A Glance Into the Holocaust

The Holocaust was without question one of the most horrible events to have ever taken place in our world's history. As the years go by, the Holocaust surviors dwindle in number. The only way that remains to capture the true terror of the event and the bravery and luck of survivors and victims is through the written word. Elie Wiesel is one of those survivors who immortalized his experience by writing the novel Night.



"In Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, a scholarly, pious teenager is wracked with guilt at having survived the horror of the Holocaust and the genocidal campaign that consumed his family. His memories of the nightmare world of the death camps present him with an intolerable question: how can the God he once so fervently believed in have allowed these monstrous events to occur? There are no easy answers in this harrowing book, which probes life's essential riddles with the lucid anguish only great literature achieves. It marks the crucial first step in Wiesel's lifelong project to bear witness for those who died."

This book hurts as most Holocaust accounts do. But it does a great job of exposing the reality of the time. This book is a wonderful resource for teachers who want to provide an account of the Holocaust that reaches outside of the prose and drama versions of Anne Frank's diary. I highly recommend this book. It's a fast read but is rich with history.

The Next Harry Potter?

Is Percy Jackson the next Harry Potter?

Perhaps... though I doubt any boy hero will ever surpass Harry Potter in popularity. Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series follows a normal teenage boy through adolescense, much like the Harry Potter series does. The difference? Percy's parents aren't wizards. Percy's parents are a normal mortal mother and Poseidon, the god of the sea. Naturally, being a demigod, Percy will not have an easy teenage experience.

The five books in the series introduce the Olympian gods, the Titans, and other mythological characters in a way that is easy and familiar. Riordan brilliantly educates his readers about the myth without making it appear as though he is lecturing. The Percy Jackson series is a great tool for exposing young adults to Greek mythology in a fun, entertaining way. And now that the first book in the series will be on the big screen this Friday, Riordan's work is sure to reach higher levels of popularity.

I personally would recommend these books to anyone who found Greek mythology or the Harry Potter series interesting. I couldn't put them down and was easily able to devour one book in less than 24 hours. Happy reading!!

The New Poll

Happy Friday! Normally I would throw out a TGIF or two when I post on a Friday... but not this time. If today is Friday, January 8 - then that means tomorrow is Saturday, January 9. My big Praxis II exam is tomorrow, and I could not be more nervous about it. Consider updating this my study break from cognitive development theories. I have a new poll! Allow me to introduce it to you.

Quite simply, which of the following authors would you most want to meet if you had to choose between Stephen King, Ian McEwan, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordian, J.K. Rowling, and Alice Sebold. I chose some pretty contemporary authors this time. Next time, we'll see some more oldies but goodies. Here's a little bit about each author's work:

*Stephen King: He's considered the king of horror novels. King knows how to take a ghost story and twist it into something truly terrifying. Best known work: The Shining (though it's tough to pick just one).

*Ian McEwan: This author pens novels that will get you thinking about all sorts of different aspects of being human. With McEwan, you either hate him or love him. Best known work: Atonement.

*Stephenie Meyer: Ah yes, the vampire's best friend. She made vampires totally cool again with her lusty, romantic vamp Edward Cullen, made famous by Robert Pattinson. Best known work: Twilight, DUH.

*Rick Riordian: This guy has tackled it all. He has penned some intriguing adult mystery novels and has even broken into the young adult lit scene with his fabulous Percy Jackson series, being made into a movie coming to theatres soon! Which will make his best known work: The Lightning Thief.

*J.K. Rowling: Does she really need an introduction? She's the wealthiest living author, and it's no wonder why. She penned the phenomena known as Harry Potter, the story of a boy wizard who conquers evil with nothing more than good will and love. Best known work: Any of the Harry Potter books.

*Alice Sebold: This author burst onto the comtemporary literature scene quite suddenly, it would seem. Her novels touch some people, and leave others with a great sense of unease. Best known work: The Lovely Bones.

HAPPY VOTING!

My First of 2010!

During my long car ride back to Ohio from Niagara Falls, NY, I indulged in some pleasure reading and managed to finish my first book of the new year! (By the way, Happy 2010, everybody!!) My first read had witchcraft, love, sex, and murder... Suffice it to say, my first read was very entertaining!



"In Holling's superb trilogy, it's 1597, and Scotland is no place for witches. After Alan MacDonell's wife was burned at the stake, he sent his three daughters away. Now he is dying and sends three escorts to bring them back to marry men he believes will protect them from the witch hysteria.The third sister, Rose, is a healer. In My Shadow Warrior, she tries to heal their father. Nothing works, so she writes letter after letter to her last resort, the Wizard of the North. When the wizard won't come to her, she goes to him. William MacKay is a virtual recluse whose own villagers turn on him any time he tries to help. He not only heals but he also takes the offending pain onto himself. Rose is shocked at the danger he puts himself in.Medieval Scotland comes to life in Holling's tantalizing trilogy, and each book is moving and engrossing, as each tormented hero is saved, not by the powers of the MacDonell sisters but by their love. Through her alluring characters, Holling celebrates the triumph of good over evil, especially in dangerous times, and no one should miss these fine romances."

