Book Review: Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan

Title:         Tower Lord

Author:   Anthony Ryan
Genre:      Epic Fantasy
Rating:     ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:


“The blood-song rose with an unexpected tune, a warm hum mingling recognition with an impression of safety. He had a sense it was welcoming him home.”

Vaelin Al Sorna, warrior of the Sixth Order, called Darkblade, called Hope Killer. The greatest warrior of his day, and witness to the greatest defeat of his nation: King Janus’s vision of a Greater Unified Realm drowned in the blood of brave men fighting for a cause Vaelin alone knows was forged from a lie. Sick at heart, he comes home, determined to kill no more.

Named Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches by King Janus’s grateful heir, he can perhaps find peace in a colder, more remote land far from the intrigues of a troubled Realm. But those gifted with the blood-song are never destined to live a quiet life. Many died in King Janus’s wars, but many survived, and Vaelin is a target, not just for those seeking revenge but for those who know what he can do.

The Faith has been sundered, and many have no doubt who their leader should be. The new King is weak, but his sister is strong. The blood-song is powerful, rich in warning and guidance in times of trouble, but is only a fraction of the power available to others who understand more of its mysteries. Something moves against the Realm, something that commands mighty forces, and Vaelin will find to his great regret that when faced with annihilation, even the most reluctant hand must eventually draw a sword.


Review:

The author of ambitious book Blood Song, Anthony Ryan, takes risk by writing a successor of his first book. I believe it is hard to contrive a plot of a sequel if the purpose is to accomplish what its predecessor achieved. Needless to say that most of trilogies have weak middle book.

I must admit, the transition from Blood Song to Tower Lord regarding Point of View was quite queasy. Some readers may find it interesting but it sort of causes to falter this second book. Vaelin was once a character I loved that I thought I know all about him already. Unfortunately, this book refutes what I once believed. Brother Frentis was one of my favorite characters that to read his thought was terrifying. I would rather want Mr. Ryan to find his character untouched that letting my description of him as the kid who is Vaelin’s responsibily remain. Lyrna was a princess who draws so much questions from me in book one. In this book she has proved how intelligent really she is. Reva was an additional character who was put into lime light in this installment. Regardless of my comments about those character, I would still prefer for this book to have sewn with point of view centered on a single character as what Mr. Ryan did with Blood Song.

In this installment, Mr. Ryan has expanded the world of Raven Shadow by adding characters and countries. I felt a rough acquaintance with these Volarian Empire and characters. However, for the long years passed since Vaelin’s absence from Unified Realm, I’m glad to meet familiar characters and their offspring characters such as Scratch and its pack. But, what made me more attentive to the story was Nortah’s children. They quite drew my attention. I’m impressed at how Mr. Ryan built these horrible but quite loveable and attention-grabbing new characters.

You think you knew it all? No, there were revelation in this book revealed that went mysterious and questionable event in blood song. I must admit, these revelation were quite planned all along by the author that it went shocking yet acceptable. Gore was what made the Blood Song beautiful and gore you’ll find again in this book.

One may find my narrative comment doesn’t suit my rating. I believe I love Blood Song that 4-star rating of this book is far behind from the rating I could give to blood Song. Surely, lovers of blood song shall still read this book, for this book offers exciting cross-country travelogue, interesting political schemes and never ending mysterious powers and magic.

Book Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Title:         The Name of the Wind

Author:   Patrick Rothfuss
Genre:      Epic Fantasy
Awards:  Quill Awards (2007), Best Book of the Year (2007) Publisher's Weekly, Alex Award (2008)
Rating:     ★ ★ ★ ★ ★















Review:

A memory of a book never fades if it’s good but sometimes good memories are just temporary and thus leave you eventually. It’s been 8 months since I finished reading Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicle( The Name of the Wind). Honestly, my initial reaction and feeling for this book are still the same from the moment I finished this book.

The story starts with Kote as an innkeeper but as Chronicle appeared in the story, Kote revealed himself as the famous Kvothe. And there he starts to share his story with the Chronicle.

Kvothe has been a member of troupe, specifically called Edema Ruh, who moves from place to place. Though he was just a Ruh, he is taught to use sympathy, wizards’ magical talent, by an Arcanist friend. Unfortunately, one night, his family has been murdered. He has seen before his eyes the murderers and realizes that they are the mythical people who are called Chandrian.

