The Rookie Is A Total Immersion Into Another Realistic World

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Libatique]Kelly Libatique
I'm generally not into sports books (or movies), but a friend recommended this book to me as being "wildly entertaining." And The Rookie by Scott Sigler is indeed.
The idea of a story about playing football 700 years in the future seems absurd, and if that was all it was about, then it may not be worth the time. At least for me, anyway. But the tale goes well beyond sports. From the get-go, we're not even on earth, but a planet that was colonized by a group of "purist" humans who abandoned earth long ago. They are self-righteous and, as it turns out, quite racist against other "sub-races," which is anything not human. Our main character, Quentin Barnes, is a young orphaned rookie football player who is discovered by the people that can get him into the big leagues and make him a star on the field. After being sold to another team, he's finds himself up a notch in the whole galactic football league and suddenly on the playing field with other races and beings, each with unique physical and mental abilities and styles of playing. As we go along, Quentin comes face to face with his beliefs, his racism, his arrogance, and learns to lead a team that is mostly non-human.
In very multifaceted ways, Sigler not only creates a realistic "galactic football league," but alien races and societies with amazing and well thought out complexity. These aren't just creatures you might see in a Star Wars film, but rather, they have their own unique cultures, and ways of perceiving things. As a reader, you become totally immersed in these worlds where the political power plays and the strong arm and manipulative nature of big money and big business very much mimic the way we humans do things now.
This book is also a huge social commentary on some of the problems that exist on earth today, from racism to tensions between differing religious beliefs and attitudes. As we near the end of the story, we end up back on earth and see how it's changed and how it's now rules by another race and has become a hotspot of terrorists activities.
I find it almost strange to say this, but I actually highly recommend this "out of this world" book, if only as a distraction and a total immersion into a fictitious fantasy world, but one so meticulously described and realistic, you'll want to believe it.
Kelly Libatique, author of "Divine Knowledge Transfer"
Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He has a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and Anne and two sons.
Visit http://www.Libatique.com or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Rookie-Is-A-Total-Immersion-Into-Another-Realistic-World&id=6581720] The Rookie Is A Total Immersion Into Another Realistic World

Cinders by Michelle Davidson Argyle

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_T_Cole]Tiffany T Cole
Once upon a time, there was a servant who went by the name of Cinderella. She had two wicked step sisters and a stepmother who liked to put her to an unfair amount of work, and her only friends were the kind birds and mice. In response to her distress, a fairy godmother granted Cinderella the magical assistance to trade her life for a much better one - a life beside a prince head over heels for her.
And, as thus, Cinderella lived happily ever after...right?
Whether you're familiar with the happier Disney version, the darker Brother Grimms version, or perhaps other versions entirely, the story still begs the question most fairy tale endings do. Was the ever after really happily? Author Michelle Davidson Argyle tackles this question in Cinders.
Cinderella, or princess Christine, isn't as content with her new life as she assumed she'd be. What with her fairy godmother imprisoned, Cinderella can't help worrying - not just about whether the godmother will live, but how far the godmother's magic stretches. How much of the prince's love is true, if any of it is true at all? How much of her new life is true, if any of it is true at all? Beside those concerns about her present, thoughts of her past still lingers. She can't totally drop old habits, like feeling comfortable in the kitchen.
More importantly, the memory of a guy from her past - a magical guy both real and unreal, a guy whose kiss had a different power than that of the prince's - won't let go. And Cinderella can't let go either. She has to wonder herself how far she will go, how much she is willing to sacrifice, to see him again.
A person's life is really just a series of story arcs. Will this arc of Cinderella's life end just as happily ever after as her previous one?
Argyle is a master at using the power of language to show a range of emotions. Sentences, like the following, said a lot even though it was short: 'She would look like porcelain for her prince tonight. He liked her made up like that.' When I peaked at the book months ago, that sentence stayed in my mind. I loved how she explored the magical aspects of the tale that weren't explored at all originally, like the godmother's power, and expanded on the magical world. What I loved the most, by far, was how morally ambiguous Argyle made Cinderella.
I can honestly admit that, at certain points of the story, I didn't like Cinderella. At some points, I questioned her motives and didn't truly understand how much depth went into her decisions...BUT that's not a bad thing. In this story, Cinderella was more human, more realistic, than I've ever read her. It's not bad that I didn't think she was the most awesome heroine ever. Not all heroines should and can be the most awesome heroines ever. I'm okay with that.
The only thing that concerned me was the story with Cinderella's previous mystery lover. I really wanted to know more about him, more about their past relationship. How'd they find each other? How exactly does his culture work? Questions like that consistently arose in my mind, and I was a tad bit disappointed that I didn't find out. I'm aware that this may have been purposeful. He is characterized as an elusive man.
As it is, though, I enjoyed the novella overall. Michelle Argyle is a talented author readers should definitely keep an eye on!
My name is Tiffany Cole. I'm the Editor in Chief of Triple R, a book review/literary site. Savior of the Damned, my first Urban Fantasy novel, is in negotiations with a publishing house I greatly admire. You can find me in many places:
 [mailto:writergirllw@yahoo.com]writergirllw@yahoo.com http://www.tiffanyrambles.blogspot.com http://www.tinyurl.com/27x9sdz {My Facebook}
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Cinders-by-Michelle-Davidson-Argyle&id=6572046] Cinders by Michelle Davidson Argyle

