Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by John Tenniel

Alice in Wonderland is a book that is often quoted, made idiom of and has multiple retellings to its credit. It is one of the most loved books amongst those who enjoy reading. It was during my childhood years when ‘A mad tea party’ was a compulsory read in our English course.

After years when I again come across the chapter, the memory goes back to the time when I finished the chapter and it felt like a task accomplished. Now after two decades I glided through the book. And was reminded of how time flies. A task which felt like a major accomplishment and a story that stuck with me still resonates with me.

Only now I understand it with another perspective, not of a child.

This is the first book I have ever re-read.

This book was picked up as a group read for April for a booktube reading group I have recently come across.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #1) by Ransom Riggs

'We cling to our fairy tales until the price for believing them is too high..' Jacob had grown up with his own fairy tales. A little peculiar but full of fantasy. These stories consisted of peculiar children and some more peculiar beings. 

Ransom Riggs has woven a magnificent story about a young boy who comes to a realization that he is no ordinary boy. He can stir oceans and fight demons. Literally. This book has been on the list of all avid reads, for all good reasons. 

Cover page

The cover is a tiny glimpse of the story inside, a little girl who is levitating above the ground. The chalky font declares the genre. The book looks like a vintage art which goes with the stories and the photographs inside. 

The book by itself is a well-designed product. The photographs take you to another world. Tiny embellishments gracefully adorn the pages inside. It is a good paperback for the book collectors for their shelves. 

Characters

Jacob Portman always considered himself to be an ordinary child. Quite unpopular at his school, he was the punching bag of others. He has just one friend who was uncomfortable with Jacob's lifestyle. Jacob decided that his life was going to remain ordinary when some extraordinary things started happening to him. Jacob is a strong protagonist in the book who always wanted to become an explorer and finally had a chance at it. 

Grandpa Portman is an important character in the book which gives birth to the entire story inside. He was an extraordinary man. His stories always fascinated Jacob. He brought a spark of excitement in Jacob's otherwise boring life.  

There were other equally fascinating characters which are described with pictures in the book. They are all very interesting to read about. A little creepy, but interesting even so. 

Content 

The book contains one of the most beautiful first lines in literature. 

I had just come to accept that my life would be ordinary when extraordinary things began to happen. The first of these came as a terrible shock and, like anything that changes you forever, split my life into halves: Before and After. Like many of the extraordinary things to come, it involved my grandfather, Abraham Portman.

 

Jacob is not a popular kid at school. His lifestyle is quite boring. The only thing that filled his days with some adventure were the stories from grandpa Portman. The stories of peculiar children. Now, when the history of the Portman boy was to be ever written, people would say it began the day when grandpa Portman died. 

After the death of his grandfather, Jacob started following the breadcrumbs to his death only to discover the stories that he was told about were not just stories. They were all real. All of them. The last clue given to him by the old man leads him to the island of peculiar. What follows is a time loop, a girl who can produce fire and old lost love. 

The book begins from being curious to outrageously fascinating. The slow transition of the normal world to that of fantasy is quite convincing, like what else would you expect other than a couple of extraordinary kids and a grave which transports you to another time. The story is full of surprises, each clue opens a new mystery, small fragments linking each other in the story. It is a great read throughout. There are some great descriptions of the setting which will immediately make you google it and visit the place, a beautiful bookshelf that you will want to own and reference to a fairy tale. 

Language 

The language is simple and narration is engrossing. One would find himself completely drowned in the world of Ransom Riggs. There are some great lines in the book which is going to be quoted often. Ransom Riggs also paints a vivid picture of the places inside the book. It makes you want to visit them, but sadly, they are just fragments of imagination. 

Good points 

The cover page is beautiful. It demands a space on the bookshelf for the book. The content inside is even better. The photos and the text complement each other. They help the imagination of the reader, convincing the reader further about the story inside, should there be any doubt. The characters are one of their own kind. They are all curious to read about. The author breathes life into them with his amazing narration. 

Bad points 

There is a slight hiccup towards the end of the story when Jacob decides to let his dad know that he is not coming back with him. The approach seems to be little exaggerated. It sadly doesn't convince the reader. But as they say, writer's will. 

Overall

Overall it is a wonderful story of a boy who was looking for something extraordinary in his life, but realized that it was him that was extraordinary. It is a great read. 

