The book that I just finished is called A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. This book is very interesting. The main character in the book is Alex. Alex lives in a society with a totalitarian, oppressive government. In this society, people are blind to the growing violence among the youth. After committing many crimes, Alex is put in prison, and is there brainwashed to become violently ill when he even thinks about being violent. This also leaves him defenseless. One day, Alex meets a man who hopes to use Alex as a way to incite outrage against the State. However, he eventually decides to attempt to make Alex commit suicide. Alex ends up becoming back to normal, and even though he is once again capable of violence, he decides that he wants to go to a normal life.
There are many themes that occur throughout this book. One theme is the idea of free will. Alex uses his free will to be violent. However, his free will is taken away because he is brainwashed. Because Alex is displayed as the "good guy" in the story, the author is arguing that people need to have their own free will and should not be controlled, even if it has negative impacts on others. Also, the author presents anarchistic ideas. In chapter four, Alex says that modern history is the story of individuals fighting the government. The author further denounces the idea of government by presenting the government as terrible and repressive by brainwashing people the way they did to Alex.
Overall, this book was very interesting and had a lot of deep meaning.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The book that I have most recently read is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This book was very good. It takes place in Nazi Germany. Liesel Meminger is adopted by a family that hides a Jew in their basement. The story follows Liesel as she faces many hardships.
The most interesting thing about this book is the perspective that the story is told through. The narrator in this book is Death. Usually, we would expect Death to love killing people. However, Death is exhausted from his eternal existence and his job. It is especially interesting that Death finds humans intriguing.
Another common theme throughout the story is books, hence the title. Although Liesel endures many hardships, she was always fond of books. Reading was her way of coping with her problems, and it is also what brings her closer to her father. Additionally, reading is what makes Liesel and Max, the Jew hiding in her basement, friends. Books are a very important part of Liesel's life and they are ultimately what save her life.
Overall, this story is very interesting and the book is overall enjoyable.
The most interesting thing about this book is the perspective that the story is told through. The narrator in this book is Death. Usually, we would expect Death to love killing people. However, Death is exhausted from his eternal existence and his job. It is especially interesting that Death finds humans intriguing.
Another common theme throughout the story is books, hence the title. Although Liesel endures many hardships, she was always fond of books. Reading was her way of coping with her problems, and it is also what brings her closer to her father. Additionally, reading is what makes Liesel and Max, the Jew hiding in her basement, friends. Books are a very important part of Liesel's life and they are ultimately what save her life.
Overall, this story is very interesting and the book is overall enjoyable.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zussak
The last book I read is I am the Messenger by Markus Zussak. I found this book to be very interesting. Ed Kennedy, the main character, receives messages of tasks he must complete from an anonymous source. He ends up helping a lot of people overcome their hardships. From the beginning, the book is immediately engaging. From the first scene, the book is very funny. All of the characters each have their own mysterious traits. For example, Marvin, one of Ed's friends, has thousands of dollars in the bank but refuses to spend a penny. Also, almost all of Ed's friends are pathetic. All they do is play cards and drink beer. However, the way that Ed's situation affects him and his friends is very interesting. Overall, this book is very enjoyable from beginning to finish.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Another book that I read recently is A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. I enjoyed this book very much.
This book is a memoir of a man who was a child during the conflicts that took place in Sierra Leone in the 80s and 90s. During this time, many of the children got caught up in the fighting that was taking place in this country. I think that the most interesting thing about this story is that it enables you to know exactly what was going on. It is one thing to hear in the news about a conflict, or to hear about how many people were killed during fighting, but this book enabled you to experiance the horrors and tragedy of war. The atrocities commited against civilians are also shocking and terrifiying.
The perspective the book takes changes when Ishmael himself becomes a soldier. As he tells about how he brutally killed people, you begin to understand how it is to be a child soldier, and the psychological effects that it has. Towards the end of the book, it becomes very uflifting and hopeful as Ishmael is able to recover from his psychological damage and brainwashing, and he moves on towards a better life.
