Fahrenheit 451

Imagine a world without books. Imagine a world where education and reading are not encouraged, yet alone banned. Banned by the very own governmennt. Backwards?  Maybe.  Strange?  Possibly.  Wrong? Definitely.

Fahrenheit 451 tells the struggle of Guy Montag, a firefighter. However, he isn’t your typical firefighter. Instead of  extinguishing fires  Montag ignites them. Yes, you heard me right, he starts them. What is he burning you may ask? The firefighters in this in this community burn books along with the houses in which they were hidden.

Montag never seemed to have a problem with his job. He never questioned burning the books, or the houses they were in. He never felt guitly about any of it. As a matter of fact, he felt pleasure by doing this, as we know, awful act. He never questioned this until he met Clarisse. She told him of a time when books flourished. Will Montag stay with the ways of his past? Or will he seek a new life?  A life where books are.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Fahrenheit 451. I felt that the story was strange.  The Mechanical Hound? Just plain weird, I thought. Even the story line itself was weird.  I never really connected with the story or the characters. And the one character I did feel somewhat of a connection with, Clarrise, was only in the picture for a limited time.

One positive that I did like about Fahrenheit 451 was Bradbury’s use of symbolism and metaphors. I will admit, some of them went totally over my head, but the ones I was able to pick up on really hit home. Books were portrayed as a symbol of knowledge but also freedom, which I really liked.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the book.  2 out of 5 stars.

Add comment December 17, 2009 nicoleuhl

If I Stay

Seventeen-year-old Mia has basically everything  any teenager could ever wish for. Crazy, but loving parents. A “rockstar” boyfriend who loves her, and an adoring little brother. Mia has a great love for music and is an outstanding celloist. Her life isn’t perfect, but pretty close to it.

One morning the family wakes to find that school and work are cancelled due to a snow storm. This is where our story begins…Since there is no school and no work, the family decides to take an outing to their grandparents house. On the way to the grandparents house, the vehicle skids on the ice and crashes into another car. Mia is shocked to find that not only one, but both of her parents are dead. Lying in the hospital dying, Mia has to make the most important decision of her life…To stay or not to stay.

I really enjoyed this book. Not one that I will easily forget. Gayle Forman decided to have the story told from the point of view of Mia, first-hand during her struggle with herself and this tough, life-changing choice. By having the story told from her point of view and her perspective, it really allowed the reader to connect and relate with her. I don’t think that the story would have been nearly affective if she had not used this.

Throughout the book, Mia is able to reflect on her past but also on what may be ahead in her future if she stays. Having this general theme through the book, really seems to have an effect on its readers. This is what makes it a great read for both teenagers and adults.

Tragedy…there is quite a bit of it in the book. But despite the tragedy, If I Stay is an uplifting book. It really makes the reader reflect. You have to be a great writer to successfully have those opposite emotions portrayed in one book. I applaud Forman for doing this.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Add comment December 14, 2009 nicoleuhl

New Moon

Vampires weren’t enough for Stephanie Meyer. New Moon, the second book of the popular Twilight saga, adds a new twist to the life of Bella Swan.

Early on in the book Edward, Bella’s hunky vampire boyfriend, leaves the town of Forks and also leaves Bella. He says it will be ”as if he never existed.” She is absolutely devastated. Bella sinks into a deep depression. After a few months, however, she begins to hang out with her good friend Jacob Black. Bella quotes that when she is with him she “..was perfect-not healed, but as if there had never been a wound in the first place.”  Just when things are beginning to look up for Bella, we find out the Jacob is a werewolf. You heard me right, a werewolf. It is now a competition for her heart. Team Jacob? Team Edward? To find out more…. read New Moon

I really enjoyed New Moon. I thought it was a step up from the first in the saga, Twlight.

Meyer deeply developed Bella’s character. She has that way of writing. Her depression was portrayed very well. In some parts I felt saddend just from reading how Bella was reacting and feeling.

I loved all of the action in New Moon. Definetly a stay-up-late-reading-to-find-out-what-happens book for me. I found it hard to put down. There was shock, there was tragedy and everything in between.

