Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

What's amazing about this book is how fresh it is. It was a thrilling addition to the series and filled with magic and wonder. Harry meets his godfather, Sirius Black, who is a great character to add to the series because he is mysterious and fun. Suspense is found in this novel too, and, as in the first two, it is well written. Rowling creates strong characters that are lovable and deep. No reader can find this book boring or the plot lacking because there are werewolves, the marauders map and secret school passageways, and a strengthening of friendship between the main characters. Not to mention the escaped prisoner searching for Harry. Then there's the regular homework and bullies. All in all, this book is a fantastic read and I recommend it to everyone.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Book two in the series is even more amazing than the first. The book starts with the introduction of one of the most likable and adorable characters of all time, Dobby the house elf. This book has the same sense of magic and danger as the first, which makes for a fast and enjoyable read. Harry suffers more trials and receives more glory when he overcomes them. Even though the reader already assumes that the main characters will not die, the story is exciting and keeps the reader in suspense because of Rowling's fantastic writing. It's a wonderful addition to the series and makes the reader eager for the next book.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

I picked up this book when it was still relatively unknown. I fell in love with it from the beginning. Poor Harry was mistreated by his extended family and I sympathized with him. Then he found out he was a wizard and I was so happy for him. The entire book is a roller coaster of action and adventure. It made me feel like no matter what troubles come your way, good times are just around the corner. Rowling's strong point is her characters. They are realistic and fantastic, and always entertain. They have a depth and life that form an impression on your mind and do not fade. The magical world is beautiful and dangerous. This book is very popular now and even made into a somewhat decent movie. In mainstream American culture, you can't live without knowing about it. Still, I believe this book has the strength and durability to exist through the decades and into the future. If you haven't read it, I would recommend it for you in an instant.

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

This is book one of The Last Apprentice series. It was recommended to me by my nephew, and I thought it was going to be a young adult book. It is, essentially, a young adult novel, but there are many reasons why an adult would like this story as well. The main character is a boy who needs a job to help his poor farming family. He takes on the role of a spook, a man who scares away evil creatures like ghosts and witches. He lives in a dark and cold world, and I honestly felt scared for the characters in the novel. Delaney is an excellent author, and the themes and emotions in this novel translate wonderfully. The world he created with this book is haunting and beautiful. This book should be recommended for anyone who loves books like the Harry Potter series, that is books of adventure, danger, and magic.

The Last Child by John Hart

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I first started reading it. As I read the novel, I began to like it more and more. It's a thrilling dramatic tale of families, loss, death, and justice. Parts are very heartbreaking, especially when the truth behind the missing girl is revealed. The main character Johnny is very easy to relate to and also has a uniqueness. I recommend this book to everyone, because it is an enjoyable book despite its dark and chilling plot line.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

This book was recommended to me by my mom. I didn't expect much from it, or if I would even finish it because previously the biggest book I had read was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. At one thousand pages, Clarke wrote one intimidating masterpiece. Masterpiece, indeed. After about one hundred pages into the novel, I couldn't put it down. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell are the most fun and interesting characters that I have ever known. The world that they live in, an alternate nineteenth century full of magic and magicians, is realistic as it is fantastic and surprising. Friendship, apprenticeship, love, "The Raven King", and more are all weaved beautifully into a wonderful story. I was never bored in the book despite its length, and even the minor characters were charming. Clarke has admitted that the characters were mainly of the upper class and in her sequel she wants to focus on the lower class, and I can not wait until it is complete. I believe this novel should be among the great science fiction epic series such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. There are also plans to make a movie, which I look forward to as well. In any case, this book is guaranteed to be memorable and enjoyable for readers of any kind.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I love this book because it contains a very sweet love story. There is so much to be said about this book, and that is why it is a classic. The themes and meanings are very deep and intertwined beautifully. The book is a great depiction of life in Victorian England and family roles of the time. Jane Eyre herself is very outgoing for her time period. This novel defined Charlotte Bronte as an excellent author because she truly captured the reality that is Victorian society.  I would recommend this book for everyone, but I know not everyone enjoys fiction and especially period pieces. It's a fun read anyway, and it's easy to discuss the different aspects of the novel and argue about feminism and social class portrayal. All I want to say is, Jane and Rodchester are adorable together.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

First problem with this book: It's very rushed. It starts with Bella and Edward's wedding. It was very elaborate, but before I knew it they were on their honeymoon.

