The Silmarillion (#2)

Pages: 102-197

Favorite Quote: "For from his first days in Gondolin he had borne a grief, ever worsening, that robbed him of all joy: he loved the beauty of Idril and desired her, without hope. [...] And however that might be, Idril loved Maeglin not at all [...] But as the years passed still Maeglin watched Idril, and waited , and his love turned to darkness ain his heart. [...] Thus it was in Gondolin; and amid all the bliss of that realm, while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown" (139).

I think that this idea of unrequited love is something that many people can connect to. Maeglin's feelings are not returned and it causes him much pain. It is intriguing to see that out of something so good and pure, Love, such maliciousness and evil can spring forth. I think that Tolkien uses this situation to show the connection between good and bad. It runs much deeper than anyone thinks it does, so that out of pure, or thought to be pure, goodness, evil can grow. Tolkien personifies this drive to harm and corrupt as Morgoth, a being of power which constantly withstands the assaults of the other powerful beings, or Valar, attempting to stop his evil.

Although there is a very distinct separation between what the Elves, or Eldar, are and the race of Man, the Elves seem all too suceptable to the same faults of humanity. Their feelings are the same: jealousy, vengeance, animosity. The Elves seem very "human" in their own right, behaving much like us and differing in their immortality and physical forms. They are more advanced than the Men in the book, but this is only because they were created first. It's rather interesting to see how the Elves regard Men as inferior and lower life forms, even though they themselves act like Men do too!

I'm not going to lie. The Silmarillion is a very intricate book, and it's taking me a while to get through it. There's many different people, places, and events which get tangled up a bit in my head sometimes, so I need to go back and reread sections quite frequently. However, I am enjoying the book quite thoroughly, and the stories are just fascinating.

My rating of the book so far: 10/10

(the Mist sent by Morgoth poisoned some mountains, evil tainting pure nature)

The Silmarillion (#1)

Pages: 1-102

Favorite Quote: "But the sons of Men die indeed, and leave the world; wherefore they are called the Guests, or the strangers. Death is their fate, the gift of Iluvatar, which as Time wears even the Powers shall envy" (42).

This isn't such a major quote, as it is only mentioned as Iluvatar makes his Children, the Elves and the Men. However, I think it's quite profound. People usually think of Death as a bad thing, something to be feared, nit jere. it is spoken of as a gift. As you read on, the fate of te Elves is discussed, and among them is Miriel who grows tired of living. Humans don't live all that long, so we don't know just how weary living can get. It demonstrates the need for a balance between silence and noise, peace and vigorous action.

The Silmarillion is a very enjoyable book for those who love mythology and stories of a more classical style. The language Tolkien uses flows so well, it's almost like poetry in prose. I do like to read novels written in this kind of style because it just seems so much more fluid and flowing. It's hard to explain, but like Watership Down, the writing style seems "old-fashioned" in a way. It uses more words to express an idea, but it's in a good way. I love getting back into this deep fantasy. The story is so enchanting, and mixed with Tolkien's writing, it's really fun to read.

The only difficulty I'm coming across is that there are so many different characters! Of the Valar, there are already so many, but when I read about the history of the Elves and how they are split into so many different groups and have different leaders, it does get confusing! I do have to reread parts at times just to figure out who is who. What I really like, though, is encountering characters that appear in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and finding out their backstories. So fascinating! Tolkien's world is very elaborate and well thought out, making it exceptionally interesting to read about.

My Rating of the Book so Far: 10/10

(Valinor!)

The Silmarillion by J.R.R Tolkien (Begin!)

The Silmarillion
by J.R.R. Tolkien

First thoughts:

I really love The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, so picking up The Silmarillion only seems natural. I read Tolkien's other books years ago, but I never got around to reading this one. This is actually the first Fantasy book I'm blogging about here, even though I usually read a lot of fantasy. Can't wait to get back into it. Let's see how it goes!

A Thousand Splendid Suns (End!)

