A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings
By: George R.R. Martin
Copyright: 1998
Bantam Books

3 Bookmarks out of 5

I spent quite awhile trying to find somewhere to read this book due to its extreme popularity at this time. I finally ended up downloading it to my ipad from the library (I recommend considering e-books for borrow from your local library - super convenient). For those who don't know, the Song of Ice and Fire series is currently a tv series on HBO. While some people are probably in it for the nude scenes that HBO series are practically known for, I wanted to read it for the sake of it being a notable fantasy series. The first book was extremely long and the second book certainly wasn't any shorter. I mainly saw this book as less enjoyable than the last book because - personally - the plot still drags along at sometimes and you feel as if you read for hours and don't actually get anywhere. Luckily for Martin - and fantasy readers everywhere - there were some redeeming points to this particular book.

One of the very cool things about this entire series is it's complexity. There are multiple characters' story plots interweaving with each other. This creates a rich world which seems to be as real as real life itself. I think it's definitely one of the things that draws readers and fans to this particular series. However, its complexity can also be its greatest enemy. There is so much happening that it's up to the reader to remember the plot twists and turns from one chapter to the next. Since each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, this can be a challenge for readers who have a bad memory. This was a personal detriment to my reading experience because it took me almost a month to read the book. I had to go back and re-read some parts just remember in order to continue on to the next chapter.

As I already mentioned in my review of A Game of Thrones, I am still disappointed with the portrayal of female characters in this book. However, I will say that the development of Sansa's character was much appreciated and shows how skilled Martin is as an author. Martin is a ruthless author - killing off much beloved characters in order to keep a touch of reality in this fantasy novel. In the middle of a war with multiple kings fighting for the throne, it's only realistic that not all the characters survive. Although, I will say Tyrion remains my favorite character to date in this saga series.

Since I'm not particularly good at reviewing books in series (as you may be able to tell in my Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay reviews), I'll leave the review where it stands. It's certainly a must-read if you've read the first one. The plot progresses in a way that will make you angry and make you laugh - which is the point of a good book in my opinion. On the other hand, the length and density of this book can make it difficult to read at times. There were some points during my reading time that I began to sympathize with fans who only watched the HBO series - they were able to digest the plot in a shorter format that was certainly more visually stimulating. Still, Martin manages to create a fantasy book that fans of all genres can enjoy because he keeps his novel focused on the things that matter - namely characters and how they interact with each other.

John Dies at the End

John Dies at the End
By: David Wong
Copyright: 2009
Thomas Dunne Books

3 Bookmarks out of 5

I received this book for my birthday this past year after requesting it from a recommendation from some former co-workers - the same co-workers that recommended House of Leaves, actually. After reading House of Leaves, it probably shouldn't have surprised me how dark this book ended up being. I thought it would be more along the lines of a conspiracy book that met with science-fiction. Instead, this book ended up being more along the lines of horror and gore. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out how humorous it was. I definitely love when books don't take themselves too seriously - especially considering how dark this book could have turned out to be.

This book is about a drug that is called 'soy sauce' on the streets. This drug lets you see into a different dimension which over-laps with our own. What you see, though, is not necessarily good. It lets you see the things that could definitely be classified under the category of 'evil.' This sauce was overwhelmingly my favorite part of the book. I loved how David (the main character) tried to adjust to the effects of the sauce and how it drove the plot along. I also disliked how the sauce was brought up in the beginning and then was never really used at the end again. It was also disappointing to not really know where the sauce came from and who created it.

The book thrives on the mantra 'things are not always as they seem.' Now, you all might know by now that I'm not a huge fan of suspense. However, for this book there was no suspense because I didn't realize things were happening until after they actually happened. I promise this will make sense if you read it - I'm afraid of giving away too much of the plot because some things are extremely enjoyable with the way they roll out. Even though some reviews of this book tout it as ground-breaking, it really just reminded me of psychological thrillers like The Sixth Sense.

What I think ultimately turned me off to the book was that the overall plot seemed very disjointed. There appears to be three separate stories - each with different characters coming and going. There were some points in the plot that the author seemed more concerned with inserting witty comments over writing that propelled the plot or tried to link anything together for the reader's sake. The author (whose real name is Jason Pargin) seemed to start off just jotting things down about him and his best friend getting into weird situations and then tried to link them all together to create one, single story.

This book is a must read for those who enjoy stories about alternate dimensions and are okay with suspending disbelief. If you're not a fan of books which raise more questions than are adequately answered, then I would steer clear of this book. If you love humor, then I would recommend this book despite its sometimes gory scenes. I found myself laughing out loud at certain parts (which was sort of awkward since I started reading this on a train back from Boston). I really did enjoy reading this book and I hope that the sequel does well to answer some of the questions that were brought up.