The synopsis above, taken from Amazon.com, hits the nail right on the head. This third installment in the MacDonell sisters trilogy is just as good as the first and second. Holling's writing is easy to read and flows really well. This book offers some historical background, but should not be looked at for an accurate account of the witch hunts in Scotland. This is the perfect book for a weekend of traveling or should be enjoyed at home on a cold night with a glass of pinot noir. Don't let the bodice ripping cover fool you, there is a good story to be found within!

A Sad Report

Alas... I have found a set of vampire books that I am just not that into. I never thought I would see the day when I couldn't wait to be done reading a vampire book because I just wanted to move on to something a little more exciting...


That's right... it's the book series that the new CW television show is based off of: L.J. Smith's The Vampire Diaries. You see, here's the really disappointing thing. I sort of enjoy the television show. I do get sick of the back and forth romance thing. But honestly, Ian Somerhalder as evil, twisted Damon Salvatore and Paul Wesley as sexy, brooding Stefan Salvatore makes the show. I adore them.

But this isn't a review of the show. I am talking books here. The heroine of the novels, Elena is a beautiful girl whose parents just died tragically in a car accident. That should inspire sympathy for our heroine. Instead, Elena proves to be the queen bee Regina George of the school. She's a princess who gets whatever she wants and will step on people to get it. That includes Stefan, who just so happens to be a vampire. People start dying in the community, and eventually all fingers point to Stefan. Elena finds out he's a vampire and vows to remain by his side for as long as he wants her. Blah blah blah. These books came out years before Stephenie Meyer even began to dream up The Twilight Saga, and thank goodness she did. Because these books just don't fill that craving for a good vampire novel.

Sorry, L.J. Smith. But your other work is quite good! These just aren't up to snuff, I'm afraid.

Try These On For Size This Halloween!

First of all, allow me to apologize for my disgustingly long absense from posting! I am currently doing my pedagogy experience at a new school district and have been so swamped with wonderfully busy work! Plus, I was busy turning 24 this past Monday. But... I promise to make more of an effort!



Since the greatest holiday of the year is quickly approaching, I thought I would post some delicious books that will make your toes curl or will satisfy your hunger for something supernatural. I recommend all of these!

1. Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay - If you are a fan of the hit Showtime series and haven't dove into these books, you absolutely MUST! They are so wonderful. If you have never even heard of Dexter Morgan, well you'll be in for quite a treat. Dexter is a serial killer... but he is the most lovable serial killer you'll ever read about. His killer personality (haha) will draw you in. I am currently about half way through this series opener, and I cannot get enough!

2. Intensity, by Dean Koontz - This is no happy-go-lucky thriller. This book is intense and terrifying. I am not normally a huge Koontz fan, but this book gave me chills that kept me shivering even after I finished the book. The title says it all!

3. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris - Yes, here I am again, plugging the Sookie Stackhouse books... But seriously, they are so fabulous. You get a little supernatural vampire action, you get some serious gore, you get great dry humor, and you also get some steamy romance scenes. I mean, what else could you possibly want? This, or any of the other Sookie Stackhouse books, make fabulous Halloween reads!

4. The Shining, by Stephen King - Honestly, after Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Jack Torrence, do I really even need to explain why this book is so perfectly creepy for Halloween? Even if you don't consider the Nicholson effect, it's Stephen King! Come on, he's the king of creepy!!

These are only four of my favorites. Of course there are many, many others that are simply perfect for a spooky night. Happy Haunting, everyone!

The Tenth Circle of Hell?

As I have a lot of book reviewing to catch up on, I thought I would get this one out there and done with!

Jodi Picoult - The Tenth Circle

"When Daniel Stone was a child, he was the only white boy in a native Eskimo village where his mother taught, and he was teased mercilessly because he was different. He fought back, the baddest of the bad kids: stealing, drinking, robbing and cheating his way out of the Alaskan bush – where he honed his artistic talent, fell in love with a girl and got her pregnant. To become part of a family, he reinvented himself – jettisoning all that anger to become a docile, devoted husband and father. Fifteen years later, when we meet Daniel again, he is a comic book artist. His wife teaches Dante’s Inferno at a local college; his daughter, Trixie, is the light of his life – and a girl who only knows her father as the even-tempered, mild-mannered man he has been her whole life. Until, that is, she is date raped…and Daniel finds himself struggling, again, with a powerlessness and a rage that may not just swallow him whole, but destroy his family and his future."

Some of my friends who are avid Picoult readers discouraged me from reading this one. They said it was boring and that the characters were not altogether likeable. After reading it, I can see what they mean. However, I think they were comparing this to her other books. In that respect, yes this book wasn't that great. If you look at it as a stand alone book by a first time author, it was quite good.

Picoult usually inspires tears. This book did not do that, but it was interesting and different. The small glimpes into Alaskan Eskimo life was refreshing and different. Perhaps it was skimmed over just a little bit, but that seems to be a common thread for all of Picoult's books. The cultural background is just that - a background to push the story forward. She's dabbled with the Amish, Wicca, Scottish clan mentality, and now Eskimos. I suppose I would have to recommend this book with a warning though. The ending was not what I expected, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Without revealing the conclusion, I will say that it seems like Picoult wanted to end it in a way that was shocking without actually making very much sense. Either way, it was entertaining and well written.

More book reviews to come!!