Stephanie Meyer’s writing is very detailed. She uses many descriptive words that paint a picture in the readers  mind. Her style really helps me connect with the characters. Another thing that I love about Meyer’s books are the fact they don’t take a lot to comprehend and whatnot. Her books aren’t a John Grisham heavy reading type. Hers are a light, relaxing read, an escape from the world.

I was very impressed with this book. Five stars.

Add comment November 23, 2009 nicoleuhl

A Walk to Remember

A classic love story. These are the words I would use to describe Nicholas Sparks “A Walk to Remember.”  Landon Carter, the typical trouble maker, and Jamie Sullivan, the Preachers daughter, find themselves falling in love unexpectedly. Everything seemed perfect, that is until Jamie reveals her secret to Landon. 

 Sparks did a great job of defining the character’s. Making them interesting enough, but at the same time keeping them simple. I guess that’s maybe what drew me into the book. I know what I like and don’t like in a book. I don’t like flat characters, but I also don’t like characters that are overbearing. The main characters in this book were the happy medium for me.

If you’re looking for an easy-read, I recommend ”A Walk to Remember.”  Here’s a warning to the ladies-you will cry. Just giving you a heads up.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t read all of Nicholas Sparks’ books, but this is definitely one of my favorites of his. Actually, this is one of the better books that i’ve read in a while. One I will read again and again. 

I give it four out of five stars.

Add comment October 21, 2009 nicoleuhl

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Bruno, a nine-year-old German boy, has been faced with a problem. He is being forced to move out of his luxerious home and move to a place that he calls “Out-With.” Which for the more mature readers, we know what that means. Bruno soon finds himself befriending a boy on the other side of the fence. Neither of them expecting the tragic outcome.

I was dissapointed in the book. I had heard about the book from quite a few people who seemed to enjoy it. A major problem with the book is i felt it was too strung out. The author tried to stretch it out more than it could go. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas would have made a great short story. Twenty to thirty pages, not two-hundred.

I also felt as though the characters were dull. Nothing too exciting or intriguing. None of their traits or personalities made me want to read more. I just didn’t feel the connection.

Another issue I had with the book is the beginning chapter. Let me clarify- the beginning chapters. Now when I read a book I want one that lures me in, makes me hooked on the book. In the case of this book I was not lured in whatsoever. The book in general was just dry. Unexciting.

I guess I can only hope that I will be more impressed with the movie.

2 of 5 stars.

1 comment October 4, 2009 nicoleuhl

Thirteen Reasons Why

 Jay Asher

Eerie, creepy, yet intriguing. Thirteen Reasons Why tells the story of Clay, a typical teenage boy faced with the death of his classmate and crush, Hannah. Before she committed suicide, Hannah recorded the reasons; thirteen of them, why she decided to end her life. The tapes are out. But here’s the catch…you will only receive the tapes if you are mentioned on them – a reason why. Clay is now faced with guilt like he has never experienced before. Why? Why is he on the tapes? What did he do to Hannah that helped her decide to end her life? Jay Asher tells Clays adventure of listening to the tapes and trying to find out just why he made it on Hannah’s “list.”

 If you’re a romantic, Nicholas Sparks lover this may not be the book for you. Thirteen Reasons Why, like I said earlier, has an almost eerie theme about it. Not one of those grab your cup of coffee and cuddle up type of books. Although it wasn’t the genre I’m used to reading, I still enjoyed it. Something about the novel kept me wanting to read more.

I would have liked to seen Clay’s character more defined in the book. Asher doesn’t give much detail about him considering Clay is one of the main characters. Also, I would have liked to seen Clay’s character have a little more “pizzazz.” From what we are told, Clay’s character is dull. Easily forgotten.

The part that I really liked about the novel is that Asher has Hannah’s voice almost narrating the story. That’s what set the tone of the book. Going back to that “creepy, a dead person telling me this story” feeling. Thirteen Reasons Why  also teaches it’s readers a lesson. It makes you reflect on how you’ve treated your peers.

 Although it wasn’t my favorite book I’ve read, I’m still glad I read it. Not a story I will easily forget.  I give it a three out of five stars.

1 comment September 11, 2009 nicoleuhl