Pages: 94-367 (Wow! I'm so happy that I got to read so much already. )

Favorite Quote: "Mariam is never very far. She is here, in these walls they've repainted, in the walls they've repainted, in the trees they've planted, in the blankets that keep the children warm, in these pillows and books and pencils. She is in the children's laughter. She is in the verses Aziza recites and in the prayers she mutters when she bows westward. But, mostly, Mariam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns" (366).

Many people can probably relate to this quote. We all feel loss at some point, and Laila's feelings here express a kind of peace that we all want to feel afterwords someone disappears from our life. Laila's learned the best way to cope, to calmly accept and "endure" just as Mariam's mother advised. However, Mariam's mother, Nana's enduring had a different feel, a sullen stubbornness to stick to self-righteousness. Laila, like Mariam, has learned how to "endure" with grace, to accept what happens and to gain peace at heart. They're both better people for it.

In fact, Laila and Mariam both had examples of the first type of enduring. Both their mothers, Fariba and Nana rejected happiness in favor of wallowing in the past tragedies. Perhaps, the experiences with such defunct mothers is what steered Laila and Mariam to eventually change their own lives to better forms. The message of hope and eventual peace pervades the book even in its darkest moments, but I think that Hosseini may have overdone it a bit.

Although A Thousand Splendid Suns is a wonderful story, it seems a little too unlikely. Events happen that don't seem to be very probable to happen in the way they did. Maybe all the tragedy is overplayed, a missile exploding in Laila's house and killing her parents right before they are all about to leave war-torn Afghanistan. It's very dramatic, but more of these kinds of events make them seem cheesy. On the other hand, the book seems to have some very good intentions, detailing on how relationships change between people over time, how people are brought together or torn apart. Like The Kite Runner, this novel really focuses on the characters, the human aspect of stories. The extensive and vivid cast of characters is what really makes the reader feel like he/she is in the story, right alongside Mariam and Laila.

Rating of the book: 8/10 (The difference between this and The Kite Runner is just how real the book feels, other than that, it's a wonderful read.)

A Thousand Splendid Suns (#1)

Pages: 1-94 (Part 1)

Although it is told in third person, the main character of Part 1, Mariam, feels very much alive. The clarity of the way her thoughts and emotions are illustrated is striking when the slightly detached air of the story is taken into consideration. Even though there really aren't too many scenes described in the stretch of time Part 1 encompasses, the ones Hosseini does pick to elaborate on are vividly painted to make it seem like the reader has lived through it all and has really connected to the characters. Khaled Hosseini proves again that he is a master story teller.

A Thousand Splendid Suns seems to be a study in perspectives. Mariam's thought processes shift as she goes through many different experiences, from living on the outskirts of society as a bastard child to being forced into a marriage with a man 30 years older than her. We see her originally clinging to believing that her father is a good man, truly caring for her and rejecting the cynical pessimism of her mother. But then, she realizes the truth and her viewpoints completely turn around, now scrutinizing people's actions through the lens of her mother's attitude. Mariam's relationship with her husband also changes beginning in fear and uncertainty to care and tenderness to abuse and growing farther apart after several miscarriages.

The tragedy seems a little veiled though. It feels as if a few scenes were rushed, not pumping out all the potential feeling, but every where else, it's phenomenal. Although the book's plot doesn't seem to really go anywhere, it's greatest strength is the connection it forms with the reader, the bridge for emotions, feelings, the ups and downs of the characters to really flow. It's a nice change from all the plot-driven, not really in depth books that are really popular today.

Rating of the book so far: 9/10 (It's good, but I'm a little iffy about it)

(Mariam means white tuberose--the flower above)

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Begin!)

A Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseini

First thoughts:

I really loved The Kite Runner, and the author's writing style was just so appealing. I'm really hoping that A Thousand Splendid Suns is just as great. I'm wondering if A Thousand Splendid Suns will teach me any more about Afghan culture, since I really enjoyed that aspect of reading The Kite Runner. Let's see how it goes!

