[Book] Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi begins with a look into Pi's not-so-idyllic childhood in Pondicherry, India. The french-influenced town of Pondicherry doesn't quite fit in with the rest of British influenced India, the same way that Pi, once Pristine doesn't quite fit into his own world. We learn that Pi is interested in zoology and religious studies, at home at his family's zoo and a follower of not only Hinduism, but Christianity and Islam as  well to the shock of his parents and each respective religious leader in the town. This is just a glimpse into Pi's fascinating personality. He is unique, as unique as his nickname and his experiences are, in how he views the world around him.

This novel claims to make the reader believe in God. Though, I have this feeling of having read something profound, I can't quite pinpoint the soure of power. Is it because it is a book born of hunger; because of Pi's astonishing 227 day experience of being lost at sea with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger as company; because of the maneating island; because of the sinking of the Tsutimatsu; because of the dual story told to the Japanese; because of Pi's self-inflicted, never-ending nickname; because of the importance of zoos; because of Pi's belief in three distinct religions; because of the happy ending? Which of these is the most powerful? It's hard to choose and they may very well be this novel's power.

Other aspects worth mentioning:
uMantel's writing style is overall engaging. He has great skill in wielding words to create the most vivid images in your mind as you read. Also, shifts within the novel from past to present, from narrative to author's voice were interesting, though sometimes sudden, forcing readers to pause and contemplate about their significance, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
uStrangely enough, the novel is actually pretty funny. It's full of sudden bursts of humor, mostly stemming from Pi's reactions to different situation. His reactions are oftentimes strange and not in tune with how we would expect ourselves to react and that makes him not only likeable, but fascinating.

In Life of Pi, readers spend 319 pages torn between feelings of awe, surprise, intrigue, disbelief, worry, humor, disgust, grief, belief, pride, happiness, success, fear. It's a rollercoaster ride of experiencing the seemingly impossible. What makes Life of Pi a true gold mine of a wok of literature is that it plants a seed of belief in your mind and heart--belief in the unbelievable, belief in animals, belief in the strength of humans, belief in the majesty and beauty of the ocean, belief in secrets hidden in undiscovered lands, and maybe,just maybe...a belief in God.

Until next time,
Tuma
LooneyExpress Crazy Reviews

P.S. This is DEFINITELY a novel in need of a close second reading. Give yourself some time to absorb its subtle awesomeness. Then a few weeks later, plant yourself in your comfy reading nook (don't have one? What is wrong with you? Go get/make one!) with some popcorn, gummy worms or other perfectly unhealthy reading snack and let yourself drift with Pi and Richard along the Pacific.

[Book Review] The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Series, Book 1)

James Dashner

Blurb:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recolection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is empty.
But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don's know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they've closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.

The Gladers were expecting Thomas' arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up- the first girl ever to arrive at the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home... wherever that may be. But it's looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.
And something about the girl's arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers- if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

Review:

"The Maze Runner" has been on my to-read list for quite a while. I am so glad that I finally got the chance to give it a try! I truly enjoyed this novel. What this one has going for it is an intricate plot filled with the perfect balance of suspense. It has been a long time since I last read a novel that hooked me, kept me on the end of my seat with my heart beating violently, as much as this one had. From page one, I was anxious about the fate of Tommy and the gang. The ending especially is an effective one for a trilogy. I cannot believe how much I feel the NEED to read the sequel. I mean it's 10 minutes before my local library closes and I'm VERY tempted to run out and go get "The Scorch Trials"! My only complaint about this novel is that it needs more fully developed characters. It would have been nice for Newt, Teresa and Minho to be more developed as characters and for readers to have been able to truly get into their and Thomas' heads. Overall, "The Maze Runner" was worthy of staying up late to finish! :-)


** Enjoyed the Maze Runner series? Abhorred it? Liked the Hunger Games exponentially better? Leave your rants in the comments!

[Book Review] Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

By: Ransom Riggs

Blurb:  

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Review:

Oh Riggs....why do this to me?

This book captured my attention because of the photographs--the intriguing, creepy, and well, peculiar photographs. The amateur photographer in me was giddy with excitement at the prospect of a great story told around these photographs. For that Riggs does a very good job. The images are very carefully and appropriately placed and the visuals really add more depth to the story. 

I enjoyed Riggs simplistic, but effective writing style, BUT (you knew it was coming) what the heck happened about half way through? For the first 150 pages or so, the suspense, tension and mysterious creep factor were captivatingly balanced, but then readers are handed a sparknotes version, giving all of the answers in one swoop. With all the mystery...demystified, the rest of the novel sort of plopped. I found myself speed reading just to see how it would end. Overall, it was a good try and I will still most likely purchase and read the sequel to find out the end of Miss P's peculiars and to see more of the amazing photographs. 

**Read Miss P's Home for Peculiar Children? Leave your thoughts in the comments! ^__^

“Chasing Fire” by Nora Roberts

 

Title: Chasing Fire

Author: Nora Roberts

Year Published: 2011

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons New York

Pages: 472

 

Synopsis/Blurb: 

Little else in life is as dangerous as fire jumping. Flying past towering pillars of smoke, parachuting down to the edge of an all-consuming blaze, shoveling and sawing for hours upon hours, days at a time, all to hold the line and push back against the raw power of Mother Nature.

But there's also little else as thrilling - at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are one of the most exclusive fire-fighting squads in the nation, and the job is in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend in the field. She's been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home - even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering in the air.