The Jerusalem Inception, By Avraham Azrieli - Book Review

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gary_R._Sorkin]Gary R. Sorkin
"Gerster, Jerusalem Gerster" doesn't have quite the ring as, "Bond, James Bond" however as a character in author Avraham Azrieli's book titled The Jerusalem Inception, James has nothing over Jerusalem with respect to international espionage, romantic exploits and nation building.  Set in the time beginning at the end of World War II, Azrieli describes his opening episode like a period piece; a "Sepia-tone" imagery of writing about a Nazi "deposit" of tons of diamonds (yes, tons of diamonds, 18 to be exact) and gold stolen from Jews killed at the death camps.  Although the German General Klaus von Koenig is killed shortly after creating his secret account number and password to the Swiss banker, Tanya Galinski, a beautiful young girl traveling with the General survives and emerges to eventually fall in love with her captors, Elie Weiss and Abraham Gerster, Jewish resistance fighters.  Tanya's epic feminine lure created an insatiable sensual attraction to both Elie and Abraham, resulting in a lover's triangle; complete with the friction, suspense, and human gratification so articulately structured using Azrieli's inherent talent for writing within the book's structural underpinnings and plot machinations.
Avraham Azrieli educates as he entertains with his fact laden style of writing, while he takes the reader forward some twenty years, into the stressful world status just prior to the historic 6 Day War which broke out on June 5, 1967.  As we learn about the destiny of Abraham Gerster, becoming a Rabbi living within the strict laws of the Torah, Tanya is once again attracted to him but is kept at bay. She then seduces Gerster's son, Lemmy Gerster, a young man half her age, as they embark upon a forbidden relationship. The stolen fortune is not forgotten, as Elie, now an Israeli agent, is convinced recovering the stolen Nazi money can build a powerful infrastructure for Israel which will save the Jews from inevitably another Holocaust.
It is the acumen of subject matter combined with the art and style of Avraham Azrieli to keep the reader introduced to the secret ways of the Mossad and other international organizations; drawing from his first hand knowledge, while embellishing characters of formidable strength and fortitude.  He spices the book with steamy sex, love and lust, along with the emotional perplexity of a lover's triangle complete with forbidden taboos.  Azrieli keeps true to the core of historical happenings, while the stage is set for his characters to manipulate the fate of nations, society and the world as we now know it.  This book is by all means a complex matrix of facts and emotions, one worthy of anyone's time taken to savor and enjoy.  He perfectly mixes words spoken in German, Hebrew and Yiddish, as the thought processes of the characters, so foreign in many ways, are represented within their respective dialect, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies.  This brought a level of authenticity and credibility to the plot, engulfing me into a time and place only imaginable to those of us born subsequently to these worldly tragic events.
To those unfamiliar of the living history of Israel, this book is a must.  For those knowing the facts surrounding the creation of the Jewish State, this book is an absolute must.  The inhumanity of the Nazis during the Holocaust is represented "first hand" by survivors, which will leave any sane person altered in some way.  The plot and story play out in the reader's mind with extraordinarily impressive attention to detail, as the research and structure of The Jerusalem Inception evolves to more than just a novel, becoming analogues to Avraham Azrieli's doctorial thesis on the history of the world; specifically as related to the current conflict still ongoing in the Middle East.
Reviewed by: Gary R. Sorkin
Gary R. Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit Pacific Book Review at: http://www.pacificbookreview.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Jerusalem-Inception,-By-Avraham-Azrieli---Book-Review&id=6595005] The Jerusalem Inception, By Avraham Azrieli - Book Review

