The many awesome book reviews by Mr. Keller's 2008 Biology class!
| Table of Contents | |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Becki Baker
A Thousand Splendid Suns is not only a marvelous, and inspirational story, it portrays everyday life, and occurences in Afghanistan. Before reading this I waas so vaguely unaware of what was really going on in the Middle East, to the women, and their countries. Laila and Mariam are the names of the two main characters. These two women had lived totally different lives, and are only brought together because of one thing, war. Without bombs hitting Laila's house, and killing her parents, Laila would possibly never speak with Mariam. The two women formed an incredible bond, and though both their hearts were saddened through broken dreams, and loves lost, they became anew with a friendship that gave them hope. Together they overcame excruciating events in the years following. As Americans I think we take advantage of every day liberties such as going out in public without getting beat, or having the right to practice ones own religion freely. Reading this book has opened my eyes to so many things, and in short it's made me a better person.
Ashley Strong
By first glance, this book wasn't anything that I wanted to pursue. It wasn't anything that I would normally read so why bother with it? Then I thought about it and I decided to give it a chance. The beginning paragraph I was hooked! I couldn't put it down! Never have I read a book with so much to learn from it, that was this intriguing. It dawned on me that I have so much to be grateful for. The people living in Afghanistan fear fro their lives on a regular basis. Not only that, but, as a woman, you dread going to a hospital because your separate hospital lacks the proper equipment to treat a minor cut, let alone a serious injury. It was hard at times for me to read about the hardships these women endured. I was inspired by their view on life, yet disturbed and troubled at the same time. No matter how hard things got, Mariam and Laila always had high hopes that things would turn out okay, that they would be better soon. At the worst of times though, the two of them felt it is what they deserved in life. They felt that is where they were meant to be. I felt proud, however, when they took a stand, when Mariam and Laila no longer tolerated the misery, the heartache, the emotional and physical abuse. It was a relief to see how it ended and how they turned, not only their lives around, but the lives of little Aziza and Zaimai as well... they saved them.
Hannah Wilkett
A Thousand Splendid Suns was an absolutely amazing book. It was extremely enlightening on the lifestyle and condition of Afghanistan, I learned so much that I hadn't known before like the effects of communism there are how awful the Taliban was. I also thought the overall plot was great and I really felt connected with each of the main characters. I couldn't believe the treatment of the women and all the rules they had to abide so they could simply continue living in peace with their husbands. The courage of the main characters and their strength to keep persevering stunned me, after being constantly beaten and mistreated. I was seriously devastated by Mariam's death and all that her and Laila had to put up with. I loved reading this book and I feel so much more informed on the culture, the hardships, the fighting, and their connection to our world. I think it was a wonderfullly written book and I even told my mom to read it so I could talk to her about it. I can hardly believe those kind of things are going on in the world today. The writer is great at capturing your attention and making you think. It really causes you to compare and contrast living here and living over there. I completely loved reading the whole adventure. It makes me wonder, exactly what kind of world are we living in. One of the best books ever, in my opinion.
Krista Gaona
A fight for survival. Two women are brought together by a turn of fate. Together these two learn how to survive in a sexist world. Heartbreak, anger, happiness and love, Laila and Miriam, go through it all. These two women of strength and courage teach us through this novel how to appreciate life and inspire us to be courageous. Throughout these pages you might ask yourself, am I that tough? Would I ever do that to another person? This unbelievable haunting novel opens your eyes to the world around you.
Are you ready to know the truth?
Return to Top
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Alex Long
This book is one of the best books I have ever read. When you're reading it, it actualaly makes you feel like you're right there in the story and being there when those things happen. It scares me to think that all that actually happens in real life and we have no control over it. The book made me realize how much I take my own life for granted and how good I have it. Lots of children in the world would give anything to be at school or have three meals a day and people in this county definitely take that for granded. Knowing that I have a loving mom and an amazing family and house makes me feel very lucky compared to them. I think everyone who thinks they have a hard life or complains about stuff that we take for granted daily needs to read this book! IT WAS AWESOME!
Melissa Schmidt
I seriously don't want to write this card. The book was absolutely stunning, and even if I try to put how it made me feel on a piece of 4x6 paper, it wouldn't even be able to shed any light on the book. There was so much truth in it, it was overpowering. The book's hero really wasn't that much of a hero, and yet was someone that everybody could relate to. It made me feel sick, guilty, and then the feel of a real family in just minutes. It literally made me sick to my stomach at times because of what people do to each other every day. How they can torture and kill people because they are different and then claim they were doing it in the name of God. I don't get how we all became so blind to the things that are happening in the book; how most of us will turn away and become ignorant to what people are going through every single day of their lives because it's not what they want to hear. Kite Runner changed my life.
