Schultz Reading 2015

[Janet]

Gosh, what a lot of challenges you have.  Some fantastic books to come for you!    
 

Happy reading in 2015.  

[BSchultz19]

I've got The Giver on my TBR list as well. I'd heard about it for a long time before I bought it but never realised it was a dystopian novel. Once I realised that, I bought it.   Glad you enjoyed it. I might have to bump it up my TBR pile.

 

I was the same way. For some reason I thought it was about World War 2. I got three pages in and realized it definitely was not about WWII 

 

I really enjoyed Wuthering Heights. It was a surprising book for me, because I was expecting a love story and got something much darker and twisted.

 

Like Frankie, I've only read the first book in The Giver trilogy as well. I have the others on my TBR pile, but it's been so long since I read The Giver that I'll probably need to re-read it before I can read the others!

 

I agree about Wuthering Heights. I thought it would be a love story as well and as I got further and further into the book it got darker and more complex. I definitely enjoyed it because of the fact that it isn't a typical love story, but more real and a bit horrific. 

[BSchultz19]

I got sick two weeks ago, so I have been recovering and catching up on the week of school I missed which caused me to neglect my reading and posting. I'm hoping to get back in track this coming week. 

[dtrpath27]

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Summary

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

(from goodreads)

 

Opinions

For some reason the plot in this book is not what I expected from what I've heard about the novel. I'm not sure if the plot of this book got mixed up with another in my head, but I didn't know this book was a sort of dystopian novel. After I discovered this, I really enjoyed the book.

All dystopians give you a lot to think about and this one didn't disappoint. The plot was great and kept me interested the whole way through. I enjoyed the characters and the setting that the author came up with was fabulous and intriguing.

What I am wondering is how this book connects with the rest of the books in the series. I read the summary of the next book and its about a completely different character. Can someone who has read the whole series explain this to me? Is each book about different characters?

 

Rating

 

I'm so glad you liked it! I was so embarrassed that I hadn't read it as it's required reading at so many schools here, so I bought a copy a couple of weeks ago for my Kindle. I hadn't realized until then that is was dystopian either, or that it was part of a series. I should be starting it before long.

 

I got sick two weeks ago, so I have been recovering and catching up on the week of school I missed which caused me to neglect my reading and posting. I'm hoping to get back in track this coming week.

I'm glad you're feeling better! It seems like there's such nasty stuff going around. I thought it would get better when I moved to the South, but apparently it just followed me down. Edited January 18, 2015 by dtrpath27

[BSchultz19]

I'm so glad you liked it! I was so embarrassed that I hadn't read it as it's required reading at so many schools here, so I bought a copy a couple of weeks ago for my Kindle. I hadn't realized until then that is was dystopian either, or that it was part of a series. I should be starting it before long.

I'm glad you're feeling better! It seems like there's such nasty stuff going around. I thought it would get better when I moved to the South, but apparently it just followed me down.

Yeah it was awful. 6 days of the stomach flu. Not fun at all. I'm just glad I'm feeling better now.

[Athena]

I got sick two weeks ago, so I have been recovering and catching up on the week of school I missed which caused me to neglect my reading and posting. I'm hoping to get back in track this coming week. 

I'm so sorry you were ill . I'm glad you feel better now, I hope you can do some more reading next week!

[Devi]

I hope you feel better soon

[BSchultz19]

I'm so sorry you were ill . I'm glad you feel better now, I hope you can do some more reading next week!

 

 

I hope you feel better soon

 

Thank you for the kind thoughts    I'm feeling much better now, but I'm still a little weak and tired from being sick for so long. Perfect conditions to curl up with a book 

[dtrpath27]

What I am wondering is how this book connects with the rest of the books in the series. I read the summary of the next book and its about a completely different character. Can someone who has read the whole series explain this to me? Is each book about different characters?

As I just finished the first one, I clearly have yet to read them all, but apparently it's part of a quartet of books that are loosely related, telling different stories about different people in that general time period. There seems to be some reappearance of certain characters, but the protagonist and location for each are different.

[BSchultz19]

As I just finished the first one, I clearly have yet to read them all, but apparently it's part of a quartet of books that are loosely related, telling different stories about different people in that general time period. There seems to be some reappearance of certain characters, but the protagonist and location for each are different.

 

Thank you. That helps to explain it. In the version I read, it had the first chapter of the next book and I was a little confused because the main character was completely different. If this is the case with all the books I would hope there was some sort of connection in the fourth book otherwise it would be very frustrating. 

[BSchultz19]

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Summary

In the first of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, 007 declares war on Le Chiffre, French communist and paymaster of the Soviet murder organization SMERSH.