Several Characters in Search of a Plot - The Country Life by Rachel Cusk

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Philip_Spires]Philip Spires
The Country Life by Rachel Cusk presents several promises, but eventually seems to break most of them. When Stella Benson, a twenty-nine-year-old, leaves home suddenly to take up a private care assistant's job in darkest south England, it is clear that she is running away. From what we do learn later, but by then we perhaps care rather less about the circumstances.
From the start there was a problem with the book's point of view. Stella presents a first person narrative couched in a conventional past tense. Events - albeit from the past - unfold along a linear time frame, but despite her removed perspective, she apparently never reflects beyond the present she reports. Given Stella's character, this may be no more than an expression of her scattered immediacy, but that only becomes clear as we get to know her via her actions. This apparent contradiction of perspectives has to be ignored if the book is to work, but once overcome The Country Life is worth the effort.
Stella - to say the least - is not a very competent person. But then no-one else in this little southern village seems to have much about them. She becomes a live-in personal carer for Martin Madden, a disabled seventeen-year-old who lives with his rather dotty parents on their apparently luxurious farm. Stella has neither experience, nor presumably references, nor the pre-requisite driving licence. Her employers don't check anything, despite their reported bad experiences in the past. Thus Stella becomes part of a rather mad family called Madden.
Stella steadily learns more about the Maddens. They have their past, both collectively and individually. Pamela, a wiry, sun-tanned matriarch, is married to Piers. They have children, all of whom seem to have inherited different mixes of the foibles on offer. There's a local scandal or two, rumours of mis-treatment, sexual impropriety and more, but it always seems to dissolve into innuendo. This, perhaps, is the country life.
Stella herself is incompetent in the extreme. She gets sunburnt - in England(!), soils her shoes with melted tar from the road, gets drunk several times, falls into the pool, gets lost, cuts up her clothing, behaves inappropriately, steals on demand and can't find the garden gate. It's quite a week. As the book progresses, it seems unsure whether it should be a sit-com or a farce.
But at the centre of The Country Life is Stella's developing relationship with Martin. He is used to being the centre of attention and knows how to play the part, how to manipulate. He may, it seems, have inherited much from his mother and perhaps a lot less from his father.
The Country Life is beautifully written. It is both funny and engaging. Stella's life becomes increasingly a farce, however, and this crowds out some of the other themes that might have come more interestingly to the fore. Rachel Cusk's writing is always fluent, perhaps overdone here and there, but when you are that good at it, a little over-egging just adds to the richness.
Philip Spires
Author of Mission and A Fool's Knot, African novels set in Kenya http://www.philipspires.co.uk
Migwani is a small town in Kitui District, eastern Kenya. My books examine how social and economic change impact on the lives of ordinary people. They portray characters whose identity is bound up with their home area, but whose futures are determined by the globaised world in which they live.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Several-Characters-in-Search-of-a-Plot---The-Country-Life-by-Rachel-Cusk&id=6596689] Several Characters in Search of a Plot - The Country Life by Rachel Cusk

Pursuit, by Jason Garrett, Is Intriguing and Suspenseful!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Libatique]Kelly Libatique
Get immersed into the stirring and captivating fictitious world of Bishop's Island with Pursuit, by Jason Garrett.
The moment one begins reading this suspense-thriller, one is right there in a place called Bishop's Island. You can easily feel the cool air, smell the ocean salt, and see the old buildings. It is a place of numerous possibilities. It could be a serene and cozy vacation spot to snuggle in, a small historically rich settlement for the culturally inclined, or just an attractive location with ocean scenery and interesting native architecture and artifacts to enjoy.
But evil lurks everywhere, and an unfortunate past filled with men of nefarious character still haunts the old borough. From the first page, the reader is gripped with suspense as our lead character is stalked, intruded upon, and chased. But she's expecting this, and we're wondering why. We're then caught up in a plot that thickens with each chapter as we come to find out who she is, who her husband is, who the villains are, and the lengths to which people are willing to go for love, lust, and greed. Bishop's Island's rich history and the people who established it all play a significant role in the story's intricate plot and reason for the actions of our characters.
Pursuit is a novel that tackles some age-old plots but with some interesting new twists. We have our heroin and her self-made and successful, albeit estranged husband. We have a band of diverse criminals who are willing to do anything to achieve their end goal. We have a mystery to unravel and a maze of clues and dead ends. As we near the heart-thudding conclusion, the suspense is almost unbearable.
But Pursuit is not just a story about greed and love and the levels to which it takes people. It is also a deep dive into some philosophical questions about life. Characters in the book find themselves asking what their real motives are and what drives them. The reader may find him or herself asking some of the same questions about why our Creator allows some of the things in our lives to happen. Our main character, against all odds and at times without hope, clings relentlessly to her faith. In the midst of the pain, the quest, and the loss, her husband comes to find out why he had become the person he did.
I haven't read a lot of spiritually-based fiction, but Pursuit by Jason Garrett has inspired me to, well, pursue more. Check it out today and take the exciting journey.
Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He has a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and Anne and two sons.
Visit http://www.Libatique.com or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Pursuit,-by-Jason-Garrett,-Is-Intriguing-and-Suspenseful!&id=6581709] Pursuit, by Jason Garrett, Is Intriguing and Suspenseful!

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Migel_Jayasinghe]Migel Jayasinghe
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams; Folio Society Edition (2010).
Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first published in book form in 1979. A comic novel satirising life on our planet in the guise of a usually strait-laced sci-fi story, it became an instant hit with the reading public. The book immediately attracted a cult following which has been growing over the years. Strange, I had not read this book during more than three decades of its existence until I bought it recently as part of a Folio Society special offer Christmas package. Although I had heard of it often enough, I never even thought of borrowing it from a local library.
The statistics are amazing. By 2005, four years after the author's untimely death, it had been translated into more than 30 languages and had sold over 14 million copies. I finished reading the 174-page book within a couple of hours and looked up Google to read the reviews. As expected, the majority of nearly 1,000 reviews were quite favourable, with only a few pointing to the lack of character and plot development as a weakness. On Google I found websites entirely devoted to (memorable?) quotes from the book. After all those accolades from devoted fans who claim to read the book over and over again, I have asked myself whether I am brave enough to critique it.
But, here I am; this is my take on Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for what it is worth. The stock characters and the lack of a story with beginning, middle, and end, are not my concern. I grant that the satire on human institutions and academic pretensions are spot on. The unexpected twists in the narrative and the verbal exchanges between characters are original and amusing, although not to the extent of provoking belly laughs. Under the rubric of the science fiction genre the author has the freedom to stretch the reader's credibility, but there are limits. For example, in a story with an intergalactic setting, speaking always within the earth time-scale of 'minutes', 'hours' and 'years' sounds amateurish. (e.g. 'On arrival we will stay in dock for a seventy-two hour refit,...' p. 50). The two-headed, three-armed Zaphod in conversation with the two earthlings, Arthur and Trillian, talks about everyday earthly situations, which appears quite out of character. He is better when indulging in the comic, contradictory ruminations for which he is designed by the author. The author also tends to overdo the satire in ascribing human emotions to computers and the constantly 'depressed' robot Marvin.
My verdict? The book is good, but not as clever or perfect as to merit mass adoration. http://outskirtspress.com/AMiscellany http://www.migeljayasinghe.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Hitchhikers-Guide-to-the-Galaxy&id=6597536] Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Book Review of The Immortals of Meluha

