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The uncut version of Stephen King’s “The Stand” has 1,153 pages and a quite honest preface. A commitment, but one entirely worth the read.  King’s writing style takes all arduousness out reading such a lengthy novel. The original version of what is considered King’s best and most notorious work was published in 1978. This version was released in 1990 In one overarching story split into three sections, the fantasy/horror/apocalypse/action/adventure novel is probably one of the longest and best books you could have under your belt. The entire story is split into three segments: “Captain Trips”, “On the Border” and finally, “The Stand”.

Dismiss completely every notion that King only writes graphic, gory horror. ‘The Stand’ delivers on several different genres, from action to love, from religion to human nature. This is a story that will make you cogitate on many grim ideas, one of the most essential being the capacity man has to change (or end) the world. It raises questions of what magnitudes of suffering people are capable of subjecting each other to. Along with one ultimate question that’s even asked at the end of the story, and that reading the book may not even answer for you: Do people ever learn anything?

This version of the book also contains two additions to the story, an opening and a closing: “The Circle Opens” and “The Circle Closes”, with one at the beginning of the story and the other at the end, respectively.

In this uncut version, the story opens with a section named, “The Circle Opens”, in which the outbreak of the deadly virus ‘Captain Trips’ is explained. One slip up in a lockdown operation on a military base heralds the violent, tragic collapse of all human civilization. A fast-acting, deadly strain of the flu created by the United States specifically for the purpose of biological warfare is accidentally released within an isolated laboratory. After an emergency lockdown is operated, Charles Campion uses his one-second window to slip through a gate, unknowingly sealing the world’s fate. King describes with great detail the lives of this vast array of characters before getting to the gritty stuff, and once you get to that gritty area, you’ll know you’ll there. The  ‘Captain Trips’ segment of the book mainly serves to set things up for the second two. We see what our main characters want in life, what they’ve done in the past. We see their pain, their happiness, jealousy, anger and fear. We understand why they do what they do later on in the story.

This is ultimately a tale of the battle between the forces of good and evil. The opposite sides try to bring in as many people as they possibly can, because post-apocalypse, you can either join up with one side or the other or get caught in the cross-fire. In one corner, there’s Randall Flagg. Flagg is known by many names in the story, but his most accurate alias is the “Dark Man”. Or maybe “The Devil’s Imp”. He embodies all the evil in the world and the bringing of the end of mankind is music to his ears. He draws power from the extensive suffering of others and his appearance is the first official supernatural occurrence in the story. King writes Flagg’s introduction with sickening scrupulousness and gives only the clearest image of what he is and why he’s here.

On the good side, we have Abigail Freemantle, more warmly known as just “Mother Abigail”. She’s a 108 year-old woman who lives a solitary, quiet life on a quaint farm left behind by her late father. A quiet life that suddenly drops on her shoulder a burden that only a woman with a faith as strong as hers could bear.

This book tells its story sometimes in the third-person narrative, sometimes in first-person narrative. King employs many different forms of storytelling. The book often switches between settings: in one chapter, you might read of the trials and tribulations of the physically handicapped Nick and his friend Tom, and in another, you’ll be following the story of former aspiring singer Larry Underwood and his companion Rita. There are very many characters and scads of subplots which are all very gripping. In addition to the main characters and the various quandaries that plague them (no pun intended), there are several individual vignettes of characters only mentioned once in the entire story. By fitting in these littles tales of accident and tragedy, King shows that not everything goes as planned, even when people are freed from the regular difficulties of everyday life after the virus is spread. Whether it be the plague or a crazed person who’s been off their leash since society’s disintegration, a person’s fate will always find them; a concept that’s portrayed magnificently throughout the story. These smaller stories only briefly take you away from the main plot, and it’s always intriguing what deadly snafus unsuspecting survivors will get themselves into.

Readers of science fiction and fantasy will fall in love with this book in no time. As will readers of a vast multitude of other genres. But one thing you must know before buying this book is that it dwells heavily in the realm of fantastical adventure and supernatural phenomena. I read this novel expecting something completely different than what I saw. It exceeded my expectations and there was never a boring moment. Sometimes it moves very fast, sometimes medium. This book widened my reading scope to other books King’s written, like ‘Cell’, ‘Cujo’ and ‘It’. All very good books. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something insightful, dark and thought-provoking. ‘The Stand’ is a must-read.

‘The Stand: The Complete And Uncut Edition’

Stephen King

Penguin group (USA) Incorporated

May 28th, 1991

1,153

Science Fiction / Fantasy / Horror / Action Adventure  

Ayer, un hombre fue muerto en Rio Piedras en Reading, Pennsylvania. El murió en son las once y veinte. Martiz y  Edwin también estaban heridos. Vasquez Quitcon con récord delictivo en Puerto Rico y de Reading donde las policías investigan el asesinato. Vazquez tiene récord en cinco de Junio de dos mil trece. Policías van a investigar la persona. Son las tres y treinta, un hombre encontrado baleado. Ellos se encontraron 17 casquillos calibre .40. Son las cinco por la mañana, un diferente hombre fue encontrado baleado.

