Mockingjay Review

is the third book of The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and it had me riveted from start to finish. I can't remember the last time I was caught up in a series of books, to the extent that I would read them in bed - IN THE MORNING!

Why was Mockingjay so addictive? I guess it was the ongoing love triangle of Peeta, Gale and Katniss. And the end of Catching Fire left us with a cliffhanger, which was very clever. It made you want to grab Mockingjay immediately!

Then there was the desperation to know that IF she survives, who will Katniss end up with? Peeta, Gale? Or neither of them? Would any of them die? What about the other characters who made it through The Hunger Games and Catching Fire? People like Haymitch and Katniss' family - even the hideous, so inappropriately named cat Buttercup? Would they make it to the end of the story?
Following her rescue by the Rebels from The Arena in Catching Fire, Book 2 of The Hunger Games Trilogy, District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen discovers that District 13 does indeed still exist. Still shocked and upset by the capture of Peeta Mellark by The Capitol, Katniss is told by Gale Hawthorn that District 12 has been destroyed and many people, including children, have been killed.
Pressure is brought to bear for Katniss to represent the symbol of The Rebellion and she finds out that before his death, her stylist Cinna had manufactured a Mockingjay suit for her to wear. In return for agreeing to the wishes of President Coin, Katniss demands that all previous Hunger Games Victors are granted immunity and she also wants the right to kill President Snow, assuming either she has the opportunity or he is captured.

Realising that Katniss is more likely to co-operate with what she wants, President Coin orders the rescue of Peeta and the others captured by The Capitol, including Annie, the girl loved by Finnick Odair, who allied himself with Katniss in the 75th Hunger Games that took place in Catching Fire.

However, Peeta has been tortured and altered by the use of Tracker Jacker venom, to turn him against Katniss and he no longer knows the difference between real memories and those forced on him by The Capitol. As a result he tries to kill Katniss and at first her love and concern for him turns to hate..
The story wends its way through several journeys. The journey to try to recover Peeta's true character and memories and the journeys to various Districts to complete the rebellion and ultimately The Capitol itself.

Each stage of the journey brings more hardships and more deaths. Katniss finds it hard who to believe and who to trust and ultimately she ends up in command of a small group that she deceives in order to convince them they must go to The President's Mansion so she can kill Snow.

However, one last death plus a conversation with President Snow opens up Katniss' eyes that in a way President Coin from District 13 is as ruthless and untrustworthy as Snow - that she too will stop at nothing to get her own way.
The final twist to the story is a shocking as some of the other deaths and it is not until the final pages that you find out what happens to Katniss.

source: http://www.squidoo.com/mockingjay-review 

The Twelve

The Twelve is an American comic book limited series from Marvel Comics, which the company announced in July 2007 would run twelve issues beginning spring 2008, with the creative team of writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Chris Weston. The series stars 12 obscure characters from Marvel's earliest incarnation as Timely Comics from the 1940s period historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books.

