Poe- The Creepiest Writer of Them All

When reading a story, it is important for the reader to feel closeness to the plot and the characters. Edgar Allen Poe has an incredible way of bringing his reader into the story. Poe establishes an unsettling partnership between his-self and the reader. This is true in several stories such as The Cask of Amontillado, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Black Cat, in which the partnership creates an eerie feeling and mood as well as a shocking feeling of understanding.

            In Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” he creates this ‘partnership’ with the reader by speaking to the reader as not only an equal but one who also has knowledge of his vengeful habits. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, the main character, Montresor, was betrayed by his friend, Fortunato. As reprisal, Montresor murders Fortunato. If this were not eerie enough, in the opening scene, Montresor opens by saying “You, who so well know the nature of my soul…” The feeling of partnership is created by this single statement because Montresor directly expresses his inner-most feelings because the reader, if they were to follow him through the story, should know if they do not already know what he is thinking. This partnership gives an eerie feeling to the story because the reader feels as if they are on the side of the villain or the bad-guy. Since the reader is getting fully what Montresor is thinking and feeling and none of the thoughts of Fortunato, the reader is in turn, almost forced to understand and sympathize with Montresor which makes it more eerie that not only is the reader a ‘partner’ with the evil-doer but also understands and pities him. In both of these ways, Poe is able to take an already eerie story and make it even more shocking and eerie.

            The Tell-Tale Heart is another example of Poe creating a partnership between the main character and the reader. He begins the story by speaking to the reader about himself. He talks about his actions and how well he had done the murder. The narrator also speaks in such a way that the narrator and the reader are equals and as if the two were having an actual conversation and refers to the reader as “you” which gives the eerie feeling of the narrator talking directly to the reader.  “You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded…” In this quote it is proven that the narrator of this story is speaking directly to the reader saying ‘you should have…’ or ‘you fancy me mad.’ This continues to produce an eerie feeling because it does create this partnership and understanding by the reader.

            In Poe’s “The Black Cat” the narrator does not speak directly to the reader as he does in “The Tell-Tale Heart” but he does create the eerie partnership between the narrator and the reader. The Narrator speaks about his past and his life and how he changed over time and what he felt. This is the type of information that only friends and partners would reveal. This also forces the reader to sympathize and understand the narrator, which also creates a partnership. “For the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief.” In this quote the narrator is saying to the reader that he will tell them a story that they may or may not believe but he tells anyway. This creates the knowledge that he probably won’t be lying if he begins by saying that he doesn’t expect you to believe him. This provides a ‘no-secret’ feeling which creates the partnership between the narrator and reader.

            Edgar Allen Poe has an incredible way of making a creepy story and making it even more eerie and suspenseful. The stories about madness and murder, if they were not creepy and scary enough, were made eerier by Poe’s style of writing by making the reader think they are friends and partners with the evil narrator. The reader is shocked by their sudden understanding and pity of the narrator. This creates the partnership between the reader and narrator. Poe is an incredible writer who can take creepiness to a new level and never ceases to stun the reader.

Down With The Ipod

I believe the Ipod has become over popular and over accessorized. There are many different companies and mp3 players that are being ignored because of Apple’s growing popularity. The Ipod has become over-priced and much too popular only because it is so well known, not because of it’s functions or abilities.

I personnaly own a Zen from Creative Labs, and it is far better than an Ipod. It does all the main functions an Ipod does, but has many subtle functions the Ipod does not have. This is true for many different mp3 players. The Ipod can be dificult to handle and use because of the circular scroll and the ‘touch-pad’ buttons. Many mp3 players, like the Zen, do not have this problem.

Another frustration is that every accessory for an mp3 player is only for the Ipod. I recently bought a new stereo, but wanted one that my Zen could play on. I could only find ones that used Ipods, none other. Of course, the plug-in for the Ipod only works for the Ipod. Any accessory is “Ipod this” or “Ipod that” and its infuriating that only Apple gets to sell its merchandise, thus making Ipods even more popular.

Finnaly, Ipods are way over-priced and are getting more money for a worse item. They run about fifty dollars more than others for the same amount of memory. Thus making the Ipod, not just a bad buy, but also an expensive one.

Personnally, I think there are much better mp3 players you could buy instead of the Ipod. I don’t understand how the Ipod got so popular, and I hope that something will happen to take away its ever growing popularity.

