Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

SPOILER ALERT!

Alright, so I liked the book.  Honestly, I thought it was alright.  Not a page-turner or something I couldn't put down, it was easy for me to put down, but still entertaining enough to keep reading.

So, they travel around the world (not in a hot air balloon, I guess movies combine it with another one of Jules Verne's books).  But they run into several disturbances, distractions and complications.

What I liked most about the book was actually the end- and here is where the spoiler alert comes in.  He travels all around the world to prove a point.  He thinks you can travel around the world in 80 days, including complications, some 'friends' make a wager and so you may think he is doing it for the money.  But the money he uses on his trip, in the end, evens out with what he wins. 

Throughout the trip they save an Indian princess though and Mr. Fogg falls in love with her.  When I say fall in love, there is no romance, Mr. Fogg always appears emotionless and the focus of the book is the trip, not any love story.  So you know he is fond of the girl, and more when he finally marries her, but there is no romance (for any looking for a book with romance in it).  Anyways, so the only thing he gains is a wife.

Within the last pages Passepartout says, ""...we might have made the tour of the world in only seventy-eight days."  "No doubt, "returned Mr. Fogg, "by not crossing India.  But if I had not crossed India, I should not have saved Aouda; she would not have been my wife, and-""

Then, my favorite part of the book, "What had he really gained by all this trouble?  What had he brought back from this long and weary journey?  Nothing, say you?  Perhaps so; nothing but a charming woman, who, strange as it may appear, made him the happiest of men!  Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world?"

I liked this part, because it made me look back on the book.  I liked it more with this ending.  What would make touring the world worth it to you?  For me, I would be fine with just the adventure of it all.  I don't need the romance, I don't need a wager to push me, nothing like that.  I would spend my money on a tour of the world for mere enjoyment. 

Another thought to ponder: What are we willing to do to find happiness?  Not the Mr. Fogg knew that that was what he would find by making this journey, but what are we willing to do to find happiness?

Then back to Passepartout's comment about possibly making the tour in only 78 days- they could've done it had they not crossed India- but then they never would have met Aouda.  This makes me think about when I met my husband.  There was one time when he told me, when we were dating, is finding true love supposed to be easy and convenient?  For some it is, but just because something is convenient doesn't mean it's right.  Sometimes the work we have to put in, makes something more valuable to you.  For me, I was dating people in my own town, and trying to expand my options by signing up for an online site.  I felt like it was the easiest way for me to meet more people.  At first I was only willing to meet up with people in my same state, or my home state, or two others.  I figured, when I was home I could go out with any options there, and the two other states were where my grandparents were- so I could go there to visit them and have a date, and then a state I have to drive through to get from where I was living to my family's home.  It was all about convenience for me.  At first.  I was charged a month I hadn't planned on doing and expanded my matches to anywhere in the world.  I figured, 'if it's meant to be, one of us will be able to travel to see the other, or move, or make it work...'.  What's convenient is not always what is best, as is shown by my life and this book.  The easiest route is not always the best, or happiest route.  Oftentimes it is our trips through 'India' that may take just a little bit longer, that make our lives worthwhile.

Where would you stop on a tour of the world?  How much is happiness worth to you?  How many detours or longer routes have you taken in your life that ended up blessing your life?

Messenger by Lois Lowry

Alright, so this book tied in The Giver and Gathering Blue together.  There were magical aspects to the other two stories, like how memories were transferred in The Giver, and the second one with the gifts, but most of it seemed to be like every day life.  This book however had more fantasy in it.  People could trade a part of themselves for other things.  I mean,  yes, in real life, people sometimes give up a part of themselves to fit in, but physical traits don't change without going to a hair salon, tattoo artist or plastic surgeon.  With that said, I still liked the book and the fact that it tied the other two together.  I didn't really see a correlation to the first book from the second, and this one tied it in.

There was one quote towards the end that I really liked: "He saw Forest and understood what Seer had meant.  It was an illusion.  It was a tangled knot of fears and deceits and dark struggles for power that had disguised itself and almost destroyed everything.  Now it was unfolding, like a flower coming into bloom, radiant with possibility."  This whole book has to do with people being generally good, but fears and deceits can take over at times and bring out the worst in people.  Struggling for more power can be evil and many other things.  But I think this theme wraps up the message of this book.

I'll put in one more note: I wish she had figured out another way to end the book... For those who read it, you may understand what I mean, if you think as I do.  I did think that the event was written well.  I wasn't sad like I have been in other books when similar things happen.

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?

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.

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). 

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. :)

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.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Alright, so I must say I started this book and actually started laughing.  Not because the material was funny.  Her Dad disappears one day, reminding me of "A Wrinkle in Time".  She has a best- friend/mythical-creature-guardian just like in the Percy Jackson books.  I'm trying to remember exactly what it was- but parts of the first few chapters reminded me of Alice in Wonderland (maybe it was the talking cat that showed her the way).  You enter the other lands first by a door in a closet- like "The Chronicles of Narnia".  Other paths to that world are similar to windows mentioned in The Golden Compass Series (starting in the second book).  There are characters from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Shakespeare in it.  Within the first few chapters they take a picture of her with the popular boy and photoshop it where she's nude and make fun of her, making me picture Mandy Moore in "A Walk to Remember" when they photoshop her picture and make fun of her.  And then the part that made me laugh the most- she has a fun-loving best friend, one who is warm and has a sense of humor, and who seems to like her as more than a friend and she doesn't notice.  Then she meets a prince from the Winter Court (she's from Summer) and they're practically enemies.  Who does she fall in love with?  The mythical cold creature- who because of a past history- hates her 'warm' friend.  If that doesn't 'scream' Twilight- I don't know what does (oh wait, except the book Hush, Hush). 

I kept reading, thinking to myself, at least she was original in the way she combined all the aspects of the other books into one.  And before I got halfway through, I stopped noticing the similarities.  She actually did make something of her own, using tidbits of ideas from other stories, true, but combining them into a new story.  I got into the book and really enjoyed it.  Of course, I haven't read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" before, so now I'm reading that book, and then I plan on continuing with this series- she has written 5, I think.  I look forward to the others. :)

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

I really enjoyed this book. :)  My sister was reading it for school and I realized I never have.  It was entertaining.  Follows the adventures of a young boy as he gets mixed up with pirates.  Shows when he does something wrong (like leave his post) but how on a whim he ended up lucky and helping in the end.

It did get me thinking about pirates though.  Why do they bury their treasure?  I mean they're supposed to be greedy and after adventure, and burying the treasure creates future adventure... but really?  It reminds me of dogs burying bones in a backyard- to hide it for themselves for future use.  Why not hide it all in one spot?  Maybe to ensure if one is found you still have another store?  And how do you use any of it for anything you want if it's buried on some far off island?  Anyways, whatever the reason/motive, I like looking for treasure- buried or just hidden.  Sometimes that treasure is a 5 dollar bill I left in an old purse that I don't find til a few years later. :)  So I guess in some ways I'm the same.