Plot synopsis

As related by the Phantom Reporter: During the World War II Battle of Berlin in 1945, a dozen of the many superheroes and masked crimefighters of that era are ambushed by Nazis in the basement of an SS building, where the heroes are gassed and placed into cryogenic suspension for later experimentation, but the building is air bombed soon after and anyone aware of their situation is killed. In the present day, construction workers find this bunker, and the Twelve, as they become known, are revived. Put into the care of the U.S. military, they are housed together in a mansion where they receive counseling and support, are gradually made to understand that decades have passed, and are offered a role as heroes in the 21st century.
The Twelve adjust in various ways: The Blue Blade becomes a celebrity; the Phantom Reporter starts a column for the Daily Bugle, Dynamic Man allies himself with the FBI and other law-enforcement agencies and throws himself into heroics; the Black Widow reconnects as the "instrument of vengeance" of an unknown party and begins going on missions; and Rockman bemoans being cut off from an underground kingdom that may or may not exist. On ballistics evidence, police arrest the Laughing Mask for a 1940s murder. In addition, the daughter of the creator of the robot Electro reclaims possession of the robot.
In the framing story (set "much later"), the Phantom Reporter, gun in hand, stands over the body of the Blue Blade, regretting the man's death and vowing to find the killer.
The Phantom Reporter is able ultimately to reveal the killer, in a classic mystery setup that involves rounding up the rest of the cast from their various pursuits and explaining the events step by step. The recent spate of unexplained crimes, including an attack on a gay bar Dynamic Man had visited, was carried out by Electro under the control of Dynamic Man, who is forced to admit he also is an artificial being. Blue Blade, after hooking himself up to Electro's control apparatus, discovered this, and so DM had Electro attack and kill him. Phantom Reporter has the Fiery Mask burn off DM's costume, revealing him to be a "man" who will never be anatomically correct. It is inferred that his creator's phobias about sexual purity were transferred to DM, thus explaining his discomfort with interracial marriages and the homophobia he has displayed throughout the series. He attacks the mansion, trying to trap and kill the others, but all manage to escape due to a sacrifice by Rockman.
After fleeing to his creator's home and laboratory, he is confronted by Phantom Reporter along with Captain Wonder, Mastermind Excello, and Fiery Mask. DM kills Fiery Mask by crushing his larynx, but FM manages to pass his powers along to the Phantom Reporter. DM is destroyed by the Reporter, while Captain Wonder holds him in place, suffering horrible burns. Later, at a funeral for Fiery Mask, the others discuss their future plans. Mister E plans on retiring to spend time with his family, to make up for his previous rejection of his Jewish identity. Rockman is not found, though it's believed he escaped and may have finally found his lost underground world and family.
The Witness leaves, to work with SHIELD to find those who deserve justice, with Nick Fury's blessing. He is seen confronting a "wanted" man in South America, at some later date. Phantom Reporter states he never saw The Witness again. Captain Wonder goes back into action, but with a gold half-mask covering his facial scars. Mastermind Excello has used his wealth to buy a private security company, renamed EXC Enterprises, and sets up Phantom Reporter and the Black Widow as operatives. Laughing Mask is given a deal (which views his cryogenic sleep as time served) for his previous crimes and now controls Electro, going after terrorists in sanctioned military strikes. Despite the history of loss, betrayal and punishment, the series ends on a note of hope for the survivors. In the closing scene, Phantom Reporter, in a new "combat suit" with a flame emblem, and Black Widow, back in her old "spider web" costume, are seen heading towards a new mission at an unknown location, having been sent there by Mastermind Excello's "EXC Corporation". Richard and Claire now seem, according to the phrase repeated over and over by Richard, to now be called "Fire" and "Shadow".

 source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_comic

The Mark of Athena Review

Oh my gods! Words cannot describe how pissed I am right now! I waited one whole year for The Son of Neptune to come out and it ends with a cliffhanger?

Knowing that I have to wait to 2012 in agony, trepidation and curiosity until The Mark Of Athena comes out - it really annoys me. But what annoys me more is that I know that I will end up formulating a whole pile of theories, probably inaccurate ones, until TMOA is released.

Great title by the way. I can already tell this book is going to be epic - because I mean, come on, it has Percybeth and all the other great things that Camp Half-Blood and Jupiter have to offer!

I have to let this out: AHHHHHH, I cannot wait, excited is pretty much the under statement of the century! OMFG, just want to get my hands on this now.

Okay, now that's all over *composes herself* I shall continue: Yes, blah blah blah I stop speculating now - this book was only just announced. But beware, when I come back with the latest on this new Heroes of Olympus I'll probably be totally crazy!

January: Okay, since everyone on Goodreads, and I mean everyone are blogging their predictions I'm going to do the same.

Now, let's start with the obvious:
1) The two camps will go to Greece
2) Percybeth will be united. *Does a happy dance*
3) It's going to be really awkward when Hazel and Leo are introduced
4) There will be action and butt will be kicked (pray to the Gods it's not Percy's)

Now, this is a list of my theories, we'll kick off with the love issues to get them out of the way.
1) NOTHING is going to happened to Percybeth. That is too awesome to end.
2) Hazel and Frank will stay together (because honestly, no one could think of a sweeter couple) and when Leo finds out about Sammy he'll go like 'woahh' and then shrug it off with a joke and lighten the mood.
4) Jason and Piper will still stay together. Yeah, Reyna didn't really start anything with Jason... so I'd be kinda lame if she did now.
5) Anyway, now to more fun stuff: It's told from Annabeth's point of view (pleasseee Mr. Riordan) and she does some serious stuff in Athens.

And that's it! Yeah, I know I only made a couple of real predictions but honestly speculating is such a waste - Riordan surprises me every time!