Alex Deanda
Chesse and Crackers! This book made me think; we think we got it bad but kids in Afghanistan? If only others could see how it's like there, oh wait! They can read Kite Runner! I recommend this book to everyone that reads even comic-books! The way Khaled Hosseini uses irony can keep even non-readers going. This is one of the best books I've read, next to the Halo books. Kite Runner is a must read and if you don't read it you are crazy. Afghanistan has got it bad and the characters in this book take it all and tell you their story. Read Kite Runner!
Kacey Killingbeck
Kite Runner summed up was exhilarating, heart-wrenching and horribly suspenseful. Kite Runner had many interesting affects such as foreshadowing a main element in his book that made you think a thousand different things than what really happens. Very quickly you connect to the narrator, a pashtun, who goes through his whole life with. His terrible lies and false pretentious claims. Through the story you encounter people you either love or hate. You become so emotionally attached to not only the narrator but also characters that surround the entire plot. this is truly a heart-wrenching tale of two young friends and what happens to them throughout events of Afghani history! Such as the Taliban and Soviets coming to power. It is a truly wonderful story I recommend it to anyone who honestly cares for more than just themselves and their country.
Jacob Haun
Holy crap. I had no idea life was as bas as it shows in this book. The book did start out kind of slow, and life seemed normal, but then the political imbalances of Afghanistan occurred. That made me realize how lucky I was to have a strong government that can't really be overthrown easily like in this book. But things only got worse for the main character and Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded and attempted to spread communism. Once the soviets left, the warlords fought amongst themselves, driving the main character and his father to America.
When the main character returned to Kabul to right his part, it was unrecognizable. Almost everything was in ruins. Orphans were starving everywhere, executions were common. I had no idea that the Taliban's strangle hold on Afghanistan was this bad.
I recommend this book to everyone. It is an eye opener, and shows us what it would have been like to be there.
Return to Top
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
TiAnna Hagglund
This was an amazing book. I would give in four and a half staras. It's definitely worth reading.
The overall view of the story is during WWII. It gives you a different view that Anne Frank, but is just as good. Instead of seeing the war through a Jew's eye, you see it through the eyes of a family hiding a Jew, and the family doesn't really think what Hitler is doing is right either.
One of the best things about this book is the narrator. The narrator is Death. This also gives you a different perspective on the war, and makes it very interesting/different.
This is a wonderful book and I would recommend it to everyone. This is definitely worth reading, at least once.
Angel Tedeski
The Book Thief is by far the best book I've read so far. The very beginning was pretty confusing, but after the first chapter I caught on. I wasn't even going to read the book because it didn't look interesting, but for some reason I did, and I'm glad I did. I guess that proves that that old saying, "Don't judge a book by a cover," is true. The Book Thief takes place in Molching, Germany in 1939 - 1941. It's about a girl growing up in the same time period as the Holocaust. It shows how much it affected her life, and how peopl in Germany felt about the war. It showed how you couldn't help a Jew in the littlest way, which was hard for the Hubbermann family (the girl's foster family). It made me realize that not everybody who lived in Germany were heartless monsters. It is by far my favorite book, and I recommend that anyone who has time, to read it.
Return to Top
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Hannah Wilkett
Full of romance, inner turmoil, and vampires, Twilight was an amazing book which I could not for the life of me put down. Meyer weaves a compelling tale that sucks you into the lives of a family of dangerous beings and twisted love. I really felt like I was a part of the novel. I really am not a fan of romance novels in the slightest, when I heard it was one, I wasn't quite sure if I would enjoy it. In the end I absolutely loved it because of how well written it was. It was odd, and a bit out there at times, but the whole perspective on their relationship was very interesting. I would definitely recommend this book, it was thrilling. I also learned so many new big words due to the character's large vocabulary. I loved the apple on the cover of the book. As a symbol of the forbidden fruit, which is also a symbol of the whole love story with Bella and Edward I can't wait to read the next few books to continue the story. And of course, now, I sure like vampires a whole lot more.