I Am Legend

“I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson explores the classic story of the last man on Earth. It is a fascinating book that explores thought provoking ideas and concepts that are mind boggling and fun at the same time.

A disease has somehow killed off the entire human race, save one man named Robert Neville. The people were not entirely killed, however. While some died and stayed that way, some came back. The disease had completely taken them over and they were, basically, vampires. Robert Neville tries to discover a cure for the disease while trying to live. Living completely alone is harder than expected though. The loneliness starts to get to Neville’s head and he makes careless, life threatening decisions. Can Neville survive long enough to discover a way to save the human race? “I Am Legend” contains exciting changes and complications in the plot that will keep the reader reading.

First off, this book was so exciting and interesting to read that I spent only two days reading it, one of which was Christmas (yes, it is so good it will keep one away from even Christmas celebrations). With new problems constantly arising and the plot always thickening, it becomes hard to put the book down.

“I Am Legend” puts the reader in the mind-set of being the last one around. with descriptive and in depth details and thought process, the reader actually feels like the main character. This makes the reader fully understand the dilemas and harshness of the story.

This book is a perfect example that the book and the movie are very different and usually the book is better. “I Am Legend” was made into a movie starring Will Smith in 2007, but it differs from the book greatly. Except for big plot details, the book and movie are almost nothing alike, and I personally like the book better.

“I Am Legend” creates a theme of loneliness and the importance of primal necesities. Neville is constantly tortured by his sexual drive and his need for company. He gets attached, nearly to the point of obsession, to a dog that somehow survived this ordeal. The dog is a symbol of both Neville’s need for society and hope that all is not lost. The dog proves to him that it is possible for others to have survived the disease’s spread, which is the only hope that has kept him pushing through the days. The dog also gives him something to think about and communicate with. The dog, at first, runs away from him, eventually allows Neville to get to it and be with it, but in the end betrays him and runs away. This is a symbol for the entire book and how society is taken away from Neville, slowly comes back, and when it’s finally in reach, runs away again.

Ironically, Matheson thought poorly of this book and actually named the main character after his opinion of it. Robert Neville is an anagram for Terrible Novel. However, this book is one of his mos popular, and even made a boxoffice hit movie.

“I Am Legend” is a great book and Richard Matheson does a brilliant job making it beievable and interesting. This book is a definite Sci-Fi must read. 

 

 

Top Bands of All Time

This is, in a way, an extension of my “Top Twelve CDs Of All Time” blog. I originally wrote that as an essay for my English Class, but the major problem was, i could only write about twelve. With the amount of music I listen to, this proved to be a great challenge and i decided to go back on my own and extend it. Yet again, i ran into the problem of ordering my favorite CDs and I just couldn’t bring myself to order my favorite CDs. I decided to list my favorite bands and their best CDs. This was much easier and stress free. This will be a continued post and more bands will be added as time goes on.

1) KoRn. (Nu Metal) There is no doubt in my mind that KoRn is my favorite band of all time. They always blow me away with their great writing and flawless performance. Their CDs are truly magnificent with power, anger, and hatred running deep into the lyrics. CDs to check out: “Take A Look In The Mirror”, “Issues”, “Follow the Leader”, “Korn”.

2) Bullet For My Valentine. (Emo/Screamo/Metal) Bullet For My Valentine is one of the greatest screamo bands of our era. Although they’re lead screamer had his tonsils removed, which limits his screaming ability, they are still as good as ever. They have an awesome guitar sound with guitar solos that even Eddy Van Halen would admire. They reappearing theme of frustration and the loss of a lover combined with the angry screaming creates an aw inspiring sound. CDs to check out: “The Poison”, “Scream Aim Fire”.

3)Bowling For Soup. (Rock) Classic high school band made popular. With songs all about lost relationships, girls, peer pressure, frustration with parents, and regular teen problems, Bowling For Soup is the perfect band for a high schooler. Simple guitar riffs makes it easy listening, but funny, meaningful, and relateable lyrics makes it great listening. CDs to check out: “Drunk Enough To Dance”, “A Hang Over You Don’t Deserve”

4) My Chemical Romance. (Emo/Hard Rock) With the bizarre but meaningful lyrics, great guitar riffs, and great singing, My Chemical Romance is a force to be reckoned with. CDs to check out: “I I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love”, “Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge”