Left with no family, he has lived in the streets with thieves; learning the thievery with them. Prioritizing his main goal, he uses his cleverness to enroll to the University but with purpose of knowing more the Chandrian and eventually plan to hunt and kill them.

I was hearing so much rave about this book but didn't take the bite to read it until majority of Blood Song readers I know claim that the latter has similarity with this book. It is obvious that I was so obsessed with Blood Song and that it’s apparently the reason that led me to reading this.

I must admit that I didn’t immediately get into this book until Kvothe as a kid appeared in the book. No doubt, Patrick Rothfuss is a great story teller. The story of Kvothe is narrated by Kote himself. It is one of those proses that likely used during bedtime. Others might have stayed awake while reading but not me. My problem with his writing style is no matter how intense the emotion of his story is, it still gets me sleepy and rather just dream about its instead.

However, what makes me awake is my enthusiasm to know as to how the clever Kvothe turned to Kote – a man who is silently waiting his death. Furthermore, the story promises a rich and beautiful story ahead which I am doubtless I’ll be reading its successors.

Lastly, I  recommend The name of the Wind because story wise, you’ll never regret reading it as it is presently one of the highly acclaimed Epic Fantasy books to date in the market.

Book Review: The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley

Title:         The Emperor's Blades

Author:   Brian Staveley
Genre:      Epic Fantasy
Rating:     ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
















Review:

Look for a target.  Notch the bow. Aim. And release the arrow. This book did hit me but the last time I checked, I’m sure it just nearly got me bulled eye. With my run-on read-a-thon of Epic Fantasy Novels, it occured to me that I might just had fatigue that affected how I gave impression on books I read. However, as a reader I believe we have our own valid reasons why our rating ascends or descends.

Well entertaining when it comes to entertainment but has flaws when it comes to perfection. I am badly dismay to know that the main characters are way older than I thought. Obviously, the cover of the book may have yelled at me already of how they are depicted. With all the gods and goddesses of this book, I pray that you already figured out my sentiment. Spare Adare’s character, for the Author stressed out how matured she was than her younger brothers. Valyn and Kaden are characters for me who were really hard to get into despite the fact that almost all of the book has their own point of views. The characters were so distant to me that affected how I presumed their ages. Furthermore, I, myself find the characters lacked of emotion and showed less internal character development even though the author ,sort of, insisted it.

Characters, histories and places were thrown out at ramble which made me neglect them. They weren’t introduced neatly and gradually, instead were overlapped by another wave of new names, histories and such. On the other hand, Emperor’s blade promises a breathtaking story and page turner one. It has an admirable world building that offers extraordinary utopia. My concerns are just minor because judging it as a whole, it’s really a good book to read.

AUTHORized: Anthony Ryan

 AUTHORized is a new segment on this blog that features Authors
 in an interview or guest post

If you were thinking that I didn't plan to revive this blog of mine, well, you’re obviously wrong because my first interviewee on my new segment is someone epic. I mean, someone who writes Epic fantasy books. Yes, an author. But take note, he’s one of my favorite authors currently. So open your eyes and enjoy my conversation with Mr. Anthony Ryan, who authored the book Blood Song.

***

How did you come up with the Blood Song story?

AR:           I don't generally get flashes of inspiration, just a germ of an idea that gestates over a long period of time until it becomes something worth writing down. Blood Song emerged from a combination of influences including my studies for a part-time history degree, contemporary politics and various musings on the nature of religion. 

How do you build your characters and world?

AR:            I didn't do all that much note taking or pre-writing for Blood Song, for the most part the world and the characters emerged during the course of writing. I tend to see story and character as much the same thing, since one continually informs the other. For me, one of the keys to writing convincing characters is consistency, you have to ensure you don't have them doing things they would never do or saying things they would never say. I find world-building largely a matter of providing enough detail to illustrate those elements that impact the story without piling on so much information the reader gets bored.

Who is your favorite character in your book?

AR:            At the risk of being predictable, Vaelin has done a lot for my career so I'll probably always put him first.

Who do you think is the character in your books who's Anthony Ryan in disguise?

AR:              Frankly none. The only writer in the book is Verniers and I like to think I'm nowhere near as pompous as him. If I was to appear in the story I'd almost certainly perish in the first battle scene. 

Read or Write?

AR:               Read, it's easier.

Given that you're a big fan of Gemmell, what single book of his you want to book push to other readers?

