The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Image taken from The Book Brat.

So my sister told me one day that I MUST read the Hunger Games Trilogy. Admittedly I was skeptical at first (I am usually skeptical of current mainstream fads), but I was surprised to find that these books are actually quite good!

The first installment takes us on a journey through the dystopian world of Panem, otherwise known in our current geography books as North America. All humankind living in Panem are separated into districts, all of which are lorded over by the dreaded dictatorship of the Capitol. Every year the Capitol hosts a reality TV show entitled "The Hunger Games", which is one of many measures the Capitol has taken to keep the various districts under control. Two people from each district is selected to participate in the games, which is a violent strategy game designed for the contestants to hunt and kill each other. There can only be one winner.

This is the world in which Katniss Everdeen live, along with her mother and younger sister. When her younger sister is selected to participate in the Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. And so Katniss must try and survive and win the games, so she can return to her family when it is all over.

Fans might be upset with me leaving out so many important details in my summary, but I think it best to tell just enough information to have readers of this article want to know more, and what better way to know more about what happens in the story than searching out the book for oneself and reading it?

Loyal readers of this blog would have noticed that the majority of books I like are ones that make me think, and with the Hunger Games, this is no exception. As disturbing as the environment of Panem is, it is not too far from resembling the way our own world is becoming today. Avid fans of the trilogy would notice the commentaries the book implicitly makes on the current fads and trends that are slowly making our society become more selfish and conceited. In a world where people are caring less about others and thinking more of themselves, in a world where the love for humankind is slowly diminishing, the messages in this book is extremely relevant for our day.

For those of you like me who are skeptical of maintream trends, do NOT let this discourage you from reading this book, as it is definitely a good read!

Bringing Reuben Home by Glenda Millard

Image taken from www.allenandunwin.com

Looking on the surface, life seems almost perfect in the city of New Carradon. But looking deeper into the workings of the government, there are sinister things happening within its domed enclosure. Nobody is allowed to enter or depart the city. You are not allowed to choose who you can marry; you can only marry those who the government dictates is "compatible", and who is issued with a certified Genetic Compatibility Licence. And you are not allowed to live beyond the age of eighty. Those who approach this age, regardless of how healthy they are, are promptply euthanized on the eve of their eightieth birthday in a ceremony called a "cessation".

Reuben Gilchrist is fast approaching his own cessation ceremony, but refuses to give in to this senseless and inhumane tradition the government has instituted. He convinces his granddaughter Cinnabar and her friend Judah to find a way to smuggle him outside, where he can live to the age he is supposed to live for, and to also bury the ashes of his deceased wife in Old Carradon, where they had both originally came from. It is only days before the cessation, so Cinnabar and Judah have to quickly figure out a way to get Reuben safely out of the city, before it is too late...

Just for the record, I am NOT a fan of Science Fiction novels, but I found this one to be quite enjoyable. What intrigued me most about this book was the discourse it addresses on the value of human life: Who are we to decide who is most compatible with whom? Who are we to determine a definite age span for all? Do we have the right to meddle with people's personal decisions? These were the thoughts that generated in my head as I was reading the book, and it was good to ponder and reflect on those questions.

Glenda Millard accurately captures Cinnabar's and Judah's suspense as they race against time to rescue Reuben from his impending fate. Action-packed until the very end, you will not want to put this book down.

I recommend this book to both science fiction fans and non-science fiction fans everywhere.

The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertholt Brecht

Image taken from http://www.sdsuniverse.info/sdsuniverse/news.aspx?s=71091&rss=t

I am a HUGE fan of Bertholt Brecht and his plays, which is why I was so excited to learn that I would be studying Brecht this semester at Uni. The Good Person of Szechwan is one of the plays written by Brecht that I will be studying this semester.