5)Linkin Park. (Nu Metal) Powerful lyrics and sound makes Linkin Park as great as they are. They have a unique mix of guitar and keyboard as well as rap and rock/metal. They are one of the most relatable bands and also one of the most popular metal bands in the radio world. Cds to check out: “Meteora”, “Hybrid Theory”, “Minutes to Midnight”

6) Iron Maiden. (Metal) Iron Maiden is the main reason I started listening to British metal. With the oddly poetic yet political lyrics, they are some of the best song writers alive. They also make a unique guitar sound that makes them the most recognizable. CDs to check out: “Fear of the Dark”, “A Brave New World”

7) In Flames. (Screamo/Metal) In Flames has a power and rage that is constantly portrayed in their music. It is the perfect music to head-bang to whenever it is appropriate (which means always). CDs to check out: “Come Clarity”

 8.  Alice In Chains. (Grunge/Rock) Alice In Chains is one of the most inspirational bands ever. Their sound lives on through bands like Godsmack, KoRn, Staind, and many more. They created a sound that was all their own, and they made a good reputation for the Grunge Rock era. They are truly masters of their domain.

 

 

 

The Know-It-All

A.J. Jacobs has taken on a new task in his book “The Know-It-All”. Before, he has lived an entire year following the teachings of the Bible, but now he is reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z. This is a unique and interesting idea for a book, but whether or not it’s a good idea, remains to be seen.

“The Know-It-All” is comedic view on the information and irony in the Encyclopedia Britannica. A.J. Jacobs is reading the entire collection all the way through and is taking the reader with him on this astronomical foot. He gives a brief description of about two to three dozen words per letter, and makes a satirical or ironic comment on each. He also takes the reader through his personal problems as he reads the collection of words, like his desperation to have a child, world issues, and his funny stories of how he tries to show off his newfound knowledge.

While being funny, “The Know-It-All” is also educational. He gives out information that the reader can store as “Information I never knew, and never wanted to know.” He discusses the disgusting facts of animals and foreign customs. However, he does give useful knowledge like the longest word in the English dictionary, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. His ironic outlook on life and ways of living it is hysterical and keeps the reader coming back for more. It’s hilariously addicting.

Although “The Know-It-All” is addicting and funny, it can be long winded and seems like it might be better if it were shorter. The writing style never changes throughout the book which can put the reader in a slum wondering if the book will ever get anywhere, with the resounding answer “no.” The book does not change much at all throughout the book and can be very hard to push through at times. However, there is a plot to the book that amazingly keeps the reader reading. The great aspect of this book is that it is okay to skip parts of it. With every section between a paragraph and a couple pages in length, skipping a few sections is perfectly acceptable.

A.J. Jacobs also takes the reader through his attempt to show off his knowledge through trial and error. Jacobs is already a socially awkward person as it is, and trying to show off some interesting, yet nerdy, facts does not help his case. At first he sounds snotty or condescending, but learns how to approach the subject with a general introduction, and then narrow it to what he wants. With the loving support of his family, Jacobs is able to learn from his errors and make his conversations more interesting. However many errors Jacobs makes, he still does make the occasional error that makes him seem like a jerk, but it’s all in good fun. It is always funny to see how Jacobs continuously makes a fool out of himself.

Personally, my favorite point of the book was not intended to be an ironic comment, but a passing observation. Jacobs says “Oh and then there’s that little apocalypse hanging over our head: it looks like we’re going to war with Iraq, and God knows what’s going to happen.” I love this quote because its irony was not intended. Obviously, the war with Iraq is not going as well as expected, and his hesitation and concern about the outcome before it even happens is humorous.

A.J. Jacobs’s book “The Know-It-All” is a fabulous idea, and despite its slow points, is a great book. Those who want to read a funny, ironic, but educated piece of material, this book is for you.

Curt Schilling- A Hero

Curt Schilling

            Everyone needs a hero or an idol that they look up to and admire. Some people choose world leaders, actors, celebrities, or a family member. Personally, I look up to Curt Schilling, one of the starter pitchers for the Boston Red Sox. I have greatly respected Curt Schilling for a long time, and I hope to have the honor of meeting him someday. Through his team loyalty, determination, and aw inspiring baseball skill, Curt Schilling has proved himself worthy of being my idol.

