OK, this will be today's (Monday's) first official review for Banned Books Week, I have decided that, as there are 7 Harry Potter books, in addition to reviewing another banned/challenged book I will review 1 Harry Potter book every day, so, logically, today's would be the 2nd one.
OK, so, as I mentioned previously the series was banned on the grounds of "Occult and Satanism". The second book in the series is about the same length (maybe a bit longer) than the first book. In this book we are introduced to house-elves, some of the remaining members of the Weasley Clan and a brand new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (They say the job is jinxed, ever since Dumbledore refused the job to Lord Voldemort no teacher has lasted more than a year). Well after a mishap at Platform 9 3/4 and an incident with a flying car and a vicious tree, when Harry and Ron are almost expelled but when an ancient monster lurking in the depths of the school starts petrifying muggle-borns, will Harry, Ron and Hermione be able to find out who's doing this before someone gets killed? And who is the mysterious heir of Slytherin?
This book is an amazing read, even better than the last, it's wonderful and brilliant and especially if you've read and enjoyed the first one I would absolutely read the second one. (I'd read the whole series really). Another riveting tale of bravery and friendship (with an idiot defense against the Dark Arts teacher who's a bit full of himself to top it all off)
Until next time happy reading and happy writing! :)
Monday, 24 February 2014
Banned Books Week #1 (February 23-March1) Review #2 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
OK, this is my second post today, and in keeping with the Banned Books week theme another book from the list. This one is a home-spun classic through and through. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
This book was in the Top 10 on the banned books list of 2009. The grounds they had for banning/challenging it were "Offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group" and I'll address these challenges one by one throughout the review.
To Kill a Mockingbird is not about birds, it's about life in small town Alabama during the Great Depression. Atticus Finch, the father of our narrator Jean-Louise (Scout) Finch is a great lawyer and he gets conscripted to defend an African-American man accused of Raping a white girl. Of course, due to the great deal of racial prejudice at them time in Alabama, it seemed like a losing case from the start. It also chronicles Scout and her brother Jeremy (Jem) Finch going through school while Atticus is trying to handle the case and neither of them can really understand the racial prejudices at the time, people are people. There are some racial slurs and offensive language because that was what was used in that time. Over the course of the book they befriend several people in their small neighborhood and meet a couple of new people.
I would absolutely tell people to read this book, no question. It's a powerful novel and a bit heavy on the messages but it really is so good. Harper Lee manages to write prose in such a way that it comes to life. This is a tried and true classic and yes, it's true, there are some age groups that it's not suited for, it's more of a book for teenagers, and young adults but it definitely depends on the age group. Go on, read this book, you won't be disappointed.
This book was in the Top 10 on the banned books list of 2009. The grounds they had for banning/challenging it were "Offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group" and I'll address these challenges one by one throughout the review.
To Kill a Mockingbird is not about birds, it's about life in small town Alabama during the Great Depression. Atticus Finch, the father of our narrator Jean-Louise (Scout) Finch is a great lawyer and he gets conscripted to defend an African-American man accused of Raping a white girl. Of course, due to the great deal of racial prejudice at them time in Alabama, it seemed like a losing case from the start. It also chronicles Scout and her brother Jeremy (Jem) Finch going through school while Atticus is trying to handle the case and neither of them can really understand the racial prejudices at the time, people are people. There are some racial slurs and offensive language because that was what was used in that time. Over the course of the book they befriend several people in their small neighborhood and meet a couple of new people.
I would absolutely tell people to read this book, no question. It's a powerful novel and a bit heavy on the messages but it really is so good. Harper Lee manages to write prose in such a way that it comes to life. This is a tried and true classic and yes, it's true, there are some age groups that it's not suited for, it's more of a book for teenagers, and young adults but it definitely depends on the age group. Go on, read this book, you won't be disappointed.
Banned Books Week #1 (February 23-March 1) Review #1 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
OK, I know, I know, this started yesterday but I didn't have time to write a review to post, I did however look up the list of challenged books Online to see which ones I might want to review this week. In honour of Banned books week I will be reviewing (at least) one challenged or banned book every day.
As some of you may know, the entire Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling was, at one point (and still is in some places) a banned, or challenged book series. For the purposes of this review I will be reviewing just the first book.