Hay los turismos en China. Una mujer de nombre Lin Xi no visita su país porque hay los días festivos quien cuatro mil personas van a el parque natural de Jiuzhaigou. El parque es por turismos van a China. En la plaza de Tiananmen, cien mil personas fueron la ceremonia y después la ceremonia, hay muchos tonelados de basura. Administración de China dijo hay mucho gente viene cada año. Cada año, el número de turismos, ellos van a ir popular países. Chinos gastan mucho dinero en ceremonias tener divertido. En Europa, Alemán visita diferente países.

Yo tengo familia en Alemania y ellos visitan en California. Ellos tengo mucho dinero porque sus dinero es más. Ellos les gusta Estados Unidos porque ellos quieran visitar la familia. Mi Alemania familia visita América casa dos o tres años en el verano. Yo quiero visitar Alemán porque me gusta visitar diferente países y aprendo cultural.  Yo fui China cuando tenía tres años. Mi madre y yo visitamos mi familia y celebramos una fiesta. China siempre divertidos fiestas y yo quiero visitar mi familia en el verano. Nuevo Chino año es popular en China y tiene muchos tradición comida. Yo estoy feliz quien yo tengo familia en diferente países.     

Everyone has their own preference in books.  I myself like the books that i can relate and have a special connection with. I like the books where there is drama from beginning to end. “Trife life of lavish” by Deja King is a perfect example of that. This book is about a woman named Teresa who is running from her past and meets new friends along the way.  She was living with, and dating the love of her life. He was a man whore, he literally slept with everything that walked. She put up with it for two reasons, she was in love, and he took care of her and her daughter Genevieve. One day she walked on him having sex with an unknown woman. She rages with frustration and curses him and the woman out. Her and the man gets into a heated argument that leads the man hitting teresa. After she recovers, she picks up a lamp and hits him in the head three times. He dies. She takes all the money she knows he has, and her things  and flees off.  With her on this crazy ride is her daughter that can’t let go of her mother’s past.

Deja King does an excellent job using dialogue and third person point of view to show how the mother and the daughter feel about the mother’s past.  From beginning to end this book will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next.

The style of writing she has makes you really want to open your eyes to the world, She writes about real life situations and altercations in a fiction state. She actually has a  whole series of books. They are called the King Productions. Books in her series are entitled, B*tch parts 1,2,3,4 and 5, Stackin Paper parts 1 and 2, Dirty little Secrets, Hooker to housewife, Superstar, Trife life to lavish parts 1 and 2, Ride wit me, and Princess paper. After reading Trife life to lavish part 1, I would definitely consider reading those other books. It’s something about Deja King that I can actually sit there and read her books and not want to stop.

The reason why I liked this book is because something similar happened to my mother. My biological father disrespected my mother sort of in the way Teresa’s husband did to her. Even though I was only two years old, I knew what was going on. My mother even tells me different scenarios of them getting into arguments and fights about the certain things. This book sparked my interest the most because as I was reading the back summary, I could make a personal connection with what the book was about. I love books like that. When you pull me in by telling me a summary of the book and in my mind I say, “Hey, something similar happened to me”, 99 percent of the time I’m going to read it.

Deja King was born in Toledo, Ohio but was raised in California, New Jersey, Maryland, and North California. She went to North California Central College and majored in Journalism. Her inspiration of writing was gained from her mother. She said that Deja had a special talent that she should embrace. Ever since then Deja has been righting books and climbing the charts as a best selling author. Her book “Trife life 2 Lavish” was released February 14th, 2009.

If I was a book critic I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a book with a lot of drama as soon as you jump into the book. This isn’t your ordinary book. This book has lots of drama, flashbacks, and jumps right into the plot almost instantly. And the language is so colorful. If you like confrontation this book is for you. Deja King’s use of dialogue in this story is very choosy. She gives you that mature audience language with a little bit of extra intellectual dialect to add on top of it. This book in my mind deserves a 8 out of 10. I could make a life connection, it used lots of dialogue, it had little bits and pieces of foreshadowing, figurative language, and suspense. The author also did an excellent job describing how each character was feeling at different points of the story. This book had you at the edge of your seats thinking and wondering what the characters are going to do next. So if you like a Action packed, drama, with lots of colorful dialect from a third person point of view, “Trife life 2 lavish” is the perfect book.

