Review: The Stand

The Stand by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A man who worked in a U.S. biological testing facility escapes from because he notices something is wrong. He manages to get to his family and tell them to run away, without knowing he was infected by a mutated virus of the flu. It is a shape-shifting virus, which makes it more deadly –with a 99.4% of effectivity. So that's how most of humanity dies. And that is just the beginning. Then the supernatural plot is introduced. The survivors start having dreams about two figures: Mother Abagail and Randall Flagg aka The Dark Man. The ones who are “good” are attracted to the first one; and the ones who are “bad” are attracted to the latter one.

And so starts this battle between good and evil. I first thought this was going to be just about the superflu and its consequences, but I was wrong with that. I mean, before I started reading it, I was always wondering: “Why the hell would 1400+ be needed for just finding the cure to a disease? Isn't that way too much?”. But at the time, I had no idea that the superflu is just the antecedent to the real story.

You know what enriched my experience reading this book? That I got sick. Yep, I got the flu. It made me feel like living the book. I was horrified. Now, everytime I hear someone coughing or sneezing I get scared, and I guess my fear is justified, after reading this book. And you know what's worse? Dreaming about it. When I get very immersed in a book, I cannot bring it out of my mind, and I usually dream about what happened. You can guess what I dreamed about: A dark man with no face and red eyes who is chasing me. It gave me the creeps.

I loved the characters in the book and how they felt very realistic. Very few books have characters that you can easily relate to or are so well written that they seem real, even when you know they are not.

Speaking about “well written”...the writing! AMAZING. M-O-O-N, that spells amazing, as someone in the book would say. It is fully detailed, and I love detailed descriptions. It was pretty vivid –I could, with no difficulty, imagine I was in there, listening to the characters discussions.

And the ending was just as great as the whole story itself. Many books can have a great plot, and a great middle, but the majority of them fall because of the ending, which may be precipitated and fake. In this one, that is not the case. I think it ended just as it should have, with its message and its somewhat loose end.

Finally, I highly recommend this book. Of all the books I own, this one (along with Wuthering Heights –and please, don't compare them, for they are not similar at all) is my favorite (which does not mean it is my favorite book of all time). It is certainly one of my favorites. I will keep reading more of Mr. King's books, and I hope he doesn't disappoint me. So, what are you waiting for? Go read this tale of dark Christianity, as Mr. King said in his preface.

P.S.: This book strangely reminded me to Moses' story in the Bible. The Exodus and all that. I guess you know what I'm talking about, if you don't, then look for it. Am I the only one?



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Review: Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind. And this is one: I'm going to tell it - but take care not to smile at any part of it.”
― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights is that kind of dream. You read it, you never forget it and it will stay with you forever. Very few books have managed to become instant favorites of mine, and this one has made it to that group.

I understand why people hate it so much, really, I do. But I cannot bring myself to hate it. What is it with this book that has haunted me for all the weekend until now? (I finished it on Saturday).

The atmosphere is dark, violent, depressing and beautiful. The sort of book I would normally read. Also, it is not a book I would recommend to everybody, since it's a black/white book. That is, you either like or you hate it. If you can handle with unlikable characters, then go ahead, read it.

If you ask me what the book is about i would say: It's about Heathcliff, a gypsy that was beaten and treated badly just because of that. It's also about his intense love for Catherine Earnshaw and all the consequences of the actions he took because of that strong feeling.

The plot sound really romantic, doesn't it? Well, I don't think Wuthering Heights it's just a love story, I don't even tag it as "romance" (but we can't deny the romance is not in there). Wuthering Heights is more an exploration on humanity, of how love can lead to rage, to violence and to madness.

Speaking about that leads me to my next point: The characters. I love how they are so perfectly unperfect. Sounds weird, huh? Well, the thing is, they are realistic. They could easily exist somewhere out there. Heathcliff is not the oh-so-handsome-and-chivalrous guy. Neither is Catherine or any other character in the book.

I love the darkness in the book, the moors and the solitary environment in which it is set. Besides, the era in which it was written adds a slight touch of gothic into it. I also love the drama, the romance, the wilderness, etc. Emily Brönte manages to tell a tale of trust and betrayal without boring me or making me roll my eyes.

Anyway, I could keep listing things I loved about the book, but if you knew me, you would know that my greatest stuggle is with writing. I can read as many books as I want, but it is very cery difficult for me to print my thoughts about it in a review, especially if I love it as much as I love Wuthering Heights. So I end by saying the same thing I said at the beginning (and what Catherine said to Nelly): Wuthering Heights is a like an unforgettable dream. It goes through and through you until it has changed the colour of your mind.

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Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Once upon a time, there were YA books in which the protagonist was a strong female. The Hunger Games is that kind of book.

I remember, back then, when I was fourteen, that I totally fangirled over this book. I remember I loved it so much that i said it was the best book ever written. Not that I don't think anymore that it is good, but, umm, well, it's not "the best book ever written".

I think this was my first book that got me days and nights thinking about it. Everything is good in it.

I really love Katniss. I think she is my favorite female protagonist. She's strong, brave, fierce and she's protective over her little sister. Once for all, the elder sister is not presented as a wicked person, but instead as an example to follow.

The concept it illustrates is very interesting. Back when I first read it, in my History class, we were studying Rome, so that increased my interest. Well, just by the description of the book and that I've just said, you can guess that it is like a modern version of gladiators that fought at the Coliseum.

I know the idea is cruel, but I think the message in the book is clear: The media manipulates people. They, providing people with entertainment, make them forget they are being ruled by a tirant. It can be explained with the quote "Panem et circenses". You don't know what it means? It means "bread and circus". The elite provided the people with entertainment and food if they gave their responsibilities to the people in charge of the society.

