Relay for LIFE

Hey guys!

So I've decided to join Relay for Life with my school in order to help raise money to defeat cancer. My goal this year is to raise $300 towards cancer research. It would be truly appreciated if you could all help me out with raising this money.

To donate online, please visit this link.

Cancer has affected my family, and I want to make sure it doesn't affect other families as well. Please join the cause and donate!

Review: Inheritance

Genre: Fantasy/Title: Inheritance
Author: Christopher Paolini
Rating: 2.5/3
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Plotline (from Goodreads): 


It began with Eragon....It ends with Inheritance. Not so very long ago, Eragon--Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider--was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. 
Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance.
The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to imagine. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaesia? And if so, at what cost?
This is the spellbinding conclusion to Christopher Paolini's worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

My take:

How long did it take Christopher Paolini to write this last book? Five years? I'd like to jump on the bandwagon and say "unacceptable" but then I'd be a hypocrite.

I, like so many other Inheritance fans, was practically foaming at the mouth, rabid as we waited impatiently for this book. WE WAITED FOR FIVE YEARS.

Oops, forgot again. Musn't complain. Must not be a hypocrite.

When did Inheritance come out? Way too long ago for me to believably lie that I had gone and read it as soon as it was released.

Whoops. There we go. I'm a hypocrite, and probably a very fail fan as well. Truth be told, it was mostly because each other Eragon books are super-long, albeit super-good as well. And with all my schoolwork, I just didn't feel like going through it all.

Yes, I realize how ridiculous that last line must have sounded for anyone's who's ever read anything ever. How could I have chosen schoolwork over reading?

Well, I guess it does kind of have to do with the five-year hole Christopher Paolini left as he worked on Inheritance. You would think that the fire-year-old wait would've only made the book's much-anticipated release all the more exciting. In fact, the opposite was true. A year of suspense would have maybe worked in his favour, but FIVE FREAKING YEARS was a bit of an overkill. By this time, I had practically forgotten everything from the series besides the fact that it had blown my mind once upon a time, somewhere, somehow. The dust had settled on the story in my head, and I just didn't have the urge to even crack open the cover anymore.

Now, I know what you're going to say. "Oh come on, don't be so overdramatic! They gave you a neat little summary right in the fron tof the book! There's absolutely nothing to complain about." You know, that's what I thought too, (after I managed to force myself to open the book). I even tweeted it:

Why is everyone complaining about having to reread the Inheritance series all over again?
— Boyu H (@WordAlert1) March 13, 2012

Christopher Paolini gave us a nice but thorough little synopsis right at the front of the book... #HatingJustToHate
— Boyu H (@WordAlert1) March 13, 2012

But now that I think about it, I realize it wasn't remembering the plot after so many years that was the problem. Sure, it was hard getting the rusted gears turning in my head again, but after the efficient summary and first few chapters, I was ready for the complicated battles and hordes of characters once again. No, the real problem I as well as many other readers and fans faced after Inheritance's release was simply getting started. The book's freakishly long length makes it look about as appealing as reading a dictionary. With most of the glitter and glamour of the lovely story long forgotten, there's not incentive to start again.

I haven't provided any pros and cons of this book because I think it sort of speaks for itself. Inheritance is definitely not a stand-alone novel. You've really got to diligently read through the first three books before you even consider this one. By that time, you'll have probably decided whether you'll like or hate the series. personally I found it quite fascinating, but there are many who deem it to drag on for too long.

SpoilerAlert!

The ending left a hole in my heart. I don't understand how it's possible for Christopher Paolini to be so cruel and just leave an ending like that!

The Eragon and Arya pairing has been waiting to happen since the very first book. Murtagh and Nasuada had one of the best-written scenes in this book. Everyone was at the height of their happiness. So how could Paolini just allow the ending to be simply Eragon leaving?! But no, it's not even that! It's worse. He's never coming back!

I liked the book well enough, but there is no way I can ever accept the ending. Going to drown my sorrows in alternate-ending fanfiction now... over and out.