Life In Prison by Stanley “Tookie” Williams, is very inspiring. This point of this book is to educate the youth of the reality of of prisons and what prison life is actually like. Mr.Williams was on death row when he wrote and published this book, he was on death row due to his gang involvement and four murders during two separate robberies. After writing this book and a few others and having a movie made about his life, Stanley was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his literature and his attempts to reach out to troubled youth. Which caused a controversy because people didn’t appreciate that a man on death row, that has done hundreds of horrible things in his life, is now trying to right his wrongs and is being praised for it.

The Bloods and Crips are the two most notorious and dangerous street gangs on the streets of California. Yet not everyone knows the beginnings of these two group nor their intentions. The Crips were Originated in Los Angeles California in 1971. The groups original purpose was to join together and fight against the neighborhood gangs that were bullying them. Self Defense was the motive, the motive was never to be the bully it was to fight against the bullies, although that’s what the group which became a gang evolved into. Stanley Williams is a cofounder of the notorious street gang. In the preface of this book he speaks on his lack of good influences growing up in a predominately African American neighborhood, all of the people he had to look up to were bad role models and were in jail. Those “role models” gave false depictions of jail on how it was fun and cool so that’s what a young Stanley and all of the other children wanted for their lives. So in this book he is attempting to give the youth what he was not given when he was their age. Each chapter of this book speaks on a different part of the Incarceration system, and how inhumane and dangerous jail really is.

After reading this book and viewing his other work I understand why he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Yes, he’s done horrible things in his life, and he acknowledges it but what makes him special is, he wants better for everyone else. I love this book because it does not sugar coat anything, and it gives straight facts. Unlike television and movies which portray prison as dangerous but also as fun, as a place you can go lounge around and workout. Throughout this book he refers to the freedoms you have as a free man and where you’re living with your parents compared to living in jail. An example being the section about “Clothing, Telephone, and Mail”, he says “Our mail is read by guards… I can’t stand knowing that some stranger is reading every letter and looking at every photograph that comes in the mail before I do.” I believe the purpose of this book is to inform the world of the harsh conditions of jail but to tell and show youth headed there that it isn't where they want to be. People who would love this book are prison reformist. This book points most of the flaws in the prison system and how it is designed to keep the inmates coming back. In this book Mr. Williams basically says when you’re in prison you either workout, you read and learn, is crazy, or is apart of a gang. The only thing people have in jail to better themselves to try and prevent their re entry to jail after their release is to read books, and even books are limited in jail if you don’t have family members who care enough to buy them for you. Stanley “Tookie” Williams was executed on December 13th, 2005. The last day he spent alive he told Ms. Barbara Becnel about how he although he lived all those years in that concrete cell on death row, his work with the youth provided him with joy inside his heart.This book should be an inspiration to all youth to stay out of trouble.

This book is nonfiction and was first published in 1998 by Morrow Junior Books a division of William Morrow and Company, INC., New York and then was again published in the United States in 2001 by SeaStar Books. This book is a fairly quick read it contains 80 pages of the horrors of what awaits inside prison walls.

The Mark of Athena is an outstanding book in the successful continuation of the Heros of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan. It is number three in the series that has grasped the attention of young readers for years now. The series is attached to Riordan’s first five part series he created, Percy Jackson And The Olympians, which flourishingly won multiple book awards. Riordan began writing as a young adult, writing short stories as well as writing for his high school newspaper. He made the attempt to publish some of his short stories but came out unsuccessful. His daughter, Haley, who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia always showed fascination in Greek Mythology, it was a topic she could pay attention to. Haley asked of her father to create bedtime stories to tell her each night that included Greek Mythology within them. Riordan said, “I had taught Greek myths for many years at the middle school level, so I was glad to comply.” When Riordan created a new story, using the attributes of his oldest son Patrick, he was able to create the character Percy Jackson, the demigod with ADHD and dyslexia.

The story he told his daughter, about a boy named Percy who was falsely accused of stealing the almighty Zeus’s thunderbolt and required to redeem himself, took three days to tell her. Afterwards, Haley told Riordan that he should create a book from the story, and so he did. Today that book is well known as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief. "Making Percy ADHD and dyslexic was my way of honoring the potential of all the kids I've known who have those conditions...it's not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it's the mark of being very, very talented. That's what Percy discovers about himself in The Lightning Thief."  

The Mark of Athena, although somewhat written for the young adult group, is another perfect example of a book I just can’t stop reading. The feeling the author gives through the whole book is incredible. It’s that “on the edge of your seat” feeling, the one that makes your adrenaline pump through every vein in your body, excreting excitement with every turn of the page. When opened to the first page, you find yourself aboard the Argo II, a hand built ship from a demigod named Leo, where Annabeth, who is Percy’s girlfriend and bestfriend, are on route to the Roman Camp to be reunited with Percy. Long story short, Greeks and Romans don’t get along well. Greek Gods at times, change into their Roman form, and during each form they had children. These children were called demigods, each possessing a certain power from their God parent.

