This is the second book in the Hunger Games Series. In this book we again follow Katniss through her struggles just to have a normal life. She has won the Hunger Games and no longer has to work just to feed her family. She and Peeta have been given homes and anything else they could want for having won the games. The catch is that the Capitol is pissed these two won. Normally in the Hunger Games, much like in Highlander, there can be only one. Katniss and Peeta have cheated the Capital.
As a result they end up having to go back to the Hunger Games. This time they are going up against people who have all won previously. This is something the call the Quarterly Quell where there are new rules for the Hunger Games every 25 years. This year it so happens that the people chosen to go to the games have to be from the winner pool. This means there are so seriously people to seriously crazy people in the competition. Without ruining anything for anyone I will say that these preparations for the Games are more interesting than the first book. I will also say I liked the character development in this book better than in the first.
There is an interesting twist of events at the end of the book that I didn't really see coming, well at least not the way that it did. I don't want to have any spoilers here so I will just say you may want to have the third book handy when you read this one as it ends on a cliffhanger.
I recommend this book for anyone who has read the first. I would not recommend this for young children as there are definitely some mature themes what with all the death of the Games and all. I would also recommend this book to fellow Political Science majors or anyone interested in fear tactics that governments use.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone By JK Rowling
This is the first entry in my Harry Potter Read along with my good friend Crystal. I am looking forward to reading what everyone else thought of the books.
I have read the Harry Potter series a few times now. I have in the past skipped the first two books if I reread the series. This first book isn't really a magical read for me. I can understand the appeal that it has for children. It is a simple yet complex story which leads to vivid imagery if you aren't hindered at painting the picture yourself (which most children are not and most adults struggle with). There is a lot of background information in this book so it is important to read for the sake of understanding everything but I don't think I really enjoy it. It is like reliving the awkward years of childhood all over again. It made me want to straighten my bushy hair and hide my big teeth.
Harry starts off as a kid who tries to stay as invisible as possible while on Privet Drive. As soon as Harry hits the wizarding world he suddenly has a voice. He stands up for himself against bullies. He sticks his nose into things that don't concern him. The thing this story lacks for me is a motivation. Why is Harry suddenly so out spoken? Why the sudden change in behavior? I get that Harry loved Hogwarts, but does a sense of home lead to reckless abandon for who you were ten minutes ago?
The quidditch section of this book is boring to me and I try to just move past it as quickly as possible. I understand the appeal, it just isn't my deal to read the description of a sports match. Sure I can dig sitting in Yankee Stadium with a hot dog and a beer surrounded by friends. I am definitely not one of those people who sits at home next to the radio listening to a game. I am more of a Wait Wait Don't Tell Me kind of listener.
The strongest theme in these books is love. Be it love for your friends who you would risk dangerous situations to help. Sometimes it is the love of family, as seen with the Weasley bunch. Over all it is the wish of love that we see with Harry. More than anything in the world Harry wants and need love. I dig a story that teaches children loyalty and love.
All in all this is definitely a book meant for children. I would suggest it to parents struggling to get their own child to read. I would suggest it to those interested in understanding the Harry Potter movies a little better (as I think they leave much to be desired). I would also suggest this as a light read for anyone wanting a little fantasy that isn't has heavy as other fantasy books. For instance, JK Rowling does not create a language in these books. :)
I have read the Harry Potter series a few times now. I have in the past skipped the first two books if I reread the series. This first book isn't really a magical read for me. I can understand the appeal that it has for children. It is a simple yet complex story which leads to vivid imagery if you aren't hindered at painting the picture yourself (which most children are not and most adults struggle with). There is a lot of background information in this book so it is important to read for the sake of understanding everything but I don't think I really enjoy it. It is like reliving the awkward years of childhood all over again. It made me want to straighten my bushy hair and hide my big teeth.
Harry starts off as a kid who tries to stay as invisible as possible while on Privet Drive. As soon as Harry hits the wizarding world he suddenly has a voice. He stands up for himself against bullies. He sticks his nose into things that don't concern him. The thing this story lacks for me is a motivation. Why is Harry suddenly so out spoken? Why the sudden change in behavior? I get that Harry loved Hogwarts, but does a sense of home lead to reckless abandon for who you were ten minutes ago?
The quidditch section of this book is boring to me and I try to just move past it as quickly as possible. I understand the appeal, it just isn't my deal to read the description of a sports match. Sure I can dig sitting in Yankee Stadium with a hot dog and a beer surrounded by friends. I am definitely not one of those people who sits at home next to the radio listening to a game. I am more of a Wait Wait Don't Tell Me kind of listener.
The strongest theme in these books is love. Be it love for your friends who you would risk dangerous situations to help. Sometimes it is the love of family, as seen with the Weasley bunch. Over all it is the wish of love that we see with Harry. More than anything in the world Harry wants and need love. I dig a story that teaches children loyalty and love.
