Animal Farm

I actually read this book for english class a few months ago and forgot to post it. I really like it though, and I definetely reccomend it for any book report. Discussing the Russian revolution in the form of animals, it showed how power slowly corrupts those who possess it. The animals of Mr. Jones's farm decide to hold a revolution in which they assume all power of the farm. Once they run off the farmer, the pigs assume a leadership position. The pigs in general represented the Bolsheviks, but Napoleon represented Joseph Stalin. Snowball represented Leon Trotsky and Boxer the hard working horse epitimized the working class. In the end, the animals couldn't tell the difference between the pigs and the other farmers.

Review/Description

When you open up to the first page, you read about a farmer who owns a farm, animals, and has hired helpers to work on the farm. Typical farm, right? Wrong. There is something majorly different about this one compared to others you may visit. The animals here can talk, and even more, they are plotting to take over the farm. Throughout the story, read about the many difficulties that result from this action on their part. Read of the changes that happen because of this shift of power. When George Orwell wrote this book, many people were willing to accept the Communist ideals held by the Soviet Union. The Soviets had earned a lot of friends after they helped give the Allies an edge against the Nazis. However, others like George Orwell saw that a totalitarian government had actually risen behind the scenes. That is why he wrote Animal Farm, to show people the real situation and threat behind the Soviet government. In the story, Orwell emphasized the factor of too much power. As you read the book, watch to see what happens to those who are given the power of leadership. Watch to see the way they use and misuse it. Orwell also uses many symbols that relate to the real world situations. He used many of the animals to represent things like the workers in Russia, the religion, propaganda, and the influences of power. In the story, the animals build a windmill as a symbol of their ability to accomplish things on their own. This was Orwell's representation of the Communist ideals that were initially made to benefit the Russian people. This book is very valuable in its ability to show the consequences that come from abusing power. Orwell makes it very clear where his standing is on the issue of absolute power and influence. As you read Animal Farm, look for the instances where he shows how propaganda can influence people to do things only from the viewpoint of the person that it solely benefits. Why not try to look for ways that show the similarities between the story and the Russian Revolution? If you do, you could get a better understanding of the way Animal Farm plays out. Will the animals and their ideals hold true? Or will the humans take back the farm? Will the conditions get better on the farm after the animals take over?

Imposssible

I didn't think this book was as good as i thought it was going to be. The story was about a girl who was born into a curse. The whole line of women in her family has been doomed to have a daughter at 18 and then go crazy during which time they belong to the evil Elfin Knight, to get out of the curse they must accomplish three impossible tasks. Lucy lives with her foster parents, and her next door neighbor Zach lives with them. The whole book is about the relationship between Lucy and Zach and how their love helps Lucy achieve her goals. The end is good, but the whole plot just seemed a little lacking. The three tasks only counted for a small portion of the book and kind of lost focus throughout the middle. Overall, the book was ok and I don't think it was a waste of time.

Review/Description

Werlin (TheRules of Survival) melds fantasy and suspense in a contemporary setting for a romance with plenty of teen appeal. Lucy Scarborough, raped on prom night, is pregnant. Committed to keeping the baby, she nonetheless sees disturbing parallels to her mentally ill mother, Miranda, who had Lucy as a teen, then left her in the care of the Markowitzes-Soledad, a nurse-midwife, and her husband, Leo. Boy-next-door-type Zach, home from college and living with the Markowitzes, happens upon Miranda's teenage diary, which outlines a curse placed on Lucy's family generations earlier by the evil Elfin Knight: the women all give birth as teens before descending into madness. Lucy can break the curse only by performing three impossible tasks set forth in a variant of the ballad "Scarborough Fair." None of her forebears have come even close, but then none of them had help from the selfless Markowitzes, the love-struck and self-sacrificing Zach or the Internet, where items like goat horns can be easily located: Lucy is the luckiest accursed girl ever.

A Bride in the Bargain

In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Asa Mercer's girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She's not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she's handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he's about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking--but beguiling--easterner to be his bride?

In keeping with the other Deeanne Gist books I've read this one was exquisite. A Bride in the Bargain had characters that by the end of the book it seems like you know them personally. I loved Anna and Joe, they were so perfect for each other. Joe was every girls fantasy he had sensitivitey, strenth, and sex appeal. The plot always has challeneges and towards the end I was afraid it wasn't going to work out the way I had hoped, but then it twisted and did. This book will make you fall in love with Seattle and wish it went on longer when it was finished. I recommend every true romantic read this book.