The Good Person of Szechwan tells the story of three powerful Gods who are on the search of finding at least one good person left on the earth. They tarry the night with a woman by the name of Shen Teh, a "good-hearted but penniless prositute" (back cover), who is struggling to get out of her current situation and start a new life. Believing that Shen Teh has great potential of doing much good for other people, the Gods give her a sum of money, so as to be able to help her start her own tobacco business, and no longer work on the streets to earn money. Problems arise when the other characters in the play prey on Shen Teh's kindness and try to manipulate her, and in order to escape from such corrupt persons, she disguises herself as a Shui-Ta, a ruthless and very clever "cousin", who does not take kindly to Shen Teh's ill treatment by the other characters. Further complications arise when Shen Teh falls pregnant, and can no longer keep up the charade of being Shui-Ta. It is a riveting and thought-provoking story, one that I would like to see performed on stage one day.

As with all of Brecht's plays, the play addresses a lot of social issues that cannot all be listed here. A few of them include the nature of survival, the business world and its potential to become corrupt, and the line drawn between when is being too lenient and when is being too harsh, (how to be "nice" while at the same time being assertive and not have people walk all over you. This commentary is especially noted when Shen Teh switches from being herself, to Shui-Ta).

This is a must-read for all lovers of theatre and of Bertholt Brecht.

No Gun for Asmir - Christobel Mattingley

"Because this book will touch people and come to the heart, if only a hundred people read it and are moved, it will be more important than any official peace plan".

This is what one of the true-life characters said upon reviewing this book before it was published. Having read this book for the first time when I was only 12 years old (just a year older than the main character of the book), and having the opportunity to read it again after searching EVERYWHERE for a copy of it, I agree whole-heartedly with this statement. The memories that come flooding back to me when I first read this book just over a decade ago, and having read it again now after going through different stages of my life, I can honestly say that the message of the book still touches me, and is a huge influence on my decisions in treating other people from different nationalities with decency and respect.

7 year old Asmir has had to flee his beloved home in Sarajevo with his mother, grandmother, and younger brother. His father has been taken by soldiers, and Asmir does not know whether he will ever see his father again. We follow the journeys of Asmir and his family through Belgrade, Serbia, into Vienna, Austria, where they attempt to make a new life for themselves as refugees.

This book is mainly written for younger children, but even adults can read this and gain much from this book.

There are several reasons why this book has had such an enormous impact in my life:

1) It is based on a true story. The characters in it are real. This is their story. Although the author herself was never there experiencing what Asmir and his family went through, she accuractely describes the events, and depicts the thoughts and feelings of the characters very well.

2) Asmir is only a year younger than me. Today, he would only be 22. He has gone through so many things in his short life that I couldn't imagine going through myself, especially not at 7 years old. When I think of this, I admire this man's courage and think about how grateful I am to live in a country that is not torn apart by war and prejudice.

3) The book gives us an understanding of what it would be like to be living as a political refugee, running for your life, afraid of having to be turned back to the country you had fled, back to the danger you had been trying to avoid. It gives the reader a greater appreciation for the things that he/she would normally take for granted.

4) While I have never been to war-torn Bosnia, I have been to other places in Europe, and have a fair idea of what the scenery described in the book would look like. Having read this book for the second time, after having lived in Europe for two years, the book became more real to me as I pictured the countryside, the cobble-stoned streets, the Viennese landscape, etc.

5) The book is not only about Asmir and his family - it is also about the author's own son, for it was he who had assisted in helping this family settle in Vienna. This is how the author came in contact with this family and was inspired to write their story.

I am so glad that I finally found and bought my own copy of this wonderful book. I strongly recommend anyone to seek this book out and read it for yourself. It might just change your views on life as it has done mine.

Guantanamo Boy Anna Perera

This is a brand new book just released this year. Although it is a piece of fiction, it is based on real events. Children have been detained in Guantanamo Bay and many other secret prisons around the world under the suspicion of being terrorists. They have been beaten and tortured until they have "confessed" to their crimes. Anna Perera raises awareness of this issue through this well-written book.