AR:             Wolf in Shadow, on of his earliest books and still his best in my opinion, though they're all great and anyone who likes my work will almost certainly like his. 

What did you feel the first time you knew someone bought your book? How about when the publisher offered to traditionally publish your work?

AR:         I'll always be grateful for that first single digit on my sales report, the fact that someone thought something I'd written was worth their money remains a source of delight and surprise. The approach from Ace which led to my publishing deal was more of a shock, since I honestly wasn't expecting it. Once I'd calmed down though, I found the process of being published a fairly straightforward one, even oddly anti-climactic since my day to day life hardly changed, until I gave up my day job of course. I certainly don't regret it though.

Why chose Science Fiction and Fantasy? 

AR:          I think it chose me. I do read other genres, primarily crime and historical fiction, but science fiction and fantasy remain my first loves. I think I'm drawn most to the infinite possibilities offered by speculative fiction, it can be both escapist and nightmarish, beautiful and brutal, all in the same story.

How do you feel that you book is being compared to other published books?

AR:          It's extremely flattering to be mentioned in the same breath as George RR Martin and Robin Hobb. I also get compared to Patrick Rothfuss a lot, even though I still haven't read him.

What is next to expect from you?

AR:        Foreign language rights for Blood Song have been sold to 17 countries so far, though I think only the Italian version has actually been published. So anyone who doesn't speak English as a first language and wants a copy in their own tongue should keep a close eye on the Amazon new release listings over the next few months. Tower Lord, Book 2 of the Raven's Shadow trilogy, is currently with my editor at Ace and should be published in summer of 2014. I'm currently working on book 3, tentatively entitled Queen of Fire, and hope to deliver it by the end of the year. After that I have a couple of short story anthology invites to meet and I'll be returning to my Slab City Blues stories, which I'm continuing to self-publish. In addition to all that I'll need to start plotting out my next fantasy series, but it'll probably be a couple of years before that sees the light of day.

***

To know more about Anthony Ryan, you can freely visit him over at his website.

Book Review: Blood Song by Anthony Ryan

Title:         Blood Song

Author:   Anthony Ryan
Genre:      Epic Fantasy
Rating:     ★ ★ ★ ★ ★














Review:

I’m taking Maria’s introductory remark: I Highly Recommend Blood Song.

Apparently, I’m having this High Fantasy read-a-thon recently thus my taste on the said genre has just come back, albeit, my purpose was for preparation for our Book Club’s Monthly read which, unfortunately, I failed finishing reading it before the discussion. Anyway, it cannot be denied that I feel so fortunate stumbling upon this book.

Vaelin Al Sorna, Son of the King’s Battle Lord, at the age of ten, he is left by his father at the Sixth Order to be trained to fight and is only provided by his father with his “Loyalty is our strength” belief. But to what point shall he stand his loyalty to his family if entering the Order means leaving and forgetting everything he has?

Mad at his father’s confusing decision, he faces the Order with all it requires even it implies wiping out his past. Upon training he faces trials, gains friends, and even earns recognition but threats to his life linger. How can he be a fully Brother of Sixth Order and servant of Faith if hindrance aren’t just the difficult Order’s tests but emanating death attempts on him brought by assassins. But the question is, who wants him dead?

IF Science Fiction has a military SF novel Ender’s Game, I would like to think this is High Fantasy’s answer to its call. Blood Song – one of the best Epic Fantasy books, in fact Best Military Fantasy piece so far, this century has ever created. It starts with Vernier’s Account. Disorienting at first since it always happen to new books, but once Vaelin’s life story started, you’d be able to spell out UNPUTABLEDOWN.

It is hard for me to shrug off the apparent fact that Mr. Anthony Ryan is a great story teller. He knows when to pull the reader with evocative emotions. He started the story with innocence of a boy and gradually leads me to complex, yet wonderful world. Moreover, he knows where and when the reader regards and disregards what he reads and so he make advantage out of it by giving off very subtle motives and clues that eventually blows out at the very end of the book. Thus, after reading the book, a realization may come that the whole story is just delicately stitched from the very beginning to give way for its explosive ending.