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Amandeep_Kohli]Amandeep Kohli
The Immortals of Meluha is one of the biggest publishing success stories of the year 2010. Written by the Indian author, Amish, this book has gone on to break all records and has been on the best-seller list since its release. The Immortals of Meluha is set in the 18th century in the imaginary land of Meluha and with its unique storyline and plot, has managed to cast a spell over its readers.
The land of Meluha is inhabited by the proud and mighty clan of the Suryavanshis. These people follow the teachings of Lord Rama and pride themselves of being his ardent followers and living in a perfect society. The Meluhan people have access to a mysterious drink called Somras that allows them immortal life and frees them of any ills.
However, all is not well in the perfect land of Meluha. The Suryavanshi clan is facing tough times and is on the brink of war with its noisy neighbors from the land of Swadeep, the Chandravanshis. This other clan is the total opposite of the Meluhan people in terms of appearance and behavior. While the Meluhan pride them on being perfect, the Swadeepans love chaos and everything that is odd.
The other problem plaguing Meluha is that the sinister Naga warriors from the South have increased their terrorist activities and are constantly carrying out terror strike within Meluha. The Meluhan people have no answer to this as the Nagas disappear soon after carrying out these activities.
It is at this point in The Immortals of Meluha that we are introduced to the main protagonist of the book, a nomad warrior named Shiva. Shiva comes to the land of Meluha as a refugee from a village in Tibet along with his clan. However, he is unaware of the fact that he is the man destined to bring peace between Meluha and Swadeep.
With its unique plot and blending of history with mythology, Amish manages to create a book that leaves the readers captivated. Immortals of Meluha is the first part in the Shiva Trilogy and the second part, The Secret of the Nagas has also just been released. This book is a must read for all those who love fantasy and fiction.
This book is now available at all leading bookstores and is priced also very reasonably. However, it is better to purchase this book from online retailers like Flipkart in India which offer a huge discount on The Immortals of Meluha.
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Shadow Blade Is a Bright New Light!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Vanee_Smith]Vanee Smith
I'm a big fan of urban and multicultural action, fantasy and romance novels. Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass fits in all of the above named categories. Shadow Blade is no ordinary romance thriller. The main character, Kira Solomon, is a shadowchaser. That is exactly what it sounds like: she hunts things that go bump in the night. Kira is a real tough chick with a reputation for trouble. However, unlike many bad-girl archetypes in literature, we really get to see a different side of our protagonist. Kira's powers that make her the perfect shadowchaser are very damaging in her everyday life and prevent our hero from having functional relationships.
The author, Glass, really takes the time to appropriately develop the protagonist Kira. The reader is moved through several different personal growth moments with Kira, and really gets feel like they are growing with her. For me this created a real sense of connection and empathy with Kira and it gave me a need to see her reach her goals in the story. Unlike the typical bad-girl of literature, Kira has a very realistic human side. Her pain seems real, logical and fitting to the story. There are no dramatically estrogen filled moments that take away from the plot. Her emotions are portrayed genuinely. Kudos to Glass for that.
Now enters the lead man in our tale: Khefar. Kira has something that Khefar wants, and its more than her killer athletic body. He is a near immortal warrior, dozens of lifetimes old who has lost something that is key to his near immortal existence: his blade. Though the two are thrown together for a short while, their cooperation could mean the fate of the world.The two engage in a pulse pounding, non-stop journey rich in culture, Egyptian mythology and mysticism that will keep you flipping pages fast enough to make your fingers burn.
Khefar's character adds so much rich culture and ethnicity to the story. Despite his age and near immortality, the author portrays him as very human and extremely easy to relate to. This gives the story so much power and his personality really drives the plot forward. These two characters finding themselves bound in this battle of epic proportions to save themselves, each other and the world as they know is an impossibly good combination. Warning to the faint of heart, this tale can get a little dark and scary, which makes it an even better read!
Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass is a good read and I highly recommend it. There isn't a dull moment in the text. Glass is an expert at creating subtle sexual tension between the characters without over doing it. You can never accurately predict exactly what will happen next between the characters or in the action. Read this book! Just don't read it alone at night if you're still afraid of the shadows...
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Shadow-Blade-Is-a-Bright-New-Light!&id=6595815] Shadow Blade Is a Bright New Light!

