Untitled 022011

Ye of little faith,
Its better to be bastards and lame
for falling on the sword
is fitting justice for the life lived

In the agony of morning life
until the evening of youth
We wonder its quandaries
and ponder its relevance

But accepting life’s fashion
is boon of our society
Tis Romeo to speak of it
and be Macbeth not to

As wee live and breath
Its there fore the taking
Yet to step on the ledge
will lead to a path greatly worn
following Star Trek’s motto

When embraced hurts
as much as it comforts
Only when one’s obedience is blind
will it reveal its secrets

Found in the twilight of life
When moors have been swam
and shores conquered
Only when our memory is like the elephant’s
Does one really consider it relevant

I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four” by Pittacus Lore

“Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next.

I’ll admit I saw the teaser trailer for the movie and was instantly hooked. Then I found out it was a book recently published. The ink wasn’t even dry on the printing press when this book was optioned as a movie. That really peaked my interest. Then I found out that Steven Spielberg and Micheal Bay were producing the film. Oppose to popular opinion they rarely disappoint me when it comes to their projects. I ordered it and it sat on my desk for a couple of weeks. Then I found time to read it on a day I had nothing to to do.

Once I started reading I didn’t want to put it down. It has easy readability and you instantly connect with the characters. Some on the staff should have done a better job of spelling checking but that doesn’t take away from the story. You’re instantly gripped in the story and as you read this story you realizes why it was such a hot commodity.

The only drawback that I see is what most of Hollywood does to a good book…making to many drastic changes case in point “Jumper.” To many things were change and the movie lost what was special about the book. “I am Number Four.” faces the same problem. With this being the first and only book I hope Hollywood does tray to far from this story making continuity an issue with future novels.

These characters instantly had me engrossed and when I got to the end I felt their lost and heartache. I also felt bad that I had take an awesome adventure and now it was over. It took me about six hours to read. I’m definitely going to have to find time to read it again it hit so of the same beats that makes the Jumper Series, by Steven Gould, some of my favorite books. I’m also eagerly waiting the sequel “The Power of Six” due out summer of 2011.

I give “I am Number Four” 5 out 5 Gs

“Twilight”

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer.

A couple of years ago I came across this web site that named books that were being turned into movies. It had a description of the book and information on the film. Two of the films that happened to be on it were Jumper and Twilight. I read their descriptions and thought they would be interesting reads and they have not disappointed.

It’s about a young girl who lives with her mother and her new step-father in Phoenix Arizona. She decides that she will go stay with her father who is sheriff of a little town called Forks in Washington.

What should be another milestone in Bella Swan life turns her life irrevocably upside down and changes the course of her life when she meets and falls in love with Edward Cullen.

Its a book that is told from Bella’s point of view which is more girlish in nature.  At certain points Twilight made me as a male feel more voyeur than reader. It’s more introspective from a female character than I’m used to in most of the books I read. You are front and center to the insecurities and neuroses of a seventeen year old girl and I just guessing that it was just the tip of what an actually girl has on her mind.

It would be cliché to call them a Romeo and Juliet story. What Stephanie Meyers does with this first book is introduced the reader to her universe with histories and characters. Where girls are drawn to the love story it that action in the other books that will be a serious payoff for male readers.

As a reader I came to form opinions about the character as if they are real. But what help was having her playlist playing in the background. On her website she has created a playlist for each book and if you’re not a fan of her music you’ll spend a never fortune trying to find them. It helped me get into the frame of mind of the characters.

Stephanie Meyers does a great job giving the reader visuals of the action. I was so immersed in the book that when I finished I was happy to be “late to the party” because I could continue with the next one New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

I give Twilight a 3 out 5.

If you have not be introduce to the Twilight Universe here are the books for purchase:

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)

Death of Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton is the author of the first novel I read for myself that didn’t have pictures. He’s that man that brought my reading to an adult level. Jurassic Park was that novel and I had just graduated from high school. He’s been my favorite author ever since.

To wake up and find out that my favorite was dead. It hurt because I knew that I would never have a new novel from him. Then I felt that the world had lost a great renaissance man. The world is a little dark because of that fact.

He dead of cancer at the age of 66. He was a doctor before he starting writing. He created the television show ER in addition to the books he’s written.

His style was always exciting to read and informative to me. Even with the fantastical that was in his book he made it seem that we were always on the verge of reality. Although Jurassic Park was my first but my favorite Crichton novel is and will now always be Timeline.

I will miss looking forward to the next book… and safe passage on your next adventure.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”

”Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)” by J.K. Rowling

”Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)” is the final chapter in the Harry Potter series, this time around Harry Potter, the boy wizard, must continue his quest to vanquished, the evil Lord Voldemort, by finding his other horcurxes and having a final face-off the dark wizarding lord once and for all.

The biggest one to date, this is a fitting end to the series. This books pays respect to the readers of the series. This is a tale that is thoroughly enjoyable and is a true page-turner. J.K. Rowling concluded the series the same way she started. For me it is a bittersweet finale.

”Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)” is full of the history from the other books. There are so many things that are pulled from the other books that I wonder how she remember so many details that I had totally forgotten. It makes you think back to the previous tales without having to go reread them. It’s like coming back and reminiscing with an old friend. Its truly is a tribute to her skills as a writer.

