May 06, 2006

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I grabbed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou as part of my mission to enrich some of my classical american literature background. The novel is autobiographical, encompassing the author's life from early childhood to the birth of her son.

Maya Angelou was at a local women's college speaking recently, I was unable to acquire tickets, as they sold out within a few hours. I was sorely disappointed not to be able to get in. Ever since I had heard her poetry during Clinton's Presidency, I have enjoyed her works.

I found this novel to be quite touching, giving her perspective during the time as a woman of color being raised with her brother in her grandmother's home. She has many poignant moments that she is able to bring to the reader's eyes with her words, you can almost feel some of them happening.

I am thankful for her honest sharing of the sexual abuse she suffered as a young child and the confusion and fear it birthed. I believe it is a strong novel with many messages to share to those that have similar experiences. Definitely a good tome to read.

Posted by Ravennacht at 12:28 AM

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

I finished Angels and Demons by Dan Brown a couple of days ago. On the heels of completing The Da Vinci Code a couple of months ago, I thought I would try the first novel following the adventures of Robert Langdon out. I was not let down.

At first I was put off by the thematic plot and style seemingly following exactly as The Da Vinci Code had. I mean the stories practically mirror one another in the way they start... through several developments. Its somewhat disconcerting... I mean am I reading the same story or is this deja vu. However, considering that I was reading the first book after I had read the second, I felt it was my duty to give it a chance on its own merits.

I quickly became more engrossed in the rise of the Illuminati threat and the progression of the the dangers to Vatican City than I had by the successor story. It was quite a good tale... much better, in my opinion, than the events occurring in The Da Vinci Code. I found Angels and Demons more exciting and encompassing... not as narrowed down as the second book. I was nearly tricked by his mystery this time, though he gave some fine clues that I did catch onto before he revealed the truth at the end.

I intend to get his latest book, The Solomon Key, when it is released. Will have to see if he again starts the ball rolling as the first two did. That's a bit annoying. Single paragraph chapters still throw me over the edge.

Posted by Ravennacht at 12:08 AM

April 25, 2006

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. I finished this novel a few days ago. I must admit that I found it to be quite engrossing, reading it in the space of about three days.

Shamefully I admit that I bought the book more than ten years ago, with the fullest of intention of enriching my classical tome exposure. Alas, the neglected book was entrenched in the midst of my large bookcase, surrounded by what I thought more interesting fare. How wrong I was.

The story of Alas, Babylon addresses one of my favorite historically related questions, "What If?". In this circumstance, what if the soviet union had initiated a nuclear attack upon the United States in the late 1950s, at the height of the Cold War. When I had initially read the summary of the story on the back cover, I was not especially drawn to the possibilities... for it is a most scary subject, having been brought up in the spector of the ever present threat of nuclear fallout.

However, swallowing my dread, and hungering for a new story, I finally bit the bullet and picked up the book. I was wrong in my trepidation. Frank weaved a wonderful collection of characters from a small Florida town into an enthralling story of survival and hope. Perhaps it is more poignant to read that these people find a way to go on and survive after their worst nightmare occurred... something we were always afraid of happening when we were little ourselves.

I also found it quite interesting seeing the characters adapting to the changes in their lives due to this 'war' that has snuck up upon them... what can you eat? what do you do when there is no more gasoline? what do you do without electricity? how do you protect yourselves from the unruly? are you forgotten in the midst of the bigger picture or still a part of the whole?

This story is indeed classic and I highly suggest that others take the time to read it. Many of the political messages hidden within the context of the book remain important even today, with escalating tensions, it is good to see a classical novel pointing out that even if you are amongst the power players on the block, it doesn't take much to knock you off that position if you are unwary.

Check it out if you can.

Posted by Ravennacht at 12:00 AM

April 19, 2006

Alas, Babylon Quote

Just started reading ALAS, BABYLON by Pat Frank. I hit upon a quote I found most interesting. As I rarely can remember any intriguing quotes word for word when I want them, I always try to write them down:

"Nations are like people. When they grow old and rich and fat they get conservative. They exhaust their energy trying to keep things the way they are -- and that's against nature."

Posted by Ravennacht at 09:56 PM

August 03, 2005

Wheel of Time - The Eye of the World - Book 1

Sans cable and internet for the last several days, so I immersed myself in revisiting the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. This is probably the 8th or 9th time I have read these books, but I usually try to reread everything when a new book is coming out. I just finished the first book, the Eye of the World.

This is the story of three young men, Rand, Matt, and Perrin, destined to weave the world's fate around them. The great dark lord, Shaitan, seeks to kill them or bring them to his side, in gaining his release from the imprisonment of the Creator. Each of the boys has a strong destiny, seemingly appearing to aid in the fight against, or for, the end of the world.

Moraine, an Aes Sedai, comes to the boy's town seeking the three ta'varen, shortly before the Dark One's Trollocs (half men half beast) attack. She and her warder guard are able to secret the boys away safely, as well as a young Aes Sedai to-be, Egwene, and the gleeman (jester of sorts) Thom.

