Monday, November 17, 2014

Movie Review: The Host


Ages ago I did a book review for Stephanie Meyers' book The Host and surprisingly it was a great book. It should have gotten the publicity that Twilight didn't deserve. Its a book I cannot shut up about.
Since it also had a film adaption I decided back when it first came out that I would watch it-despite my wariness. The movie Eragon has left deep scars on my soul.

First, I was not disappointed with the movie, it kept to the story line and I recognized various bits of dialogue from the book. But I also can see why it had already been knocked down to five dollars at Walmart. Besides Mel's quips it was very dry and slow moving. The in depth view we have to Wanda's emotions in the book couldn't be conveyed sufficiently in the film. Wanda/Mel had multiple scenes were they stared directly into the camera, it repeatedly seemed like they were breaching the fourth wall.

Several minor characters were cut such as Kyle's girlfriend and the soul who possesses her body. While I don't feel that the lack of these characters affected the overall plot I was disappointed not to see them. For a movie that ran a full two hours and some change I expected a little more detail.

Finally the last scene in the movie and in the book. It was so drastically different from what I imagined. I pictured the confrontation happening somewhere in the desert not in the middle of the city. I feel like that could be a fault on my part as a reader. I'll have to go back and read the book again to make sure I didn't overlook the setting. Somehow I know I did.

Still despite all that I'm still hoping for a sequel to the book and eventually the movie. I can't stand how open ended they both were. Twilight becomes a saga and The Host still remains a standalone? Nope. Not liking it.
 
Question: Does anyone else agree that an author's most successful book may not be their best work?

Sunday, October 26, 2014

How to tell your boyfriend is from the north

This is a snippet of a conversation I had with Mason, my boyfriend yesterday.

Mason: When does hunting season end?
Me: I don't know.
Mason: Is it the same as in the north?
Me: I don't know. Who do you think you're talking to?
Mason: Well when do they stop wearing camoflague?
Me: ...This is the South. They never stop.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing Year: 1982
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
It is 1914, and Joey, a farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of World War I on the Western Front. When Joey is dragged away, his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he is forced to leave behind. In the army the beautiful red-bay horse is trained to charge the enemy, drag heavy artillery and carry wounded soldiers not much older than Albert off the battlefields. Amongst the clamoring of guns, and while plodding through the cold mud, Joey wonders if the war will ever end. And if it does, will he ever find Albert again?
Review:
The biggest problem I had going into this book was its length. Its shorter than any book I've read in years. Despite that I know its been adapted into a movie and has become popular so I decided to give it a chance and I am so glad that I did. I got more emotional over this book than most. Not to say its up there with an Ellen Hopkins novel but it did unexpectedly tug at my heartstrings. Then again I love animals so maybe I'm a tad biased.
The setting also appealed to me, there is no genre I love more than historical fiction and thanks to this novel I saw a side of WWI that I had never considered. In my history classes we discussed the artillery and evolution of weapons but the use of horses was never brought up.
It was throughly engaging and due to its shorter length there was never a dull moment. The plot was continously moving forward and before I knew it I had finished the book. It ended in a satisfying way for me, although with a twinge of sadness. This is one I'd recommend to anyone who doesn't have a lot of time to read and just needs a little fix. Perfect to read in a doctors office or on a lunch break. No hidden symbolism or deep meaning that makes you question everything. Just a good book.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publishing Year: 2005
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:
As Bethany approaches her thirteenth birthday, her parents act more oddly than usual. Then her father drives the entire family across several state lines-and leaves Bethany with an aunt she never knew existed. Bethany's only clue is a few words she overheard. "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." The mystery intensifies when Bethany gets a package from her father containing four different birth certificates from different state, with different last names-and thousands of dollars in cash. And when a strange man shows up asking questions, Bethany realizes she's not the only one who's desperate to unravel the secrets of her past.

Review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. Its thought provoking and deals with difficult relationships but it doesn't go into much detail. Bethany certainly shows an emotional reaction to finding out she's a clone and anger towards her parents for deceiving her but then the story is wrapped up quickly and it's all blown over without a satisfying resolution.

It also dances around the ethics of cloning and Bethany's mother's breakdown. But because of the time frame cloning wasn't illegal when Bethany was born so her father doesn't even get a slap on the wrist. And then in the epilogue she reveals that her and her mother are in therapy. Every loose end is tied up but the conclusion was very anticlimactic.

But regardless it was still a good book, and I like where it took me. Bethany was a lovable character and her tale was certainly endearing although I wanted to slap her role models.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing Year: 1974
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
All his life Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother, Sam. Sam is smart and brave an always knows the right thing to do. Everyone in town admires him. Until now. Sam has enlisted in the new American Revolutionary Army. He talks about defeating the British and becoming independent and free. But not everyone in town wants to be a part of this new America. Most people are loyal supporters of the English king-including Tim and Sam's father. War is raging and Tim knows he'll have to make a choice. But how can he choose when it means fighting his father on one side and fighting his brother on the other?

Review:
I didn't expect much from this book. I saw that it had won some awards and although I was certain it was meant for a younger audience I hopes it would satisfy my need for a historical fiction novel. I didn't expect it to be this good.

I haven't read many books set during the American Revolution but every single one has been promoting the Rebels. I enjoyed seeing not only the Loyalist perspective but also one of a pacifist. It was different and I enjoyed reading a book that focused on the consequences of war rather than the glory of it.

The only think it didn't do was touch my emotions. I didn't feel sad when Sam died-does this count as a spoiler considering the title? Nor did I sympathize with Tim when he was caught between his brother and Sam. I read it in a mild state of apathy but still found it enjoyable.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Series: Fairytale Retellings #2
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publishing year: 2011
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear too. Years later, they find themselves in South Carolina.  Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is. 

Review:
I expected this to be completely different from Sisters Red, the first book in this series. You can see my review of the first book here. I was partly right. Unlike the other book there is only one narrator in this one. That is probably the biggest difference between the two. And I have to say I liked that aspect, it was much easier to follow the story from one point of view. I also found myself liking Gretchen, she has a lot of spunk. Her brother, Ansel, I didn't care much for, but this didn't surprise me. As an only child in reality I've never been fond of siblings in fiction. Slightly weird but it's mainly because I have a serious lack of understanding about the relationship between siblings.

Anyway I started this book with the assumption that the books were linked solely by their roots in fairy tales, but I was wrong. They do share an overall plot line involving the fenris. I am genuinely looking forward to reading the third book.

The fenris spin made me absolutely love this series, this is one of the few times I can say the sequel conquers the first book. I'm a sucker for anything resembling werewolves. Sweetly had several surprises and it kept me guessing. Every time I thought it was becoming dull or when I began predicting the next scene I was wrong.