The Harry Potter series as a whole was banned because of themes of "Occult and Satanism" if you've ever read the book you know that's not true but, what can you do. Mainly the series was banned by religious leaders in schools and even libraries for being about witches and wizards.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the start of Harry's journey. His parents are killed, before the start of the book and it starts out with him being dropped on the doorstep of his dreadful aunt and uncle. The first line of the book is "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of Number Four Privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." Their lives are irrevocably changed when their nephew comes to live with them. However, Harry is no ordinary boy, he is a wizard and when he's 11 he receives a letter (somewhat painstakingly) inviting him to attend the finest Wizarding school in Britain, and so begins his journey. He meets a host of interesting and lovable characters along the way and somehow always manages to find trouble or an adventure.
The first book in the series, as with many series, is the shortest and takes you on a wild adventure the likes of which have never been seen before. It's exciting and fun and fantastical and fun for all ages. I would highly recommend this book, especially to people who enjoy fantasy novels.
Happy Reading! :)
As some of you may know, the entire Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling was, at one point (and still is in some places) a banned, or challenged book series. For the purposes of this review I will be reviewing just the first book.
The Harry Potter series as a whole was banned because of themes of "Occult and Satanism" if you've ever read the book you know that's not true but, what can you do. Mainly the series was banned by religious leaders in schools and even libraries for being about witches and wizards.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the start of Harry's journey. His parents are killed, before the start of the book and it starts out with him being dropped on the doorstep of his dreadful aunt and uncle. The first line of the book is "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of Number Four Privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." Their lives are irrevocably changed when their nephew comes to live with them. However, Harry is no ordinary boy, he is a wizard and when he's 11 he receives a letter (somewhat painstakingly) inviting him to attend the finest Wizarding school in Britain, and so begins his journey. He meets a host of interesting and lovable characters along the way and somehow always manages to find trouble or an adventure.
The first book in the series, as with many series, is the shortest and takes you on a wild adventure the likes of which have never been seen before. It's exciting and fun and fantastical and fun for all ages. I would highly recommend this book, especially to people who enjoy fantasy novels.
Happy Reading! :)
Ways to suggest books for me to read
I know I cover this in a lot of blog posts (mainly because I do want your feedback and I do actually want you to suggest books for me) but there are a number of ways in which you can suggest books for me to read and review, As I mentioned, it'll take me a while to get through all of them and to post (mainly because I'm pretty busy with University until, like April) but I will get to them (I know a couple of people suggested books for me to read as early as last year but things just got really busy and I was unable to get around to reviewing them (heck I didn't even get around to reading them I was so busy, but I have a couple of months off this summer and can do it them.
Twitter:
@LoveWriting221B
#ThereAndNeverGoingBackAgainBlog
#MysteryReviewsAt221B
Blog:
Comments Section (I disabled the Google+ comments thing so you don't have to have Google+ to comment)
Facebook:
I know a couple of you know me on Facebook so you can message me your suggestions. Also, I co-Admin a page with a couple of my friends called "The Nerd's Fandom Paradise", my Admin name is AdminRose so feel free to post to the page with suggestions just remember to mention my Admin name (Also, like the page it's awesome!)
Tumblr:
My url(s)
http://books-and-reviewsat221b.tumblr.com
http://theartisticnovelist.tumblr.com (this one is more for my writing and any artwork I do, the other one is for book reviews (I haven't used it in a while though but you can still contact me through it))
Twitter:
@LoveWriting221B
#ThereAndNeverGoingBackAgainBlog
#MysteryReviewsAt221B
Blog:
Comments Section (I disabled the Google+ comments thing so you don't have to have Google+ to comment)
Facebook:
I know a couple of you know me on Facebook so you can message me your suggestions. Also, I co-Admin a page with a couple of my friends called "The Nerd's Fandom Paradise", my Admin name is AdminRose so feel free to post to the page with suggestions just remember to mention my Admin name (Also, like the page it's awesome!)
Tumblr:
My url(s)
http://books-and-reviewsat221b.tumblr.com
http://theartisticnovelist.tumblr.com (this one is more for my writing and any artwork I do, the other one is for book reviews (I haven't used it in a while though but you can still contact me through it))
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
When the recession of 2009 shuffles Clay Jannon out of his job he fishes the classifieds for a new job when he comes across a help wanted for a bookstore across town. He, after careful deliberation, decides to take the job, the late shift, from Midnight to 6am at the bookstore. He soon meets a girl who works for Google and they get into all sorts of mischief surrounding the store and its books. But when they uncover a secret that the books have kept for centuries, will it advance them in life, or will it bring them down?