Annabeth, who is accompanied by Leo Valdez and Jason Grace, finally arrive in the Roman camp. Military personnel at the camp of course do their duty and take no risk at what or who is aboard that ship. Percy, who was head praetor at the camp although he is Greek, came outside to the ship along with the head of camp, Reyna. The Argo II landed and off stepped Annabeth. When the Romans realized Percy knew Annabeth everyone stepped away while she ran and tackled her loving boyfriend. Later, after much talk between both camps, there was a compromise that although the camps don’t get along, they must fight together to stop the Earth goddess Gaea who was planning to destroy Olympus. Although there was friendship and trust being created, something goes terribly wrong at the camp, that destroys that trust in an instant. Now, escaping from the camp were seven demigods, both of Greek and Roman, destined to fulfill the prophecy they were told at camp. They don’t know what lies in store for them, they must make their way to Ancient Rome to stop Gaea and her children of Giants by following “The Mark of Athena.”

If you are into Greek mythology, this book as well as the entire series Rick Riordan has created, would be a thrilling read for yourself. Although, it can be said the books are an easier read for someone not of a young age, the book creates a massive amount of imagery for the reader. When I read the Heros of Olympus series, there is something about the way Riordan writes that helps me, and I’m positive other readers as well, create the world in our heads as we would see what’s happening. Riordan doesn’t describe the setting of each scene with much detail, just enough for the reader to create an imagination to turn into a reality of what they’d think was there. I enjoy his style of writing as well. With each new book to the series it only continues to amplify the outstanding work he has already created, giving him more kudos per page.

This book is a wonderful read for the young age and a perfect pick for anyone interested in Adventure. Riordan’s most famous character, the audacious Percy Jackson, is the ideal idol for most kids. When you think about him in depth, you see a trustworthy, protective, and insightful hero, who overcomes any obstacle thrown at him. In conclusion, the book The Mark of Athena can be placed in the same loved category all of Riordan’s book have been placed, creating a wonderful world full of imagination and learning for young readers everywhere.

The Mark of Athena by: Rick Riordan. Published: October 2nd 2012. 574 pages. (Fantasy/Young adult literature/Greek mythology/Romance novel)

In Bossypants by Tina Fey, you will find very intriguing stories. Stories from how she has a scar on her face, how much she loves and hates her job, and even stories about drunk babies! This book is not a classical romantic novel, or an all jokes book. This book is full of personal events that just make the moment funny. This book indeed is an autobiography. Everything happening in the book is about Tina Fey or related to to her in some way. If you want to know about how someone worked their way up a later, read about someone’s personal life and think hey, I am not the only person going through this, some sketches about Sarah Palin or just get a good(GREAT) laugh then this is the book for you!

Elizabeth Stamatina Fey also known as Tina Fey, was born on May 18, 1970. She is from a town right outside of Philadelphia named Upper Darby. The entire book is about personal to not so personal events in Tina’s life. She explains her childhood, her teenage years and her adulthood to a certain extent. In Bossypants, Tina Explains her childhood. She was very intrigued in the theatre. Everything she did revolved around the theatre. That influenced her life greatly because as a teenager, she work at theater as a cashier. She would like to see everyone perform and one day she performed too. She knew that is what she enjoyed doing. As she grew up that was her support. While going to school, She had a job at a YMCA to be able to pay off classes for theatre. By working and dedicating her life to her job and family, she has received many achievements and is where she is today. Throughout the book, she displays how she worked hard to get what she wanted. By being very detailed when talking about how she went from point a to b and so on, she gives the reader the opportunity to experience what she went through in some form.

This book takes you to a very similar place that Forever by Judy Blume takes you. They are both completely different genres and both have a different purpose too, but they both have one goal; to work for what they want. “Forever” was about a girl who went to a party and  fell deeply in love with a guy she met. The feeling was mutual and were going out for a while. At first everyone was happy for them, but then as time went by, they thought that if they gave each other some time, they would be able to experience new things and would be able to work through anything and everything. The only thing different between Forever and Bossypants is that the main character in Forever gave up her love because she realized that in the time she spent alone without him, that she was not truly in love with him she was just used to having him. Tina Fey was not like this. When she worked for something she workers through it all. In her book, she explains how some nights she had to stay up to finish a sketch for Saturday Night Live. (If you saw some episodes before the 2008 election and a few months later, then probably one of her sketches were in the story and you got a good laugh out of it.) Tina Fey, was the person who impersonated Sarah Palin. Although she got a lot of negative criticism for impersonating Sarah Palin, she kept moving forward and kept making new sketches.

