Review ~ The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower book 1) by Stephen King

Title: The Gunslinger (DarkTower Book 1)

Author: Stephen King
Copyright: 2003
Type:  fantasy
Pages: 231
Series: yes

Reason for Reading
They are making a movie and I wanted to read the book before the movie came out.

Summary:

Book I
In The Gunslinger (originally published in 1982), King introduces his most enigmatic hero, Roland Deschain of Gilead, the Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting, solitary figure at first, on a mysterious quest through a desolate world that eerily mirrors our own. Pursuing the man in black, an evil being who can bring the dead back to life, Roland is a good man who seems to leave nothing but death in his wake.

The Problems:

It took me a while to figure who and why the kid was important. It was jarring when he was introduced and then I can't tell when I became so attached to him.
King's writing still did a King thing where you could have cut out a lot of this book and still go the point of the novel and not felt like you were losing anything by not having that part there. I feel that sometimes King doesn't know when to stop describing a tree that is not important nor will ever be important.

The Wins:

I really liked the character Roland and watching him go through the whole struggle of his past, current and what was his choice going to be (no spoilers I promise). He was so fixated on the man in black that he almost forgot himself and I enjoyed learning about who he was before the man in black became the fixture of Roland and what he was after. I enjoyed seeing his character development from a young man to the man we see at the end of the book. It was a real treat and I can't wait until the end.

Goodreads Grade: 4 out of 5 stars

Would you recommend this book to others? Yes I would and actually I have to a few people and can't wait for the movie/series to come to the screen. 

From Page to Screen ~ A Study in Pink

A Study in Pink (Scarlet) the book verses BBC's Sherlock Holmes TV show

Book: 

Summary: 

In the debut of literature's most famous sleuth, a dead man is discovered in a bloodstained room in Brixton. The only clues are a wedding ring, a gold watch, a pocket edition of Boccaccio's Decameron, and a word scrawled in blood on the wall. With this investigation begins the partnership of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Their search for the murderer uncovers a story of love and revenge-and heralds a franchise of detective mysteries starring the formidable Holmes.

Thoughts: 

The book moves at a slower pace then the show but again it's a book and it is written in a time that is different then a lot of readers are use to. That being said it is a very interesting book and fun to see Sherlock deduct things. What I like about the book is the fact that while Sherlock is cocky and intelligent he doesn't come off nearly as condescending as he does in the show. In fact when he is explaining things to us the readers through John he is very slow and tells it in an interesting way that makes the reader go oh that makes sense. Not oh no I feel stupid which is how at times it can come off in the show. I also like that the book takes the time to explain things to us the reader. The book takes the time to go back in history to explain things as well. 

Show

Summary:

"Nothing happens to me," Afghanistan war veteran Dr. John Watson tells his therapist. But that's before he moves into 221B Baker Street. In no time, the depressed doctor has joined his eccentric flat mate, Sherlock Holmes, in tackling a case of serial suicide.

Can suicide be a serial crime? It seem so, since it has already happened three times, with each victim disappearing under identical circumstance and later turning up dead with the same self-administered dose of poison. When a fourth victim is found, a woman dressed entirely in pink, Detective Inspector Lestrade gives up and calls his consulting detective: Sherlock.

With Watson lending his medical expertise, Sherlock uses his deductive powers to establish the pink lady's life history, based on clues such as the wear pattern on her wedding ring. Obviously murder, he concludes. And with that the game is on to find the killer, someone who can lurk unnoticed in the middle of a bustling city, snaring victims at will and convincing them to take their own lives.

Lestrade's staff warns Watson to avoid Sherlock, who they call "freak" and consider a psychopath ("I'm a high-functioning sociopath," Sherlock insists). But the doctor receives a more ominous signal from another source, a shadowy figure calling himself Sherlock's arch enemy, who attempts to entice Watson into turning against his new friend.

Meanwhile, the pink lady left an especially baffling clue: she scratched "Rache" into the floor where she died. The name Rachel? The German word for revenge? A coded message? To Sherlock the answer is elementary. Less clear is how the killer enticed his victims into self-destruction and whether the great detective will be lured to the same demise.

Thoughts:
I love who they have cast as Sherlock and Watson both Cumberbatch and Freeman are a perfect fit for Watson and Sherlock. I love that I no longer can think of anyone else playing these characters. I also enjoy how each character stays true to their own character traits and flaws. I like the modern rendition of Sherlock and I really enjoy that it was brought to the 2000s to show us what a Sherlock in our time frame would look like. The thing that always gets me is how condescending Sherlock is to others including Watson and how Watson puts up with it. But what I love about it at the same time is how much Sherlock needs Watson and it is shown so well in this show verses the book. The friendship shows through a lot clearer on the screen then it does in the book and the need they have for each other really comes out here. The show stayed close enough to the book that you could pick out what was in the novel that you could say OH OH I read that but traveled just far enough away that you didn't feel that you were watching another show about the same thing you just read. 

Final thought: All in all I really enjoyed both and would highly suggestion both of them to anyone who wants a good detective novel or show. 