Who do I recommend this to 

This book is for young adult fans. All those who enjoy a bit of fantasy and time travel are going to love this one. It also makes a great Halloween read. 

Quotable quotes 

The peculiarity for which they'd been hunted was simply their Jewishness. They were orphans of war, washed up on that little island in a tide of blood. 

All I could think was that grandfathers were supposed to die in beds, in hushed places humming with machines, not in heaps on the sodden reeking ground with ants marching over them, a brass letter opener clutched in one trembling hand.

Then again, it's easy to say you don't care about money when you have plenty of it. 

I underwent a brief interrogation about how I'd gotten to the house and who had taken me there, and because the easiest kind of lying is when you leave things out of a story rather than make them up, I passed with flying colors. 

That we would be easy kill was the only reason we weren't dead already; like a gourmand about to enjoy a fine meal, there was no reason to rush things. 

I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. 

The day was warm, but cool breeze came off the water, and I could've happily towed for hours. I wondered how such calm could belong to a world at war.

Books and Travel

Travelling broadens the perspective and books take us a million places. This is a quite-heard-of phrase. 

My recent road trip has inspired me to make a list of my favourite books which contain trips, travel or just beautiful places that I have or want to visit. Here is my list of six books in no particular order.

All the bright places

I know a lot of people who take 'Fault in our stars' as the gateway to young adult fiction, but for me 'All the bright places' did the trick. It is a beautiful book about a boy in depression and a girl who has no will to live. Things happen and they decide to roam around their beloved town to explore the lesser known places. They come across a beautiful lake, a church and a field of flowers. Ah, also the visit to the tank top to view beautiful constellation. 

The travel brings both the protagonists close. As they say, you make best of friends on a road trip! 

Though the book has a sad ending, the exploration is beautiful. Getting to know one's own place from up close fills you with awe. It is often said that chasing the moon makes you oversee the sixpence under your nose. Finch here will definitely not let that happen. 

Paper towns

Often debated as the best work of John Green, this book contains all the excitement of a road trip with a time constraint. Friends bond and walls are broken. There is a search for someone who does not want to be sought. This book also gives us an unforgettable female character. Margo Roth Spiegelman is definitely worth the chase! 'Paper towns' will definitely make you pack your bags and go on a road trip. 

God of small things

Kerala often called as 'God's own country', has been on the list of all the travel buffs. But this book has inspired me to move the place to my priority list. Lent to me by one of the few people who has influenced my reading, this book opened the doors of literary fiction to me. 

The first few pages contain an abundance of beautiful descriptions about the place. The entire book inspires you to visit the lakes, sit under the stars across the river and just fall in love with the place. This Booker prize-winning book should be on every traveler's list to read. God of Small Things makes you fall in love with Kerela. 

The Tudor wife

Tudor history is probably the most read history in the world. This book makes you understand that the head which wears the crown often lies uneasy. Apart from giving my interest in Tudor history a kickstart, this book also describes the castles beautifully. 'The Tudor wife' is not the best book on Tudor history but it definitely explains the grandeur well.

England has a beautiful legacy when it comes to architecture. Every monarch inspires a different style of architecture. This rich architecture puts England on the map for every architecture lover. And mine too, of course!

Safe haven

The King of romance, 'Nicholas Sparks' has romanticised 'North Carolina' to the extent that it has permanently pricked a pin on every traveller's map. Being the hometown of the author, he describes the city most intimately which will make anyone fall in love with the place. 

Definitely, a place to visit at least once in a lifetime. 

Naughty men

This book is a proof that if your life isn't going well, take a road trip. Primarily a story of a middle-aged man who has a sexless life, and a permanent interference of his in-laws in his household activities is not helping. 

He and his friend decide to take a road trip together and then the book goes from being funny to hilarious. A definite read for all bachelors or anyone who enjoys good humour!

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie

On September 15, 1890 the queen of Crime was born. A lot of us have her to thank for, for having made us fall in love with crime fiction. This year also marks 100 years since the introduction of Poirot to the literary world. He is a loved detective in the field of crime fiction. Ms.Marple is another quirky woman who has been a protagonist in a lot of Christie’s work. I for one have a woman crush on Ms.Marple. The Mirror Crack’d from side to side features the very witty and smart lady who solves another crime once again.Here is a book that I am reviewing since it's Agatha's birthday month!