The battle begins with a fifty-million-franc game of baccarat, gains momentum during Bond's fiery love affair with a sensuous lady spy, and reaches a chilling climax with fiendish torture at the hands of a master sadist. For incredible suspense, unexpected thrills, and extraordinary danger, nothing can beat James Bond in his inaugural adventure. 

 

Opinions

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book more than anything. I have seen the movie before, which I usually don't do if there is a book that was written before the movie, so it was interesting to know some of what happens but still be surprised at the different events in the book. 

 

I can see myself reading more James Bond books in the future, but I didn't enjoy this book so much that I feel the need to read the rest right away. 

 

I don't really have much else to say about the book, because I finished it a couple weeks ago and forgot everything that I was going to say about it . 

 

I've read some reviews that say that Bond is incredibly sexist in this book, but I honestly didn't see that. That's also because I don't go searching for reasons to hate men, but that's a totally different topic that I won't get into. Also, this book was written in 1954, which doesn't make some of the things right, but it wasn't really frowned upon at that time. Always have to consider the time period that books are written in. 

 

Rating

   

[dtrpath27]

Great review! You know, I'm a huge James Bond cinema fan, but have never read any of the books. I'll have to check one out.

[Athena]

I've seen this book, in Dutch, in the charity shop several times, though I haven't picked it up. I liked parts of the Bond films that I've seen (I think I've seen.. 4-6 of them?) but there were some things that grated on me. I've heard though that the books are completely different. I'm glad you enjoyed it though it's a shame it wasn't brilliant or anything.

[BSchultz19]

Great review! You know, I'm a huge James Bond cinema fan, but have never read any of the books. I'll have to check one out.

 

Yeah I was the same way. I really enjoy Daniel Craig as James Bond, but that might be because I am young and don't know any better 

He is the one who plays Bond in Casino Royale. At least the only Casino Royale that isn't black and white. . . 

 

I've seen this book, in Dutch, in the charity shop several times, though I haven't picked it up. I liked parts of the Bond films that I've seen (I think I've seen.. 4-6 of them?) but there were some things that grated on me. I've heard though that the books are completely different. I'm glad you enjoyed it though it's a shame it wasn't brilliant or anything.

 

Yeah there are some annoying parts to the books as well, but from the reviews I read on Goodreads, the other books are much better. This was Fleming's first Bond, so I can imagine that the character is more fleshed out in the rest of the books and plot lines might be better. 

[BSchultz19]

I am taking an American Literature class in school this semester and I have really been enjoying it. 

We mostly read short stories at this point in the class, but it is interesting to explore the literary aspects of some of the writing from authors that I have already read. It helps to make me a more well-rounded reader and think more when I read. 

 

I'll probably post more about it if we read something that really blows me away. So far we have read a couple Mark Twain and I've never been a fan of him. We also read one Jack London and another Stephen Crane. I enjoyed the Stephen Crane story more than I enjoyed reading his book, The Red Badge of Courage. 

[Anna Begins]

I am taking an American Literature class in school this semester and I have really been enjoying it. 

I can't wait til I can start taking literature classes- I am thinking of a minor.  But alas!  I am not rich and can not go to school forever  Yes, please update your thread on the new class.  I am hoping to be taking the Short Story as a class next semester.

[Athena]

I'm glad you're enjoying your class, BSchultz ! A literature class would so not be for me as I often miss hidden meanings behind things and don't enjoy dissecting a text too much, but I'm interested in hearing more of your experiences.

[BSchultz19]

I can't wait til I can start taking literature classes- I am thinking of a minor.  But alas!  I am not rich and can not go to school forever  Yes, please update your thread on the new class.  I am hoping to be taking the Short Story as a class next semester.

 

I'm not in college yet, only high school. And I'm not majoring or minoring in anything close to literature or English, but I hope I can take some literature classes when I do go to college anyway. 

 

I'm glad you're enjoying your class, BSchultz ! A literature class would so not be for me as I often miss hidden meanings behind things and don't enjoy dissecting a text too much, but I'm interested in hearing more of your experiences.

 

I'm definitely learning a lot when it comes to that because I am the same way. I read so quickly that I miss a lot of the hidden stuff. I've noticed already that when I read I'm starting to think more as I read. So I think this will be good for me and my growth as a comprehensive reader. 

[BSchultz19]

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Summary

In 1918 Ernest Hemingway went to war, to the 'war to end all wars'. He volunteered for ambulance service in Italy, was wounded and twice decorated. Out of his experiences came A Farewell to Arms. Hemingway's description of war is unforgettable. He recreates the fear, the comradeship, the courage of his young American volunteer and the men and women he meets in Italy with total conviction. But A Farewell to Armsis not only a novel of war. In it Hemingway has also created a love story of immense drama and uncompromising passion.

