Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is not just any other biography out there among the profuse number of them. It is a biography about an abrasive, volati...more Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is not just any other biography out there among the profuse number of them. It is a biography about an abrasive, volatile, yet astute man who’s idiosyncrasies are reflected in this clear, elegant and concise story. So much so that I will take the liberty to term it an “iBio”. *(Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life) and the hidden and unseen personality of a man who through ingenuity and innovation set the highest standard for our six most important digital age industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing , and digital publishing. I strongly recommend this book to people who are interested firstly, in the personal and hidden life of Steve Jobs, and secondly, to people who are interested not only in the life of this great man, but in the way he started the most colossal technology company in the world. Something that struck me about Steve Jobs is his megalomaniac characteristic in which he markets the “blue box”. The blue box is a box with 13 dials which uses the cycles-per-second tones which AT&T used to translate phone numbers into audio signals, giving you the power of any phone operator. In breve, It allowed illicit phone calls free of charge by faking the signals used by the various phone companies. What struck me about this is that just through this small machine, Jobs’s was able to come up with a brilliant, and crazy marketing plan; one where he was able to control infrastructure that was worth billions, while also making a profit of 110$ for every box that he sold. An example of how much power Jobs had control over is when he was trying to sell the box to his fellow college-mates. He had Wozniak demonstrate. This was done by Wozniak pretending to be secretary of state (at the time) Henry Kissinger, and calling the vatican.Supposedly Wozniak played his role so convincingly that the vatican actually said that the pope was sleeping but if it was required, they would wake him. Wozniak got so nervous that he hung up(28-29). Another part that is really riveting about Steve Jobs is when Isaacson wrote about his absolute perfectionism. Any product, must have an origin, and an inspiration in which it is created. Using this metaphor for Steve Jobs, his drive for perfection’s origin and inspiration indubitably came from his father, Paul Jobs. Steve said the following about his father”He loved doing things right, he even cared about the look of the parts that you couldn’t see”(6). Another part that struck me about Steve jobs was his ability to convince people that they could do the impossible; through a term coined by Bud Tribble as the “Reality Distortion Field.” The Reality Distortion Field was said by Andy Hertzfield to be Steve Jobs' ability to convince himself and others to believe almost anything with a mix of charm, charisma, bravado, and persistence. Jobs’s reality distortions were said to be able to distort an audience's sense of proportion and scale of difficulty and made them believe that the task at hand was possible.As Bud Tribble puts it, “It was dangerous to be caught in Steve’s distortion field, but it was what actually led him to change reality.”(118) In candor, I think that it is undoubtedly a 5-star book because of how it proves us wrong about what we previously might have thought of Steve Jobs. It shows us that even the greatest of men may have a dark side to them. Just like everyone has their quirks and secrets. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks that Steve Jobs was just a genius, nothing more. For like me, they will also be”Enlightened”. Isaacson has done beautifully to create this iBio, in which the writing flows effortlessly. Along with Albert Einstein, Isaacson has written a masterpiece on a man with a more eccentric personality. A man with more imagination, but most of all, a man who was...different.
*()"Amazon.com: Steve Jobs (9781451648539): Walter Isaacson: Books." Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. .