Cover

Published by Harper Collins, the cover is  a grey one with the author’s name written across the top half – in a font that is signature to a lot of books published by Harper. The lower half has a cracked mirror and the title over-layed on it in a bold purple. I don't really have much to say about the cover, as it is not elaborately done (maybe an Author of her stature needs no cover to entice a reader!), however it reflects the title as precisely as can be. It does not give away anything about the plot, but on reading the book you will realize the presence and significance of the phrase time and again.

Characters

Miss Marple is our lead protagonist and is now old ,and confined to her home except the few times she misleads her overseer and takes a walk into the town and the newer development abutting the town. Celebrity Marina Gregg moves into this quaint little town with her director husband Jason Rudd, after buying the house of Mrs. Arthur Bantry. One one of her secret escapades Miss Marple meets Heather Badcock who is a Ambulance helper and helps Miss Marple when she falls down. The same Heather attends the party at her idol Marina’s house and dies after drinking a poisoned daiquiri. These are the most significant characters, other than the investigating officers, the husband of the deceased,  the wagon of support staff of Marina like her manager, chef etc and her adopted estranged children and her own mentally unstable child.

Content

As mentioned in the characters, Marina moves into Gossington hall, which happens to be Miss Marple’s dear friends old abode. Marina holds a charity lunch where more than half the town is welcomed, and a few others are invited for the closed door cocktail event. Among others, is Heather Badcock, who is a fan of the actress and goes on to elaborate to her, how a few years back, she inspite of being sick made it to an event just to see Marina and get her autograph. As the event progresses, Heather drinks a cocktail originally meant for Marina, and dies of poisoning. What follows inshysterical breakdown of the paranoid actress as it looks like an attempt is made on her life.

Each person around her seems to have  a motive to kill her, but due to a mishap, an innocent woman is killed. The police is baffled as they are quite clueless except the fact that Mrs. Arthur insists, that Marina had a horrified expression momentarily after and before which the event went on smoothly until the time of death of Heather. Mrs. Arthur relates to her friend Miss Marple, how Marina looked like Lady Shallot, as though doom has come upon her (and hence the title of the book).

Language

Written in signature Christie style, one will quickly get attuned to the books. The plot at a few times might seem like a little confusing,  but the simple writing helps. There is no life altering line or stanzas, which is quite natural considering that it is a no-nonsense mystery. What really irked me was how the same person is sometimes addressed by their first name, and sometimes by their second name, and as  it is the mystery and the number of people  have you a little muddled –this does not help!

Not to forget, the character portrayal of the fine old Miss Marple is adorable. It is so easy to fall in love with the frail old woman, who is in reality quite badass!!

Good Points

Miss Marple is so lovable. The way her character has been written is such that you will instantly want an accomplice like her. The book completely satisfies a mystery lover as to the very end you have no clue who it is! One keeps guessing, and is almost convinced with their choice of pinning the culprit, but alas – Christie beats you with the most unexpected climax!

Bad Points

I mostly love the covers of all Agatha Christie books, but this just average. Also, as mentioned above, the different ways in which the person is addressed is a tad confusing.

Overall

Another book that makes me fall in love with this legend some more. Do not even bother to pin the murderer, for YOU KNOW NOTHING!

Who do I recommend this to?

Christie fans, and book lovers in general who enjoy this genre will enjoy this book.

Quotable Quotes

Heather Badcock meant no harm. She never did mean harm, but there is no doubt that people like Heather Badcock (and like my old friend Alison Wilde), are capable of doing a lot of harm because they lack - not kindness, they have kindness - but any real consideration for the way their actions may affect other people. She though always of what an action meant to her, never sparing a thought to what it might mean to somebody else.

Why shouldn't I hate her? She did the worst thing to me that anyone can do to anyone else. Let them believe that they're loved and wanted and then show them that it's all a sham.

Robert & Fahad Book Series By Dr. Mohd Sulaiman

With technology bringing together like minded people  like never before, I came across this Author on a mobile application that’s a go-to to explore all things I love.

Dr. Mohd Sulaiman hailing from the Middle East is a lover of mysteries and thrillers and has very recently released two novellas in the same category, and I’ve had the opportunity to receive a gift copy of both the novellas, so without much further ado let's dive into the double review of both the novellas in the Robert & Fahad Series.