All in all this is definitely a book meant for children. I would suggest it to parents struggling to get their own child to read. I would suggest it to those interested in understanding the Harry Potter movies a little better (as I think they leave much to be desired). I would also suggest this as a light read for anyone wanting a little fantasy that isn't has heavy as other fantasy books. For instance, JK Rowling does not create a language in these books. :)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Help By Kathryn Stockett
I finished this book a few hours ago. It is the story of three women set in Mississippi in the 1960's. One women is a white recent college graduate while the other two are black maids. Yesterday, was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I was living in New Jersey going to elementary school the first time I heard the "I have a dream..." speech. It gave me goose bumps then and it gives me goose bumps now. That speech gave me hope for the future of race relations. I have hope for sexual equality. I have hope that inequality is something that is covered in history books, not felt in day to day life. I know that I am an idealist. I know I will suffer with my disappointment when what I wish doesn't happen. But I can hope. As a little girl growing up first in Draper, Utah then in Flanders, New Jersey, then back to South Jordan, Utah you would think that I was somewhat sheltered against racism. I did after all grow up in the 80's and 90's, not the 50's or 60's. I remember some kid at school calling me a spic and I had no idea what that was, let alone that it was a racial slur. I was in the 1st grade when this happened to me. It was the first time, but certainly not the last time someone said that to me.
I am confrontational to say it nicely. My friends all agree that they love when I am a bitch to people when they deserve it but hate with when I aim it at them. I am not afraid to tell people exactly what I think of them and whatever it is they are doing in front of me. I related to the character Minny more than the others in The Help, because she too couldn't help herself. She would tell people exactly what she thought of them. She would also lash out at people when they deserved it. I have a hot temper just like her. In the story Minny has a harder time than most maids as she is confrontational. She gets fired a lot for her mouth. She is also a really sweet woman and would do anything to protect the people she loves most. I could also relate to that level of loyalty.
Miss Skeeter isn't someone I could relate with at first. She was just another spoiled rich white girl from the south in the beginning of this book. She like an onion needed her layers peeled back. Her Mother was over bearing and overly critical and I had a hard time with this dynamic. My own Mother can be somewhat out spoken but has never intentionally made me feel bad about myself like Skeeter's Mother does consistently through out the book. Miss Skeeter comes up with the idea to write a book. She decides she wants to write the black maid's perspective on domestic life. She obviously had no idea what she was getting herself into when she started the project but by the end I think it made her a stronger person.
The character of Aibileen has the strongest voice in the book. We see her struggle with raising yet another white baby. We see her love a child that is not her own, knowing that one day that child will flip a switch in her head and start seeing Aibileen as less than. We see Aibileen show great courage in being the fist woman to record her stories for Miss Skeeter. Aibileen works for Miss Skeeter's close friend so it is difficult for them both to talk about the way Aibileen is treated.
The way these three very different women come together and share their lives with one another isn't a new story. I would say that over all this story has been told in different forms many times. I am not saying I didn't enjoy this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I did like that the two black maids had more of a voice in this book than the one white character. In that way it was different from other books that I have read. I didn't struggle too much with the dialect in which this book is written. I took a Diversity in American Literature class which had reading selections much more difficult and thick with dialect. I only mention it because I wasn't prepared for it when I picked the book up to start reading it. I generally prefer to know before hand if a book is written in a dialect. I tend to have to concentrate a little more on the reading when this is the case. I started this book a while ago but had to put it down until I had more time I could devote to it.
I would recommend this book to any one interested in race relations, female bonding, the south, and or a different view of American History. I would not say that anyone not at least a teen should read this book, as there are some graphic parts to it and some of the language is a bit harsh. I had a friend tell me they were thinking of reading it to their 6 year old. I don't think that would be a good idea.
I am confrontational to say it nicely. My friends all agree that they love when I am a bitch to people when they deserve it but hate with when I aim it at them. I am not afraid to tell people exactly what I think of them and whatever it is they are doing in front of me. I related to the character Minny more than the others in The Help, because she too couldn't help herself. She would tell people exactly what she thought of them. She would also lash out at people when they deserved it. I have a hot temper just like her. In the story Minny has a harder time than most maids as she is confrontational. She gets fired a lot for her mouth. She is also a really sweet woman and would do anything to protect the people she loves most. I could also relate to that level of loyalty.
Miss Skeeter isn't someone I could relate with at first. She was just another spoiled rich white girl from the south in the beginning of this book. She like an onion needed her layers peeled back. Her Mother was over bearing and overly critical and I had a hard time with this dynamic. My own Mother can be somewhat out spoken but has never intentionally made me feel bad about myself like Skeeter's Mother does consistently through out the book. Miss Skeeter comes up with the idea to write a book. She decides she wants to write the black maid's perspective on domestic life. She obviously had no idea what she was getting herself into when she started the project but by the end I think it made her a stronger person.
The character of Aibileen has the strongest voice in the book. We see her struggle with raising yet another white baby. We see her love a child that is not her own, knowing that one day that child will flip a switch in her head and start seeing Aibileen as less than. We see Aibileen show great courage in being the fist woman to record her stories for Miss Skeeter. Aibileen works for Miss Skeeter's close friend so it is difficult for them both to talk about the way Aibileen is treated.
