War of the Worlds concluded

I think that the rest of this book was quite a bit better than the first half. The story really picked up,and I found myself enjoying the climax quite a bit. i also enjoyed it more after learning that the book was in fact based on the concept of manifest destiny. You see, Mr. Wells was really against the whole invading other less developed places and survival of the fittest. So the book is really an analogy, where the aliens are the invading english, and earth is a less developed nation.

War of the Worlds

To be honest, I'm quite disappointed with the legendary HG. Well's literary masterpiece that is War of the Worlds. The word choice and description, while sometimes creative is often insubstantial. but more importantly, the author seems to disregard the old writing rule of show don't tell. It seems like mr. Wells only tells this story through bland, straightforward statements. MAybe it will get better, but as of now, I am again quite disappointed.

Countdown 1

This book set in early 1960s America follows a young girl trying to cope with both the threat of nuclear warfare, and her own emotional problems. What is interesting about the book to me is how the girl (named Franny)'s internal issues and family trouble plays out almost like an annalogie to the wartime struggle of the town as a whole. Granted the parallel isn't perfect, you won't see each family member correspond to a certain nation involved or anything so specific, but in general tone and progression within the story, I did feel like there were similarities. to me, the biggest parallel was
Franny's mentally unstable uncle, who the whole family acts like is just fine, when really, everyone's just eating for him to crack, and be taken away. Similar to how everyone in the town is trying to live a normal life, whilst "just waiting around for a bomb to fall."

Lunchbox dream part 2

This book continues to hold my attention quite well, and really captures the delicate child psychology that has to be so prominent in a story like this. Bobby is often subjected to things that he can't quite grasp and comprehend. It is at these times when we are reminded that he's still a very young child. But what I really like about the book is the setting. Both what it is, and how the author describes it. As a big fan of the 1950s in all of its consumerist glory, this setting was one of the biggest reasons that I picked up this book in the first place. And the way that the author matter-of-fact-ishly mentions the various quirks and trends of the era is very well done.

Lunchbox dream part one

By Tony Abbot

This book centers around a young child named Bobby. Bobby lives in the late 1950s in the midst of many civil rights issues. Over the course of the story, the child learns to put his assumptions and prejudices aside, as he finds the truth about race. Early on in the book, you can feel the evolution beginning to occur, as the boy's predisposition begins to shift. The character of Bobby is a bit of a blank slate, mainly there to observe and react to all of the things happening. But they do give him enough character to be believable, and it is interesting when he is exposed to something that he can't quite understand. So far, I would recommend it to anyone with even a vague interest in the issues explored here.

Hillucinations

This is quite an interesting nonfiction book that mainly deals with different types of delusions that occur because of medical conditions or deficiencies. one of the most interesting things in the book was the concept of auditory or even smell or taste related hallucinations. The writing style is informative, but  not pretentious, and keeps your attention very well. I would recommend the book to anyone who is even vaguely interested in the subject.

Commercial

Staring at the screen
My brain cells do devolve
learning of the issue that
this product somehow solves.
they sure do look quite happy,
those picturesque, beaming folks,
I need this thing to be content?
so what, it makes me broke.
I can not bear to live without
my precious, perfect thing
"must be 18 or older to call"
the lady quickly sings.
O please, my dearest only friend,
your products I may flaunt,
throw out originality
and tell me what I want.
And so you see, these ads are more
than what they at first seem.
capitalism, feed the pigs,
the new american dream.

Huck finn Conclusion

I really enjoyed this book. It had suspense humor adventure, and a distinct voice. I guess that I should briefly mention the racism aspect. Yes, it's there, and semi prominent thru out the book, but it doesn't ruin it. You get the feeling that Huck doesn't really personally feel that way, but that it really is just how he was raised. In the end, Huck and Jim are friends, and that has to count for something. At first, I was a bit taken aback by the use of broken english within the book, but as I read, I discovered that it did have a certain charm to it. It didn't ever get in the way, and more often than not, actually helped tell the story better.

Huck Finn

I have read Tom Sawyer quite a while ago, and really enjoyed it. The narrative was fun, the characters and setting were also great, but what made the book work was the story itself, and the antics of the characters. Everyone's favorite character was always Huckleberry Fin, so it makes since that the next book would be about him. What I didn't expect was that the book would be told completely through Huck's prospective, and in the first person. It is also in broken english, with I thought would be a big problem, but it has its charm. Over all, I am really enjoying this book.