Cover

 

Both novellas have a dark background signifying the dark unsolved mysteries that our protagonists are set to unravel . The Mystery of the Desert Lights  (#1 in the series)  has a tank with the silhouette of two men as the background with the title in bold yellow lettering . The cover is not gaudy in terms of the graphics but the title makes it rather unappealing due to its bright coloring and size. However, the cover gives us an insight on the story it holds within.

The Mystery of the Absent Student (#2 in the series)  also has a black background with an empty  student’s chair drawing a direct connect to the title, and to how the story within begins. The text for this one is not as starkly outstanding as the first one and the overall arrangement makes for a decent cover.

Characters

Robert, a European by descent but living in Kuwait and Fahad a native of the region studying at the same school are the protagonists of the Robert & Fahad Series. Both novellas take the reader on the adventurous journeys that they embark on.

While The Mystery of the Desert Lights is a short read on them solving crimes in UAE among friends Khamis and Hamdan, The Mystery of the Absent Student  revolves around Robert and Fahad on a the lookout for their friend Raed who is missing from school, and their journey there on.

Content

Set in different parts of the Middle East Asia,both stories are about the adventurous attempts at crime-solving by Robert and Fahad.

The Mystery of the Desert Lights has our lead character exploring the case of strange intermittent lights that are used as signals in the desert of Abu Dhabi, where they are camping, what each revelation in their exploration leads to discovery and deduction of a long impending crime.

With a friend missing  from the first day of school, both friends are perplexed by his absence and decide to find the whereabouts of their friend. The Mystery of the Absent Student , takes us on a journey of discovery of  a larger more grievous problem and how Robert and Fahad manage to crack this one too.

Language

Written from a third person perspective, both novellas have a very similar pattern of story telling. Simple English that one can quickly get accustomed to has been used assisting in breezing by these stories.

However, the language and the style especially the sentence formation and grammar require a lot of refinement before it starts shaping up as a piece of work by a polished professional.

Good Points

These novellas take us on a journey through the lives and streets of the Middle East which is not very extensively written about in this particular genre. The small details provided like the names of streets etc give an intimate touch to the narrative.

The stories are short (Yes, I get it! Novellas are supposed to be SHORT), by which I mean the description is crisp and to the point. The plot does not drag unreasonably and still manages to give to its readers all the facts and details to weave the thriller together.

Both characters though not very old display sharp minds and good deductive skills and the crimes are solved using good reasoning sensibilities which are not overdone ( for a lot of books in this genre tend to almost paint the picture of a crime-solving psychic !)

Bad Points

Apart from the language that needs to see more refinement,  I would have liked a little more elaborate character portrayal.

Considering this to be a series that aims to have many more titles  added to it.  I would prefer to know a little more about the leading characters themselves in order to build a long-lasting bond with each of them, which only happens when each story along with the main plot displays traits and characters of the protagonists (Don't we all know that Sherlock Holmes often resorted to playing Violin as a means to calm his mind and think about the events?!, Well it’s little details like that).

A little more depth and detailed analysis of the crimes and more dialogue between the character which would give us fodder to think about always has a way of making an imprint on our memories (Hence no Quotable Quotes for this one!).

Overall

Both the characters and the Authors creative plotlines look promising and the length of the stories works extremely well to make it a quick absorbing read.

Who do I recommend this to?

Anyone who loves this genre, and like fast paced thrillers and interesting plots to piece together will enjoy these.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

A story which is absolutely simple and minimalistic and yet makes you reflect on the various notions and emotions of an individual.

Accoladed with the Pulitzer and the Nobel Prize for his masterpiece, Ernest Hemingway considered this as his finest work. What started off as an essay for a magazine, culminated into a novel after almost a decade of his career. 

Cover Page

The novel comes in various cover pages. The black background with a tint of blue and the stormy sea waves lashing around gives one an idea of what the storyline could be based on.

The stormy sea, a definite obstacle for a fisherman, is perfectly depicted on the cover page. 

Characters

Here, we have a minimal and strong line of characters. The old man, Santiago, around whom the story revolves, is like any other fisherman in his everyday whereabouts, but his determination and strength is what sets him apart from the rest.

The boy, Manolin, who is taught the art of fishing by the old man, from a very young age, is the one Santiago can lean on if, need be and is also a constant help to the old man out of gratitude and respect.

There is, of course, the huge Marlin, definitely an important character, the one who keeps the old man at the sea for three whole days; giving him a good fight and to whom the old man refers to as his brother, enemy and dear friend. 