Krystal Anne Powell
I enjoyed this book very much. Not only was the story line well thought out, but the writing is amazing. Not many authors can get away with writing the character without many physical features. The author realizes that the reader's imagination can go much further than her's. That in my opinion is why this book is read by so many, because all of it is how the reader wants to picture the scene, the time, the characters themselves. The reader wants to picture the scene, the time, the characters themselves. This is why so many young readers claim that even though they can't picture the place from her details they can see everything as though it were happening in front of their eyes. The reader is so wrapped up in the dialogue as well. They wish they could live in a world where things were adventurous, thrilling, not their average plain and dull life. Stephanie Meyer must get so much pleasure knowing that this story is loved by so many, and that her ideas are enjoyed by not only young readers, than the actual reader does as they continue their wanted adventure.
Return to Top
Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
Krystal Anne Powell
This book takes you on an adventure you don't wanna put down. Throughout the whole book Bella and Edward not only have to deal with Bella's secret, but now they must deal with an old enemy and each other. With the family back and everyone else leaving, nothing will be the same. Even though it all just barely changed. Now she must get used to even more changes. Not to mention Jack Black and his friends are still trying to win the heart of Bella and lead her away from Edward and his family. Stephanie Meyer has once again outdone herself by topping her last book. She has a way of drawing you into the book with what seems to be no effort on her part. This truly is a book I would recommend to anyone looking for something to enjoy, rather than watch TV. This book is one I intend to read repeatedly non stop. All the more I can say is, I can not stand to wait until she releases yet another amazing book.
Return to Top
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Kacey Killingbeck
Water for Elephants was insightful and amazing. The author illustrates the circus in a way no one else could. The author makes us experience the story through a 90 or 93 year old man named Jacob Jankowski. As a 93 year old Jacob is now living in a retirement home going through his own personal issues of just being "old." Jacob tells the story of himself in the circus as a 23 year old man. As Jacob looks back over 70 years of his life you slowly come to a realization of how his life has happened. Jacob has to overcome hardships and a depressing past to make it on the Benzeni Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth! Jacob's lucky he's a vet and what does the show need, a vet. On the show Jacob makes friends and foes such as the lovely, intelligent Marlena and her insane husband August. There's his mutual friends Kinko (Walter) and his dog Queenie, and then Camel the old ticket man that saves him from being "red lighted." This story is filled with a vast amount of admiral characters, odd and normal, that you will either love or despise. The author wrote this story in the way it should be told, she used culture to its finest and although there is profanity and mentions of sexual activity, but that is truth for circus life. This book is astounding and once you get started it is very difficult to put down. The book contains actual circus pictures that aid to the picture the author describes for you. I strongly suggest this book to anyone that cares for culture.
Berenice Medina
This book... honestly, it was really hard to get into. Finally, once I got to the plot, well it made such more sense. It made so much more sense and it was a lot more clear to me. There was a lot different approaches that the author used to make the book. Yes, in the middle I did get a little confused because it did flashbacks often. I learned quite a few things about the circus. I can't believe they traveled on trains! It was really sad how Jacob went through so much struggle with love and work and betrayal. It was worth sticking through and finishing it. There were some things that I didn't really understand until the end. The ending was amazing. It felt like it all came together. It was really sad seeing how some of the characters had to be discarded. Not only did I learn about the circus, but even animals! Elephants are amazing! I can honestly look at this book and look back and say it ws a good book. The ending is what makes me be like "wow, this book had a unique style." In which I did like it. Thank you Keller! I stuck through it! =)
Return to Top
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell
Colby Snyder
This was a great book that I really enjoyed. It's about four Navy SEALs that go into Afghanistan and the training they have to go through. The training they go through is amazing. Navy SEALs are the best soldiers the US has, so they have to go through hard training. Then Marcus and his four buddies go into Afghanistan and while they are there, have to make a tough decision which could lead to them being found. They make the decision and end up being found and have to fight for their lives. Three of his friends die and he has to survive.
Luke Austin
Lone Survivor is probably the craziest book that I have ever read. The training those SEALS had to go through was just so amazingly tough. The guys that made it were so tough. The ones that made it weren't really the strongest physically, but were the strongest mentally. When the team went into the mountains on the mission, only four of them, they really had no idea they would be in so deep. The battle on the mountain against at least the 150 was amazing. They kept fighting on, falling off cliffs. They weren't found by anything. It seemed like they were never going to die even with bullet wounds all over their body. They all fought to the very end, again showing their mental strength and toughness. Those four guys are the true meaning of a Navy SEAL. I can't believe how after the "love survivor" got out of Afghanistan he then just went back to being a SEAL. Man, that guy is so tough. I couldn't imagine what that'd be like.