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner: A Review

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Holly_Weiss]Holly Weiss
A cannonball wedged in the north wall of Holly Oak. The quiet elegance of the old mansion disguises the trauma the antebellum house suffered in the Civil War. Who is the ghost in the cellar-Susannah, rumored to be a Civil War spy for the north, or Union soldiers buried there? Susan Meissner's new novel,  A Sound Among the Trees rolls all of this into one intriguing novel.
Marielle Bishop marries into the superstitious Bishop family. Little does she know what awaits her when she leaves her southwestern home. Marielle lives in a beautiful mansion surrounded by the shadow of her husband' first wife, the ghost in the cellar, and the contempt of Adelaide, her great-grandmother-in-law. Holly Oak itself seems to demand penance from the women who live there. Heavy burdens for all.
Susan Meissner is an award-winning writer and speaker. Publishers Weekly named her novel The Shape of Mercy one of the Best Books of 2008. Lady in Waiting, published in 2010, is a perfect example of her ability to combine contemporary and historical fiction. When Ms. Meissner is not working on a new novel, she is directing small groups ministries at The Church at Rancho Bernardo.
The book releases on the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War as a remembrance of the women behind the battles. Ms. Meissner doesn't miss a beat. Characterizations and plot are set in motion immediately. Well-crafted dialogue draws us into the mystery surrounding the antebellum mansion. The subtle use of subtext whispers us deeper into the puzzle. The novel expertly blends the present-day with hints of the past until the real Civil War story is revealed at the end.A reader's guide is included for book groups.The ghost haunts many pages of the book, but the real presence in A Sound Among the Trees is that of a writer who excels at her craft. Highly recommended.
WaterBrook Press graciously supplied the advance review copy for my unbiased opinion.
Holly Weiss is the author of a historical fiction novel, Crestmont, writer and reviewer of newly-released books. [http://www.hollyweiss.com]http://www.hollyweiss.com.
Free reprint of article if entire bio is intact.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Sound-Among-the-Trees-by-Susan-Meissner:-A-Review&id=6605313] A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner: A Review

Book Review - Nicholas Spark's 'The Last Song'

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rose_Ann_Ramones]Rose Ann Ramones
This is the first Nicholas Sparks novel that I have read. I liked the way he wrote, I liked the flow of the story and so I am planning to read his other books right away.
The book started a little low but it was actually good as the story goes on. The story began showing Ronnie's rebellion which I think is so typical for teenagers. Because of her behaviors, I can't help but compare myself to her. She was seventeen and I'm twenty but we were so alike. Different situations maybe but still, it's called rebellion. I guess we were torn between doing what we want and doing what grownups should have been doing -- the expectations, disappointments, and broken promises.
As I go on with the book, I met Steve, Ronnie's dad. The coolest parent I have ever known in my life. I even wished that my mom could be as understanding and considerate as he was. That maybe my mom could try for at least five minutes to try to understand what I'm going through. Anyway, Steve was dying because of cancer and so he did everything just to show his children the love he can give in every way possible. With their situation, I thought maybe people should value whatever they have now while they still have enough time and not wait for the day they start to realize that death has no exceptions. He died young but I knew he died happy. Could be with regrets, probably because of the lost three years with no communication with Ronnie, but the important thing was they tried hard to compensate that.
Then there was Jonah, Ronnie's younger brother, who was so adorable just like my little brother, in different ways though. He was sweet and innocent. I felt sorry for him for losing his dad at the age of ten but he was such a brave kid.And of course there was Will, Ronnie's boyfriend. When I was reading the book, the guy on my mind was Hayden Christensen, not Liam Hemsworth - - the guy who portrayed the role of Will in the movie adaptation of the book. He was such a gentleman, perfect. I'd like to meet a guy like him but I know that would be impossible.
Also, there was Blaze, Ronnie's friend, who was so miserable that I never want to be like her.There's also Marcus, Blaze's boyfriend, the creepy guy. Every time he was on the page, my heart beats faster because he really scared me. He was so unpredictable and I knew he was capable of doing anything, even kill people. But I was glad he did not.
Some of the unforgettable moments on the book: Will bumping upon Ronnie during the first day they met, the hatching of turtle eggs, Jonah's cookies, the Liar poker game, when Ronnie and Will fish, and a lot more.
All in all, the book was good but not as good as Dan Brown's works, I think. But I guess their books were great in many ways. Sparks can capture you emotions without much effort. I will definitely read his other novels, soon.
Rose Ann Ramones
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review---Nicholas-Sparks-The-Last-Song&id=6597289] Book Review - Nicholas Spark's 'The Last Song'