Watership Down (End!) and End of Quarter entry

Pages: 300-481

Watership Down was really an amazing book. I really enjoyed reading it and the whole story was very engaging. The end was very creative and although I first read it in its form in Fire Bringer, it was lovely. It's nice to know what the original is in these kinds of situations, and Fire Bringer was original and quite something, I can now clearly see the influences of Watership Down on it.

End of Quarter 1:

Blogging was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be because I can actually just write what I'm thinking which isn't so hard. For my entries this past quarter, I usually analyzed quotes or characters actions because those are what really interest me in books. I did include different topics in each entry though. Blogging also helped me somewhat. I delved deeper into the books and writing my thoughts down helped me to really understand those once vague ideas in the back of my mind.

For the second quarter, I'd like to read a little more so I can write more entries on different books. Watership Down was a rather hefty book, and many different factors kept from reading more. I thought I did a pretty good job with my blog entries, though, so I don't really know what to improve on in them. What would really get me more involved and excited would be to read more.

Watership Down (#3)

Pages: 209-300

Favorite Quote: "'Animals don't behave like men,' he said. 'If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill, they kill. But they don't sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures' lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality'" (249).

What a topsy-turvy quote! We usually associate humanity with civility and being above animalistic urges, but here, the rabbits are talking about how their animality is dignity above human's malicious tendencies. This is another example of how Watership Down brings out human traits to be scrutinized in a fashion that books with human characters cannot. This quote is advocating simple, need-based actions as the more dignified, noble way of life. Maybe intelligence is overrated. Maybe it corrupts some humans to the point of misuse, and is therefore not an asset to humanity.

However, I think that there's another side to this higher intelligence coin. At one point, Hazel is speaking with Holly about the does as if they are just breeding fodder, and "ideas of protection, fidelity, romantic love, and so on" (260) never cross their minds. Humanity can use their intelligence and ability not to have to only do need-based actions for good. At least, People usually think of love as a good thing. But, Hazel and the other rabbits have probably only ever encountered humans on the wrong end of the gun, so this point about spoiling other creatures' lives is from a rabbit perspective. But, the reader can still take it as a warning of sorts, making us beware of victimizing others, reaping benefits the expense of others.

Hazel's really grown in this book. Starting as a young buck, raring to charge straight forward into things, he now has a method to his madness, more wisdom to temper his actions. He has now started to listen to what Fiver says, and thinks actions through as well. As a leader, he's developed wonderful qualities along their journey. He is now able to organize others, reading what they need most at the moment and assigning tasks to the best suited rabbits among them for the job. This leadership he's developed shows through in how the other rabbits treat him. He now commands loyalty from them even in times of hardship and they listen to his suggestions almost all the time, only requiring other encouragement at other instances. This character development is quite nice to follow, almost like an abbreviated version of a teen growing up.

Hazel's policy of helping out other animals that are not rabbits to gain their future support is rather interesting. He starts out with a mouse, but then gains the support of Kehaar, a black-headed gull. It's almost non-rabbit like behavior, borderline human. This fits in with Hazel's group of rabbit's tendency to adopt different, atypical behaviors to survive their situations, like digging burrows when the does usually do. However, with the warren they encounter, Efrafa, we see this has gone too far. Originally started out as a system to avoid any misfortune brought about by humans, Efrafa has a very militaristic society. The dictator, General Woundwort's, system is crumbling though. Overpopulation is forcing lean times on the warren, and the forced compliance of all the rabbits makes it as almost they are not living a life at all. Fiver references the poet rabbit in Cowslip's warren, talking about he had seemed dead even though he was alive physically. He knew where he was going, but it wasn't in this world. He had to pay a price for knowing though, and so his fatalistic poetry reflects the anguish and despair he feels from different pieces tearing within himself. Fiver and the rest of the rabbits are contemplating what it means to be alive, what an existence constitutes. Rather interesting, if I do say so myself.