Second problem: It's boring. Now, I wasn't expecting details on their honeymoon, especially if youngsters are reading these books, but really there's nothing going on in this part of the book.

Third (AND BIGGEST) problem: Bella's pregnancy. All right. I have been defensive of these series on some grounds, because I feel that it should be appreciated for what it's worth. I still defend it, but now I realize it's next to worthless. How do vampires even have sperm to make a baby with a human? None of it makes any sense. I'm sure Meyer just wanted to put the main characters in parenting roles to add in her mother's perspective, but honestly it's ridiculous. Then it takes them a long time to find out that a half-vampire baby needs blood to drink. I would think that if a half-vampire baby won't eat, I would try feeding it blood, but maybe that's not common sense to vampires.

Then, the moment everyone's been waiting for, Edward finally turns Bella into a vampire. I was expecting romance, passion, beauty. Instead, Bella was passed out and it was like Edward was preforming surgery on her. I understand he was saving her life, but it was very disappointing.

The rest of the book is spent building up a huge battle between the Cullens (Edward's family plus Bella) and their allies versus the Volturi (vampire government). The Volturi are angry at the Cullens for turning a child into a vampire. The Cullens know they are innocent and can prove that they did not turn a child into a vampire, but prepare an army for battle anyway. Apparently, out of all the vampires in the world, the Volturi have nothing better to do than to bring everyone in their employ to the scene of this small, isolated incident. Anyway, the Volturi arrive and have words with the Cullens. The Volturi realize the situation, and leave without a fight. This was the most anticlimactic of all anticlimactic stories. But don't worry, everyone lived happily every after. There was some other stuff going on with Jacob too, but at this point, I can't imagine anyone caring.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

This book is everything I thought it would be. Once again, Bella and Edward prepare to fight an evil vampire and finally face off and defeat the evil vampire at the end of the novel. It is not surprisingly similar to its predecessors. I never got the sense that the main characters were really in danger. The drama was fun, but not interesting enough to hold my attention. I really think Twilight is the best book in this series, it was original and creative. This was just a continuation of the series but doesn't add anything new. Despite what anyone says, I still think Bella and Edward are a cute couple. I was very upset Edward hadn't turned her into a vampire by the end of this book. Even though I'm Team Edward, it was nice to see Jacob play a bigger role in this book. All in all, I have to say, it was a good book, but could have been better.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

This book is part two of the Twilight saga. It is exactly the sequel that I expected. After reading Twilight, I knew the romantic couple (Bella and Edward) would have a big argument and break up or almost break up. That is just the social convention of the times or a very popular theme in movies and books. Lo and behold, Their relationship hits the rocks. Edward disappears and Bella falls into the arms of the hunky Jacob. They bond closely and Bella's love for Edward is put to the test.

Unfortunately, it is very evident from the beginning of the book that Bella and Edward will get back together. First of all, Bella doesn't think of Jacob as more than a friend, and there is nothing to suggest her opinion will change. Second, Bella and Edward had some very strong feelings towards one another. She can't just forget him easily and get a new boyfriend in a couple weeks or even a couple months. I didn't think Bella and Jacob ever had a chance of a relationship, although it seemed like Meyer was trying to make us believe that. Maybe I'm just overly critical.

