This book is a very quick read. It centers around a bet as to whether capital punishment or life-imprisonment is more harsh. A guy volunteers to solitary confinement for 15 years. I was "assigned" to read this book by an Uncle who is an English teacher. He has his students read this story and then think of 10 books (trilogies are allowed as long as you can prove that they can be sold BOUND that way. As in hardcover sets, not ebook packages) they would take with them (as the only books they could read the rest of their life, whereas, in the book he is able to ask for an unlimited amount of books), 10 cd albums (not mixes, must be sold that way), and 10 movies. He also asks for 10 restaurants. I can't remember, from his assignment, if those were places you would be able to order from or go to during solitary confinement (or on the stranded island with you, if that's how you picture it) or if those are the only places you can go to once you get out. Either way, I thought it was an interesting read and I have started making my lists. Not that most readers will care what is on my list, but I'm going to record it here for my own sake. This is the current list:
Books:
1. The LDS scriptures (as a quad- includes the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, Topical Guide and Bible Dictionary)
2. Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmadge
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkien (I own a collector's edition with all three)
4. The Gable Faces East by Anita Stansfield
5. Gables Against the Sky by Anita Stansfield
6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
7. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
8. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
9. His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman)
10. Strengthening Our Families: An In-Depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family by David C. Dollahite
Movies:
1. 10 Things I Hate About You
2. Disney's Enchanted
3. Salt
4. Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
5. Dhoom:2 (a Bollywood film)
6. Disney's The Little Mermaid
7. Disney's Beauty and the Beast
8. The Princess and the Frog
9. Tangled
10. Forever Strong
CD Albums:
1. Mariah Carey's Greatest Hits
2. Celine Dion: All the Way... A Decade of Song
3. Kelly Clarkson: The Collection
4. The Essential Michael Jackson
5. Shania Twain Greatest Hits
6. 50 Best Soprano Arias
7. Pussycat Dolls- PCD
8. Beach boys- Still Cruisin
9. Renee Olstead- Renee Olstead
10. Frank Sinatra- Nothing But the Best
Restaurants:
1. Mimi's Cafe
2. Olive Garden
3. Taco Bell
4. Zupa's
5. Little Caesar's
6. PF Chang's
7. Whiskey Grill (Mammoth, CA)
8. Red Lobster
9. Eggs 'n' Things (Thousand Oaks, CA)
10. Cheesecake Factory
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
SPOILER ALERTS:
So, I know I rated it 5 stars, but there were times when reading it when I hated it. Ariella comes back in the picture and Ash wavers in his devotion to Meghan. It made me feel like he only loved whomever he could see at the time. If you love Meghan, Ariella will stay in the past. At the same time, you hear Ariella's story and I DID feel bad for her. She loved Ash, and at times sacrificed her own feelings for the good of all of Faery- like Meghan did. But when it came down to it, Ash analyzed his feelings. Before, he didn't have to choose between Meghan and Ariella because Ariella was gone, and not an option. I feel like everyone SHOULD (not does) make sure that their spouse IS their one true love, and not just the next best thing because your first choice is unavailable.
In Ash's quest to find a soul, he learns what it is to be human. I thought it interesting the things the author decided to focus on- what, according to her IS humanity. I felt myself agreeing with most of it, but it was a topic I've never thought of before. I hope to have more time to contemplate the things brought up in this book.
It also goes through some of the twisted things Ash has done. It was a little sickening to know the nice, sweet things he did for the girls he didn't care about, and I don't remember him doing any of those things for Meghan. But then I saw Ash's remorse as he gained a conscience and regretted what he had done, and remembered he still has time to do nice things for Meghan. And then I also remembered him sending people to watch out for her and her family, and returning her dog to her, and realized he had done nice little things for Meghan.
I really liked that at the end, there were study questions provided. Fablehaven did the same thing and it makes it easy to use this book as a book club read, or just to ponder the book for yourself.
The questions are:
1. Ash begins his journey in The Iron Knight to keep a promise he made to Meghan Chase. How important is it to keep promises when circumstances change? Under what, if any, circumstances would you not keep a promise?
2. Ash and Puck have an intense relationship based on a friendship gone wrong. We might call them frenemies. Ash felt that Puck was responsible for Ariella's death in the past. Do you believe Ash was justified in making his vow to kill Puck? How would you handle having a close friend cause hurt to another friend, whether accidentally or on purpose?