Page to Screen ~ Argo

Title: Argo: How the CIA & Hollywood Pulled off the Most Audacious Rescue In History 

Author: Antonio Mendez
Copyright: 2012
Type:  fiction
Pages: 310
Series: no

Reason for Reading

Saw the movie and wanted to see if it was like the actual book

Summary:

The true account of the 1979 rescue of six American hostages from Iran

On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the American embassy in Tehran and held dozens of Americans hostage, sparking a 444-day ordeal and a quake in global politics that still reverberates today. Beaneath this crisis another shocking story was known by only a select few: six Americans escaped the embassy and hid within a city roiling with suspicion and fear. A top-level CIA officer named Antonio Mendez devised an ingenious yet incredibly risky plan to rescue them before they were detected. Disguising himself as a Hollywood producer, and supported by a cast of expert forgers, deep-cover CIA operatives, foreign agents, and Hollywood special-effects artists, Mendez traveled to Tehran under the guise of scouting locations for a fake science fiction film called "Argo." While pretending to find the ideal film backdrops, Mendez and a colleague succeeded in contacting the escapees and eventually smuggled them out of Iran.

After more than three decades, Antonio Mendez finally details the extraordinarily complex and dangerous operation he led. A riveting story of secret identities, international intrigue, and good old-fashioned American ingenuity, Argo is the pulse-pounding account of the history-making collusion between Hollywood and high-stakes espionage. 

The Problems: 

* The movie clearly couldn't do everything that was in the book and of course the movie had to make it more action. 

* The book had a lot going on that didn't need to be in it. There was a lot of back information that wasn't very interesting like about what was happening during the time that hostages were hanging out waiting to be rescued and doing absolutely nothing except working on their tan. 

The Wins:

*The book did explain how the CIA got to point of using undercover with mask and makeup to help with agents and how that department was made. 

*The movie did a good job at showing how serious the situation was and is for hostages and how terrifying it was for those that went through it and those that were the ones on the outside including survival guilt. 

*It was also good to see how well and bad Hollywood was portrayed in this movie. 

Goodreads Grade: 4 out of 5 stars

Would you recommend this book to others? Yes and no I think the movie was better personally and would recommend it over the book personally but if you prefer to read then yes. 

Page to Screen ~ Much Ado About Nothing

Title: Much Ado About Nothing
Author: William Shakespeare

Movie/Play: Much Ado About Nothing
Actor/Actress: David Tennant & Catherine Tate

Summary:
The action is set in Sicily, where Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, has recently defeated his half-brother, the bastard Don John, in a military engagement. Apparently reconciled, they return to the capital, Messina, as guests of the Governor, Leonato. There Count Claudio, a young nobleman serving in Don Pedro's army, falls in love with Hero, Leonato's daughter, whom Don Pedro woos on his behalf. The play's central plot shows how Don John maliciously deceives Claudio into believing that Hero has taken a lover on the eve of her marriage, causing Claudio to repudiate her publicly, at the altar. 

Thoughts: The play is great don't get me wrong and let me just say that it is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE play from Shakespeare and I have seen probably every rendition known to mankind and the movie up top is probably my favorite of all of them. The chemistry between both David and Catherine is exactly what I envision between Beatrice and Benedict. They are the perfect sarcastic duo that make the match just believable. I have to say that with this version I actually fast forward through most of the story to get to the bits with these two. And ignore the other parts. 
And believe it or not it does stay true to the play original words and all. Once I had watch it through a few or 10 times I also read through while watching.

I recommend both for certain!!!

Review ~ The Giver by Lois Lowry

TITLE: The Giver  

AUTHOR: Lois Lowry
COPYRIGHT: 2006
TYPE: young adult
PAGES: 180
SERIES:  

Yes but no... I'm not sure how but I guess it's suppose to be a quartet

1. The Giver

2. Gathering Blue

3. Messenger

4. Son

REASON FOR READ:

This is one of those books I have always wanted to read but have never gotten around to it. And thought I should just do it with the movie coming out.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. 

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

 This book is hit and miss. There were parts I loved and parts I scratched my head going what the heck why did we stop and go down that path. I mean I get this was a young adult novel and maybe a middle school novel but come on lady. This book was only 180 pages so come on there are so many different places you could have gone so let's go there. This book had such potential and at times it went there and other times it was a let down. I see why it won awards and yet at times I am like why did it win that many awards. 

THINGS I LIKED

I liked learning about this world that had no color, no emotions, no nothing. I liked learning about Jonas and why he was picked and what he had to do. He and this story alone was very cool. 

The Giver himself had a great story and I would have liked more on his life and what things must have been like for him. How many screens did he watch a day what did he do? What did he think about things?  How many things did he try to change? How did he do it? How many did he succeed at? There were so many more angles she could have gone done with this story instead she picked the weirdest direction to go...

