Book Review: David Copperfield

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Recommended For: Ages 10 to Adult (reading and interest level)

Rating: PG

Young David Copperfield has a wonderful life until his mother remarries a stern, hard man named Mr. Murdstone. Bringing with him his even harder sister Miss Murdstone, young David's life is made a misery. After continually failing at his lessons and biting Mr. Murdstone, David is sent to a boarding school where he makes several friends. After something tragic happens, David is sent to work in Mr. Murdstone's bottling business, where he boards with the Micawber family. Finally, it gets to be too much for him and he runs away to his aunt, Betsy Trotwood, whom he has never laid eyes on. And there is where the true adventure begins.

It always takes me a long time to finish a Dickens book. I started this book not long after I finished Nicholas Nickleby and Hard Times. Now that I've finished it, I may be able to say that this has been my favorite Dickens book I've read so far, and I've read five completely through. Although I forgot some of the more minor characters and events because it had been so long since I  had picked it up, I still enjoyed it very much.

Writing: 5/5
Charles Dickens is an impeccable writer. This book is no exception. It is written very well.

Setting: 5/5
As all Dickens' books, it is set in England. It is very realistic and vivid. You can envision the places they're at.

Plot: 5/5
Oh, my goodness. While as with any Dickens book, it is difficult to extract the main central plot, it is still very good. Complicated and twisted, but in a good way. In a way, this is all part of the Dickens charm. I always wanted to read more.

Character Development: 5/5
It is this that makes Charles Dickens such a unique and great writer. From Mr. Micawber to Steerforth to friendly Tommy Traddles to humble and conniving Uriah Heep to the interesting Aunt Betsy Trotwood to the sweet and well-influencing Agnes Wickfield to the complex David Copperfield himself, every character in this book is rich and fleshed out and unique.

In other words, this is one acclaimed classic you don't want to miss! Now maybe I can focus on finishing Great Expectations...

Movie Review: Gravity

Gravity 

Recommended For: Ages 13 to Adult

Rating: PG-13 (for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language)

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone - tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. 

Okay, we didn't really plan on seeing Gravity. After watching Once Upon A Time on Sunday, we went to HBO and Gravity was just beginning. It was only an hour and a half long, so my dad, my sister Rebekah and I stayed up to watch it. Surprisingly, it was a very simple movie, and when it ended, I could understand why it won all the awards it did.

Technical: 5/5

Strangely enough, the movie only had two actual actors and six minor voice roles. However, it worked. It worked very well. If the movie had gone on any longer than it had, it would have dragged, but it was just the right length, so it didn't drag. And the visuals were amazing. Earth was beautiful.

Setting: 5/5

The movie's set in outer space. As far as outer space goes, it seemed accurate, not that I know much about spaceships and that sort of thing, but it seemed very accurate.

Plot: 5/5

The plot is very simple, but this is good. The plot is exciting, there are no plot holes (I don't really see how there could be) and it's seamless and streamlined. They did an excellent job on the simple plot.

Character Development: 4/5

You can't really develop a character in a movie when they're alone for most of the screen time. But Dr. Ryan Stone was as well-developed as she could be under the circumstances. I didn't feel that I knew Matt Kowalsky that well, but honestly, he didn't get much screen time, so he was more of a minor character. And for a minor character, they developed him quite well.

In other words, this movie is worth watching. Yes, there are a few bad words, though honestly, not many. There is one shot of a guy whose face blew up in his helmet, so...yeah. Don't let little kids get a glimpse of that. I recommend watching this movie.

Book Review: Ancient Rome: How it Affects You Today

Ancient Rome: How it Affects You Today by Richard J. Maybury

 

Recommended for: Ages 12 and up

"Ancient Rome" discusses what happens when higher law principles and a free market economy are ignored. Mr. Maybury uses historical events to explain current events, including the wars in the former Soviet Empire, and the legal and economic problems of America today. Is your government making the same choices that led to the fall of Ancient Rome? Will history repeat?

Can be used for courses in Ancient Rome, U.S. History, Government, and Economics.

 I read this book for school and since I have read another "Uncle Eric" book, I knew that it would be interesting.

 Very few non-fiction books are interesting or easy to pay attention to, but this book was. The book is structured as a letter. At the end of each chapter, it would say the main point of what the chapter was about. The book is short but to the point, and it is very informative. There were parts where it referenced another "Uncle Eric" book that I haven't read yet, but I didn't have any trouble understanding the book. The book was written in a conversational form, which is my favorite way for non-fiction books to be structured. To read this, it is good to know some history of Ancient Rome.

