Top Ten Tuesday: Books into Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

no explanation today sorry, just I think all of these would make fabulous movies! :D

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
3. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
4. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
5. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
6. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
7. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt
8. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
9. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
10. The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley

I'm sorry this is rushed.  It's late, I've been traveling all day, and I won't whine or make anymore excuses.

Shall I Be Challenged?

Hey!  I know this is a little late in the year, but I think it's time to join a couple book Challenges!

The first challenge I've decided to join is the YA Contemporary Challenge, hosted by Katie's Book Blog and Reading Angel.

RULES: Participants can read any contemporary YA novel that is publish between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 but you must read them in 2012!  (All formats accepted: paperback, ARC, e-book)

There are a couple different levels offered:
Level 1: 5+ books
Level 2: 10 + books
Level 3: 15+ books

I've chosen Level 1: 5+ books
1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
2. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
3. Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
4. Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
5. Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
6. 52 Reason To Hate My Father by Jessica Brody
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The next challenge I've decided to join is The 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge, hosted by Reading with Tequila.

RULES: Participants can read any books from the list of books recommended by bloggers in 2011.  You can decide to read books only from the top 25 or from the entire recommendation list.  Rereads do not count towards your total books.  (All formats acceptable: audiobooks, e-book, etc.)

Recommended Books

The Levels:
Level I: 5 books
Level II: 10 books
Level III: 15 books
Level IV: 20 books
Level V: 20 + books

I've chosen Level I: 5 books (I might move up levels as the challenge continues)
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2/26/12)
2. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (3/30/12)
3. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (5/21/12)
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (7/21/12)
5. Paper Towns by John Green (9/16/12)
6. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (10/28/12)
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This book challenge is called The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge, hosted by Book'd Out.



RULES:
This challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2012.  Create a blog post committing to your participation.  You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advanced.  You have to read a book from each of the genres listed below.  You can read your chosen titles in any order, at any pace, just complete the challenge by December 21st 2012.  Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, make sure you identify it by adding either a direct statement or the challenge image badge to the post.

Genres:

1. Literary Fiction - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
2. Crime/Mystery Fiction - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
3. Romantic Fiction - The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith
4. Historical Fiction - Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
5. Young Adult - Paper Towns by John Green
6. Fantasy - Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson
7. Science Fiction - Nevermore by James Patterson
8. Non Fiction - The Scientists by John Gribbin
9. Horror - Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Graphic Novel)
10. Thriller/Suspense - The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson 
11. Classic - Lord of the Flies by William Golding
12. You favorite genre - I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Top Ten Tuesday: All Time Favorite Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish
I'm jumping on another bandwagon!

I was sorely tempted to make most of this top ten Harry Potter characters, but don't worry I didn't.

In no particular order:

1. Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom (Harry Potter Series) - These characters are among my favorite Harry Potter characters because they come into their own.  Neville shows his bravery at the very being of the series and by the end he becomes a hero in his own right.  Luna is wonderfully strange and does not have to change who she is in order to make friends and she is fiercely loyal.

2. Sam (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) - Sam is a wild child but at the same time she knows what she wants in life and isn't afraid to lose herself.

3. Despereaux (Tale of Despereaux) - This mouse is the bravest character I have ever read about.  His determination and courage make him such a great character.

4. Ender (Ender's Game) - Ender's innocence is my favorite thing about him.  He has the will power and the imagination to create new formations and friends. 

5. Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit) - Bilbo is just so funny.  At first he is the most reluctant person but then once he is bitten with the adventure bug, he can't get enough.  He is really entertaining, even when he complains.  I love him.

6. Scout Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird) - The reason I love her, is her relationship with Boo Radley.  End of story.

7. Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson (The Help) - These women are so ferociously courageous and entertaining.  They risk everything to bring awareness to their conditions as maids in the south.  I think they are wonderful.

8. Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) - Tenacious. She is not afraid to speak her mind and to be a strong woman in a world of men.  I love her banter with Darcy.  LOVE.

9. Leisel Meminger (The Book Thief) - She broke my shattered my heart so completely, I love her.

10. Lucy Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia) - She is the first to believe and see; she made me believe too.

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding
Published: Pedigree Books edition, 1970
pages: 202

This is an Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge book!

This review has SPOILERS!

This is the worlds worst book, parable if you will.  It left me highly irritated and unsatisfied, also slightly depressed for the nature of society. (Not really, it was very well written.)

A group of boys gets stranded on an island and are left to find food and shelter.  The boys elect a leader, Ralph, who was determined to find a way off the island and back to England.  Along with Piggy, he tried to keep the boys safe and in order.  Ralph, determined to get off the island, he commands that a fire be built and sustained so that passing ships will see it.  For a while this works but Jack, the boy in charge of the hunters, gets restless and decides that he should have been the leader.  This is reaffirmed after he successfully catches and kills his first wild hog.  When the group of boys splits in two, most going with Jack, nothing but animosity between the boys is left.