 

Opinions

I found it very interesting that a lot of the events in the story were based of real things that happened in Ernest Hemingway's life. I have read one or two other works by Hemingway, but this is my favorite so far. Not only did it have a great aspect of war and what it meant to those who experienced it first hand, but it was also an intense love story. 

 

From the few Hemingway's that I've read I've always found it interesting how his writing is so simple, yet it is considered to be great and classic writing. I think this is a good lesson to young writers; the writing doesn't have to be elegant to paint a picture and help the reader understand. Often the short, terse sentences Hemingway used showed the intensity of the war and made it more real. Soldiers were angry and tired so they spoke in short sentences. Absolutely great writing. 

 

As far as the story itself, it was interesting and had some different twists and turns all the way until the end. I found myself getting sucked into the lives of Lieutenant Henry and Catherine Barkley. That is what any great piece of writing does. I loved the characters, enjoyed the plot, and the writing was excellent.

 

Really liked this one. 

 

Rating

          

[chaliepud]

Great review of A Farewell to Arms, this has been on my wish list for some time but for whatever reason has not made it to my TBR shelf.. I think I need to do something about that soon.

[Athena]

Great review !

 

So I think this will be good for me and my growth as a comprehensive reader.

That is a great thing !

[Anna Begins]

Hemingway is my favorite author, I like what you had to say about his writing.   His short stories are great too.  So is A Moveable Feast and The Sun Also Rises.  Sorry- subconsciously trying to convert you

[BSchultz19]

Great review of A Farewell to Arms, this has been on my wish list for some time but for whatever reason has not made it to my TBR shelf.. I think I need to do something about that soon.

 

I highly recommend giving it a try!

 

Great review !

 

 

That is a great thing !

 

Thank you! And yes, it is 

 

Hemingway is my favorite author, I like what you had to say about his writing.   His short stories are great too.  So is A Moveable Feast and The Sun Also Rises.  Sorry- subconsciously trying to convert you

 

I have read The Sun Also Rises but that and The Old Man and the Sea are the only two other than A Farewell to Arms that I have read. I have a whole book of his short stories that I think used to belong to my dad, so I might read a few of those 

[BSchultz19]

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Summary

The narrative drive of Stowe's classic novel is often overlooked in the heat of the controversies surrounding its anti-slavery sentiments. In fact, it is a compelling adventure story with richly drawn characters and has earned a place in both literary and American history. Stowe's puritanical religious beliefs show up in the novel's final, overarching theme—the exploration of the nature of Christianity and how Christian theology is fundamentally incompatible with slavery.

(from goodreads)

 

Opinions

I found it interesting that one of the most noted things in this edition (an edition dedicated to the classic nature of the book and such) pointed out that many people have a negative view on the literary integrity of the book and the characters themselves. It was shocking to me because I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was always taught in American History that it was one of the most influential works of Literature in American history. 

 

One of the things in particular that I liked about the book was the author personally addressing the reader. This often seems awkward to me as a reader, but I think in this case, a political commentary, it flowed into the ideas that the author intended to express. The book told a story, but more importantly it expressed many points about slavery, the owners of slaves, the slaves, and even the negativity of abolitionists in the north. 

 

While reading this book I attempted to put myself into the shoes of those who would have read the book at the time it was published. Who would I have been? A southern slave owner's wife? An abolitionist that although fighting for the freedom of blacks was afraid to go near them? A true compassionate person towards slaves? It definitely made me look inward and realize that had I been put in the same situation as the people of the time, I might not have made the most moral decisions. But in the end the book shows that good prevails, even if the hero dies they die doing good and living a good life. 

 

I was so impressed, as a Christian myself, with the extreme faith that the character Tom showed. Through trials and persecution, he refused to deny God and always did the right thing in any situation. When terrible turns of events went against him he never faltered and remained constantly in God's word. Faith like that is extremely powerful to read about. 

 

Overall, I would say that I liked this book a lot. It was controversial at the time it was published and even is now for its literary integrity and some of the ways characters are portrayed. The book made me think a lot and sparked a lot of opinions in me. I would recommend that anyone would read it, but especially Americans. It is important to understand history on a deep level in order to prevent its repeating itself. 

 

Rating

     

[Athena]

Great review, I'm glad you enjoyed the book . I believe I have a copy of it somewhere though I'm not sure if it'd be a book for me. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though .