Content

The story starts with the description of how the old man hasn’t been lucky with his fishing for eighty-four days in a row. The boy is made to leave the old man’s company for his misfortune but does not miss taking care of him. Hence, Santiago considers the boy, his very good companion. 

On the eighty-fifth day, the boy decides to help the old man by bringing him the sardines. The old man ventures into the sea determined to return with a prize, telling himself that eighty five is a lucky number. After a long day at the sea and a couple of unlucky attempts at his various lines, he has a big, long, marlin, hooked to his line. But this isn’t like any other fish the old man has encountered. Being a strong one, he isn’t easy to get. When the old man realizes this fact, he has a new found respect for his fish. He fights for three long days to get him ashore.

The entire book gives the reader a detailed glimpse of the struggles of Santiago at sea, with references to his age taking a toll on his strength required at that point of time, to how he misses having the boy around to help him, to his conversations with the Marlin and the other elements of nature he is surrounded by – which was his means to survive in the sea (one is never alone at the sea), to how he tackles the giant attacks of the sharks at his prize.

The old man constantly apologizes to his marlin throughout the struggle against the sharks as he feels the marlin put up such a good fight before being caught. All through the struggle, he could not keep his thoughts at bay and they finally did end when his fish was ruined by the sharks. It is the numbness that creeps into him at that point of time, clearing his mind of every thought related to the past three days.

Language

Hemingway’s language is one of a kind. Void of drama and meandering of events, the whole story is described in a simple display of emotions, thoughts, events, and characters involved which is definitely the beauty of this novel.

Good Points

The whole story is just what it means without any kind of interpretations to it. Even though one’s determination is dampened by a change of events, it is hope that makes you face the next day with a renewed force. Hemingway has clearly made a point of the same through this wonderful story. 

Bad Points

I have enjoyed the story ever since I read the first page of the book. So no pointers down for this.

Overall

This novel can definitely turn a non-reader into a bookworm.

Who Do I Recommend This To

Written in a simple language, this one is for those who appreciate a light, to-the-point, non-dramatic read, without expecting a sharp turn of coincidental events.

Quotable Quotes

Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.

"But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” 

He always thought of the sea as 'la mar' which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her but they are always said as though she were a woman. Some of the younger fishermen, those who used buoys as floats for their lines and had motorboats, bought when the shark livers had brought much money, spoke of her as 'el mar' which is masculine. They spoke of her as a contestant or a place or even an enemy. But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favours, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them. The moon affects her as it does a woman, he thought.

It is good that we do not have to try to kill the sun or the moon or the stars. It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers.

If the others heard me talking out loud they would think that I am crazy. But since I am not, I do not care.

You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?

Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.

He is a great fish and I must convince him, he thought. I must never let him learn his strength nor what he could do if he made his run.

It's silly not to hope. It's a sin he thought.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

When I came across a few posts on different platforms where people were constantly battling for and against the almost 'cult' status of the book, 'the 5th wave', I decided to give it a try myself. 'The 5th wave' is going around fitting itself in the 'science fiction' genre and it irritates me enough to actually wish that I had read more books on this genre to negate the claim. 'The Martian' is science fiction. 'The 5th Wave' is not science fiction! And sadly my argument ends there! But I vow to prove my point in the review. 

Misplaced genre is not the only point that erks me about the book. There are many more. So let's begin! 

Cover page

The cover page is a good composition, no denying that. There is a girl who is looking at a city through woods. It fits the story inside as well. Accepted. 

Now try this. Think of this as cover page for hunger games. Does it fit? Now think of it as a cover of 'Flawed' by Cecelia Ahren. Does it fit? Exactly my point. This is becoming a trend. A cover page is designed to not stand out but to blend in. It is designed and then slapped on the books of similar genre. And we all agree that 'The Hunger Games' series is a lot different from 'Flawed'. And these two books are entirely different from ours truly. And where is science fiction again? 

The cover is not bad. But it fails to give the edge to the book. There is no personalization. This is enough for me to toss the book into the second hand book store and be satisfied with my kindle edition. If I like the book enough to have a copy that is. 

Characters 

There are multiple characters in the book and they are all similar to each other thrown in different situations. There is no depth. 

