Book 7: The Catcher In The Rye
By J.D. Salinger
Little, Brown and Company
1951
Rating:
3 if you just read it. 3.5-4 if you look at the meaning.
The professionals:
Novel by J.D. Salinger, published in 1951. The influential and widely acclaimed story details the two days in the life of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield after he has been expelled from prep school. Confused and disillusioned, he searches for truth and rails against the "phoniness" of the adult world. He ends up exhausted and emotionally ill, in a psychiatrist's office. After he recovers from his breakdown, Holden relates his
experiences to the reader. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature
My review and opinion:
I want to tell you that I like this book. I really do. *Note: I have about four chapters left until the end, which is about 50 pages all together. So no, I'm not done yet. If this book gets better in the next 50 pages, I'll let you know.* I think society hyped up this book on all of the psycology mumbo-jumbo. I really want to like this book. I just believe that society corups cretain things. Like this.
Finished it all of a minute ago, and I still didn't like it. I mean, I guess I enjoyed it a little, but not as much as everybody thought I would. There are a few hidden things that have been brought to my attention. The ducks in the pond are supposed to represent how Holden feels. He's not asking what happens to the ducks, he is asking what happens to himself. The red hunting cap becomes a security blanket of sorts. Sparknotes say a lot of this book. I think it was a little too.... I don't know.
I don't like the writting style, either. In fact, many people would agree that it is a terrible book just because of the way it is written.
Am I the only one who hates repedity? (Spealt wrog, I know. Is it actually a word?) The whole 'goddamn' thing and 'madman' got on my nerves.
I don't think it's all that bad, but not very good either.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Book 6: The Realm of Possibility.
Book 6: The Realm of Possibility.
By David Levithan
Knopf Books for Young Readers.
2004
Rating:
3
Through a series of poems, Levithan (Boy Meets Boy) introduces readers to a group of friends and acquaintances, including a gay couple celebrating their one-year anniversary, a girl whose mother is dying and an outsider who fills his notebook with "ink explosions of thought." His characters represent a diverse range of sexuality, race and social standing, and most struggle with love relationships, from a boy who wants to help his anorexic girlfriend, to a girl with an unrequited crush on a straight friend. The author experiments with different voices and styles (one series unfolds in song lyrics); some of these poems work better than others. An energetic verse, "Gospel," from a black choir girl who feels bullies "[push her]/ to a kindness they would never/ understand" to help the aforementioned white outsider, reads as authentic and thought-provoking, while an alphabetical poem about a break-up, constrained by its form, grows tedious. Readers may have trouble tracking all of the characters and the various connections between them, but they will find clever lines and inspiring ideas in many of the poems here ("Most of the limits/ are of our own world's devising"). Ultimately, that is what makes this ambitious project a realm worth exploring. Ages 12-up.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
My Review:
This was a pretty confusing book. Overall, it didn't really have the plot line that I like, but it was pretty interesting.
It's short, only took me two days to read. (Slow reader.)
I actually took a piece of paper and make a character chart so i could remember who was who.
Interesting, but confusing.
3 stars.
By David Levithan
Knopf Books for Young Readers.
2004
Rating:
3
Through a series of poems, Levithan (Boy Meets Boy) introduces readers to a group of friends and acquaintances, including a gay couple celebrating their one-year anniversary, a girl whose mother is dying and an outsider who fills his notebook with "ink explosions of thought." His characters represent a diverse range of sexuality, race and social standing, and most struggle with love relationships, from a boy who wants to help his anorexic girlfriend, to a girl with an unrequited crush on a straight friend. The author experiments with different voices and styles (one series unfolds in song lyrics); some of these poems work better than others. An energetic verse, "Gospel," from a black choir girl who feels bullies "[push her]/ to a kindness they would never/ understand" to help the aforementioned white outsider, reads as authentic and thought-provoking, while an alphabetical poem about a break-up, constrained by its form, grows tedious. Readers may have trouble tracking all of the characters and the various connections between them, but they will find clever lines and inspiring ideas in many of the poems here ("Most of the limits/ are of our own world's devising"). Ultimately, that is what makes this ambitious project a realm worth exploring. Ages 12-up.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
My Review:
This was a pretty confusing book. Overall, it didn't really have the plot line that I like, but it was pretty interesting.