Trash Review Trash by Andy Mulligan is a superbly written book, set in a third world country within our near future. It’s sole purpose is to tell us ho...moreTrash Review Trash by Andy Mulligan is a superbly written book, set in a third world country within our near future. It’s sole purpose is to tell us how even under the most unlikely circumstances, our lives can change. Paradoxically in this book....through trash. Following his critically acclaimed book Ribblestroop, Andy Mulligan explains to us through the three main characters how if you are willing and convicted, there will always be that pot of gold waiting for you over the rainbow. With all this in mind, and starting from another day at the trash dump, Andy Mulligan starts to unfurl a story full of precariousness as the characters Gardo, Raphael, and Rat each take turns telling their own discrete views. Sister Olivia and Father Julliard’s voice can also be discerned through this book, but it mostly revolves around the mysterious bag that Raphael found in the trash. I would strongly recommend this book firstly, to those who are interested in looking for an easy, light, yet tasteful read, and secondly, to those who would like to learn more about the truth of our world, and just how dark it can really be. Something that really struck me about this book is when Gardo deceives Sister Olivia into getting him into the prison to see Gabriel Olondriz. What struck me about this part is that Sister Olivia knows that Gardo is up to something bad; Yet, she still goes through with his plan because she believes that his actions are for something worthwhile. Considering the risk involved, any child who would try and attempt what Gardo did would have to have a lot of courage.This part also really struck me because of what Gardo thought and felt at the time. Described with perfect discreteness, Gardo’s point of view struck me because it would take a lot of passion, conviction and belief in order for him to have the guts to betray someone who trusted him; In this case, Sister Olivia. Something else that really struck me about this book is when Gardo, Rat, and Raphael meet up in the poor quarter at the cemetery and find the daughter of the man that was killed in his quest to uncover the corruption in the country. The way that Mulligan describes the girl is magical, yet extremely creepy, for the girl has an extremely calm disposition considering the situation that she’s in. What makes the scene even more deathlier is when she says she has been waiting for her dad to come back, and to carry her home. This is all said as she sits on a tree, right above her dad’s coffin. The description of Rat’s reaction also brings the scene to life, as he calmly starts to accept what is happening through his perspective of the event. This strikes me because I believe that if that story were an actual event in real life, then none of the characters would have reacted in the way that they did. Last but not least, I believe that the moment when the three characters find the money, is the most striking. This is because metaphorically, it stands for the freedom and hope of a country that has been devastated by corruption. It is the evidence that there actually is corruption in the country; a problem that the impoverished had been looking to solve. What the pile of money first and foremost stood for though, was the blood, sweat, and tears that Jose Angelico shed in order to not only become a country’s hero, but also become the beacon of light that the impoverished were looking for. In candor, I would give this book 4-5 stars, for it is not only a light read, but it also indirectly tells us what not to make our future look like. This is something that I feel that our current generation needs to be more conscious of. For this book portrays only the near future. I would definitely recommend it to not only middle schoolers, but to high schoolers too. Following Ribblestrop, Trash is food for thought and definitely a whole-hearted two thumbs up from me. (less)
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore is the new definition for brilliant in the dictionary. Revolving around a single goal of saving humanity and earth...more I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore is the new definition for brilliant in the dictionary. Revolving around a single goal of saving humanity and earth as we know it, Lore describes the ever precarious situation that ‘number four’ is in. Taking place in a small and irrelevant town by the name of Paradise, ‘Number Four’ a.k.a John Smith, sets out on a journey to develop his legacies, as well as start to understand that he is the next one the Mogadorians will be hunting. With his Garde, John Smith learns that he, and the others will be responsible for the survival of the universe. Only if they manage to survive. I would strongly recommend this book to those who are interested in not only in sci-fi, but also to those who are looking for a light yet compelling read.
Something that struck me in this book was when Number Four says that he wants to be able to settle down somewhere for a while(17). This was striking because in my everyday life, I see people who say they want to go places and meet new people. Yet, here in Number Four’s case, he wants to be able to settle down somewhere. I think this shows that everyone’s mentality is different; Depending on what situation they came from, and what situation they want to be in.Something else that inculcated in my mind from this same detail is that because of the situation that Number Four was in, he started to think selfishly. He didn’t care that he was in the middle of a war and that humanity was depending on him. He just wanted to lead a “normal” life.
Something else that forcibly etched into my brain about this book was when Number Four describes his first kiss(163). It’s not so much the kiss that struck me, but that something alien, and unknown would be able to experience emotion much like all of us humans. This strikes me because that is what separates the good from bad. That one ability to be able to feel emotion is what separates, and this can be seen through any superhero novel. In this case, the description of the mogadorians mercilessness shows that they have no emotions. They neither feel remorse, nor pain for when they are killed, they just erupt into a pile of grey ashes. I believe that this colour represents those two emotions for grey usually represents a haziness and a lack of emotion.
Last but not least, something that struck me about this book was when Number Four reveals his true identity to his friend Sam Goode(264). What struck me about this is that Number Four finally found someone other than his Garde that he could confide in. Relating this to the real world, it’s like finding that person outside your family members in which you are able to tell anything and everything to. This is something that we all struggle with and this detail is even more striking to me because all his life Number Four has been waiting to be able to live a normal life and settle down. Ironically, he only finds this "normal" moment in the most dangerous part of his life.