Khalid is just like any other ordinary British teenager, until his family decides to visit relatives in Pakistan. He is abducted and sent sent to Guantanamo Bay on trumped up charges of being involved with terrorism. The story follows how Khalid manages to survive this ordeal.

Very sad, emotionally-driven and andrenalin-packed, you will not want to put this book down until you know how the story ends.

Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice

Imagine you are journalist who happens to have the opportunity to interview a real life vampire. What sort of things would you be able to learn about vampire life? What things would the vampire be willing to share with you? And more importantly, how much danger would you be really in by conducting this interview?

Anne Rice takes us into Louis' world, a mortal who is turned into a vampire by the infamous Lestat. Louis learns his first lessons about being a vampire from him, but does not like the being he has become. He tries desparately to fight against the passions and basic instincts that vampires have, until he eventually gives in. His quest for learning about the origin of vampires takes him on a journey from New Orleans to Paris, but these journeys lead him to more questions and very little answers. Cursed with an insatiable appetite for human blood, Louis resigns to the awful degenerated state he has learned to become accustomed to and, centuries later, agrees to tell his story to a young student journalist,

This is where the suspense comes in. We do not know at first why Louis has agreeed to this interview, nor do we know of his real intentions. The story ends abruptly, leading us to the second installment of the Vampire Chronicles.

It was altogether a very interesting read, and hope to be able to read the second and third installments in this series.

The Sons of Encouragement Series #4: The Prophet Amos - Francine Rivers

I came across this book as I was searching for another book in the library. The front cover really intrigued me, and so I borrowed the book out to see what it was about.

The story is a fictional account of the real-life prophet Amos, from his early childhood years, to the time when he is called as prophet. The book teaches us of the importance of loving God and following his chosen messengers. God has always chosen prophets to teach the people of his plan for us. When we choose to follow the plan, we are blessed. When we choose not to follow the plan, we can read from this book, and from the actual biblical account, of the negative consequences of going down that path.

Francine Rivers writes in an engaging style, carefully detailing the landscape and the circumstances in which Amos would have lived, taking you back in time to the place where it all happened. Although she takes the liberty to add some of her own embellishments into the story, she encourages us to seek out the biblical account and read the actual story.

Altogether, I was surprised at how well-written this book was, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I hope to be able to find the other 4 books in the 5 part novella series.

Son of a Witch - Gregory Maguire

Taken from http://weread.com/review/Son+of+a+Witch+%28Wicked+Years%29/2261999

The best-selling sequel to "Wicked" continues to the story of Liir, the illegitimate son of Elphaba (also known as the Wicked Witch of the West). An account of his adventures in trying to find his long lost half-sister, his near-death experience after being attacked by dragons, winning and losing love, and trying to find his place in the world.

Surprisingly, I found this sequel better to the original "Wicked", although, I must say I'm more partial to the musical version of it than the actual novel version. The only disappointing thing with this novel is that it ended so abruptly, and still left you with the unanswered questions from the 1st book.

I hope to get the chance to read the 3rd book, "A Lion Among Men"; hopefully, all the loose pieces will start to fit together in that one.

Slumdog Millionaire - Vikas Swarup

Taken from http://weread.com/review/Slumdog+Millionaire/2356079

Originally published as "Q&A", this book was almost just as good as the movie it inspired! However, do not think the book is anywhere near close to the movie plot. The basic storyline seems to be the ONLY connection between the book and the film. The various scenarios that happen to Jamal (in the book his name is Ram) are either very loosely based on the events described in the book, or they are different entirely. Even the ending is completely different to the movie version, but has a sudden unexpected twist that startles you so much that you really don't care anyway.

"Slumdog Millionaire" has a complex storyline which confuses you when you first start reading, but as you start to get into it, all of the mysteries in the beginning of the novel begin to unravel nicely.

Vika Swarup writes in such a way as to keep you at the edge of your seat up to the last page. A very good read indeed....