3. In The Iron Knight, we learn of the many terrible things Ash has done in the past, including murder. How did learning the details of Ash's past affect your opinion of him? In real life, who do you believe deserves a second chance?
4. Through Ash's quest to gain a soul, The Iron Knight explores what it means to be human, to have humanity. What are the key qualities of being human? What traits do you value in yourself and your friends and family?
5. In the gauntlet, Ash, Puck, Ariella and Grimalkin face mirror images of themselves that represent their dark sides. Why is it important that they see what they might become? How does it help Ash to succeed in his quest? Why didn't Grimalkin's reflection fight with the others?
6. Ariella chooses to give up her life so that Ash can have a soul. How might that sacrifice affect Ash in the future? In real life, what kinds of sacrifices are worth making, and what might constitute going too far?
7. How does Puck change over the course of the story? Why do you think he chose to come with Ash and support him in his quest to win the woman whom Puck also loves? Who do you believe should be with Meghan and why?
8. One of the premises behind Julie Kagawa's faery world is that faeries exist and become more powerful when humans remember them, tell stories about them and dream of them. What kind of power do dreams and the imagination have on humankind? How are they important in our lives?
So, I know I rated it 5 stars, but there were times when reading it when I hated it. Ariella comes back in the picture and Ash wavers in his devotion to Meghan. It made me feel like he only loved whomever he could see at the time. If you love Meghan, Ariella will stay in the past. At the same time, you hear Ariella's story and I DID feel bad for her. She loved Ash, and at times sacrificed her own feelings for the good of all of Faery- like Meghan did. But when it came down to it, Ash analyzed his feelings. Before, he didn't have to choose between Meghan and Ariella because Ariella was gone, and not an option. I feel like everyone SHOULD (not does) make sure that their spouse IS their one true love, and not just the next best thing because your first choice is unavailable.
In Ash's quest to find a soul, he learns what it is to be human. I thought it interesting the things the author decided to focus on- what, according to her IS humanity. I felt myself agreeing with most of it, but it was a topic I've never thought of before. I hope to have more time to contemplate the things brought up in this book.
It also goes through some of the twisted things Ash has done. It was a little sickening to know the nice, sweet things he did for the girls he didn't care about, and I don't remember him doing any of those things for Meghan. But then I saw Ash's remorse as he gained a conscience and regretted what he had done, and remembered he still has time to do nice things for Meghan. And then I also remembered him sending people to watch out for her and her family, and returning her dog to her, and realized he had done nice little things for Meghan.
I really liked that at the end, there were study questions provided. Fablehaven did the same thing and it makes it easy to use this book as a book club read, or just to ponder the book for yourself.
The questions are:
1. Ash begins his journey in The Iron Knight to keep a promise he made to Meghan Chase. How important is it to keep promises when circumstances change? Under what, if any, circumstances would you not keep a promise?
2. Ash and Puck have an intense relationship based on a friendship gone wrong. We might call them frenemies. Ash felt that Puck was responsible for Ariella's death in the past. Do you believe Ash was justified in making his vow to kill Puck? How would you handle having a close friend cause hurt to another friend, whether accidentally or on purpose?
3. In The Iron Knight, we learn of the many terrible things Ash has done in the past, including murder. How did learning the details of Ash's past affect your opinion of him? In real life, who do you believe deserves a second chance?
4. Through Ash's quest to gain a soul, The Iron Knight explores what it means to be human, to have humanity. What are the key qualities of being human? What traits do you value in yourself and your friends and family?
5. In the gauntlet, Ash, Puck, Ariella and Grimalkin face mirror images of themselves that represent their dark sides. Why is it important that they see what they might become? How does it help Ash to succeed in his quest? Why didn't Grimalkin's reflection fight with the others?
6. Ariella chooses to give up her life so that Ash can have a soul. How might that sacrifice affect Ash in the future? In real life, what kinds of sacrifices are worth making, and what might constitute going too far?
7. How does Puck change over the course of the story? Why do you think he chose to come with Ash and support him in his quest to win the woman whom Puck also loves? Who do you believe should be with Meghan and why?