Cassiopeia does not like the name very much and prefers to be called Cassie. She is a regular teenager. She loves her brother and crushes on a guy from her high school. It all changes when the third wave sweeps in and she has to be more responsible now. Cassie began as a character who could be loved. She could be our next Katniss Everdeen. But no she chooses to actually melt into the arms of a boy with chocolate colored eyes. And she is saying things like, 'What is it about him that makes me want to slap him and kiss him, run from him and to. Him, throw my arms around him and knee him in the balls, all at the same time?'. There are few more lines that disappoint you so much that you just want to shake the girl up and tell, 'The world is on fire, woman!'. Cassie lacks a solid ground throughout the book. 

The next character is Evan Walker. So when you read sentences like these right in the beginning... 

On a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs. 

Runs from the beings that only look human, 

Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. 

To stay alone is to stay alive, 

Until she meets Evan Walker. 

Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be her only hope. 

Now Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, 

between defiance and surrender, between life and death. 

.. You expect a great chemistry or at least a strong male character, which Evan was but he continuously kept vaporising in the air and then after sometime there was nothing special about him. There are two more 'main' characters but they too lack the kind of persona you would expect from a book which is majorly young adult. Not science fiction! 

Content

The book starts off from being interesting to bland to downright boring. The earth is apparently infested by aliens who are determined to kill all the humans on the planet and reside here by themselves. So they keep sending wave after wave and killing a few million people with every wave. The world awaits the last wave when the story begins. An interesting concept, but pathetically carried out. Waves are just fusing into each other and it gets difficult to understand which wave does what until Cassie comes to rescue on page 351 to summarise the waves for the readers. That's where the waves are understood. All but last one. But let's not blame Cassie because she herself is trying to figure out. She is running out of time though since there are exactly 109 pages left for the book to get over. The unnecessary sluggish pace gets to the reader almost halfway through the book. 

The book is filled with unnecessary references from other books, quotes from different authors and historical figures. There is one point where it looks like the author is trying to force feed so many references to the readers to prove a point. We get it. He is well read! But who needs forceful insertions of Dawkins, Hawking, Shakespeare etc throughout the book. 

The book is not much about the war but whatever little the author has tried to describe it, it fails to hold the attention. It is often seen that authors find it difficult to describe a war sequence, be it Salman Rushdie or Amish Tripathi. 

Last but definitely this is the most important point in the book. There is hardly any science in the story. Several words like 'aliens' and 'suture' are scattered along the pages but it does not quench the thirst. The author has shied away throughout from getting deep into the science aspect of the book. There are only green balls and wonderland in the book. Hardly enough. The book comes across more as a young adult dystopian novel rather than a science fiction. 

Language 

The narration switches often from one person to the other in the beginning. It makes it more difficult to understand the setting. There are plenty of beautiful lines in the book but the effect wears off soon and reader is left waiting for the story to move on. 

Good Points 

The concept is very interesting. Aliens watching us since the time pyramid was built can make a fascinating story. The narration is interesting. There are some beautiful lines in the book which are worth quoting. Someone who likes good writing is not going to be disappointed. 

Bad Points 

The cover page in spite of being composed well fails to stand out. The safe approach does not work for this book. The characters lack depth. They all seem similar to one another, only their surroundings change. The content does not live up to the expectation. It leaves the reader counting the pages left in the book so he can finish the book and move on to the next one. The novel does not do complete justice to science fiction genre. 

Overall 

The book is going to be a disappointment for science fiction fans and young adult readers alike. When there are so many amazing books waiting to be read, this one feels like a severe wastage of time and resource. 

Who do I recommend this to 

Those who find the movie trailer interesting and want to know the story well before, this book can be fulfilling. 

Quotable Quotes 

ALIENS ARE STUPID.
I'm on talking about real aliens. The Others aren't stupid. The Others are so far ahead of us, it's like comparing the dumbest human to the smartest dog. No contest. 

Daddy said the world was dividing into two camps: runners and nesters. Runners headed for the hills - or thunder mountain. Nesters boarded up the windows, stocked up on the canned goods and ammunition, and kept the TV tuned to CNN 24/7.

Around noon on my mission to keep my promise, I stop for a water break and a Slim Jim. Every time I eat a Slim Jim or a can of sardines or anything prepackaged, I think, Well, there's one less of that in the world. Whittling away the evidence of our having been here one bite at a time. 