Review: No Time for Goodbye

Genre: thriller

Title: No Time for Goodbye

Author: Linwood Barclay

Rating: 2.9/3

ISBN: 978-0-553-80555-0

Publisher: Random House

Number of pages: 338

Plotline:

Fourteen-year-old Cynthia Bigge woke one morning to discover that her entire family–mother, father,brother–had vanished. No note, no trace, no return. Ever.  Now, twenty-five years later, she’ll learn the devastating truth.

Sometimes it’s better not to know. . . .
Cynthia is happily married with a young daughter, a new family. But the story of her old family isn’t over. A strange car in the neighborhood, untraceable phone calls, ominous “gifts”–someone has returned to her hometown to finish what was started twenty-five years ago. And no one’s innocence is guaranteed, not even her own. By the time Cynthia discovers her killer’s shocking identity, it will again be too late . . . even for goodbye.


My take:


Yo. This book made me so scared. Sooo scared.


The whole story is told from the husband's point of view, with an inkling of itilicized scary-stuff sprinkled over it. The result is a scary-ass story you should never attempt to read before bed. (Yes, I'm speaking from experience.)


In a way, it almost reminds me of those can-you-solve-it mysteries. All through the book, I kept guessing at the culprit, with really no rhyme or reason. My one and only rule: the one least suspected is usually the one who did it. They don't have to have a motive; you'll find out the complicated backstory later. Unfortunately, my rule doesn't usually produce any results simply because there are too many innocent people who could be ultimate-mastermind-extraordinaires in the story. This time though, I'm proud to announce that I was kind of right. (Still an emphasis on the "kind of", but not as much as usual =)


SpoilerAlert!


I haven't decided if I like or dislike the plotline style so many novels emply. You know, where the mystery/conflict seems to be solved and a brief happiness ensues before another killer/scary-person appears out of nowhere and there's another intense moment you totally weren't expecting. And since you weren't expecting it, you haven't prepared yourself for the mental assault that blows you away.


I was extremely impressed by the husband (Walter? Forgot his name already... early amnesia developing argh) ability to just... just withstand it all, you know? Those romance books I love always have lovey-dovey scenes, but at the first sight of conflict between them the man usually takes of with all his manly pride. IN those types of books it's all well and good because it adds to the drama all romantic readers love, but sometimes male insensitivity can be slightly tiring. So the husband's tenderness and understanding in this book really touched me. When you really think about it, this is the kind of husband you would really want to have. One who would stay with their wife and support her through al this mess. One who would risk his own life to save that of his wife. Even when he realized it was possibly Cynthia who was crazy and messing everything up herself, he never gave the option of divorce a though. This type of relationship is really heartwarming, and its reiterance of true family values is one of the reasons I loved this book.

SOPA and PIPA

Hopefully you guys already know about SOPA and PIPA. If not, you'd better get to know it, and soon. If these bills are passed, the Internet as we know it will be GONE. I'm not over-dramatizing here.

Stop
Online
Piracy
Act

Protect
I
P
Act

The two are different bills but really mean a lot of the same consequences to us. Here's a video on PIPA and how it will essentially ruin our lives:

Hopefully now you're all convinced that these bill NEED TO BE STOPPED.

Luckily, there are many huge businesses on our side. Technology giants like Google and Mozilla have openly opposed PIPA and SOPA, and have clambered together to join in an initiative that'll protest against these bills. On January 18th (a.k.a. TOMORROW) there will be an internet blackout in protest of the SOPA and PIPA bills. Major sites like Wikipedia will be taking their sites offline temporarily in order to protest SOPA and PIPA.

I just wanted to help spread the word. If SOPA and PIPA are passed... we are going to find ourselves knee-deep in Uh-Oh.

Oh, and if you're an American? Please help the rest of the world out :)

The Color of Evil

^Author Connie Wilson

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Title: The Color of Evil

Author: Connie (Corcoran) Wilson

            Not everyone wants to be a hero. But not everyone gets a choice.