'Right Ho, Jeeves' - A Laugh Riot You Wouldn't Want to Miss

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hari_P_R]Hari P R
P G Wodehouse is an acknowledged genius. Every book of his is a delight to read. The subtle injections of humour that fill his books, the outrageous characters which make you laugh at their every word and every action, the scent of romance that is an integral part of his stories - all add up to give the reader a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. Indeed, every work of his makes you lose yourself, forget all your worries, and immerse yourself in the sheer joy of reading Wodehouse.
'Right Ho, Jeeves' (also published as 'Brinkley Manor') is one novel of Wodehouse that is particularly magical. Like the other Jeeves stories, this one, too, relies heavily on Bertie Wooster's less than sharp-witted nature and Jeeves' genius for much of its humour. 'Right Ho, Jeeves' is special because it is a novel in which Bertie is farthest from sharp wit, and Jeeves' brain power is at its best.
The plot is, like most Wodehouse plots, centered on contrived romantic complications. The story is set in Brinkley Manor, where Bertie's Aunt Dahlia is holidaying with her daughter Angela, her friend Madeline, and Tuppy Glossop, the man to whom her daughter is engaged. Bertie's friend Gussie Fink-Nottle has a crush on Madeline. Bertie is invited to Brinkley Manor, where he realizes that he is faced with the fearful prospect of delivering a speech at a local school. To avoid the ordeal, Bertie invites Gussie to Brinkley Manor, tempting him with hopes of winning over Madeline. Bertie's actual intention is, of course, to make Gussie deliver the speech at the school in lieu of him.
Complications arise when Bertie, through his attempts to help Gussie's love, somehow gives Madeline the impression that he is in love with her. To Bertie's relief, though, she makes it clear that she cannot marry him, as she is in love with another person, who Bertie strongly believes is Gussie. Gussie, however, is too timid to propose to Madeline.
A comic situation begins to be formed when Gussie is encouraged by Bertie to get drunk to shed his apprehensions. Gussie, unfortunately, ends up drinking more than what would be considered normal, and goes to the local school to deliver his speech in a heavily inebriated state. Gussie delivers a riotously hilarious speech, slamming Bertie in an unabashed way, and even taking digs at the school's headmaster. The speech is loved by the students, but not so much by Bertie and the school's authorities. To make things worse, Gussie proposes to Angela, and Angela accepts him, just to anger Tuppy.
When bad comes to worse in a Wodehouse novel, the saviour has to be Jeeves. He sets things right in his typical style, sending Bertie on a long bicycle trip which Bertie later finds out to be futile, and while he is gone, using clever subterfuge to set every single thing right. Gussie and Madeline come together, Angela and Tuppy come together, and Aunt Dalhia is happy. Of course, all this happens at the expense of Bertie's honour, which is crashed to pieces by Jeeves in executing his plan.
The scene where Gussie distributes prizes is one of the funniest pieces of writing one can ever come across. One can read it over and over again, and his lips would twitch into a smile - at the least - every single time. The entire novel, in fact, is a laugh riot, with Wodehouse's most famous characters at their shining best. If anytime, you want to brighten your day up with some humour, this is the book you should get your hands on.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Right-Ho,-Jeeves---A-Laugh-Riot-You-Wouldnt-Want-to-Miss&id=6598552] 'Right Ho, Jeeves' - A Laugh Riot You Wouldn't Want to Miss

Book Review Of Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Anne_M_P_John]Anne M P John
This is the first time I read or even heard of Anne Tyler. I picked up this book for three reasons. The first reason why the book caught my attention was that the author and I share a common first name. The second was that I am trying to read more women writers nowadays and the third being, the blurb describing the protagonist as someone who revels in routine, sounded quite suspiciously like me. Having no previous idea about this writer's work, I approached the book without any expectations and I must say that I am pleasantly surprised.
The story revolves around Macon whose wife, Sarah decides to end their long marriage. According to her it was a long-suffering marriage, but the tragic death of their son just happened to be the last straw. So Macon is left to fend for himself along with their cat and dog. It so happens that his dog turns out to be a bit too much to handle and he hires a totally weird lady named Muriel, who seems eccentric at best. We are also introduced to a host of other characters like Macon's exuberant boss, Julian, his old-maid sister, Rose and brothers, neighbors, Muriel's sickly son etc.
Macon writes guide books for business travelers, titled 'The Accidental Tourist in ----- (whichever city)'. In many ways Macon's life is much like his books which are meant for people who travel out of compulsion and don't really want to get out of their comfort zones. Almost everything significant that has happened in his life, including his career and marriage, were not out of any active choice that he makes. He comes across all the major events or turning points in his life quite by accident, passively being swept into it. And when the time comes for him, to finally take a stand and exercise his choice, does he do it?
I enjoyed Anne Tyler's writing style. Funny and light, yet addressing important questions and emotions. She is pretty descriptive, especially when it comes to the dog's antics, which I found particularly endearing. As the story unfolds, some of it is quite predictable, while the rest is intriguing. Towards the end, I was silently hoping for it to go down the path that my heart was rooting for - and I cheered when it did, however impractical it might be to pragmatists!
On the whole, The Accidental Tourist was a refreshing read and Anne Tyler has earned herself a fan! It was only while writing this review that I looked her up and I learnt that she is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer and what's more?The Accidental Tourist has also been made into a movie! Respect.
I shall definitely be looking out for more of her books!
Anne John is a software engineer turned journalist. She works as a freelance travel consultant for a travel planning website and as an editorial assistant for an online magazine. She enjoys reading, writing and traveling. For more reviews, interviews and a peek into the life and times of a young Indian woman who has shifted careers to follow her passions, please head to http://abstractadmissions.blogspot.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review-Of-Anne-Tylers-The-Accidental-Tourist&id=6598873] Book Review Of Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist

