Te itibaren 25040 Saletto BS, İtalya
Currently reading this one...I don't know if I care for the writing style or not, but it's at the least interesting so far.
I really enjoy reading about Cat and Bones. I think of all the ass kicker heroines out there Cat is my favorite. This Side of the Grave is a continuation of Cat and Bones' story. Battling ghouls, ghosts and her new abilities Cat takes everything in stride in manner that never fails to make me admire her not to mention give me a good laugh. Bones too is one of my favorite heros. His ability to sweet talk and melt your heart with how much he loves Cat along with the crazy things that fly out of his mouth ("Ask me if I sparkle and I'll kill you where you stand")make me love him so much. I am amazed that after this many books about the same lead characters Jeannine Frost is able to maintain the excitement in her Night Huntress story and make it worth reading every page (no skimming for me, not once). I hope she can keep Cat and Bones's story interesting because I look forward to seeing where their story takes them.
Tess Thompson English 10 9/6/11 Book Review A Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1993. The Alchemist is a deeply unique novel in every way. The novel reads like a simple child’s story, making the introspective messages more obvious to the audience. Paulo Coelho uses the classic fairy-tale plot of a great treasure hunt, but then contradicts it with relevant, mature points of personal discovery. The contrast of his writing style with large life themes, such as destiny and fate, is a wonderful duo- the story seems more perfect as you continue on, each wise quip a rare, enlightening jewel of thought. While we are taken on a journey into a poor shepherd boy’s world, we learn of the Soul of the World, the discovery of the characters’ Personal Legends, and how we are all capable of miracles. The novel illustrates the story of Santiago, a Spanish shepherd who has a recurring dream of discovering riches in Egypt. Following the advice of a mysterious man and an old gypsy woman, he sells his herd and sets off on a journey, certain that he is on his way to achieving his Personal Legend, or his true purpose in life. Santiago’s narration includes an insightful window into the lives of minor characters, often comparing their Personal Legends to his own. “When he’s an old man, he’s going to spend a month in Africa. He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream” (Coelho 22-23). His narration of common people unknowingly inspires the reader to go forth and put his words into reality- like actually doing what they want to do, in the present. As I was drawn further into Santiago’s world, the more eager I was to begin living the lessons taught by his example. The Alchemist is like a fictional self-help book for the unguided and uninspired, using broad statements to give essential meaning to Santiago’s quest. The alchemist, a mystical genius, remarked to him, “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You’ve got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense” (Coelho 115-116). The wise alchemist tells Santiago (and the readers) that true treasure is very abstract, but is one of the most important things people needs to discover about themselves. Self-discovery and awareness are important themes in the novel, urging people to reexamine their life and if they are truly happy. The Alchemist was a change for me, as I usually read standard fiction that stays within the boundaries of the main plot and character motives. Coelho’s novel does so, but adds an extra punch of feeling, a sense that the narrative is on a much more spectacular scale of literature. I loved how different the book was in terms of the ideas it tossed around- destiny, omens from God, fear of failure, and dreams. However, these intimidating topics are easily explained and encouraged me to muse on them long after the story ended.