The world building may not as exceptional as it should seem but its contents such beliefs, religions and cultures are nonetheless, flawless and concrete. The countries are strongly discerned and tied with their respective religion and beliefs that could be seen in real world. This is quite of a few books that successfully convert depiction of real situation to the fictitious Fantasy one. The names of the characters may sound odd but distinction among respected people is distinguished through the earned additional name on its Family name. It is one of the unique ways of the book that caught my attention.

The story rotates around brotherhood. Truly, I am impressed by how the word brother exploited without the bond of blood of those who used it. Every time I read the said word among the five main characters, trials, bonds and concern to each other flashbacks. The book indeed not just focuses on World building development but more on Character development. Vaelin Al Sorna is not a genius character but he’s clever enough to be likable. Lastly, Blood Song possesses strong meaning of friendship that seldom books could do.

Yes, this book is no other than an Epic Fantasy. It is a coming-of-age story like other works being compared to it. But one thing I am certain and I can assure you, Blood Song can stand on its own and Blood Song is unique on its own way. It is indeed the next Epic Fantasy book everybody should read.

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Title:         Legend
Author:   Marie Lu
Genre:      Dystopia
Rating:     ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Disclaimer: The following review contains opinions and quotes from the book that might contain spoiler. Proceed at your own risk.










Review: 

An ambitious book built with major flaws.

Dystopia is currently new generation’s genre. Though, under Sci-fi sub-genre, authors are hitching along its popularity. I, myself, am fond of reading books under this sub-genre thus reading this book is no wonder why I read this. In fact, Legend has been labeled as one of my future reads before it was released. However, liking a genre doesn’t suggest adoring all books under it.

Two contrasting worlds; two people alike. 

June Iparis, known for being Republic’s one of the wealthiest families, is groomed to be one of the best soldiers of the nation. Although parentless she is, she still has a brother to depend on—Metias. But in an unfortunate event, the world as if falls down to her when the only family left she has reportedly murdered by the prime suspect named Day. 

Day, Republic’s most wanted criminal, remains his statue with a mysterious profile. Known dead by his family, yet he’s living up his life for them. When he finds out that a member of his family has been infected with nation’s deadly virus, Plague, he has to cross devil’s den to have a cure. On the day he gets the cure, an incident happens that tends him to be tomorrow’s prime murderer.

June, who is holding grudge against his brother’s murderer, has to hunt down Day. June and Day are neck to neck outsmarting each other. But eventually, behind the murder of his brother, she finds out there is more story behind it that is likely untold.

I must admit that this book is easy read and tends reader to a nonstop flipping of pages. However, it never covers the fact that it has its own flaws.

Pork is pork but it could be cooked in many ways. Dystopia is dystopia but it could be pictured in many ways. Legend is a ride on to Dystopia’s popularity but it didn’t offer fresh story. Typical government with typical situation. I’m a little underwhelmed by the fact that Legend hasn’t created a signature of its own that it never able to get out from the shadow of other dystopian books.  Moreover, the book’s story is too much transparent that gives reader ideas of what would happen. In other words, the story is predictable. Day’s exclusion on passers list made me conjure one or two most possible assumption. It’s either his wealth status has something to with it and so because of his knowledge, he might be a leader for rebellion.

In addition, I also have the same concern with other readers: the two major characters are described as both flawless that, unfortunately, their point of views and approaches are as if owned by one person. Sad to say, Marie Lu failed to layout and differentiate her characters for this book. Since the book consists of two alternating point of views, neither of them is unidentifiable whose and whose story you’re already reading.

I find the pacing annoyingly slow even though it was action filled. Both characters were too distant for me to get into. There was something with the first part that acts to remind me that the characters are just fake and made of fiction. Perhaps, the characters’ perfection and strangeness might have something to do with it.

Finally, one of my major complains is the world building. Let me magnify it, it’s the test in the story that 10-year old children take up.

“[Someone] gets a perfect score—1500 points. No one’s ever gotten this—well, except for some kid a few years ago who the military made a goddy fuss over. Who knows what happens to someone with a score that high? Probably lots of money and power, yeah? You score between a 1450 and a 1499. Pat yourself on the back because you’ll get instant access to six years of high school and then four at the top universities in the Republic: Drake, Stanford, and Brenan…You squeak by with a score between 1000 and 1249. Congress bars you from high school. You join the poor, like my family…You fail. It’s almost always the slum-sector kids who fail. If you’re in this unlucky category, the Republic sends officials to your family’s home. They make your parents sign a contract giving the government full custody over you.”