The way these three very different women come together and share their lives with one another isn't a new story. I would say that over all this story has been told in different forms many times. I am not saying I didn't enjoy this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I did like that the two black maids had more of a voice in this book than the one white character. In that way it was different from other books that I have read. I didn't struggle too much with the dialect in which this book is written. I took a Diversity in American Literature class which had reading selections much more difficult and thick with dialect. I only mention it because I wasn't prepared for it when I picked the book up to start reading it. I generally prefer to know before hand if a book is written in a dialect. I tend to have to concentrate a little more on the reading when this is the case. I started this book a while ago but had to put it down until I had more time I could devote to it.
I would recommend this book to any one interested in race relations, female bonding, the south, and or a different view of American History. I would not say that anyone not at least a teen should read this book, as there are some graphic parts to it and some of the language is a bit harsh. I had a friend tell me they were thinking of reading it to their 6 year old. I don't think that would be a good idea.
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Point....
I have started this blog because I read way too much. I am often asked for book suggestions and of course my mind inevitably goes blank. Also, my friend who is an avid reader/ blogger (http://www.dorolerium.com/) is having a Harry Potter read along. I will be joining in on the fun of reading a long so once a month expect some Harry Potterness! In between those I will be posting about what I am currently reading and books I have previously read and loved. I will try really hard to not be one of those "blogger douches" who thinks their opinion is superior to all others. The fact that I am blogging indicates that I at least have this tendency in my soul, but I will try to keep it to a minimum.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Originally, when I heard about this book, I had no intention of reading it. I was told it was a teen romance series. After reading Twilight I didn't really feel like going back into the teen lit world. However, a former classmate of mine convinced me to give it a read. I am glad that she gave me the incentive to read this book.
The story starts off with introducing us to Katniss. She is 16 but wise beyond her years with having to take care of her family. She is a little bit on the stereotypical "my life is hard, so I am hard" side of character building. I would also say that our main character is inconsistently bright and dense. She can figure out how to feed her family when needed but can't pick up on the signs of a boy liking her.
I am a Political Science major so the politics of the Capital versus the Districts is fascinating to me. The Capital is a totalitarian state. The Districts 1-12 serve the Capital. Most of the people of the Districts are treated little better than slaves. The name of the book comes from a yearly event the Capital forces on the districts. From each district one male and one female child have to be offered up via lottery drawing to go to the Hunger Games. Once in the games the goal is to be the last one living. So basically 23 children have to die every year to satisfy the Capital and to remind the districts that they don't have the power to question the government.
Katniss is the female going to the games from her district. The teen romance drama which I thought this book would be more about is between Katniss and Peeta, the male selected to go to the games from her district. Their interactions before the Games and during are interesting to me from the stand point of what people will do to survive. I don't know that I would have it in me to fight anywhere near as hard as others to survive. I don't mean that in a self loathing way, I just mean that I don't think I could kill others just so I could live. The implications of your quality of life if you do live are profound, could you live with knowing you killed someone?
The dynamic between the districts and the Capital made me do a lot of thinking. Is this the way things would be if the United States took a nose dive? It was an interesting read and I would recommend it to teens, those with political science tendencies, and anyone looking for an easy read with heavy subject matter. I will say that some of the material can lead to pretty intense imagery if your imagination is at all like mine. I would say that this book is pretty well written, but has some shaky bits to it that have to be over looked to fully enjoy it.
The story starts off with introducing us to Katniss. She is 16 but wise beyond her years with having to take care of her family. She is a little bit on the stereotypical "my life is hard, so I am hard" side of character building. I would also say that our main character is inconsistently bright and dense. She can figure out how to feed her family when needed but can't pick up on the signs of a boy liking her.
I am a Political Science major so the politics of the Capital versus the Districts is fascinating to me. The Capital is a totalitarian state. The Districts 1-12 serve the Capital. Most of the people of the Districts are treated little better than slaves. The name of the book comes from a yearly event the Capital forces on the districts. From each district one male and one female child have to be offered up via lottery drawing to go to the Hunger Games. Once in the games the goal is to be the last one living. So basically 23 children have to die every year to satisfy the Capital and to remind the districts that they don't have the power to question the government.
Katniss is the female going to the games from her district. The teen romance drama which I thought this book would be more about is between Katniss and Peeta, the male selected to go to the games from her district. Their interactions before the Games and during are interesting to me from the stand point of what people will do to survive. I don't know that I would have it in me to fight anywhere near as hard as others to survive. I don't mean that in a self loathing way, I just mean that I don't think I could kill others just so I could live. The implications of your quality of life if you do live are profound, could you live with knowing you killed someone?
The dynamic between the districts and the Capital made me do a lot of thinking. Is this the way things would be if the United States took a nose dive? It was an interesting read and I would recommend it to teens, those with political science tendencies, and anyone looking for an easy read with heavy subject matter. I will say that some of the material can lead to pretty intense imagery if your imagination is at all like mine. I would say that this book is pretty well written, but has some shaky bits to it that have to be over looked to fully enjoy it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)