Book List!

          I'm very sorry I've taken so long with this post. I would tell you that I've been busy, but that's a pathetic excuse, and besides, "I've been lazy" would be more accurate. To make up for my laziness, I'm going to write a whole lot of mini-reviews on the books I've been reading lately.

Sphere, by Michael Crichton:

 I have to admit, I love science fiction. Michael Crichton, who wrote the original Jurassic Park novel, is terrific. Sphere is engrossing, creepy, and thought provoking: exactly what a good sci-fi novel should be. I love the premise, too - the military ships a group of scientists down to a research station in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where an unmanned spaceship encrusted with centuries of coral was discovered. It's not the spaceship itself they have to worry about, though, it's the mysterious and otherworldly sphere they find inside. 

   

Grendel by John Gardner and Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney:

Frankly, I expected Beowulf to be dry and incomprehensible (I had to read it for school), but Seamus Heaney's brilliant translation proved me wrong. It definitely wasn't an altogether easy read, but the poetry was so deliciously rich that I couldn't help but enjoy it. John Gardner's modern novel, Grendel, takes the monster antagonist of Beowulf  and digs into his thoughts. It's completely different from the original epic - it focuses on the psychology and emotion of the monster, whereas Beowulf only highlights heroism. 

The Diviners, by Libba Bray

I have a weak spot for all things 20's. Louise Brooks, art deco,  and those beautiful dresses... can anyone lend me a time machine?

The Diviners takes place in 1926, so when I saw it at the library, I had to get it. It's a dark and spooky book filled with serial killers, cults, magic, and flappers. I especially liked the characters - the author gives you plenty of details about each one, and allows you into their heads. The second book in the series should come out sometime next year.

Be forewarned, though, it's pretty hefty! 

On John Green and Paper Towns

Oh, dear. John Green poses such a problem to me.
You see, It's my nature to hate anything that's popular and like anything that's critically acclaimed (or at least pretend to). So, naturally, when something that's both popular AND critically acclaimed comes along, my brain kinda blows a bit. That's why John Green's books pose such a dilemma. I can't say that I'm John Green's biggest fan - I mean, there are so many people who really, really love him - but I have respect for him, all the same.
(I plan to write a post on John Green later).
I think Paper Towns has been one of my favorite John Green books so far. I don't think it's the most well - written, but I really enjoyed it. Paper Towns is the story of Quentin Jacobsen, a high school senior about to graduate, and his obsession with his neighbor and childhood friend, Margo Roth Spiegelman. When Margo enlists Quentin to help bring justice to her two-faced friends, he thinks that this might be the beginning of something new - but Margo disappears the next day. Armed with a set of carefully placed clues that seem to lead nowhere, Quentin and his cronies head off in search of Margo - or, the Margo they thought they knew. Though the book occasionally calls for a stretch of the imagination, it's a great read, and a real page-turner. It's fun, intriguing, and satisfying - a combination which always makes for a good book.

I'M SORRY THIS ISN'T A REAL POST, BUT IT'S THE BEST I CAN DO

Okay. So you might notice that my blog has a slightly different look now. That's so it's easier to find the "follow" button.
So yeah, I'm expecting a cult following by tomorrow, people.
(cough)
Also, I've added a poll, please vote so I know what kind of books you want me to review. Feel free to comment if you have any recommendations.
I'll get a proper post done soon. I've been super busy.
Alsos, here's a link to some INCREDIBLE early photos IN COLOR, like the one of a zeppelin below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/09/color-photos-of-paris-in-_n_2653184.html#slide=2080134

A Step from Heaven, by An Na

After trying for the past few days to write a post on The Hichhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I decided to write about something perhaps more... straightforward. Looking back over the books I've read in the past year, A Step from Heaven stuck out.
A Step from Heaven is the story of Young Ju - a girl who immigrates to America (Mi Gook in Korean) at age four along with her mother and father. The sparse, poetical chapters are bittersweet and poignant, sketching scenes of Young Ju's life as she grows up, struggling with her two cultures and increasing family troubles. When Young Ju and her brother find a baby bird, when she tries to explain government forms to her father, and the scenes of family tension are each memorable and beautifully written.
A remarkable debut novel by author An Na.

Origami box tutorial

I've decided to take a brief break from book reviewing to do an origami tutorial. I'm showing you how to make a pretty basic origami box, which you might already know how to do. Anyway, if you enjoy the tutorial, I'll probably make another soon - I just learned how to make an origami rose, and I hope to do a tutorial before valentine's day. 

So, down to business. 

You'll need two sheets of origami paper, one for the lid, and one for the base. 

 I'm starting off with the fancy, patterned paper for the lid.

1. Take the paper and fold it in half. Crease it, and unfold.

2. Fold the paper in the opposite direction, and unfold.

3. Now, fold all corners to the center of the paper.

4. ... and fold each side to the center, without unfolding the folds from step 3.

 5. Fold the narrow ends to the middle.

6. UNFOLD EVERYTHING
except two of the little triangular flaps...

7. Fold up the sides, and guide them so the corners of the box fold in on themselves...

8. Fold the flap down, and into place.

9. Repeat on the other side. The lid is finished.

10. Cut the second piece of paper so it's just the tiniest bit smaller, and do the whole thing over again.

11. ...And nest the bottom into the lid. You're done.

Feel free to comment if you have questions!

Martyn Pig, by Kevin Brooks

Martyn Pig is an enthralling and deliciously fast-paced thriller by Kevin Brooks. Well-written and dark, Martyn Pig is pretty brilliant.
When fifteen-year-old Martyn Pig accidentally kills his abusive, alcoholic father a few days before Christmas, he doesn't know what to do. If he calls the police, he'll be sent to live with his hated aunt Jean - if the police even believe his story to begin with. With the help of his friend Alex and his collection of mystery novels, Martyn tries to cover up his father's death. But things get complected when Alex's blackmailing boyfriend shows up, demanding Martyn's 30,000 pound inheritance. The plot twists and turns, though it's never hard to follow. I was able to get lost in Martyn Pig, to forget about everything else when I was reading it. Though it's not overly serious (considering its content), it's thought-provoking and enjoyable.

I recommend Kevin Brooks in general, too - another of his books which I've enjoyed was  Lucas, and I only recently finished  Black Rabbit Summer.

The Red Necklace, by Sally Gardner

This book was, frankly, a disappointment. I read I, Coriander - another book by Sally Gardner - a few years ago, and I liked it. The Red Necklace has promise, but I found it seriously lacking. Though the plot moved at a quick pace and the idea was brilliant, it left me feeling bland. What even happened? Admittedly, I haven't read the book's sequel, but I expected more out of 384 pages than I got.
What the plot lacked, though, was made up by the beauty of the writing and characters. Set during the french revolution, The Red Necklace is the story of orphaned gypsy Yann and aristocratic Sido. Yann and Sido meet when the villainous Count Kalliovski hires Yann and the rest of his acting troupe to perform at a party. When Count Kalliovski kills Yann's mentor, Sido helps Yann escape unharmed, and they remember each other until they meet again, two years later. As their country crumbles around them, Yann uses his developing magical powers to save Sido and himself and to fight Count Kalliovski. I'm not a fan of historical fiction,* but I really wanted to like this book. I found it worth the read, but not exceptional.


*I'm sure I'll rant about that sometime, lucky you!