Rating of the book so far: 10/10 (not to say that I'm lenient with rating books, but the ones I've read so far have been really good)

Watership Down (#2)

Pages: 132-208

Favorite Quote: "In the faint starlight they both saw a rabbit as real as themselves: a rabbit in the last stages of exhaustion, its back legs trailing behind its flattened rump as though paralyzed: a rabbit that stared, white-eyed from one side to the other, seeing nothing, yet finding no respite from its fear, and then fell to licking wretchedly at one ripped and and bloody ear that drooped across its face: a rabbit that suddenly cried and wailed as though entreating the Thousand to come from every quarter to rid it of a misery too horrible to be borne. / It was Captain Holly of the Sandleford Owsla" (151).

Yes, this quote is quite a bit gruesome, but I like it for the effect the last line has. In the past scene, there was a ghostly voice calling out for Hazel, and the atmosphere was very tense because the rabbits thought that it was some sort of legendary rabbit equivalent of the boogey man. Then, there's this very descriptive quote about the rabbit that comes into view. Naturally, the reader wants to know who this is! But, then we see that it is Captain Holly who when we last saw was attempting to stop the band or rabbits from leaving the Sandleford Warren (the original one where the story starts out). This scene of creates so much tension in such a small amount of time. It's quite incredible.

One feature of this book I find really enjoyable and interesting are the short interludes where for some occasion or the other, a story from Lapine lore is told. Though they don't directly contribute to the main storyline, they're like little legends that are fun to read. Most of them have the air of the myths and fables we all here, and I find them rather interesting.

This week, I was a little disappointed at how much work I had to do. I didn't get to read as much as I wanted, but I think I got a good size in. I'll be trying to catch up over the weekend!

My rating of the book so far: 10/10 (still such a great read!)

Watership Down (#1)

Pages: 1-132

Favorite Quote: "'No one must ever ask where another rabbit was, and anything else that could make ever ask where another rabbit was and anyone who asked 'Where?'--except in a song or a poem--must be silenced. To say 'Where?' was bad enough, but to speak /openly of the wires--that was intolerable. For that they would scratch and kill" (129/130).

Watership Down's cast of characters is comprised of rabbits, many different ones with different personalities and roles. It chronicles the journey of a small group of rabbits as they journey away from their warren after one of them, Fiver, has a premonition of the warren being destroyed.

Fiver is an interesting character, one whose insight into situations and early warnings of danger are not taken seriously by others. Nobody listens to him until it's almost too late, and it is slightly reminiscent of our own society, where we find that many times, dangers are overlooked and situations unconditionally accepted when we find ourselves grounded in a comfortable spot.

Fiver is the only one who suspects the overabundance of food and luxury of the warren they join temporarily, and the others accept the warren's strange behaviors in favor of staying in a comfortable place. One of their number is almost killed before they listen to Fiver opening their eyes to the sinister nature of the warren, the wonderful conditions supplied by Man in order to fatten the rabbits for harvesting by way of snares.

However, the rest of the warren seems to know about these snares, and instead of attempting to escape from the situation, they semi-accept it, letting themselves fall into a state of denial, defending their attempts to dismiss the situation, their cowardice by fighting tooth and nail against anyone trying to bring it to light. (see Favorite Quote at the top)

Humanity feels the effects of these kinds of actions as well. People unquestioningly accept comfort and ease of living with a dangerous disregard for any hidden strings, later impacts that may show up. And, when the horrible truth comes to light, when they almost die, choking themselves on a snare they run themselves into, they go one of two ways. The rabbits of the warren choose to accept their situation as is, lying to themselves to try to get back to the way of live they once had before the snares. But, this is self-destructive. They lose their identity, obsessively trying to deny what's going on around them and losing themselves, who they are in the process. But, in Fiver's group, they have another option. Reason is like a slap in the face, waking them up to realize that they can't accept this way of "living," and they decide to choose the unknown and possible hardship rather than the madness of living knowing of the possibility of impending death every day.

