novels with grit in them. This is a good series, it is just different from what people might be used to.

Four girls. Four secrets. And all the worse.

Four girls are in therapy for their school when tragic accidents happen to them, causing concern – enough even to go to a ‘shrink’ where they tell their tales to other scared girls.

But they all bear scars that cut deep.

Misty’s mother does not care about her, only herself and her mission to look young. her father left her mother for a younger woman.

Star is a girl whose mother was an alcoholic and her father out of the picture when he walked out. She and her little brother Rodney now live at their grandmother’s.

Jade is a rich girl who has all she could want. Except her parents, who use her as a pawn in their messy divorce.

Cat has a mother who hates her, and a father who loves her a little too much.

All look normal on the outside. But it’s the inside that counts, and it’s where they harbor deep, dark secrets.

In a novel that has the ability to scar and make you question our society, The Wildflowers is sure to make a lasting impression.

Author: V.C Andrews

Published: May 22nd 2001 by Atria (first published 1999)

Page Count:592

ISBN: 0743437373    (isbn13: 9780743437370)