Obviously, if the kid passes the trial, he will be assigned to the top universities and undergo a highly specialized training which will eventually suffice Republic’s purpose to serve the nation. If the government is really that clever, why use an intelligence test if they intend to sieve the next great people to serve the nation? Isn't appropriate if trial includes physical test or combat test since some are trained to become soldiers? I doubt actual combat just needs just pens and paper to fight. I doubt actual combat requires interviews and prompt answers to fight. Some children might be intelligent but it doesn't mean they are great at fighting, too. I doubt this thing makes sense to me unless the Republic is just up to creating an army of pure strategists and bunch of scientists. Those who fail the exam get experimented and get killed. My point, why depend the lives of those children on a test that isn't even accurate? This Trial thing is too shallow for me to put a life at stake.

From the last four sentences I quoted from Day’s POV above, if a kid fails he’ll join the poor like his family. The Republic will send officials to his family’s home. They will make his parents sign a contract giving the government full custody over him. Eventually, he will get killed and experimented. I wonder how his parents survive and other poor families in the slum sectors.

I know I was expecting but I’m pretty sure the book could have been better than this.

Ink Refilled! Blotted Pages for The Second Time!

I believe  it’s almost a year since the last time I updated this blog. Something happened that I decided to eke out the Rollie as the reader and Rollie as the living man. Before I realize I’m getting further into my personal life let me summarize to you the events I went to, in regards with Rollie as the reader, within the time I forgot to refill my pen to ink the Blotted Pages.

July 2012:Around July, Anniversary of my Online and Offline community (GR-TFG) held the group’s Anniverssary Party. On the same day, TFG’s book of the month Remains of the Day by Kazou Ishiguro Face-To-Face Discussion was also conducted and Former Moderator of the group, Kuya Doni, celebrated his Birthday.

L-R: Miss Ronnie, Mae, Po, Alona, Tina, Maria, Biena, Louize,
Wilfred, Cary, Benny, JL, Angus and ME!

January 2013:    Who said I was prepared enough for it? Long period of time was given yet I thought my nerve wasn't yet ready for it. Finally, after thinking of what would I have to do, moderating a Face-To-Face Discussion finally came to pass. Online and Offline poll, Fahrenheit 451 toppled other nominated books such that Dune by Frank Herbert and Unwind by Neal Shusterman. September 2012, the book won the poll and Last December 2012 Goodreads The Filipino Group opened the online discussion. After three weeks, Face-To-Face Discussion was conducted. Special thanks to Tina for the help. Forgive my laziness, I should be have posted this topic  independently but  I decided not to since it’s already over three months since the event happened.

“So. Are you guys here to convert me or sell me siding?”
― Richelle Mead, Bloodlines

BOOK CONVERSION TO MOVIE

It’s not new to us even since long time a ago the movie adaptation of a hit novel. This past years, we’ve seen some of the remarkable movie adaptations that hit bigtime worldwide such as Harry Potter, Twilight and lately Hunger Games. Though there are books that are exceptionally great, movie adaptations sometimes still ended up to be devastatingly bad.  But this year, what movie adaptation from a book are you dying to watch already? Here are the some talk-of-the-town movie adaptations, with corresponding Goodreads sysnopsis, that came and will come out this year. 

1. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES 

by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

2. THE HOST

by Stephenie Meyer.

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.

3. PERCY JACKSON AND THE SEA OF MONSTERS

by Rick Riordan

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

4. CITY OF BONES

by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . . 

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

5. CATCHING FIRE

by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.

6. ENDER'S GAME

by Orson Scott Card

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. 

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. 

Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Book Review: A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Title:        A Walk to Remember

Author:   Nicholas Sparks

Genre:      Romance, Drama

Rating:     ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Reviewer's Note:

The following review is re-posted from When Blog and Book Collide blogsite that is managed by the same blog author of Blotted Pages.

Review:

I'm Rollie... and now I'm leaping over my bounded forte?

Romance is the least among the genres that I craved to try. Instead, I stumbled upon reading this love story book. A risk indeed to read a different genre especially when it exempts among the genres you always thinks about. Thus, it doesn't just take twenty gulps to risk for it but takes time and sweat to decide the dilemma whether to give it a shot or not. Lately, I decided to widen my braced genres and I thought this book is worth the risk to try. So as a love story as this title represents, I'm afraid that the further words I will emancipate may loosen up the tightness of the statement I previously, in my reviews, professed.