A Moment Of Eternity

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Anuradha_Basu]Anuradha Basu
A Moment of Eternity - Bhabani Bhattacharya
The Prisoner was waiting for her verdict. The Judge called out "Prisoner at the Bar". There was faltering in his voice. There was a knot of trouble and throbbing of the old man's heart. The Prisoner had to resolve his problem. So she smiled at him. As the Judge cried he looked away, and the Prisoner felt he was like her Father. There was black cap waiting on the table for the Judge. It implied death. It was meant for the Judge to look like Yama. The convict pitied him for his trouble and loved him for his tenderness. There was mercy in the Judge's face. Perhaps he would not don the black cap. This was the moment of eternity. It was a condensation of all that happened. It was the moment of a drowning person yielding his last breath. Perhaps the convict was to be drowned not in river or tears or passion, but in mercy. But mercy was not coming after all. The hands of the Judge fumbled towards the black cap. It meant that the convict, the mother of Sona Mona was to be condemned.
It is in this moment of eternity that the life story of the convicted woman, the mother of Sona Mona is flashed before the eyes. Sona was a small girl child, not more than four feet tall, who would bath joyously in the tap water of the wall. Mona was younger. Mona was a baby girl whose name had no meaning, but was meant to rhyme with Sona which meant gold. The woman had these two small daughters.
Her husband was a shrunken man, with dark circles under the eyelids. He used to be sleepless with worry. He had not wanted to marry but because of his old grandmother who had encouraged him saying one day he would be High Court Judge with his learning and would find no difficulty in feeding an extra mouth. But unfortunately he lost the clerical job he had in the coal merchant's office. His wife who wanted to help could help in no way.
Then he got the job of a bus conductor. But he was already ill. He had fever. Suddenly he began to cough and spewed up blood. For one second he was thinking of the nice things he would buy with his monthly pay and the free medical aid he would get. But the sickness was galloping within. He had to be moved to the hospital, but the beds were full. His wife nursed him. She thought of the story of Savitri and Satyavan and how Savitri had fought against Yama and brought back her husband from the dead. But the mother of Sona Mona could not be Savitri. Her husband expired.
Then she thought of a way of suicide. There was a stock of opium in the house which Grandmother used to take. She gave some to her two children. Rest she took herself. Her two children died. But she lived. She thought of losing her sanity. But there was no way she could lose her sanity. She thought of various other ways of suicide. Drowning, Fire but to no avail. Mona had suckled death out of her breasts and Sona had taken it out of her hands. Now she was presented for the verdict of the Judge. She was charged with two cold blooded murders and attempt to suicide. She did not plead insanity. She confessed that she had done it in full awareness. She hoped for death as punishment from law.
But to her amazement, anger and disappointment the verdict was that she was to live. She would be imprisoned for four years. The moment of eternity came to an end with the sentence. She was a victim of the old man's mercy. She prayed for insanity but it did not come. The ringing voices of her two little daughters whom she had killed rang in her ears.
This story is a pathetic tale of poverty. It is the woes of a helpless woman and a mother. What she had done was to save her children from extreme poverty. She had wanted to be Savitri. It reflects the condition of an Indian woman left without a husband. She cannot fend for herself and she is left with no other choice but suicide. It is a pathetic picture of poverty and hapless motherhood.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Moment-Of-Eternity&id=6603820] A Moment Of Eternity