In candor, I believe that this is a four to five star book because of the original, insightful and fluent writing throughout it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone over the age of 10 purely for the reason that it may be a bit long. An easy read, Pittacus Lore has written an eloquent, concise and compelling novel deserving of any literature award. (less)
Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman is a brilliant book, and it is merely a book about 3 things. How the world is warming up, why so many pe...more Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman is a brilliant book, and it is merely a book about 3 things. How the world is warming up, why so many people are on the same economic playing field now, and how the world is getting more and more crowded each and every day. Through this sequel of The World is Flat, Friedman tells the becoming tale of a new era, the Energy Climate Era. No better put than by a new york times columnist, they say that "through an illuminating account of recent events. He shows how 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the flattening of the world by the Internet (which brought 3 billion new consumers onto the world stage) have combined to bring climate and energy issues to Main Street. But they have not gone very far down Main Street; the much-touted "green revolution" has hardly begun. With all that in mind, Friedman sets out the clean-technology breakthroughs we, and the world, will need; he shows that the ET (Energy Technology) revolution will be both transformative and disruptive; and he explains why America must lead this revolution—with the first Green President and a Green New Deal, spurred by the Greenest Generation." I strongly recommend this book to people who are interested firstly, in non-fiction, and secondly, for people who are interested in not only the present situation of the world, but the future situation. Something that struck me in this book is when Friedman mentions an americum(56). An americum is any group of 350 million people who are earning more than 15,000 a year. In short, people who are living like “americans”. In the past, there were only two americums in the world. One in North America, and another in Europe. However with China and India moving 3 billion people onto the global playing field, it has created another seven americums . What struck me about this was that now, anyone has the power to “live like an american”. What I mean is that all over Asia now, people are consuming just like the Americans,and living the “American Dream”. Another part that was really interesting about the book is when Friedman mentions how if you jump out of the eightieth story of a building, you actually feel like you’re flying for seventy nine stories. Then, you just stop. This is a perfect metaphor of how the US has been living. For the past 80 years it has been a place of hope for people who couldn’t find opportunities in their own countries, but suddenly, when that stop when the US was flying came in the form of the 2008 economic recession, all of the americans consumption problems were suddenly brought to light. By then though, it was too late. The earth had started to heat up, and energy consumption rate was growing too fast. In breif, The world was going through an energy crisis. Another part of this book that I like is how Friedman compares the John F. Kennedy airport to Singapore’s. As he describes it, the JFK airport was bustling, and he and his family couldn’t find anywhere to even sit down. When they arrived at Singapore’s airport though, they were met with an ultramodern spacious piece of art. The main point which struck me about this part is that although the US has one of the highest GDP’s in the world, in terms of where it stands on being “crowded”, sometimes, it’s not always better to have more. In truth, I think that it is between a four and a five star book because of how it shows us sometimes the unpleasant truth about our world. Not many people can write such bold books like this To the extent that although about an adult-like subject, it seems extremely interesting and engaging for kids like us to read. I would recommend it to middle schoolers that are interested in economics and sustainability because technically, this entire book is based on those two ideas. Although ending with a somewhat brief and abrupt conclusion, Thomas Friedman has presented us with another piece of brilliant work. Another book which is sure to direct out mass consuming generation towards a greener future.
Friedman,Thomas.Hot, Flat and Crowded.London, England:Penguin Group,2008.Print.
citation"Hot, Flat, and Crowded | Thomas L. Friedman." Home | Thomas L. Friedman. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. .