April: It has a cover! Well, not really, I suppose the release date in cool font on a not as cool background. However, it is an improvement! And we have a release date, October the 2nd. Only five more months! I know what you're thinking - five is too long. But seriously? Considering we have been waiting 7 months already it's not that bad.
source : http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/219663143

The Cat in the Hat

Poor Dick and Sally. It's cold and wet and they're stuck in the house with nothing to do . . . until a giant cat in a hat shows up, transforming the dull day into a madcap adventure and almost wrecking the place in the process! Written by Dr. Seuss in 1957 in response to the concern that "pallid primers [with] abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls' were leading to growing illiteracy among children, The Cat in the Hat (the first Random House Beginner Book) changed the way our children learn how to read.
source : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233093.The_Cat_in_the_Hat

the true and Outsanding Adventure of the Hunt Sisters

I strongly recommend The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson .
You know, on first glance it gives the appearance of being a rather trivial book, because of both it's format; which consists entirely of faxes, letters, and emails, which make for a very quick read...and because of the subject matter; single 30+ female tries to produce her first movie and is dealing with assorted Hollywood stereotypes, ex-boyfriend, and sick sibling at the same time.

HOWEVER, this book really has some wonderful prose and is much more than a fun page-turner. The following quote from the book (a letter to her ex-boyfriend) was also in a review of the novel. It's an example of some of the beautiful writing which runs throughout this fine book:

"Maybe we're all born with a protective mental coating like a pomegranate seed has, an invisible placenta that prevents reality from piercing our tender brains, that allows us to fool ourselves until our last breath, that lets us actually believe that one day we'll be discovered and one day we'll be rich, one day the world will see our hidden genius, that lets me believe that somewhere in the recesses of your sweet heart and hard head you still care for me".

If you like this kind of writing, and want to get quickly involved in an interesting, sometimes funny/sweet /sad novel, this one is for you.
By Guillermo Amaro "& Ninoska Titinger" (Lima, PERU)

This book is the result of very fine work balancing hilarity and heartbreak.
Elizabeth Robinson's 1st novel tells itself as a chronological compilation of emails, faxes, and letters from Olivia Hunt, a struggling Hollywood producer who is working on a remake of Don Quixote.

Her Hollywood career is about to sink and she goes through a series of hilarious events, like driving off with her ex boss' custom made butter yellow car and diving it into the ocean, only to be taken to jail for unruly behavior and stealing someone's car for a couple of hours.

Olivia's younger sister Madeleine is dying and Olivia writes stubborn, smart, and deeply moving emails and letters to and about her dying and defenseless sister.
Her letters are like music, they make you feel her moods, her doubts, her ideas and her dreams, they open up her world and her heart to you, and they are beautifully written and detailed with charm and lyrical quality.

This warm and fresh story is a reminder to all of us of how hope can grow in the darkest and hellish of places; of how it can make us want to fight for our dreams and our beliefs; of how Hope is Happiness.

Spontaneous, honest, warm, and sad.
A wonderful story of hope and fate.

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the Girl who played with Fire

In THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, the second volume in the late Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, publisher Mikael Blomkvist and the police are conducting parallel investigations into three horrifying murders -- and their initial evidence points straight at young computer genius and social misfit Lisbeth Salander. Kalle Bastard Blomkvist (as Salander has begun referring to him) hasn't seen Salander in nearly two years, except for one night when he happened to witness a huge man attempting to kidnap her and both she and the attacker eluded him. He's bewildered about why she cut him off cold, but had accepted her decision -- until now. He doesn't believe Salander killed these victims. Well, at least not two of them. He has to contact her, find out how she's become embroiled in this, and help her. Salander, as usual, has her own ideas about who she'll see and when....

In THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, Larsson partnered Blomkvist and Salander as they unraveled a twisted tale of corporate greed, Fascist connections, and perverse sex and violence. FIRE highlights another subject on which Larsson wanted to shine light, namely the underbelly of the sex trade, a swill of human misery being forcibly imposed for money and simple loathing of women. Blomkvist's magazine, Millennium, plans an issue devoted to the subject based on the interviews and reporting of a criminologist and a journalist, and there follows much in-house discussion of the lurid material and how it should be presented to the public. But the three murders turn the magazine and its people on their heads.

Meanwhile, Salander travels, changes her appearance, and matures in the early chapters of the 569-page book that covers four months in total and is told in four parts. Among her pursuits: attempting to proof Fermat's Last Theorem in a way Fermat himself might have done, furnishing her new abode, and keeping tabs on Bjurman (whom, recall, she memorably tattooed in DRAGON). Then, she disappears for quite a spell as the murder investigation gets cranking, and finally, she regains the spotlight as the book rushes headlong into a heart-stopping denouement.

