Saturday 18 September 2010

Carrie by Stephen King Book Review

Genre: Drama and Horror
Age: Adult
Pages: 245
Gender: Female (Maybe male)
Publication Year: 1974

Story Plot: 5/5
Description: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Other: 5/5

Total: 23.5/25
Percent: 94%
Grade: A

    The plot as from fantasticfiction.co.uk: A modern classic, Carrie introduced a distinctive new voice in American fiction -- Stephen King. The story of misunderstood high school girl Carrie White, her extraordinary telekinetic powers, and her violent rampage of revenge, remains one of the most barrier-breaking and shocking novels of all time.

Make a date with terror and live the nightmare that is...Carrie.
I think the plot is very interesting. It seemed original and scary. Though as I read it I realised that it was not that frightening, since the first half of the book is very much like a drama, it only turns into real horror for the around the last fifty page. That doesn't ruin the book, it is still very interesting.

   The description in this book is good. Nothing spactacular. I did like what words the author used in describing Carrie compared to the other girls: "Carrie stood among them stodily, a frog among swans."  I just like that comparison at the end. I also loved how Stephen King described her right before she started going crazy when she got her period: "Carrie stood dumbly in the center of a forming circle, water rolling from her skin in beads. She stood like a patient ox, aware that the joke was on her (as always), dumbly embrassed but unsurprised." I don't know why I like it I just do. So the description was good, but not amazing.

   I loved the characters. They were the opposite of flat. I felt so sorry for Carrie. All she wants to be is normal, but her mom makes that impossible. Then when she does get the chance to be normal, it is all ruined. So I don't blame her for going on a rampage. Sue was a good character too, since she was a very realistic character. She had her faults and her strengths. She was very mature since she would be willing to not go to prom just to make up what she did. Most people wouldn't do that. I also think a lot of the other kids in the book are just atrocious. Carrie's momma is just downright creepy. Anyone that would be that into religion that she would think that is a sin to do anything and that she herself can not get pregnant should live in a mental institute. So I think Stephen King did a good job making her creepy.

   The writing was good and different. I loved how he wrote Carries side thoughts out in. It made the book extra creepy. This book didn't really have any parts where the writing just lost you. The book is also nice and fast.

   This book held my interest and it was fun. I really had no problems at all with this book, except for the cover since it is really boring and doesn't catch your attention, also it doesn't have the book title or author's name on it.

   So in all this was a wonderful books with a main character you feel really sorry for.

Sunday 12 September 2010

Montmorency: thief, liar, gentleman? by Eleanor Updale Book Review

Genre: Historical Fiction and Thriller
Age: Young Adult
Pages: 233
Gender: Male
Publication Year: 2003

Plot: 10/10
Description: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Pacing: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Interest: 10/10
Other: 10/10
Cover: 5/5
Memorable: +2

Total: 74/75
Percent: 99%
Grade: A

   I must say this book made me happy through and through. This post may not be too detailed because I read this book a long while ago.

  The plot was absolutely wonderful. Here is the plot that was takenback of the book: London, 1875. When a petty thief falls through ad glass roof while fleeing from the police, it chould have been the death of him. Instead, it marks the beginning of a whole new life. The thief is sewn back together by a brilliant young surgeon, and before long he's become the chief exhibit at medical gatherings across the city. It's at one of these learned discussions that he first hears about an amazing addition to the London streets- the sewer- and an idea begins to form. The sewers are the perfect escape route for a series of daring robberies, and the thief is the only one with the ingenuity to pull them off. He takes on two identities- the wealthy, sophisticated gentleman Montmorency and his filthy, corrupt servant, Scarper. But Montmorency must constantly be on guard. His whole life is bulit on lies, and the slightest mistake could betray him.   Sorry that I didn't write the plot myself, it is just that I decided that this is much easier. Well, anyway I think that the plot was very original, even though the location and time is not.

   The description in Montmorency is nothing to call home about. But there wasn't anything bad about it. So I gave it a 8/10. I did like the authors description of his scars though and for sure the descriptions she used to describe his character.

   The characters were great, absolutely great. The characters were very flawed. Montmorency was very interesting because he is a bad person really, since he steals, but when he is not stealing things he seems like a very kind person. So it really is like their is two characters in the same character. So I think that characters diserve a 10/10.

   The pacing of the book was very fast, so I had no trouble getting in to it. Since it was quick it was a very easy read. You could probably finish it in about two hours.

   The writing was good. There was nothing remarkable about it, but it for sure wasn't bad.

   I was really interested in this book, since I love books about criminals and based in Victorian England. So this book just called to me when I saw it at the used bookstore. I would recommend it just for it's creative plot.

   I have nothing else I can comment on in this book.

   The cover is very nice it looks mysterious and interesting. I would also just pick this book up just for the cover.

   This book was memorable for pretty much what I have talked about for this entire thing.

   Sorry, this review has taken me a long while to put up and I have not written much, I just need to get back into the habbit of writing. So hopefully I will have some more reviews up tonight. Also if you have any ideas for a new grading system please comment, since this one is giving me some trouble. :(