The first time I saw this book in Target, and read the first line, "The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts," I knew that I wanted to read it. "The Clockwork Angel" was a good book, but I cannot imagine how it will lead to two additional books. It ends with a cliff hanger so severe that I practically rolled my eyes. This book is also a prequel to the series "The Mortal Instruments," so perhaps I should not be reviewing it all as I have not read the other books. I liked this one for the period setting, though I honestly felt that the prose began to sag after the carefully polished prologue. I enjoyed the various gothic elements of a heroine in danger who must fight to save herself, and her confused relationship with several handsome young men.
More or less the book is all it appears to be and nothing more. It was amusing escapism, but I felt that the story lacked much real depth. There were too many characters, too much plot, and not enough development of any of them. This is a typical problem in the fantasy genre, and the major reason I rarely read fantasy books anymore.The book is written to interest, according to the back of the book, ages 14 and up. I might limit the age range to 14-16. At that age range, I would undoubtedly have loved the book and the series. Ultimately, I got the escapism and amusement I was looking for, so I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy novels for younger readers.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Today, I finished the book "A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama," and found myself with a compulsion to blog about it. The book center around an orphan girl named Maud and starts off "On the morning of the best day of her life, Maud Flynn was locked in the outhouse, singing 'Battle Hymn of the Republic.'" Can you blame me for checking it out?
This book was actually under juvenile fiction, but I found it a gripping and interesting read that left with me a lot to think over. Maud is adopted by a mysterious woman name Hyacinth, who live with her two sisters Victoria and Judith. At first they seem like charming ladies, telling her to address them as "Auntie" and showering her with new dresses, and books. Then, once Maud discovers that she is to be a "secret child," the mysteries begin to unfold.
In a lot of ways this is a story about a child whose needs were not met by the adults around her, and the difficulty she has in coping with this shortcoming. It is beautiful and poignant, and has more in common with Gothic fiction than with the stereotyped melodrama of women tied to train tracks. Maud has a lot of hard decisions and she makes the best of all of them, always struggling to stay to who she is. Yes, the ending was a little tidy, as one would expect from a melodrama, but I still found it a satisfying and interesting read. As a child I loved tales of Oliver Twist, Sara Crewe, and Mary Lennox. Maud Lynn has a touch of each of those characters, with a little Scout Finch thrown in. I found it easy to read, though provoking, and entertaining. I would recommend.
This book was actually under juvenile fiction, but I found it a gripping and interesting read that left with me a lot to think over. Maud is adopted by a mysterious woman name Hyacinth, who live with her two sisters Victoria and Judith. At first they seem like charming ladies, telling her to address them as "Auntie" and showering her with new dresses, and books. Then, once Maud discovers that she is to be a "secret child," the mysteries begin to unfold.
In a lot of ways this is a story about a child whose needs were not met by the adults around her, and the difficulty she has in coping with this shortcoming. It is beautiful and poignant, and has more in common with Gothic fiction than with the stereotyped melodrama of women tied to train tracks. Maud has a lot of hard decisions and she makes the best of all of them, always struggling to stay to who she is. Yes, the ending was a little tidy, as one would expect from a melodrama, but I still found it a satisfying and interesting read. As a child I loved tales of Oliver Twist, Sara Crewe, and Mary Lennox. Maud Lynn has a touch of each of those characters, with a little Scout Finch thrown in. I found it easy to read, though provoking, and entertaining. I would recommend.
The Uglies Series
I have read all four books in this series, previously a trilogy, and will simply write one blog for all four since it has been a while since I read the first two. My favorite of the books was definitely the last book, "Extras." I had a hard time identifying with Tally, the main character of this first three books. I found myself continuously frustrated with her various choices. She was a very human and believable character, I just wish she had been a little more honest. I'm getting ahead of myself.
Uglies is a fantastic book about a world where being beautiful is the only thing anyone cares about, where anyone who has not had the surgery that will turn them into a beautiful "Pretty" is encouraged to feel a sub-par being. The surgery is performed at the age of sixteen, but it is not a choice, and there are some characters who begin to question their way of life in a big way, as well as those who resent the questioning, and Tally gets caught in the middle.
In the second book, Pretties, we join the vain, selfish world of the people who have undergone surgery to fit a standardized look which will be altered at they age to Middle Pretty, and then Crubmlie as an older person. Tally's old friends are trying to save her from her life as a Pretty, and things become complex very quickly.
Specials, the third book, centers around the master minds behind the whole system, and reveals a third version of humans who are basically weapons through surgery, Speicals. It also opens up the world to other cities with a heart-wrenching and fascinating conclusion.
Extras takes placed after the "Prettytime," when the surgery no longer required, and people have control over their bodies and minds. This book is practially a stand alone book, following a a girl named Aya who lives in a Japanese city where the economy is based on either public service, or fame. I thought this was a brilliant idea, especially since it is partly true in our soceity that fame in and of itself often brings fortune.
