Morgan's Blog

The Twelve Labors of Hercules-Modern Edition

morganc2016 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 23:18:02 +0000

A modern Hercules, and an old-world Greek Hercules, each taking on twelve tasks that will be like no other tasks. This is the story of Agatha Christie’s realistic fiction novel, The Labors of Hercules. As his twelve last cases, Hercule Poirot decides to take on twelve more cases before retirement. They can be any kind of case, but they have to fit one requirement; they have to have similar qualities to the actual myth of the labors of Hercules. These labors, for both Hercules, are so difficult that they seem almost impossible to complete, ranging from major political problems to small-town cases. Can Hercule Poirot use his “little gray cells” to be able to solve these labors, just like Hercules used his physical strength and endurance?

I would give this novel, a 10 out of 10! It had all the necessary parts to a good book- an interesting story line, suspense, and good writing. Having only known a little bit about the actual myth of the 12 labors, it was interesting to see what would come next. I also loved how sometimes the connection between the crime and the labor was simple, like both about dogs, or was more like a symbol. Since this book was written by having each labor be a different chapter, it kept your attention because one crime didn’t drag out, or one crime was too short. It was not only the format, but Agatha Christie’s writing always gets me hooked and caught up in the crime. I believe the intended audience for this was teens and above. This would be a fantastic novel for anyone, boy or girl, no matter the age, who loves crime! If you love reading about crime, and want to put your wit to the test, then this novel is right for you!

Till we Have Faces Book Review – 306 pages

morganc2016 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:24:16 +0000

Yet another C.S. Lewis has fallen into my hands. It is Till We Have Faces, which is a twist on a the myth of Cupid and his love of Psyche. Psyche was just a mortal girl, when Cupid took her to be her wife. Psyche then started to live the life of her dreams, she had everything she ever wanted and only for one thing was to not ever look at Cupid. This life went on just fine until her jealous sister, Orual convinced her to look at Cupid. Because of this act, Psyche and Orual have to live with much pain and suffering. But, if Psyche can complete impossible tasks given to her by the gods, then life can go back to normal.

This historical fiction novel by C.S. Lewis is intended for teens or young adults. It isn’t that hard of a read, but in some parts the book gets dull for a number of pages before it picks up again. So, I wouldn’t recommend it for children because of this.

My rating of this book would be a 7 out of 10. Though the basic story was good, I think sometimes it strayed too far from the actual storyline. This made some chapters very confusing or just dull. In my opinion I believe that it would be much better, if the story got shortened up to a short story instead of a novel. Once good thing about this book was the descriptions. Several times when a new character was introduced or the gods came into play, C.S. Lewis would describe them so well that it would seem to me as if they were standing in front of me. If someone wants a simple read which they can pick up on and off, then this is the book for them!

Mini Masterpieces by Agatha Christie

morganc2016 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:47:40 +0000

To a lot of people masterpieces are artworks, but when I hear the words Mini Masterpieces I think of a great book by Agatha Christie. The Mini Masterpieces: The Detectives is a group of short stories including all of Agatha Christie’s detectives ( Parker Pyne, Harley Quin, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple). The stories range from about 10-15 pages and are all about some sort of crime. Whether it is a murder, or just a stolen ring it is just as full in suspense, clues, and excitement. Each detective has its own style. For example, Hercule Poirot has to think, or let his little gray cells do the work, and Parker Pyne read human emotion, and attracts his crime from his business of trying to make people happy.

My rating of this novel would be a definite ten out of ten! I love being able to go from one detective to the next, to the different cases quickly, but also having the story making you think as it normally does. Whenever I read Christie’s novel, I usually stick to Hercule Poirot stories, or Miss Marple stories because I know that they would be great. But, after only reading a few stories, I got hooked on the other detectives too, Parker Pyne and Harley Quinn. It was fun to expand my horizons, and especially on the first few stories when I didn’t know at all what their stories were like.

In my personal opinion I believe that everyone would like these stories. They contain the perfect amount of mystery to keep the reader reading and guessing. Because of that, adults and teens alike would get hooked on this book. Plus it isn’t gory that some of the new teen thrillers that gross you out, so you don’t want read anymore. So if your looking for a good read that gets you intrigued and excited pick up Agatha Christie!

