Thursday, May 29, 2014

Rose Madder by Stephen King


She lived a nightmare with Norman for fourteen years. Rose met Norman in high school He was strong and an 80's type of cool. When he proposed matrimony straight out of high school she thought she would be very happy.

Sadly she was very mistaken. For fourteen years, every time that Norman did something abusive to her she just said "Oh, it's my fault." Eventually, she finally woke up and realized that if she didn't do something he would eventually kill her.

She had to evaluate her options. Leaving involved so many things. How would she try to go who knows where on her own? Also, where would she get the money from? Knowing Norman, he wouldn't let this pass lightly.

This book is intended for young adults, and there are many concepts that led me to believe that this book was advocating for women's rights. I like how King wrote the book because it makes you want to keep reading. The only thing I didn't like was the very supernatural aspect that a painting she had bought "solved" her problems. However the concept is understood. I overall recommend this book.

Rating: 4

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini


The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini has been a life-changing book for me. It is about redemption and how it's never too late to fix a mistake. In the story the main character, Amir, lives with his father in Afghanistan. His father, Baba, is well known and wealthy. Amir's servant and closest friend, Hassan, is a Hazara. Amir and Hassan spend their days happily flying kites and reading stories by a tree in the local cemetery.

During this time period Afghan people did not accept and looked down upon Hazaras because of their difference in ethnic backgrounds. Due to this reason, Amir never said in public that Hassan was his best friend. But Hassan was still a loyal friend. This loyalty made him undergo a violent encounter. Amir knew of this but did nothing to stop it. Amir carried the guilt with him throughout his life.

                 I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read a book that you won't want to put down. I like how the author describes how the characters are feeling and describes the setting. It makes you feel like you truly are there. By reading this book you will find out how Amir tries to fix his past mistakes to continue with his life.

Rating: 4

Thursday, May 1, 2014

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey



Cassie isn't your typical "run for your life" teen, but evaluates her next moves mindfully, anticipating danger around her as she fights for her survival. This book takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth. Extra-terrestrial beings invade Earth to exterminate the human race through a variety of attacks we humans call Waves--the worst thing next to death is surviving these waves when all hope is lost.
 
In this book, Yancey exceptionally expresses hopelessness, desperation and loneliness. He is a brilliant story-teller with the ability to make readers experience the story first-hand because he uses the first-person point of view. I love how the book is set in a wartime-like setting--broken buildings, fallen ceilings, cracked floors, and rotting corpses that lay unburied. The author makes death seem ubiquitous to the Cassie's environment. The mystery of finding out what the fifth wave is, is what kept the fire of my attention burning bright.

Rating: 4