Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

By FAR one of the best books ever written. Well, more like, one of the best books i've ever read. it's absolutely amazing in the sense of curiousity and- for lack of a better word- hunger that Ms Rice inspires. Interview With the Vampire quite frankly left me breathless and longing for more. It puts the "vampiric" Twilight series to shame. There is nothing else that i could want in the beautiful if depressing Louis de Pointe du Lac, the mysterious Armand, or even the threatening Lestat de Lioncourt. The only character that i had "difficulties" with is Claudia, whose incesant whinings left me nauseated and annoyed.

The story starts with the introduction of Louis, a mysterious man that a "boy" interviewer has met at a bar. They are seated in a hotel room when Louis reveals that he is a vampire, and insists that he tell the boy his story. The entire book is a history of Louis: New Orlean plantation owner, mourning brother, drunkard and after a seemingly random encounter, vampie. After Lestat changes him, Louis becomes a phantom of the night but loathes his existence; he become a dreamy-philosopher, much to the annoyance of his new partner, Lestat, bent on the musings of humanity and what it means to be evil.

Eventually, Lestat recognizes Louis' distractions and loneliness. Meaning to bring Louis back to the present, Lestat creates another vampire, a five year-old girl named Claudia. Claudia becomes the light in Louis' eyes; his only love, Claudia is a living porclein doll. But the Louis and Lestat's daughter, 40 years and hundreds of deaths later, developes asperations and obsessions of her own, and it is her thrist for knowledge that will bring Louis on the journey of his lifetime.

Once again, Interview is outstanding. I could write forever of its praise. It's popular, but deep enough that i doubt that it will ever develope a fanbase like Twilight. To read Interview With the Vampire, the reader can not just sit there and drool over vampire "Hawt"-ness. It requires that you truly believe in evil, and good, and that you can comprehend the true nature of the human spirit: that is, you question and understand what you are questioning. For that reason, this book will always be a personal classic.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

Can you believe that i'm STILL reading Jane Eyre? *sigh* i read a few pages but then i get distracted and put it down. One of these days i'm just have to force myself to read it because i really want to get on to forcing myself to read the sequel to this book.

I read the Amulet of Samarkand in the middle of the winter last year, right after the holidays when i was spazzed out with all the gifts i got. The Amulet caught my eye because it wasn't something that i had seen before: i was unique and, as i learned, uniquiely written. I like that it told a story of magicians and didn't call them 'wizards' and that there 'magic' was all based on demons, dangerous creatures they enslaved for their own selfish means. I liked that it sounded more realistic than the Harry Potter universe and in my opinion is better. it may not have as many details or as complicated a plot, but in many ways it is certainly a better adventure than any of the Potter books.

Jonathan Stroud weaves a brillant tapestry of character in the voice of Bartimaeus, an ancient djinni tricked into the service of a young apprentice magician, Nathaniel. Bartimaeus is witty, sarcastic and infinetly amusing, so much that i found myself rooting for him instead of the main character, the boy Nathaniel, known to the world of magicians as John Mandrake. The story revolves around the ambitions and revenge inspired plots of Nathaniels, where he desperately uses Bartimaeus to prove his extraordinary worth to the magicing world. But with a companion like Bartimaeus things envitably go wrong and Nathaniel "finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espinage, murder, and rebellion."

Honestly, this book was amazing. i dare you find a funnier "wizard" book. Bartimaeus is BRILLANT!

Washington Post Review of Breaking Dawn

Absolutely amazing review. This author points out alot of things that i have to, as student of quality literature, agree with. Even she goes overboard, at times to the point of ranting, she makes such a good point about the overall quality of the Twilight books.

*BEWARE OF SPOILERS!!!*

Washington Post Review of Breaking Dawn: Read here.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

"...The Meek shall inherit the Earth, but for now it belongs to the conceited."