Return to Top
Next by Michael Crichton
Melanie Long
Crichton's latest novel is an excellent work of fiction, yet one that is frighteningly real, and examines the legal and moral issues regarding the world of genetic engineering. The electrifying story moves at a fast and exciting pace from beginning to end, developing several different, yet related, storylines ranging from the existence of transgenic pets to gene patenting. All of the varied topics are well researched and feature many real news stories. The author successfully merges this involved subjects with a superb and delightfully humorous plot. In addition to providing educational scientific information, Crichton goes deeper into the subject, exploring the unsettling legal and ethical problems regarding genetic engineering. These factual additions are presented in an easily understood format, and the novel remains a quick and easy, yet entirely enjoyable read. The characters are unique and memorable, and interact with one another in engaging plot twists and developments. Crichton also includes an annotated bibliography, which is extremely useful to those interested in researching genetic engineering, as well as his personal conclusions following his own research, which are very informative. These various factors produce an excellent novel that includes not only an engaging plot but abundant factual information, leaving readers feeling informed on this complex subject.
Return to Top
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Davis Thorne
Tuesdays with Morrie is an excellent book and is based on a true story throughout the author's life. This story is very well written and is true and sad. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who will listen to me when I mention it and then those who don't. There are many great quotes used and they have wonderful messages. One that I remember that I liked is "Every night when I lay to sleep, I am dead. The next morning I am reborn." This is not the exact quote, but is close enough for the same meaning. This book teaches many principles, especially not to be afraid to die when you know you cannot stop yourself from doing so, like Morrie with his nervous system cancer. Reading is a great activity that gets your mind and imagination going. You read for both your benefit and for entertainment. Reading will also help determine what and how you will do and handle your life. Try looking at every character's perspective in the story if there are any and you will find that it is much more entertaining and it might change your own views about something you are familiar with in life. I rate this book a five star book. Definitely well written and should be read by everybody.
Return to Top
2001:A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
Melanie Long
Although at first glance another fantastic work of science fiction, this 1968 novel is a thought provoking and extremely imaginative exploration into the distant past and future of man. The plot revolves around a mysterious monolith excavated on the moon, with an unknown purpose and even more obscure creator. 2001 also follows the journey of astronauts David Bowman and Frank Poole, and their third companion, Hal, a computer capable of thinking and conversation, who proves to be one of the most memorable characters. Lastly, the novel describes the dawn and future of man, making this work unique and unforgettable. Clarke’s skill is also illustrated in the timelessness of the tale; when 2001 was written, very little was known about the other planets of our Solar System, and even our own moon and the first lunar landing had not been completed. However, the technology and landscapes featured in the novel do not feel dated at all; 2001 seems as recent as the science fiction of today. In addition, Clarke’s wealth of scientific knowledge adds another dimension to this excellent work of fiction that has withstood the test of time and presented mind boggling prophesies regarding the transformation of mankind.
Return to Top
The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum
TiAnna Hagglund
This is a story of a black girl living in a small town full of white people. Even her own flesh and blood mother is white.
A story of hardships, racism, and abuse puts you in a different perspective. It made me really think about things, and changed the way I view things.
Overall its a wonderful book, and should be read, but contains some bad languages, so fair warning. In total the f-word is probably said at least 20 times. I would vote this at three stars.
Return to Top
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Alex Long
I definitely recommend this book to the girls. But I think that guys might like it too. The movie The Notebook was based on the book. I loved the book and it was better than the movie. It's about this old couple who lives in an assisted living place and the wife has Alzheimer's. So she doesn't know who he is. So everyday Noah reads out of the notebook that is of how they met and fell in love. It flashes back to when they were young lovers and the summer neither of them would forget. This is just an amazing book and I would read it over and over again.
Return to Top
Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell
Maddie Smith
Carpe Diem is about a girl who is an 'A' student wanting to be the valedictorian of her school. It tells about her and her family, making them seem perfect, but one night that all changes when her grandmother calls and blackmails her family. So the girl has to go with her grandma for the Summer. She is very angry about this but this all changes later in the story. This is an amazing book. It talks about growing up and struggles in everyday life. I definitely would recommend this book to any girls who are looking for an adventure.
