Naturally, I waited years for this book to come out, and it did not disappoint. I loved how we switched between Roran and Eragon's viewpoints. I thougNaturally, I waited years for this book to come out, and it did not disappoint. I loved how we switched between Roran and Eragon's viewpoints. I thought the plot development was interesting and kept even me on my toes. I cannot wait to read the last one. ...more
This book started my whole affair with Michael Crichton. I loved the fiction aspect and that he always did so much research to make his books even betThis book started my whole affair with Michael Crichton. I loved the fiction aspect and that he always did so much research to make his books even better. I knew some of the science he was refencing, so once he started talking about some I didn't know, I trusted him. The bond he created with his reader made the novel even better. Its definitely very different from his newer works, but I think Timeline is a great book. He made me want to become an archeologist. ...more
I loved this book. I loved the darkness, the cryptic imagry, the old language that made me work for every line. I loved how captivated I was and how iI loved this book. I loved the darkness, the cryptic imagry, the old language that made me work for every line. I loved how captivated I was and how it felt like a relic in my hands. The desciption is perfect and the plot twists and weaves amazingly. ...more
This is definitely a children's story, but I read it as a child so I was entirely appeased. I felt that Artemis was so brilliant and captivating, thouThis is definitely a children's story, but I read it as a child so I was entirely appeased. I felt that Artemis was so brilliant and captivating, though I didnt entirely love him until closer to the end of the book. He definitely develops a lot, though many of the characters, not so much. I was impressed at how ruthless and childish Colfer was able to make Artemis, but I think it would have been better to stop the series about three book ago. ...more
Reading this book was definitely a commitment. For me, it wasn't one of those book you start and spend all your free time thinking about, but when I wReading this book was definitely a commitment. For me, it wasn't one of those book you start and spend all your free time thinking about, but when I was reading it, I loved it. Tolkien has such skill in developing his characters and making them so real. He's able to discuss serious moments in the novel as well as have lighthearted exchanges. None of his charcters are as simple as they may first appear. Definitely worth the effort. ...more
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City is a somewhat sporadic novel. Flynn jumps from one time to another with little to no transitions; this is more andAnother Bullshit Night in Suck City is a somewhat sporadic novel. Flynn jumps from one time to another with little to no transitions; this is more and more present as you progress in the book. This is a memoir about a man who does not know his father until he meets him at the homeless shelter where he works, and his father is now a client. A large portion of the memoir is dedicated to him understanding the new found relationship; it kind of made me feel like a psychiatrist. In all honesty, I highly doubt I would have finished the book had it not been a portion of an assignment. I did enjoy the outside factors of the book, the quotes from other sources and ramblings about historical or fictional occurrences; I felt these were able to add to the novel and explain Flynn’s opinions without being so obvious as to discuss the exact point. Particularly the recurring focus on Noah showed Flynn’s concerns about his own life and relationship with his father. I also thought these were helpful in making comparisons: he was not the only man to see his father crazy and naked. I think a major reason I may not have enjoyed the novel was that it was a memoir and written by a poet. I do not enjoy poetry; I think that it is too vague and never completely concludes. I often find that poets ramble about a side item that can, but may not, relate to the issue at hand. This was all very apparent to me as I read Another Bullshit Night in Suck City. Each chapter seems to be viewed as a miniature story instead of a piece to the whole, much like a compilation of poems, so there seemed to be no need to maintain any fluidity throughout the novel. For much of it, I was unclear as to when in the story we were. However, once Flynn did focus on one topic, the point was executed beautifully. He has a mastery with words that comes to few but poets, but did not consistently transfer into prose. I am still on the fence about how I feel towards his frequent use of incomplete sentences. At times it was very beneficial, but it seemed to happen too much. At one point, an entire chapter is just clips and phrases of his passage through the night; this was effective in explaining how he seemed to have no control over himself or what was happening at the time, but it also made me feel as though I was in a vortex and I nearly became physically ill. As I said, my primary issue with the novel was it being a memoir. I enjoy prose because everything happens for a very specific reason, characters develop the way you want them to, the ending contains closure or is thought provoking. This is not the way real life is, and, as a result, is not how memoirs are. There was no wrap up, no satisfaction; it just seemed to stop. One second, I was reading a chapter per usual; I turn the page, and nothing. Oh. I suppose I’m done now. The only joy I got from reaching the end was knowing I could stop. If you can handle poetry and real life, it’s a great book, but that’s not why I read, so it just wasn’t for me. ...more
Rating the series is hard, mostly because I loved and hated it at the same time. I loved books 1-12, the way Snicket joked, forshadowed, and defined wRating the series is hard, mostly because I loved and hated it at the same time. I loved books 1-12, the way Snicket joked, forshadowed, and defined words. I felt like I was having lunch with him and it was going great. Then he got up and left. The last book just fell flat for me. I wanted all the answers; I spent years wondering, reading, and waiting for them, I thought I deserved some. Apparently, I was wrong. Either everything I wanted to know was hidden in the series and I just wasn't smart enough to find it all, or the one sentence summary of book 13 is: "You will neve know everything about everything, so you might as well stop trying now." I was so disappointed to have loved the series and then be so disappointed by the end. I felt cheated by someone I had come to trust. I would, however, love to write like Snicket....more