Also, this book gives a very insightful view on what she did at work. She loved her sketches the most. With that being said, if you are really into acting, you should read this book as well. The introduction to this book was strong as well as the other parts of the book.The only downside to the book is the ending. The books ending could have been stronger. It just seems that everything was rushed. Thats like baking a cake. If the most delicious condiments are added to the cake, then a great cake is expected. But if you put it in the oven and leave it for 20 minutes because you are trying to work fast than 35 to bring the cake to perfection, then the cake will not be as good. Or maybe if you add lemon frosting to a chocolate cake. Lemon cake is good but when you mix it with chocolate it isn’t the best cake at least that is in my case. If Tina Fey added more details to the ending like she did to the rest of the book, then the book would of been better. More of a cliffhanger would of been better as well. Maybe when she hits 70, she could’ve written another book and her cliffhanger would of been the completed version of the book.  This book ending was not what I expected. Everything was tied together too quick. More details should have been including. Regardless of the ending, this book is one of the best books  I have personally read.

The life of the actress, script writer and charming Tina Fey is really down to earth and hilarious. Bossypants reflets that all. It lets the reader know that sometimes in life, many lemons will be tossed at you. And you either take the hits negatively or make lemonade.

Bossypants-Tina Fey-April 5,2011-277 pages- Autobiography

Citations for iMovie and Book Review:

Bossypants. 2011. Photograph. N.p.

"Tina Fey." PEOPLE.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Fey, Tina. Bossypants. New York: Little, Brown and, 2011. Print.

SNL. N.d. Photograph. N.p.

Blume, Judy. Forever ...: A Novel. Scarsdale, NY: Bradbury, 1975. Print.

Ben Carson: Gifted Hands

The complete autobiography of the famed African American Neurosurgeon. This is his tale of grit and hard work in a time where the odds were in the complete opposite of his favor.

Spanning the from the late 1950’s up to the late 2000’s, Gifted hands covers more than 55 years of Dr. Carson’s life. At a young age, Carson’s mother and father split after the revelation of his father’s second family. Carson’s mother battled with a lack of education, mental disorders, and finance as she struggled to raise her two sons in the city of Detroit at the peak of the civil rights movement. Although today we know Dr. Carson as one of the most talented surgeons in America, he was consistently the bottom of his class throughout his elementary years of schooling. His mother, working under successful caucasian families, drew inspiration from her employers on values to instill within her own children. By the time Carson graduated from the eighth grade, he was the top of his class. Of course, his successes at his all white school were not met with approval from his peers. On top of racial discrimination, Carson struggled with a severe anger management problem. However, he didn’t let these obstacles hinder him. He continued to excel through high school, reaching achievements high enough to earn him acceptance to Yale University. There, Carson met his wife, Candy. Drawing from the values of hard work, integrity, and his strong belief in god Dr. carson has achieved many successes in his career.

This is an autobiography, allowing the reader to feel more of an intimate relationship with the author. Along with relaying the events of his life, Carson also gives us insights on his thoughts throughout each event. Considering the level of education and knowledge Dr. Carson possesses, the book reads very much at a basic level. The book has a very relaxed and informal tone, almost as if you are sitting in your quaint living room having a conversation with a man probably miles away from your home. By doing this, you can vividly see the way the Dr. Carson matures as he ages.  

In this beautiful, spiritual, and poetic #1 bestseller Maya Angelou writes about her childhood and recalls many situations that happened within her black community that changed her perspectives on life. Throughout the book Maya speaks on the triumphs,losses, dignity and courage of the black community. “I know Why The Caged Bird Sings” is filled with many anecdotes that are almost like puzzle pieces that fit together so beautifully that you not only understand her life, you love her life and each and every word speaks to your soul. Maya Angelou is one of very few authors who can write a story so inspirational, powerful and compelling that you build a bond with each character. Allowing you to cry for their hardships and smile at their accomplishments. “I Know Why The Caged Birds Sings” is not only uplifting to the many people in the black community but also,  other communities of people who have had many losses and victories in their lives.

Maya Angelous was born on April 2, 1928 in St.Louis, Missouri and was raised in Stamps, Arkansas by her grandmother. As a child Maya loved poetry, reading books and even obtained a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco's Labor School. After giving birth to her first and only child, Guy Johnson, Maya began working as a waitress to support her new baby  However, Maya’s love for literature and civil rights changed her path in life and she became a poet,novelist, historian and civil rights activist. Maya has been married three times and won over four award including Presidential Medal of Freedom. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is not Maya’s only book. “And Still I Rise”, “Letter to My Daughter” and “Mom & Me & Mom” are just a pea size amount of all the books Maya has written.