Overall, this is an outstanding book that creates many different moods and teaches lessons of how hard war is, on soldiers and civilians.
This book is a memoir of a man who was a child during the conflicts that took place in Sierra Leone in the 80s and 90s. During this time, many of the children got caught up in the fighting that was taking place in this country. I think that the most interesting thing about this story is that it enables you to know exactly what was going on. It is one thing to hear in the news about a conflict, or to hear about how many people were killed during fighting, but this book enabled you to experiance the horrors and tragedy of war. The atrocities commited against civilians are also shocking and terrifiying.
The perspective the book takes changes when Ishmael himself becomes a soldier. As he tells about how he brutally killed people, you begin to understand how it is to be a child soldier, and the psychological effects that it has. Towards the end of the book, it becomes very uflifting and hopeful as Ishmael is able to recover from his psychological damage and brainwashing, and he moves on towards a better life.
Overall, this is an outstanding book that creates many different moods and teaches lessons of how hard war is, on soldiers and civilians.
Cujo by Stephen King
One book that I read recentely is Cujo by Stephen King. This book is about a huge dog named Cujo who becomes rabid and begins attacking people.
Overall, I was not very happy with this book. I found that although there was supposed to be action in the plot, the story actually moved very slowly. The first half of the book was especially slow, with tons of boring, irrelevant detail that did not add to the story at all. However, there were some things that were good about this book. For example, one thing that was interesting was the point of view. Sometimes, the story was told through Cujo, the dog, and other times it was told through one of the other characters. This gives a very interesting perspective into the story. Also, the characters are realistic and the way they react to situations seems believable, unlike many other stories with action in them. Overall, Cujo was not a very engaging book, but it did conatin a few interesting elements.
Overall, I was not very happy with this book. I found that although there was supposed to be action in the plot, the story actually moved very slowly. The first half of the book was especially slow, with tons of boring, irrelevant detail that did not add to the story at all. However, there were some things that were good about this book. For example, one thing that was interesting was the point of view. Sometimes, the story was told through Cujo, the dog, and other times it was told through one of the other characters. This gives a very interesting perspective into the story. Also, the characters are realistic and the way they react to situations seems believable, unlike many other stories with action in them. Overall, Cujo was not a very engaging book, but it did conatin a few interesting elements.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
The last book that I read is Patriot Games by Tom Clancy. This book is about an American, Jack Ryan, who travels to England and ends up saving the Prince and Princess of Wales from a terrorist attack by an Irish terrorist group. After this, he gets caught up in the affairs of the terrorist group, and he and his family are attacked.
I found this book very interesting. The plot was very fast-moving and it had a lot of action. It also was very interesting to see how Jack reacted during certain situations. Overall, this book was a lot of fun to read.
I found this book very interesting. The plot was very fast-moving and it had a lot of action. It also was very interesting to see how Jack reacted during certain situations. Overall, this book was a lot of fun to read.
Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
The book that I read is called Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King. This is a fantasy story. The story is told from the perspective of a narerator. In the book, there is a wizard named Flagg. Flagg tries to gain power in the kingdom of Delain. In order to do so, he has the Queen murdered, the King poisoned, and the oldest son framed for poisoning the king. The younger son, Thomas, then becomes king. However, he saw Flagg poisoning the King by watching through the eyes of a dragon statue. Eventually, Peter, the older son, escapes from prison, and tries to kill Flagg with the help of Thomas, who admitted that he saw Flagg poison the king. Flagg then escapes, and at the end of the story, Thomas and a few others find Flagg but the outcome is not told.
I found this book very boring. The plot was very slow and very predictable. The characters also seemed very boring and not well-developed. Overall, I was not happy with this book.
I found this book very boring. The plot was very slow and very predictable. The characters also seemed very boring and not well-developed. Overall, I was not happy with this book.
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