The life of Landon Carter during 1958 has been brought back by his memories.

Landon is sixteen-year-old senior high student of Beaufort High School, North Carolina. Being a son of congressman, who he rarely see in their house in a year, is normal. Being with his friends Eric and Margaret are even normal for him, for he used to be with them since grade school. But being the Student Body President is another thing, while signing up for Drama Class is definitely not his thing. 

Jamie Sullivan is surely the last girl in the world Landon wanted to marry but absolutely not the last girl to ask as a date for the school's homecoming. As Landon's world becomes closer to Jamie's, he'll find a plan he never thought fated for him.

I was sure then before I tried that I wouldn't like this book, though I was in the mood to read this kind of book. The moment I fixed my eyes onto the surface of the first page of the book's prologue, my feet as if set foot onto the world of what I was reading. I became the main character himself. Marvelous really it is to say how amazing the approach of the main character's perspective to me as a reader. Truly effective. A perfect thing to add up is that the perspective used in the story is from guy's character, considering that it gives perfect justice to how a guy thinks, utters, and acts.

The story composes of just simple elements: The typical story of ugly duckling that turns into swan; typical story of a jerk guy who fell in love to the swan; and a typical story of a man who'll do anything for love. The magic of how it turned out to be good is the summation of all those factors. Moreover, Spark really used the overused concepts perfectly during the shifting of events, which of course a positive move for the book to become better.

I'm told that the movie is way better than the book. Granted, for I am one of those unfortunates who haven't watched the movie yet. Yes, I did not itch to watch the movie the moment it had been shown in cinemas nor did I eagerly wait for it in movie cable channels. But I'm very much glad, for I think that choosing to read first the book over watching the movie is one way or another, a smart decision.

I honestly admire Spark for writing down the solid description of Jamie Sullivan, yet unknowingly behind her image is a great mystery. That despite of the best answer a normal person could offer to the reason of her action, there is still hidden truth behind it that alters the nearest possibility.

The greatest thing I liked about this book is the profound messages of the story beyond what are written, though some are already given. I liked how faith works at Jamie, that even though everything has been taken from her, she dignifies how her faith still remains. I was also touched at how simply a very kind person could turn the people oppositely to what they were. There is even presence of the true effects of love, which it leads the in love human to think either sane or insane. And the story, in a way, emphasizes how humans should give attention, importance and deeper understanding on the things that surround them not until it's too late. And the best of all is how faith can bring out the miracle to the surface out of the deepest pit.

I admit that there were many times the book led me on the verge of tears. For I reckon that this book, no matter how cold-hearted I am, is no wonder a heart-moving one.

POV: Attorney Monique

POV or Point of View is a segment on this blog, which features readers and bloggers through an interview. The project has been introduced early of June 2012. To know more about this project, please click here.

Grateful. Blessed.


Those are what I feel for having her as my first interviewee on this project. As I said before, her project on her blog inspired me to create my own version. To honor her, I asked her to be my first guest, which fortunately she accepted without hesitation.

My first guest is a member of book a club family, which I also belong to. I’d been seeing her name on goodreads before I met her because, mind you, she’s one of the best book reviewers I've known. So, it’s my honor to introduce to you my first guest— Attorney Monique.


Tell us about yourself and please include how your bookishness started.

Atty Monique. The Lawyer. The Book Reader.

Hi! My name is Monique, I'm a 32-year-old bookish wife, mother, lawyer, and blogger. (I am actually a lot of things, but I'll limit my introduction to those that are relevant for your purposes. :P) I am an eclectic reader: my bookshelf contains books from all genres, which I enjoy. I am the proud owner of Candy, my white 2nd generation Kindle, which I purchased secondhand from my boss around 2 years ago. Like many book lovers I know, I am forever attempting to whittle down my to-be-read (TBR) pile, but because I am a chronic book-hoarder, print and digital editions alike, I end up adding two books for every one book that I finish. So much for that.

My bookishness began at a young age. I was, oh, perhaps 7 years old when I stumbled upon a hardbound edition of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz at our home library. (I still have that book at home.) After reading it, I just couldn't stop – I read practically whatever I could get my hands on. You can find out more about this story over at my blog. :)


Tell us about your blog and the story of how you came up with it.

