Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Dear Readers,

I finally finished another book! For some reason I have been reading but not finishing books. I will start one and them someone will hand me another book to read. My locker buddy Jacob handed me this book and told me I had to read it. I was up for it so I took and started it that. It took me a little longer then I would have liked, but the book was amazing. If you have not read Ender's Game you must!! This book beats out so many other books I have read. It has a sort of Lord of the Flies fell because it explores the depths of the human mind and what humans are willing to do for their own survival. But it is so much better then Lord of the Flies.
The genre is Science-Fiction. If you have not read a Science-Fiction this is the one you should start with. It is futuristic, but easy to relate to. There are aliens, spaceships, other worlds, and futuristic weapons. But there is so much more to the book. So much more meaning then just defeating an alien race of buggers.
The book starts out by introducing the main character Ender Wiggin. Ender is an unusual little boy. He has had a monitor on the back of his neck from birth. His every move has been monitored since birth. Not only is he monitored is third child in a time when a family is only allowed two children. Ender is continually taunted by the boys at school and by his older brother Peter. All he wants to do is get away. Finally his answer comes in an invitation to come to Battle School.
Battle School is a place where the take the best and brightest kids from earth to train them to fight the Buggers. Buggers are an alien race the 70 years before attacked the earth. The humans are still angry and ready to get back at the buggers. Ender was raised to believe that buggers are evil and they must die. In Battle School Ender learns much more then just how to fight buggers.
I will not tell you more of the plot because I absolutely do not want to spoil to ending for you. It is an amazing ending. I may dare say one of the best I have read.
The other reason I love this book besides the riveting plot I mentioned earlier. Maybe I am reading to much into it, but I found tons of meaning in this book. The book starts when Ender is 6 and follows him to age until about age 11. What Ender does at a such a young age is almost scary. Peter and Valentine his siblings are almost as horrifying. The Wiggin family defies the stereotypical view of age. As children they accomplish much more then some people accomplish in a lifetime. Not everything the accomplish is exactly good. Peter is made out to be the evil sibling, Valentine the kind, sweet, and sensible sibling, and Ender the in between. But as you see the world threw Ender's eyes you wonder if he tips to one side of the scale. The comparison between good evil is very blatant. As Ender is pushed to his extreme, the reader is able to see what a human is capable of at even such a young age.
At the end all I could say was wow. I loved it, and so will you. So just read it. I can not guarantee that I will read the rest of the books that Orson Scott Card has written about Ender, but I am glad that I read this one.
Read On!!
Lindsey

The Winter Girls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Dear Readers,

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Laurie Halse Anderson is a good author. She has written many other book that I love. Fever 1793 was one of my favorite books as a young girl. But this book was not one of her best. Her historical fiction is superb so good that I would read it over and over again. Wintergirls had a different vibe. I would call it a whinny girl vibe.
Wintergirls is about Lia, a teenage girls struggling with anorexia. The book is her struggle to survive while fighting a horrible body image. Anorexia simply put is not fun. And reading about it is not fun either. So this book is not a fun read. It is actually quite depressing. If you want to be thoroughly depressed read this book. There are a few things about this book I do like though. It is hard to relate to because I have never had anorexia, but there are some parts that every teen girl can relate to.
First reason why I like this book, the ending. Through out the book it is whinny. Me Me Me Me Me. That's basically all the book is about. Lia saying I am not pretty. I am not skinny. I am not perfect. I I I I I I I. But in the end Lia sees that she has to live for other people. That life is not all about her. Her actions have reactions. (Sorry here is a spoiler alert.) She permanently scares her little sister, Emma, when she is found in the bathroom trying to kill herself. Emma will never recover from seeing her beloved sister cut open. After she realizes she hurts Emma so bad Lia decides to change the way she is living. She is not hurting only herself by not eating.
Like I said almost every teenage girl can relate to feeling bad about her body. I would be lying big time if I said that I have never looked in the mirror and hated what I saw. We all do it, but most of us have found ways to cope with it. We read, we run, we bake, we find something to pour our hurt into. It is so sad that there are you girls and guys out there that feel so bad about their body that they can not find an outlet. You may not be perfect, but you need to love yourself. Everyone needs to remember that they are made the way they are for a reason. You are the perfect you, and don't change.
Well I did the think the book had an over all good meaning. The end made me so happy I wanted to cry for joy. The fact that this is relatable is sad but so true. But after all of that this book would not be one that I recommend. It is depressing. It is sad. It is just not fun to read. So Laurie You adressed the subject well, but I did not like it.
So read on, just don't be depressed.
Lindsey

The Bride's Farewell by Meg Rosoff

Dear Readers,

      I believe I have mentioned in the past that I am part of a organization at school called The Battle of The Books. This is probably the best extracurricular activity I have been in while at high school. Well, my team this year was super awesome and made it past the first online test onto a second oral test. We got 7th in the state out of about 90 schools that took it. So not to be cocky, but we are awesome. Since we get to take another test we are reading some of the books twice just so we know what happened. One of my friends has already read this one, but we are doubling up. So without any more of my explanation why I read the book I will tell you how I felt about The Bride's Farewell by Meg Rosoff.