I liked it. Obviously there is a lot of controversy surrounding this story, but the premise was really interesting. Who else didn't start to wonder whI liked it. Obviously there is a lot of controversy surrounding this story, but the premise was really interesting. Who else didn't start to wonder why the wicked witch was so evil? I think a lot of the details of the story were subtle, causing some people to miss them. I did seem to daze out for a large section after they left shiz. Another reason people may not have like it is the musical, after having seen it and then noticing the differences could have been upsetting. I liked Maguire's ability to make someone we all grew up fearing and hating so personal, and now my favorite character. The Wizard of Oz is now a tragedy about a misunderstood woman who got a bad lot in life and overreacted. ...more
Never ever ever. Never read this unless forced, which considering it was somehow mistakenly identified as a "classic", you will one day be forced to dNever ever ever. Never read this unless forced, which considering it was somehow mistakenly identified as a "classic", you will one day be forced to do. I hated every character in the entire play, save one. The main character is a travelling salesman, on the edge of emotionally abusive to his son, and he cheats on his wife, a fact that in and of itself is impressive considering he was able to obtain a wife AND mistress considering his personality. Cheery, eh? It gets better. He's also suicidal. His son becomes aware of the situation, and it ruins his life, causing his parents to essentially hate him because they see him as a failure. Good job, dad. We find out towards the end that the mother is actually aware of all this but is so weak-willed that she just decides to ignore it. The only character I had anything but disdain towards was the son whose life was ruined. The other son was only a cookie cutter image of what he knew his parents wanted, at least Biff had fun and knew something about himself and what he liked. Though I hated every second, I must give credit to Arthur Miller, the ability to incite such emotion is a sign of good writing, though I would suggest you not make all your readers hate you; it doesn't bode well for any future writings. ...more
I loved this book. The idea is so captivating, people willing to have their brains rewired in order to fix it. It's basically science fiction meets teI loved this book. The idea is so captivating, people willing to have their brains rewired in order to fix it. It's basically science fiction meets teenage mentality and beautifully written. Scott Westerfeld is excellent at captivating his reader. I could not put it down. I love the what he does with the plot throughout the series. ...more
The Signal was not what I expected. It’s a novel about a man who has lost everything in his life and wants to fix it, but does not entirely seem to b The Signal was not what I expected. It’s a novel about a man who has lost everything in his life and wants to fix it, but does not entirely seem to be able. The book is broken into the six days he spends with his ex-wife on a camping trip, but includes flashbacks frequently enough for the reader to understand the motivations and feelings of the main character, Mack. This gives the reader a full understanding of Mack and makes him a rounded character. Throughout the book, Mack is trying to fix his life and rekindle his relationship with his ex-wife, Vonnie, while also attempting to respect her newfound relationship. Carlson does a really good job going through Mack’s past and explaining, slowly but surely, what happened to Mack, from how he met Vonnie, to when his life went off track, and how he felt trying to get it back together. All this background and explanation gives the reader a clear understanding of the characters, but takes a long time to get through. The action in the book doesn’t start until day four of six. This is when the two of them run into some poachers, almost literally. This is when the pace picks up and the drama really sets in. Before this point, everything is about explaining the past. The title, the Signal, refers to a job that Mack is doing for a questionable man, Yarnell. Yarnell has lost a valuable piece of equipment in the mountains and has asked Mack to go into the mountains to search for the signal the equipment gives off and ultimately bring the machinery back. I found this title pertinent to the book because Carlson does refer to it through the novel as Mack checks his device to try and find the missing machinery, but it seems to take a backseat for the entire story. Even when Mack is actually at the crash site, digging through broken pieces of equipment and discovers the dead body of his friend, I wasn’t concerned with the signal at all, because at this point the poachers were chasing Mack and he was trying to reach Vonnie. In fact, he may still have been in the mountains with Vonnie even if Yarnell had never contacted Mack. This was a trip that they had taken every year for the past decade. It seemed to me the book could be more aptly named. The first half of the novel, and to some extent that second half as well, is extremely depressing. Everything that Mack said or did made me sad; he is going through a difficult time in his life, having just quit being an alcoholic and getting out of the drug game. This made even his happy memories sad, especially after the reader learns how close he was to his father and how distraught he was when his father died. The first two days I spent reading this book, I lived semi-comatose, wandering my apartment and campus feeling depressed about events that never happened to me and a character that never existed. This shows great ability on the author’s part because inciting emotion in the reader is a sign of a well written piece, but that fact did not make me any happier about my predicament. Overall, my opinion of the book is a positive one. I felt that it was slow to begin but contained an interesting and realistic story that really picked up in the last third of the book. ...more
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