A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones
By: George R.R. Martin
Copyright: 1996
Bantam Books

4 Bookmarks out of 5

I picked this particular book up in Montpelier, VT when I was on vacation at the beginning of June. I heard some ladies at my work chatting up the TV series that has taken HBO by storm. I figured that reading the series would be a good way for me to catch up with the story plot without spending hours on netflix trying to catch up - especially when I'm trying to spend my time catching up on Dr. Who episodes. I've always been a fan of the fantasy and science-fiction genres, so it also seemed like a no-brainer to pick up a book which has been around for over 15 years and seen as a great addition to the world of fantasy.

One thing I will say about this book, it certainly doesn't disappoint on the plot. Everything seems to be constantly moving forward, which I truly appreciate. I dislike when authors stop for chapters that fill the book with fluff. I'm a much more plot driven reader than a character driven reader. Martin really achieves this momentum with having each chapter being narrated by a different character. If you became bored with what one character was doing, wait no more than twenty pages and the plot will be narrated by someone else. What is also nice about it is that if you left off with one character a hundred pages before, you pick up with that character after all the time in the hundred pages has passed so there is no back-tracking.

Martin also does a nice job in making this a no-nonsense sort of book. There is talk of love and there is talk of better times, but Martin wastes no time in being jarring to the reader. Martin wants to reader to not be passive while reading this book. Martin wants the reader to be mad at the deaths that happen and be shocked at the gore. This is not your children's fantasy novel. The sex and violence in the book make this a novel for adults who are okay with reading some graphic scenes. There were some parts where I had to put down the book and just sort of mentally absorb what happened in the book.

And, being the feminist that I am, it wouldn't be a review without me thinking about how the women in the novel are portrayed. And what really bothered me is that almost all the female characters are portrayed as weak and submissive or powerful and dumb. There were no females who stood out to me as memorable, and Martin's job of trying to create a female who went against the norm falls into the stereotypical tom-boy character. More to the point, Martin doesn't do all that good of a job of creating memorable characters. He seems to use fantasy stereotypical characters. But, in Martin's defense, he does a great job with the character of Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion's sarcastic commentary is welcome in a novel that is serious 98% of the time.

I'd definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers. But this book is immense in size (800 pages with the next one looking to be even longer) may discourage some readers from picking it up. Although it seemed like I never made any progress when reading, I did eventually finish it and it never bored me enough to consider discarding it. The hype is definitely worth it, although I think the sex in the book version may be less than the sex in the HBO version. But the shocking scenes and thrill-ride will be well worth it to any reader who sticks it out for the entirety of the 807 pages.

House of Leaves

House of Leaves

By: Mark Danielewski

Copyright: 2000

Pantheon Books

5 Bookmarks out of 5

I learned about this book while working at my undergraduate alma mater one summer. I worked with a woman who had this book with her constantly. Her and another man I worked with would chat about the book together. Being a nosy person, especially when it comes to books, I asked what the book was about and if it was worth buying. The two of them immediately said yes it was worth reading and it was a crazy book to read. Much to my delight - and horror - I found out that House of Leaves is a book which is about a book which is about a movie. If that's not enough to entice you in, then maybe you should know that it centers around a house which is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

Now, I'm not one for horror books or films. I rarely watch or read them because usually it gives me nightmares for a month afterwards. But this book is just sane enough to keep me going. If you're prone to nightmares, then maybe this book isn't for you. The house is aware of its own existence - growing and contracting at its own will and having the rooms be completely and utterly black inside. But - then again - the house is just the film part of the book. The book that is being written about the movie was written by a character named Zampano who dies and Johnny Truant ends up editing the book while informing the reader what is actually happening in his own life while the actual editors of the book who brought it to publication are commenting on Johnny's comments on Zampano's comments about the book which is about the movie which is about the house.

Sound confusing? There are points in time which it is utterly confusing to figure out what is going on. The best way to keep track of all it is by the different fonts used for different characters and the different colors of the words in the book. But this book doesn't just settle there. Danielewski wants the reader to emerge himself or herself into the book. The words grow closer and closer together to demonstrate to the reader the claustrophobia a certain character is feeling and the words spin in circles so that way you also feel just as confused as the character in the book. It's extremely post-modern but in a way that drags you along for the crazy ride.