      Let me start out with a brief overview of the plot. The Bride's Farewell is the story of Pell. A young woman who lives in England. She was promised to be married to a boy she had known all her life, Birdie. The night before her wedding she ran off to find something different from life then a dull, boring marriage. Pell from a very young age had been able to work almost magic with horses. She runs off with her horse Jack and her younger brother Bean, in search of an exciting life. On this search her life repeatedly changes. Once she feels comfortable and fine in her surroundings something happens and she has to move again. The book is just the twist and turns of her life, from losing everything to finding an almost happy ending.
      The plot of this book made it a very quick read. Pell's story was very intriguing. It was hard to put the book down. Although the plot turns made it interesting, they were not my favorite. The story never seemed to stay the same for more then twenty pages. Also Pell to seemed changed every twenty pages. She only ever had to goals in mind. Find her brother and find her horse. Everything else that came her way on the journey didn't seem to phase her. At the beginning of the book it seems that she felt no remorse for leaving her family and fiance on the night before her wedding. It also seems that she feels no remorse for any of the people she hurts on her journey. She enconters so many new faces that the book is just a parade of new people.
      These new people, though somehow connnect. It's almost like a big game of Dutch Bingo across the English country side. This was the thing I liked most about the book. It was fun to see in which ways all of the characters were connected. There were some many under stories of the people that Pell met. She would meet one person who would tell her about a relative in another village that may be able to help her. Once there she would stay for a while, then leave then come across something or someone else. The relationships of the characters are what made this book so interesting.
       Overall I liked the book. I did not like some of the things the main character did, and I did not like some of the things the author decided to put in the book. But it wasn't awful. I was just another book, another story. Not the most memorable, but not completely forgetable. I would recomend this book if you like interesting plots, or horses, or a quick read.
 I would like to thank Meg Rosoff for taking me to the English countryside for a few afternoons.
Lindsey

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Dear Readers,

Hooray! I recently started a book club at my school. A couple of friends of mine, a wonderful English teach, and I are included in the group. Our first book to read was The Great Gatsby. I really can't tell you why we chose this book. I pushed it because I bought a copy of it at a used book store and I wanted an opportunity to stop everything and read it. And reading it for a book club was the perfect excuse.
Going in this book I really didn't have a clue what it was about. I had a vague idea. I knew that it was about the 1920's, but beyond the time period I had no idea. Let me just say I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Actually I was more than pleasantly surprised, I was on the verge of love.
I could not put this book down. It was almost impossible to stop reading and go to work today. You are sucked into the story right from the beginning. The narrator of the story Nick Carraway sort of confused me at the beginning, but as you read you develop a relationship with him. His eyes are the ones through which you get the experience the man Gatsby.
Gatsby is a very devoted character. He seems to go whole-heartily into whatever he is doing. On top of his devotion Gatsby is very hospitable. He throws parties every weekend and just about everyone is invited. I am not going to lie though. I thought that Gatsby would be older and more wise, which would makes sense with his title Great. But really he is just a youngun' at the age of 30. And he definitely not without his flaws.
Gatsby is living in the past. He fills his time worrying about what he didn't get that he cannot see what he has. By writing about Gatsby Mr. Fitzgerald was trying to show us what living in the past can do to a person.
One thing I realized about this book is that you really can't like any of the characters. They all have one thing that just turns you off. Even that narrator, Nick, isn't very likable. Nick just goes long with whatever. He allows these people to get him involved in their lives, but he's really not there. It hard to describe, but when you read it you will understand. Nick doesn't really care about any of the people he calls friends. He knew Gatsby for all of three months and only ever gave him one complement. I hardly call that friendship. When he learns about Tom Buchanan's cheating he doesn't feel the need to tell Tom's wife, Daisy, and Daisy is related to Nick. Nick has a facade of caring but underneath he is just observing these people living without really caring about what happens to them in the end.
Tom and Daisy are both characters after what makes them feel best and what is easiest at the time. Tom has an affair because he wants to. Daisy marries Tom because he is rich and available, and she doesn't want to wait for Gatsby to come back. They both just sort of irritate me.
I love the book, but somehow I hate everyone in it. Weird... But somehow it works. Read it and you will understand.
Lindsey