Rabbits are an interesting form for the characters to take. As in Fire Bringer, they mirror human behavior, perhaps more human than we ourselves see others as. The author's choice to use animal characters over human characters allows for more flexibility and an easier to see commentary on human behavior. Oftentimes, when one reads a book about humans, one subconsciously sees the points the author makes about human behavior, but when animals are used, these stick out much more, allowing for the author's intended point to be delivered much more clearly.

The writing style is very enjoyable. Starting out, it is very much like the format of a true story. One told out loud, one told to children before bedtime. There is just a unique quality around these types of stories. Situations are recurring, the characters on the journey encountering a problem and figuring out how to overcome them to run into another problem. It's an out-of-the-frying-pan- into-the-fire type of format. But, then this novel gets more serious. When the little band steps into the new warren, the tone shifts to a much more serious one, where the stakes are much higher, and the lessons to be learned much more profound.

At first glance, Watership Down may seem like a childish type of novel, but on closer inspection, it reveals itself to be full of profound ideas, teaching of the dangers of snares, both those external placed and those self-imposed.

Rating of the book so far: 10/10 (Yes, it really is a great classic!)

Watership Down by Richard Adams (Begin!)

Watership Down
By Richard Adams

First thoughts:

Reasons why I picked this book.
1) It's a classic!
2) It's about animals (rabbits, specifically), and I like animals.
3) I saw a review of Fire Bringer (one of my summer reading books) mention that Fire Bringer did for deer what Watership Down did for rabbits. I really liked Fire Bringer, so I thought Watership Down would be a good story to read.

Let's see how it goes!

The Kite Runner (End!)

Pages: 311-371

One thought: Now that is what I call a good ending!

The ending section was quite a whirlwind. It was just full of twists, turns, and new developments. After the calming middle section about domestic life, this part with all the action and adventure in Afghanistan was just spilling over with energy. Not that I'm complaining.

Everything seemed to come full circle here, with Amir going back to the land of his childhood (although he and it are radically changed), and now with Sohrab, the late Hassan's son, he works slowly to redeem himself from past crimes. But, it's not without any bumps along the road. The scene with Sohrab's despair flowing into a suicide attempt is delivered in such a way to strike to the very core of the reader's heart. The panic and horror Amir feels is delivered in an extremely powerful way. The reader doesn't know exactly what happens at first, only hearing Amir "suddenly [...] on his knees, screaming. Screaming through [his] clenched teeth. Screaming until [he] thought [his] throat would rip and his [chest] explode" (343). Amir's panic is almost tangible at the moment, making it one of the most powerful scenes in the book.

Bringing Sohrab to the US and letting him recuperate is not a fantasy cakewalk, something that would have utterly ruined the book. Instead, Sohrab's silence after the trauma he underwent is much more realistic, and it makes the last scene all the more worth it. When Amir describes how he never gave up trying to engage Sohrab and went to run the kite for Sohrab, he shows just how much he has changed as a person. In the first instance of kite flying in the book he ends up betraying Hassan for his own gain, but now, he is much more sincere, a reformed man working hard to redeem himself.

This story was by far one of the best I have ever read. The ending was excellent, wrapping up the novel in a satisfying, but not corny, way. Overall, the writing was very engaging, and I would highly recommend it for any mature reader.

Book rating: 10/10 (a solid one)

The Kite Runner (#2)

Pages: 101-310

One thought: That was a powerful experience!

After departing from the Amir's old life in Kabul, the middle deals with more about him starting over, remaking himself in America. Without Hassan, I thought it wouldn't be as fun read, but the new characters introduced really weren't bad at all. They were each unique and believable. Amir's courtship of Soraya at the flea market was cute in a way. They seemed like children again, Amir talking about how his "heart stuttered at the thought of her. [... his] Swap Meet Princess" (142). It's like touching back on the childhood innocence he once had.