Rules

Rules is a very subtle, sad book. Either that, or it's just as boring as heck. I really don't know. Let me explain. Until the last few chapters of the book, our heroine mainly does... not much of anything, I guess. She has an autistic brother, and she kinda loves him, but is also kinda embarrassed by him, and is also kinda disappointed with her parents, and kinda angry at this other kid, but all of these emotions are very skimmed over, and therefor, not very potent. Again, is it just lazily throwing in clichés, or is it just too subtle for me? I mean I guess a 12 year old like the main character probably has a lot of confusing quick emotions running through her head, but that doesn't seem like the angle they'r going for either. they keep trying to go in different directions with the story, and you can tell that the author is trying as hard as they can to do something really meaningful, and sometimes, she succeeds, but there's a whole lot of mediocrity to wade through. It's like the author knew they wanted to say something really amazing and powerful, but isn't really sure quite what. I think I might be a bit old for this book, and the everyday antics that the characters engage in to me have about as much tension and drive to them as a "Bob Book," but it's not terrible. In fact, I would say to check it out anyway, if what I'm griping about doesn't tend to bother you.

1984

Again, I continue to vastly prefer vintage dystopian literature to the modern stuff. 1984 is a revealing jaunt through an unsettlingly accurate caricature of our own society right down to the subtle survalence of each of our daily activities. The book speaks to the horror of our own supposed modernist idea of community. But my personal favorite element of this magnification is the addition of big brother, who is subliminally watching everyone in the city and who's ambiguous image is strewn onto the walls and buildings. There are many subliminal images and messages in real society, and big brother just magnifies it. That said, the book does seem to loose some momentum for me towards the middle, but the romance is very believable and in a great way, average. there are also some very slow chapters there. `Take it or leave it, but there's definitely something here.

Brave new world last thoughts

Again, I would like to point out the contrast of the old world distopian literature to that of today.It is really of no use comparing them, for one is so vastly superior than the other, and Brave New World is an exe lent example. It is realistic, possible, entertaining, for boding, and most of all, it marked a story without an agenda. The book wasn't trying to please anyone and was not attempting to cater to any specific demographic, but more meandered along, and explored what the fictional world had to offer. It has a story, beginning, middle,and end, but there is more flux to this three act structure than one often sees in such books.

Brave New World

This book is a very enjoyable and thought provoking read.While many modern distopean books seem to take place in a sort of hostile and predgidist society that would never actually exist, this book actually deals with in a way a much more solemn message. In the book, human reproduction has been eliminated, and babies are born from huge mechanized factories. There are four or five distinct classes of people, and although they are by no means equal, each person is conditioned to be totally satisfied with their life. They work hard all day,and when it becomes to much for them, they go on a vacation where they are drugged to rejuvenate them. People die at around sixty, and that is fine, because no one really fears death. In a world where families don't exist, there is no one to mourn the departed. Sex has become a regular rutine, and is encouraged from an early age as a fun recreational activity. the thing about this whole society is that everyone is happy, everyone is nice to each other, and the only person who sees any problem with anything is an eccentric psychologist named Bernard. In this way, the book has far more credibility than other modern alternatives.

The Bookman Hostories

 This book is a venture to the pop-coultural craze of steampunk through way of literature. Steampunk books are surprisingly rare, although some novels told in a 1800's feel could arguably be considered for this. The huge book centers around orphan, a young man living in a strange version of London. In the book, all of Europe is controlled by a feudal system run by lizard people. The story takes place near the launch of the martian probe, but Shakespear is also still alive, as well as edgar Alan Poe, and Albert Einstien. As you would infer, the book expects you to buy a lot of weird ideas, but the best way to think of it is more of a remix of history, rather than a definitive time. Orphan is in love with a girl who is tragically murdered by a mysterious entity called the bookman, who kills people with exploding books. Again, weird ideas. So then it's a race against time for Orphan to capture the bookman, and save the city. Asa big fan,I really enjoy this one, but it's sure not for everyone.

The Origin Of Species, Charles Darwin

This book is fascinating in many respects, both as a piece of writing, and as a historical piece. Basically when Charles Darwin was around, the church basically ruled everything. At the time, the theory of evolution, along with much of the scientific world actually, was seen as directly sacrilegious and a serious crime against God. Wen it was first published, this book was not taken seriously, and Darwin was the victim of mockery, scorn, and hatred. The poor man died in fear of his crime against the church being discovered. So if that was how it was perceived then, what has changed since? well, a lot actually. People now see that religion and science aren't opposites, and society needs both to function. But what does that say about the book itself? The Origin of Species mainly talks about a large series of tests done by an elite group of scientists including Darwin, as they prove the existence of evolution, how it works, and the relationship that it has with genetics. Although some of the ideas expressed here seem a bit obvious today, back then, they weren't just novel, they were edgy, and controversial. A good read, if you'r into that sort of thing, like I am.