Kaleidoscope Eyes
February 9th, 2008, 02:08 AM
Does anyone else out here read a lot like I do? If so, this is the place to post what book(s) you're reading now, and if you're up to it once you finish reading, give us a quick summary and say why you liked it or disliked it (without giving anything away!). If you do write a review, please include the title of the book and the author, and type them in bold so that we don't miss them, and so others can scan through to make sure they are not writing a redundant review. Please, if the book you wish to review is already here and you share the opinion of the reviewer, do not post anything. If you read the book and disagree with the reviewer, in your review please cite the page the original review is on and skip the summary, just give us the title, author, and your opinion. Also, if your book is part of a series, give a quick overview of the background, if possible without spoiling the previous books. Thanks!
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
How does one become wicked? Are they born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them? This book is about the Wicked Witch of the West, her life, and her side of the story: from growing up with green skin, to meeting the Wizard to fight for Animal rights (in Oz, there are animals, like the ones we know, and Animals, who have the ability to talk and reason just the way we do), to her famous encounter with Dorothy. I saw the musical last year, and while it was great, it was pretty much a ball of fluff, and I became hesitant to read the book. I did though, and WOW. There is so much that has been omitted or changed for the play, including THE ENDING. How do you change the ending? Honestly. Overall, I loved this book, and it's one of the few I plan to reread later, I was so sad when it ended. Beware, the ending is not a happy one, though in my opinion it was the only real way to end the book properly. This is a story of love, loss, freedom, and one woman's struggle to accept her own shortcomings and to stand up against the not-so-wonderful Wizard, despite much opposition throughout Oz. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read, especially to those who like fantasy, although I think anyone could enjoy this book.
Now, I'm reading The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. It's the third book in the series (though each book could in theory be read on it's own), starting with A Great and Terrible Beauty, and followed up by Rebel Angels. The books are about Gemma Doyle, a 17 year-old girl living in England in the late 1800's. She attends Spence Academy, a sort of charm school, where she inadvertently discovers hidden magic, a secret world, and several ancient groups that each wish to harness the power for themselves. Gemma is the key to the magic's power, and she must decide which group is telling the truth, and which would use the magic for harm.
Yeah, it sounds stupid, and I admit it's probably going to be more attractive to the girls, but the first two books were great. Beautiful language, amazing imagery, and a love story that will leave you craving the next installment. I'll give my opinion on the latest book in the series once I have finished reading it.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
How does one become wicked? Are they born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them? This book is about the Wicked Witch of the West, her life, and her side of the story: from growing up with green skin, to meeting the Wizard to fight for Animal rights (in Oz, there are animals, like the ones we know, and Animals, who have the ability to talk and reason just the way we do), to her famous encounter with Dorothy. I saw the musical last year, and while it was great, it was pretty much a ball of fluff, and I became hesitant to read the book. I did though, and WOW. There is so much that has been omitted or changed for the play, including THE ENDING. How do you change the ending? Honestly. Overall, I loved this book, and it's one of the few I plan to reread later, I was so sad when it ended. Beware, the ending is not a happy one, though in my opinion it was the only real way to end the book properly. This is a story of love, loss, freedom, and one woman's struggle to accept her own shortcomings and to stand up against the not-so-wonderful Wizard, despite much opposition throughout Oz. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read, especially to those who like fantasy, although I think anyone could enjoy this book.
Now, I'm reading The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. It's the third book in the series (though each book could in theory be read on it's own), starting with A Great and Terrible Beauty, and followed up by Rebel Angels. The books are about Gemma Doyle, a 17 year-old girl living in England in the late 1800's. She attends Spence Academy, a sort of charm school, where she inadvertently discovers hidden magic, a secret world, and several ancient groups that each wish to harness the power for themselves. Gemma is the key to the magic's power, and she must decide which group is telling the truth, and which would use the magic for harm.
Yeah, it sounds stupid, and I admit it's probably going to be more attractive to the girls, but the first two books were great. Beautiful language, amazing imagery, and a love story that will leave you craving the next installment. I'll give my opinion on the latest book in the series once I have finished reading it.