Ok, just so I could put everything in perspective just before I zonk out from my flu medicine, here are my current pre-occupations, and items for investigation:
1. Pegasus by Robin McKinley -- will get complete book
2. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore -- amazing and highly enjoyable movie! Can't wait for the sequel and can't wait to get the books
3. Halo -- to get or not to get
4. Warm Bodies-- a good read they say, but a zombie romance? makes me hesitate just thinking about the first kiss
5. The Abhorsen series -- MUST write about these books because they're really amazing. Another long-overdue project
6. Beauty by Robin McKinley -- magic, books and a handsome prince. Need I say more?
7. Angelfire by Courtney Moulton -- I hope I don't waste my money here
Ok, that's about all I can handle right now.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Graveyard Book
This was another book I practically inhaled. But with a Neil Gaiman work, it's actually impossible to do that because you always end up entranced. So you slow down to take in the scenery. In this case, a beautiful, slightly creepy graveyard.
Bod is the main character in the book and he has been given the Freedom of the Graveyard when two resident ghosts, and a guardian, took him in when he was a baby. His family had just been killed by a mysterious assassin and Bod had the good fortune to toddle out of the house on his own and wind up in the graveyard. He reminded me of the Luck Child at this part of the story.
Hi grows up learning about Fading, Haunting, opening Ghoul gates, and in general being a better person than your average child would be. He gets into one adventure after the other, usually because he is also quite stubborn and very curious -- a very lethal mix.
His last adventure is when he leaves the grave finally. But even then, I would like to read more about this extraordinary boy called Nobody Owens.
Bod is the main character in the book and he has been given the Freedom of the Graveyard when two resident ghosts, and a guardian, took him in when he was a baby. His family had just been killed by a mysterious assassin and Bod had the good fortune to toddle out of the house on his own and wind up in the graveyard. He reminded me of the Luck Child at this part of the story.
Hi grows up learning about Fading, Haunting, opening Ghoul gates, and in general being a better person than your average child would be. He gets into one adventure after the other, usually because he is also quite stubborn and very curious -- a very lethal mix.
His last adventure is when he leaves the grave finally. But even then, I would like to read more about this extraordinary boy called Nobody Owens.
Mockingjay
This is way overdue.
I waited months on end for the final book in the trilogy, and when Mockingjay was finally released, one would expect me to have posted my reaction right away.
So where was I?
Or, some would wonder, was the book THAT bad?
To answer the second question first, no, the book was worth the wait. But I would have to say that it was not as likable as the first two books were. In the first few chapters of Mockingjay, you get the feeling that something is being set-up and developed. I re-read Hunger Games and Catching Fire to put my finger on why I felt the beginning of Mockingjay dragged. Well, I found out that there were some twists in the plot that needed time to stew. My advise to those who would read the book is to consider it in the light of the entire trilogy. It is more effective and less heartbreaking this way.
My only beef here is that Peeta so much less likable. It was as though Suzanne Collins drew up this perfect hero, and then just when all you ever wanted was to have someone like Peeta in your life, she tears him all apart. Suzanne redeems him in the end, but then you know that he isn't perfect anymore.
But I guess that is the exact point of Suzanne Collins. No one who has to go through what Katniss and Peeta and the rest of the characters did could end up alright. At best, you could have Haymitch. In fact, you could even call him the best-balanced mentally of the lot. The worse you could have is Annie, broken and mad, but redeemed in the end with a beautiful baby.
And I guess, that's the second point: no matter how life batters you, there is still some hope in the end, a point of redemption, a dandelion that lets you know that rebirth is possible.
I waited months on end for the final book in the trilogy, and when Mockingjay was finally released, one would expect me to have posted my reaction right away.
So where was I?
Or, some would wonder, was the book THAT bad?
To answer the second question first, no, the book was worth the wait. But I would have to say that it was not as likable as the first two books were. In the first few chapters of Mockingjay, you get the feeling that something is being set-up and developed. I re-read Hunger Games and Catching Fire to put my finger on why I felt the beginning of Mockingjay dragged. Well, I found out that there were some twists in the plot that needed time to stew. My advise to those who would read the book is to consider it in the light of the entire trilogy. It is more effective and less heartbreaking this way.
My only beef here is that Peeta so much less likable. It was as though Suzanne Collins drew up this perfect hero, and then just when all you ever wanted was to have someone like Peeta in your life, she tears him all apart. Suzanne redeems him in the end, but then you know that he isn't perfect anymore.
But I guess that is the exact point of Suzanne Collins. No one who has to go through what Katniss and Peeta and the rest of the characters did could end up alright. At best, you could have Haymitch. In fact, you could even call him the best-balanced mentally of the lot. The worse you could have is Annie, broken and mad, but redeemed in the end with a beautiful baby.
And I guess, that's the second point: no matter how life batters you, there is still some hope in the end, a point of redemption, a dandelion that lets you know that rebirth is possible.
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