#29: Frankenstein

Shelley, Mary: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. New York: Random House, 1999. Print. 303 pages.
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SETTING: At sea heading to the North Pole; Geneva, Switzerland; and the University of Ingolstadt in Germany.
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SUMMARY: The scientist Victor Frankenstein relates how he created and gave life to a "hideous monster" and the subsequent misfortunes he suffers at the hands of his creation.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Alas! why does man boast of sensibilities superior to those apparent in the brute; it only renders them more necessary beings.  If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows, and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us." - Chapter 10, page 124.
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A friend recommended I read this book after I had finished reading Dracula last summer.  I couldn't get a hold of a copy at a library or a used book store, and I wasn't pressed to ready it right away, so I decided to wait until I came back home for the summer.  I was very enthusiastic to read it because I really enjoyed Dracula and looked forward to reading a book written in the same style.

Two points before going into my lists of likes and dislikes:

1. A novel written as a series of documents (e.g. letters, journal entries, etc.) is called an "epistolary novel."  I didn't know there was a term for this writing style until yesterday.
2. "Frankenstein" is the creator of the creature.  The creature itself is unnamed and is mistakenly called "Frankenstein" in modern culture.  

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Things I liked about this book:

1. I went through a variety of emotions while reading the novel, from (1) boredom to (2) sympathizing with the creature and disliking Frankenstein to (3) sympathizing with Frankenstein and disliking the creature, and, (4) back to boredom.
2. It's an epistolary novel, which has become one of my favorite methods of relating a story.
3. The fact that an act committed during his youth haunts Frankenstein throughout his adult life.  It's an occurrence that mirrors many people's lives- a regrettable act, minor or major, from one's youth, when one is naive and has not had enough experiences to really assess what he/she believes is right versus wrong, manages to either stay with that person throughout his/her life or creeps up during adulthood.
4. Frankenstein's creature is given a chance to tell his side of the story.

Things I didn't like about this book:

1. I was really bored at the beginning and end of the novel.  I started reading this book three weeks ago and in between started another two books because I was that bored.  It did pick up in the middle, and if I wasn't so stubborn when it comes to finishing books I would have put it down after reading the first 50 pages.  I'm glad I finished it, because it felt like an accomplishment of sorts, but it is boooooring for the first quarter and the last 1/5 or so.
2. Frankenstein's dialogue.  Half of the story is how he mourns creating the "monster" and, yes, I get it, it's a big mistake and he regrets it, but he starts to whine after a while and it's very annoying!

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This list is pretty lame, I know, but I wasn't all that impressed with this novel.  I wasn't even impressed enough to come up with a longer list of dislikes, and I don't mean that as I'm being lazy, but moreso that the majority of this book was so dull that there isn't much else to say about it.  I realize it's a classic and it has some great themes, but apart from it being an epistolary, I didn't find it exciting.  It's a sad story told in a whining voice.  The end.
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Recommend?  Yes, because it's a classic.  Wasn't horrible, but wasn't that exciting either.

#28: Dreams and Shadows

Cargill, C Robert: Dreams and Shadows. New York: HarperCollins, 2013. Print. 433 pages.
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SETTING: In and around Austin, Texas.
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SUMMARY: Colby Steven's childhood wish to see the world, real and "imaginary," puts him in the middle of a battle between reality and dreams, right and wrong, and forces him to realize the difference between doing good and doing for the greater good.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'No one is born damned; you have to damn yourself.  Hell's fires are fueled by the stuff of dreams and stoked with man's attempts to grasp them.  Few men set out to damn their fellow man; those that do have a special place carved out in the brimstone of the underworld.  The Devil loves a self-made man.'"
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This book was a random pick from the local library near my parents' home, at first picked up because I liked the cover, title, and font size.  I wanted a quick and easy read of pure fiction.  This book promised to deliver faeries, angels, monsters, and changelings, so, along with the three favorable aesthetic points mentioned above, it seemed like a fantastic choice.  
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Things I liked about this book:

1. Fantasy!  It wasn't as far from reality as high-fantasy novels are, but it delivered on its promise of providing the reader with a plethora of fantastical creatures.
2. The friendship between Colby, the protagonist, and Ewan, the secondary protagonist.
3. Mallaidh's love for Ewan.  (Her name is pronounced "Molly" according to the author.  If you ask me, I'd say it should be pronounced "Mallay.")

Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The story had soooooo many great ideas but they were all half-baked.
2. The author created a number of different characters and types of creatures, but there were too many and only a few of them were presented fully and well.  
3. There were many characters in the fantasy world whose name and societal rank were briefly mentioned.  The author would then bring these characters back, giving them such importance as if I, as the reader, should have had a working knowledge of that character's background and personality.  In reality, the author had never provided such information.
4. The author's writing style.  It didn't flow well.
5. The lack of description in much of the book. It was like the author was rushed for a deadline so he neglected to cultivate and nurture his ideas.

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This book could have been great, but instead it ended up being a mess of words.  There were too many themes and not enough emphasis on any one.  I was left with nothing after finishing the book, and it was clear from the beginning that the author wanted it to be the type of story that had the reader walking away with a great life lesson learned.  I think the author was trying to get at the difference between doing something because you believe it is good and sacrificing for the greater good, but this concept was briefly mentioned, and near the end at that.  Also, there were no concrete events that led up to that being the crux of the story.  If I'm trying to push a square peg into a round hole, then I can say that some of the events in the beginning perhaps foreshadowed this central theme.  This book was a big disappointment, and I only kept reading it because I thought it had to get better.  There were so many great ideas and so much potential!  This is the author's first novel, and I think he is capable of creating great works of fiction, so I hope he keeps at it, but this first piece was not good.
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Recommend?  No.  There are plenty of other books to read that are a better use of your time.

#27: A Game of Thrones

Martin, George RR: A Game of Thrones. New York: Bantam Books, 2011. Print. 807 pages.
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SETTING: The story takes place in three separate settings, following three separate, yet connected, story lines:  

1. The Seven Kingdoms, a nation on the continent of Westeros.
2. The Wall (an actual wall made of ice, stone, and magic) that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the North.
3. The East, in various areas, following the Dothraki people.

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SUMMARY: Ongoing unrest between all the different houses in this fictional world, and the looming arrival of a harsh winter (seasons last for years; the novel begins near the end of a decade-long summer), motivate the various characters to face a difficult crossroad: fight for what they believe in or take the easier route and follow those who will give them the best reward, either monetary or, in most cases, the option to keep their life.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true.'" - page 532.
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Like many other people I know, I've been in a frenzy to jump on the Game of Thrones bandwagon.  Apparently HBO has done an exceptional job translating this story into a TV series, and I'm missing out on a whole lot!  But, as usual, I REALLY wanted to read the books before diving head first into the show, and a friend was kind enough to lend me the first book!  Unfortunately, there wasn't much time to read in between school and other personal projects I had going on, so it took me a very long time to finish the novel.  Hopefully though, now that I'm on summer break, I'll have the chance to zip through the other four.  I am a little bummed out that the remaining two haven't been written, and considering the author has a history of taking years to finish one novel, I'm already anticipating how disappointed I'll be once I reach the end of the fifth book.  I can't even begin to imagine how the patient fans, who began this journey in 1996 with the publication of the first novel, must feel!
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Things I liked about this book:

1. IT'S AWESOME!  First time I've ever audibly said "wow" after finishing a book.
2. The author doesn't hold anything back.  He doesn't feel the need to censor ever.
3. The emotions!  Because the author is not afraid to introduce very taboo and horrifying subjects, I became overwhelmed numerous times while reading and had to set the book down to take a breather.  I even abandoned it for an entire two-week period because my mind kept wandering back to what I had read when I was supposed to be studying.
4. The multiple third-person narratives.  The author gives a well-rounded view of what's going on.
5. Strong character development.  Multiple characters, but because of the use of third-person narratives, I felt that I had a clear idea of each character's personality.
6. The strong female characters.  It's a man's world... ruled by women (except on the Wall- no women allowed).
7. "Winter is coming."  A simple, eerie, and forceful statement echoed throughout the entire book.  It's brilliant that the author was able to create such a memorable, meaningful phrase with three words.

