"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them." - J.K. Rowling

Reading Reflection #4

Credit

Synopsis From the Cover:

(The Original Version): Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by an owl, taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The Reason: Harry Potter is a wizard!

(From the Sorcerers Stone - American Version): Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a brromstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
      But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

See the difference? The "American-ized" version gives a lot more away. Just to let you know, "American-ized" is a word I am going to use a lot in this post.

Now, the version of this book that I normally read is the one whose cover is above. It is the version with the proper title and everything. However, this time I didn't read "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone". I read "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone". Until earlier today, I didn't understand why the American-ized version changed the title, until a website explained it to me (I can no longer seem to find this website, which is weird, but I can't link it now).
Basically, in Great Briton, a philosopher refers to a person associated with magical things. The publishers in the United States felt that since their idea of a philosopher was someone who was simply very logical, it didn't fit in the title.
I believe that the States is the only place that it is called the Sorcerers Stone (or at least, I know the version you buy in Canada is the GB version, which is the Philosopher's Stone)


Now this is a book that I have read many, many, many, many times. Probably close to 20 or 30. After all, the first time I read it I was 7, and now I am almost 18. So obviously I love it. A lot. I usually whip through the books like crazy, but this time when I read it, it took me a whole lot longer. I kept stopping and thinking about how different it was. The biggest differences I found were the spelling, and the word choice. I complied a list below

Canadian Version            US Version

Colour                              Color
Behaviour                         Behavior
Football                            Soccer
Crumpet                            Muffin
Jumper                              Sweater
Sherbert Lemon                Lemon Drop
Moustache                        Mustache
Honour                             Honor
Trolley                             Cart
Rucksack                         Backpack              

That is a shorter list that I compiled. Now to some of you, none of those small things would bother you while you were reading, but they were a huge deal for me.

I wanted to get out a pen and correct the book. I would've too... If I hadn't been reading it on my e-reader.

All in all, J.K. Rowling is an amazing authour, and her books will always be great, whether with spelling mistakes or not.

Credit

“And oh I want so much to sing, I tell myself no. But it is so hard to keep from singing.” - Donna Jo Napoli

Hush by Donna Jo Napoli

From the cover:

Melorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in mediaeval Ireland - but all this is lost the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Thrown into a world that she has never known, alongside people that her former country's laws regarded as less than human. Melorka is forced to learn quickly how to survive. Taking a vow of silence, however, she finds herself an object of fascination to her captors and masters, and soon realizes that any power, no matter how little, can make a difference.

Now, tell me if I am wrong, but doesn't that sound interesting??

I discovered (by reading the rest of the dust jacket) that the idea for "Hush" came from an ancient Icelandic saga. I think that this is really cool, because if someone had heard said saga, they could then find this book and have a way that the saga could've potentially ended.

If you click here, you can read more about the Icelandic saga about Melorka.

Now onto my thoughts on this book.,

I decided to colour-code my stickie notes!

So the different sections of stickie notes this time were:

Comments (Orange) : 5

Questions (Pink) : 3

Predictions (Green) : 3

Total :  11

Slightly less than last time, huh?

Now onto my commentation! (Is commentation a word...?)

My first comment that I had in this book was from page 6. It was something that I found strange, and slightly disgusting...

" Really?? Nasty... " That's why I picked the weld myself rather than sending a slave boy to the field. And that's why I urinated on my new tunic myself. My own urine not only holds the colour fast, but ensures that the spirit in the colour obeys me." " When  I read that- I quite literally did a double take. I stopped, made an interesting sound (something along the lines of "humh?") and my eyes jumped back to the top of the page and read it again, but sure enough, it actually said that! I was so taken aback that I did some googling. Although I didn't find anything regarding this exactly, I did however discover some other interesting facts. If you so desire, you can check out this site: http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/5345.php

Below is another comment, this one from later on in the book...