~Jace

I read this book about two months ago, when my friend, the same one that i convinced me to buy Pride and Prejudice (we'll call her "G") also bought and read it with me. It's been sitting on my bookshelf, staring at me, glaring at me really, since i read its sequel, City of Ashes. So now i'm doing something about, i'm taking it down and writing its review so i can get on to finish Jane Eyre.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare has a plot that for this day and age when all we hear about in literature are wizards and witches, vampires and werewolves, is exceptionally unique. It's the story of Clary Fray who lives with her artist mother in New York City. Clary is relatively normal (at least for Young Adult Fantasy Fiction): she has bright red hair, a father-like neighbor named Luke, and a single best friend named Simon who is obviously and expectantly in love with her. But one she and Simon sneak into a Gothic club and witness a murder committed by three teenagers with strange weapons and tattoos. Most disturbing of all, the body and the kids are invisible to all but her. Equally startled by her ability to see them, they explain themselves as Shadowhunters: "warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons." And the rest of the book is about Clary and an obnoxious, confident blond named Jace with whom there are quite a lot of romantic innuendos trying to figure out who she is and why her mother was stolen right after Clary met the Shadowhunters etc. etc.

Its a good book. Not great, but good. PERFECT for when you're feeling down because Clare does a fantastic job at capturing the teenage language of sarcasm. Trust me, the witty comebacks that go flying between Clary and Jace will have you LOL. But like i said, its not great. Even though the plot line is refreshing, there are a lot of things that are just SO OLD. Like the whole "red-head-so-im-magical-look-at-me-wiry-hair-thing". Yeah. *yawn* I guess the thing that i don't like the most is that the publishers make it sound like it SO SERIOUS when its not. If you take this book seriously it will suck. But it IS hilarious. Especially Jace.

Oh, but the ending sucks. REALLY, REALLY, BAD. I almost ripped the book in half. Ask G, its true.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

One of the better books that i've read. I surprised myself a few weeks ago when i picked this book off a shelf in a small bookstore and bought it. I had been looking for a copy of Jane Eyre, but at the recommendation of my friend read this one instead.

I had tried to read a library version of the book a few months back, but found the language dry and irritating, kind of like a wrinkly great-aunt. But this time i slipped into the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy with ease and enjoyment. The style that Ms Austen writes with is unique in this day and age and, i found, refreshing.

The story itself is as much about the culture and formalities of the English countryside during the late 18th century as it is about love and loyalty to your heart. Personally, i was fascinated by all the little things that mattered hugely to the inhabitants of the Bennet estate and beyond. All of their lives are consumed with A) finding someone to marry and B) how they should appear to their neighbors. I found it amusing, ridiculous and frustrating that these families should worry so much about finding "suitable young men" and not so much about who they are as people. However, Ms. Austen writes in such a way as to make it seem acceptable, almost as if her ghost was standing over me, whispering in my ear that this was how life was lived in this time. All of the things that the characters did, worried over and obsessed about were expressed with the utmost politeness, which added a mockable, but comfortable tone to the book. It made the main characters, Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy, seem to stand out.

Pride and Prejudice is a love story about a middle class girl of 5 sisters and a high strung upper class young man, who, despite social obstacles, take actions to be with each other. Its not your typical "Romeo and Juliet", where the girl and boy are together because of youthful attraction, either, which i thought made it all the more interesting. No, the story starts with Elizabeth disliking Darcy because of his distaste for her lifestyle and the pairing of another couple: Elizabeth's sister Jane and Darcy's friend Mr. Bingley, who are falling in love. The story continues with heartbreak, and an underlying tang of pure uncomfort, but it is beautiful. One of the only books i can confidently call a "master piece".

There are two books that you must read before die, this is one of them.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights. Ugh.

After reading Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, in which Heathcliff and Cathy are mentioned several times, a friend of mine and I decided to read Emily Bronte's novel.

Wow. What a mistake.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is set in the English country side around 1801. It is the "love" story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, two childhood friends who fall desperately and completely in love. Despite Catherine's selfishness and Heathcliff's evil, these two come against all odds to be with each other.

Or DO they???

I found this book to be atrocious, confusing and hypocritical. I don't understand how this book can be compared to the like of Romeo and Juliet, and Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. The only thing that I can possibly compliment it on is the complicated and detailed plot. (i don't know how she did it. Honestly.) To quote another book: "It's not a love story, it's a hate story." I couldn't have said it better myself, Edward.