            One of Curt Schilling’s characteristics I admire the most is his loyalty, especially to the Boston Red Sox. In the fall of 2007, Curt Schilling filed as a free agent, and many Red Sox fans, including myself, were worried he would leave Boston for another team. Instead of testing the market as a free agent, where it is presumed he would have gotten a 25-30 million dollars over a two year contract, he decided to stay with the Red Sox with the promise of eight million dollars for a one year contract. His loyalty to his team, which is a trait I deeply respect, came before money. Other former Red Sox players, like Johnny Damon, can not earn this respect because they left Red Sox Nation for other teams.  Curt Schilling overcame one of the most influential traps, greed, and replaced it with a much nobler one, loyalty.

            Courage and determination can make a great man even greater, as it does for Curt Schilling. Every Red Sox fan knows of Curt Schilling’s bloody sock. Despite his hurt ankle, he continued to pitch in the 2004 World Series. He shows not only determination to win the most important game and devotion to his team and fans, but also courage. It takes a lot of guts to stand in front of thousands, maybe even millions, of people, and pitch in the most important game of the year. Then with the added factor that he was injured and many doubted his ability to continue, the pressure must have been overwhelming, but he managed to work through it and win. He was determined to not let his fans and teammates down and to win the game, and also had the courage to stand up against impossible odds. His ability to stand up in front of seemingly unconquerable odds and face them down makes him the most respected man in my mind.

            Alongside all these great traits, the fact that Schilling is a great pitcher makes me admire him even more. He has been playing professional baseball for twenty years. He has had 3,116 strikeouts, 216 wins, and only 146 losses.  On June 7, 2007, he was only one out away from the first no-hitter of his career. All this in a twenty year span is incredible. He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004 and 2007. This is very impressive, especially since the Red Sox had not won the World Series for 84 years before 2004. Curt Schilling is an amazing baseball player, which is a factor I greatly admire him for.

            Curt Schilling is the most respectable person in my mind and one of the most respected in baseball.  With his charity work for a cure for ALS and donating over 150,000 dollars for it, he also proves himself as an overall good guy. He has shown that he is devoted and loyal to his teammates, his fans, and his job, while also demonstrating the courage and ability to get himself through even the most stressful situations. All these characteristics have made him not only my most esteemed person, but also a man to emulate.

Top CDs of All Time

12. Drunk Enough to Dance- Bowling for Soup.  This CD is definitely one of my all-time favorites because of how easy it is to relate to the meanings of the songs. The songs are based, primarily, about problems most teenagers have such as girls, school, peers, and parents. Although most of the songs are about loss of friends and relationships, Bowling for Soup performs it in such a way that it is humorous and light-hearted. Besides the very simple guitar riffs and straight-forward lyrics, Drunk Enough to Dance is extremely well composed and leaves all other pop music in the dust.

 

11. Break the Cycle- Staind. Break the Cycle contains the essence that is Staind. It is sad and depressing but with the driving guitar sound and the smooth yet forceful singing of Aaron Lewis, Break the Cycle is truly amazing. The theme of this particular CD is that of frustration with society and, of course, the loss of a close partner. Although these are the typical Staind themes, they never cease to amaze me with their creative lyrics and meaningful melodies.

 

10. Back in Black- AC/DC. Back in Black is the best CD written by AC/DC. With the lead singer of AC/DC, Bon Scott, dying, and Brian Johnson replacing him, many were doubtful that he could keep AC/DC’s sound intact. Needless to say, he did and then some. Back in Black contains most of the most popular AC/DC songs like “Hell’s Bells”, “Back in Black”, “Shook Me All Night Long”, and “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution”. With a line-up like that, how can you go wrong?  All that leaves left to say is; Back in Black rocks!

9.  Tommy- The Who.  Tommy is one of the all-time best rock operas. It is a two disc story of a boy who was born deaf dumb and blind. Although there were some songs that made me think “Come on guys, what are you thinking? You could have done better”, the majority were very good and thought provoking. The Who did a perfect job at making the listener imagine he was Tommy and what it would feel like never knowing Christmas, birthdays, or any other holidays. It also gave birth to the ever-so popular “Pinball Wizard”. Tommy is a brilliantly written rock opera that will forever be remembered and will always be one of my favorite CD collections.