" Oh no! Melorka will be heartbroken. "It's Brigid. Her eyes are bright. She jerks her head once, then runs and jumps up and over the side of the ship. Before I can react, one of the youths jumps after her." " Now, I don't want to give anything away from the book - just in case you want to read it. I will however, say this much... when I was reading this book, I was on the brink of tears for probably close to 50% of the time. Donna Jo Napoli has done an excellent job of stabbing you right to the heart in the book.

Now, after that sad note, onto the questions I had whilst reading.

"What will he do with her? Why is she so important? "This crew won't dare touch me with Clay Man looking on. He protects me. How far, I wonder. I'm already untying the gag of the third new child. Then the fourth." " Although this is only a small snippet of what made me wonder why Melorka is so important, it was the easiest to get a sense of what is happening. Melorka uses her power over Clay Man to help keep others safe, but I am curious as to why she has this power. What is Clay Man planning to do with her?

The second question I had was just about something that I read that I really didn't understand.

"What is ford combat? - Google. " 'On the fourth day, Aedan chooses...' Ford combat, I say inside my head. '... ford combat' says Crazy Woman." " As you saw, I made a note to myself to google what ford combat was. After searching through countless articles on Google about the company Ford, I finally changed my search to "Ford Combat Fighting Techniques" and hit a bulls eye. I discovered a site that had the same story that "crazy woman" was telling. It however, still didn't tell me what I wanted to know. The story (found here) is really interesting though!

Finally, my predictions!

Volia! Here is the first one that I stickied.

"Maybe she'll be stolen too? Then wish that she had asked Brogan? "Where was Brogan stolen from originally? I know he was a child when it happened. He told me once he was part of a group of children and women whisked from a hillock. That's how he said it - whisked. I didn't ask him anything then. Does he miss his mother? Does he remember his life before he was a slave?" " Now I find that this one pretty much explains itself. Since I don't want to give anything away, I am not going to talk about the fact of whether I was right or wrong... you'll just have to find out!!

My other couple predictions were things that made sense at 11 o'clock at night when I couldn't put the book down, but not so much now...

So stickie note wise, I am done. However, I do have one last comment.

While for the most part I found this book incredibly good (considering I was up at 11:00 PM reading it...) there was one thing that really irritated me.

THE ENDING!!! I found that I got to the end of the book and was expecting another 100 pages, if not more. It was a rather disappointing ending to me, an avid reader. But however, do NOT let that stop you from reading this book!!

Cheerio!!

“Every minute you spend with someone gives them a part of your life and takes part of theirs.”

 

Matched by Allie Condie

The Synopsis from dust cover:

In the society, officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choice. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one... until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's ever known and a path no one else has ever dared to follow - between perfection and passion.

When I saw the cover for Allie Condie's Matched I was instantly drawn to it. The cover is simple and yet intriguing. I now know, after reading the book that the cover was the perfect choice, since in the one picture it interests and yet confuses people.  

I found that that is what this book did to me. Though Allie Condie has excellent writing skills, the story line jumped all around. I am one of those people that absolutely love dystopian societies. For instance, I already did a review on Veronica Roth`s Divergent, and Suzanne Collin`s The Hunger Games. However, what was different about those books was that you could actually understand what was happening. With Matched, I found myself confused within the first two pages.

To show you just how confused I was, I am going to show you a little system that my English teacher suggested using. When you are reading a book, use stickie notes to make notes in the book. Keep them along three concepts. Questions, Predictions, and Comments

In the first 100 pages of Matched, these were the stickies I had:

Comments: 5

Predictions: 1

Questions: 15

Total: 21!!

Some of the comments included things like:

"Allie Condie got right to the point of the title.”I've waited so long for my Match Banquet. Where I'll see, for the first time, the face of the boy who will be my Match." " I admire the fact that Allie Condie didn't waste any time on getting to the point, although, it didn't explain really what the Match Banquet is, it at least helped explain the title.