What I found most disappointing about the book is that it reads like non-fiction at certain points in time and then reads like fiction at other parts. The non-fiction parts bored me and I found myself just wanting to skip over certain technical descriptions to figure out how the plot moves along. But the nice part about the non-fiction parts is that you, the reader, get to immerse yourself in this world and suspend disbelief for a short while. There are times when you wonder if Ash Tree Lane might actually exist and you begin to feel a shiver run up your spine as you wonder if the house being described could be any house - maybe even your own house. Maybe you will be the one to open a door in your own house and find a long, pitch black hallway.

Would I consider this a 'must-read'? It depends on who is doing the reading. This is not a casual novel you pick up and thumb through to pass the time. The book demands the reader to constantly be engaged in what is happening. And in the end, it's very possible that you may have more questions than answers about what actually happened in the book. But is it worth your time to read? Absolutely. The creepiness combined with the passion of the characters combined with the question-raising Johnny Truant makes this a memorable read and one I will certainly tackle again to see if any of my questions are answered by a second-go-round.

Jihad vs. McWorld

Jihad vs. McWorld: Terrorism's Challenge to Democracy
By: Benjamin Barber
Copyright: 1995
Ballantine Books

3 Bookmarks out of 5

So, it's been awhile since I've posted on here. Real life has once again taken over - I'm solidifying some things for a move I will be making, I took a wonderful vacation to New England, and some family issues took over my time for reading. I still was trucking away at this book though - no matter how slowly. I first heard about this book in college. Since I was a social science major, this book popped up a lot in certain readings for class. When walking through Barnes & Noble one day, I decided that it was time for me to pick it up and actually read the book in its entirety.

Unfortunately, I'm a little sad that I forced myself through this entire book. It took me two months to read because the writing was not meant for the lay person. If you're looking to digest the theory in this book, it would be better just to read a summary of the argument that Barber makes - which is essentially that neither McWorld nor Jihad is democratic and we're all in big trouble if either one wins out. If you're looking for an easy read on the current state of world affairs, this is not that book. However, if you're looking for a book with deep analysis of how the world works, then I would encourage you to read it.

The book is slightly dated - it was published in 1995 and the version I read was re-published in 2001 with a new introduction which reminds readers that the theory still holds true today. Even eleven years later, though, Barber's book still holds true. Replace cassette tapes with blu-ray DVDs and it's easy to see how it is applicable to today. It would be interesting to see an even more updated version which speaks to the current fad of social media and how consumers are willingly giving McWorld unlimited access to personal information.

I can also see how people could be offended by the title of this book. I went into it thinking that Barber would focus solely on fundamental Islam and how it has no place in the modern world. Barber instead focuses on extreme conservatism everywhere - from the Middle East to Germany and even the extreme Christian right in the United States of America. Barber seems to use the term 'jihad' as an over-arching theme although 'jihad' is almost always associated solely on Islam. Barber knows, though, that in America the term 'jihad' sells. It looks as if Barber was swept up in the McWorld that he is arguing against in an attempt to sell this book.

Overall the book is organized in easy to digest parts. If it was written in long-winded chapters, I doubt that I would have mustered the strength to finish this book. But the easy to find stopping places allows you to digest what you just read and take a break before you continue on. Some of the examples felt drawn out when I understood the point he was trying to make from the get-go. But over-all Barber does try to make his book easy to understand.

I guess in the end the book left me uninspired. I didn't feel like the way I looked at the world changed after reading - and I attribute that to the fact that I was already extremely familiar with the theory presented in the book before I even started reading it. It took me so long to read it because it was not written in an exciting way. The book is geared towards academics who are already interested in this subject and not necessarily the weekend reader. Pick it up if you're interested - steer clear if you're just looking for a book to keep you occupied while you ride the bus or train.

While Europe Slept

While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within
By: Bruce Bawer
Copyright: 2006
Doubleday

2 Bookmarks out of 5

I am currently on a mission to clear out as many books as possible from my extensive collection. I will never get rid of a book without reading it, so that's how I came to be reading this book. I got this book in college when my professor was cleaning out his cluttered office. I picked it up because the subject matter intrigued me - I am especially interested in religion and how it plays into the culture of a particular society. I expected this book to be written by an isolationist activist who had never been to Europe. I was surprised and intrigued to learn that this book was written by an ex-patriot who has been living in Europe for the past decade. What I was most disappointed in the fact that his experience on the subject seems to stop with first-hand anecdotal accounts.

While I am not against reading books of different political or personal persuasions from myself, when they pass themselves off as being academic works, I expect a certain level of professionalism from them. In this case, While Europe Slept lacked any sort of note or bibliographic reference when talking about supposed facts. If anyone wanted to check into any story or research report quoted in this book, the reader would have to do some major searching - if these facts are even real at all. Any person reading this book should take the facts with a huge grain of salt. That being said, Bawer does provide a good critical commentary of these supposed facts. However, as with any controversial topic, I could think of counter-points to many of his comments.

