The Future of (Print) Books...

So, my friend and I were talking the other day (actually many other days ago), about if there will be print books in the future. This conversation began because in one of my classes my professor said there would no longer be print books in 10 years; they would all be electronic. Terrifying, I know!! This comment by our teacher freaked us out, and my friend reassured me by saying on another day that there will always be a market for printed books, because there will always be people who want to buy/read them. I really hope this is the case, but if it is, I'm afraid that market will be quite small. And since electronic copies of novels are so cheap now, the print ones will be expensive, too much probably for me to afford.

These were just our thoughts. Our solution to this problem: buy a print copy of every book you want to read and store them in a huge salt cellar so they don't fall apart any time soon. Sounds like a great plan, huh? This is just for those of us who love holding the book in our hands and seeing the beautiful covers every time we open the book. So, what do you think? E-books or not? Buying a house with a salt cellar attached to it in the future? I sure am.

A Review: My Name is Asher Lev

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
               Genre: Realistic Fiction

Excerpt from the back of the book:
    "Asher Lev is a Ladover Hasid who keeps kosher, prays three times a day, and believes in the Ribbono Shel Olom, the Master of the Universe. Asher Lev is an artist who is compulsivey driven to render the world he sees and feels, even when it leads him to blasphemy. In this stirring and often visionary novel, Chaim Potok traces Asher's passage between these two identities, the one consecrated to God, the other subject only to the imagination."

I read this book for Ethnic Literature last semester and am currently writing a research essay on it. Can I just say I love this book! I definitely give it a 5 out of 5. It is beautifully written and the characters are highly developed. I love and am intrigued by the tension in this novel between art and religion. It also treats the theme of suffering both in the world and the suffering Asher paints through his work. It raises very good, deep questions about these issues in an extremely relatable, beautiful world. There's so much to say that I can't say it all!

This read is fairly somber, so take that into account before you pick it up, although it does have some funny moments. It also has a rather dreary ending, but there is a sequel called The Gift of Asher Lev which I have not had the opportunity to read yet, but definitely will. This is an emotional book written with clear, yet complex language. There is so much in it that one has to read it several times to dig into all its goodness. Please read it!! (and tell me what you think!)

What I learned from this book: Ladover Jews are very community-based and traditional; people have different ways of bringing meaning into the world and must stick to these paths or feel unfulfilled and untrue to themselves.

A Review: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Genre: Epic Fantasy

 



Excerpt from the back of the book:
"The dark, fearsome Ringwraiths were searching for a hobbit. Frodo Baggins knew they were seeking him and the Ring he bore-the Ring of Power that would enable evil Sauron to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it is up to Frodo and his faithful servant, Sam, with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it could be destroyed-Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom."

Oooh. How many people are not slavering at the mouth to jump into this book right now? Everyone has heard of The Lord of the Rings or seen the movies. But I doubt many have actually read the book. If you haven't, you really must; they're popular for a reason. The movies are good, don't get me wrong, but they are a skeleton compared to the books. I've heard that some people do not like the long descriptions and details in the books. Tolkien's descriptions are nothing like Victorian novels, however, and ground me in his world that is so beautiful and unique.

The characters are lively and real, there's fantastical creatures (wizards, elves, living trees, orcs, goblins, hobbits, of course), and the stakes are extremely high, which makes me race through the pages to find out what will happen. The poetry/songs throughout the book can be a little hard to get through if you're not used to that sort of thing, but add richness and beauty to the work. And one is supposed to be stretched by books, right? I also really like how Tolkien hints at Christian themes while not being obvious and keeping his characters real. There are so many levels you can read this book on; it's such a delight. I definitely give it a 5 (the absolute best).

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book/part of The Lord of the Rings. Part Two is The Two Towers and the last segment is The Return of the King. Tolkien never intended it to be a trilogy; he wanted to keep it as one novel. What a thick book?

What I learned from this book: So much! One of the major things is that evil does not usually start as evil; it occurs over a long period of time and can happen to anyone. I also learned that despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt (got to love Gandalf!). There are so many gems of wisdom in this book; it is a must read for everyone. I would suggest middle school, highschoolers and up read it; it's not really a 'kid's' book.

Other books that might be helpful to read before this series:
                The Silmarillion -A compilation of Tolkien's notes on the history of his world. Lovely!
                 The Hobbit -A kind-of prequel to The Lord of the Rings that explains how the Ring was found by Frodo's caretaker, Bilbo. I might like this more than the trilogy.

Oh, on a different note, I am trying to make my blog look 'professional,' so if you see some changes over the next few weeks, don't freak out. If you also have any suggestions, please, please let me know! I'm still a newbie to all of this :).

A Review: The Naming

The Naming by Alison Croggon
Genre: Young Adult Epic Fantasy

Excerpt from the back of the book:
"Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child after her family is destroyed by war. She is unaware that she possesses a powerful gift, one that marks her as a member of the School of Pellinor. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true heritage and extraordinary destiny unfold. Now she and her new teacher must survive a journey through time and place where the dark forces they battle stem from the deepest recesses of otherworldly terror."