 The book is mostly on how history repeats, using the Roman empire as an example. It tells about how politicians have acted and still act and how it leads to many problems. It talks about the Soviet Empire and how it went down the same road that Rome did.

 The book tells about different symbols and architecture from ancient Rome that you will find in government buildings. He explains why one symbol disappeared from coins after World War II and what it means. It was interesting to see the parallels of what has been happening today and what happened hundreds of years ago.

 This book is interesting and a good way to see how history repeats. While I don't agree with everything that he says, I do think that it is beneficial to read.

Movie Review: Doctor Who The Movie

Doctor Who: The Movie 

 

Recommended for: Anyone who likes Doctor Who

Rating: NR

 The Doctor is returning to Gallifrey with the remains of his arch-nemesis the Master. Forced off course, the TARDIS arrives in San Francisco on New Year's Eve 1999, where the Doctor is critically wounded in a gangland gun battle. At the local hospital, Dr. Grace Holloway fights - and fails - to save his life.

 Later, in the morgue, the Doctor wakes up a new man. But he is not the only one - the Master has also found himself  a new body. As the clock counts down to the start of the new millennium, can the Doctor stop his oldest enemy from destroying all life on Earth?

 We wanted to wait to see it until after watching the Seventh Doctor. We're only on the Fifth Doctor, but since we won't have access to it soon, we watched it.

Technical: 4/5

 It came out in 1996, so the technology isn't great. It's a typical American 90's movie with the Doctor in it. In many ways it was just like another Doctor Who episode with the Master, but a little different because it was an American movie. To me the acting seemed well done, but I can't always tell. I was able to understand the movie about as well as anything else Doctor Who, and I liked how certain things were explained. There was one thing that got mentioned twice that I thought would be a bigger part of the movie but was never explained.

Setting: 5/5

 The movie is set in the near future (for when it came out) in San Francisco on New Year's Eve in 1999. I've never been to San Francisco, so I don't know how accurate it was, but it was done well. The TARDIS was very different from anything that I have seen, but it was very interesting. I haven't watched the Seventh Doctor yet, so I don't know if that's what his TARDIS looked liked.

Plot: 4/5

 The plot is very typical for Doctor Who. The Master is trying to destroy the Doctor and Earth. One thing that makes it different from the Master just trying to destroy the Doctor, is that the Master has used up all his regenerations and is trying to steal the Doctor's body. The Doctor regenerates. He knows that something has gone wrong but he doesn't even remember who he is. The main plot is just that the Doctor tries to save Earth, again.  

Characters: 5/5

 The main character is the Doctor. I don't know if Seven acted like he did in the TV show but he was very interesting. The Seventh Doctor isn't in it much but I enjoyed watching him as the Doctor. The Eighth Doctor was really good, I liked him immediately, though I have seen him in a 50th anniversary short. Some Doctors you can watch for several episodes and still not like very much, like Twelve and Four, but he was likeable at once.He has just regenerated, so he acts a little strange and childlike for the whole thing, but he is still funny and talks a lot. The Master is the same as usual, he tries to get whatever he wants and will kill anyone in his way. Grace Holloway takes the place of companion. Not surprisingly, she is a doctor. She was different from the other companions that I have seen but she was likeable. I would say that the characters were well done, especially the the small amount of time that they had.

 I really enjoyed it, even though it was different from the show (in a good way, it was just more American), I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Doctor Who and has watched the Classic episodes.

On a Bit of a Hiatus

Things are about to get rather crazy in our personal lives, so we won't be posting reviews much for awhile. We'll probably have a few sporadic posts, I'm just finishing Bleak House and we're planning to see Cinderella tomorrow, but when busyness happens, blogging is one of the first things to go. We should be back in full swing by mid June.

