Get Lost in Literature

"We are living in a time when flowers are trying to live on flowers, instead of growing on good rain and black loam." This story takes place in a futuristic world where books are banned and burned. Guy Montag, whose job it is to burn the books, is about to become an enemy of the state. I'm having a hard time thinking critically about this book. It wasn't a difficult read, it was scary in certain places, and I found it deeply enjoyable (sometimes classic lit can drag on), and relevant to today's societal and political problems. Yet the review doesn't come easy. Guy Montag lives a life of normalcy. He gets up and goes to work everyday, lucky enough to have a job he enjoys. He comes home to his wife, Mildred who spends her days watching tv. Watching television has become a favorite hobby of the people of this dystopian society, their house installed with three wall-tvs, and Mildred begging for a fourth. She's the epitome of this 'perfect' society. She...

  This is the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. I assume most of you already know this, but if you're from a country other than the U.S.A maybe you don't know. What it means is this: With regards to religion, you have the right to practice or not practice whatever the hell you want without the Government cramming a specific theology down your throat. You also have the freedom to say whatever you want and may do so at any time even if a cop is informing you of your right to remain silent. Media like newspapers, tv, magazines and books are allowed to express opinions and distribute information unhindered by the Government whether They like it or not. If you feel a cause coming on, you may join a nonviolent protest in private or in public, and you may hold the Government accountable for wrongdoing because it is supposed to work for the People by the People and not for itself. This Amendment has long been interpreted as "the freedom of expression" because...

"It is the great misfortune of the coward that he sees danger everywhere, and of the snob that he perpetually underestimates those he considers his inferiors." ( Disclaimer : I try not to let the political views of authors dictate what I read. I do not agree with JK Rowlings views, but I still like her ability to tell a story. I absolutely understand why so many won't read her work anymore and don't need a lecture. ) Robin and Strike are back, with new mysteries and scandals. This time they've been hired to prove that the identity of a body found murdered and mutilated in a vault is that of their client's missing boyfriend. In the meantime, both detectives are dealing with increasingly complicated personal lives. Robin has just had a miscarriage and is suffering from PTSD due to her stay at Chapman Farm, and Strike is ready to admit he's in love with Robin even as he's reconciling how he feels about Charlotte's suicide. The mystery takes a darker t...

Book Beginnings on Fridays  by  Rose City Reader  -  Share the opening sentence (or so) of the book you are reading this week. You can also share from a book that caught your fancy, even if you are not reading it right now. "Any child can be chased by their shadow. All they need to do is run straight toward the sun on a lazy afternoon." The Book of Night by Holly Black I can totally see a young child playing with their shadow in the sun on a summer afternoon. But what I didn't know in the first few sentences what was the significance. Holly Black didn't leave me hanging for long. Book Blogger Hop Q: Are there any books that are considered terrible, but you love? (submitted by Snapdragon @ Snapdragon Alcove) A: Two and they're both by the same author... The Twilight Saga and The Host by Stephenie Meyers. That's right... I liked Twilight . The writing wasn't that good, the characters weren't that complex, the plot was about a girl and her u...

"Revenge on everybody . That would fill her time. That would keep her busy." This is not going to be the greatest review of all time, seeing as I had some personal problems that required me to put the book down for a month and I was too preoccupied to take notes. This is the second book I read this year that involves a criminal main character in a dark fantasy novel. It's also my third dark fantasy this year (I think I read them in a straight row) and I'm not sure what called me to them when I was at the bookstore at the start of the summer. The main character, Charlie Hall was deeply likeable even though she claims she isn't. She's a criminal and conflicted about it. She's trying to go straight, but if it were that easy there'd be no story. When a friend asks her for a favor and her past starts to catch up to her, she has nothing but her talents as a thief and con-artist to rely on. I like that the setting takes place in the 'real world'. You ...

 I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! The Sunday Post is a weekly news meme hosted by TheCaffienatedReviewer . I'll be posting on the first Sunday of each month and I hope you'll join me. The weather in August was delightful. It was sunny and hot but not too hot. The nights were getting cooler signaling the end of summer, even though I'm not ready for it to end. And as much as I like October weather, I'm hoping September brings a few more hot days before we have to break out the windbreakers. I'm sorry to say this is probably my most boring Sunday Post ever. I've had a lot to be preoccupied by in the month of August and have not had time to post a darn thing. My blog was inactive for a whole month, and the number of books I finished is 0. In July I started The Book of Night by Holly Black and it's wound up paused at the halfway point for the month of August. I did just finish it though, I sped through it in the first week of September. I'm ho...