Book Review Of Usha KR's The Chosen

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Anne_M_P_John]Anne M P John
This is another first. I had neither read nor even heard about Usha KR. But I am glad that I gave The Chosen a try. This book is about a young girl, Nagaratna, who is forced to move out of her village after her father's untimely death. She and her mother join her brother's family in the city, where she continues her studies and starts working. The events that unfold in her life and her evolution and growth into a worldly-wise woman, without losing her innate qualities pretty much sums up the book.
The first thing that caught my attention was Usha's descriptive writing. Although this story is based in Bangalore, it was really not difficult to picture the everyday life and surroundings of Nagaratna. In fact, I could clearly see the crowded and bustling market streets, the busy shops and the lower-middle class dwellings replete with the sights and sounds of such environs. I have shopped in such shops, walked down such streets and visited such dwellings - therefore it was easy to relate to the described life of Nagaratna. Usha's attention to the minute details is highly evident and she beautifully weaves an interesting tale.
Nagaratna, yearns to go beyond the squalor and mediocrity of her surroundings and the people currently in her life, be it the gossipy neighbourhood women, her ardent admirers or her shallow friends. In direct contrast to Nagaratna's upbringing and social standing, is the school where she joins work as admin personnel. An island of tranquility and a sophisticated beauty, it is everything that Nagaratna has longed for. She idolizes the Principal, Miss Pandit. Nagaratna is swept away by the classy and suave Miss. Pandit, who seems to have clever answers and clear solutions for everything. In fact she seems so smitten by the lady, that at times I was almost scared that the story would morph into some lesbian love story. Thankfully it doesn't. (No offense to lesbians; just that, that was not why I picked up this book and therefore that was not what I was expecting.)
Speaking of clich�s, I was equally glad that Nagaratna's sister-in-law is not some kind of stereotypical, selfish shrew who is jealous of her or who quarrels incessantly over petty matters with her mother-in-law. Instead she happens to be a friendly and supportive person, which of course is good. Neither is the mother-in-law a bully and both share a cordial relationship. Also the school is run by a spiritual ashram with all the yoga, holistic healing gyan attached to it. So again I was a tad worried that it is going to turn out to be some kind of "Hare Rame! Hare Krishna"-hippies-false-gurus-who-get-exposed-as-a-sham story. Again, thankfully it wasn't. There is also a love story thrown in between Nagaratna and the much elder Vasant. Although not exactly a satisfying love story, again I was thankful that there was no sordid details of na�ve-girl-taken-advantage-of-by-bad-man-and-got-pregnant kind of stuff. Grateful to Usha for not putting it such done-to-death and lame digressions.
I am a kind of person who dislikes tragic endings. No matter how much tragedy happens in a story, I would much prefer it, if everyone is happy at the end. The Chosen is not really a tragedy. I would say, maybe it is a realistic story. This is not a fairytale and no one sails into the sunset to live happily ever after. I presume Usha didn't want a cliche in her ending either. So I guess the ending did not totally appeal to the impractical dreamer that I am, but I can quite see the practicality of it.
On the whole, The Chosen was a good read of a young woman who is "torn between who she is and who she wants to be" and I enjoyed it. The author weaves a tale beautifully, connecting the dots quite skillfully. Will I look out for more of Usha's books? Sure!
Anne John is a software engineer turned journalist. She works as a freelance travel consultant for a travel planning website and as an editorial assistant for an online magazine. She enjoys reading, writing and traveling. For more reviews, interviews and a peek into the life and times of a young Indian woman who has shifted careers to follow her passions, please head to http://abstractadmissions.blogspot.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review-Of-Usha-KRs-The-Chosen&id=6606387] Book Review Of Usha KR's The Chosen

Fantasy Stories - A Genre for All Ages

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Hail]Lawrence Hail
Who hasn't engaged in the luxury of creating an alternate reality (for example) where one can fly or have a conversation with an imaginary animal or occupy an unusual landscape? One could safely say that from the time we are children, thoughts such as these and many others have occurred in all of us.
Although there are many different definitions for the word fantasy, the common thread between all of them could be summed up as; imagination unrestricted by reality! Anything goes in fantasy! A child's fantasy often can be as simple as, what will I be when I grow up, to spontaneously mocking up a character they've perceived and temporarily adopt that character in play. There was a fantastic culture created for teens who immersed themselves in the game "Dungeons and Dragons" followed by graphic video games and super hero movies, such as X-Men where each characters displays a unique ability far surpassing man's current ability.
Geography plays an important role in fantasy novels. Take for example Arabic based stories such as; Aladdin, Sinbad or Ali Baba, all have elements of its culture. The Genie that is common in such stories may have been born out of the hallucinatory and desperation of men traversing the desert. Pre-twentieth century Briton produced many sword and sorcery novels, many of them historically based but still having elements of fantasy. Asian cultures brought to the table many a dragons tale.
Some individuals maintain a high degree of imagination and have the uncanny ability to conceptualize especially wondrous and strange fancies. Many of these people are writers. The extravagant and unrestrained mental image pictures of the realistic coupled with the unrealistic from the vision of its creator, have fueled generations of satisfied readers and budding authors world wide and continue to entertain current and future generations.
One such author was L. Ron Hubbard. His extensive travels around the globe as a young man gave him a unique prospective about various cultures, traditions and superstitions which is demonstrated in his prose. As a writer in many genres such as mystery, western, air and sea adventures, far-flung adventure, tales of the orient and science fiction, his unique blend of fantasy stories continue to inspire new writers and readership of his works that remain in high demand to this day.
His early fiction stories from the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction are still available today. One such story is a fantasy fiction called "The Tramp". This story tells the tale of a down-on-his-luck tramp, Doughface Jack, who survives a terrifying scull crushing accident running from a cop and a train brakeman. Miraculously, not only does he survive but as a result of patching up his brain injuries, he develops phenomenal mental powers where he can heal or kill instantaneously and make the old young again. Terrified of the new found abilities, he flees from the university that has been keeping a watchful eye on him. As is wont with a good story, the evil person in the story turns out to be a beautiful but vengeful power lusting individual who wants to use Jacks ability to obtain her goal and nothing will stand in her way!
This story was published in 1938 so you will experience the flavor of the story that reflects the time period. As fantasy goes, Hubbard knew what would spark the imagination and then some. Its an enjoyable read all around.
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a list of audiobooks at: http://www.goldenagestories.com/audiobooks
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fantasy-Stories---A-Genre-for-All-Ages&id=6607694] Fantasy Stories - A Genre for All Ages