William Golding does not neatly skirt around his opinions of the true nature of humanity.  He does not baby or hold the reader's hand.  He lets you fall deep into the most horrifying and ultimately distressful story of good and evil. Each character seems to symbolize a different characteristic like common sense, knowledge, violence, spirituality, and evil.  It is not immediately evident who symbolizes what, but the reader can quickly draw conclusions through the characters actions.  For example, Ralph symbolizes common sense because he is so adamant about keeping the fire going, which is the only way they would get off the island.  Anyone with self-preservation or common sense would realize that the fire was their best chance of being rescued.  Also, Jack symbolizes violence.  As the new chief and the leader of the hunters, he is wild and blood thirsty, always craving to kill more hogs.

Ralph and Piggy seem to be the only boys with enough sense to continue to strive to get off the island.  The others seem to submit to their fate.  They care less about getting off the island and more about hunting and killing.  The reenacting games are terrifyingly violent that result with two murders and one attempted.  The consequences are nonexistent because the tribe leader sees nothing wrong with it.  All of the savage ways, seem to be completely forgotten as soon as an adult steps onto the shores.  The boys become English children once again.  It's like the subconscious can erase the horror that occurs when there is no one around to monitor it.

People are inherently evil and occasionally do good things.  I absolutely do not like the fact that the subconscious goes away, essentially making everything that happened on the island okay or accidental.  No responsibility is taken and because there was no one to witness it, no one will ever take responsibility.

So it is with sadness that I cannot tell you whether I did not like this story because of it's implications or if I just did not enjoy reading it.  I guess it can be one in the same.  I wanted to like this novel, I wanted to meditate on the morals and meanings behind William Golding's tale.  Alas, consensus is: negative.

Stars: 2.5/5

Praise:

"One sees what Golding is doing. He is showing us stripped man, man naked of all the sanctions of custom and civilization, man as he is alone and in his essence, or at any rate, as he can be conceived to be in such a condition." 
     - Walter Allen

"To me Lord of the Flies has always represented what novels are for, what makes them indispensable." 
     -Stephen King

Why We Broke Up

by Daniel Handler

art by: Maira Kalman

Published: Little Brown 2011

Pages: 354

Dan,

This might be a little insensitive, but I'm writing to you to tell you why we broke up.  I fell in love with you, well not you, your mysterious Lemony Snicket.  I fell so hard in my childhood that I couldn't remember when the unfortunate event began or when it ended.  I wished that I could meet you and explain to you how you had changed my life.  I realized that the day would never come, so I settled for reading your books and wondering in amazement how clever Lemony Snicket  could be and how much I missed the lovely Beatrice, even though we also had never met.

Then Min showed up and broke up with Ed in 354 painful, yet beautiful pages.  She remembered every detail and hoped that writing it out would ease her pain and highlight Ed's.  I admired her for her ability to write it in front of her friend, Al.  The beautiful moments in the park, to the delightful party planning including stolen sugar and liquor--those moments were all noteworthy.  

I agree with Min, the bonfire should not have happened, and the ex-girlfriends' scene was most definitely awkward for her, but she got over them like a champ.  I guess it's because she joined their ranks.  I wish though that I could have seen more, that the party had actually happened.  There was so much anticipation and planning, but like all things, the breakup happened first. 

How could Min not see what was right in front of her?  Dan, why is Min so blind to her surroundings?  I felt like I was reading some scenes of impending doom, and I could not stop but wonder how much you could break my heart.  I found you could break it entirely. 

The pictures were so simple,  yet possibly one of the most ingenious parts of this story.  Who could have known that adding pictures could enhance a story so wonderfully, so expertly?  I may not have thoroughly enjoyed reading the journey of Ed and Min, but I enjoyed seeing what would be drawn next.   I looked forward to the moment when I found out what the object had to do with their relationship and why it was part of their downfall.

You may be good at heartbreak and unfortunate events, but your imagination is killer.  You have captivated me in such a way that cannot be forgiven.  You have stolen me from my friends and my job. Dan, you have kept me from sleep and from fresh air.  This is why we had to break up.

Love,  Alex

Stars:4/5

Praise:

"Handler offers a heartbreaking, bittersweet, and compelling romance with a unique angle and flare." 