The structure of the book is particularly interesting. Khaled Hosseini uses flashbacks and dreams to juxtapose certain scenes and bring them out very well. Whenever Amir dreams, it's for a reason. His feelings and fears are displayed through twisted scenes that the book has already gone through except with Amir as the "bad guy." When he hears from Rahim how Hassan died, he feels so guilty, dreaming of a "man standing behind [Hassan...]. He takes a step back and raises the barrel. Places it on the back of the kneeling man's head [...and he sees] the face behind the plume of smoke swirling from the muzzle. [He] is the man" (240). Amir's remaining guilt about what he had done to Hassan is delivered to the reader in such a clear and interesting way. His subconscious is showing what he dares not put out on the outside.

Rahim, Amir's dad's old friend, is a fascinating character. He's always hanging around in the back, but he's Amir's tie to his old life. He's the driving force behind Amir coming back to Afghanistan to atone for his past sins, and he really knows what he's doing. He knows that Amir's conscious will not be clear and he will not be able to rest easy if he does not wipe away all the residue guilt from his old life. At one point Farid (Amir's driver) tells Amir that the Caldwells, the orphan caretakers that Rahim suggested never existed. Rahim knew Amir well enough to know that he would not have gone to rescue Sohrab (Hassan's son) if he knew that there was nowhere to take him. He knew Amir better than himself, knowing that taking Sohrab back himself would be good for him, but Amir's distrust of himself would not let him. Rahim lied for Amir's own good, one last one to help his friend's son.

My rating of the book so far: 10/10 (and still going strong!)

The Kite Runner (#1)

Pages: 1-100

One thought: Let me just say "Wow."

Starting off pretty lighthearted with the air of easy childhood, the voice of Amir immediately hits you as a striking feature. Told from an older Amir's perspective looking back, the tone is decidedly more mature, but it doesn't fail at all in conveying any of the emotions of his child self. Running to a hill after school to eat pomegranates, carve names in the tree, and reading stories to his illiterate servant/friend. It's the matter-of-fact way that it's presented that makes you take a double-take. The culture of Amir's Afghan world is wildly foreign, but Amir's voice makes you feel like you have lived there with him for your whole life even as you click through Google search results on qurma and the like.

Amir's character is a very human one. Set against his foil character morally exemplary servant/friend Hassan, many of Amir's own shortcomings come to light. Taking advantage of others because he can, failing to save his friend because of his own cowardice, and feeling guilt, deep, wrenching, devastating guilt. We've all had at least one of these experiences before, and Amir's experiences and decisions remind us of ourselves. He's the poster boy for spoiled, ungrateful kids, but we get to see his other sides too, when he's vulnerable and vying for affection from his father. He's a well rounded character whose very being seems to be jumping out of the pages to commune with you.

There are many scenes that are really powerful. In a particular scene Amir, suffering from guilt of leaving Hassan when Hassan really needed him, deliberately throws a pomegranate at Hassan and yells at the ever loyal Hassan to hit him back. Amir wants Hassan to show that he's capable of hurting people too, and Amir wants Hassan to punish him for being a coward, even when Hassan does not know why. But, Hassan just stands there and takes it, and when Amir is done, he does what Amir asks, he hits Amir back by smashing a pomegranate on his own forehead, "red dripping down his face like blood"(93). You can feel the anguish that Amir is going through, and Hassan's uncanny way of making every one of his actions meaningful really adds a strong note to the scene.

The Kite Runner really makes you feel. You go through not only Amir's emotions but also Hassan's through their turbulent relationship. It really is amazing.

My rating of the book so far: 10/10

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Begin!)

The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini

First Thoughts: I have to admit, I have high expectations for this book. Everybody I know, really quite literally, everybody has been raving about this book. I have picked this picked this book up before, but I had other novels of my usual Fantasy/Sci-Fi stock waiting readily in my pile aslo. So, what did I do? Exactly what you think. I put it down after reading the first paragraph. Now, my reading choices really aren't strictly limited to Fantasy/Sci-Fi, but I really don't read books like The Kite Runner that often. Let's see how it goes!