8. One of the premises behind Julie Kagawa's faery world is that faeries exist and become more powerful when humans remember them, tell stories about them and dream of them. What kind of power do dreams and the imagination have on humankind? How are they important in our lives?
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Alright, so as I have continued reading this series they have become less like Twilight and something of their own. Well that is, despite the two guy interests- the cold one is of course, the forbidden one and as much as part of me would like to cheer for Puck (or Jacob in Twilight) I find myself cheering for the cold, forbidden one in both cases. In these books I feel Meghan is less flighty than Bella and more sure of what she wants.
For parents trying to screen books for their kids- their is a sex scene in this book- I thought it was tasteful. They start out kissing- lay down, then it talks about their auras danced and merged into one. If that left any doubt for you- she has to look for her clothes just a few pages later. The kissing scenes in this series are similar, in my opinion, to those in Twilight.
One part I especially liked was from Puck. Meghan and Ash are in some small fight and Puck says, ""Trouble in paradise , princess?" I felt my face heat, and Puck shook his head. "Well, don't drag me into it. I learned long ago that you don't get in the middle of a lover's spat. Nothing ever goes as planned-- people fall in love with the wrong person, someone ends up with a donkey head, and then it's a whole big mess."" I like how the author used "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to interpret a lesson she thought Puck had learned from that story and incorporated it into her own story.
For parents trying to screen books for their kids- their is a sex scene in this book- I thought it was tasteful. They start out kissing- lay down, then it talks about their auras danced and merged into one. If that left any doubt for you- she has to look for her clothes just a few pages later. The kissing scenes in this series are similar, in my opinion, to those in Twilight.
One part I especially liked was from Puck. Meghan and Ash are in some small fight and Puck says, ""Trouble in paradise , princess?" I felt my face heat, and Puck shook his head. "Well, don't drag me into it. I learned long ago that you don't get in the middle of a lover's spat. Nothing ever goes as planned-- people fall in love with the wrong person, someone ends up with a donkey head, and then it's a whole big mess."" I like how the author used "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to interpret a lesson she thought Puck had learned from that story and incorporated it into her own story.
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Giver by Lois Lowry
To anyone who hasn't read this book- I would recommend it :)
I had read this book in Elementary School, but recently found out it's part of a series. I couldn't remember this book well enough to write a review or to read a second book, if the story continues.
I loved this book. It is placed in the future, where apparently the human race decides to make things better by going to what they call "Sameness". The Receiver is the one person who holds all the memories from the past, so that when making new rules and decisions- someone can have the wisdom to try and make the best decision based on the past. When they pick a new Receiver, the old Receiver calls himself the Giver- since he is giving his memories to the new Receiver.
Through all these memories they are able to discuss different emotions, natural phenomena, and other issues without being preachy about any one issue or topic. It is very well written so as to make us all think about the importance of different things. For example- what good is war? Why should we judge based on hair color or skin color? Should we be tied to emotions? It doesn't answer those questions, but it brings so many issues up for the reader to think about and come to their own conclusion. I guess, in one sense it does answer the question, because both the Giver and the Receiver wish to make some drastic changes in the community and revert back in some ways.
SPOILER ALERT: Throughout the book they talk about Elsewhere. Old people and sometimes infants are released from the community and the people are told they go "Elsewhere". If they commit three major crimes (according to the community) they are also released. And here I'm going to talk about the end of the book- so stop reading if you don't want to know anything about the end. The boy tries escaping the communities. Him and the Giver believe that there is still a place where Elsewhere exists, and that people may still live outside the communities and the Sameness. At the end of the book, the boy is tired, barely still going and holding on. It ends hopeful, and the last time I read it I took that to mean that there was people in Elsewhere. But this time I found a new possibility. When the community would "release" someone and send them to "Elsewhere" it meant that they were killed. So this time reading the book I realized that the boy accomplished his goal/mission and it's possible that the last experience in the book is really him dying- similar to the community's way of releasing people, instead of reaching an Elsewhere that the people assumed people were being sent to. I still would like to believe that there were people living outside the Sameness communities, that he lived and survived, and maybe the next books will tell us, though I don't think they follow the same boy. From the brief summary of the next book I believe it is a story of the community and how they may hopefully start to change for the better. I guess we'll see. :)
I had read this book in Elementary School, but recently found out it's part of a series. I couldn't remember this book well enough to write a review or to read a second book, if the story continues.