A second comment I had was

"Why are these 'tablets' so important?” 'Someone has lost their tablet container. Please, stand completely still and do not speak until we locate it.' Everyone stops immediately. I hear the clatter of dice and a soft thud as someone, perhaps Xander, puts down a game piece. Then all is quiet. No one moves. A lost container is a serious matter." " When I read this part of Matched, I was confused. Why are "tablets" so important? We learn a little later that there are 3 tablets people carry, they are distributed by officials, and are there to help the citizens. I still do not understand the reason to carry these tablets, even after finishing the novel.

The one and only prediction I had was from page 18. The quote is

"The tiny feeling of loss deep inside my heart surprises me. My peers will spend the next few days swooning over pictures of their Matches, bragging about them during meal hour at school, waiting for more and more bits of information to be revealed. Anticipating their first meeting, their second meeting and so on. That mystery does not exist for Xander and me. I won't wonder what he is like or daydream about our first meeting."

When I read this, I immediately thought "This is going to backfire" by that I meant Xander and Cassia's match. I just had a sneaking suspicion that something was going to happen. Cassia was going to realize that they didn't love each other, or something along that line. I felt that the plot seemed to lie itself out in front of me after that, it seems to be a typical YA story line.

Finally, some of my questions!

First question that I had was on page 6.

"What are these tablets for? " Now, I use it to hold the three emergency tablets that everyone carries -- one green, one blue, one red." " That information about the tablets was just tossed in, no former information. It threw me off, because it seemed so out there. Tablets? Do they keep you alive? A red tablet, that seems to advertise death.

A second question I had was a little later on. I did have other questions (many other) in-between, but this one seemed really strange.

“Die when 80?? WHAT?! "Today is Sunday. Grandfather's eightieth birthday, so tonight he will die." " That statement really threw me off. Why would someone die at age 80? What happened to people like my Great Aunt who is 107? One reason it really shocked me was because I realized that that would mean that I wouldn't have my Grampa (no, that isn't spelt wrong. Well it kind of is, but that is how I spell it. Just like I spell "Grandma" Gramma.) right now. He would be dead, since he is 88 or 89 (I cannot remember).

The last question I will comment on is from even later in the book.

"Why does everything matter so much in the society?? " I jump up. I tense my muscles and spring at just the right time and I hit the tracker running. Pound. Pound. Pound pound pound. My knees and elbows stream blood and I have tears in my eyes, but I am still going. The plainclothes will hide my wounds tomorrow and no one will ever know that I fell. No one will ever know what happened until it is too late." This passage showed me that the officials in the society have everyone under really tight lock and key. If someone might get in trouble for falling off a tracker (I assume that this is like a treadmill) then something is seriously wrong with this society. It irritates me that I couldn't mess up while exercising, because everybody does normally, but to have that threat of getting in trouble hanging over me, it would make it even worse.

All in all, this book definitely wasn't my favourite. It was confusing all the way through, and the story line jumped around all over the place. The only part of the story that I actually genuinely liked was the quality of writing itself. The main thing that I found irritating about this book is that the ending made me really want to read the next in the series. When it is a book like this one, that I found confusing, I don't always feel like reading a sequel, because it will probably be just as confusing. In this case, when I realized that I now feel a need to find out what happens next, that really annoyed me.

TTFN!

Emily

"We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."

Divergent, by Veronica Roth

9/10

Beatrice Prior has a decision to make. This decision will influence her life in all ways, and she only has one day to make it.

Doesn't that sound like an amazing book? When I read the back cover for this book, I basically said "Yipee!!" When I read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games I fell in love with the whole idea of a dystopian society.

In Beatrice's world, there are 5 factions, Candor- The truthful, Erudite - The knowledgeable, Amity- the peaceful, Dauntless- The courageous, and Abegnation - the selfless.

Beatrice has lived in Abegnation for all her 16 years. When the time comes to decide whether to stay with or leave her family, she finds she is caught in the middle.