“I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” opens with a three year old Maya and her four year old brother, Bailey moving to Arkansas with her grandmother whom she called momma. Maya lives with her grandmother for many years in a primarily black neighborhood. She grows up as a A student who loves reading. After many years of living in Arkansas with her grandmother something that seems normal but is actually a very life changing event happens. Bailey and Maya get a present from their parent who they originally thought were dead. Then one year later Maya’s dad shows up and decided that it is time for Bailey and Maya to live with their mom. Maya’s dad takes them to St.Louis where their mother, Vivian, lives. While there Maya meets her mothers boyfriend Mr.Freeman. Although Maya’s life with her mother was not perfect, she gets used to it but then the unimaginable happens. Mr.Freeman rapes Maya at the tender age of 8. This experience changed Maya in more ways than one and left behind scares that will never be healed. Through out the rest of the book you can see a difference in Maya after the rape.

For people who are sensitive to rape,murder and racism this book might not be the book for you. Maya Angelou goes into explicit details on her rape and how it affected her as a person. Also, there are stories of pretty graphic murders. However, if you can get pass the harshness of these topics, you will love the book. I would recommend  this book to anyone, of any age who loves reading poetry or enjoys reading books about the lives of people over fifty years ago. This book has historical and social value. “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” was published in 1969, there is 289 pages in the book and there was even a movie made about the book. However, the movie did not do very well because people felt that it could not deliver the same emotion that the book did. Overall, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” is a 10 out of  10 stars. The raw emotion in this book is overwhelming and the compelling stories are more  than  enough to swoop a person off their feet.

Maya Angelou’s  Life

The concept of the Holiday House seems very simple and direct: The house serves as a safe haven from all that isn’t what it shouldn’t be, offering homemade cookies made fresh from the oven, a couple nice children who serve as the ideal buddies, and endless activities and fun. The somewhat chilling effect that is given off by the story is the severity of the perfection occurring in this reality. For every day that passes by at the Holiday House, back in reality, an entire year passes. This goes hand in hand with the fact that for each day that passes at the house, all four seasons occur throughout each day. The Holiday House’s extremely deceiving facade is a perfect challenge for the mature and wise mind of Harvey Swick. The seemingly perfect environment, where every morning is Christmas, everything has purpose, and not a dull moment exists, was simply too perfect to trick Harvey. After consulting with a fellow resident around his age named Lulu, he realizes that she isn’t really happy, at all. He discovers that the owner of the house, Mr. Hood, is imprisoning the children with this false utopia. The fact that Harvey is so intelligent and can process such mature and adult-level thoughts makes the read very satisfying, as rarely do we see a ten year old doing the things Harvey did.

The recurring theme in this story is the comparison between what is real and what is illusion. These main topics incite deep thought and deeper meanings under the plot. The sense of otherworldliness within this seemingly ever so normal environment is a prime example of paradox and illusion. This characteristic of the book makes it only more alluring, as it becomes almost effortless to lose yourself in the realms and layers of the story. This strong trait that the book possesses makes it a fantastic read for the more mature audience. This asset brings along another powerful comparison to the novel, which is the comparison of audiences. The book remains simple enough for rather young individuals to thoroughly enjoy the plot, while the deeper meanings will satisfy the needs of the more mature, deep thinking reader.

Low points in this story are scarce. The only ones realistically fathomable are the writing tense (the story is written in third person, some people may much rather prefer first person), the fact that the book had no successor or series along with it, or, complimenting that flaw, that the book was just too short. However, it is still an impressive accomplishment to fit a story of such thought provoking themes into 225 rather small pages. The writing is superb and has a classic flow that allows the reader to forget their surroundings and find themselves immersed in the plot. Clive is a very naturally gifted writer; having been a writer since the 1980’s it’s an understatement to say he’s had some experience in the field. Being an adept horror writer, this novel is strongly influenced by that trait of Mr. Barker. The vibe that is given off throughout the story is a chilling, eerie vibe, and I believe that comes directly from the author’s past experiences in writing.

I would recommend this book to just about any reader who is looking for a great, well rounded story. The length is suitable for most audiences, and within this length are incredible new thoughts and ideas to be explored. Clive Barker has done a fantastic job weaving and intertwining realities in this book. The blend of what is real and what is illusion will captivate any reader, age seven or seventy, and leave them reflecting upon their own reality, what is real and what is not, and other philosophical theories. This thought provoking novel is a wonderful read, but beware, just like Harvey, you may lose track of time after entering the realms of the thief of always.

Title: The Thief Of Always

Author: Clive Barker

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date of Publication: Nov. 18th, 1992

Number of pages: 225 (first edition), 240 (newer edition)

Genre: = Fiction

Short stories are the souffles of literary work; quick and short, rush and it will flatten, leave too long, it will burn. Sherman Alexie is truly a chef who has mastered the art of creating characters that we meet for about a half of an hour, yet are able to savor for a lifetime.