I honestly love the hard questions these books make me ask about how I feel about myself and where those ideas come from. I think the message of accepting yourself for who you are, and valuing the world around you based on its merit is a fantastic one, and I think it a great idea to expose yourself too. Also, the books are funny, entertaining, and suspenseful. I would definitely recommend them.
Uglies is a fantastic book about a world where being beautiful is the only thing anyone cares about, where anyone who has not had the surgery that will turn them into a beautiful "Pretty" is encouraged to feel a sub-par being. The surgery is performed at the age of sixteen, but it is not a choice, and there are some characters who begin to question their way of life in a big way, as well as those who resent the questioning, and Tally gets caught in the middle.
In the second book, Pretties, we join the vain, selfish world of the people who have undergone surgery to fit a standardized look which will be altered at they age to Middle Pretty, and then Crubmlie as an older person. Tally's old friends are trying to save her from her life as a Pretty, and things become complex very quickly.
Specials, the third book, centers around the master minds behind the whole system, and reveals a third version of humans who are basically weapons through surgery, Speicals. It also opens up the world to other cities with a heart-wrenching and fascinating conclusion.
Extras takes placed after the "Prettytime," when the surgery no longer required, and people have control over their bodies and minds. This book is practially a stand alone book, following a a girl named Aya who lives in a Japanese city where the economy is based on either public service, or fame. I thought this was a brilliant idea, especially since it is partly true in our soceity that fame in and of itself often brings fortune.
I honestly love the hard questions these books make me ask about how I feel about myself and where those ideas come from. I think the message of accepting yourself for who you are, and valuing the world around you based on its merit is a fantastic one, and I think it a great idea to expose yourself too. Also, the books are funny, entertaining, and suspenseful. I would definitely recommend them.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
I impulse bought this book at Sam's club while I was at work, because I had to know what happens next. I finished it pretty soon after I bought it, and I mostly just agree with Amanda. I think that the story is a great set up for book three, which is I am moderately confidant will be better than two.
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
I don't have time to blog tonight, but I'm doing it anyway. I finished "What I Saw and How I Lied" today and it was like kiddie Noir. I loved it. Something about this book brought to mind the flavor of Lauren Bacall's autobiography, it was that authentic. This book is rich, beautiful, and unguarded. I was also reminded of Sidney Poitier's description of Florida as well, how he described seeing it as a young man in his autobiography. The story is gripping, deep, and gritty. There were some obvious modern sensibilities and prospectives in it, but not so much that I felt that I was thrown out of the world of the book. I found the heroine, Evie, to be engaging though narrator, though the story was definitely told solely through her eyes it was still possible to see other perspective with a few hints from the author.
In the end there was so much in this story about choices: about how and why me make them, their repercussions, and how we live with the consequences. It was also about familiar relationships and identification. I did not want to put it down until I had turned the last page, I would definitely recommend it.
In the end there was so much in this story about choices: about how and why me make them, their repercussions, and how we live with the consequences. It was also about familiar relationships and identification. I did not want to put it down until I had turned the last page, I would definitely recommend it.
Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico
I am of two mind about this story. On one hand it was beautiful, psychological, and fascinating. On the other it was sexist, racist, and unrealistic. A young, suicidal woman finds hope and redemption in a troupe of seven dolls, whose puppet master is fierce and cruel. The dolls reach out to her, talk to her, and encourage her. The puppet master has no sympathy, no kindness. People are drawn to the interaction between the young girl, whose nickname is Mouche which means mosquito, and the puppets, which increases the revenue of the show.
We eventually discover that the puppet master has rid himself of any ability to feel, that this is a post World War II world, and his only emotions are played out in fantasy with his puppets. It is the destruction of concentration camps that really helped me understand this story, to understand why the characters were so broken and so desperate. It was at times sexist, and racist, but this is to be expected of a novel from this period. If taken to be a literal story, the conclusion is juvenile. If seen as a psychological tale, it makes a little more sense. I really liked the theme from the movie, Lili, and picked up the book in curiosity. There were several things in the movie which made no sense that worked much better in the novel, and overall I enjoyed reading it.
We eventually discover that the puppet master has rid himself of any ability to feel, that this is a post World War II world, and his only emotions are played out in fantasy with his puppets. It is the destruction of concentration camps that really helped me understand this story, to understand why the characters were so broken and so desperate. It was at times sexist, and racist, but this is to be expected of a novel from this period. If taken to be a literal story, the conclusion is juvenile. If seen as a psychological tale, it makes a little more sense. I really liked the theme from the movie, Lili, and picked up the book in curiosity. There were several things in the movie which made no sense that worked much better in the novel, and overall I enjoyed reading it.
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
I was simply in awe of this book, because it teaches so much that you hardly notice the lessons. The story follows Marcus and his friends and gives you a glimpse of the probable near future both technologically and politically. This book teaches the history of hacking, yippies, hippies, the Civil Rights Movement, the Internet, codes, ciphers, code breaking, computer networks, and so much more but perfectly interwoven in a gripping and fascinating plot. This story delves into personal rights, first love, true friendship, and the dangerous trade off of privacy for security. I don't really know what else to say except read it.
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