1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
2. Elanor and Park (Rainbow Rowell)
3. This Star Won't Go Out (Esther Earl)
4. Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell)
5. The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud (Ben Sherwood)
6. The Pact (Jodi Picoult)
7. Allegiant (Veronica Mars)
8. The Great Gatsby (Scott Fitzgerald)
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The Lucky One Book Review
The book takes place in Hampton, North Carolina and centers on Beth, a single mother, Clayton, her ex-husband and Logan Thibault, the mysterious Marine from out of town. The story is told from all three of their perspectives which is refreshing and keeps the book face paced. The premise of the story is Logan finds a girls picture during war and keeps it. During his time in Iraq he stays alive when so many of his comrades are not so lucky. He believes that the picture he found kept him safe, so he decides to find the girl from the picture, Beth, so he can thank her for keeping him safe. After he finds her they fall in love, despite Clayton’s goal to tear them apart. Fairly predictable as far as Romance novels go, boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, and someone or something tries to tear them apart.
Although the book is predictable, I am a sucker for Romance novels, and this one was no exception. I enjoyed reading about the character’s lives and Sparks made them easy to connect with. For example, Beth is a struggling single mother and as the book progresses you cannot help but want the best for her. Spark’s crafts this connection through imagery and description, but also by letting you into to Beth’s inner thoughts. “She was struck by the simple truth that sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people,” (Sparks, The Lucky One). This quote shows how Beth wanted to be happy and finally realized that she could be happy with Logan. As the audience, you want that for Beth, you want her to have a happy ending with Logan.
Another part of Spark’s writing that enhanced the story was the believability of the plot. The story had realistic elements that made it more relatable to the audience. Spark’s took the farfetched idea of finding someone’s picture in war, finding them once you returned home and falling in love with them and made it surprisingly realistic. The book did not seem like a fairy-tale; instead, it resembled real life. Spark’s achieved this by adding aspects of war, divorce, and death, struggles that ordinary people face every day, to the unlikely love story. One part of the story that seemed particularly realistic was Logan and Beth’s first date. It was not over-the-top, or magical, just a simple dinner at the local crab shack. “The menu featured only a single item, prepared a single way, and every bucket came with extra napkins and bibs. Crab pieces were tossed into the center of the table-a tradition,” (Sparks, The Lucky One). This typical first date made Logan and Beth’s relationship feel real from the start.
Overall, this book deserves 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. It was not the best writing in the world, or the best story in the world but the novel was intriguing. Spark’s well-developed story and relatable characters made the book worth reading. However, there are better books out there, even better Nicholas Spark’s books out there that would be more worth your time.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Post #9: Characters
In The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks there are three narrators-Beth,
Thibault, and Clayton. Each chapter alternates between their three
perspectives.
Beth is a very likable character. She is funny, smart, and a loving mother. She is a single mom and does an admirable job raising her son. She is a teacher and is really passionate about her job. On top of all of this, she takes care of her grandma, Nana, who is recovering from a stroke. Beth has many relatable qualities, and as a reader you want the best for her.
Thibault is a marine who traveled to Hampton, North Carolina to find Beth because he found her picture in war and believes that it protected him. Thibault is also a likeable character because he has Beth’s best interests in mind and wants to protect her. Throughout the book, you start to see that Thibault has a big heart and cares a lot about others. Another reason he is so likeable is because he is good with Beth’s son, Ben. Thibault spends a great deal of time with Ben and accepts him as he is.
Clayton is not likeable, in fact, he is the complete opposite. Clayton is Beth’s ex-husband and he definitely serves the role of the villain in this book. He is mean to his son Ben and does not accept him the way Thibault does. He interferes with all of Beth’s relationships and manipulates her life. Unlike Thibault, Clayton does not have Beth or Ben’s best interests in mind. He only cares about himself and uses his job as a deputy and his family’s wealth to get ahead in life.
Beth is a very likable character. She is funny, smart, and a loving mother. She is a single mom and does an admirable job raising her son. She is a teacher and is really passionate about her job. On top of all of this, she takes care of her grandma, Nana, who is recovering from a stroke. Beth has many relatable qualities, and as a reader you want the best for her.
Thibault is a marine who traveled to Hampton, North Carolina to find Beth because he found her picture in war and believes that it protected him. Thibault is also a likeable character because he has Beth’s best interests in mind and wants to protect her. Throughout the book, you start to see that Thibault has a big heart and cares a lot about others. Another reason he is so likeable is because he is good with Beth’s son, Ben. Thibault spends a great deal of time with Ben and accepts him as he is.
Clayton is not likeable, in fact, he is the complete opposite. Clayton is Beth’s ex-husband and he definitely serves the role of the villain in this book. He is mean to his son Ben and does not accept him the way Thibault does. He interferes with all of Beth’s relationships and manipulates her life. Unlike Thibault, Clayton does not have Beth or Ben’s best interests in mind. He only cares about himself and uses his job as a deputy and his family’s wealth to get ahead in life.
I think that Spark’s does a good job of
incorporating both likeable characters and dislikeable characters in this book.
I think the likeable characters in the book enhance the story. If I disliked
Beth or Logan, I would not keep reading because I would not care about what happens
to them. The likeable characters in this book have pulled me in and keep me
turning the pages.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Post #8: Nonfiction
I think that if a book claims to be nonfiction
it should be 100% true. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines nonfiction as writing that is about facts or real events. If nonfiction books and
memoirs our fabricated then they do not fit into the nonfiction genre, simple
at that.