They travel perilously across the realm trying to reach the city of Tar Valon, the city of Aes Sedai, but are dogged at each turn by Trollocs, Draghkar (flying lizardlike men) and Fades (spectral men of sorts)

They are eventually separated by the forces of darkness, Thom, Rand and Matt travelling on foot to Caemlyn, Egwene and Perrin by horse on another route to Caemlyn, and Lan and Morain with Nynaeve trying to track either of the other groups down.

Rand begins experiencing odd problems, strange sicknesses. Matt gets exposed to an ancient evil, known as Mashadar, in the cursed city of Shadar Logoth. Tainted by a cursed dagger, his soul is slowly being overcome by the vile depravity of Mashadar.

Perrin and Egwene are rescued by a wildman, Elias, who seem to have the ability to talk to wolves (gold of eye, empathic). Through his unwanted guidance and exposure to the wolves, Perrin also develops the capability and the tell-tale golden eyes.

Eventually each of the groups reach Caemlyn, where they soon discover a plot by the Dark One to smite the Eye of the World (an ancient well of pure Saidin power - the male half of the power). Moraine is forced to change her plans to reach Tar Valon in order to reach the Blight (where the Eye is hidden), in order to stop Shaitan's plan. With the help of an Ogier, they are able to access the tainted Ways (an ancient portal travel system) to travel the distance in mere days.

The book ends in a climactic battle at the Eye of the World against the Forsaken (followers of the dark one) and the revelation that Rand has developed the ability to touch the Male side of the source and may be the 'child of the Dragon'.

An excellent beginning to an excellent series.

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:11 PM

July 30, 2005

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I finally was able to get my hands on a copy of the sixth book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Though it was not nearly as action packed as the fifth book (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) it was definitely filled with character progression (finally love interests are coming through!) and extreme events that are certain to have reaching effects. (ie. a major character dies, among others)

The seventh book is definitely being set up as a culmination/climactic event from the activities that have occurred in the sixth and fifth books. I have my suspisions as to what could possibly happen (and no, it isn't the obvious one would think).

It only took me a few hours to read the whole thing, one of those immersion into escape kind of things. Doesn't hurt that the cable/internet was completely down for ten hours yesterday (what else can go wrong, right). All in all, its an excellent read, well worth the time.

Posted by Ravennacht at 10:32 AM

July 18, 2005

Harry Potter mania

I am an unabashed Harry Potter reader. I absolutely love the way J.K. Rowling writes, for adults and children alike, it truly is a rare and wonderful experience to get pulled into her books. That being said, I am ready to knock down some little kids and bite some old ladies for a library copy of the newest book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Forget proprieties, I'm ready to hire a mobster to threaten a bookstore attendant for one of the "reserved" copies. I shall have this book and if I do not have this book, someone, nay, several someones are going to be roasting in the nine layers of Dante's inferno wishing I had never been born. *Glares balefully at the library down the street*

Posted by Ravennacht at 07:05 PM

June 05, 2005

Domes of Fire

I was finally able to finish Domes of Fire by David Eddings. It is the second series (the Tamuli) following the character known as Sparhawk. The story continues several years after the events of the first series (the Elenium), wherein Sparhawk was forced to find and utilize an ancient artifact, heal and protect a young queen, and destroy the imminent threat of an evil god.

Sparhawk is a member of the Pandion Knights, one of the four militant branches of a great church. In the Domes of Fire, Sparhawk is contacted by emissaries of the far eastern nations requesting that he come to their rescue and stop a rash of insurrections threatening to tear their empire apart.

Sparhawk is somewhat special, you see, for he is a man born without a destiny. As such he is a threat to all the gods, for his actions throughout time are unforeseen, and unknown to them that are used to knowing all things. He is the means by which all gods may be brought low.

Sparhawk and his retinue of friends make their way across the continent, unravelling a series of mysteries involving figures of the far past, returning to the present to cause mischief and local anarchy. As the story progresses and the march gets closer to the Tamul empire, Sparhawk learns that these strange events are all related and centered upon the destruction of the eastern nation. As his advance continues he is faced with long dead civilizations, springing from the bands of time to halt his progress at each turn.

Now, having made it to the alien environ of the eastern empire, he and his friends seek to defend the Emperor from the unknown threat. It is when he most believes that he has defeated the threat that he learns, that he has just begun to unravel the true mystery. This as an enemy from the past, long thought to be a weak underling, emerges as a much greater threat, or so he would make it appear.

I love this series. It has a great deal of knight based information and perspective. Duals, threats, the usual throwing oneself headlong into a battle astride a horse with a long pointy lance. Sieges of towers with burning pitch naptha and moats. Great fun for my crusade enthusiastic mind.

It also depicts a great realist diversity of peoples. The Elenes who believe in one god and seek to convert the others. The Styrics (who practice magic) are looked down upon as vagrants and persecuted, the Tamuli are beaurocratic imperialists that dont believe in gods, and many more. It has great interaction and depiction of class structures and racial disharmony.

Posted by Ravennacht at 09:46 PM