My blog, “ Bookish Little Me,” was born in July 2011, when I realized that the posts on my personal blog (which has been around since 2004) have become more and more about books, book raves and rants, bookish friends, and book clubs, with which I began being more active at the time. There was a time when, in an entire month, all the entries were book-related. The purpose of my personal blog seem to have been eclipsed by all the book talk, so I thought about setting up a separate blog devoted solely to my bookish stuff. That's how “Bookish Little Me” came to be. 

How do you sort out your books on your shelf?

I don't. Haha. :P

Seriously, I'm not all that OC about how my books should be arranged on my shelf. Primarily because of logistics - I need more actual shelves to house the print books that I already own. Right now, there are books that are in plastic boxes under our bed and my old bed in my parents' house, books that are arranged on our knickknacks shelf at home, and books that have taken up residence in my office cubicle. So you could see that arranging books right now is not possible. Let me get back to you on this question when we finally set up our own home library. :)

How do you rate a book?

I don't really have any hard and fast rule or criteria when it comes to rating a book. Mostly, I appreciate a book that appeals to my emotions or tickles my imagination. I rely on that feeling that a book gives me as soon as I close the last pages: did I enjoy it immensely? Or just a tad? Was it a little boring for my taste, or simply not my cup of tea? Things like that. I'm fairly easy to please, so I guess it means a lot if I give a book 5 stars or just 1 star, based on the Goodreads rating system.

How do you review a book? What do you think should be included in a review? Does it need to be lengthy and elaborate, or short and concise?

First off, I have a disclaimer on my blog that says I don't do “reviews” - I prefer to think of them as simply my “thoughts” about a book I've read, because a “review”, in my opinion, should be very precise, strong, and highly critical of any given work. When you read my so-called “reviews,” you'll see that there isn't an accurate formula to them – they're not really how an honest-to-goodness review should be presented. Well, at least as far as I'm concerned.

So to answer your questions: I “review” a book by writing down my thoughts and feelings about it, as simple as that. I think that an actual review should have an appropriate summary of the plot, a critique on its writing and the progress of the story, a comment on character development, and all that jazz – things that are not always present in my “reviews.” Finally, it doesn't matter whether a review is lengthy or short, for as long as the critic's/reviewer's ideas are fully explained and written. 

 

Atty. Monique sharing her favorite Authors and Titles.

What are the two genres that you currently most prefer?

Like I said before, I am a diverse reader, so I read all genres, but I am currently enjoying literary/general fiction and historical fiction at the moment. The 3 titles that I listed above are all from the literary genre. :D

 

Which book would you earnestly recommend to your bookish friends?

Sorry, I can't just settle on one so I have to give three books: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I would rave about these books over and over and over again.

 

If there's a book that reflects your personality, what would it be, and why?

It took me a while before deciding on which book (I think) reflects my personality, but I'm going to have to say The Wizard of Oz is the one. The Wizard of Oz is simply written (being a children's book), a classic work, replete with life's lessons for the young and old alike, and is multi-faceted in the sense that it combines reality, magic, comedy, drama, suspense, and all the elements that would make a good, timeless book – attributes that I'd like to think I have, as a person. Aside from being my favorite book of all time, it is also the book that made me the bookish person that I am today.

 

As a reader and a book reviewer, what are your limitations when it comes to reviewing a book?

No limitations whatsoever, because you can't put limitations on thoughts and opinions about a book. If I hated the book, I'll rant about it; if I loved it, I'll rave about it. Besides, I've always believed that a book should be "reviewed" on its own merits and not on the basis of what other people thought about it.

 

How did reading influence your Point of View in life?

Reading for me has become more than just one of the pleasures in life that I enjoy. Through reading, I realized that books aren't just simply there for the reader to be entertained, but are also tools through which life values and lessons are imparted and instilled. I guess I could say that reading has widened my take on a lot of things.

Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title:         Insurgent
Author:   Veronica Roth
Genre:      Dystopian
Rating:     ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
















Review: 

The most anticipated book of the year has come. The question: Is it worth the wait?

It all started with Divergent. Gladly, I am one of those readers who were caught to be amazed by it. The said book hits men and women, children and adults, that apparently it toppled other books. Inevitably, books in the same genre are competing. Amazing indeed how Divergent climbed up the peak of its current success among others. As a first book to top the rest is not luck but indeed suggests how fully furnished and prepared it is for its worldwide success.