Tad McGreevy had known he was different ever since he was small. He could see coloured auras around people, indicating their true nature. But it wasn’t until third grade that he realized just how dangerous his power could be. Third grade was when the killer was on the loose. Third grade was when Tad almost lost himself to his power. From then on, he decided he would never tell anyone about what he could see ever again.

            Eight years later, Tad has developed into a normal healthy teenager. His main focus now is to protect those he loves. But the horror isn’t over, and the evil hasn’t stopped. When the ones he cares about get involved, what can he do but dive into the colours of evil once again?

            How much do the people around you really hide? The Color of Evil opens the doors wide to this question and shows you just how many dark secrets a small town can hold.

            This book is both exciting and compelling, filled with young romance and riveting danger. Some graphic scenes keep this book suitable for those above thirteen only, but add to the sense of foreboding and horror. My one complaint would be that there is some confusion with the characters throughout particular chapters, and the abundance of characters causes the reader to sometimes lose track of who is doing what.

This book is Intense with a capital I; the first of a trilogy, I sincerely hope it sets an example for the two other books to come. The Color of Evil is highly recommended by Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review.

Number of pages: 290

*this is an e-book

Review: A Gift Called Mother

I wrote this review back in November but forgot to post it. Here it is!

Genre: Non-Fiction

Title: A Gift Called Mother: The Stages and Fantasies of Motherhood

Author: Sherlyn Powell

“Life gets difficult at times, but who else on this earth but family has your back when you are down?” Pg. 51

This heartfelt testimonial brings together a love of God and an attachment to family values. From the birth of her children to the rocky roads all families must go through to the final happiness as a grandparent, Sherlyn Powell opens the door to her world as a guardian, a protector, and a mother. Her personal story will make you shed tears of compassion and empathy, but also thank the Lord with true humility.

            Sherlyn Powell is many things: a businesswoman, a writer, but most importantly a mother. We are used to thinking that our everyday lives is not something that is interesting to write about, but A Gift Called Mother proves us wrong. Sherlyn Powell took simple life experiences and made us connect to them, showing us how special each of these personal experiences really are. This book is full of unrestrained emotion, and by the end you will have truly understood the meaning of the eight words on the first page:

            “It is a blessing to be called Mother.”

 This book is highly recommended by Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review.

ISBN number: 978-1-60264-704-6

Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing

Number of pages: 72

Price: CDN $12.41

Review: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Genre: Classic
Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author: Mark Twain
Rating: 2/3
Read online here

Plotline: Of all the contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, none has a better claim than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Intended at first as a simple story of a boy's adventures in the Mississippi Valley-a sequel to Tom Sawyer-the book grew and matured under Twain's hand into a work of immeasurable richness and complexity. More than a century after its publication, the critical debate over the symbolic significance of Huck's and Jim's voyage is still fresh, and it remains a major work that can be enjoyed at many levels: as an incomparable adventure story and as a classic of American humor.

My take:

The way Jim talks makes me want to hit something.

The book is actually quite good in all other aspects. But when one of the main character's dialogue requires you to re-read at least twice before you figure out what they're trying to say, the value of the book in the end greatly diminishes. The plot was good, the characters were good, but Jim's vocabulary -- aaargh!!! I mean, I understand that you're trying to show that he's uneducated, but do you really have to so severely misspell every single word that they're barely recognizable anymore? You've got to draw the line somewhere!

SpoilerAlert!

What. The. F***. What is with the ending. It totally blew my mind, and definitely not in the good way.

Really. Did Mr. Mark Twain really just troll us like that. We spend weeks trying to understand what Jim is trying to freaking say and another week analysing all their freaking stupid-ass decisions, and this is what you give us. It was all for nothing. Just a joke. Don't mind us, he was free all along! Really. You would really just do that to us.

Sorry for the excessive almost swearing in this review ^^ I rarely get so worked up, but when I do... the spittle flies. *wipes mouth self-consciously*