Hummingbird- George Winston

Hello, I'm sort of new to this thing and it's my first time writing these types of things so please bear with me. ^-^ I just wanted to share this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiUvYflrC30

It's Hummingbird by George Winston... It's very pretty :)

Strange Yet True... Well, To Some Extent.

Today's post is, as promised, on the nonfiction known as High School Confidential, by author Jeremy Iversen. A bit shorter, as it has been a while since reading the book. Ok, a lot shorter. I'm even skipping the table of information. Anyway, this... is the story of a 22-year-old man who wanted to see the life of a SoCal high-schooler, and after a series of events requiring some strange arrangements, managed to secretly enroll as a high-school transfer student in San Diego, California.

Now, his aim was to learn about... well, I already described it in my last post. No need to repeat that whole bit about the bizarre world of high school. Anyway, his experiences are... interesting. They're described to a pretty detailed extent. And... he of course can't get into any compromising situations. He writes himself out of the story as much as possible while preserving the main details. Thing is, this nonfiction is hugely based on perspective, and I feel there may be some bias. The book was widely declaimed as an invasion of privacy, especially as some of the high-school students had really opened up to Iversen.

He'd been at each event that he detailed, or done research about the area to find out. And what he uncovered was a strange and tangled mess of relationships and a high school that was suffering, overrun by divisions, and through it all a compelling tale of conspiracy, heartbreak, and redemption. Unfortunately, the intended goal was not to create a tale but a report, and the author himself acknowledges that he got too involved, until he was unsure of who he was anymore- a student or an adult.

I'm conflicted about this book, really. On one hand, it sparked outrage and cries of betrayal from students he befriended. But the story itself has a (mostly) happy ending. Because through loss and angst, the students he met got through to graduation. Well, almost. And Iversen shows that yes, students can make a difference. Each of the people he met showed this. They showed responsibility (or lack of it) and their actions decided who they became.

I've got to give this book a five point five. It was filled with coarse language (though this was hardly the author's fault) and occasionally became too graphic. But throughout it all there is the theme of life, and death. And the graduation scene is not to be missed. So... 5.5. That's all I've got to say.

~V

Post. Yup, just Post. No Foreign Mysticism Today.

Today’s completely random theme: High School! Yes, the books you are about to see are themed after that dreaded rite of passage for some- a place where the cool kids pick on, well, the less cool kids. Wait, that’s not right. In fact, the cool kids probably wouldn’t even want to be seen near any of the less cool kids. And sure, there’s bound to be a bully/jock or two, but apart from that, the truth couldn’t be farther. What truth? To find out, hence begins my double review of Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, by David Lubar, and High School Confidential, by Jeremy Iversen. As an aside, I will attempt to be more straightforward today. No Latin, Greek, Italian, or cryptic phrases in foreign/dead languages. I am still V, however. Expect a naturally cynical tone, with that special ability to recognize writing that is actually good.

Title: Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie

Author: David Lubar

F/NF: Fiction

Genre: Realistic fiction, more than a hint of romance, self-discovery

Colors: Gold, purple, light pink

Humor: Oh, definitely. Presented in a rather informal way, but not vulgar.

Stereotypical? : Well, yeah. But the zinger is that it takes a classic high school setup (awkward boy is friends with cute girl, they become BF/GF, happy ending) and turns it on its head in an imaginative and entertaining way.

Originality Rating: Out of ten, this gets… a six-point-five.

Imagery Level: Not hugely high… the book focuses on character development and personality rather than vivid imagery. Out of ten, this gets a three. But the twist on the plot and character relationships (even if they are a little shallow at times) is simply lovable.

Lexile? : Decent. Some vocabulary is thrown in to give that pop quiz feeling, but not enough to make the book unlikeable. So win-win, I guess.

Sarcasm: Yeah. But the story has more romance towards the end, and loses that somewhat bitter/lonely tone. Not that this tone is overpowering or annoying. But it does add some flavor to this. And the journal/letter entries to a major character (all right, it’s actually his unborn sibling, due in a few months) are chock full of epithets.

Conclusive? : Yup, the ending ties enough of the plot lines together to create a happy, if flawed (perfectly) conclusion. Yes, this story is perfectly flawed. It has enough open plot threads that the author might write a sequel if he wanted to, and leaves just enough to the imagination of the reader to dream of a sophomore year.

And now, the review. Remember, there will always be spoilers in the main review. So skim if you prefer that or just read my quick review (spoilers mostly absent).