Moving away from my dangerous obsession with the Twilight characters, Wuthering Heights is told through the perspective of a new tenant at the grounds, Mr. Lockwood. But the story itself is told TOO him from a maid named Nelly (or Ellen) who was there to witness most of Cathy and Heathcliff's lives. And boy, are they messed up.

***WARNING! I don't know if these are considered spoilers, but i do talk about everything important that happens***

Heathcliff, for instance, is just kind of found by Mr. Earnshaw, Cathy's father, and taken into the family. Cathy's older brother Hindley, hates him because Heathcliff is treated the "favorite" by Mr. Earnshaw. As children, Cathy is a bratty trouble maker and Heathcliff is her brooding right hand man. But then they begin to grow up, Cathy becomes more of a lady, Mr. Earnshaw dies, leaving Hindley to become the master of the house and degrade Heathcliff to a servant and the two childhood friends are beginning to fall in love.

Okay, so up to this point you're thinking "Hey, this isn't THAT bad, right? I mean, they've got flaws, big deal, every character has flaws, right?" WRONG! Yeah, every character has flaws, but this book is like the queen-bee-mother of all character mess-ups. You know why? Because Heathcliff runs away as Cathy is declaring her love to him, then Cathy marries somebody else (some pansy named Edgar Linton).

Right now you're probably thinking, "Oh, its not that bad. I bet Heathcliff comes back and then runs away with Cathy or something." Nope. Wrong again. You'd think that would happen, but it doesn't. Instead, Heathcliff married Edgar Linton's sister Isabella.

Yeah. Exactly.

But that's not all! Oooh no. The story keeps going when Heathcliff decides to ruin another generation of innocents at manors of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange (say that 5 times fast).

Overall, I'd say it was a terrible book. Absolutely terrible. The characters were nasty, nasty people and i think that the thing i disliked about it the most was how none of the characters had a saving grace. I don't know. You might feel differently, but i like my main characters to at least TRY to be normal, or kind, or interesting. That's another thing that tears this book apart, it could have been stupendous had Ms. Bronte written it in another way and allowed the reader to see for themselves what is in the heads of Cathy and Heathcliff and Hindley etc. Instead, we just get the second hand judgements of Nelly... I shouldn't be so harsh on her though, she's probably my favorite character.

But read it. Seriously. I know i just berated the heck out of this book but it IS a classic and there are some things that this book can teach you. Tell me what you think.

Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Once again, Neil Gaiman proves his brilliance.

American Gods is the story of a quiet man named Shadow who, after being released from prison finds himself a widower. On his flight home, he meets Mr. Wednesday, who knows more about Shadow then he should, and agrees to be Mr. Wednesday's bodyguard. Together, they go on a trip all over the country, visiting Mr. Wednesday's friends and acquaintances and preparing them for an upcoming "storm". But Mr.Wednesday is more than he appears and pretty soon Shadow is being threatened by fat kids in limosines and kidnapped by men with suspciously common names.

I'd rate 5 stars, for its mythological and crazy characters, its beautiful detail and research and its AWESOME ending. Mr. Gaiman does a spectacular job of moving the plot along and adding little treasures of information between the line. Another character from his reknown Sandman Series even makes an appearance. However I do have to rate it M for mature. There are several sexual and gory scenes that I whould consider suitable for anyone under 15.

You know what I really loved about American Gods? All of the different characters that Mr. Gaiman intruduces to the reader. Mr Ibis, and Czernobog, and Mr Nancy, and even the silent and sexy feline that can only be Bast. I loved seeing the Gods and legends of so many cultures personified to our world. For example, Thoth and Anubis, the Gods in charge of judging the dead in ancient Egyptian religion, are funeral directors. How cool is that?! It's that kind of detail that proves how much effort Neil Gaiman puts into his work and I think that just as much effort should be put into praising him.

(Yes, I'm a Neil Gaiman groupee. Shut up.)