This book is a fantastic read and it captures you from the first paragraph, you just can't put it down. At the same time it's an adventure, within the walls of Mr. penumbra's bookstore, it's also a mystery, why is the owner so secretive about the books? Why does he demand vigilant observation of his customers? Most importantly, why is a bookstore, being run like a library? AS you travel through the book, and get into all sorts of mischief with Clay and his friends everything becomes clearer. 10/10 I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy reading books, about books. (If this is the case I would also recommend "The Book Thief", and "The Thirteenth Tale")
As some of you may remember from y last post, this is Banned Books week, at least here in Canada (The American one if September 21-27 if my memory serves me correctly) and as such I'll be reviewing banned or challenged books, in an effort to promote the Freedom to Read. After that I'll be taking suggestions again for books I should read (It might take me until April or May to be able to get to a library or bookstore and pick up the suggestions but I will get to them, you may want to remind me in comments what you suggested, and don't be shy!) Of course, I'll always take book suggestions, it just might take a while for me to get through them.
Keep reading, writing, and doing what you love!! Until next time!!!
This book is a fantastic read and it captures you from the first paragraph, you just can't put it down. At the same time it's an adventure, within the walls of Mr. penumbra's bookstore, it's also a mystery, why is the owner so secretive about the books? Why does he demand vigilant observation of his customers? Most importantly, why is a bookstore, being run like a library? AS you travel through the book, and get into all sorts of mischief with Clay and his friends everything becomes clearer. 10/10 I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy reading books, about books. (If this is the case I would also recommend "The Book Thief", and "The Thirteenth Tale")
As some of you may remember from y last post, this is Banned Books week, at least here in Canada (The American one if September 21-27 if my memory serves me correctly) and as such I'll be reviewing banned or challenged books, in an effort to promote the Freedom to Read. After that I'll be taking suggestions again for books I should read (It might take me until April or May to be able to get to a library or bookstore and pick up the suggestions but I will get to them, you may want to remind me in comments what you suggested, and don't be shy!) Of course, I'll always take book suggestions, it just might take a while for me to get through them.
Keep reading, writing, and doing what you love!! Until next time!!!
Friday, 21 February 2014
Ripper by Stephen Petrucha
Ripper is a retelling of the classic case of Jack the Ripper. In this retelling Jack has moved to New York, shortly after the original killings in London. Jack has migrated to New York and continued his work, killing innocent women. But instead of killing prostitutes "working girls" he's killing wealthy women of New York's upper class. But when a young orphan named Carver Young is taken as ward and protege of Albert Hawking, of the New Pinkerton's after finding a mysterious letter he goes on a journey to find his father. Will they be able to catch the killer before he completes his cycle? Will Carver find his father?
This book is full of twists and turns that keeps you reading chapter after chapter as it follows Carver's adventures and the adventures of his friend(s) Delia and Finn as they help try to catch the Ripper, but when the revelation of the Killer's identity throws a wrench in the works will they be able to continue on their path to catch him?
10/10 I would definitely recommend this book, it's fantastic and wonderful and truly riveting I enjoyed it immensely. It was actually recommended to me by a friend. Even though it is 86 Chapters long the Chapters are very short and once you start reading you can't put it down.
This is my first review this week, I'll do a couple certainly, It's Banned Books week in Canada this week, starting on the 23rd so I'll be reviewing some banned or challenged books next week.
Until next week, keep reading and don't forget to leave me book recommendations in the comments.
This book is full of twists and turns that keeps you reading chapter after chapter as it follows Carver's adventures and the adventures of his friend(s) Delia and Finn as they help try to catch the Ripper, but when the revelation of the Killer's identity throws a wrench in the works will they be able to continue on their path to catch him?
10/10 I would definitely recommend this book, it's fantastic and wonderful and truly riveting I enjoyed it immensely. It was actually recommended to me by a friend. Even though it is 86 Chapters long the Chapters are very short and once you start reading you can't put it down.
This is my first review this week, I'll do a couple certainly, It's Banned Books week in Canada this week, starting on the 23rd so I'll be reviewing some banned or challenged books next week.
Until next week, keep reading and don't forget to leave me book recommendations in the comments.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
FreedomToRead
Hello, everyone, I don't know if anyone knows this but Freedom to Read week is coming up February 23-March 1 (It's basically Canada's Banned Books week) PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO IT'S SO IMPORTANT and please I'm begging you, exercise your freedom to read, and if you haven't seen the list of Challenged works check it out here http://www.freedomtoread.ca/challenged-works/ In the states Banned Books week is in September (I'm going to do both) and during these weeks my book reviews and blog posts will focus on books from the banned or challenged works lists. Please remember to read, and exercise your freedom to read what you want.
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