I think that books that are based on true stories but stretch the truth are just books based on true stories. They do not qualify as memoirs or nonfiction books because they are not the truth. That is not to say that books based on stories cannot be good stories. Great stories can come from real life events that have been stretched and fabricated; they just cannot be considered nonfiction.
Books that stretch the truth manipulate the audience. An author claiming that a book is true when it really isn’t is a lie and I do not think it is okay for authors to lie to their audience, to manipulate their fans. People admire authors and get emotionally connected to books. What if you found out your favorite memoir was a lie? You would feel betrayed and lied to. The main reason authors should not lie about fiction and nonfiction is because they should never betray their audience.
Personally, I think publishing companies should do more fact checking to make sure that books that are fiction are not published as nonfiction. It is part of their job and one that needs to be carried out. I also think, however, that publishing companies should make an effort to publish more books based on true stories. Books based on true stories have the capacity to be just as good as books that are completely made up.
I think that books that are based on true stories but stretch the truth are just books based on true stories. They do not qualify as memoirs or nonfiction books because they are not the truth. That is not to say that books based on stories cannot be good stories. Great stories can come from real life events that have been stretched and fabricated; they just cannot be considered nonfiction.
Books that stretch the truth manipulate the audience. An author claiming that a book is true when it really isn’t is a lie and I do not think it is okay for authors to lie to their audience, to manipulate their fans. People admire authors and get emotionally connected to books. What if you found out your favorite memoir was a lie? You would feel betrayed and lied to. The main reason authors should not lie about fiction and nonfiction is because they should never betray their audience.
Personally, I think publishing companies should do more fact checking to make sure that books that are fiction are not published as nonfiction. It is part of their job and one that needs to be carried out. I also think, however, that publishing companies should make an effort to publish more books based on true stories. Books based on true stories have the capacity to be just as good as books that are completely made up.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Post #6: Is genre fiction less "worthy" than Literary Fiction?
Personally, I do not think that
genre fiction is any less “worthy” than Literary Fiction. Sure, the writing may
not be as artistic but that does not mean fiction genre books are unworthy.
Schools teach Literary Fiction because they think it will prepare students for the real world, little do they know that half of the students do not even read the books assigned to them. They opt to use Spark notes instead. Why? Because the majority of Literary Fiction books are outdated and do not interest the typical high school student. If a good chunk of students are not reading the Literary Fiction books assigned to them then what is the point of assigning them?
Genre fiction books would be more beneficial than Literary Fiction books because they would still have the capacity to teach students valuable lessons, help students improve their writing, and promote a love for reading. If schools assigned books that students actually enjoyed then students would actually read them, instead of resorting to Spark notes. It seems to me like actually reading a genre fiction book would be more beneficial than just reading a summary of a Literary Fiction book.
Jodi Picoult said, “…a lot of the same themes and wisdoms I find in commercial fiction are the same themes and wisdoms as what I see lauded in literary fiction.”
I am with Picoult on this one; the themes schools want to teach through Literary Fiction can be found in genre fiction. The only difference is that in genre fiction the themes are easier to find. Themes in genre fiction books are more clearly stated, themes in Literary Fiction books are hidden amongst big words and abstract metaphors.
Do not get me wrong, I do not think that Literary Fiction should be completely eliminated from school curriculum. I think that reading Literary Fiction can be beneficial and strengthen a student’s understanding and wisdom of the word. I just think that genre fiction is also beneficial to students and should be integrated into the curriculum as well. An even mix of Literary Fiction and genre fiction would be the ideal solution; it would ensure that students had an understanding of literary classics but also a love of reading.
Schools teach Literary Fiction because they think it will prepare students for the real world, little do they know that half of the students do not even read the books assigned to them. They opt to use Spark notes instead. Why? Because the majority of Literary Fiction books are outdated and do not interest the typical high school student. If a good chunk of students are not reading the Literary Fiction books assigned to them then what is the point of assigning them?
Genre fiction books would be more beneficial than Literary Fiction books because they would still have the capacity to teach students valuable lessons, help students improve their writing, and promote a love for reading. If schools assigned books that students actually enjoyed then students would actually read them, instead of resorting to Spark notes. It seems to me like actually reading a genre fiction book would be more beneficial than just reading a summary of a Literary Fiction book.
Jodi Picoult said, “…a lot of the same themes and wisdoms I find in commercial fiction are the same themes and wisdoms as what I see lauded in literary fiction.”
I am with Picoult on this one; the themes schools want to teach through Literary Fiction can be found in genre fiction. The only difference is that in genre fiction the themes are easier to find. Themes in genre fiction books are more clearly stated, themes in Literary Fiction books are hidden amongst big words and abstract metaphors.
Do not get me wrong, I do not think that Literary Fiction should be completely eliminated from school curriculum. I think that reading Literary Fiction can be beneficial and strengthen a student’s understanding and wisdom of the word. I just think that genre fiction is also beneficial to students and should be integrated into the curriculum as well. An even mix of Literary Fiction and genre fiction would be the ideal solution; it would ensure that students had an understanding of literary classics but also a love of reading.
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