Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Genre: fantasy, sci-fi, adventure
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 528
Summary:

There are six different stories set in different times: Adam Ewing, an American traveling across the world for his work; Robert Frobisher, a young musician seeking security and an apprenticeship in Belgium; Luisa Rey, a journalist following in her father’s footsteps hoping to uncover a dangerous nuclear power plant; Timothy Cavendish, an elderly gentleman who is sent to a nursing home and is waiting for his chance to escape; Sonmi-451, a clone beginning to understand the world; and finally, Zachry Bailey, a sixteen year old boy growing up in a primitive post-apocalyptic Earth. David Mitchell intertwines their lives in one simple novel.

 

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"A half-finished book is a half-finished love affair."

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, page 64

 

This was such an interesting read because David Mitchell didn't stick with just one genre as he explores all six different worlds he has created. It bounces from historical fiction to science fiction to post-apocalyptic. This may seem like it would be confusing to read, but it's really not. Its distinctive when he switches stories. The best part is, I got sucked into each story. None were any worse than the others.

 

Each of David Mitchell's characters in this novel had a separate voice. Each story has an upside and a downside; nothing is perfect. But when writing six separate stories I think it would be extremely difficult to make sure there's no repetition or one story filters into another. Nothing of that sort happened in this novel. The setup of this book begins with Adam Ewing. Then, about halfway through Adam's story, Robert Frobisher's begins. The pattern continues until Zachry Bailey's. That story continues until its finish and then the book returns to the second half of Sonmi-451's story. Then the book continues to the end of Sonmi-451, Timothy Cavendish, etc. until finally, Adam Ewing writes the final entry in his journal.

 

Cloud Atlas was made into a movie of which I haven't seen. I would like to see how they interpreted it onscreen.

 

Cloud Atlas is a unique novel. As much as it may seem confusing, it's not. each character has their own voice and David Mitchell does an excellent job of tying all the stories together so they're not random. Sometimes the individual stories ended a bit abruptly. I wouldn't immediately skip to the second half of the story because you'll miss some crucial details in between.

 

The Cover: I love how it portrays different versions of the clouds. And there are six! One for every character. 

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Genre: post-apocalyptic, paranormal
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 239
Summary:

R is a young man with an existential crisis—he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.

 

After experiencing a teenage boy’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim’s human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R but also his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.

 

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"Who is she, this girl? What is she? She is everything. Her body contains the history of life, remembered in chemicals. Her mind contains the history of the universe, remembered in pain, in joy and sadness, hate and hope and bad habits, every thought of God, past-present-future, remembered, felt, and hoped for all at once."

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, page 222

 

R can't articulate his thoughts. This gives us more insight into R personally. He doesn't say much, because he can't, and so all we hear are his musings on the world around him. He's a very insightful person. Seemingly unlike his zombie comrades, R has some human consciousness about him. His relationship with Julie isn't immediate. Thankfully Julie has some reservations before she starts anything romantic with R. R, unlike Julie, can't seem to get her out of his mind. But for entirely different reasons. R is finally feeling something. Its an interesting pairing, although Julie's father being the head of a whole armada against the undead is a little tired.

 

Some of you may know that Warm Bodies was adapted into a movie. As far as I've heard, it was pretty good. I would recommend reading the book if you'd be more interested in R's philosophies. I think Hollywood spent more time on R's romance with Julie.

 

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful book. Isaac Marion's perspective on being undead was interesting. There aren't many novels that take a look at what its like to be a zombie. Warm Bodies isn't exactly Walking Dead or Zombieland. R is a likeable main character. I definitely would read this again, no question.

 

The Cover: So cool! The dark landscape says something about the dark world R's living in, while the beautiful red scarf shows his final shred of humanity, still clinging to him after all this time.

The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

Genre: science fiction & romance
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 288
Summary:

The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud tells the haunting story of a young man who narrowly survives a terrible car wreck that kills his little brother. Years later, the brothers’ bond remains so strong that it transcends the normal boundaries separating life and death. Charlie St. Cloud lives in a snug New England fishing village. By day he tends the lawns and monuments of the ancient cemetery where his younger brother, Sam, is buried. Graced with an extraordinary gift after surviving the accident, he can still see, talk, and even play catch with Sam’s spirit. But townsfolk whisper that Charlie has never recovered from his loss.

 

Into his carefully ordered life comes Tess Carroll, a captivating, adventuresome woman training for a solo sailing trip around the globe. Fate steers her boat into a treacherous storm that blows her back to harbor, to a charged encounter with Charlie, and to a surprise more overwhelming than the violent sea itself. Charlie and Tess discover a beautiful and uncommon connection that leads to a race against time and a desperate choice between death and life, between the past and the future, between holding on and letting go

 

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I first heard about this book because of the movie that came out based on this book. Sometimes, the book isn't as great as the movie, but there are other times where the movie doesn't even capture the essence of the novel. Though the movie was excellent, I'd have to say this was better.