He was lucky, my dad. All of us were. Luck had carried us through the first three waves. But even the best gambler will tell you that luck only lasts so long. I think my dad had a feeling that day. Not that our luck had run out. No one could know that. But I think he knew in the end it wouldn't be the lucky ones talent standing.  

Because if I am. The last one, then I am humanity. 

And if this is humanity's last war, then I am. The battlefield. 

I will teach you to love death. I will empty you of grief and guilt and self-pity and fill you up with hate and cunning and the spirit of vengeance. I will make my final stand here, Benjamin Thomas Parish. 

At the height of the plague, when people were dying by the hundreds every day, the panicky residents of Tent City would sometimes toss an unconscious person into the fire by mistake, and you didn't just hear their screams as they burned alive, you felt them like punch to your heart.

"Crazy people - they never think they're crazy. Their craziness makes perfect sense to them."

Gone Wild by Jody Lundgren

Lurking in the wild and discovering oneself has been the theme for many novels, of which I have not read one. Novels like "Into the Wild" and others have made a mark. Deciding to read this book was partly influenced by these books. "Gone Wild" hardly met my expectations but there are some good points to talk about in this book. The author deserves appreciation for her work even though it has not made a mark. 

Cover page 

The book is about two main characters who are going to a camping trip in jungle beside an ocean. They are together finding their way. The cover page illustrates the story inside. It is a photographic page with the title at the top and author's name in the  bottom. It is very simple and neat design. The typography compliments the story inside which is of N/A or Y/A category. 

Characters 

There are two main characters in the book who are both dealing with a messed up life. 

Seth is an adopted child to his mother. His father separated from his mother and thought it would be best for him if he stays with his mother. But he did not leave alone. He took the dog with himself which was one true family to Seth. His mother got herself a new boyfriend who's name rhymes with "hurt". Seth is unhappy in his house and decides to search for his birth mother but, unfortunately, he is too young to be revealed the data to. 

Brooke on the other hand, has a complete family with no one missing from it. Her mom is bearing and Brooke tries to annoy her at every chance she gets. Brooke realized that she could be pregnant. To avoid her mom from thinking for her, she leaves the house to a camping trip to think on her own. 

The characters are very clear and sharp. They are given specific characteristics even though they are rebels. They are both different from each other. The minor details in the temperament are seen through the writing. Seth as a character calls for reader's pity. 

Content

The book is about Seth and Brooke. They are rebellious teenagers trying to get away from home for their own different reasons. Seth and Brooke meet each other in the camping trip and become each other's companions. They open up to each other and understand life better. Of course there is a lot of adventure in the forest. 

Now, the content as described above seems like a story for a perfect book. But it is not. Especially when there is not enough backing. The story seemed like broken pieces of scenes. It moves too fast for anyone to savor it. There is some adventure in the book but that also dies out too soon. Brooke is just a sad character in the book who is constantly looking for limelight through Seth. The book is a short read. It takes maximum of two hours to finish the story whereas a concept like this deserves more explanation and description than given in the book. 

After reading the book it still does not quench the thirst for a good story. 

Language 

Here is a good part about the book "On Writing" by Stephen King. People are actually reading  the book and improving their writing. The product is seen in the pages of the book. The language is simple and clear. There is not much swaying from the point which is worth appreciating. The unnecessary side characters are also avoided. It is clean writing which is not seen much in books these days. 

Good points 

The cover page is beautiful. It is a part of the reason I decided to review the book. It works well to bring the book into the limelight. The characters are distinct. Seth has a mind of his own even though he is a teenager who is lost in the ocean. The concept of the book is very interesting. Language is polished. The author has learned the art of writing and it shows. 

Bad points 

Even after mentioning all the above good points about the book I cannot bring myself to like it. The book is technically correct but it fails to connect with the reader. The story is fast paced by which I mean too fast to catch. The scenes and events need more description to convince the readers which were lacking. The story finished with a happy ending but it was too quick. There was a lot of stalling in the beginning and then whoosh! 

Overall 

Overall, my eagerness to read an adventure novel and understand the ways of the forest is far from quenched. The book does not fulfill what I set out for. 

Who do I recommend this to 

This is book has got some interesting presentation and writing but as far as content is concerned it is a disappointment. I would probably recommend it to those who are looking for a guide to good writing or a good kindle document for publishing example. Those looking for a good story, wait out. 

I received an ARC copy from the publisher for reviewing. It has not influenced the review at all.