The Thief
By: Megan Whalen Turner
Gen is an extremely talented and boastful thief whose bragging lands him in the king’s prison. Although he claims that the jail cannot hold him, weeks later Gen is still in jail, dreaming of the outdoors. However, Gen’s sentence is interrupted by an offer from the king’s scholar, the magus, who needs a thief’s skill to steal a hidden treasure from a bordering country. Gen, the magus and a group of helpers travel to this distant land and come across many obstacles while searching for the treasure, a legendary rock called Hamiathes’s Gift. This rock has been lost for hundreds of years and holds the key to immortality and the right to rule the mountain country of Eddis.
The Thief contains many themes that contribute to the development of the plot. These themes are poverty, deception, courage and betrayal. Throughout the novel, the issue of poverty is constantly raised through the experiences Gen and others. During the novel, Gen is constantly deceiving the rest of the group in order to mask his many skills. Gen provides glimpses of his past, while leaving out just enough to keep his companions on edge. However, he would never have thought that he would be the one betrayed. Along with deception, courage is one of the most prominent themes in the novel. The journey provides the group with many obstacles that only courage can overcome.
The author of the novel, Megan Whalen Turner, uses modern language and some of the slurs that come with it. The novel is based in a fictional time period somewhat like ancient Greece. However, the language and relatively new inventions like the rifle and telescopes give it a modern touch. Megan Whalen Turner wrote the novel in first person, which was very effective. The story is told from Gen’s point of view, which allows the reader to understand the world through his eyes.
The issue of religion is raised in the novel and is the sole thing that relates to me. Like Gen, I sometimes find myself interested by different religions in the world. At the beginning of the novel, Gen finds himself denying the existence of gods, but as his prayers begin to be answered, his opinion changes. Gen becomes very interested in the varying gods that he has known about his entire life, but never believed in.
The interesting thing about the novel is that it relates to Inspector Calls. In both The Thief and Inspector Calls no one is exactly what he or she seems to be. By the end of both the novel and play, secrets are revealed, relationships adjusted and respect between companions is lost and won. In The Thief, Gen slowly reveals more and more about himself, but never discloses very important clues to his true identity. Similarly, in Inspector Calls, the true actions of the main characters are uncovered and revealed by the inspector who breaks down the wall of deception.
I don’t think there was anything that the author could have done to improve this novel. I found it very easy to read this novel and lose track of time. I enjoyed the humour, plot and interesting twists that were constantly being revealed throughout the novel. I would recommend this book to teenagers and adults who are looking to read an interesting yet not very strenuous novel. The Thief was written in a way that always kept me, the reader, guessing what was going to happen next.
The constant use of similes, personification and pathetic fallacy enhanced the writing of this novel. Throughout the novel, similes such as “My blood rushed around like wine sloshing in a jar” (8) and “He was as regular as clockwork” (132) make the novel more enjoyable for the reader. Along with this, personification such as “The irrigation ditches thickened with weeds and silt and were eventually choked out of existence” (134) make the novel more intriguing. Turner uses pathetic fallacy multiple times in the novel to reflect the feelings of Gen and other characters throughout their journey. Pathetic fallacy is used by Turner in situations such as, “The mountains were black against the pink and blue evening sky. They’d been hidden by the trees for a long time, and it was reassuring to see them again.” (137) In this quote, Gen and his group had just reached their destination and were very content. The weather and nature reflected these feelings at the time and was very effective.
The Thief was a great novel with a very interesting plot. This was one of the most fascinating novels I have ever read and I especially enjoyed the continually changing plot. I am looking forward to reading more novels by Megan Whalen Turner in the future.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Book Review Blog #3
Life of Pi
By: Yann Martel
Piscine Molitor Patel, otherwise known as Pi, is an Indian boy from Pondicherry who grows up surrounding himself with religion, spirituality and of course animals from his father’s zoo. When the political situation in India worsens, Pi and his family decide to sell their zoo and move to Canada. The family travels on a large cargo ship with some of their animals that are being sold to zoos in North America. Unfortunately, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the cargo ship sinks leaving Pi on a lifeboat, but not alone. Pi is accompanied by a large Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, a female orangutan named Orange Juice, a wounded zebra and a spotted hyena. Pi comes to the conclusion that the only way he is going to survive and find rescue is if he co-operates with these dangerous animals.
Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel, contains many themes that contribute to the development of the plot. These themes are love, courage, religion and the struggle for power and life. Pi has a strong sense of love for his family and god that gives him the courage to survive many gruelling days on the lifeboat. Pi is a religious boy who finds himself being accused of practicing three religions: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. He does nothing more than “love God.” (76) and believes that “all religions are true.” (76) On the lifeboat, Pi finds himself in a constant struggle for power with the Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. He sets out on a mission to tame the tiger in order to save his own life from a bloody demise.
The author of the novel, Yann Martel, uses modern language and some of the slurs that come with it. The novel is written around a boy who becomes a teenager and the language exemplifies that. Yann Martel wrote the novel in first person, which was very effective. The story is told as a narrative when Pi is older and living in Canada. He recounts the story of his life and his struggle for survival on the lifeboat.
The issue of religion is raised in the novel and is the sole thing that relates to me. Like Pi, I sometimes find myself interested by the varying religions of the world. In the novel, Pi decides to study and take part Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Unfortunately, he finds himself torn between them when representatives from all three greet Pi and his family on a walk at the same time. However, he decides to continue with all three religions by lying low during ceremonies and rituals.
The interesting thing about this novel is that it relates to Great Expectations. In the novel, Pi is slowly becoming and man and having to make independent decisions on the lifeboat very much like Pip in Great Expectations. Both novels are based around the development of characters. Pi has to get used to his new surroundings on the lifeboat, which also happens to Pip when living in London.
I don’t think there was anything that the author could have done to improve this novel. I found it very easy to get into the novel and it turned out that I read the majority of it in one sitting. I enjoyed the humour, plot and interesting ways of survival that Pi had to take part in, which is why I would recommend it to others. I would recommend this book to teenagers and adults who are looking to read an interesting yet not very arduous novel. Life of Pi had a certain characteristic, whether it be the constantly changing plot or the style it which it was written, that held my attention for hours on end.
The constant use of metaphors, similes and personification enhanced the writing of this novel. Metaphors such as, “the water was so clean and clear you could have used it to make your morning coffee.” (12) make the novel witty and enjoyable for the reader. Along with this, similes such as “his narrow shoulders gave way to a massive stomach that looked like the base of a mountain,” (27) have the same effect on the novel. Also, the continued use of personification involving the Pacific Ocean such as, “the sea may shift from whisper to rage,” (239) make the writing very intriguing. The personification revolving around the ocean is a constant because other than the lifeboat, the ocean is the where Pi’s attention is constantly focused.
Life of Pi was a spectacular novel with a very interesting plot. I enjoyed reading this novel very much and it has become one of my favourites. I found the writing style of Yann Martel very appealing and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.
By: Yann Martel
Piscine Molitor Patel, otherwise known as Pi, is an Indian boy from Pondicherry who grows up surrounding himself with religion, spirituality and of course animals from his father’s zoo. When the political situation in India worsens, Pi and his family decide to sell their zoo and move to Canada. The family travels on a large cargo ship with some of their animals that are being sold to zoos in North America. Unfortunately, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the cargo ship sinks leaving Pi on a lifeboat, but not alone. Pi is accompanied by a large Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, a female orangutan named Orange Juice, a wounded zebra and a spotted hyena. Pi comes to the conclusion that the only way he is going to survive and find rescue is if he co-operates with these dangerous animals.
Life of Pi, written by Yann Martel, contains many themes that contribute to the development of the plot. These themes are love, courage, religion and the struggle for power and life. Pi has a strong sense of love for his family and god that gives him the courage to survive many gruelling days on the lifeboat. Pi is a religious boy who finds himself being accused of practicing three religions: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. He does nothing more than “love God.” (76) and believes that “all religions are true.” (76) On the lifeboat, Pi finds himself in a constant struggle for power with the Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. He sets out on a mission to tame the tiger in order to save his own life from a bloody demise.