I loved this book. It is placed in the future, where apparently the human race decides to make things better by going to what they call "Sameness". The Receiver is the one person who holds all the memories from the past, so that when making new rules and decisions- someone can have the wisdom to try and make the best decision based on the past. When they pick a new Receiver, the old Receiver calls himself the Giver- since he is giving his memories to the new Receiver.
Through all these memories they are able to discuss different emotions, natural phenomena, and other issues without being preachy about any one issue or topic. It is very well written so as to make us all think about the importance of different things. For example- what good is war? Why should we judge based on hair color or skin color? Should we be tied to emotions? It doesn't answer those questions, but it brings so many issues up for the reader to think about and come to their own conclusion. I guess, in one sense it does answer the question, because both the Giver and the Receiver wish to make some drastic changes in the community and revert back in some ways.
SPOILER ALERT: Throughout the book they talk about Elsewhere. Old people and sometimes infants are released from the community and the people are told they go "Elsewhere". If they commit three major crimes (according to the community) they are also released. And here I'm going to talk about the end of the book- so stop reading if you don't want to know anything about the end. The boy tries escaping the communities. Him and the Giver believe that there is still a place where Elsewhere exists, and that people may still live outside the communities and the Sameness. At the end of the book, the boy is tired, barely still going and holding on. It ends hopeful, and the last time I read it I took that to mean that there was people in Elsewhere. But this time I found a new possibility. When the community would "release" someone and send them to "Elsewhere" it meant that they were killed. So this time reading the book I realized that the boy accomplished his goal/mission and it's possible that the last experience in the book is really him dying- similar to the community's way of releasing people, instead of reaching an Elsewhere that the people assumed people were being sent to. I still would like to believe that there were people living outside the Sameness communities, that he lived and survived, and maybe the next books will tell us, though I don't think they follow the same boy. From the brief summary of the next book I believe it is a story of the community and how they may hopefully start to change for the better. I guess we'll see. :)
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
T.O. Fish & Chips
So... I actually haven't eaten anything here yet. I'm sure I will update that when I do go for myself. I recently picked up some food for my grandfather though, who wanted fish. But my grandma wanted to start a directory of restaurants she and my grandpa like and the phone numbers if they take phone orders ahead of time. So I looked up their phone number through yelp and happened to look through their reviews. They have very good reviews, most seemed to be 4 and 5 stars with a few scattered 3 stars and a few 2 stars who say that going TO the coast or to New England is better. (Personally, for convenience sake, I like NOT going the extra 10 miles and sometimes 30 minutes to Malibu, and New England- yeah- that's even farther for me). There was only one 1 star review out of the ones I scrolled through and I liked looking at them too to see what was awful. This guy said he wanted fish and ordered the chicken nuggets and that they were just a step up from grocery store nuggets in that they were freshly battered and fried. I started thinking- what idiot (pardon me for the language if he/she happens to ever read my blog) bases a FISH place's rating on their CHICKEN? That's not seafood. It's not their specialty. It's probably something they added to their menu just in case a family went and someone didn't like seafood. They probably DO buy their chicken nuggets from the store or something or some form of pre-nugget to fry. But if I were a fish place, I wouldn't waste my time making the chicken nuggets into some specialty when I'm known for just about EVERYTHING ELSE on the menu... Anyways, my husband likes seafood and they seemed to have some good $10 lunch special- so we will likely be back some time.
Johnny English Reborn
Alright, so I haven't seen the first one, but it's a spy comedy and I didn't feel lost just because I didn't see the first one. I really enjoyed it. There have been times when I've watched an action movie where they do some crazy stunt- that admittedly, looks really cool. But I've also had friends mention before how sometimes the stunts are unnecessary- like 'who would do that in REAL life?'. This movie covered some of those moments. The bad guy would be running away doing crazy stunts, but Johnny English has the voice of his teacher in his head that basically tells him he can be wise. So he opens the gate that the guy jumps over, walks around the piles of stuff he climbs on top. Anyways, I found it very funny. I mean there were other funny parts as well- messing things up and in the end saving the day. The old Asian cleaning lady was one of my favorites- how many bad-guy girls these days in movies are older? (Besides in the movie R.E.D.) Usually it's some young, hot, sexy girl dressed in tight leather or something. Anyways, I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes spy movies, comedies and/or Rowan Atkinson (who is a favorite of my husband).