 

8. Abbey Road- The Beatles.  Abbey Road is truly one of the classics and has some of The Beatles’ most inspirational songs. There are some songs that I do not particularly care for like “Mean Mr. Mustard”, but overall, the songs are remarkable. With songs such as “Come Together”, “Octopus’s Garden”, “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”, and “Here Comes the Sun”, Abbey Road is one of the most memorable CDs I have ever heard and will continuously be played for many years to come.

 

7. Crossing Muddy Waters- John Hiatt. Crossing Muddy Waters is a magnificent CD that is well written and well performed. John Hiatt mostly plays solo on his acoustic guitar but there are some songs when an electric does appear. This CD is a perfect example of folk style finger picking that not only depicts the true folk music sound but also the deeper meaning. With a combination of sad but inspirational, or serious yet humorous songs, you can’t lose. Crossing Muddy Waters is a CD that, no matter your music preference, can easily be appreciated and related to by nearly anyone.

 

6. Blood on the Tracks- Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan is a master at writing ballads and he shows this flawlessly in Blood on the Tracks. Most of these songs tell a story like “Tangled Up in Blue”, which tells the story of a young man journeying across the country to find his girl, or “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts”, which tells a story of betrayal and moral ethics in a local bar. Although the songs are long, it is definitely time well spent. His songs follow the theme of finding your place in life and getting through hard times. Bob Dylan is well known for writing his ballads just vaguely enough that it is uncertain what is happening. That leaves his songs open to interpretation. The songs are brilliantly written and perfectly played and no matter how many times you hear it, it never gets old.

 

5. Korn- KoRn. This CD made KoRn my favorite band of all time. The CD contains a unique combination of heavy metal and Irish folk music such as blending bagpipes with heavily distorted guitar. The songs are creative and well thought out, while representing the theme of betrayal. This CD, however great, should not be played near your parents because KoRn has very unclean language.

 

4. Scream Aim Fire- Bullet For My Valentine. The newest CD by Bullet for My Valentine is their best, no doubt about it. With amazing guitar solos, powerful guitar riffs, and the hard and fast beating of the drums, Scream Aim Fire is purely awesome. Despite the lead singer getting his tonsils removed, he can still sing (mostly scream) with the power and sound that Bullet for My Valentine is known for. This CD is great for when you want to hear some angry music or whenever you feel the need to head-bang (which I have been known to do).

 

3. Come Clarity- In Flames. Come Clarity is the best CD I own and with its great guitar riffs and lyrics, it earns its spot in the top three. The CD mostly takes on a theme of anger with the hypocrisy in today’s world. They take political songs to the next level with clever and creative lyrics like “What decides when you’ve lost the war?/ When the first man falls,/ Or when they erase it all.” Come Clarity is a heavy metal CD but even those who hate heavy metal and screaming love this CD.

 

2. Issues- KoRn. This CD perfectly depicts the theme of insanity and the difficulties with living in such a judgmental society. The creative guitar pieces and lyrics that just blow you away keep you coming back to listen to it more and more. The meaning behind it all is deep and meaningful but always so easily recognizable that anyone can relate.

 

1. One X- Three Days Grace. One X is truly the best CD I have ever listened to, and that is a very hard position to earn and hold. The CD contains killer guitar riffs, unbeatable bass performed flawlessly, and beautifully written lyrics that create a saddening yet amazingly inspirational tone to top it all off. It discusses, anger, frustration, and dealing with the demon within. There is not a single song on One X that I do not like and it never ceases to grab my attention every time it’s played.

Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow

“Ender’s Game” and “Ender’s Shadow”, both written by Orson Scott Card, are very interesting novels that allow the reader to interpret the books and characters more deeply than they normally would. The two books are of the same story, but from two different characters’ points of view.

            The alien race known as Formic, or buggers in common use, have attacked Earth twice already and there is no doubt they will soon attack again. The world government has tested thousands of children and picked the few elite that will run the next war against the buggers. These children are not even teenagers, yet the future of all humans is put into their hands. One child named Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin is the most promising. He is brilliant at everything he does and seems like the only chance the humans have to survive.

            “Ender’s Game” follows the life of Ender Wiggin as a younger sibling in school, a brilliant student in command training, and a master fighter in the war. Ender, coming from a violent and dangerous environment, has trouble fitting into the organized life in Battle School. He also needs to survive the teachers’ need to break him into an elite fighter. “Ender’s Game” is an inspiring page-turner, that is a must read for every science fiction lover.