Alexie, a Native American who grew up on a reservation, is an author renowned for his writing skills just as much as for his controversial and personal topics. The Native American writer is so rare, his perspective, a crucial part in the making of American identity, is renowned in the literary community, as well as the world. Racial and cultural notability aside, Alexie’s writing has earned him more than 15 awards. He has written and directed 4 movies included in the Sundance movie festival.

Through his “War Dances”, a series of short stories and poems, Alexie not only questions what it means to be Native American in the America, but what it means to be a person, anywhere. Son of an alcoholic father and a victim of seizures and bullying, Alexie gives us this piece, “War Dances”, that melds lines between fiction and bone-chilling autobiographical facts and moments. Through snarkiness, laughs and an occasional session of somberness, Alexie allows the reader to fully his word for word, masterpiece.

These stories, some told in first person, others in the third, are like dreams. You can’t really tell how long you’ve known the character once you’ve flipped the first page .You don’t remember when you started, but you know exactly where you are. Alexie’s short stories have their readers afraid to turn the page, for fear a connection with the character would be over, like a friend you met during a week-long vacation.

There is something relatable in every character. I, an African American girl felt akin to the Native American man who killed a black teen. Alexie doesn’t just convey the pain of the main character. In every story, he shows how the entire world around them begins to crumble, and at times with a hilarious prose.  

Alexie’s satire is not overt. Every sentence does not blame America for the Native American people’s condition. When he chooses to address the situation (in about 3 stories), there is a subtlety that challenges the reader as a person to criticize the character, as well as themselves. Any reader who enjoys a book that does not answer questions, but rebirths age-old ones and challenges the world around them, as well as their universal truths, should pick up “War Dances”.

The Dirty Divorce
By: Ashley Spells

The dirty divorce is such an amazing book! It takes place in Washington D.C.From the time you start till the end you are on the edge of your seat. You are always wondering what is going to happen next. This is the type of book where you don't want to sit it down you have to keep reading.Miss K.P. did a awesome job keeping the readers attention and not making the book boring.The book is full of drama and it makes you think and it makes you feel as if you were there. I myself am not a fan of reading books a lot but this book was different I really could not sit this book down thats how good it was.Love,trust,lies,deceit,money,family and sex are the common themes in the book. Pregnancy,rape and abduction hit the family all at one time.
The main characters of the book are Lisa and Rich. Lisa and Rich are married and have two children together,Juan who is the oldest and Denie who is the baby girl. Lisa is a stay at home wife and mom.Lisa gets any and everything she wants and loves to go shopping! I first realized that I was going to love this book when I made a connection with Lisa’s character.Lisa loves to go shopping she is very chill and loves to have fun.When I first were reading about Lisa I pictured myself being with her because we like doing similar things. Rich and Lisa are complete opposites, I guess its true that opposites attract.Rich is a sexy drug pin and he runs the city of D.C! Rich is a gangster and is well respected In D.C. Denie which is Lisa’s and Rich’s daughter is a daddy’s girl she and Rich have a great relationship  but Denie never had a good relationship with her mother Lisa. Denie is a spoiled brat she gets everything she wants.Juan on the other hand is a mommy’s boy he would do anything and everything for Lisa,Juan hates Rich with a passion. Lisa and Rich live the fab life in the suburbs of D.C. They have the nice cars,Big house etc.Rich is top drug dealer in D.C. he is very attractive and girls love him.
Lisa grew up in the church.She went to church every day of the week well until she met Rich. He was the bad guy,she was the good girl it was love at first sight. Lisa fell in love with Rich only because he was the bad guy that’s what she loved most about him.She loved that we was into the game because she grew up in the church she never experienced a “bad boy” Only Lisa didn’t know what she was getting herself into. Lisa is the type of chick that was be like “What am I going to do without him” She was so use to having everything handed to her that she forgot all about being independent. I really hated that Lisa depended on a man.
Rich has the money and the look and girls would just throw themselves at him. Rich always cheats on Lisa with other women. Lisa is so naive about the situation! Lisa really got on my nerves when it came to Rich and his infidelities. She knows Rich cheats on her but Lisa loves him so much and have been with him for so long that she could never see herself ever leaving Rich for good.When she tries to walk away when she has had enough he would always shower her with gifts to make her stay.Rich knew exactly what to do to make Lisa not mad at him anymore.Lisa is so blinded by Rich’s infidelities that she always comes back to Rich.We all have that boy who we love and can never give up.We know that he is doing wrong and that we shouldn't be with him but we stay because of our love for that person.Even when we do leave that person alone we know at the end of the day we will always be there well that’s how Lisa feel about Rich but how much can a person take before they are done forever? I understood that Lisa didn’t wanna leave Rich alone because she really cares for him and love him but Lisa really made me so mad when she started to make up excuses for not leaving. She would always use her kids as an excuse to stay with Rich.
I think a lot of young girls  would love to read this book and can relate to this book. I believe that anyone who does read this book would love it because it touches on things that are going on in the real world and also because its a suspenseful book, keeps you interested and also on your edge of your seat. Overall this is my book review on The Dirty Divorce by Miss K.P.

