Book: The Hobbit

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R Tolrilken
Sequels: The Lord of the Ring (trilogy)

Rating: 5 stars

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Blurb:
This is the story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected...
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day, to whisk him away on a journey 'there and back again'. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon...

My opinion:

        So this book is a timeless classic. It has sold many millions (or even billions) since it's publication back in 1937. The fact that it has a movie made on it just makes it seem more popular.

       This book, when I first read it was not something that I was sure i would like. The print is relatively small and the number of pages are numerous. despite the wordiness of the book, it is something that makes an amazing read. A spellbinding page-turner, I had issues putting this book down once I had started (there go my classes once again).

      While this book is a true fantasy book and takes you far away from reality and the norms that applies here. That being said, this book is still amazing in telling you things  are morally or ethically important without being preachy. Another thing this book does is act as an eyeopener. Bilbo, in the beginning is a very laid-back and unambitious person. But as the book goes on, we learn -along with Bilbo- of traits he has possessed all along but have remained dormant till now. It's a wonderful book about pushing boundaries, challenging yourself and finding out who you really are.

Ideal For:

This book can't be read by those under the age of 13. Not because of themes or wild rated scenes but because of the length, time and vocabulary. An ardent reader can read this at the age of thirteen (the limit is my opinion) but to take in everything you have to have an understanding that most don't begin to develop till that age. If the reader is mature enough in thought then age doesn't matter when reading this book

This book needs to be read all at once, it doesn't matter where or when. But breaking this book can become difficult. Taking a break often breaks the continuity and will leave you slightly disoriented upon return. Each chapter is an adventure and often dropping the book means leaving in the middle of a raid.

Book: The Book Thief

Book: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Sequals: none

Rating: 5 stars

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Blurb:

IT IS 1939. NAZI GERMANY. THE COUNTRY IS HOLDING ITS BREATH. DEATH HAS NEVER BEEN BUSIER, AND WILL BECOME BUSIER STILL.

Liesel Meminger and her brother are being taken be their mother to live with a foster family outside Munich. Liesel's father was taken away on the breath of a single, unfamiliar word - Kommunist - and Liesel sees the fear of a similar fate in her mother's eyes. On the journey, Death visits the young boy, and notices Liesel. It will be the first of many nearer encounters. By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is "The Gravedigger's Handbook", left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery.

So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

"The Book Thief" is a story about the power of words to make worlds. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-wining author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

My opinion:

  This book comes highly recommended, as most know. There is a tag line for this story that I completely agree with: When Death tells a Story you have to read.  This book is compelling in the I-can't-put-it-down way and the way this book is written makes you want to constantly find out more. Death is something that is often a theme in the book, or a person who goes unseen, popping in and out of shadows every once in a while. If you are acquainted with Japanese work such as Death Note, then death isn't anything but a lord, with many followers and workers to do his bidding.
There are almost no point of view switches as Death walks through the story. But death, as the blurb says is a very busy person. So there are times when the story skips years and leaves you wondering what went on. But these gaps are filled by reading onwards. Although the characters don't have their own point of views, each character is fully developed and the personalities are strong. Liesel has a voice and personality that anyone can relate to. A stubbornness that many people associate with themselves and ever-changing view of the world as she matures and learns more.

Ideal For:

This book, once again, isn't gender specific. It's something that is a must read for all genders. While it definitely isn't suitable for young readers, Teenagers onwards can enjoy and relate to the book and the feelings and sentiments that are shared. It's a book that I would recommend that most people read.

Lack of Updates~

Ok...so I've not updated since December....completely intolerable! But u have good reason! I had my SAt test in both November and Jan along with terminal exams and finals...lets also not ignore the fact that I got braces over that time as well. Now to add to the woes, I was planning on putting up a bunch of reviews since none of the above listed things really stopped me from reading, but my computer has gone for formatting and I am currently (secretly) using my mom's office laptop to type this (shhhh!) but this update is basically a list of what I have read and what you can expect reviews on as soon as I get my precious laptop back :D

List of books already read (ready for review):
- The Book Thief :-Markus Zusak
- The Hobbit :-J.R.R Tolken
- Artemis Fowl and The Last Guardian :-Eoin Coifer
- Defiance :-C.J Redwine
- The Time Keeper :-Mitch Albom
- Pink or Black (1 & 2) :-Tishaa
- Clockwork Angel :-Cassandra Clare
- Eye of The Crow :-Shane Peacock

Books on "to read" list (expect them soon):
- Perks of Being a Wallflower :-Stephen Chbosky
- Lord of The Rings (trilogy) :-J.R.R Tolken
- Mystic City :-Theo Lawrence
- Lady of the English :- Elizabeth Chadwick
- The Magicians' Guild :- Trudi Canavan
- The Bastard of Istanbul :- Elif Shafak
- The Spellbook of Listen Taylor :- Jacelyn Moriarty
- Art Geeks and Prom Queens :- Alyson Noël
- Half of a Yellow Sun :- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- The Devil's Colony :- James Rollins
- The Jefferson Key :- Steve Barry
- Theodore Boon: The Accused :- John Grisham
- Norwegian Woods :- Haruhi Murakami

So, as you can see, I plan on being very busy...and this is just for the first half (quarter now since this is the third month) of 2013 ^~^. My updates may be slightly off in timing due to me being a senior now (hurray!) and having finals, applications and standardised tests coming up...so bear with me~~