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie is a decent book. It’s not going to win the Nobel Prize in Literature anytime soon, though it may be one of the more enjoyable books about high school. Our friend, Scott Hudson, is beginning his freshman year (as the title implies). And his former friend, Julia, will be attending the same school as Scott. Scott gets the idea that he can date Julia if he can only get close enough to ask her out. Yet time and again, circumstances stop him from ever getting that chance. And what’s worse, his closest friends are either leaving town or alienating him, and his mother is pregnant with a soon-to-be-born sibling. Soon, it seems there is nothing left for Scott to hold on to of his pre-high-school life.

And then the new girl, Lee, arrives, decked out in punk and gothic style. No one makes an effort to be friends with her. Except… Yup, except Scott. For all her quirks, Lee is a character who is cute in a far different way than most “high school” stories portray. Her practically fatalist and existentialist exterior belies a (mostly) friendly nature that she covers with inks and piercings (primarily to scare others). For a comparison, think Emily Osment in "The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It," except with say twenty to thirty piercings (earrings, nose rings, etc.). Got that mental picture? Well, factor in her choice of clothes and actions. Instead of trying to fit in at a new school, she chooses to be different and does not regret this decision, which shows something about her personality. And her strange quips (one-liners printed and directed to nobody in particular) serve to further her character development. The two become friends, and Scott continues to fruitlessly chase Julia. He also befriends one of the toughest people in the school, Wesley, who turns out to be a good person as well (though still extremely tough).

But when the dance approaches, Scott is faced with a dilemma. He wants to ask Julia, but realizes he has feelings for Lee too. And… this synopsis is finished. The book contains characters with little idiosyncrasies that define them. Scott feels like his life is falling apart, and getting a date seems a Sisyphean task. Julia, a sweet girl, seems to have everything a stereotypical love interest in a high school novel does- good looks, intelligence, and most importantly, a boyfriend who doesn’t appreciate her. Lee… is far too complex to explain in a single sentence. And Wesley is far more than he seems. (Cryptic, I know. No, he’s not a secret vampire. You people have been reading way too much Twilight.) And… will Scott figure out what he is meant to do? On a rather random and witty reference by the author (or perhaps an unintentional one, though this idea is unlikely), the school is named J.P. Zenger High, which I take to mean John Peter Zenger, famous in American history for his case of providing the truth against difficult circumstances (wrongly sued for libel, and who helped establish freedom of the press). Just randomly musing.

Oh, final score. Seven and a half out of ten awkward freshmen. For the wonderful plot, the curious cast of characters, and the little touches that make this book unique. And the interesting revelations at the end were a nice seal on the end of the book. Actually, this deserves an eight. My only concern was the dialogue, which sometimes didn’t do much to further the plot and was simplistic at times. But this is a good story, one to read when you feel uncertain or confused about who you are and where you’re going in life. It reminds you that sometimes, for all your efforts, things won’t go exactly as you plan. And sometimes, things will just work out. In a way that can only be described as flawed perfectly and perfectly flawed.

You know what, I’m going to leave High School Confidential for next time. Something to look forward to. And soon after, expect a very interesting post-apocalyptic tale; its title is a pun upon a classic catchphrase in disaster movies: “_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ may cease to exist…” Be back with another post soon! Keep checking. I’ll try to get new admins and reviewers if I can. Anyone interested, please leave a comment and email and I will try to respond quickly.

Keep reading,

~V

That's... Highly Improbable.

Today's review is on the excellent book, Physics of the Impossible, by renowned author and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku. He is beyond doubt one of my favorite scientists because of the matters he works almost exclusively with. These matters (sorry, unintentional pun) are namely the unconventional, the seemingly impractical, the impossible. More on this after the overview.








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Title: Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration of the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel

Author: Dr. Michio Kaku

F/NF: Nonfiction

Genre: Science, Futurism

Humor: Surprisingly much for a physics book; the well-written anecdotes link these "impossible" notions to real-life research and ways these technologies might become reality.

Stereotypical? : Hardly. This book is an expository text that reads like a novel; the concepts touched upon are well-known to viewers of Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, essentially every piece of science-fiction media ever. Among these are... well, I'll tell you in the full review.

Originality Rating: Quite honestly, 8/10. The premise of taking the fantastic and making it practical has been done before, but Dr. Kaku interweaves breaking developments in science, particularly physics (as the title suggests) into his thoughtful novel.