They reckon themselves as survivors. But for others, they are counted as fugitives. 

Beatrice Prior along with other survivors from the Erudite’s attack runs for their safety and at the same time runs for their lives. As they find their path to find a home, they find their way to the other factions that are not involved on either side. But as Tris tries to move on with her life, a nightmare of the past becomes a hindrance of her plan to step forward. 

Tobias has been keeping his image as mysterious for everyone. As he goes along with fellow Divergent and survivors, will he reveals some of it or keep it still for the sake of peace he was containing since then?

As a sequel to a creative piece of work, It’s a logical leap to assume that this book is great, if not, at least good. Fortunately, I reckon that this book hasn’t badly failed me yet. Nevertheless, the fact is hard to put off how much, in a way, this book disappointed me.

The characters of this book have shown their other sides that have been well coated in its predecessor. On the same subject, they have unleashed their flaws that eventually took reader’s attention. Yes, I have nothing against this matter, but, I suppose it could have been better for me if these other sides of them have been executed prior to the productivity or merit of story’s purpose. 

Additional fluff, I noticed the writing style to be unusual. Some scenes were abruptly narrated through colon which I did find disturbing. Nevertheless, I consider that it was intended hence the thickness of the book explains. Linking this subject to thickness of the book, I couldn’t fathom any idea why would it be thick when clearly some of the scenes were just useless to be inserted. So, the book has become dragging for me because of it. One more thing, I didn’t feel the conversations’ genuineness thus appealed to be unnatural for me.

I’m doubtless that Divergent’s ending has been glorious for those readers who’ve enjoyed it—drastically fulfilling if I were to describe it. With my description it implies one word—bought. I was bought by every important detail the book offered. Meanwhile, the sequel Insurgent, branches out new revelations. Unfortunately, some of these revelations falsify Divergent’s story. Some of them are too rough for me to consider proposed since then. The main revelation didn’t even intersect with Divergent’s story. So, obviously, spare me from those who embraced it. Moreover, these said revelations open loose threads that I, myself, gained questions out of it.

The story rotates around treachery, love, heartbreak, friendship and family. Sadly, treachery has been an ignorable twist for such was overused in a manner that all characters were subjected for treachery against the side they supposed to belong to. Truthfully, the theme of family ought to be crossed out since the book depicted the wrong manner of family relationship.

On the other hand, I did like the book because no matter how rough the coated revelation was at the beginning, it still blew me away at the ending. I truly appreciate how Tris, as the main character, wasn’t put into spotlight in this book, for the obvious fact that Roth was preserving her time for the latter part of the story.

Veronica Roth impresses me once more through creating as fierce and as bold as Divergent. Roth obliterated his characters without hesitation. For me what took my anticipation is not who’d be the next to betray with their respective sides but who’d be wiped out next.

I’m glad that the isolation of their community was delivered smoothly and so does the history of it. I’m impressed that this book once again ended remarkably. Finally, I happy to say that next book is worth a shot.

Sneak Peek: POV (Point of View)

Sneak Peek: POV (Point of View)

June is the second quarter’s last month. Usually in my country, Philippines, it’s the start of new school year while in other countries it’s the month where it ends. Considering the fact I’m located in the Philippines, June is the month of new school year and June definitely the right month for me to introduce my new blog project which features readers and bloggers—POV for Point of View.

History:

Earlier month of this year, I stumbled upon a bookish friend’s blog--Atty. Monique’s Bookish Little Me. However, as I dropped by on her blog, I came across reading a blog post that featured another bookish friend of mine. At the same moment, I was still cooking up this new blog but it never darted away the idea in my mind of being inspired doing a project too that, in a way, soothes my concept.

About:

POV or Point of View features readers and bloggers through an interview. Point Of View showcases some hypothetical questions that give us idea how the interviewee thinks. Furthermore, it also offered us interviewee’s opinion over things discussed. On the other hand, POV has some base questions as traditionally done in an interview. Nevertheless, POV is the bridge of knowing better the interviewees and get closer with them.

Banner:

Part of giving birth of this project is giving it an image through a banner. Unfortunately, I’m not the one who made the banner. Yes, you heard me right. I intended it for someone to do it for me since this project involves not just about this blog or myself but also other bloggers and readers. Thus it just suggests that preparation of this blog project should involve other readers or bloggers.

Credits: Banner by Rodgine Ruiz