This adventure the most adult and dark of the entire series. What makes this so enjoyable is that with one you see the maturity of the characters into adulthood. Since the beginning with each progressing book the subject matter has become darker and more mature as the character come of age. Although you don’t have to have read the previous book to enjoy this one the tribulations, that Harry and company face, the twist and turns in the plot are all enhanced by the history of the series.

It’s concluded that same way it was started with adventure and wonderment. With it being the final one it leaves you wanting more and with a few unanswered questions. Having read every book the characters are familiar but they are changing and do change. Rowling create an intriguing story even at the end of ”Book 7”.

It’s a bittersweet ending. There are so many global phenomenons that I was never there at the beginning: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Star Wars, and most of the major comic books. I was there when Harry Potter started. I read them from the beginning and have enjoyed them immensely. I want to say thank you J.K. Rowling for giving me a global phenomenon that I was at the beginning of.

“Famous Quotes 24Jun07″

To never been born is the greatest boon of all.
        Attributed to Sophocles by Chris Wilton in “Match Point”

“Famous Quote 29May07″

Without trust, there can be no tranquil of the mind, there can be no belief; in kindess, or integerity, or anything.

Dean Koontz

“Famous Quote 28May07″

Hate and love exhaust the mind; they inhibit clear thinking

-Dean Koontz, Velocity

“Velocity”

“Velocity” by Dean Koontz

“Velocity” is about a man in his thirties who takes the law into his own hands when, out of the blue, when an anonymous adversary threatens him

If you don’t take this note to the police . . . I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher . . . If you do . . . I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have six hours to decide. The choice is yours.

The typewritten note under his windshield seems like just a sick joke. But in less than twenty-four hours, Billy Wiles, an ordinary, hardworking guy, is about to see his life take on the speed of a nightmare.

Because a young blond schoolteacher is murdered—and now Billy has another note.

And another deadline.

This time he knows it’s no joke. He’s racing a killer faster than evil itself. And Billy must accept his terrifying challenge: The choice is yours. — from the backcover

Ten pages in I thought I had the killer’s identity but I was only partially right. But this doesn’t stop this novel from being a page turning read; in fact it makes it more so. As the story progress Koontz speeds faster and increases the pace and chaos of Billy Wiles’s life. In the beginning Billy is just like you or me and he finds himself a crazy life or death situation. These situations would make a good movie, if done right.

This is the first of Dean Koontz novel I have ever read from this outing I think I’m going to take another trip. In “Velocity” he creates a world that is easy identifiable and easily make the reader paranoid. He displays this by invading his protagonist’s security, showing the reader how easy there security could be invaded.

Once the paranoia starts its leads to fear and leads to one of two things crumble under the pressure or rise to the occasion. Through out he keeps you guessing as to if Billy Wiles will come out on the others side. Wiles is a complicated character with a complicated past that is clouded in mysterious until it’s revealed leaving the reader wondering until the end if Wile is really the protagonist of this story.

The twist that Dean Koontz has written in too “Velocity” his ingenuous and should have been apparent but wasn’t. I think other readers will find this twist and the ending satistifying. Making this a novel worth a second read. “Velocity” lives up to its name.

“JLA, Vol. 7: Tower of Babel”

“JLA Vol. 7: Tower of Babel” by Mark Waid

Betrayal!

The JLA is the single most powerful group of siper-heroes ever to be assembled and they’re dropping like flies!

Batman’s secret flies on the Justice League have fallen into the hands of one of his oldest and deadliest foes __ Ra’s al Ghul! Now, Superman, Wonder Women, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Latern, Plastic Man and the Flash are being led into trans specifically engineered to counteract their remarkable abilities.

The JLA faces its greatest challenge – possible treason within their own ranks! Will the JLA survive? And if they do, can Batman’s hand in their betrayal ever be forgiven? The answers lie inside. – From the back cover.

“JLA: Tower of Babel” is not only a entertaining graphic novel but adds an deeper level to of DC Comics major characters. Most significant in this is the level of paranoid Batman has for his compatriot in the Justice League of America.

This is a complete story that a every fan of comics. Fans of Batman, as he the hero/villain of this book, will especially appreciate it. I didn’t get the big picture until middle ways through but it was an interesting journey.

It showed that even the most powerful superheroes in the DC Universe could be defeated. It is interesting how JLA Members weaknesses were exploited. There weaknesses are simply character flaws of each hero and that’s why a fan will love the story told.

“JLA: Tower of Babel” is a masterpiece brought to us by several writers and artist. The repercussion from what happens in this book can be felt through out the DC Universe. This will show readers just how Batman is the most human, yet psychological flaw character in comic book history.

As a reader of the DCU I will never look at Batman the same again. I personally applauded Batman’s action and admonish the JLA for their stance on the situation. In a post ‘9/11’ climate I think we want our hero’s to take a stronger stance against villains and be prepare for a worst case scenario.

If you don’t like “JLA: Tower of Babel” then you don’t like character development. This story is full of character development and a changing of the guard. After this each character had to reevaluate his or her situation. They had to take a personal inventory gut check and I think each character was better for it.