The Dirty Divorce
By: Miss K.P.
Publisher: Life changing books
Genre:Drama.
Total Pages: 233 pages
Date published:May 14th 2010

it was a story nobody was telling

there are boys lying awake hating themselves.

there are boys who clutch secrets at night the same way they clutch denial in day.

our humor was our compass our humor was our shield

when we kissed, we know how powerful it is

ignorance is not bliss. Bliss is knowing the full meaning of what you have been given.

our happiness had defiance our happiness had fear

when  we feared being too open meant opening ourselves to attacks

you spend so much time, so much effort, trying to hold yourself together just for it to all fall apart

if you put enough closets together, you have enough space for a room

it is not darkness we fear but our own dreadfulness in it

the fewer connections you’ve made in the world the easier it is to leave

our lives were short and we never would have wanted them to be shorter

If you play your cards right, the next generation will have much more than you did

I am not wrong. Society is wrong.

The non-fiction book Two Boys Kissing is a story that travels through the life of gay teens who are discovering who they are and their many different struggles. The author, David Levithan takes you on a journey through the very distinct real stories of teens who share very different stories in their lives. He shows the perspective of what to many of us seems something so normal to in the 21st century be gay, but from the perspective of a gay teen you begin to realize how recent it is that being gay has been ok, if it even is yet.

The author David Levithan is a New York Times best seller, who is known for many other realistic fiction and nonfiction stories for teens. Some examples of his work are Invisibility, Every Day, Every You Every Me, Lover’s Dictionary, and Love is the Higher Law. He decided to write this book when a man named Michel Cart asked him to write a book about LGBTQ life today. His whole life he has seen struggles of being gay;for example his Uncle almost died of aids, or his best friends got married in Washington DC. The title of the book came from a David Hockney painting named “We Two Boys Together Clinging” which was from a Walt Whitman Poem. In his author's notes he says, “This isn’t a book that I could have written ten years ago. And as much as I’d love to credit that to my growth as a writer, I know it’s not really that. Instead it’s about all the people I’ve met and talked to as an author.”

The story is narrated by two adult gay men who follow these other boys through their journeys as teens. The premise begins at a gay prom where kids travel from all over because many of them live in towns where they are not accepted and this is their night. You meet Peter, Neil, Avery, Ryan, Craig, Harry and Cooper. The book switches back and forth through their stories.         

Through the book the main story that connects all of the characters is the telling of two boys trying to break the record for the longest kiss. These boys are Craig and Harry, they are ex boyfriend's who decided to take on this challenge of a 36 hour kiss. Through the story you will see their struggles through the kiss physically and emotionally as their feelings run wild. Craig’s parents do not know that he is gay while Harry’s parents are big supporters of the kiss and him. Peter and Neil are a fairly new couple whose journey through their relationship is laid out in the book. There is another couple that begins to appear, Avery and Ryan who met at the gay prom. Avery is a girl and is transgender, their new relationship endures many hardships even though it has just begun. The last boy in the story is Cooper who has a much harder time than the other boys with his identity. His story is one that is not like the others.

The book is interesting because it gives you a whole new look at what it means to be gay in our society. For people living in an urban setting being gay has become something that is typical. When you hear the stories of these boys though you get a whole new look on what it means. Our society is still ignorant and the stories of these boys will change your life.

The poetic writing grabs the readers attention and drags them into a whole new realm of connection with these characters. In one part of the kiss when he talks about the book he says, “this is the power of a kiss: it does not have the power to kill you. But it has the power to bring you to life.” He intertwines a very typical teenage writing style into one where there is more depth. It magnifies that it is a love story that still has many ups and downs in it and that is shown through the writing style. The book is written with two narrators who follow these boys and for a lack of better words comment on their decisions and their journey through being gay. It flips between their narrations and dialogues between the characters.

Although the book was very well written and I enjoyed the writing style some parts could have been done a little better. I understand that this is supposed to be a vignette of different love stories displaying a struggle but I feel that there was not an appropriate use of dramatization in the correct places. David Cullen in sometimes presented certain parts too over and under dramatized leaving the reader annoyed by giving up so many chances he add to add many key scenes to the book.

If you enjoy teenage love stories that are not so average then this is the book for you. I would recommend it for a young adult audience who is also aware of social issues.

Title: Two Boys Kissing

Author:David Levithan

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Date of Publication: August 27, 2013

Number of Pages: 200