Will you be the 6th Target? – A book review

morganc2016 — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:53:26 +0000

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!. Six shots were fired one Sunday afternoon, on the Del Norte ferry. 4 out of 6 people died. This is the case that Lindsay, the main detective, in the James Patterson’s book The 6th Target faces. A serial killer case, with no leads what so ever, until the killer turns himself in at Lindsay front porch because he is scared that he might do it again. The case soon goes to trial where one of Lindsay’s close friend is the prosector, and the main question is whether the killer is staging his defense, and trying to get away from the death penalty or the defandent is actually insane because of a incident in his past. Not only does Linsday have to balance this case, but she also having to deal with almost losing her best friend on the ferry that fateful day, and her long distance relationship is falling into a wreck. As the stress piles up on Lindsay’s plate, like a oversize mound of potatoes, the case starts to fall through, and the defense is getting a lead. If this keeps going, killer will go free for the deaths of 4 people, and can be a immense danger to those around him, and will probably kill again.

For my preferences I would give this book a 9 out of 10. The writing style and plot made the novel extremely exciting and suspenseful, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. One of the other things that I loved about the book was the ending for while I was reading it my heart start to pump a little faster. In my opinion the only part of the book that wasn’t to my expectations was the trial. I loved how James Patterson made the trial seem realistic, but it could of added a little flair. If I was reading a novel about lawyers, it would be a great trial and part of that novel. But, since the rest of the book was so fanstastic, I felt like the trial didn’t live up to compare to the rest of the book.

As a teenager who loves suspense, crime, and real life fiction this is the novel that combines all of those. I wouldn’t go any younger than a teenager to read this book because some parts might be a little inappropriate or scary in their eyes. But for a reader in high school, 7th and 8th grade this is the perfect, simple read for you! With the suspense, crime, and real life fiction all packed into a around 300 pages this novel is amazing.

All Done! 3,000 Pages!

morganc2016 — Wed, 11 May 2011 22:31:28 +0000

During this 9 weeks I’ve got to more pages than I’ve ever read before in one 9 weeks: 3,000 pages!! For those big crazy readers, I know that it’s a small amount; but for me its amazing. Below is a list of books that I’ve read, and loved:

Mr. Monk in Trouble-322 pages Murdered! My Sweet- 208 pages

Pretty Little Liars #6-336 pages Nobody’s There-208 pages

Pretty Little Liars #7-288 pages Diary of Anne Frank- 325 pages

Pretty Little Liars #8-272 pages Two Minute Mysteries-288 pages

The Story of Edgar Swatelle-566 pages Don’t Scream-165 pages

The Art of Palm Reading-28 pages(so far!)

Please comment if you have any recommendations, or thoughts about my book selection! Thanks!

Anyone, Anyone! A review on Nobody’s There by Joan Lowry Nixon

morganc2016 — Wed, 11 May 2011 22:17:40 +0000

In Nobody’s There, by Joan Lowry Nixon many characters have changed throughout the novel. But, one change that I feel is the greatest was Mrs. Merkel. Mrs. Merkel was the senior citizen that Abby got assigned to in the Friend to Friend program. In the beginning, Mrs. Merkel was a strange,crabby, old lady that like just to be left alone, and not to be pestered. She made herself clear by stating”Get off my porch or I’ll shoot” when Abby first came to the house. But, by the end of the book she had clearly changed internally. In the hospital room, Mrs. Merkel was nice, not rude to Abby as she usually is. An example of this is that she let Abby read books to her, and she like it even though she pretended not too, She also seemed to have more passion in what she did. While in the hospital, Mrs. Merkel took up two hobbies: reading, and writing. Though these changes were minor, they cause a great change in Mrs. Merkel herself. I believe that these changes were sparked by having someone care for her. Before Abby came, I believe that Mrs.Merkel basically kept to herself, and didn’t have a true friend because she didn’t get out much. Since she was alone often, she hardened up like a rock. But, when she was exposed to Abby’s kindness, she softened.

I believe that the author’s purpose was one to teach the reader that friendship, and great people come in many shapes and sizes, and not to judge people by first impression, in an entertaining way. I think that the intended audience would be 7th and 8th grade boys and girls. Nobody’s There is an pretty easy read, and would be too easy read for anyone above that age level. This novel is a mystery combined with adventure, so it isn’t to girly or boyish. This makes it easy for everyone to enjoy!