The Review: Physics of the Impossible is an entertaining book which delivers on all accounts. Divided neatly into Classes I, II, and III Impossibilities, the book is clear that some devices may come only well into the future, perhaps many millennia from now. But despair not- Dr. Kaku proposes that some technologies could come quite soon, even possibly within the lifetimes of those reading this right now. He also displays once more his talent of making physics interesting to the average (well, semi-average, anyway) person, previously shown in his other books, Hyperspace and Beyond Einstein. I really enjoyed this book, me being a science fan and avid Heroes viewer. It focuses on the possible technologies of the future, such as thinking androids, psychokinesis (telepathy), teleportation, and force fields to name a few, while the later chapters are closer to theories that would fulfill our greatest science fiction fantasies. Time travel? Sure! Faster-than-light movement? Someday, it'll be no problem. Wormholes and parallel universes? Of course. But the downer is that these far-advanced techs won't be practical until we gain the power of a GALACTIC REPUBLIC (gee, that sounds familiar) and can harness the energy of that whole region. Yet Dr. Kaku proposes that for technologies like invisibility or phasers, they may be possible within the century or even next few decades. And this man knows what he's talking about- he's a theoretical physicist. It's what he does for a living. My final review? 9 out of ten TARDISes. An excellent book, and a definite read for science fiction fans and anyone who has ever hoped that someday, he or she could teleport places or stop time. Just like Hiro Nakamura. Yatta!

Signing off for now,

V

Mea Culpa

My sincerest apologies for not having updated this site in a few months. I intended to open with a large sevenfold review but have recently thought against it, as it would require a ridiculous amount of scrolling down, knowing the way I usually type. Thus, I present to you a hopefully concise yet thoughtful review, the first to be presented on this website. If you would be so kind to actually read the books that I recommend, I would be greatly indebted. But I digress. Please, read and enjoy my review of the first two books in the Books of Pellinor series, The Naming and The Riddle. Today I also introduce a system of profiling not unlike that of Wikipedia's book descriptions, and also my color system. More on that later. Go on, read the review!














Title(s): The Naming (alt. title: The Gift) and The Riddle
Author: Allison Croggon
F/NF: Fiction
Genre: Magical fantasy, adventure (to some extent)
Colors: Green, silver, blue
Sarcasm: Moderate
Humor: Present, occasional comic relief
Stereotypical: Plot, yes. Characters, no.
Originality Rating (1-10): A definite 7 for just a few too many elements of the monomyth (look it up on Wikipedia) but that charm in the words that keeps you hooked.
Conclusive?: Definitely not... The Naming's ending was left hanging, and The Riddle left more questions than it answered before cutting to The Crow (the third book) which focuses on another character entirely, which was disappointing (please forgive the near-run-on but grammatically correct sentence).
Lexile?: 870, really quite engaging in terms of vocabulary.
Imagery Level (1-10): Solid 9 for vivid descriptions of scenery, providing an excellent backdrop for the magical ongoings.
Final Rating: 7, the same as the Originality Rating. The book was definitely fun to read, and like watching a leaf float down a moderately fast river. It goes by at a dead slow pace at some parts, but tries valiantly to restore your faith in it at the next twist or bend. But when it reaches the end you realize that the journey was more interesting than the final destination and feel a little disappointed.
Actual Review: This is the story of Maerad, a teen girl who has worked as a slave for most of her life. The world is Edil-Amarandh, a fantastic, medieval-based world in which incredible creatures and magical powers are possible. When a stranger shows up and offers to show Maerad the world outside of her prison, she carefully agrees, knowing she will never get this chance again. But this stranger is more than just human; he is a Bard, one with magical powers and intense musical ability. With only her clothes and her dead mother's lyre, Maerad sets off with this stranger unsure of the journey ahead. And what a journey it is... honestly, the story takes off like a tough paper airplane with a ton of jet fuel strapped to it. But inevitably the end of the journey is that long fall back to Earth, all the while hoping the tank will spontaneously refill. And then, just as it's about to hit the ground, a reserve kicks in and you're asking yourself what just happened but because you're watching this on TV, the show quickly cuts to "Tune in next week to find out what happens!!" *grumbles* Cut to next week- the fuel reserve fails, and the downwards spiral seems inevitable again until suddenly, a secondary reserve deploys and the show ends, leading into "Uses of Rocket Fuel in Everyday Life" while you're left feeling just a little cheated... of course this ridiculous program afterwards refers to The Crow, which as previously mentioned is the story of another related but not currently major character. These were my personal feelings about the duo of stories...

Anyway, thank you for reading, and I certainly hope you were entertained by this first review. Despite the criticism this is still a moderately good read, if only for the vocabulary. Once the last book comes out this series will have become rounded out(I'm hoping) and perhaps I will re-review with an 8.

Pax vobiscum,

V.
Today, V for vituperative. Look it up.

The Riddle Begins

I am the Chronicler Violapower. My thoughts I can freely share here; my knowledge and critique of books and poetry are open for your perusal. My wit and vocabulary I shall have no qualms displaying, and so with these words do I welcome you to a haven, a sanctum for the literate, the like-minded, and the weary whose only solace is in books. May you read, reimagine, rejoice, and return often.

I leave you with these words- Latin, as per the name of my site.
Nunquam non paratus ad futuro.

Never be unprepared for the future.