            “Ender’s Shadow” follows the exact same time-line and plot that “Ender’s Game” does, except it follows another character, Bean. Coming of the dangerous and deadly streets of Rotterdam, Bean’s only concern is survival. Then just as it seems like the end for Bean, he meets Sister Carlotta and she tests him and takes him to Battle School. Bean is not only the youngest student in the school and the smallest, but also the smartest. No one can come close to Bean’s test grades, not even the brilliant Ender. However, as Bean learns, Battle School means more than just his own survival; it means the survival of every human on Earth. Being the smallest but smartest in the school, Bean gets into a lot of physical trouble with bigger, stronger kids. He must help Ender survive, while keeping himself alive, and trying to save all humanity, all at the age of six.

            “Ender’s Shadow” and “Ender’s Game” give perfect insight to the characters’ thoughts and feelings about themselves and other students. Getting the story from Bean and Ender’s perspective is a brilliant technique by Orson Scott Card. The reader sees Ender’s reasoning for his actions, which are then interpreted by Bean and vice versa. This allows for an interesting comparison between the two and how, while the reasoning for the actions seems intelligent, the interpretation makes it seem brainless. The reader gets the full story and is able to fill in gaps left by the book before it, and the best part is; they do not need to be read in any particular order.

            The two books also give a perfect look into war and what it truly is; political and physical. While the story follows the super geniuses fighting the war, it also follows the political strategizing of the war and after it. After the war with the buggers is over, the war on Earth will begin. Each country is jockeying for power in the next war before the first war is even over. This makes “Ender’s Game” and “Ender’s Shadow” extremely intriguing and thought provoking.

            What makes “Ender’s Game” and “Ender’s Shadow” as great as they are is the fact that it all seems plausible. The fight against an alien force for human survival doesn’t necessarily come across as too realistic, but the political strategizing and fact that the future may be run by prepubescent kids seems plausible. The kids were all genetically enhanced one way or another, which is what scientists are working on today. It seems likely that in a few hundred years, genetically enhanced geniuses will be running the world.

            The pair of books is also very inspiring to the kids that read them. Reading about super geniuses fighting wars against aliens is very fun, but reading and understanding their reasons and feelings makes the reader feel hopeful that they aren’t really all that dumb. Many people have mentioned on how they feel this way towards the books, and it gives the reader that little hope that maybe the world won’t turn out to be filled with drooling idiots.

            The books are so well written that the reader can imagine themselves as one of the characters, which makes the books so relatable. The books surround the topic of a kid’s difficulties with others, their surroundings, and the confusion of their future. The books constantly bring up either Ender’s or Bean’s fear of what will come, as is every kids fear. No one knows what will happen to them when they grow up, and it is frightening to think about what could be. The reader is able to relate to the character through this fear and sympathize for them. The book also contains the stereotypes any kid would encounter, like the big popular kid, the scary teachers, the smart kid, the threatening kid. Everyone knows someone like these people and is able to picture them in the story and make the book as close to their life as possible. Orson Scott Card does a perfect job symbolizing a child’s life into one big game and war, although in the book that takes a very literal meaning.

            The most relatable person in this book is Ender. He is the perfect example of a troubled kid that can’t seem to catch a break. He’s constantly bullied and put down at home or in school, and when he tries to stop it, he gets into even bigger trouble. He is the smart kid that everyone loves to hate. With abusive peers and siblings, he has grown up to be cautious of everyone and not very trusting. He is the character I can relate to most because of these factors, and being able to relate to the main character is important in a book.

            “Ender’s Shadow” and “Ender’s Game” are great books whether you like science fiction or not. It symbolizes a kid’s struggles and challenges in life and puts it into very literal terms. Any kid, whether in high school or middle school, should read these two books because it will show them that they are not alone and that others go through the same problems.

The Three Musketeers

“The Three Musketeers” by Alexander Dumas is a classic story that has been told countless times for hundreds of years. First written in 1843, “The Three Musketeers” has become a classic has been made into several different versions and movies. It is an inspirational tale that will be told for many years to come.