Book Reviews: Eye of the Oracle and Enoch's Ghost

Eye of the Oracle by Bryan Davis

Enoch's Ghost by Bryan Davis

Recommended For: Ages 13 to Adult

Rating: PG, probably

What ancient mysteries lurk behind the amazing stories in the Dragons in our Midst series? Eye of the Oracle takes the reader back in time to the days when dragons abounded. From the era just before Noah’s ark, through the battles between dragons and mankind in the time of King Arthur, and to the haunting presence of dragons in our day, this stunning prequel reveals the mysteries that led to the bestselling fantasy adventure that began with Raising Dragons. How did dragons survive the flood? Who helped preserve an ancient evil force that led to the dragons’ demise in the days of King Arthur? What heroic sacrifices kept that evil from exterminating the dragon race forever? If you enjoyed the heart-stopping action and spiritual depth of the first four books in this series, you won’t want to miss the astonishing story that began it all. Eye of the Oracle will captivate young and old alike, and it will challenge every reader to search deep within for answers to the mysteries in their own hearts.

Yes, two books. I read these books very close together almost two weeks ago and because it's been a crazy two weeks together with my grandma and her friend visiting, stuff happening with our house that is on the market, and having a word count contest with my sister, the two books have blended into one in my mind. Plus I have a headache and pollen is high. Thank goodness last week was spring break or I really would have gone crazy.

Bryan Davis's books are weird. A good weird, but still weird. These were no exception. No spoilers, but it contains the Lake of Fire. Just saying.

Writing: 5/5

The writing was really good. Lots of action, well done, no typos. Gah, I'm having trouble concentrating.

Setting: 5/5

Well, they're set in a variety of places. All of them are well-done. I liked the world before the flood, and the ark. All the places were very vibrant. You could feel like you were there.

Plot: 5/5

The pot of the first one was a little...um. But it was still really good. And I really liked the plot of the second book. It was really exciting.

Character Development: 5/5

Really good. I liked Sapphire Adi, and Morgana was a good villain. I loved Naamah and what happened with her in the second book. I really like Elam. And I'm glad Walter and Ashley were in the second book. I can't wait to read more about Bonnie and Billy.

I'm really glad I read these books and everyone else should as well. I can't wait to read the last two books I'm borrowing from a friend, although I'm a little scared because my friend said there are a lot of people that die and...stay dead. Not something Bryan Davis does very often in Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire. Anyways, I hope you got sense out of that review. Here's to another hectic week!

Friday Favorites: The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Rating: PG

Recommended for: Ages 8 to Adult
 

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. –from the Song of David (2 Samuel 22:35) The Bronze Bow, written by Elizabeth George Speare (author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond) won the Newbery Medal in 1962. This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his land of Israel. Daniel’s palpable hatred for Romans wanes only when he starts to hear the gentle lessons of the traveling carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. A fast-paced, suspenseful, vividly wrought tale of friendship, loyalty, the idea of home, community . . . and ultimately, as Jesus says to Daniel: “Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love.” A powerful, relevant read in turbulent times.

 
The Bronze Bow. My favorite fiction book about the times of Jesus, above Ben-Hur and The Silver Chalice. One of my three favorite historical fiction novels, all of which happen to be Newberies. I believe it was read to me multiple times and I have read it on my own several times as well. There was a day when I randomly picked up the book and flipped through it, realizing then that I had forgotten just how much I love it.

Daniel bar Jamin hates the Romans with a vengeance. It colors everything about him. He hates them for crucifying his father, the witnessing of which act is what caused his sister Leah to be possessed by a fear demon. Daniel is angry. And he is a part of a band of outlaws headed by a man named Rosh who robs travelers and plans someday to kick the Romans out of Israel. But things cannot remain as they are. Daniel's grandmother dies, forcing him to return home to take care of Leah. His friend Joel and Joel's sister Malthace (known as Thacia) reach out to him, re-familiarizing him with the Scriptures on which he turned his back so long ago. And there's a carpenter preaching to the people, healing them, to whom Daniel is encouraged to listen.

This book is well researched. The times and culture are so vividly portrayed and the history is clearly real. Elizabeth George Speare was a master storyteller, her two Newberies and one Newbery honor attest to that. Her characters are so real. Daniel has so much hate he struggles with, and he does struggle. His temper is real. Leah is so fearful, and there is so much tension caused by her demon possession. It is so hard to see progress made with her undone by a single incident. Joel is a devoted scholar and a good friend. Thacia is sweet and kind, even accepted by the timid Leah.

But this book is about more than the characters and Daniel's hatred of Romans. It's about Jesus. About getting to know Him. Loving your enemies. Forgiveness. Letting go of hatred. Learning to love.

It is a wonderful book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

    "He trains my hands for war,

        so that my hands can bend a bow of bronze."