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Dear Readers,

    I finally read it! My friend has been telling me all year that I need to read the Lord of the Rings series, and I have started. I read The Hobbit. It was actually an amazing book. I was expecting something a little dry and a little boring, but it turned out to be an exciting book full of life and wit. The writing style is so conversational. It is like Tolkien is sitting with kindly explaining this story to you. There are little phrases and things he says that just make me smile. Here is my favorite quote.
"He was in a dark tunnel floating in icy water, all alone- for you cannot count friends that are all packed in barrels."
     This quote and others like it are what make me like this book so much. All of the little quirky things Tolkien mentions makes me want to read it again.
     Not only is the writing style amazing the plot is fantastic. This story is just a story, which is one of the things that makes it awesome. Tolkien was writing a story for the sake of entertainment, and that is exactly what he did with this book. From the beginning you are instantly draw in to Bilbo Baggin's story. It starts out with a normal day for him flipped upside down when offered a chance to go on a quest with thirteen dwarfs. 

     His quest takes interesting twists and turns as they toil threw the mountains, forest, and rivers on their way to their goal. There is never an uninteresting moment in this story. Bilbo gets the gang out of trouble and then right back into trouble a couple minutes later.

     I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I personally love fantasy, but even someone who does not love the genre as much as I do will love this book. It's more then just a fantasy novel. It is a story that will stick to your heart. It conveys a message of courage and strength.

     Let me leave with a quote from the novel that I found to be extremely true.

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

So my friends enjoy life, good books, good food, and good times.

Lindsey

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Dear Readers,

All I can say is wow. Wow. WOW! How can a book be this good? And how can the unabridged version be so good? Is it even possible.
I am sad to admit that I did not pick up this book on my own. I had to read Les Miserables for a class, but this book turned into much more than just assigned reading. I honestly don't know why I haven't read this book before. I can't believe that it never crossed my mind to read this book. I am kicking myself for that. But I have now read and it and life will never be the same.
I know that sounds extreme, but if you have experienced the miracle that is Les Miserables than you understand what I mean. How can a convict a person, who is turned away by everyone be such a good person? How can this man who is a saint be condemned for something as simple as stealing bread? Why was this allowed to happen?
This book brings up so many questions about society and humanity. But before my discussion of the themes let me give you a brief overview of the plot.
A man named Jean Valjean is arrested for stealing a loaf of bread. He spends almost 20 years in prison. After he gets out he is discriminated against because he is a convict. The rest of the book is his life story and how he changes his life after experiencing what he did in prison. After a kind priest show Valjean grace he does a complete 180 and changes his life. He pulls himself up by his bootstraps and makes his a respectable and rich man. Jean Valjean is the kindest, most selfless man every created. There are so many times when he gives up what he wants and what he needs to serve others. Which is one of the things that I got from the book.
I have to write a paper over this book and what I learned from this book so here is sort of what I am going to write my paper about. What I learned most from this book was that we all need stop thinking about ourselves so much and have a much more Jean Valjean attitude of life. After experiencing so much Jean Valjean turns into such a nice man. Even though he is in constant danger of being found out, he doesn't only think about himself and his needs.
I really don't want to go into extreme detail on how amazing this book is because you should read it and find out for yourself. It will have different importance and meaning to everyone. The message that I got from it may be different from the message you get. So you have to read it and find out how this book written so many years ago still applies to today. And trust me it does apply. Great fiction never loses meaning, it is able to transend time and remain applicable to world years later.
READ THIS BOOK!!! I am serious right now. It doesn't matter with version you read, abridged ot unabridged. But READ IT!!
Enjoy!
Lindsey

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Dear Readers,
Hello children! I haven't posted for a while because I haven't finished a book for a while. Strange I know!! It is speech season so that means writing, memorizing, and practicing speeches. I am in a category call Review, and surprise I am reviewing a book. I am reviewing the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. If you haven't read this book, YOU MUST!!! I love this book sooooooo much. Please do yourself a favor and read this book. I am going to post my review of this book, so that you can all read it and have a little background on the book first. So without further ado, my speech!!

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

“No more skipping breakfast, No more dropping out of school. With a windmill we would finally release ourselves from the troubles of darkness and hunger. In Malawi the wind is one of the few constant things given to use by God, blowing in the treetops day and night. A windmill meant more than just power, it meant freedom.

Standing there looking at this book I decided I would build my own windmill. I’d never built anything like it before, but I knew if windmill existed on the cover of that book it meant another person had built them. Looking at it that way I felt confident I could build one too.”

After experiencing hardship that many will never experience William Kamkwamba, a young boy from the Africa, decides to harness the wind to bring electricity and hope to his family. William’s moving and inspirational story is told in the non-fiction book “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.  As William tells his life story you are drawn into the book because of the harsh and realistic country he lived in, the strong and empowering characters in his life, and the important and meaningful message he has to tell us.