    - SLJ, starred review

"Handler shows exceptional skill at getting inside Min's head and heart."
    - Publisher's Weekly

"Brilliant...Maira Kalman's illustrations endow [the book's] inanimate objects with all of Min's emotion.  The male and femaile bottle caps of Scarpia's Bitter Black Ale from that first night they met seem to pulse with tension; pages of rose petals nearly fall from the book.  This book will resonate with teens--and even adults--because far too many of us have stood in Min's shoes."  
    - Shelf Awareness

The Secret Lives of People in Love

By Simon Van Booy

Published: Harper Perennial edition, 2010

Pages: 174

Simon Van Booy brings us his first collection of short stories.  He has an interestingly beautiful description on what love looks like.  Love isn't just romantic, it can be heartbreaking, heartwarming, just beginning or old-time.  It can be so many things and sometimes the most impact can come from the messed up father son relationship. 

The reader experiences love in several different situation in different cities across the world.  He tells stories from New York to France, on subways and in small apartments.  

The characters in the stories were developed just well enough.  It is like a snapshot into a character's life.  I am not going to know everything about a person by meeting them for five minutes.  Simon Van Booy lets the reader know just enough to give the reader the feeling that they are actually meeting the characters.  This allows us to judge and to sympathize without knowing everything.  For example, one of the stories is presumably about a man leaving his wife on their anniversary.  Naturally, I judge.  How cruel can this man be, but was I getting the whole picture?  Did I know exactly what was going on in both people's lives? No.

In particular, I really liked the first short story.  Narrated by a teen-aged boy of 15, it shows the insight of nontraditional love.  The man he lives with is the closest thing he has to a father, he does not remember his own parents.  But the story this man tells him, leaves room for questioning whether or not it is the truth.  Despite the question, it is evident that the man loves the boy, even though it is unconventional.

Simon Van Booy's strength as a writer is his ability to paint pictures with words.  There are many scenes in each story that vividly stick with me after I finished reading.  I can see the park bench in which the little boy goes to meet the memory of his mother in Central Park.  I can smell the first sights of spring as he encounters a strange man at his bench.  I can also see the warm smile spread across his face when the little boy tells him he needs to move.  

Some of the stories were not as compelling as the others, which tends to happen in a collection of short stories.  Even though I did not enjoy every story, there were enough that made me want to read more.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"Simon Van Booy's stories have the power and resonance of poems.  They stay with you like significant memory." 

        - Roger Rosenblatt

"His sentences are spare, subtle, and freighted, his images fresh... YOu see and feel his settings." 

       - New York Newsday

A Study in Scarlet

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Published: Sterling; Barnes and Noble Classic edition, 2009

Pages: 71

Sherlock Holmes is an iconic name and character.  He has been recreated in so many mediums: most currently, the BBC show Sherlock, of which I am a HUGE fan.  The question now is whether or not the original Sherlock Holmes can capture the hearts of everyone as much as the adaptation.  Has the success of the name outweighed the actually merit of the original stories?

Introduce: Dr. John Watson and Mr. Sherlock Holmes.  In this first case, Watson is whirled into the life and investigations of Sherlock Holmes.  A Study in Scarlet includes a murder motivated by revenge.  When Sherlock Holmes observes the crime scene of a man, dead without any physical signs, he shows his spectacular observation skills to figure out how this man died. 

Being the first Sherlock Holmes story I have read, I did not expect to have an entire section of the novel where there was no mention of Sherlock or John.  I did not quite figure out why the story was set in America until about half way through the section.  However, I thought that the section added to the story and made what could have been a clear cut and dry short story more compelling.  I was happy to see the back story of the people involved in the murder. 

The story itself was a basic murder mystery.  The plot was fairly simple, but the details made it interesting.  I was slightly annoyed by the language in the story, but it may be my lack of a large vocabulary that annoyed me.  I kept going back to the dictionary to look up definitions to words in the story.  It broke my concentration of the plot, but I added many words to my vocabulary. That is one of my favorite aspects of reading.

The story is told from John Watson's point of view.  Meeting Sherlock Holmes through this lens is fascinating and makes Sherlock even more intriguing as a character.  I think Sherlock's personality and quirks make him an excellent character, one that I would want to have as a friend.  The way he talks and makes observations is so unique to him; he is very memorable.  Ask anyone.  John Watson is a little less inspiring in this story though.  He is so accepting of Sherlock, it seems that he is more of a pet than a person at the beginning.  I wished that more of his personality was shown.  However, I have no doubt that Watson will get his moment to shine in some of the other Sherlock Holmes stories.  

Arthur Conan Doyle worked hard to create these iconic characters and his hard work paid off with a beautifully written narrative that is just the beginning of the adventures.  I look forward to reading more of the Sherlock Holmes chronicles in the future. 

Stars: 3/5

Side Note:

I think it is hilarious that Sherlock did cocaine when he was not busy with a case.  I'm not sure why I missed that the first time around.

For those that are bothered by editing errors, there are some interesting spelling mistakes in this edition.