| Before I start I'd just like to say I don't read anything but science fiction or fantasy. There will probably be a few other books of different genres mixed in here just because I've had to read them for school. If you have any suggestions for a book you think I might like or would like to review put it in the guestbook. Interstellar Pig By: William Sleator Grade: A Genre: Science Fiction/Humor Reading Level: Easy Plot: Barney's new neighbors are kind of unusual...and they seem to be obsessed with a board game called "Interstellar Pig". Barney tries to find out what they're really up to. Good stuff: This was an extremely original book. I haven't ever read anything else like it. It is also very funny and well written (Its just easy because there isn't much vocabulary in there and it is a short book) Bad stuff: Probably just the names of the characters (ex: Barney, Manny, Zena, Joe) Other books you might like: Singularity (another very original book!) |
| Reading Level Key! Extremely Difficult: Don't read this unless you're a college professor! Difficult: This one may take some time. Average: Anyone could really read this book (note that I am in High School, so it would be any high schooler could read) Easy: Won't take much time at all Just plain sad:An 8 year old could read this without any problems |
| Eric By: Doris Lund Grade: B (A for people who like stories like this, since a lot of people in my English class seemed to love this book) Genre: Nonfiction (reads like a fiction book, though) Reading Level: Average Plot: This is a story about a teenager with leukemia. You know where this ones going....Sad sad sad book! Good stuff: It is pretty well written, I just don't like stories about sick dying people. Seems to upset me. Bad stuff: Sadness! Other books you might like: I dunno, I don't read books like this unless I have to. |
 |
 |
| Heart of Darkness By: Joseph Conrad (my writing idol!) Grade: A++++++ (BEST BOOK EVER!) Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, The darkness of the human psyche Reading Level: Extremely Difficult--I actually found it to be more on the easy side, but I was the only one in my class who thought so. Then again, no one else even bothered to finish reading the book... -sigh- Sometimes I wonder if I'm actually in an advanced English class... Plot: Marlow, a young English man, takes a job as a steamboat captain on the Congo in Africa. As he goes on his voyage, he hears much about a mysterious man named Kurtz. On his trip, Marlow discovers the real darkness in every human heart, and narrowly avoids becoming an empty shell of a human himself! Its a book you really need to read into, because everything is symbolism, or metaphors...I spent hours (and I still do) just thinking about what everything in this book means. Good Stuff: Conrad has a very distinct vivid and beautiful writing style that I love. The book really changed the way I look at the world! Bad Stuff: Yeah, its kinda hard...And unless you look at it knowing that many of the characters and ideas are symbolic, then you might not get much out of it. Other books you might like: The Secret Sharer, also by Conrad, it is about a captain on a ship who hides a runaway man from another ship (its very cool). Also, not a book, but the Heart of Darkness movie starring John Malkovich as the sinister Kurtz is very good. Interesting tidbit: Apocalypse Now! is based on Heart of Darkness. Lord of the Flies By: William Golding Grade: A+ Genre: Adventure/Darkness of the human heart Reading Level: Difficult (after a while you get used to Golding's writing style, the first paragraph is very hard to get through) Plot: A group of boys are stranded on a desert island. While some try to keep order and run a government, most just want to play and hunt. Good Stuff: Its so exciting! And much of it is symbolic (its really a book against anarchy) Bad stuff: There are a lot of sad parts...I seriously cried at about 4 or 5 parts in this book. There are deaths, one of which is so horrible that I can't even think about it without tearing up. Its also scary that none of the characters are any older than 13 or 14... Other books you might like: Anything by Conrad, really. They're very similar, Golding and Conrad... Also, stay away from both of the movies based on this book!!!! There is one from the 60's that is fairly good with casting and whatnot, and goes along with the book, but lacks the books charm and excitement. The other, from the 90's is exciting, but doesn't follow the book at all, and the kids just aren't cast right... The worst thing is, BOTH movies left out the scene with the Lord of the Flies, which probably left many a movie-goer scratching their head in confusement ("So, was the kid supposed to be the Lord of the Flies or something?" "Nah, I think it might've been the glowstick...") Grrrr! There was no glowstick in the book! And none of the kids are the Lord of the Flies! Anyway, read the book...BEFORE YOU WATCH EITHER MOVIE!!! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix By: J.K. Rowling Grade: A Genre: Fantasy/Adventure Reading Level: Average Plot: Harry Potter, the infamous boy wizard, and his fifth year at Hogwarts. You-know-who is back, and there's a small resistance group of wizards called the Order of the Phoenix who are gathering together in order to perhaps defeat him. Also, Harry goes on his first date, gets a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and learns some things about Snape he didn't know before (woooot!) Good Stuff: Hey, its Harry Potter...its all good. I especially like how Rowling went into some detail about the Mauraders school days. There's also a lot of interesting new characters in this one: Tonks, Luna Lovegood, Mundungus Fletcher...not to mention the return of some great old characters (Lupin's back!!!! Yeah!) Bad Stuff: Dolores Umbridge....the new DADA teacher....she's Satan in a pink cardigan.... Plus, a major character (one of my favorites, in fact) does die...And while you read the death, you feel so...helpless, like you can't do anything about it, even tho you just want to jump into the book and stop it from happening! I think I really liked the book a lot until this point. Also, Harry is very very moody in this one (I mean, I didn't know wizards could have PMS, too...) Other than that, its great! Other Books you might like: Harry Potter 1-4 |
| Book Reviews |