Babel 17



Let me start by saying I have never read anything in this genre before. It isn't something that I would typically choose to read for my personal enjoyment. However, I read this book and actually liked it. I also admit I have never watched any of the Star Wars movies. I think that I might have missed out by not watching them because I think that if I read them I might have a way better understanding of this type of unfamiliar genre.

Babel 17 was a very quick read. You become immersed in the characters world right away and are able to see the relationships between each of the characters. This book was quite different from the books I have read involving outside influences on the main character. Usually the influences are good or bad, and in this case it is both. Usually when a character faces a dilemma or dangerous decision you see the inner struggle of the choices of good and evil. In this book our lead character is actually affected by the influence of her crew that alerts her to the unknown danger she is getting into.

I really like this twist because I don't really see it n many of the books that I read. I like it because it adds more depths to the crew around Cordelia and their relationship. I think its also cool to read about the types of cool "body mods" or body modifications. One of the crew members even has a tail!

What is also quite different about this book is that it is about language. It is a type of language that is extremely dangerous to even speak of. Cordelia specializes in different types of languages and just so happens to discover it. I have never read a book that was based on a language that jeopardizes the world. It is something that is probably not seen in many other literature works beside this.

Due to this factor I slowly lost interest in it. It isn't due to the author's style or the plot of the book, it is just not my cup of tea if you know what I mean. It is kind of difficult to read something that is completely out of your general genre zone. However, by reading this book I was able to enjoy some of the highlights of this genre. I enjoyed the fact that it was on a planet that was unknown to me. I like when a book tells of a place that doesn't truly exist because then I am able to imagine and envision the space to what I think it might look like. Someone else could see it completely different, and that's what makes it so great!! It offers the reader another dimension while going through the story with the characters.

Night Circus



This was actually a pretty fast read for me. Right from the start is pulls you in with all of these intricate details. Then it trows you for a loop when the characters actually have crazy powers that they harness with their minds. I really enjoyed the details that the author gave throughout the book. I have always enjoyed major details as well as small ones. I have always had a knack for remembering those minute details that usually get quickly overlooked. And what makes it better is that those details usually end up becoming a major key in the book. Also with details that are so small I have a knack for remembering them perfectly. I think books that lack detail are less appealing to me as a reader and I slowly start to lose interest. When it seems to drag on and not really set a mood for the setting or the characters, I tend to stop reading it.

I also enjoyed the story line! I always love books that involve a fight to survive. In this case it would be a duel between two very powerful teenagers. Sadly they are just pawns in this cruel world they have grown up in. They have been trained over the years to hone their skills in the hope of their teachers to win this duel. However, these two end up getting together despite their teacher's knowledge.

This book kind of reminds me of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I say this because in both books the characters are faced with life risking challenges for the sake of other peoples enjoyment. They are faced to fight to the death against each other. They also end up unwittingly falling in love with the ones that could be a dangerous threat. While facing such dangerous obstacles the characters are drawn or forced to help each other with the hope of survival. I recommend both books for anyone who enjoys awesome fight scenes and unexpected romance!

Knowing this, I really enjoyed this book and what unfolds within it. I think for some the beginning might seem to drag on with all these crazy details, but it really adds to the feeling of the book and the spaces around the characters. I also think it was really great to start with the father's past and introducing his daughter, which was an unknown element to him at the time. He learns quickly that she possesses the same powers as him, if not stronger. This is when the unyielding training unfolds on his daughter, our main character. She plays as his pawn from the very beginning.

All in all I truly enjoyed this book, it was quite refreshing!

The Ocean at the End of the Lane







This was my first time reading a Neil Gaiman book. I think I'm missing out on something important!!
I really enjoyed this book and the way it was written. It catches your interest right from the beginning and continues to drag you in further and further. This is why I love to read books. I love when a book is so good that you have to finish it right away. I have a really bad habit of doing this, and it ends up with me spending fifteen dollars on a three-hundred page book that I finish that same day!

The book starts out with a Man who has remembered his past while attending a funeral of one of his loved ones. He leaves abruptly in a daze while thinking of his past and the things that occurred to him as a kid. Soon he ends up arriving at the place where he grew up when he was younger. He ends up walking to the end of the lane, which is where he was told there was an ocean.