The last book in this series -- tentatively entitled THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS' NEST in its English translation -- is not scheduled for release until 2010. However, the entire trilogy has already been published in Swedish (naturally), French, and German. Larsson reportedly had planned a ten-volume series. He had written part of the fourth book and had outlined volumes five, six, and seven. Sadly, due to his early death, only the trilogy is complete and will, according to his father, be published. After reading FIRE, the thought creeps in that perhaps the trilogy will not provide closure, and that the reader could be left dangling, unsatisfied. That would be a crying shame because Salander and Blomkvist -- along with other continuing characters -- do burrow themselves deeply into the reader's (at least this reader's) affections. Fortunately, reviewers who have read, in the other aforementioned languages, the entire story arc, including the final novel, seem generally very satisfied. Some claim that the last book, also the longest, is a grand finale that answers all outstanding questions. A few are less effusive, stating that the last book can't meet the anticipatory heights set by the stunning, unusual first one.

This last criticism can be applied to the second book as well. FIRE does not pack quite the punch of uniqueness that DRAGON did. One can perhaps think of the movie trilogy THE MATRIX, MATRIX RELOADED, and THE MATRIX REVOLUTION as an analogy. The smash introductory film awed with its mind-bending perspective. The second and third passes were very solid, even amazing, partners, but they only reiterated the cutting-edge magic so novel in The MATRIX, building on it, not inventing something mind-blowingly fresh. Familiarity takes a bit of the bloom off the rose, but it certainly doesn't breed contempt in these instances. Larsson's FIRE lags a little during the mid-section in which criminal investigation procedure grinds along and the author belabors certain points, seeming to believe his readers novices at crime mysteries. But overall, FIRE accelerates the enthralling story of Lisbeth and Mikael with panache. One can't help thinking the world they inhabit is too slimy, too vicious, but Larsson was a man with many crusades and causes, and his trilogy vividly paints the harsh pictures of society that he hoped to reform. The Millennium Trilogy encompasses uncompromising social critique; prickling thrills; and curious, bittersweet romance. FIRE drew me like a moth.

Product Details

• Paperback: 630 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1 edition (March 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030745455X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307454553
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

The girl with the dragon tattoo is back. Stieg Larsson's seething heroine, Lisbeth Salander, once again finds herself paired with journalist Mikael Blomkvist on the trail of a sinister criminal enterprise. Only this time, Lisbeth must return to the darkness of her own past (more specifically, an event coldly known as "All the Evil") if she is to stay one step ahead--and alive. The Girl Who Played with Fire is a break-out-in-a-cold-sweat thriller that crackles with stunning twists and dismisses any talk of a sophomore slump. Fans of Larsson's prior work will find even more to love here, and readers who do not find their hearts racing within the first five pages may want to confirm they still have a pulse. Expect healthy doses of murder, betrayal, and deceit, as well as enough espresso drinks to fuel downtown Seattle for months. --Dave Callanan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Nathaniels's Nutmeg

Would you believe that nutmeg formed the basis of one of the most bitter international conflicts of the 17th century, and was also intimately connected to New York City's rise to global preeminence? Strange but true: nutmeg was, in fact, one of the most prized commodities in Renaissance Europe, and its fascinating story is told in Giles Milton's delightful Nathaniel's Nutmeg.
The book deals with the competition between England and Holland for possession of the spice-producing islands of Southeast Asia throughout the 17th century. Packed with stories of heroism, ambition, ruthlessness, treachery, murder, torture, and madness, Nathaniel's Nutmeg offers a compelling story of European rivalry in the tropics, thousands of miles from home, and the mutual incomprehensibility which often comically characterized relations between the Europeans and the local inhabitants of the prized islands.

At the center of the action lies Nathaniel Courthope, a trusty lieutenant of the East India Company, who took and held the tiny nutmeg-producing island of Run in the face of overwhelming Dutch opposition for more than five years, before being treacherously murdered in 1620. To avenge his death, and the loss of the island, the British took the Dutch North American colony at Manhattan. (As Milton wittily remarks, although Courthope's death "robbed England of her nutmeg, it gave her the biggest of apples").

Inevitably inviting comparisons with Dava Sobel's Longitude, Nathaniel's Nutmeg is a charming story that throws light on a neglected period of European history, and analyzes its fascination with the "spicy" East. --Jerry Brotton, Amazon.co.uk