Anyway, I'll leave this here. My recommendation is that you read it before you watch the movie, but it's probable you've already done it. It's probable too that you've either read the book or promised that you will never read it, and that would make this review completely useless, but I just thought it good to write one, since I liked it so much. It doesn't hurt to express my opinion. 

The end.

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Review: The Iron King

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Hmm, this is one of those books that fall in the category of "meh". The concept was interesting, but, umm, it was a bit boring for me at times. I didn't like any single character in it, the exception is the cat Grimalkin. Meghan is stupid, Ash is an asshole, Puck (don't even mention it) is kinda idiotic, etc. It's just not my kind of book. I don't care if it has references to William Shakespeare, but this book didn't do for me.

Anyway, maybe you don't have the same reading tastes as I, so you might enjoy it. It's in your hands to take the risk.

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Review: Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



*sighs* Yet another book infected with iuvenes-adult genre morbus. The symptoms are clear: The guy is an asshole, the protagonist an imbecile, the plot concentrates mainly in the romantic, the relationship is an abusive one, etc. *sighs again* We really need a cure for this sickness, because it is becoming an epidemy: Too many books are suffering from this.

So, this is my recommendation: If you're starting a book, and a hot, mysterious, harsh guy appears, then leave it. I repeat: LEAVE IT. It might be infected withiuvenes-adult genre morbus and it is very contagious.



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Review: Limón Blues

Limón Blues by Anacristina Rossi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Limón Blues was quite a pleasant surprise...

It is clear that Anacristina Rossi took her time to write this book. The setting is well done, I mean, the descriptions of the era she's describing sounds very vivid: I could almost assure I was living in there when it all occured. The edition I own even has some kind of bibliography where she got all the material to make the story believable.

The plot is not that complex. It is about the life of Orlandus, a guy living in the top of the discrimitation mountain (metaphorically). He, being a black guy, is excluded from everything, so he, along with other people, fight to gain their rights. But the book is not only about that. It also includes his romantic life and all its complications, which make the story even more realistic.

Anyway, I don't really have a lot of time today, so I'll end up here with this: Limón Blues is one of the few academic books I've enjoyed (yes, I read it because it was an assignment) and I managed to read without struggling, even when it took me more than a month to do so (*coughs* college *coughs*).



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Review: The Club Dumas

The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first time I read it, I hated it, that was four years ago. I decided to re-read it because many of my friends loved it and I didn't, you see, I was 12 years old, you can't expect someone that age (and like me) to enjoy a book meant for adults (*coughs* school assignment *coughs*), so I thought I had perhaps misjudged the book.

And it turns out I did...

Lucas Corso is a book detective who is entrusted a copy of the original manuscript of The Anjou Wine (see The Three Musketeers) to verify it is indeed original, but at the same he is commended to do that same thing for a banned book from the 17th century, "Of the Nine Doors of the Kingdom of Shadows".

If you are a fan of The Three Musketeers and a fan of mystery book, then this is a book just for you. There are numerous intertexts from this book I mentioned along with other Dumas' books and Sherlock Holmes.
The writing is good. It is kind of metaphorical sometimes, but it is not difficult to follow. The author uses many book references, so if you're not familiarized with classics, you might not understand them. Also, if you haven't read The Three Musketeers, you may want to read it first, it is not necessary, just a recommendation because, as the plot involves a chapter of that book, there is a lot of talk, which includes some spoilers, about The Three Musketeers.

The way the dual plot is developed is really good. Both plots include different characters that at some point of the story meet but not entirely. The connection between the authentication of The Anjou Wine and the line of narration of the book is well done. Also, I love that all the characters of the The Club Dumas are compared to one of The Three Musketeers, so in that way they decipher their movements (not their reasons, but the way they act).

The mystery part of the book is paced in an incredible way. Pérez-Reverte does that through many pictures taken from the already mentioned book "Of the Nine Doors of the Kingdom of Shadows", written by Aristide Torchia. We see how Corso's reasons to continue with his work with this book changes: He, in first place, only accepts the job because of the money, then he continues it because he doesn't want to leave it unfinished and in the end, he is truly interested and caught by the book that he wants to know all the answers (and trust me, he was not the only one).

The characters are interesting. They all have a secret reason for doing what they are doing, possibly, the most intriguing was Irene Adler. And yes, you read it correctly: Irene Adler. Didn't I tell you something about the intertexts?

It contains many quotes with which I felt identified, I mean, Corso is a book detective, so you can expect him and his bibliophile friends to love books:

“One is never alone with a book nearby, don't you agree? Every page reminds us of a day that has passed and makes us relive the emotions that filled it. Happy hours underlined in red pencil, dark ones in black...”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Club Dumas

“As for me, all I know is that I know nothing. And when I want to know something, I look it up in books--their memory never fails”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Club Dumas

“Becoming a book collector is like joining a religion: it’s for life.”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Club Dumas

“Whenever I got any money, I invested it in books. When my savings dwindled, I got rid of everything else—pictures, furniture, china. I think you understand what it is to be a passionate collector of books…”
― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Club Dumas

Well, I don't know if you feel yourselves in those quotes, but as for myself, I do.

Anyway, now that I've read it with some maturity level and some reading experience, I can truly understand why my spanish teacher and my friends loved it. I had judged the book in a wrong way, but I'm glad I re-read it, because now I can talk about The Club Dumas in a rational way.

Recommended for people who love mystery/thriller books and to people who love characters who also have a passion for reading.



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