Fortunately, this year's rookie crop is among the strongest ever - and Gulliver Curry's one of the best. He's also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kid's arcade. He came to Missoula to follow in the footsteps of Lucas "Iron Man" Tripp, yet he's instantly more fascinated by his hero's daughter. Rowan, as a rule, doesn't hook up with other smoke jumpers, but Gull is convinced he can change her mind. And damn if he doesn't make a good case to be an exception to the rule.

Everything is thrown off balance, though, when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull - any distractions in the air or on the ground could be lethal. But if she doesn't find someone she can lean on when the heat gets intense, her life may go down in flames

My Thoughts:

As always Nora Robert s writes a beautiful love story with awesome, interesting, lovable characters, and equally interesting plot backdrop. I really liked this one as I like all of Nora's work, but this doesn't get 5 stars because of the ending. I feel that it ended too abruptly. Almost like Nora thought "Oops, don't wanna pass the 500 page mark, let's wrap this bad boy up". The pace of the last chapter was fast forwarded 8X compared to the rest of the novel. But still, did I say that I really enjoyed it? Rowan and Gull made the best couple! I loved them together. And the supporting characters were equally fun. Guess you gotta be a lil nutty to be a Zulie!

Book Review: “The House on Fortune Street” by Margot Livesey

Blurb:

It seems like mutual good luck for Abigail Taylor and Dara MacLeod when they meet at St. Andrews University and, despite their differences, become fast friends. Years later they remain an unlikely pair. Abigail, an actress who confidently uses her charms both on- and offstage, believes herself immune to love. Dara, a counselor, is convinced that everyone is inescapably marked by childhood; she throws herself into romantic relationships with frightening intensity. Yet now each seems to have found "true love"—another stroke of luck?—Abigail with her academic boyfriend, Sean, and Dara with a tall, dark violinist named Edward, who literally falls at her feet. But soon after Dara moves into Abigail's downstairs apartment, trouble threatens both relationships, and their friendship.
For Abigail it comes in the form of an anonymous letter to Sean claiming that she's been unfaithful; for Dara, a reconciliation with her distant father, Cameron, who left the family when Dara was ten, reawakens complicated feelings. Through four ingeniously interlocking narratives—Sean's, Cameron's, Dara's, and Abigail's—we gradually understand how these characters' lives are shaped by both chance and determination. Whatever the source, there is no mistaking the tragedy that strikes the house on Fortune Street.
"Everyone," claims Abigail, "has a book or a writer who's the key to their life." As this statement reverberates through each of the narratives, Margot Livesey skillfully reveals how luck—good and bad—plays a vital role in our lives, and how the search for truth can prove a dangerous undertaking. Written with her characteristic elegance and wit, The House on Fortune Street offers a surprisingly provocative detective story of the heart.
 
My Review:
I wish I could give this a 2/5 because I'm completely stuck on the fence on this one. I didn't hate it enough to give it 1 or 2 stars, but I also didn't like it enough to give it 4 and certainly not 5 stars. The story was a bit bland. The writing wasn't horrible. The characters, however were! Okay, I exaggerate just a bit, but I found them so irritating! It was mostly the females that annoyed me. The story is suppose to be about how four people tell their own story of certain events in their pasts that influence how they live in the future. I found it so asinine, though because none of them had any devastating issues. Basically, the whole story reminded me of someone going to the ER for a paper-cut.

Level 26: Dark Origins by Anthony Zuiker

Hiya World,

It's been a while, but I haven't died yet!
Today's a book review. Before I even start, let me just get it out there:

LEVEL 26 IS A MUST READ!!! DON'T HESITATE OR CONTEMPLATE, JUST GO GET IT!!!!!!

Alright now that's out of the way, here's the blurb:

Unlock a new level of fear.

It is well known among law enforcement personnel that murderers can be categorized on a scale of twenty-five levels of evil, from the naive opportunists starting out at Level 1 to the organized, premeditated torture-murderers who inhabit Level 25.
What almost no one knows - except for the elite unnamed investigations group assigned to hunt down the world's most dangerous killers, a group of men and women accounted for in no official ledger, headed by the brilliant but reluctant operative Steve Dark - is that a new category of killer is in the process of being defined.
Only one man belongs to this group. His targets: Anyone. His methods: Unlimited. His alias: Sqweegel. His classification: Level 26

Alright, reading this book is like nothing else that you're ever read. It is an experience. You don't simply read this novel, you live it! You fear for the victims, an you're scary shitless by the killer. Every 20 pages or so of the novel, provides with a code that you put in at level26.com. This unlocks a video clip that enhances the reading experience. The clips enable you to witness the characters fears, and the monster's thought process!

Sweegel is the CREEPIEST, STRANGEST criminal I've ever seen! He's unlike anything you've ever seen before and that' combined with Zuiker's writing style makes this novel extremely captivating. I read all 400 pages in ONE NIGHT! There was no way I could put down the book until I knew whether or not a certain someone lives, or if Sweegal is caught and how! But this book is only the first book in a series, so there's  an INSANE cliff-hanger at the end! I don't know how I'm going to wait for book 2! I CAN NOT WAIT!!!

By the way, Did I mention that Level 26 is a MUST READ!!!! I did? Well, it's worth mentioning over and over. IT'S A MUST READ!!!!!

Looney Express awards Anthony Zuiker's Level 26: Dark Origins a rare 5/5!!!! YAY? Most Definitely YAY!!!!