Have you ever been deceived by assuming a book by it’s cover? Literally, Ubiquitous by Joyce Sidman is one of those books. Although seemingly innocen...more Have you ever been deceived by assuming a book by it’s cover? Literally, Ubiquitous by Joyce Sidman is one of those books. Although seemingly innocent and plain on the outside, on the inside, lies the beauty of nature.....followed by a scientific explanation. From the simplest of organisms to top predators who have survived on our earth for more than 400 million years, Ubiquitous is exactly what it’s name perceives it as. It is everywhere; starting from explaining the first life on earth. Combined with exceptional illustrations that enhance the experience of the world’s survivors, Ubiquitous is deserving of the ultimate accolade, for it is not only the key to our past, but the guide and the story of our present day. I would strongly recommend this book first and foremost to those who are intrigued by the art of poetry and secondly to those who might just be hungering for a piece of scientific knowledge through a pretty simple book. Something that really struck me about this book is the first poem of the book, on bacteria(5). For although it is short and simple, it is extremely descriptive. It describes the bacteria as having “waking”, and also describes the first life on earth as “miraculous”. The reason that those words and the poem really strike at me is because they tell the hidden beauty of life. This is because in our everyday lives, I don’t know a lot of people who will take the time, and the moment in the day to just stop and celebrate the fact that they are alive. Not to say that there aren’t people like that but they are far and few between. Something else that struck me is the poem “ The Lichen We”(8). For you really have to comb through the poem before you start to understand that the “Lichen” is actually a combination of Algae and Fungus. This thought provoking poem is “solved” and is also the perfect build up to the scientific definition on the next page, where in the very first sentence it tells you what a Lichen is. Something else that struck me about the poem is how it describes the teamwork between the fungus and algae. Through the words “ What do we share-we two together? A brave indifference to the weather. A slow but steady growing pace. Resemblance to both mud and lace(8).” The last line was particularly at the crux of why it jumped out because it shows that exterior looks don’t matter. This is shown because even though one of the organisms resembles mud and the other lace, both work together to create a successful partnership. Applying this to our lives is not hard for even if one person is dumb, the other smart, one sporty, the other lazy, there will be always a way to solve their differences and be able to work together. Last but not least, something that really struck me is the poem on Diatoms(12). Although extremely short and easy to understand, it is like an onion. You can always peel back another layer of information each time you read it. One of the meanings that I was able to find out that really struck me was when Sidman says, “too beautiful to eat(12).” What struck me about this is that humans consume gallons and gallons of water each year in the sea but are not conscious of the beauty inside the externally plain sea water. I believe that this is the reason why Sidman is forced to use “Almost too beautiful to eat(12).”, for people are consuming them by the millions every single day.
This book shows us the unseen beauty and strength of organisms in our everyday world that we take for granted and dissects them and therefore I rate it a 4-5 star book. Joyce Sidman could easily be the next Langston Hughes, or the next Shel Silverstein, for her words are intricately woven and flow like the river. In this compilation of poems that are as beautiful as the items they describe, Joyce Sidman has produced another masterpiece. (less)
What would you do if you discovered a secret that would change everything? In Stitches, award winning author and illustrator David Small recreates hi...more What would you do if you discovered a secret that would change everything? In Stitches, award winning author and illustrator David Small recreates his dark childhood where not even a glimpse of hope is to be found. Through a secret which aggravated his childhood to the brink of death, Small somehow withstood the pain and the suffering of a childhood without love; and comes out on top, because of a passion. A driven force. Art. I would exceedingly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a good scare, through a graphic novel that is no less than flawlessly written. Something that really struck me about this book is that David is able to run away from home at age 16, just on the hope that he will someday become one of the world’s greatest artists(295). The fact that David was able to survive on his own as a senior is amazing but I can’t but help thinking that being practically on his own the most of his life, his tough family condition “prepared” him for his life in solitude. Yet, wondering about it, if all of us are going to go out into the world someday, does it mean that we should all be trained from young how it feels like to be completely alone? Something else about Stitches that struck me is that David’s mother, didn’t love him. What really struck me about this is that someone would not love their own flesh and blood. This idea is reinforced through the time when David