The author of the novel, Yann Martel, uses modern language and some of the slurs that come with it. The novel is written around a boy who becomes a teenager and the language exemplifies that. Yann Martel wrote the novel in first person, which was very effective. The story is told as a narrative when Pi is older and living in Canada. He recounts the story of his life and his struggle for survival on the lifeboat.
The issue of religion is raised in the novel and is the sole thing that relates to me. Like Pi, I sometimes find myself interested by the varying religions of the world. In the novel, Pi decides to study and take part Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Unfortunately, he finds himself torn between them when representatives from all three greet Pi and his family on a walk at the same time. However, he decides to continue with all three religions by lying low during ceremonies and rituals.
The interesting thing about this novel is that it relates to Great Expectations. In the novel, Pi is slowly becoming and man and having to make independent decisions on the lifeboat very much like Pip in Great Expectations. Both novels are based around the development of characters. Pi has to get used to his new surroundings on the lifeboat, which also happens to Pip when living in London.
I don’t think there was anything that the author could have done to improve this novel. I found it very easy to get into the novel and it turned out that I read the majority of it in one sitting. I enjoyed the humour, plot and interesting ways of survival that Pi had to take part in, which is why I would recommend it to others. I would recommend this book to teenagers and adults who are looking to read an interesting yet not very arduous novel. Life of Pi had a certain characteristic, whether it be the constantly changing plot or the style it which it was written, that held my attention for hours on end.
The constant use of metaphors, similes and personification enhanced the writing of this novel. Metaphors such as, “the water was so clean and clear you could have used it to make your morning coffee.” (12) make the novel witty and enjoyable for the reader. Along with this, similes such as “his narrow shoulders gave way to a massive stomach that looked like the base of a mountain,” (27) have the same effect on the novel. Also, the continued use of personification involving the Pacific Ocean such as, “the sea may shift from whisper to rage,” (239) make the writing very intriguing. The personification revolving around the ocean is a constant because other than the lifeboat, the ocean is the where Pi’s attention is constantly focused.
Life of Pi was a spectacular novel with a very interesting plot. I enjoyed reading this novel very much and it has become one of my favourites. I found the writing style of Yann Martel very appealing and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Book Review Blog #2
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
By: Mordecai Richler
Duddy Kravitz is a poor Jewish boy who is raised in Montreal, Quebec on St. Urbain Street. As Duddy’s life progresses during the novel he turns from a young troublemaker into an avid businessman. Duddy’s obsession with money and power direct him towards a life style that many would find shocking. He has his eyes set on a large area of land surrounding a lake and will do anything to get his hands on it, even if it means hurting the ones he loves. Duddy believes that land ownership is life's ultimate goal and will make a man out of him. He has to surmount many obstacles to get what he desperately wants, but it comes at a cost.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz contains many themes that contribute to the development of the plot. These themes are anti-Semitism, alienation, poverty, morality, materialism, victimization and corruption. In the novel, Duddy and his fellow Jews are discriminated against constantly and often alienated from society. Duddy lives in an area of Montreal that is not very well off, but that doesn’t mean he has to live that way his entire life. Duddy’s life revolves around his want for land and he lets nothing get in his way. Throughout the novel he makes victims out of multiple people through his corrupt way of business. He can easily be accused for having no morals, but later in the novel he starts to feel remorse for his actions.
The author of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Mordecai Richler, uses post-World War II language and many of the slurs and swears that come along with it. Richler often incorporates French words into the text such as, “I’m a little Jewish pusherke. Right?” The French word is always italicized and in this case, “pusherke” means someone pushy or competitive. Richler writes this novel in the way many people would speak during the time. At times, the language is foul, but the novel is based on a troubled teenager who is becoming a man. The language used in this novel is effective in portraying the fact that life in the slums of Montreal is not easy and requires people to have a hard exterior. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is written in third person, which is very effective. The third-person point of view allowed me to be objective because of the large amount of opinions expressed by all the characters.
None of the issues in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz pertain to me personally. I have had an easy life so far and what I need to thrive is always given to me unlike many of the characters in the novel, such as Duddy. I have never gone through the same things Duddy went through in the novel, but I know there are many adolescents in the world who have. There are millions of young people in this world who need to work extremely hard to succeed in life and often run into the same obstacles as Duddy on the way, such as poverty and discrimination.