                The circumstances William is raised in are drastically different from those here in America. William was born in the impoverished African country of Malawi. The school system there is extremely poor compared to that in the United States. School is often an unaffordable and unrealistic goal in many children’s lives.  The schools are inadequately equipped without enough textbooks, desks, or teachers to go around. William has dreams of becoming a scientist, but his dreams are quick smashed because he is not allowed the type of education he deserves. Because many of the people in this country are uneducated they resort to explaining the way things work through magic. Science and religion take a backseat to the magic practiced in this country. Spells casted by witch doctors are considered to be binding. William along with many others in this country lived in daily fear of magic that was really not existent and extremely untruthful. Another problem that plagues this country is hunger. During William’s adolescences Malawi goes through a famine. His family is forced to eat one meal a day with 5 mouthfuls of food per family member. And the sad thing is that William’s family is better off than most of population in the country. People roam the lands looking for any sort of food. The hunger changes humans into hallow faced creatures with swelling stomachs and no hope. It is no less than a miracle that William and his entire family survive the famine. In fact it’s a miracle that William can overcome the circumstances put in front of him and achieve success in the manner he does.

                Just as the description of Malawi allows the reader to better understand William’s circumstances, his descriptions of the important figures in his life and of himself helps the reader to see the world through William’s eyes. While talking about their own accomplishments and attributes many people are not always the most honest. Throughout the book William has complete honesty with the reader. He describes his flaws with as much truth as his good characteristics. Through his writing style the reader is able to see William as the hardworking and courageous individual he is. When William is not allowed to attend school because of the cost, he does not give up on his education and accept his future as a farmer. Instead he goes to the library. There he picks of a physics textbook because he finds it interesting, and by reading he learns how to harnesses the wind. He thinks up hair brained scheme of building a windmill to bring his family electricity. During the process people taunt him. William says “At first I tried to explain the windmill, but people just laughed and said ‘You’re wasting your time, this junk is good for nothing’. Even when I tried to sneak past someone would spot through an open window and yell ‘There goes the madman off to smoke his chamba. Chamba is marijuana. Finally I decided that whenever someone yell at me from the school, ‘William, what are you doing in the garbage?’ I would just smile and say, ‘Nothing only playing.’” . He possesses the courage the work through the negative comments, and the conviction in his talents to not let them faze him. These are all things William learned from his father.  Trywell Kamkwamba, also known as the Pope, influences his son William in more ways than you can count. As a young child William views his father as almost a super hero. As the famine hits there is a definite shift. The Pope turns from a superhero and unbeatable man who had the physical strength to concur all into a weak thin man who has the emotional strength to keep his family alive through a tough time. As the amount of food coming in decreases Trywell refuses to eat and gives his food to the children. William observes that “My father then started excusing himself once the food was served. ‘Papa, aren’t you going to eat?’ ‘No you kids go ahead’”. His father is the man who influences him and encourages him to obtain his dreams and build his windmill. The honesty in which characters are presented helps the reader see these people as real people, and understand what they are going through.  

                William’s story is not just a description of his life and time, there are many important messages. The most important message in this work of non-fiction art, is bettering yourself through education. As I mentioned earlier William is forced to stop school. He could just accept his fate and become a farmer, but instead he takes it upon himself to become educated. He wants to stay up with his class so when his family has enough money he can start school again. Determination to go after your dreams and change your life is very hard to find now-a-days. People have become lazy and complacent.  William shows us that by reading and becoming educated you can change your life. After learning about physics and windmills applied these concepts and makes a windmill to bring his family electricity and clean drinking water, exponentially increasing his family’s standard of living. But success does not stop there. William’s quest for knowledge leads to international fame in the scientific community. Just by using his curiosity and inventiveness William changes his life. We all have the chance to do the same. We all have the chance to examine our lives and then using the resources available to us, change the way we are living. No matter your age, social standing, color, or amount food in your cupboard you are able to change and better your life. You are able to be what you want to be. William chose not to let his limitations keep him from what he was truly capable of. He overcame his circumstances to make a better life for himself.

                The country William lived in, the figures in his life, and the messages his story has make The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind more than just a boring non-fiction book. They make the story relatable and meaningful. This book allows the reader to step into another world and experience life through another person’s eyes. It clearly shows that no matter you are and no matter where you come from, you can be someone. You can change life. Best said by William himself “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try”. 

PLEASE!!!! PLEASE!!! Read this book. I can talk for over an hour about how amazing this book is. Please do yourself and me a favor and read this work of non-fiction art.
Sincerely,
Lindsey