finally figures out that the only reason his mother came to visit him when he was on his “deathbed” was that to her, he no longer mattered. To her, he was already dead and had come to just bid farewell(211). Who would have thought that someone’s sense of hatred, and disgust could come in the form of their own son. Another part of the book that downright struck me is that David’s own dad gave him cancer. This was even more striking as his Dad is a qualified radiologist. Even though in the book it says that the reason his dad exposed David to 2-400 rads was that he was giving david therapy for his sinus infection, the 2-400 rads were enough to give David cancer(285). Yet, by the time that David had figured this out, it was already too late. He had already had one of his vocal cords taken out, along with the extreme growth in his neck that was because of his cancer. The picture depicted after this scene was a black hole that david walked into, and this sums up his life until then. He had been like one of the soldiers in The Charge of the Light Brigade. He had been led astray, and had been walking into oblivion. Not sure about who he was , or who he was going to be. He just believed, and did whatever people told him to. This book shows us the light and the darkness about our world, and therefore I rate it a 4-5 star book. David Small is like Thomas Friedman, an enlightener to our unpleasant, and unfriendly world that we live in; and what better way to reveal the unpleasant truths about our world than through a graphic novel? David Small presents us with an overpowering and extraordinary memoir, which comes to life in the muted form of words. In this story of a dark and secret life, filled with anger and vengeance, David Small has once again produced a brilliant work of art. The ultimate accolade for Stitches. (less)
Award Winning Author E.L. Konigsburg has stunned the literary world again with this subtly breathtaking novel; The View From Saturday. Following her...more Award Winning Author E.L. Konigsburg has stunned the literary world again with this subtly breathtaking novel; The View From Saturday. Following her novel that put her on the world map, (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) E.L. explains how there are rough diamonds in our everyday lives, how there’s always a chance of even the most unlikely happening. Through a very simple idea of an academic bowl, E.L. explains her points through the shocked, confused, chagrined, and even eerily calm narrations by each of the four characters. Raconteurs, Noah, Nadia, Julian and Ethan each tell the anecdote of how they came about their crucial answers during a crux in their academic bowl quest. An unlikely story of harmony between four characters who are peculiarly linked, The View From Saturday is perfect for those readers looking for a light, enjoyable read, yet one where you can also take away life lessons, along with a few general facts. Something that really struck me about this book is when Noah retaliates against Nadia when she chooses the name for their ‘team’ (90). This strikes me because it was he along with the team who agreed to settle with whatever team name that Nadia had picked. It strikes me for it shows that there will never be a completely unanimous decision within a team of divergent qualities. This is almost a tautology: team of divergent qualities+idea= no unanimous decision. Yet, although it sounds like something that you don’t want, a team that always has different opinions is the most creative one. This is one key component of ‘The Souls’ that I believe allowed E.L. to develop each of their discussions. There was that choice of what kind of argument they would have. This was one of the key freedoms that enabled E.L. to put depth into the story.
Another part of the book that really struck me is when all four of the souls answer Mrs. Olinski’s final question to them with a very elegant and simple yes9160). This is very striking because it culminates the story with the first unanimous decision between the souls. The first statement that they are all in agreement about. This signifies that they are one, no longer a team of different opinions. It is practically the perfect ending because like an onion, there was an underlining layer in this book; a trend of how whenever an idea was presented to the souls, they would all argue. Therefore, when they finally came to an agreement on a particular statement, I was quite shocked. The way that E.L. uses her language in this passage flummoxed me too. For Mrs. Olinski asks the question “Did I Choose you, or did you choose me?”, then the children answer “Yes!”(160). Grammatically this is not correct, therefore it left me quite confounded as to what it meant. Leaving a striking imprint from this book.
Another part of this book that really left a striking imprint in my brain was when Julian Singh changes the words of a very vulgar sentence into poetry(73). This strikes me because those words were written on a leather book bag. Something which cannot be easily erased. Yet, Julian managed to come up with a brainchild sentence, and that would take a lot of skill and patience. E.L.’s description of this part exposed Julian’s true character. They also were words that helped her carve out a calm and happy demeanor about him, allowing the development of him as a character. This calm and happy demeanor also showed that he was not self-conscious, allowing him the ability to start his first tea party, and eventually, the ‘souls’.