Review/Description

In the land replete with timber but few women, widower Joe Denton signs a contract with Asa Mercer to deliver the wife he needs to ensure his land rights. Unfortunately, 19-year-old Anna Ivey doesn't realize she's signed on for marriage; she only wants passage out West and a job. Sparks fly as tempers flare when Joe and Anna discover they are at cross-purposes. Acquiescing to common sense as well as a sense of desperation, the two agree to work together temporarily. As Anna cooks up a storm in payment for the traveling debt Joe incurred on her behalf, Joe cooks up his own scheme for wooing Anna into marriage.

Beastly

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night?

I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

Beastly as the name probably implies is about a Beast. Well, it's the classic story of Beauty and the Beast with a modern day twist. I think Alex Flinn did a really good job of adding in the technology without belittling the actual story. And it wasn't boring either. I actually enjoyed it a lot even though I've seen the disney version of this story a hundred times. He added a few plot twists and some background history on Kyle(the beast) A.k.a Adrian and on Lindy(Beauty). I think this is a good story for all romance, happy ending, fairytale addicts like me.

Review/ Description

Kyle Kingsbury is a gorgeous high school freshman, spoiled rotten by his famous anchorman father, a man who'd rather dole out cash than affection. Kyle attends the exclusive Tuttle School in New York City and torments those poor unfortunates who lack his looks and wealth. When he humiliates a girl at school, she transforms him into a horrific-looking creature. Kyle's only hope for breaking the spell lies in finding true love-as he reports online in meetings of the Unexpected Changes chat group (other members include Froggie and the mermaid Silent Maid). Flinn follows the fairy tale's original plot points closely, but falters in her depiction of the story's bad guys, over-the-top caricatures that simply ring false in her up-to-date setting. Kyle's father, for example, spends literally three minutes with him each day, the time it takes him to heat his dinner in the microwave

Deep in the Heart of Trouble

Deep in the Heart of Trouble was another wonderful book by Deanne Gist. I read A Bride Most Begrudging a little while ago and I loved it, and this one was no different. Apparently though it is actually the sequel to Courting Trouble, I didn't read the first but they are only tied together by characters I didn't really miss anything by not reading the first book.With charming characters and a lovely storyline I really enjoyed this book. The main character Essie reminds me of an Austen character with all her spunk and vitality. I loved her independence and individuality, as well as all her riding outfits and unique hats. The murder of Darius, Tony's brother made the story more intriguing. With romance and secrets, but also a happy ending this book is any girls fairytale.

Review/Description

Deeanne Gist has written a romance that will touch your heart. Her research into the early oil industry is impeccable. Essie and Tony's story has inspiration, a little mystery and a lot of romance. The characters struggle between being human and waiting on God's direction. This is the same struggle that most of us have when our human emotions get in the way of God's plans. Deep in the Heart of Trouble wraps up Essie's story very nicely. It has a little bit of everything, a well rounded story that will make you laugh, cry and cheer for Tony and Essie.

City of Bones

City of Bonesw is the first book in the mortal instuments series. I really liked it up until the last 50 pages when everything twisted and weird. Throughout the story Clary finds out about the world of shadowhunters and the beings they hunt, demons. She finds out about the existence of vampires, werewolves, faeries, and warlocks. And in the end she finds out the existence of her Brother. Also throughout the story a relationship is building between Clary and Jace, who protects her. Jace, A.ka Jonathan, is also her brother, which is not realized until they are in love with each other. There father is the definition of evil and they are siblings in love, what else could go wrong. I really just wanted the series to end there, but I guess now I have to read the other books and see how everything turns out.

Review/ Description

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Burned

So this is the seventh book in the House of Night series and it was a little different than the others. For one it was broken into chapters based on the perspectives of the different characters. There were chapters based on Zoey, Heath, Stark, Aphrodite, Kalona, Stevie Rae, and Rephaim's perspectives. It was also different because it wasn't about Zoey exactly. .It was mostly about how the others were trying to rescue her and also it was about Stevie Rae and her problems. I did really like the parts when she and Rephaim were together and I think that it will be interesting to see how everything turns about between them. I also liked that for once it didn't really meantion all of Zoey's boyfriend problemsThis was actually one of my favorites of this series since the first book.