Put on your windbreaker and get a firm grasp on both arms of your easychair and get ready for a great adventure! This book is that good. It flies along at breakneck speed with never a dull moment. Mr. Milton has a wonderful style and he has obviously done a tremendous amount of research in putting this book together. There are a lot of quotes from the primary sources, which makes for very interesting reading as you get a"you are there" feel. Actually, Nathaniel Courthope, from the title of the book is only a relatively small, though integral, part of the story. Mr. Milton gives brief but vivid character sketches of many of the Dutch and English sailors, merchants and explorers who were involved in this long and bloody trade war. Also, the book is not confined to just talking about the East Indies. It moves around from England, Holland, India, etc. to the Arctic and the search for a Northeast Passage and to Manhattan and the Hudson River and the search for a Northwest Passage. One note for the squeamish: the participants in the fight for control of the nutmeg trade did not obey the Marquis of Queensbury's rules for fighting fair. The book is full of beheadings; people being keelhauled and drawn and quartered and there is a horrific chapter on English sailors being tortured by their Dutch captors that is worthy of the worst things done during the Spanish Inquisition. If your picture of the Dutch East India Company is one of fat and jolly pipe smoking burghers, think again!
By Alan Breacher (Houston, Texas United States)

I bought this book on a whim. It caught my interest in the bookshop because my wife is from Indonesia and I wanted to find out whether some of the terrible things she has told me the Dutch did in her country were true (I was to find out they were even worse than I expected). I also have an interest in British colonial history.
Much to my pleasant surprise I found this was a book I just couldn't put down. It was riveting! I suppose one could categorize this book as "popular history" because it reads much like a novel with many colorful characters and intriguing events that make up the early history of the English and Dutch East India companies, although its primary focus is on the former. I found the author's writing style to be very engrossing and easy to read, unlike many histories.

I became quite caught up in the excitement and horror of events, as described by Mr. Milton, but I had to keep reminding myself that the author is an Englishman. The obvious partisanship of the author was probably one of the weak points of the book: he made much reference to the crimes committed by the Dutch in the East Indies but, no doubt, the English traders had their fair share of rogues who committed other crimes - especially during the first half century of the English East India Company. It would be interesting to read a book on the same subject written by a Dutchman and compare and contrast!

However, to his credit, the author quite successfully shows how disorganized and irresponsible the directors of the East India Company could be, especially in regard to their choice of men to lead expeditions to the East. Many of the voyages the early traders made to the Indies were unsuccessful and resulted in the frequent loss of ships and men. Also, Milton shows that during the first 50 years of the company's operations, the traders and "factors" - company employees who had been given the task of developing trade at various (often remote) trading posts - tended to operate as individuals rather than team players so-to-speak, often with unpredictable and sometimes disastrous results to the detriment of the company.

One other point against the book is that the main subject of the book - referred to in the subtitle, the man who "changed the course of history" - does not have his story told until Chapter 10, near the end of the book. Every time I was introduced to a new character I asked myself whether he was going to be the one. Though, I suppose this is one way to keep the reader interested in events, and to keep reading.

However, despite these small drawbacks, I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable and would whole heartedly recommend it to anyone interested in the early years of the English East India Company, the beginnings of British colonialism, and the spice trade. Oh, and by the way it also shows how New York and the East Indies were connected in terms of their founding. This book covers a lot of events in a relatively small number of pages but always manages to be interesting and enlightening. I am looking forward to reading Mr. Milton's next book, which should throw more light on early English colonialism in America.
By R. Peterson "International citizen" (Leverett, MA)

For someone who tends to read novels, this refreshing and fascinating book about the discovery of, exploitation of, and fighting for the East Indian spice islands was a lovely hiatus for me. Although titled in honor of the British Nathaniel Courthope who managed to hold the Dutch off the tiny spice island of Run, the book only spends one chapter on him toward the end. One of the reasons for this seemingly skewed portrait of Courthope and his accomplishment is that his grip on the island of Run allowed the British to eventually trade it with the Dutch for the island of Manhattan (and let's face it, how many people have heard of Run and how many have heard of Manhattan!) The bulk of the book describes in detail the numerous and various voyages, battles, and wild 'transactions' between the British, Portuguese and Dutch in their fight for possession and control of the valuable spice-producing islands (what today are part of Malaysia, Indonesia and other smaller island nations in the South Pacific).
In general this is a fascinating and exciting tale - made more exciting by the fact that is was real - real history. Specifically, it was obvious that the author was British as the reader is led to believe that the Dutch and Portuguese were absolute barbarians when in fact, the British captains and crew were certainly not all tea and crumpet types either. I also had a little trouble with the author's tendency to jump back and forth between Atlantic and Pacific voyages, and mentioning protagonists in one chapter and bringing them back in subsequent chapters - it was sometimes hard to follow who was where when. The most impressive part of this book for me was the fact that the author must have had to read through thousands of very old diaries, letters, and other correspondance of the time to have built such a wonderfully complete tale of this period in history set in a place in the world very few people know a good deal about. Just wonderful.

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