I strongly believe that this is a five star book because of the layout, fluency. and technique that was used to execute this extremely simple idea. I would recommend it to any reader who has the capability to read it, for it will show you the truth of how “coincidences” may have not been coincidences after all. A must read for anyone, E.L. Konigsburg has shown that she has the soul. (less)
Well, this is unexpected — a comic book about the quest for logical certainty in mathematics. In Logicomix, Apostolos Doxiadis tells a story which spa...more Well, this is unexpected — a comic book about the quest for logical certainty in mathematics. In Logicomix, Apostolos Doxiadis tells a story which spans the decades from the late 19th century to World War II, a period when the nature of mathematical truth was being furiously debated. The stellar cast, headed up by Bertrand Russell, includes the greatest philosophers, logicians and mathematicians of the era, along with sundry wives and mistresses, plus a couple of homicidal maniacs, an apocryphal barber and Adolf Hitler.Is it different to the stereotypical comic-books? Not at all. The “superheroes” in this intellectual battle are the mathematicians who are trying to save math logic from the hands of intuition, and the bad guy or villain may be the spectrum of madness. Of course this isn’t your Tintin or Superman type of comic book but all same, it is still an alluring one. I would recommend this book to anyone in the grades of 9 and 10. This is because although it is a comic book, it could very well be a guide to the foundations of mathematics. Something that struck me about Logicomix is that Bertrand Russell dedicated 362 pages of a book,just to solving 1+1; the simplest equation that all of us have learnt since kindergarden. What struck me about this is that even though anyone in the world can do that equation, there are actually people out there who are willing to put blood, sweat, and tears into proving that the equation eventually gets to it’s answer:2. What is more amazing is that the 362 pages weren’t filled with words like every other book, but with mathematical equations. Another thing that struck me about Logicomix is that it explains that in our world, nothing can ever be fully understood, and that there will always be the unknown. Unlike previously, I have always thought that mankind would be able to solve every single mystery on earth. Yet, the book showed that no matter how brilliant your mathematics or logic, there would always be the unknown. This has been the problem perplexing the best mathematicians of the 21st century, yet the answer has been there for them since the beginning of WWII. No surprise though, for mankind has always been a stubborn race. Another part of the book that really surprised me is the self inclusion paradox. This paradox was formed as the result of the development of the set theory. Set theory was formed because before the sets, there were functions. For example f(x), or 3. Mathematician’s weren’t satisfied though, so they decided to make sets. For example any number greater than three, or any number between 3 or 9. This started the self inclusion paradox, for any set which contained itself, would not be able to. Vice Versa, any set which did not contain itself, did contain itself. Extremely confusing but to those select few mathematicians, this made perfect sense; but was also the cause of the drive to madnes I would not recommend this book for the faint-hearted(of boredom) or those who don’t enjoy reading about the mechanisms and foundations of mathematics. Although this might not apply to everyone, I wouldn’t recommend it till you are in the 9th or 10th grade. Even though it was an enjoyable book, the one paradox of it still confuses me. Does a set contain itself? If it does, then it doesn’t, and if it doesn’t......then it does. However self-inclusion would wipe out this complete paradox, and then, the heroes have nowhere to go next. I would rate this a 4 out of 5 star book because of the fluency and the paradisiacal ingenuity of presentation. HOWEVER, whoever is thinking of reading this has to take my advice and not read it until they feel that they would be interested in it. Is it madness to be driven by a passion for something as inhuman as abstract certainty? This is a question the four creators of “Logicomix” ponder as, in a beguiling coda, they make their way through nighttime Athens to an open-air performance of the “Oresteia.” Oddly enough, Aeschylus’ trilogy furnishes the concluding wisdom, which, at the risk of triteness(over usage), I’ll condense into a mathematical inequality: Life > logic. (less)
The Pillars of the Earth The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is a historical saga of epic proportions. Coming out as a bestseller even after his m...moreThe Pillars of the Earth The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is a historical saga of epic proportions. Coming out as a bestseller even after his much loved thriller Eye of a Needle, The Pillars of the Earth is an absolute and perfect piece of literature. Based on a man with a curiosity for cathedrals, it takes us through the 12th century, and the anarchy in that period; where guillotines and hangings were still used. It Intertwines love, passion, courage and indubitably, Ken Follett has created a masterpiece for which there are no words to articulate. Indescribable, The Pillars of the Earth is a novel which is suitable for anyone for no matter how uninterested you are in architecture, it will still manage to captivate you.
Something that really struck me about this book was the prologue(6). Although I usually skip the prologue in books, for they are almost always extremely boring, I decided to give this one a chance. To my surprise, it caught my attention from the very first sentence by describing four boys maneuvering through a town. Although sounding quite simple, the way Ken Follett describes them is absolutely profound. Starting by setting the scene, then describing the thoughts of the children on their elders, Ken Follett masterfully drags us into the book.
In the same prologue, Follett also describes how a man gets hung. As he describes the man’s neck going limp, I related it as a perfect metaphor later on for what happened in the first chapter. The main character Tom is going along swimmingly with another project of his, until suddenly he is forced to quit his current job and find a new one(76). This all happens in the middle of a harsh winter and leaves Tom and his wife struggling to find a job that will sustain their basic needs. Rejected from the first town that they see development in, Tom and his family start out on the long road to someplace where there is supposed to be work. This created a lasting impression because it shows how determined some people can be in order to keep their family happy. I don’t think that this quality is found in many people in the world today for everywhere we see stories of cheating spouses and irresponsible breadwinners.