Things I didn't like about this book (but not in terms of content):

1. Many of my favorite characters died, and the amount of death took a little getting used to.  Again, this book's style was something I hadn't ever encountered.

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This is the first fiction book I've read that mentally challenged me to keep going, even with all the abovementioned positive points (I'm mentally challenged by nonfiction all the time, mostly because I find it boring and tedious).  Some of the themes are really disturbing, but because it is written so well and the story line is fantastic, I had to keep going.  The list of likes is much longer than dislikes, and I could easily continue with the likes, but long posts are a drag.  I hate buying books, but if I can't find book 2 at my local library, I'm definitely going to cave in and buy the lot.  I have a precious two months to spend as I'd like (for the most part), and reading the remaining four books are at the top of the list.  YAY SUMMER :D
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Recommend?  YES.  PLEASE READ.

#26: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Christie, Agatha: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. New York: Berkeley Books, 2004. Print. 358 pages.
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SETTING: King's Abbott, England (a fictional village).
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SUMMARY: The deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Ferrars approximately one year apart (evidence pending, they are believed to be a murder and suicide, respectively) have brought more intrigue and life to the little village of King's Abbott than it has ever felt before.  However the death of Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy individual known to have had a romance with Mrs. Ferrars after her husband's death, brings the famous detective Hercule Poirot out of his newfound retirement to solve this baffling case.  Dr. James Sheppard, a friend to all of the recently deceased, serves as our narrator and Poirot's unofficial assistant.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'Now that you remind me of the fact, it is true that there is one more thing.  It would be unwise on your part to attempt to silence me as you silenced Mr. Ackroyd.  That kind of business does not succeed against Hercule Poirot, you understand.'" - Chapter 26, page 353.
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First off, HAPPY SPRING!!!  The weather in DC is finally beautiful and the birds are chirping, even on the gloomy days (like today)!  

I gave this book to a friend as a present, but seeing as he was not going to read it anytime soon, I quickly took the chance to borrow it.  I've been looking for a lighthearted, quick read, and this was a most convenient acquirement!  Not to mention it took me approximately six hours over two days to finish the book (it's very short and the font is fairly large), so I don't feel too bad taking it away from his company.  Before heading to my likes and dislikes of this novel, I have one thing to say: This is THE MOST BRILLIANT NOVEL I HAVE READ IN MY LIFE THUS FAR.  And I'm not saying this from my biased stance of loving all things Christie.  This book is just fabulous.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The narrator.  He will blow your mind into the depths of space, and open it up all at the same time.  But not until the very end of the novel, mind you, so you'll have to be patient while reading.  I don't want to give away too much, so apologies if this is vague.  I will forever be thankful for having read this novel because it gave me an entirely different perspective on narrators, narration, and who to trust when being told a story.  
2. It is a great display of how storytellers have the ultimate power to manipulate what is being related to the listener(s).  Speech, sentence formation, grammar, etc. are dangerous tools in the right hands.  Enough can be said without giving anything away at all, while just the right words can put you on the entirely wrong track.  Again, absolutely brilliant.
3. Hercule Poirot.  He is my favorite out of all of Christie's detectives.
4. The ending.  IT IS GREAT.
5. Poirot's characteristic step-by-step method of revealing the criminal at the end of the novel.  It never gets tiring.

Things I didn't like about this book:

1. The unnecessarily long Mahjong scene.  It could have been cut in half, maybe even one-third.
2. Not necessarily something I didn't like about the book, but Mrs. Ackroyd (Roger Ackroyd's sister-in-law) is incredibly incredibly incredibly annoying.  I wanted her to go away every time she started speaking.