Return to Top
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Sara Butkus
With the first paragraph Scott Westerfeld has you hooked. I couldn't wait to read the next one. He puts action, adventure, suspense, romance, and science-fiction all in one book. It made me think about the meaning of beauty, betrayal, and individuality. I couldn't put the book down. I've read this book like five times it was so good. I loved it. It made me think about the price we pay for certain things such as beauty. When David explains how the Rusty world came to an end, it made me think about how we rely so much on unreliable things. The whole body of the book holds on to you and you experience a world where when you turn sixteen you turn pretty. You experience Tally's world through her eyes. You experience her emotions throughout the whole book. Uglies hooks you in and holds on to you for an amazing ride through a futuristic world seen the the eyes of a teenage girl, Tally Youngblood.
Return to Top
Cut by Patricia McCormick
Maddie Smith
This book is about a girl who has to go to a help facility for cutting herself. It tells all about her struggles and her reasons for doing what she does. I believe that this story is very well thought out and that anyone and everyone should read this book, because it could help you through hardships that we as teenagers could be going through.
Return to Top
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Melanie Long
Entirely emotional, profound, and relevant, East of Eden is an epic saga filled with the whole of human experiences, both good and evil. The novel revolves around the varied lives of two families in the early 1900s Salinas Valley of California, detailing their relationship and their status in the area they settled into. The copious cast features pensively created characters, all with incredibly multifaceted personalities that are developed naturally and intensely throughout the novel. Steinbeck's writing is superb, and includes not only a moving story with relatable, strong emotions, but many accessbile layers; readers can simply enjoy the powerful story, or engage in an analysis of the literary, philosophical, and even religious elements of the novel. Like Steinbeck's previous classics, including Of Mice and Men, he carefully crafts every aspect of the book, allowing for the analysis of characters and actions. In addition, the author's personal philosophies are refreshing to read and easy to understand, yet very deep and even prophetic at times. The religious metaphors regarding Cain and Abel and other parts of the Book of Genesis are excellently created and enjoyable to observe, whether you are religious or not. All of these literary qualities leave readers with a fascinating read that provides a glimpse into the nation's past as well as an interesting profile of the human mind and conscience.
Return to Top
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
April Rodriguez
Monster is a book about a 16 year old boy who is being accused of felony murder. The book is written as a script which in a way helps me visualize what is going on. The book shows how Steven (the main character) feels about going to jail and him reflecting back on what he had done to get him in trouble. The prosecutor calls him a monster and the job of his attorney is to defend him and not look at him like a monster but in the end I think she did too. I like this book because it shows that all people don't think the same in that when you talk to 'bad people' you're a 'bad person'.
Richard Sowards
This was an enthralling book about a 16 year old black kid from New York. Accused of murder, the boy is put on the trial for his life. Through it all, he finds an outlet by writing a screenplay of his experience. The actual novel is the screenplay. Overall it was a really god book. It will open your eyes to the slum life of New York and the United States Judicial System.
I would give it four stars out of five.
Return to Top
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
April Rodriguez
The House on Mango Street was a story of a Latina young girl. It talked about things that most Latinos go through. There are also other people in the story and it talks about them trying to better themselves and get out of the bad part of the city. In a way it talks of the struggles some Latinos have when coming to the US and having to learn English. I think that this was a good book because Latinos would be able to relate to the things that are going on in the book. I also liked this book because it wasn't just a regular full story but a bunch of little stories that are put together in a way that makes it look/seem like one story with many different themes.
Return to Top
Anna's Story by Jenna Bush
Angel Tedeski
Anna's Story is a non-fiction story that once you start, becomes very difficult to put down. George Bush's daughter becomes acquainted with Anna when she was doing a program with UNICEF in Latin America to educate people with HIV/AIDS, and Anna stood up and said, "We are not dying of AIDS, we are living with it." Jenna became fascinated with Anna's story, so she wrote a book called Anna's Story. It tells us about her inspirational story of a girl who was infected with HIV since birth, because her mom got it because her mom and her aunt were raped by their step-father when they were young. Anna tells about all the trouble she had growing up with this problem, and how poorly she was treated by some of her relatives, such as her grandparents, and her aunt and cousins. It is truly inspirational to see how she handles her situation, and I recommend it to anybody, and everybody. It's a good book if you want to read a book about someone who's life is perfect, but still makes something of themselves.
Return to Top
Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson
Erin StretchNEW
Five golden stars! This is not simply a fantasy book, it also expands on the theory of global warming and why it's bad. Some of the main characters are involved in testing global warming effects. They brought up some concerns that I'm sure many real-life people have had, such as the basic idea of WHY the whole 'more warmth, no more winter' is a BAD thing, and also how the ocean rising a couple of millimeters a year is going to affect us. This is a great explanation of the theories behind global warming as well as an amazing story. I recommend it to anyone.