It's short, only took me two days to read. (Slow reader.)
I actually took a piece of paper and make a character chart so i could remember who was who.
Interesting, but confusing.
3 stars.
Book 5: I Was Amelia Earhart.
I strongly belive that
A) This is a weird place to start, seeing as I am on book 5 and haven't reviewed any of those ones (yet),
and B) I should review this book while it is still freah in my mind.
Book 5: I Was Amelia Earhart.
By Jane Mendelsohn.
A Borzoi Book.
Published by Alfred A Knopf, INC.
1996
Rating out of five:
3.5
What a great story. The writing style of the author is fresh and new. It's an odd book, but I liked it.
The book is in Three parts:
Part 1: This section is all about Ameila life before her famous trip around the world. It showed who Amelia was. At the end of Part 1, Amelia and Noonan -her navigator- are lost, and are running out of fuel.
Part 2: The two crash on a deserted island that they jokingly name "Heaven." This section shows their life together on the island and a major event that, without, Part 3 would not exsist.
Part 3: The climax. I would like you to read this book, and as a rule, I never give away the climax*.
Wow. I'm very glad I own this book. It will be on my shelves for years to come.
Not the best book, but I aprove.
* Unless it was an absolutely terrible book and I do not want anyone to suffer.
A) This is a weird place to start, seeing as I am on book 5 and haven't reviewed any of those ones (yet),
and B) I should review this book while it is still freah in my mind.
Book 5: I Was Amelia Earhart.
By Jane Mendelsohn.
A Borzoi Book.
Published by Alfred A Knopf, INC.
1996
Rating out of five:
3.5
What a great story. The writing style of the author is fresh and new. It's an odd book, but I liked it.
The book is in Three parts:
Part 1: This section is all about Ameila life before her famous trip around the world. It showed who Amelia was. At the end of Part 1, Amelia and Noonan -her navigator- are lost, and are running out of fuel.
Part 2: The two crash on a deserted island that they jokingly name "Heaven." This section shows their life together on the island and a major event that, without, Part 3 would not exsist.
Part 3: The climax. I would like you to read this book, and as a rule, I never give away the climax*.
Wow. I'm very glad I own this book. It will be on my shelves for years to come.
Not the best book, but I aprove.
* Unless it was an absolutely terrible book and I do not want anyone to suffer.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Book 4: Shark Girl.
Book 4: Shark Girl.
By Kelly Bingham
Published by Candlewick
2007
Rating: 2.5-3
Jane, 15, is smart, good-looking, and the best artist in her school. After a shark attack at a local beach results in the amputation of her right arm, nothing is the same. Bingham's free-verse novel neatly accommodates the teen's loss; her dreams, anger, and frustration are explored as she rebelliously tries to adjust to her new circumstances. The main narrative is interspersed with news clippings, internal dialogue, and letters of support from other amputees, and even though Jane resists being part of that community, there are connections. Her voice is authentic and believable as both a teenager and victim. This engaging read will entice enthusiastic and reluctant readers; the drama of the shark attack will hook them, and Jane's inner journey will hold them till the end.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library.
Normally, I would review a book myself, but I couldn't quite explain this one without being harsh. Now, in general, I don't like books written in poetry lines. This one was no exception. The story line was weak. Eventually she starts feeling better about his disability, but it still bothers her in the end. This story shows the difficulities of being an amputee.
But I still didn't like it.
By Kelly Bingham
Published by Candlewick
2007
Rating: 2.5-3
Jane, 15, is smart, good-looking, and the best artist in her school. After a shark attack at a local beach results in the amputation of her right arm, nothing is the same. Bingham's free-verse novel neatly accommodates the teen's loss; her dreams, anger, and frustration are explored as she rebelliously tries to adjust to her new circumstances. The main narrative is interspersed with news clippings, internal dialogue, and letters of support from other amputees, and even though Jane resists being part of that community, there are connections. Her voice is authentic and believable as both a teenager and victim. This engaging read will entice enthusiastic and reluctant readers; the drama of the shark attack will hook them, and Jane's inner journey will hold them till the end.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library.