The interesting thing about this novel is that it shares many similarities with Great Expectations. In The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Duddy is becoming a man that has to make his own decisions very much like Pip in Great Expectations. Both novels are based around the development of characters. Duddy and Pip both have trouble maintaining relationships in the two novels. Also, they both have to adjust to new life-styles very rapidly. Pip is given the opportunity to become and gentleman while Duddy makes himself into a businessman overnight. In a way, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz also relates to The Kite Runner. There is very apparent discrimination in both novels. In The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Jews are commonly discriminated against and in The Kite Runner Hazaras and most people who have middle-eastern religions living in the U.S. are discriminated against. Also, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and The Kite Runner tackle the issue of morality. Duddy and Amir both make decisions that question the character’s morals.
I don’t think there is anything that the author could have done to improve this novel. It was a very easy novel to get into. The novel is very humorous, witty and full of real life issues, which is why I would recommend it to others. I would recommend this novel to teenagers and adults seeking to read an interesting, but slightly controversial novel. However, I don’t think that this novel would be appropriate to younger children due to coarse language and some sexual references. I liked the The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz so much because it holds onto to the reader’s attention and does not let go. The novel kept me reading for hours on end and I never lost my interest like some other novels I have read.
The constant use of pathetic fallacy, anaphora and the recurring motif of decay enhanced the writing of this novel. Richler uses pathetic fallacy multiple times in the novel to reflect the feelings of Duddy and other characters. Pathetic fallacy is used by Richler in situations such as, “Next time he woke the room was dark and outside it was raining hard. The thunder and lightning excited him, but after the storm the heat seemed even more oppressive.” (257) In this quote, Duddy is in a state of depression and is doing nothing but sleeping for days. When he wakes up the weather is not pleasant and his room is dark and hot, which reflects Duddy’s depression. Also, anaphora is commonly used by the author to express Duddy’s anger in a series sentences such as, “I would like to sleep now. I am very tired. I must be up in four hours. I am saying good night. Good night.” (210) In these sentences, anaphora helps the reader grasp Duddy’s anger when his friend, Virgil, is keeping him up. Along with this, the motif of decay helps enhance the writing of the novel. The neighbourhood in which Duddy lives in, mainly St. Urbain Street, is very dirty and can be described as “decaying.” This part of the city is described in the quote, “An endless repetition of precious peeling balconies and waste lots making the occasional gap here and there.” (13) The neighbourhood is clearly falling apart, but this decay also describes the lives of the people living in it. This decay is expressed in the quote, “Tara-boom, tara-boom, tara-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM, past the Jewish Old People’s Home where on the balcony above, bedecked with shawls and rugs and a stain of yellowing expressionless faces.” (40) There are many elderly people in Duddy’s neighbourhood and the motif of their decay also develops and supports the theme of poverty due to these people’s situation.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz was a great novel with a very interesting plot. This is one of the best novels I have ever read and I especially enjoyed the contrast between both humorous and serious topics. I am looking forward to reading more novels by Mordecai Richler in the future.
By: Mordecai Richler
Duddy Kravitz is a poor Jewish boy who is raised in Montreal, Quebec on St. Urbain Street. As Duddy’s life progresses during the novel he turns from a young troublemaker into an avid businessman. Duddy’s obsession with money and power direct him towards a life style that many would find shocking. He has his eyes set on a large area of land surrounding a lake and will do anything to get his hands on it, even if it means hurting the ones he loves. Duddy believes that land ownership is life's ultimate goal and will make a man out of him. He has to surmount many obstacles to get what he desperately wants, but it comes at a cost.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz contains many themes that contribute to the development of the plot. These themes are anti-Semitism, alienation, poverty, morality, materialism, victimization and corruption. In the novel, Duddy and his fellow Jews are discriminated against constantly and often alienated from society. Duddy lives in an area of Montreal that is not very well off, but that doesn’t mean he has to live that way his entire life. Duddy’s life revolves around his want for land and he lets nothing get in his way. Throughout the novel he makes victims out of multiple people through his corrupt way of business. He can easily be accused for having no morals, but later in the novel he starts to feel remorse for his actions.