Return to Top
Eartailia by Tanya L. Parman
Arther GeeNEW
A friend of mine at JobCorp introduced me to this book and told me that all of her friends are reading it. And she showed me the inscription on the inner cover of the book where the author apparently donated a bunch of them to support our local PBS station. Everybody in my school is reading this book. The book's about cat people with psychic powers. I don't know when I've had so much fun reading a book. Not just because my girlfriend is reading along with me either. I'm into Science Fiction. I like things like Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate. Anyway if you're a Science Fiction fan this book is a must read.
Return to Top
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Sara ButkusNEW
An amazing book! I greatly enjoyed it. A good read and full of great lessons to learn. I love books that you can learn a lesson from. A must read and a great summer book. Austen creates such vivid and real characters that put you right in the middle of the story. This is one of her best books. I can't wait to read more by Austen. I give it 5 stars out of 5!
Return to Top
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Sara ButkusNEW
From the bestselling author of Twilight, comes another fascinating story. It will grab you from the first page and keep you reading night and day till you have finished it. It makes you think about the future and what it holds. The characters are so detailed and vivid. You become part of the story. It keeps you guessing, never knowing what is going to happen. Meyer wrote an unfogetable story that brings forth the question what does it truely mean to be human. I give it 10 stars out 5 and believe it to truely be one of the best novels out there!
Return to Top
Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
Hannah WilkettNEW
Lullaby is the story of the culling song, a poem with the ability to kill if said or thought. It was an amazing book to read. Palahniuk is a great writer and really pulls you into the paranoia of the whole situation of the book. I really loved how it showed what could happen in a world where even sound could be unsafe and how we value our safety versus our freedom.
Return to Top
All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare
Melanie LongNEW
For years, the word "Shakespeare" has sent a shiver down the spine of students everywhere. However, when given a chance, some of the bard's comedies can be a delightful experience for anyone looking for a good laugh, and a unique, albeit challenging read. The play focuses on Helen, the newly orphaned daughter of a famed doctor. The kind and beautiful young woman finds herself deeply in love with Bertram, the son of the Countess she lives with. Helen, as a commoner, goes through an incredible series of events in an attempt to win the opportunity to marry this noble. While this may sound like a romance, the dialogue is full of hilarious situations that grant this play its genre of a comedy. Granted, much of the vocabulary is entirely new, making catching some of the funnier jokes difficult; however, many copies of the play provide translations for all of these words and the more challenging phrases, allowing you to get used the Shakespearean speech gradually. After reading this comedy, among others, I would strongly urge any student to throw away the ominous preconceptions, pick up "All's Well That Ends Well," or any other comedy, and enjoy! Also, don't forget to check out the Idaho Shakespeare Festival; although their rendition of this play, which was extraordinary and even funnier than reading the play, has already closed, Macbeth is playing for the remainder of August, and every season of the ISF brings a new opportunity to get a taste of some well done Shakespeare.
Return to Top
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Melanie LongNEW
Kind kings, bubbling cauldrons, and ambitious murder: Macbeth is truly one of Shakespeare's tragedies, filled with supernatural intrigue and the usual excellent word play. The play focuses on Macbeth, a virtuous, honorable lord in Scotland. However, his life begins to change when his future is told to him by three evil witches: he is to become the king of Scotland. The apparent impossibility of this without drastic measures leads the ambitious Macbeth and his Lady to consider a singularly foul deed. The plot twists and the details of the tragic conspiracy make the story one you won't soon forget. In addition, the reader has the opportunity to enjoy some of Shakespeare's excellent verse; the main characters have many fascinating, if dark, monologues that you'll want to read again and again and even share with others. Anyone looking for a unique and worthwhile read should read this first, then watch the play at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival this August. Both versions are very much worth the time to read and enjoy them, regardless of the negative feelings harbored toward this excellent literature.
Return to Top
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
Davis ThorneNEW
The last book in the Twilight saga arrived and has been read by many. This book is perfect for those reading the series because it answers many questions readers have from the 1st book. Stephanie Meyer is an amazing author and has outdone herself again in the series. This book goes through Bella's life with Edward and the dangerous situations that they get themselves into. Many surprizes happen in this book that you would not expect. As the life of Bella twists and turns around every corner, the descriptions of events become more powerful to the reader. Overall this is an amazing book!
Return to Top