 

Charlie St. Cloud isn't a complex character. He's a genuinely sweet guy who loves his brother so much he's willing to give up the promising life he could have if he broke their promise. But he doesn't and he lives his life around the setting of the sun because that's what he promised so many years ago. He is fiercely loyal to not only his brother, but also to Tess, who suddenly comes barrelling into his life and ripping apart the careful facade he's kept for so many years. I really liked Tess. She was witty and strong, but she wasn't so strong that she didn't let her feelings show. I liked the moments when she was emotional because it gave her character depth.

 

Overall, if you've seen the movie and really liked it, I bet you'd like the book just as much. There are some parts that are different but it doesn't make the book greater than the movie or vice versa. They are their own entities and I can't say one is better than the other. It's the same heartbreaking story of the death and life of a beautiful, wonderful boy.

 

The Cover: I like how they put a sunset over Marblehead, and the ships coming in and out of the harbor. It sets the mood of the book nicely.

THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE PREMIER IS TODAY!

(At least in the US)

Is anyone else FREAKING OUT????

JACE IS NOW CAST!!!

Jace Wayland, the wonderful (AND HOT!) character of the Mortal Instruments Series has been cast is is being played by none other than....

...this dude. His name is Jamie Campbell. He played a Volturi in New Moon/Eclipse and he also, I think, plays King Arthur in the show Camelot. Um...I was expecting Alex Pettyfer, or some other blonde person we've never heard of...um...*completely speechless*

What are you thoughts???

Hunger Games MOVIE News (Take Two)

Last time, I mentioned that Katniss Everdeen of the amazing Hunger Games Trilogy would be played by the lovely Jennifer Lawrence of Winter's Bone:

And the two hot boys who vie for Katniss's attentions have been cast too. Peeta will be played by Josh Hutcherson of a lot of movies:

And Gale will be played by Liam Hemsworth of Last Song:

My opinion? I have high hopes for Jennifer Lawrence. Josh Hutcherson is not really what I saw Peeta as, but...I guess in a way I could see him playing the part. And Liam Hemsworth, I think, will be a perfectly fine Gale although in Last Song he was a gentle person and Gale is not-so-gentle.

I'm crossing my fingers, hoping that they'll play the characters well!

Hunger Games MOVIE News!

He-llo Everybody! I've just heard word that the role of Katniss Everdeen with be played by Jennifer Lawrence of Winter's Bone:

And here's Jennifer Lawrence:

Katniss? Dunno. If she dyed her hair brown, was drenched in burns, cuts, and bruises, and had a more rugged appearence...yeah, maybe. Let's just hope she can play the part!

No news yet on who's going to play Peeta, but I've heard that they're considering casting Alex Pettyfer of I Am Number Four and Beastly. Also, Josh Hutcherson and Hunter Parrish.

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) by Pittacus Lore

Genre: teen adventure and science fiction

Age Group: Young Adult
Series and Book #: Lorien Legacies, book 1
Pages: 440
Synopsis: 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.

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Oh my goodness, finally I've read this book! And loved it! Lore managed to give you enough about Lorien and why Number Four is on Earth, that it was informational without being overwhelming.

Number Four was a good main character I thought. He had enough experience with having to move around and you learned things with him rather than you having to catch up with him. And his learning more 'human' emotions as he connected with Sam and Sarah in Ohio was nice. I wouldn't have wanted a hollow MC. Henri was pretty cool, too. To a certain degree, he was very particular with how close Number Four was getting with Sam and Sarah, but he let him do it because he had experienced love on Lorien and he had had friends, too, and he knew how it felt.

Overall, I Am Number Four is one of my favorite books, definitely. It had enough mystery, science fiction, and action that it always kept me reading, so much so that I didn't want to put it down. Lore built an amazing world that I think it so cool, and scary to a high degree. I mean, the Mogadorians? Hello, freaky! I loved the characters and the plot and I can't wait for the sequel!

The Cover: I love this cover. It caught my eye the first time I saw it and I think it opens it to girls and guys. The branding is a clever add-on. The text builds suspense also: Three are dead. I am Number Four.

On the Movie: I liked the book better than the movie, even though I saw the movie while I was halfway through the book. In the movie, it moves along faster than the book and Henri is by far way more mean than in the book. Number Four is more rebellious, and less compliant. They also add more action scenes in the movie, probably because it is a movie. They get the police involved and whatnot when in the book, the police are oblivious as most of the characters. But the movie had its pluses. I loved that there was a little more of Sarah, as in she figures it out on her own more than Number Four telling her. The involvement with Sam's dad also adds more suspense to the movie.You see more of Six, who's so awesome. And there's a stone that tells Six and Four where the other numbers are, which makes it easier on Six and Four, rather than in the book where they have no idea where the others are hiding. It was a amazing movie, and I loved it.

What do you think? Is the book better than the movie, or vice versa?