Long story short, Bella and Edward reunite and confess their true emotions for one another. Bella and Edward are a modern day Romeo & Juliet, without the death and Romeo is a vampire. I also noticed a pattern after reading these books, where Meyer sets up a big fight at the end and the good guys win, as if that was ever in question. This is definitely not my favorite book in the series because of its predictability and because most of the book focuses on Bella and Jacob, and I didn't think they made a good couple anyway. I was just constantly waiting for Edward to return, like I knew he would.

Meyer makes a few things clear to the reader. First, the main characters Bella and Edward are never going to be in any real danger, they will always overcome any trouble and never die. Second, Bella will become a vampire like her boyfriend, eventually. I can understand this, but I was hoping she could make the series a little more thrilling. I have to give her credit for one thing, and that is painting a picture with her words. Meyer somehow hooks me into her novels every time, despite everything I don't like about the books. I have to give her props for that.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

This book has received a lot of attention and ridicule as of late. It seems like everyone either hates it or loves it. I, however, am one of the few individuals who find this book to have both good and bad properties. I am rarely an extreme person, but the first time I read this book I loved it. I admit I fell for the romance and passion of these star-crossed lovers. Plus, I've always loved vampires and other strange creatures.

I have heard people say the characters in this novel are flat and two-dimensional. Now, I did not feel that when I read this book. Bella and Edward are teenagers dealing with emotions and hormones, and to many adults that will make them seem whiny. The lives of teens and adults are as different as night and day, but that didn't stop me from connecting emotionally to the characters.

I'm not saying this book is for everyone. Clearly, it is not. What I am saying is that we should not listen to all of the rumors people spread about pop culture like this book and instead judge a book based on its merit. It is a drama of american teenagers with vampires and wolf-shapeshifters thrown in. Make of it what you will, but the hate between the people who love this book and people who hate this book is ridiculous and infantile.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This book is worth reading just for this quote "Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?" This is said by the main character, Pi, to government officials who are questioning Pi about his journey. The quote provides the perfect perspective for reflecting on Pi's long and difficult albeit fictional trip. I don't want to spoil too much, but Pi's family embarks on an ocean voyage from India to Canada. They own a zoo so they were transporting some animals when their ship sunk. Pi and a tiger named Richard Parker are the only survivors.

Pi manages to train Richard Parker to obey him. Then they find an island refuge, until they realize the island is made from carnivorous algae. I checked it out, carnivorous algae exists in the real world. Martel didn't make that part up, though whether or not an entire island can be made of it is still questionable. The two survive 227 days on the ocean and finally end up in central America. Now anyone who reads this story is going to find it hard to believe. They'll just chalk it up to imagination and fiction and ignore the possibility of it all. But we all know that truth is stranger than fiction, so this is really not that hard to believe. Even if it is, what's wrong with hard to believe?

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

I picked up this book because I was a big Stephen King fan already, having previously read Carrie, Misery, and Firestarter. I love Tommyknockers because of King's brilliant writing. It just captures the reader and won't let go. This book was hard to read, however, because it was very gruesome and frightening. There was plenty of bodily fluids and shocking alien descriptions to make me cringe.

The main characters are easy to relate to as well. Gard was a tragic character, but enthralling. I found the other town characters fascinating. I felt emotional when I read about them and their ultimate demise. The book wasn't perfect, of course. I think the development of the aliens should have been improved. For example, it is explained that the aliens improve things, like machines or electronics. They have no other purpose and are incapable of changing it seems. It is a shallow way of describing them, in my opinion. I think there is more to them than the description of them improving things. I mean, they traveled how many light years to get to Earth, and they have no other mission than to improve things.

It still did not detract from the mystery and wonder of the novel. I would recommend this book to everyone who likes horror or science fiction. King creates beautiful and terrifying worlds with his words. When I read his books, I feel surrounded by the story, like I am living through it. That is the hallmark of a genius author.

Day One

Hi, everybody!

My name is Cassie and this is my blog. I essentially created it because I love to read and I wanted to connect with people who share similar interests. So come and go as you please; I appreciate any feedback. Discussing books is a passion of mine, so don't be shy. Just go with the flow...