The author of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Mordecai Richler, uses post-World War II language and many of the slurs and swears that come along with it. Richler often incorporates French words into the text such as, “I’m a little Jewish pusherke. Right?” The French word is always italicized and in this case, “pusherke” means someone pushy or competitive. Richler writes this novel in the way many people would speak during the time. At times, the language is foul, but the novel is based on a troubled teenager who is becoming a man. The language used in this novel is effective in portraying the fact that life in the slums of Montreal is not easy and requires people to have a hard exterior. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is written in third person, which is very effective. The third-person point of view allowed me to be objective because of the large amount of opinions expressed by all the characters.
None of the issues in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz pertain to me personally. I have had an easy life so far and what I need to thrive is always given to me unlike many of the characters in the novel, such as Duddy. I have never gone through the same things Duddy went through in the novel, but I know there are many adolescents in the world who have. There are millions of young people in this world who need to work extremely hard to succeed in life and often run into the same obstacles as Duddy on the way, such as poverty and discrimination.
The interesting thing about this novel is that it shares many similarities with Great Expectations. In The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Duddy is becoming a man that has to make his own decisions very much like Pip in Great Expectations. Both novels are based around the development of characters. Duddy and Pip both have trouble maintaining relationships in the two novels. Also, they both have to adjust to new life-styles very rapidly. Pip is given the opportunity to become and gentleman while Duddy makes himself into a businessman overnight. In a way, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz also relates to The Kite Runner. There is very apparent discrimination in both novels. In The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Jews are commonly discriminated against and in The Kite Runner Hazaras and most people who have middle-eastern religions living in the U.S. are discriminated against. Also, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and The Kite Runner tackle the issue of morality. Duddy and Amir both make decisions that question the character’s morals.
I don’t think there is anything that the author could have done to improve this novel. It was a very easy novel to get into. The novel is very humorous, witty and full of real life issues, which is why I would recommend it to others. I would recommend this novel to teenagers and adults seeking to read an interesting, but slightly controversial novel. However, I don’t think that this novel would be appropriate to younger children due to coarse language and some sexual references. I liked the The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz so much because it holds onto to the reader’s attention and does not let go. The novel kept me reading for hours on end and I never lost my interest like some other novels I have read.
The constant use of pathetic fallacy, anaphora and the recurring motif of decay enhanced the writing of this novel. Richler uses pathetic fallacy multiple times in the novel to reflect the feelings of Duddy and other characters. Pathetic fallacy is used by Richler in situations such as, “Next time he woke the room was dark and outside it was raining hard. The thunder and lightning excited him, but after the storm the heat seemed even more oppressive.” (257) In this quote, Duddy is in a state of depression and is doing nothing but sleeping for days. When he wakes up the weather is not pleasant and his room is dark and hot, which reflects Duddy’s depression. Also, anaphora is commonly used by the author to express Duddy’s anger in a series sentences such as, “I would like to sleep now. I am very tired. I must be up in four hours. I am saying good night. Good night.” (210) In these sentences, anaphora helps the reader grasp Duddy’s anger when his friend, Virgil, is keeping him up. Along with this, the motif of decay helps enhance the writing of the novel. The neighbourhood in which Duddy lives in, mainly St. Urbain Street, is very dirty and can be described as “decaying.” This part of the city is described in the quote, “An endless repetition of precious peeling balconies and waste lots making the occasional gap here and there.” (13) The neighbourhood is clearly falling apart, but this decay also describes the lives of the people living in it. This decay is expressed in the quote, “Tara-boom, tara-boom, tara-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM, past the Jewish Old People’s Home where on the balcony above, bedecked with shawls and rugs and a stain of yellowing expressionless faces.” (40) There are many elderly people in Duddy’s neighbourhood and the motif of their decay also develops and supports the theme of poverty due to these people’s situation.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz was a great novel with a very interesting plot. This is one of the best novels I have ever read and I especially enjoyed the contrast between both humorous and serious topics. I am looking forward to reading more novels by Mordecai Richler in the future.
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