 A surprising turn of events cements her decision. Though it may be hard, she knows what she has to do.

Veronica Roth is officially one of my favourite authours. She has a unique way of writing that just calls to me. I become the character. I feel what they feel, I see what they see. When I get pulled out of her books, it feels like I am falling through the air, trying to land on my feet.

Especially with this book, I found that everything happened just right. I mean, yes, there were some deaths and such, but the story wouldn't have been the same without them. The story had a good flow to it for the most part.

The only thing that I found that I didn't like about this book was that is went a little slow at times. Sometimes there was too much of Tris sitting and thinking.

SPOILER AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my opinion, since Divergent is the first in a trilogy (or so I believe....) the ending shouldn't of been what it was. With the whole rebel thing, and Tris's parents dying, I think that if there is another book it doesn't have much to work with. That is just my opinion though.

So that's all!

Hope you enjoy Divergent!

Being a half-blood is dangerous. It's scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book I: The Lightning Thief

                                                                            9/10



The 12 main gods for eons have ruled over man kind. The big three, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades are the most powerful, and therefore have the most powerful children.

Half-Bloods. Half Human, half god. I can't imagine what that would be like.

Unluckily for him, Percy Jackson knows exactly what it is like. When he is attacked by a demon teacher, he realises that not everything is how it seems. His favourite wheelchair bound teacher is actually a centaur in disguise and his best friend has hooves and a furry behind.

I found the Percy Jackson books when I was in middle school. I was crazy into Greek Mythology, and when I saw these, the ancient Greek gods, built into modern times, and I was hooked!

Rick Riordan did a really good job at writing at an appropriate level. The characters are not paper thin, but just deep enough to follow along. Percy has the attitude of a young boy. He often thinks he is always right, and doesn't really see all the way into situations. This makes him an easy character to fall in love with.

Another thing that Rick Riordan did great was the story line. Not once did this book get dull. The story had unexpected twists and turns, but it was still easy to follow along.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in a fantasy book where a teenager is playing the main character.

There is only one thing that I don't like about this book. Percy Jackson, while you fall in love with him, and I realise he is the narrator, but he can get annoying! I don't know why.... I just found it.

So that is all that I have to say on The Lightning Thief! I would definitely recommend the entire series, there are 5 books in all.

So have fun reading!

My children were all made from paper and printer's ink...

Rating: 9/10

Meggie has never heard her father read aloud. When a mysterious stranger appears in the middle of the night, she is pushed into a new world. An evil man by the name of Capricorn, wants her father Mo to read aloud. Finally Meggie understands why Mo has never read aloud, and why she doesn't remember her mother.

Soon Meggie realizes that Mo isn't the only one with a hidden secret...

First things first. It is confession time. When I began to read the novel Inkheart, I was expecting something pretty awful. I had read a few of Cornelia Funke's other books, and I expected this one to be the same. Not a very deep story line, and all in all to me, boring.

Well, I was wrong. Dead wrong. A squirrel hit by a train wrong. Why? Because this book is TOTALLY AWESOME. There! I said it! I love one of (or now three of, including the next two in the series) Cornelia Funke's books.

When I began reading this story, I felt that I could really connect with Meggie in someways. A young girl who always has a book and not that many friends? Pretty much a model of me when I was 12-13. Unfourtunatley, I don't have a bookbinder father who can actually read things out of a book, something which I inherited.

     (No. I had to have a trumpet playing father who I inherated m big teeth from!)

I really love books that you can connect to like that. Even though I have read this book probably a 1001 times, I still love it! The story still pulls me in, and only 3 things can take me out of it.

1. A child crying (I babysit alot)

2. My alarm going off saying I need to go to work

3. Food.

I need to be honest now. However much I love this book, there are still some occasions where I find myself asking, how did that work? How did Dustfinger get that key from Basta? Where did all that time go? Cornelia Funke seems to jump around sometimes. Oh well, it is still an awesome story!

There ya go!

Till Next Time!