This is a series, and the other books are The Riddle, The Crow, and The Singing. I've read this series twice and own them, which shows that I enjoy them. I particulary like the world Alison Croggon has set up with its magical Bards who live in uniquely beautiful places, the wicked Hulls disguised often as Bards, and exploring this new world with Maerad, a tough, yet fairly naive girl.

The plot is fairly basic in this series; Maerad, with the help of her friend Cadvan, must save her world from utter destruction. But there are several twists in it and the world is unique and interesting enough to keep one reading. I did get bored several times with all of the descriptions of places, since the main characters travel throughout the series. But I give it 4 out of 5 stars (meaning I really liked it) overall, and enjoyed the deeper themes of good and evil inhabiting every person. I would recommend this series to teenagers and older.

What I learned from this novel: Traveling is exhausting! :) Seriously though, I learned that sometimes one must give up comfort and ease for those they love, 'doing what is right' is hardly ever clear, and no one can do anything great by themselves. See, you can learn from fiction/fantasy novels!

Visit Allison Croggon's website. It's a bit creepy at first with all of the character's faces appearing out of a blue background, but it has some useful information about the series.

 

    

Skiing in New Mexico

So this last weekend I went snow-shoeing and skiing with my awesome family at Angel Fire, New Mexico. It was beautiful and the snow was great for skiing. It was a blast. Here are some pictures of the trip. I didn't take any of my dad, sis, and I skiing because I didn't have time for that; we shredded that mountain!

 Is this crazy guy in my family? Oh yeah, he's my brother

 

My lovely sister only fell on her face once. Ha ha!  

 

 

Sunday afternoon it started to snow while we were skiing. Have you ever skiied with snow blowing at you? What a rush! Anyhow, late that afternoon my family headed south and I came back north to Denver. The snow got steadily worse as I neared the border of Colorado until in Raton it was so bad you could barely see the road. Needless to say, I had to stay in Raton that night because of the blizzard. It was an exciting, albeit terrifying, trip! I am thankful the Lord got us all home safely, and am amazed once again at His beauty in the mountains and sparkling snow. How have you seen God's beauty, in any way, this week?  





Tolkien's Poetry

Busy, busy, busy! I wish I had an interesting excuse for my busyness, but all I got is homework. At least my classes are interesting. One of them is Mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien. Did you know that he was a poet before he wrote Lord of the Rings? He considered himself a poet, not a novelist. Sorry, I don't know why I've been going on a poetry rampage these last two weeks. But it's important! Tokien thought so, and he was a great poet.

So, here is one of his more funny poems that is not found in any of his novels:

Cat by J.R.R. Tolkien

The fat cat on the mat
may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
for him, or cream;
but he free, maybe,
walks in thought
unbowed, proud, where loud
roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
or deep in den
in the East feasted on beasts
and tender men.
The giant lion with iron
claw in paw,
and huge ruthless tooth
in gory jaw;
the pard dark-starred,
fleet upon feet,
that oft soft from aloft
leaps upon his meat
where woods loom in gloom —
far now they be,
fierce and free,
and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat
kept as a pet
he does not forget.

A Piece of Beauty

I'm going to try to write more poetry because first of all, it's beautiful, and secondly, as a writer, it looks good if you have had poetry published in magazines or contests. I'm trying to build my skills in this area, for I'm far from being a poet. Thus, here is a poem for your enjoyment. (Please read it with mercy; it's a rough draft and as I said, I'm not a poet!)

 

Clinging

 

     The wind pulls and tugs,

attempting to change my mind,

the salty sea slaps my face

as if I am a naughty child.

Thunder roars with disapproval

and lightning reveals my foolishness.

 

With trembling fingers

and trembling hopes

I cling to the beaten rock.

 

The dream-beautiful Mer swirling in the waves

sing of Forgetting,

of careless days playing in the azure waters,

of making friends with the sea.

 

With trembling fingers

and trembling hopes

I cling to the beaten rock.

 

The dry men in the luxurious boat

yell of Reason,

 of warm days eating belly-filling food on soft beaches,

of making friends with the land.

 

With trembling fingers

and trembling hopes

I cling to the mighty rock,

the giant that has outlasted

the tempations of Time and Weather,

and helps me do the same.

 

 

Now that I am re-reading this, it doesn't sound so beautiful after all! Oh well, you have to start somewhere. What do you think of poetry? You should try writing a poem, it's fun and doesn't have to be about anything profound. I dare you to write a tiny, at least 4 stanza-long poem this week. (And no, it doesn't have to rhyme.) The prize is getting to say you did it, and that are more artistically inclined than you once were. And if you write it, please post it so we can all recieve a piece of beauty.