"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

First of all, I appologize for the lateness of this post. When I got around to writing it, my internet was down so I couldn't post it. Anyway, now onto the review of "Ender's Game."

I chose this book because I saw the movie and really enjoyed it. I thought it had a very thought provoking plot, and I had always heard good things about the book. 

I'm glad that I saw the movie before I read the book. I feel like having seen the movie first, I am still able to enjoy it. It is, of course, very different from the book and missing several plot elements - so I feel that if I had read the book first, I would not have been as pleased with the film. This way, however, I am still able to enjoy both. Because I did very much enjoy the book also. 

There were some things about this book that made it a little difficult for me. I couldn't think too much about the age of the children. It made me mad when I would stop and think about how the government had stolen their childhood from them, and the emotional, mental, and physical pressures they were putting on such young kids. But at the same time, that is the point. That is a key part to carrying out the overall objective of the book. The issues addressed would not have been so impactful had these things happened to an adult. 

One of the little things I really liked in the book was the description of anger. I thought it painted an excellent picture when he described Peter's anger as cold, as opposed to Bonzo, whose anger was hot. I am a sucker for good verbal descriptions and I thought this was one perfect. It made perfect sense to me, though I had never thought of attaching temperature measurements to anger before. It really helped to illustrate Peter, and help the reader understand him a little more - even though he was not present in that situation. 

Another thing that stuck with me that I have kind of been thinking about now that I'm finished with the book, is the role that all three Wiggin children played in the safety and well-being of the earth. All three were born to "save the world," but the government only focused on Ender's ability to be a military leader. In the end, however, it was all three of them who created the new and better world. While Ender was fighting the war in space, Peter and Valentine were fighting the war on earth. It was Peter and Valentine's writings and influence that changed the world. In the end, all Ender had done was destroy a race that no longer posed a threat to mankind. Peter and Valentine faced the real threat, which was the one mankind posed against itself. I like, however, that in the end, Ender was able to make a meaningful difference. I liked the aspect of all three Wiggin children "fulfilling their destiny" - Peter in an impressive leadership position helping to maintain peace on earth, Valentine heading up the immigration to other planets and writing her philosophy, and Ender, as Speaker for the Dead. 

I really enjoyed this book, but what did you think? 

June-July Reading Dates

Hey everyone! Thanks for all your great input about "The Phantom Tollbooth."  I enjoyed seeing what you all thought about the book.

Our next read will be "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.

The discussion for this book will start July 27th.  Happy reading! :)

"The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster

I love "Alice in Wonderland."  It is one of my favorite books.  I found "The Phantom Tollbooth" to be in a similar category as "Alice in Wonderland."  One of the things I particularly liked about "The Phantom Tollbooth" in contrast to "Alice in Wonderland" was the sense of purpose in Milo's journey.  Alice's only quest was to find The White Rabbit, which leads to a sort of senseless adventure, whereas Milo sets out to save the Princesses Rhyme and Reason - learning all sorts of things along the way.  By the end of his journey, Milo has a new appreciation for things he used to not care about...numbers, words, sounds, etc.  Milo's journey helps him (and us) to find the beauty in everything, particularly the small things.  It showed him (and us) just how much time we waste everyday doing nothing.  I loved at the end of the book when he realized he had been gone for only an hour and it says how he had never realized how much he could do in such a short time.  And on top of that, when it said he would like to go back, but he was too busy with all the things to do and see and hear right in his own world.

The quirky characters in this book were so fun and likable.  I felt instantly connected with Tock and grew very fond of the HumBug. I was very impressed with the creativity of Juster in coming up with all the characters; people who grow down instead of up, the terrible Dynne, the orchestra that plays the colors...the eccentric mix of people really made this book enjoyable.

Juster's use of words was also very impressive - and very entertaining.  One example that comes immediately to mind is the Which/Witch.  The play on words in this book was very clever.

I think this book is an excellent read for people of all ages.  It has that fun, whimsical feel of "Alice in Wonderland" for children but is also equipped with plenty humor for the educated adult.  I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

What did you think?  

May - June Reading Dates

This month I will be reading The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. 

I will post my review, and the discussion will start, on June 8th. 

Happy reading! 

"The Railway Children" by E. Nesbitt

I haven't got a very long review for this book, but let me share my thoughts with you.

I chose this book because it is one that I read when I was younger...well, started reading.  I never finished it and I figured that now was as good a time as ever.  I was wrong, back when I started it would have been a much better time. This book is clearly written for a younger audience and so I found that rather than enjoying it - I just sort of spent a lot of time scoffing at it.

The main thing that sticks out in my head is the three children's uncanny ability for saving people. I don't think I have ever actually saved a person's life before, but in the span of a year these kids saved a baby from a fire, an entire train load of people from crashing into an avalanche, and a boy in a red jersey from dying alone in a tunnel.  It's pretty amazing...and unrealistic.

It's a cute enough story about children with good intentions and has a nice happy ending, but it was little too perfectly ironic for me.

What did you think?

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

I quite enjoyed this book.  I saw the movie several years ago and remembered liking it, so I was excited to read the book.  I was surprised at some of the important plot devices I had forgotten about from the movie and was glad to be able to revisit this story.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the analogies Kidd used to help with visualizations and the beautiful way she was able to describe things and make you feel and understand completely.
Phrases like: "A girl could get lost on twenty-eight acres.  She could open a trap door and disappear."
"The first week at August's was a consolation, a pure relief.  The world will give you that once in a while, a brief time-out; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat up life."
And "It was the in-between time, before day leaves and night comes, a time I've never been partial to because of the sadness that lingers in the space between going and coming."
One thing I have always admired in writers is their ability to paint bright and vivid pictures with their words.

When I was in high school, I took an advanced drama class where we talked a little bit about script analysis.  One thing we were told to look for in a script was what is called a "spine line."  This is essentially the one line in the script that can summarize the entire theme of the play.  If I had to choose a spine line for The Secret Life of Bees, I would say it is when August states, "Every little things wants to be loved."
We see this is her instructions to send love to the bees, of course, but we see it more prominently in Lily.  The entire story truly revolves around Lily's need and desire to be loved.  It reached it's peak, I think, in that moment when she declares herself "unlovable" because of what happened to her mother.

Another thing that stuck out to me was when Lily said: "I don't mean to be a bad person.  I just can't seem to help it.  I do all the wrong things..."
How many of us have felt this way?  I know I have.  There have been times in my life where I get overwhelmed and feel like I can't do anything right.  I get frustrated when things don't go the way I want them to or think they should.  And although it was not her immediate response, I felt what August said at the end of the chapter was a powerful reply.
"There is nothing perfect.  There is only life."

I thought this was a beautiful story of love and forgiveness - particularly forgiving yourself, which I think is sometimes harder than forgiving others.  I hope you all enjoyed this book as much as I did.  Let me know what you thought!

March - April Reading Dates

The next pick for our book club is "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd.

                                

The discussion post for "The Secret Life of Bees" will go up April 6th, so be sure to have read it by then, so you can share your thoughts :)

After that, our next read will be "The Railway Children" by E. Nesbit.

                                

We will plan to have this book finished by April 27th.

Happy reading!