Summer Reading #2 Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies

Fire Bringer
by David Clement-Davies

Rannoch is born to a time when the herd is being subjected to a tyrannical rule, where the new Lord of the Herd will do anything to stay in power, even if that means killing anyone in his path. So, when Rannoch comes into the world with an oak-leaf shaped fawn-mark upon his brow, his foster mother fears for him. The mark is spoken of in an ancient prophecy, and the one who bears it will be a king. His foster mother knows that the Lord of the Herd would attempt to rid this new threat to his rule.

So, begins Rannoch’s journeys. As he grows up roaming between different places, trying to find where he can be safe, Rannoch encounters many tests of character and morals. He comes face-to-face with true evils like ignorance and prejudice. The prophecy unfolds, and Rannoch must live up to his destiny, or the Herla (deer) will fall into darkness.

Although the form the characters take—deer—may seem unlikely for such a tale, the author does an outstanding job keeping them deer-like while at the same time easy for the reader to connect to, much the same as with human characters. The many characters have a depth of character that make them seem very real, and Rannoch, the main character is as believable as he is unique.

The author’s writing style is a pleasure to read, as it is reminiscent of epic stories and ancient legends. An air of mysteriousness hangs around the plot even though what is going on is never really a problem to understand. What was really intriguing, though, was how the novel seemed to be reflecting upon our own world. Aspects of human nature, such as fanatic group mentality and power-hungriness are explored, and the ills of our own world unfold in this excellent tale.

Summer Reading #1 Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire

by Kristin Cashore

For Fire, reading minds and controlling them is as regular as breathing comes to others. Her name comes from her flame-colored hair that is a result of her being a “monster,” the term for animals normal in all but color in the kingdom known as the Dells. Fire lives in a time where civil war is imminent and the king struggles to stay on the throne. As those loyal to the king race to attempt to stop war in its tracks before it strikes, Fire’s potential to help attracts the royal family’s attention...but Fire has problems of her own.

Fire’s extraordinary beauty and status as a monster make her stand out and many people either hate or love her too much. Between trying to divert attacks on her person and fending off overzealous men, Fire has to decide whether or not she should use her mental powers in the service of the royal family. Her father was also a monster and used his powers for his own pleasure, often hurting others. Fire’s strong feelings against harming others with her power leaves her torn in deciding whether she should use her abilities for interrogation as her duty to her country. Fire desperately tries to distance herself from any connection she might have to her father, which causes her to be in quite the moral quandary in making decisions. Her quest to find her own identity is subtle and goes hand-in-hand with her facing up to the truth of her past and eventual reconciliation with it.

Throughout the novel, the author weaves in snippets of Fire’s past, gradually revealing the truth about her father and his importance in the Dell’s history as well as Fire’s own. It symbolizes Fire’s own journey in discovering who she really is and to really embrace her identity, growing into true adulthood. True to the saying that “actions speak louder than words,” the author does a wonderful job of allowing Fire’s interactions with supporting characters to develop Fire’s character steadily throughout the book until it’s really hard to think of her as anything but a real, living person.

Of course, Fire, like any other novel, contains romance. Fire’s love life is an exceptionally turbulent one. A childhood friend desperately wants her hand in marriage, but Fire declines every time, wishing their relationship to stay as very good friends. However, Fire meets Prince Brigan, and everything about their interactions show that they’re incredibly incompatible. But, Kristin Cashore’s way with subtlety allows a very believable romance to develop between them. It’s this kind of careful, deliberate development in the whole work that allows Fire to be an exceptional read, full of intricate plot elements and conflicts, strong characters, and just a wonderful writing style.

With regards to it being the prequel of Graceling and the second novel Kristin Cashore has written, Fire is an incredible book. It surpasses Graceling, which is quite astonishing, as Graceling is quite the read as well. Kristin Cashore has really outdone herself with Fire, and anyone, not even fantasy fans, should really appreciate this extraordinary novel.

Hi!

Hi! This is my Independent Reading blog for English class. :)