This book was AMAZING! I know I've said that about several lately, but I read this 500+ page book in one day, plus working and rehearsal. So good.
Of course, I love the vampire aspect, but that's not even what makes it so good. I'm not sure what I can really say about it. It's a great love story! Bella is such a strong character.
Truly, I think I'll have to write more about it after I finish the sequel (tonight, perhaps!).
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
16 - Empire, Orson Scott Card
This was a very scary book. I don't want to think about how real it seemed. It would also make a very interesting movie, although I doubt that it would screen very well, for a variety of reasons.
It raises some interesting questions about our government and its current situation. I think I would be on the side of Cole and Rube. Plus, I liked the jeesh. The idea of a group of men like that has always intrigued me. It reminds me of Ender's Army in Ender's Game, which is, of course, my favorite Card novel.
It raises some interesting questions about our government and its current situation. I think I would be on the side of Cole and Rube. Plus, I liked the jeesh. The idea of a group of men like that has always intrigued me. It reminds me of Ender's Army in Ender's Game, which is, of course, my favorite Card novel.
Monday, May 5, 2008
I Am Legend (2007)
We rented and watched the 2007 version of I Am Legend last night. Other than the obvious "gotcha" factor, as a scary movie, it didn't really bother me very much.
The scene with Sam was exceptionally sad, but given how the dog in the book worked out, it wasn't too surprising. I didn't really like what happened to his family, but I suppose it was easier than trying to keep track of them and it gave him motivation for staying on the island.
I was a little curious about how Anna and Ethan got onto the island, because, well, didn't the military seal it off? But all questions aside, it was a moving movie. I liked the alternate ending SO MUCH more than I liked the theatrical ending. I felt like Neville learned so much more, and it was definitely more true to the ideas in the novel.
About the novel. I felt like I was watching a different story. They did a great job of updating it and making it relevant to the time and place, but I LIKED it as a plague of the ages. We didn't really need the added statement about the dangers of genetically engineering superviruses.
Overall, I liked the movie and I'm glad I saw it, but I don't need to own it. Everyone needs to read the book, because it was marvelous!
The scene with Sam was exceptionally sad, but given how the dog in the book worked out, it wasn't too surprising. I didn't really like what happened to his family, but I suppose it was easier than trying to keep track of them and it gave him motivation for staying on the island.
I was a little curious about how Anna and Ethan got onto the island, because, well, didn't the military seal it off? But all questions aside, it was a moving movie. I liked the alternate ending SO MUCH more than I liked the theatrical ending. I felt like Neville learned so much more, and it was definitely more true to the ideas in the novel.
About the novel. I felt like I was watching a different story. They did a great job of updating it and making it relevant to the time and place, but I LIKED it as a plague of the ages. We didn't really need the added statement about the dangers of genetically engineering superviruses.
Overall, I liked the movie and I'm glad I saw it, but I don't need to own it. Everyone needs to read the book, because it was marvelous!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
15 - I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
I was really impressed with the way this book was written. It definitely tugs on that part of me that is always fascinated by apocalyptic stories. I am intensely curious (morbidly so?) about the end of the world. It colors my dreams and my own writing, as well as my taste in plays and literature.
However, even in my focus on the end of the world I tend to maintain my sunny optimism. Usually, in my dreams, I am a member of a band of survivors/resistors who are struggling to ensure the survival of mankind. Because of this, I didn't want Ruth to turn out the way she did and I didn't want the book to end the way it did.
Considering the social climate when this book was written, I don't think it's terribly surprising that it ended the way it did. Although no one really thought that a vampiric bacterial infection with spores spread by mammoth dust storms would be the downfall of mankind, people certainly did think that Communism could be the downfall of society and possibly the human race. I have no idea of Richard Matheson intended this to be a statement about the dangers of Communism, but I can definitely see bits and pieces of that as a possible interpretation.
I know that I do not intend my own writing to have a "higher meaning" and I certainly, at this stage at least, am not filling it with complex metaphors or statements of higher purpose. I don't know how I would feel if someone who read it tried to find layers of meaning like that when I am simply trying to write a nice fantasy story. It is impossible, though, to separate the author from his place in history and there will always be influences apparent in a work of literature.