Furthermore, I found it curious that Bawer talked of immigrants being integrated into the larger society to see themselves as Dutchmen or Frenchmen. He sees this as a necessity to combat fundamentalist Islam from destroying Europe from within. However, Bawer spends extensive time throughout the book comparing Europe to America and being vastly offended when Europeans criticize America. If he wants Muslim immigrants to think of themselves as Europeans, shouldn't Bawer be doing the same thing? Even more so, Bawer seems to have been so far removed from America that he has a very idealistic view of race relations in his home country. While America is the land of the free, Americans have their own racial prejudices that they have yet to overcome.

What I think is particularly interesting is that Bawer seems to be alluding to the fact that fundamentalism and terrorism must be combated in Europe like Churchill took in fascist Germany head-on. What he fails to mention is that during World War II, England was fighting an entire country and war had not yet mutated to include terrorism. What is interesting about terrorism is that is has no country and can be grown anywhere at anytime - Bawer does not provide an adequate response with how to combat an enemy where there is no physical front line. (Of course, that's just my opinion. If Bawer provided an answer for this, I missed it.)

This book falls short on many points. There are three chapters that are extremely long and not at all user-friendly. Bawer takes some long detours from fundamental Islam to speak of European bashing of Americans. I wouldn't recommend this book unless it already falls into your ideological category or you enjoy reading opinion pieces. I wish I could say that I have a lot of good thoughts about this book - but ultimately I would pass on it and pursue this particular subject of fundamental Islam and the clashing of cultures in another academic book.

Nothing Like it in the World

Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869
By: Stephen E. Ambrose
Copyright: 2000
A Touchstone Book

3 Bookmarks out of 5

This book came into my rather large book collection from my boyfriend. He had bought it because he had heard good things about Stephen Ambrose as an author. However, he was discouraged about the length of the book (382 pages) and didn't know if he was really interested in the subject matter. Knowing that I am a huge fan of trains, he asked me if I wanted it. Never turning down a book free of charge, I happily accepted it. And luckily for me, I had a Sunday off of work so I was able to read it in a relatively short amount of time.

This book really struck me as a book geared towards a general audience. It covered how the railroad was built - beginning with Lincoln's fascination with the railroad during his time as a senator and ending in 1869 with the meeting of the two railroads at Promontory Summit in Utah. This book covered how the railroad came about and how both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific went to great lengths to join the east and west of the United States. If you're looking for a book that covers vast detail and continues your education of the railroad, this is not that book. Ambrose writes for the layperson to understand, which makes the 382 pages less stressful to read. He follows the story by dividing his time between both railroads, which all but re-creates the tension of the race to see which railroad could build the furthest, the fastest.

However, what I was most disappointed with in this book was the fact that Ambrose really breezes over some critical aspects of the railroad. He fails to look into the virtual enslavement of the Chinese while working for the Central Pacific. If the Chinese were ever upset about something and attempted to leave or protest, they would be whipped or be kept from supplies so that they starved. Ambrose also fails to examine the railroad from the point of view from the various native tribes. Instead, Ambrose discusses this detail through the eyes of those working on the railroad. Unfortunately, this depiction is less than friendly and does not give the complete picture. The title certainly doesn't lie when it says 'the men' who built the railroad - women are only mentioned as the strong companions of the men who created this engineering feat.

Other than that, I felt like Ambrose was uninspired while writing this book. He failed to capture the emotion in many of the men working on the railroad. The only person in the entire book I felt an empathy with was Theodore Judah, who was the architect of the railroad and was eventually overshadowed by the Big Four. He died before he could see the completion of the railroad. I wish Ambrose had dug into the emotions of those involved more. I also wish that Ambrose had not repeated so many facts. While making your way through the book, the reader will notice little things that are repeated chapter after chapter. For some, this will be a nice reminder. For other readers, this will become an annoyance.

Overall, I was not disappointed in this book and reading it took me back to late-nineteenth century America. I could envision what the West looked like at that time when it was virtually untouched by human hands. I admired how these men built the entire railroad by hand. But, ultimately, I came away from the book with a lack of inspiration. Instead of feeling inspired by the spirit of American and ingenuity, I wanted more about what the players in this plot felt. I would pick it up if you need a basic understanding of the railroad, but pass on the book if you're looking for a book that deals with the tough question of what American expansion into the West really meant.