The Undetermined discussion
Challenges
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January Challenge 2015
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My favourites series is the infernal devices series and it starts with Clockwork Angel so that would be the option or the fifth wave! (I really can't decide so I took both of them)
I love "The chemistry of death" by Simon Beckett. :)
Mod
I was thinking of putting Clockwork Angel in, but since you have, I put something else haha! Currently rereading the Shadowhunter Chronicles up until now! (Have you read the Bane Chronicles?)
I can just leave the fifth wave and you put clockwork angel! Then everyone of us has one :)Also yeah I have read the bane chronicles how about you?
Mod
Also yeah I have read the bane chronicles how about you?"
I am on Saving Raphael Santiago right now :P
Do we pick which book we would like to read next?
Mod
Do we need to post what we think about the book on here? Kind of like a review type thing?
Mod
I think I'm gonna read The Da Vinci Code! I've had it on my shelf for a while, but I've never gotten to it, so maybe it's time :)
I think im going to read Clockwork Angel
Here's my thoughts on The Book Thief. Sorry, it's kind of long! To be honest, at first, this book was kind of hard for me to get into. It took me a couple of pages to get used to Markus Zusak's writing style. Once I did, though, I found the writing to be very beautiful, elegant, and very mature. It's very lyrical and I just don't know. It was simply just haunting, to put it in another way. It is clear that the writer had an intention with every word that came across the page. There was no filler chapter or words. Everything was put in the story for a reason. By doing this, Zusak created a very real Nazi Germany.
There are so many World War II books out there, but many of them focus on the actual war, not the lives of everyday people. This book gets at the heart of what it was like for normal, everyday people living in Nazi Germany. It showed the fear, what their daily lives were like, and how the war actually affected them. Many times it appears that war is all about the military, but Zusak proves that there were normal people just trying to live during these very difficult times. It also showed that not everyone in Nazi Germany supported Hitler and that they only went through the motions in order to save themselves and their families. I also liked how it showed what people were willing to do for and to other people. It also showed what measures people went to survive.
At first, I had no idea who the narrator was, but as time went on, I figured it out. Using Death as a narrator is simply genius! Death is usually viewed as being something dark and lacking emotion, but Zusak gave Death these things and made it seem almost human.
The characters were all well rounded. All of them were written in a manner that allows the reader to think that these characters could have existed. They all face the same battles that everyday people did in Nazi Germany. Pressure to conform to the Party rules, to join the Party, and be prejudice to those who did not fall under the prefect Germany were things that all characters had to face. Each character had a different route, but they were all still dealing with a lot of the same issues.
Zusak also makes the characters grow up. The books covers years, but the characters do grow up in a timely manner. It's not too slow nor too fast. They age as real children do. The changes that the children go through and their experiences also play a factor in who they will become. However, I do feel that Liesel was forced to grow up a little bit quicker than other children her age. Her family has a secret and it is that secret that she cannot tell, not even to her best friend. Liesel has always questioned the Nazis, which I think plays a role in how she opens up to Max. I think it can be said that this opened her up, but the secret may have also closed down her world.
I like the bond that Liesel has with Hans Hubermann. It is very clear that both are very fond of each other, almost like a real father and daughter. Rosa Hubermann also cares for Liesel, although, to me, it was a bit more under the rug. I did like how Max is also involved in Liesel's life, even if he cannot be out in the open with he. They both just seem so similar. I liked how they used each other to get over their fears, somewhat. His gift to her was also very sweet!
There are some people who I would not recommend this book too. The book does tell you what is going to happen before it actually does. There is a lot of foreshadowing. If you do not like knowing what is going to happen, then do not read this book. You will hate it. Also, do not be turned away by the fact that this is a young adult book. It is written in a manner that will be very appealing to older readers. I also feel like younger readers will not get the full experience of the book and fully understand what the author is saying. I think that you really have to be a little bit older to fully appreciate this artwork. What I am saying? I'm only twenty-two and I found this book to be wonderful. Had I been thirteen or fourteen, I probably would have hated this book. I just do not know. This is a very rich and well written story! I would that everyone at least attempt to give this book a try.
Serena wrote: "Here's my thoughts on The Book Thief. Sorry, it's kind of long! To be honest, at first, this book was kind of hard for me to get into. It took me a couple of pages to get used to Markus Zusak's ..."
Yay! I'm glad you liked it :D
So for this month's challenge, as it is quite a spontaneous choice, we have decided to do a kind of "read other's favourite books".
So if everyone participating could post here what their favourite book is, we would have a list of books. Everyone would then chose a book from the list, different from their own obviously, to read this month! I will let you until the 10th to post your favourite book and then until the 31st to choose and read a book :) Sorry if it a short time, but since this is the first month I hope it's alright :)
I think this is a great way to get to know each other a bit better and would give occasion to discuss the different books with the person who had suggested them. I hope everyone would be interested! :)
Xx Cassy
(Ps: Thank you Serena for the idea!)
Participants (name-fav.book-book to read)
- Julia - Clockwork Angel (Cassandra Clare) - Paper Towns
- Alex - The Chemistry of Death (Simon Beckett) -
- Deema - Paper Towns (John Green) - Clockwork Angel
- Elina - The Book Thief (Markus Zusak) - The Da Vinci Code
- Serena - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J.K. Rowling) - The Book Thief
- Elaf - The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) -
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-...
Happy reading!