The world itself was fascinating especially the very little history that we got from this world. I wanted to know why we got here and how long it took. Why did we actually agree to not feel pain or happiness who did we vote in for this? How big was our area? How do we determine who does what what kind of testing? Etc... basically the book was too small LOL 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

I'm going to go against the popular opinion and say that I didn't like the ending. I thought it was weird and confusing. I don't get it and I really don't want to have to read 3 other books about 3 different cultures and worlds just to maybe figure out if Jonas (and spoiler alert) makes it and survive with this kid. Like why did anyone think that a) this was a good idea to send a child out with another child to survive in a land when he has no idea where he is going and b) what the what how the hell is this a book to have teenagers read and think about what are they thinking about? I get that it isn't the typical HEA but there also isn't any closure at all so what are they thinking about the moral of the story? The ambiguity of it? The right and wrong? Cause I work with teenagers everyday and while 1 out of 15 will do that the others are sitting back asking the questions I just did in a not so nice way of WTF? 

Favorite part or line from story: When Jonas was learning about colors or when he was actually learning about anything especially emotions. I enjoyed reading about him learning from the giver.

FINAL GRADE:  I gave it 3 out of 5 stars originally I gave it 4 but now thinking on it I lowered it

Would you recommend this story? yes and no

Is this a part of a reading challenge?

Out Do Yourself Challenge
New To Me Author

Review ~ The Maze Runner by James Dashner

TITLE: The Maze Runner  

AUTHOR: James Dashner
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: young adult
PAGES: 384
SERIES:  
1. The Maze Runner

2. The Scorch Trials

3. The Death Curse

REASON FOR READ:

I saw there was a movie being made, actually take that back the movie had been released on DVD and I wanted to make sure I read the book first before watching the movie.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

I was worried when I started reading this that it was going to be another Hunger Games or Lord of the Flies but it quickly surprised me and turned into something much better and more entertaining. I have to say I am happy with the way this book turned out and want to see where they are going to go with it. I am now interested to see where the movie went with it due to how the book portrays certain aspects like the mind talking between Thomas and the girl and how the mazes would look on screen would be amazing. Also I want to see who they cast and if it matches what I have in mind.  

THINGS I LIKED

1. I liked that it was as confusing for me the reader as it was for Thomas so it helped us to figure things out together. The parts of the story that were told to us didn't annoy me as much b/c I came in blind and so did the main character. 

2. The world that the boys had to learn how to deal with, how to farm, slaughter, and build laws was very interesting. I liked how they had a society and they made it work for them. It was very impressive instead of Lord of the Flies we got a civilized society with laws and rules. 

3. We got to see what happens when you break the rules and that there were severe punishment for those who lived outside the law of the land. It was also good to see why the kids were so scared and that they would defend their territory and each other if they had to when the enemy came. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

 1. I understand that we are meant to believe that these boys are in a different world and all have lost their memories but why if they can call speak English and remember words did the feel the need to make up words to cover up their cussing? If there is no adults to punish them why did we the readers have to suffer with shank, and shuck that, and shuck face. Just let them cuss. 

2. Also the story felt rushed at times and too slow at others. I found myself flipping pages to find action during the slow parts and then wondering why the other parts of the story felt like they flew by. Definitely could tell it was a first novel. 

3. Why did it not bother Thomas as much as it did the others. This still confuses me I still think that it should have bothered him more. He handled things way too well and the other boys were way too trusting of him off the bat.

Favorite part or line from story: I liked when they spent the night in the maze b/c Thomas just had to save the guy. So it proved to the others he was brave but it also proved to himself that he he wasn't 

  

FINAL GRADE: I ended up giving this 4 out of 5 stars but bought the second book to read on my train ride to Chicago

Would you recommend this story? Yes I actually really enjoyed it once I got pass all the made up language and confusion. 

Is this a part of a reading challenge?

Out Do Yourself Challenge
New To Me Author

Review ~ The Returned by Jason Mott

TITLE: The Returned

AUTHOR: Jason Mott
COPYRIGHT: 2014
TYPE: contemporary fiction
PAGES: 352
SERIES:  no

REASON FOR READING: 

Saw the show and had to see what the book was about.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their eight-year-old son, Jacob, died tragically in 1966. In their old age they've settled comfortably into life without him…. Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, still eight years old.

All over the world people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why, whether it's a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation. But as chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

I was actually surprised by this book. I thought it was well written with enough tension to keep me hooked with this book. The show wasn’t as good but atlas I shall save that until a later review. Instead let’s focus on the book

THE PROBLEMS:

To many different POVs

Too many back stories that didn’t tie into the main story

I found it hard to really connect with anyone and just when I did we would switch POV

Never heard Bellemey’s side of the story until the end by then I no longer cared

Harold was too old to believe that he could be worth help and sick enough this shouldn’t have worked.

THE WINS

I enjoyed seeing the story from Lucille and Harold’s POV after all the main part of the story was about them until it was skipped around and around again to other POVs

The tension and the buildup was done nicely

The plot moved smoothly once one got the hang of the POV hopping

I enjoyed reading it and though it didn’t make me think too much it did make me question what would I do if I this situation actually started occurring

Are you keeping it or passing it on? I will pass it on simply not a re-read for me

Goodreads grade: 3 stars

Would you recommend this book? Yes I have to say that I would recommend this book solely based on the way it makes you question yourself.