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I LOVED THIS NOVEL!  Hands down my favorite mystery out of all of the Christie novels I have read.  I always enjoy her novels, but I can't ever remember being this excited and so ready to recommend one of her novels to others as I am right now.  It's been a long time since I've finished a book with a new perspective on how to read books, and I loved that it is a great reminder of the importance of being a critical reader.  As a reader, you must always analyze and be skeptical of every word you read, even in fiction.  True, it can be argued that fiction is fiction and thus not reality, but we learn a lot about our reality from fiction (at least I do), so why not look at it with the most critical eye possible?  You'll finish the book having learned more, and, as Poirot says, your "little gray cells" will probably thank you for it.  And you'll hopefully find yourself a tad bit smarter as a result.  
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Recommend?  YES!!!  Very short and quick read, so no excuses will fly!

#25: Wolf Hall

Mantel, Hilary: Wolf Hall. New York: Picador, 2010. Print. 604 pages.
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SETTING: 1500 to 1535 England, during the reign of Henry VIII.
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SUMMARY: Thomas Cromwell, born to a low-class family with an abusive, alcoholic father, finds himself working his way up the bureaucratic and bourgeois ladders in 16th century England.  His hard work, dedication, and friendly charm raise him to the status of King Henry VIII's right-hand man, a dangerous position to have at the time.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: I couldn't decide between the following two:

1. "For what's the point of breeding children, if each generation does not improve on what went before?" - Part 1, Chapter 3, page 40
2. "'And look, Gregory, it's all very well planning what you will do in six months, what you will do in a year, but it's no good at all if you don't have a plan for tomorrow.'" - Part 6, Chapter 1, page 519

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This novel was a gift from a very dear friend who quickly picked up on my favorite  genres!  The Tudor period, particularly the reign of Henry VIII, has always fascinated me, so much so that the first time I went to England as a teenager, I made sure to take a trip to Hampton Court Palace, one of Henry VIII's many homes.  The palace has an incredibly rich history, and I encourage you to give Wikipedia a quick browse through at your convenience and read up on it (there are obviously better sources, but who can deny the convenience of Wiki?).  The palace itself is wonderful, but the gardens are where the true beauty lies.  It was absolutely breathtaking, and if I ever find myself in a home with a garden and landscape with even a fraction of Hampton Court's garden's magnificence, it will be a true accomplishment.
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Things I liked about this book:

1. TUDOR PERIOD! (And no, I haven't watched The Tudor's yet.  Shocking!  I know.  But I will get hooked so I've been cautious and waiting for a time when I will have a few days to do nothing but dedicate endless hours to watching all four seasons.)
2. The narration.  It's in third person via Thomas Cromwell, but it reads like a 1st person narration in the sense that you really feel all of Cromwell's emotions and are left with a thorough understanding of his thoughts.
3.  The history.  I am by no means an expert in this field, but the story stayed very true to everything that I have learned thus far about the Tudor period and Henry VIII.
4. Piggy-backing on #3: I learned a lot of new historical information.  It's always great to finish a book having learned something new.
5. Gives a true picture of how quickly loyalties changed during that time, and leaves the reader with an appreciation for the fact that this fickleness of stance is not always the result of loose morals and beliefs.  Rather, not doing so would lead to ostracism, and most likely death.  As is still the case in modern society, staying on the "good" and popular side of any issue would result in ease, benefits, and a comfortable life, even if the good and popular side is blatantly wrong and corrupt.  Sticking to values and thoughts that are against the mainstream would only lead to trouble.

The only thing I didn't like about this book:

1. Tooooooooo many characters!  I had a hard time keeping a few names straight, mostly because all the characters were named Mary, Jane, Thomas, John, or Richard  -__-  Of course, this isn't the author's fault (it's not like she can go back in time and rechristen all of her characters), and, to her credit, the author does give a list of all the characters, organized by house, at the beginning of the book.  Still, it's a pain in the patookas to keep referring back to the list while reading.  There were multiple times where I just made an assumption as to which Mary was being referred to (and I think I was usually right...).

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I love love love love love love love books from this time period.  A lot of my summer 2011 was spent reading books taking place in 16th century England, and I forgot just how much I enjoyed them!  This book is a trilogy, and so a new project has been added to this upcoming summer: read the other two books!  I'm already excited :D
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Recommend? Yes!