The Story of Edgar Swatelle

morganc2016 — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:43:07 +0000

The Story of Edgar Swatelle was a great book, combining realistic fiction with lessons of friendship, loyalty, and life. If I were David Wroblewski, and created a new chapter, it would be hard to start it,and end it well. The last ending of the book, got the reader wanting more, but also ending that book very well with a sense of mystery. But, if one more chapter was added it would be partly a sequl, for it would start an entirely different story: the story about the dogs. Having this predicament I would write about the grief of the mother, and what would happen afterwords. It would go something like this:

Mother

I fully awoke with the help of Glen, but nothing was left to greet me, not a welcoming sight to see. A hazy smoke filled the air, as if it now owned the house and the land. Piles of ashes stood where the barn has been before. The dogs, or most of them, had left. Edgar would be upset about this. Those dogs were his life. Edgar, he’s gone. I had him for only a day, until he left again. I could feel the tears running down my face, my screams echoing through the smoke, and Glen trying to comfort me, talking hurriedly to someone. But, none of this mattered now. Nothing was left; I had nothing. Darkness engulfed me. The same darkness I had felt, when I had lose my baby before. But, now their was no hope to pull me out again, no warm hand, and comforting words, to rescue me. There was just me and darkness both internally dead.

The author’s purpose of writing this book, is to show life in a new way. To teach the readers about friendship, and life lessons. I believe that this attended audiences are adults, for at some parts of the books I’ve found boring, or confusing. But, for adults it would be must more clear and influential.

Yay!I passed with flying colors!!

morganc2016 — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:33:46 +0000

Every 9 weeks in my English class we have a reading assignment and goal. This challenge usually had the students read about 1,500-2,000 pages, and take a reading counts test over one of our books. For this nine weeks I decided to read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. And guess what?! I got a great score on my test!

The story, of Anne Frank and her family, was fascinating, showing the troubles and hardships Jews, and Non-Jews had during Adolf Hitler’s rule. It was also a great experience, to see what hiding was like for Jewish families. I’ve read some other Holocaust books, but none were quite like this novel. One of parts of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl that I throughly enjoyed was getting the inside scope of the feelings of Anne, and her family members throughout the story. It was amazing that one piece of news destroyed or made their day. Overall I would rate this book an 9 out of 10. Boys and girls alike, who are around middle school, and up should read this book. For once in awhile when we forget to count are blessings, a novel like this is a good wake-up call.

Two Minute Mysteries by Donald Sobal

morganc2016 — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:23:36 +0000

For every person, their opinion of the book is different in some way. Some books people love, others people hate. Two Minute Mysteries for me, was a book that I was on the fence about, sometimes liked it and sometimes didn’t. The title of this book, basically describes the novel. It is made up of short mysteries all solved by the genius dectective, Dr. Haledjian. With all the different plots and story lines, it was definitely a fast-paced book. Though this book was over four-hundred pages, it didn’t take me long at all to read. Another positive of the novel, is it isn’t all murder; there are just regular crimes too. One negative of the book is the solutions. Sometimes they are quite amazing, hidding a small but important clue in the story, and if the reader catches it, it would solve the whole story. But, in other stories the reader has to have backround information about the story. For example, in one story, a passenger of a popular train supposedly gets hurt on the train, and to solve the mystery the reader has to know about how Pullam’s train set-ups their beds. Overall this book is great, even with its ups and downs. I would rate it a seven out of 10.

Mr. Monk in a book!

morganc2016 — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:41:02 +0000

I’ve had always been a little fan of the show, Monk, so I decided to try out one of the books, that fall under that series as well. Mr. Monk in Trouble is a pretty good book, but the ending wasn’t what I thought it would be. Mr. Monk arrives in Trouble, California, which is an old mining town, to investigate a murder for Captain Stotlemyers. But, the trip soon goes down hill, for the town is not up to Mr. Monk’s “standards”. Throughout the book Mr. Monk gets a few clues here and there, and I was excepting a big finial at the end of the book, but instead I got about a 10 word closing, no exciting capture, and not even a suprise about who did it. By the middle of the book, I guess who the murder was just by his/her actions. Even after I figured it out, I decided to keep on reading, for I doubt that I was actually right. But, as the conculsion and final pages came around, there was no sudden twist, or suprise. Nothing, except what I predicted would happen. So it turned out to be quite a boring ending, in my sense. I would rate it a 8 out of 10.