On a completely different note, I think I am ready to watch the new movie. There have been many movie versions of this story. There was The Omega Man in 1971 and The Last Man on Earth in 1964. I am unconvinced about how true either of this movies is to the original novel. For that matter, I am unconvinced that the 2007 movie will be all that true to the novel. We shall see.
However, even in my focus on the end of the world I tend to maintain my sunny optimism. Usually, in my dreams, I am a member of a band of survivors/resistors who are struggling to ensure the survival of mankind. Because of this, I didn't want Ruth to turn out the way she did and I didn't want the book to end the way it did.
Considering the social climate when this book was written, I don't think it's terribly surprising that it ended the way it did. Although no one really thought that a vampiric bacterial infection with spores spread by mammoth dust storms would be the downfall of mankind, people certainly did think that Communism could be the downfall of society and possibly the human race. I have no idea of Richard Matheson intended this to be a statement about the dangers of Communism, but I can definitely see bits and pieces of that as a possible interpretation.
I know that I do not intend my own writing to have a "higher meaning" and I certainly, at this stage at least, am not filling it with complex metaphors or statements of higher purpose. I don't know how I would feel if someone who read it tried to find layers of meaning like that when I am simply trying to write a nice fantasy story. It is impossible, though, to separate the author from his place in history and there will always be influences apparent in a work of literature.
On a completely different note, I think I am ready to watch the new movie. There have been many movie versions of this story. There was The Omega Man in 1971 and The Last Man on Earth in 1964. I am unconvinced about how true either of this movies is to the original novel. For that matter, I am unconvinced that the 2007 movie will be all that true to the novel. We shall see.
14 - The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen, by Mitali Perkins
This book reminded me of Kira-kira and Esperanza Rising because it chronicles the struggles of an American child whose heritage is not taught in the history books or commemorated on our calendar. Sunita Sen is an Indian teenager with a perfectly normal American life...until her grandparents come from India to visit for a whole year. Sunita is embarrassed by how different her grandparents seem and she pushes away her friends, certain that they could never understand. Finally, as her birthday gets closer, she learns some valuable lessons about being different and being who you are.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the stories we don't get from our history books. There are so many things that I don't know, or have only skimmed the surface of. I want to find more books like this and, ideally, share then with my students.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the stories we don't get from our history books. There are so many things that I don't know, or have only skimmed the surface of. I want to find more books like this and, ideally, share then with my students.
13 - 4 Kids in 5E and One Crazy Year, by Virginia Frances Schwartz
The buy-one, ger-one-free book fair came to school this past week, and I bought 12 books. Heaven help me. But it was great!
The first book I chose to read was an inspiring teacher story (which I needed!). It's called 4 Kids in 5E and One Crazy Year. It's about a group of 21 fifth graders who are chosen to make a new class because their New York City school is over crowded. The kids come from a variety of backgrounds, including several who were born in other countries and speak a language other than English at home. They are reluctant and wary at first, but gradually they warm up to their new teacher as she leads them through writing exercises that help them discover both the joy of writing and secrets about themselves.
My favorite thing about this book was the fact that it references the picture books that so many teachers use to teach writing, such as The Relatives Came, Grandfather's Journey, and When I Was Young in the Mountains. Writing is very difficult to teach and I loved "watching" a veteran teacher lead a group of reluctant, sometimes angry young people to fall in love with it! It was definitely inspiring and made me look forward to teaching writing next year a little more.
The first book I chose to read was an inspiring teacher story (which I needed!). It's called 4 Kids in 5E and One Crazy Year. It's about a group of 21 fifth graders who are chosen to make a new class because their New York City school is over crowded. The kids come from a variety of backgrounds, including several who were born in other countries and speak a language other than English at home. They are reluctant and wary at first, but gradually they warm up to their new teacher as she leads them through writing exercises that help them discover both the joy of writing and secrets about themselves.
My favorite thing about this book was the fact that it references the picture books that so many teachers use to teach writing, such as The Relatives Came, Grandfather's Journey, and When I Was Young in the Mountains. Writing is very difficult to teach and I loved "watching" a veteran teacher lead a group of reluctant, sometimes angry young people to fall in love with it! It was definitely inspiring and made me look forward to teaching writing next year a little more.
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