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
I liked this book. I'm not a huge fan of Shakespeare. I mean I like the stories, but poetry form isn't my favorite. I always am sure I'm skipping over something in it, but at the same time don't care to analyze it further. With this fantasy book it addressed a few couples in love and some meddling fairies. I found it entertaining and that there were things that could be learned from it (which I guess is true for all of Shakespeare's other works which I have read).
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Alright, so the first book I thought was like Twilight. Two mythical beings that are love interests to one girl. One pale, cold, dangerous and has a reason to kill her. The other one warm and a much safer option. The thing is- forbidden love is common and appealing. There is something about it that I love- even though I did not marry the "bad boy" in my personal life. There is something that makes a girl feel AMAZING to have the bad boy, the unreachable boy, to be able to be the one that he can love, the one that changes his demeanor- that's a very empowering thought. In this sequel (official sequel Book #2 not #1.5) there is a similarity to Twilight or New Moon. The pale, cold love interest has to go away (completely different reasons here)and the other one has a chance to make his move. To me, that is where the similarities end. I really liked this book. I feel like it has more adventure to it than Twilight, and the girl doesn't become a zombie- when he leaves. Life goes on, and she gives the other guy more of a chance. I liked the twists- they weren't impossible to guess, but it still was interesting and I loved this book and look forward to the next book. :)
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Heretic Queen
Based on Rameses the Great and Nefertari (the same time period of Moses in the Bible- but this story doesn't go into that stuff as Egypt doesn't seem to have a record of any details- just a group of people that possibly could've been the Hebrews.)
Honestly, I was expecting to like this book more. I mean it was still intriguing like Nefertiti was and historical fiction, which I like. But it was more graphic than I would've liked. I mean based on the content- there's competition for being the wife of Pharaoh and then becoming Chief Wife. But I didn't need to know that she was taught how to touch him sexually, and I didn't need as much info in those scenes. I've read one or two romance novels that are worse, but it still was more than I like.
Throughout the whole book I was kinda disgusted with the whole two wives thing. I mean, the one doesn't even love him in the book and is just plotting for more power for herself, and the husband still spends as much time with her as the other one who truly does love him. Though I guess we're supposed to like Nefertari more anyways. I didn't realize that there are remnants of poetry that Ramesses the Great wrote that show his love for her. And I was touched most at the end when reading through the notes, that although the book was fiction- their love in real life was not.
Honestly, I was expecting to like this book more. I mean it was still intriguing like Nefertiti was and historical fiction, which I like. But it was more graphic than I would've liked. I mean based on the content- there's competition for being the wife of Pharaoh and then becoming Chief Wife. But I didn't need to know that she was taught how to touch him sexually, and I didn't need as much info in those scenes. I've read one or two romance novels that are worse, but it still was more than I like.
Throughout the whole book I was kinda disgusted with the whole two wives thing. I mean, the one doesn't even love him in the book and is just plotting for more power for herself, and the husband still spends as much time with her as the other one who truly does love him. Though I guess we're supposed to like Nefertari more anyways. I didn't realize that there are remnants of poetry that Ramesses the Great wrote that show his love for her. And I was touched most at the end when reading through the notes, that although the book was fiction- their love in real life was not.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Winter's Passage (Iron Fey Series Book #1.5) by Julie Kagawa
Alright, so this book was book one and a HALF (#1.5) in the Iron Fey Series. I don't know what I was expecting in a half book. Obviously it's not part of the standard series but happens in between the first and second books. As a result- nothing TOO important to the series can happen without having to renumber the books and call this book TWO.
With that said- it was a good short book. Enough action to make it worth reading. Introduced a new character. But no major conflict that I can see affecting the rest of the series. It leaves off just when something is about to happen, but that something is the next step that was mentioned at the end of Book One. So if a reader skips over Book 1.5 they won't miss anything crucial to the series.
With that said- it was a good short book. Enough action to make it worth reading. Introduced a new character. But no major conflict that I can see affecting the rest of the series. It leaves off just when something is about to happen, but that something is the next step that was mentioned at the end of Book One. So if a reader skips over Book 1.5 they won't miss anything crucial to the series.
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