            We find d’Artagnan , a young, ambitious Gascon from France, searching for Monsieur de Treville, the captain of the Musketeers, in 1625. With a letter from his father, a former Musketeer, d’Artagnan hopes to follow in the footsteps of his brave and respected father. D’Artagnan discovers that he is not allowed to become a Musketeer, but if he proves himself worthy in a noble and selfless act, he is more than welcomed into the group. He befriends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis who are Musketeers. He finds the love of his life, and as a guard to the King of France, d’Artagnan is very pleased. However, when his lady is kidnapped because of a secret of the Queen, and an assassination attempt is plotted against the friends, d’Artagnan must leap into action. He soon stumbles upon a plan for the Cardinal to take control of France. With France at war with England, it is the prime time for the Cardinal to make his move. What the Cardinal does not expect is d’Artagnan and his friends to try and stop him. With the added risk of running into the Cardinal’s spies, including Lady de Winter, this mission for the four friends becomes even harder. The plot thickens even more when it is discovered the secret life of one of the Musketeers has lead to this very situation. “The Three Musketeers” is an action-packed adventure with tricks and unexpected events around every corner. It is apparent in this novel that nothing is as it seems.

            “The Three Musketeers” is a novel of young ambition, deceit, love, and loyalty. It is the perfect novel to read at any age. When times are rough and the count is down, the friends have an impeccable way of sticking together and pushing through it. It is inspirational how the powerless characters come out on top and remain loyal to friends all throughout the nation’s greatest power struggle. With all the tricks and twists in the plot, and the complicated names and places, “The Three Musketeers” is worth reading a couple of times to get the full impact and meaning the novel posses.

            Some people may think that they don’t need to read the book since they’ve seen the movie. The novel is so intricate that the directors leave a lot out of the movie. Every scene in the book has an important meaning and if it were all made into a movie, it would be several hours long. Therefore, the novel must be read to know of the entire story.

            With characters like d’Artagnan, the young, ambitious lover, Aramis the noble, respectful introvert, and Porthos, the loud, chivalrous man of honor, the reader can’t help but root for the underdogs. The novel is so well written, the reader is always kept on edge and always worrying about the characters. Although the language is tough to understand because it is translated from French and put into old English, the novel should be read by all.

Cycle of the Werewolf

Stephen King is one of the all-time best horror writers, but his book “Cycle of the Werewolf” is not nearly as good as he could have done. With short chapters and very little character development (mostly because no character lives for more than 5 pages after they’re introduced) the book is impersonal and very blunt. I can honestly say that “Cycle of the Werewolf” was not even worth the one night it takes to read it.

            Something has come to Tarker Mills, Maine and no one really knows what it is. All they know: once a month another town resident is found slaughtered by some huge animal. Every chapter is a new month beginning at January and ending at December. It takes until July for someone to survive an attack, and the only survivor of the year is a crippled child. Person after person is slaughtered until crippled little Marty becomes the first person to see the beast and survive. He does nothing to stop it until December arrives and even that is only a little action that has a lucky outcome.

            “Cycle of the Werewolf” is filled with cheap suspense, gory pictures, and unappealing writing. With more pictures than writing, “Cycle of the Werewolf” seems like a lame attempt by King to show his readers he hasn’t stopped writing quite yet. “Cycle of the Werewolf” has very blunt and non-meaningful actions with a very anti-climactic ending.

            I don’t mind suspending my belief for a book and accepting some facts that just seem improbable, but for “Cycle of the Werewolf” it was just too much. The only one who survived an attack was little Marty, a wheelchair bound little kid, and the only one to do anything to try and stop the beast was the same crippled little kid. All this upon the story line of a werewolf coming to town is just too much to handle, and it comes across as lame and pointless.

            With the speedy death of nearly every character that is introduced, it is impossible to relate or sympathize with anyone, making “Cycle of the Werewolf” just a cheap fairytale and not a meaningful story. “Cycle of the Werewolf” is so short that I had a chance to start and finish it within one hour. This hardly makes reading it worth while because it goes by so fast; the reader is unable to lose themselves in the plot.

            My favorite scene was the killing of Stella in February. Stella was annoying with her complaining and stupidity. It was so intolerable that by the end of the chapter, I was rooting for the werewolf to kill her. The only thing pushing me through the book was the urge to find out who got killed next and how gruesome their death would be.

            If you are looking for an easy read and a book that will only take a short while to read, “Cycle of the Werewolf” might be the book to pick up, but if you don’t want lame but gory horror, I would highly suggest some other book. “Cycle of the Werewolf” is definitely the low point of Stephen King’s writing career, and a writer as great as he should have been able to make this book better than what it is.