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