Review/Description

When friends stop trusting each other, Darkness is there to fan the flames…. Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left… Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world. In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance. Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

On the NIght of the Seventh Moon

I have become an avid Victoria Holt reader. Her books are delightful with wonderful endings, but full of twists and mysteries. On the night of the seventh moon was very different from the mistress of mellyn. It started out kind of slow and was very odd until the middle when it started to get better. It was the story of a girl who met a mysterious man in the forest of germany and then met him by chance again and was married to him. But an untruthful act by those closest to her makes her believe she imagined the romance. It took her nine years to discover the truth and finally live her happily ever after. Betrayal, mystery, and chance all come together to make a book full of twists that will suprise you till the end. I did however guess at some of the things that were going to happen and proved myself correct. This was a good read and i recommend it to any romantic.

Review/Description

On the night of the seventh moon, according to ancient Black Forest legend, Loke, the god of mischief, is abroad in the world. It is a night for singing and dancing. And it is a night for love.
Helena Trant was enchanted by everything she found in the Black Forest—its people, its mysterious castles, its legends and lore. Especially its legends of love. Until the day she started to live one of them and the enchantment turned suddenly into a terrifying nightmare….

Nine Coaches Waiting

This book reminded me alot of the Mistress of Mellyn, but it was a little more difficult to understand. The book is based in France so there are a variety of different french words, or conversations that aren't translated into English. It had a very interesting plot, but it took a while to get going. The romance through a loop, with the book trying to convince you that Raul is a bad guy, but Linda reassuring herself until the end that he isn't despite all the evidence. The ending was surprising, but I liked it very much. It is a slower read, howver it is still a decent book.

Review/Description

A governess in a French château encounters an apparent plot against her young charge's life in this unforgettably haunting and beautifully written suspense novel. When lovely Linda Martin first arrives at Château Valmy as an English governess to the nine-year-old Count Philippe de Valmy, the opulence and history surrounding her seems like a wondrous, ecstatic dream. But a palpable terror is crouching in the shadows. Philippe's uncle, Leon de Valmy, is the epitome of charm, yet dynamic and arrogant—his paralysis little hindrance as he moves noiselessly in his wheelchair from room to room. Only his son Raoul, a handsome, sardonic man who drives himself and his car with equally reckless abandon, seems able to stand up to him. To Linda, Raoul is an enigma—though irresistibly attracted to him, she senses some dark twist in his nature. When an accident deep in the woods nearly kills Linda's innocent charge, she begins to wonder if someone has deadly plans for the young count.

Mistress of Mellyn

Mistress of Mellyn was a very surprising book. It surprised me that I like it so much and had an interesting twist in the end. Everyone isn't as they seem. It was similar in plot to that of Jane Eyre, and the main characters had similar personalities. However, I like this book a lot better and it was easier to read,lacking all the old language styles. It is an older book that you would probably not usually pick up, but I definitely recommend that you do. It has some plot flaws, but is still interesting throughout in my opinion.

Review/Description

Mount Mellyn stood as proud and magnificent as she had envisioned...But what bout its master—Connan TreMellyn? Was Martha Leigh's new employer as romantic as his name sounded? As she approached the sprawling mansion towering above the cliffs of Cornwall, an odd chill of apprehension overcame her.
TreMellyn's young daugher, Alvean, proved as spoiled and difficult as the three governesses before Martha had discovered. But it was the girl's father whose cool, arrogant demeanor unleashed unfimiliar sensations and turmoil—even as whispers of past tragedy and present danger begin to insinuate themselves into Martha's life.
Powerless against her growing desire for the enigmatic Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets—as passion overpowers reason, sending her head and heart spinning. But though evil lurks in the shadows, so does love—and the freedom to find a golden promise forever...

The Lovely Bones

Lovely Bones was not exactly what I expected it would be. I thought it would be the typical murder mystery kind of book, which it wasn't really. Suzie, the narrator starts off telling how she died and who killed her. The rest of the book is aobut her family coping with her death and her coping with letting them go in her heaven. She basically watches their progressing lives from her own heaven world. The story is slightly interesting, but a bit confusing at times because it bounces around to what she is seeing different people doing. The ending kind if surprised me, it didn't end how I expected it to. I guess it was a fairly decent read and is now made into a movie.

Review/Description

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begins the difficult process of healing.

Tempted

Tempted is the sixth book in the HoN series. It was like all the others, meaning same circumstances just different situations. Zoey has too many boyfriends still and has to save the world again. However, Zoey and Eric break up realtaively early and I think they might actually be over this time. Stevie Rae and Aphrodite's imprint gets broken. Stevie rae finally reveals what she has been keeping from Zoey. While she develops a new secret when she saves Rephraim the head Raven Mocker. Zoey and the gand go to Venice to appear in front of the Vampyre High Council, to prove Kalona and Neferet are bad. The end has a suprising and very upsetting twist.

Review/Description

So…you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?