The area where the whole story unfolds is completely different from many magic realism and contemporary fantasy books of the ones today. I say this because in Gaiman's story, the setting is somewhere rural and away from civilization. In most of the recent books in this genre the settings take place within the cities. I like this change because it makes you wonder why the author chose such a setting. Sometimes the setting is the key to how the entire book will turn out. I like this approach when story telling!

This book reminds me of a book that I have read in the past. The book was called The City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare. It reminds me of this book because it is almost the complete opposite of Gaiman's. It is a similar genre, but the settings, characters, and story line kind of shadow that of The Ocean at the End of the Lane. The city of bones tells about a girl from New York, who is suddenly thrown into a world of demons and "The Fallen". The fallen are known as the Shadow Hunters. They are the ones who destroy the demons throughout the world. However, not everyone can see them. Those who share the blood of shadow hunters are the only ones who can see and be seen by them. I really enjoy books that make me second guess myself throughout the story. There have been many times that I would start reading a book and then easily guess the ending and be correct. In Gaiman's I had to start second guessing from the very beginning! When this happens I start to get deeply interested in the plot and what would come next. I believe this book hit many points that I look for when reading. I couldn't stop reading it.

Harry Potter!







This week I read Harry Potter. I have seen all of the Harry potter movies that have been shown in theaters. I liked the movies, but usually I read a book and never watch the movies because it usually ends up bad. I don't like when they try to make these movies,but leave out important elements. When they do this I think that they are ruining the book for those who had already read it. It just isn't the same. Anyway back to the book!

I read the very first book of the Harry Potter series. This book was really good with details and secret meanings. The story tells of a boy who was taken in by his aunt and uncle, due to his parents being deceased. Harry is not a normal child, he is actually a wizard! This is where the story begins.

Along the way Harry makes those special friends, Ron and Hermine, that last a lifetime and experiences that will always be with him. He and his friends go to this school that is meant for witches and wizards. Through this school they are able to excel in their craft and face certain tests to challenge them. While Harry is here he meets Dumbledore, the head master, and Hagrid, a giant man who pretty much fills the role of Harry's father. These people make Harry question what happened to his parents and why.

Harry's curiosity gets the better of him as well as his friends. They start looking for answers based on certain objects that could help them. Something that comes up is the Sorcerers Stone. This stone is said to have had an awesome power that can grant any witch or wizard its power. Harry and his friends try to find this stone and try to discover answers about it and its whereabouts. Soon they face many dangerous obstacles trying to get closer to the stones location. They believe that they are being secretive in what they are doing, but there are always eyes watching them from the shadows. Some of these eyes are closer than Harry could have ever imagined.

The Hobbit!!









I have never seen the Lord of The Rings movies or read The Hobbit. I must say that I really enjoyed reading this book! The story tells of a hobbit, which are small people who love food, boos and good cheer. His name is Bilbo Baggins, and he is tricked into an epic adventure! He is not young, but middle aged and this surprised me because most of the main characters are quite young. However this hobbit doesn't want to have an adventure, he wants to keep to himself. Too bad for Bilbo, since a wizard has other plans for him. These plans will soon forever change Bilbo's life.

As I continue reading this book I really start to enjoy the change in Bilbo's character. At the beginning of the book Bilbo doesn't want to partake in any adventure, but is soon tricked into a quest with a band guys to find treasure. It sounds fun, but there is a dangerous hazard that stands in their way in form of a malicious dragon. This dragon is protecting a great treasure that has been left inside a mountain for years. Thorin, who is the leader of the group that Bilbo is traveling with, wants to claim this treasure because it belonged to his past elders. However, there are certain obstacles that they soon face.

Throughout the book Bilbo evolves drastically as a character. He is at first timid and afraid of change and danger. As the story goes on he becomes more confident, brave and willing to complete his adventure. He also becomes very cunning when faced with dangerous tasks. What helps him develop as a character is an object that he finds in a cave. This ring is special because it can make the wearer invisible. However, this ring is actually extremely dangerous. Bilbo has this ring in his possession and due to this he is able to save his comrades from certain death.

All in all, I loved reading this book. It was different from what I would have usually read. The way that he set up the characters and settings was amazing. Now I really want to watch the movies and see just how much changes with Bilbo and his ring.