Normally, I would review a book myself, but I couldn't quite explain this one without being harsh. Now, in general, I don't like books written in poetry lines. This one was no exception. The story line was weak. Eventually she starts feeling better about his disability, but it still bothers her in the end. This story shows the difficulities of being an amputee.
But I still didn't like it.
Book 3: No Kidding
.Book 3: No Kidding
By Bruce Brooks.
Published by Trophy Pr
1991
Rating: 3.5
Set in the middle of the 21st century, this powerful novel concerns Sam, 14, who feels the need to take charge of his family. Sam doesn't have the time to be a kid anymore. He has to work to pay for his mother to get out of rehab, and set his brother in a foster home.
I liked this book quite a bit, actually.
It was a little confusing at times, but overall it was a good read.
By Bruce Brooks.
Published by Trophy Pr
1991
Rating: 3.5
Set in the middle of the 21st century, this powerful novel concerns Sam, 14, who feels the need to take charge of his family. Sam doesn't have the time to be a kid anymore. He has to work to pay for his mother to get out of rehab, and set his brother in a foster home.
I liked this book quite a bit, actually.
It was a little confusing at times, but overall it was a good read.
Book 2: The Carbon Diaries 2015.
Book 2: The Carbon Diaries 2015
By Saci Lloyd.
Published Holiday House
2009
Rating: 3.5
Laura Brown lives in Great Britain with her family in 2015 when the country makes a decission to cut it's carbon emission by 60 percent. Every person gets a Crabon Card which shows how much carbon they are alowed to use each year. Global warming has taken a drastic turn. The weather goes from freezing weather to drought, to a massive flood. Her family constantly fights, and you can watch the progress they make as they go through the year. Her mother ends up moving out while her father goes absolutely crazy. Her sister leaves home more and more. In the climax, the entire comunity must ban together to survive.
I kind of enjoyed this book. It could have been better, but it was pretty good overall.
By Saci Lloyd.
Published Holiday House
2009
Rating: 3.5
Laura Brown lives in Great Britain with her family in 2015 when the country makes a decission to cut it's carbon emission by 60 percent. Every person gets a Crabon Card which shows how much carbon they are alowed to use each year. Global warming has taken a drastic turn. The weather goes from freezing weather to drought, to a massive flood. Her family constantly fights, and you can watch the progress they make as they go through the year. Her mother ends up moving out while her father goes absolutely crazy. Her sister leaves home more and more. In the climax, the entire comunity must ban together to survive.
I kind of enjoyed this book. It could have been better, but it was pretty good overall.
Book 1: Burger Wuss.
Welcome to the New Year.
Book 1: Buger Wuss.
By M.T. Anderson.
Published by Candlewick
2001
Rating out of five: 2.5
Anthony is a lonely, lonely boy. He looses his girlfriend to a guy who works for a fast food chain. This is the story of him trying to get her back.
Quick overview: I didn't like this book.
The writing style was weak, and so were to charactor buildings.
The plot was boring, and didn't keep my attention for too long.
First book of the year and it was a dud.
Book 1: Buger Wuss.
By M.T. Anderson.
Published by Candlewick
2001
Rating out of five: 2.5
Anthony is a lonely, lonely boy. He looses his girlfriend to a guy who works for a fast food chain. This is the story of him trying to get her back.
Quick overview: I didn't like this book.
The writing style was weak, and so were to charactor buildings.
The plot was boring, and didn't keep my attention for too long.
First book of the year and it was a dud.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The beginning.
This is the beginning.
Actually, it's 19 days from the beginning, but who is counting?
Well, I am.
The challenge:
I am challenging myself to read as many books as possible by the end of the year.
I may be off to a slow start, but I can not wait to see the outcome.
Come. Join me in the first ever Book Odyssey.
-Spencer.
Actually, it's 19 days from the beginning, but who is counting?
Well, I am.
The challenge:
I am challenging myself to read as many books as possible by the end of the year.
I may be off to a slow start, but I can not wait to see the outcome.
Come. Join me in the first ever Book Odyssey.
-Spencer.
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