Last but not least, something that really struck me about this book is when Tom meets an outlaw; A supposedly ravishing woman by the name of Ellen(176). At first he cannot believe that such a prepossessing woman could be an outlaw and I believe that this is a perfect example of how you should never be stereotypical about anything. It will always bite back at you in the end. Just as you should never assume the terms “math” and “tiger mom” will immediately associate with asians, you should not be stereotypical about anything else. For an open mind, is always the one who will accept facts easier.
In truth, I believe that Pillars of the Earth is undoubtedly a five star book because of how it shows that facts cannot simply be accepted. You must be able to have the ability to question them for yourself, and to make sure that what people are saying is true. Ken Follett has interlaced architecture in a story of boldness and revelation. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 10 purely for the reason that you need to understand the book. As I said before, this is because it doesn’t matter what interests you have, for the book captivates anyone. A definite classic, ultimate praise for this masterpiece of the english language.
In this fourth installment of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling has once again hit the bullseye with another year of “The Boy Who Lived”. Taking us...more In this fourth installment of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling has once again hit the bullseye with another year of “The Boy Who Lived”. Taking us on an exhilarating ride through a series of very unanticipated events, The Goblet Of Fire is definitely what you would expect a Harry Potter book to be. In an Intertwinement of boldness, courage, and even death, Rowling narrates the story of Harry dangerously entered into the Tri-Wizard competition. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy, anyone interested in magic and also anyone who likes the unexpected to abruptly stop the flow of everything.
One part that I really had a penchant for and that struck me in this book is when Harry Potter asks a house elf (Winky) about Dobby, the house elf he had freed the year before. She tells Harry that freedom is not suiting Dobby for he would like to be paid for his work(64). This strikes me because in this wizarding world, it is not uncommon for those that have no status to not be paid. This is absolutely absurd. It’s like the times when slavery was still allowed. This is what strikes me, for JK Rowling has set an ideology and system of the past, into what we would call a fantasy filled world. This is what gives each story it’s twist. Bringing something back from the past and placing it somehow in the future. The language that JK Rowling uses to describe this passage also left an imprint for it allowed Winky to sound half-hearted in her argument that house-elf’s shouldn’t be paid. This allows readers to understand that even though the elf may be supportive of this argument on the outside, secretly, they may be dreaming about the idea of being able to be paid for labour.
Something else that really struck me about this book is the fact that the whole wizarding world’s flow stops just for the conjuration of the ‘dark mark’(83). This strikes me because there is more meaning to it than just a mark signaling the return of Lord Voldemort. It reiterates the fact that you do not have to physically show how aggressive or strong you are in order to scare people. Just the recognition of your trademark can bring the chills into people’s spines. Taking Apple as an example, you would probably have a much more positive reaction if you saw that your product was apple instead of Nokia. Just as you would react differently if someone was flying a Nazi and British flag. It is a warning to all of us that we need to know how and when to use signs, because one wrong move in this rigorously strict world can land you a place in jail. The description of the dark mark also left an imprint in my head for Rowling describes it as “something vast, green, and glittering erupted and etched into the sky like a new constellation.”
Another part of the book that really inculcated in my mind was when Rowling describes Ron being able to share the limelight of being part of the tri-wizard competition with Harry(329). This really etched into my brain because it showed how exceedingly Ron just wanted attention. Attention is intangible, but for some reason, it gives people a great sense of pride. This is what I believe our generation is coming to. JK Rowling has etched a sense of self-consciousness into her masterpiece series, and like an allegory I believe she is trying to warn us of the intangible danger that we face. Attention is like a drug, once people start, they get hooked. Without it, they are nothing. In society, there are people like this all over the place and the numbers keep on growing. This is the underlying layer that she is hiding in her story and that’s why it strikes me.
I would rate this a five star book not only because of the technical excellency in which it was executed but also because of the easily peeled away layers that you can find everywhere in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who’s in fourth grade and above for it is an easy and entertaining read. A must read for especially those who are interested in fantasy, the ultimate accolade for The Goblet of Fire.
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