Category: Book Review
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
(Cover picture courtesy of Paperback Fool.)
Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence—a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon.
As the treatment takes effect, Charlie’s intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance, until Algernon suddenly deteriorates. will the same happen to Charlie?
“That’s the mark of a good book: you laugh, you cry, you have a good time.” —My mother
If my mother is right (and I’m pretty sure she is), then Flowers for Algernon is one of the best books I’ve ever read. True, I may be a bit biased because the topic hits really close to home, but Daniel Keyes’ novel is brilliant.
Charlie Gordon is anything but a cardboard cutout because he changes so much throughout the novel. Since it is told in journal form, we see him at the beginning with his poor spelling and grammar, then watch as his writing style gets much better as the surgery works. We really feel his triumphs, his struggles, his frustration and his loneliness, especially when his intelligence is at its peak. As the saying goes, it’s lonely at the top and Daniel Keyes has perfectly explained how lonely truly intelligent people are.
This is not a book that’s meant to be read because of the fast-paced plot, so don’t read this and expect to read a thriller. Flowers for Algernon is a book you read for the meaning, and to be quite honest, it can mean many different things to many different people. For me, the message is that higher intelligence comes with a price—the ability to relate to your peers. For others, it could be a cautionary tale about what happens when man interferes with God’s work through science. It could also be seen as a commentary on intelligence-based discrimination, both for people of high and low IQ. Each time I read Flowers for Algernon, I find new things that I never noticed before. Now that is the mark of a good book.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer
(Cover picture courtesy of Tighe Chemidlin.)
In the future, in a place called Satellite City, Cosmo Hill enters the world, unwanted by his parents. He’s sent to the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. Freight class.
Here, the boys are put to work by the state, testing highly dangerous products. Cosmo realizes that he must get away, and escapes with the help of the Supernaturalists, a group of kids who have the same special abilities as Cosmo—they can see the supernatural Parasites, creatures that feed on the life force of humans. The Supernaturalists patrols the city at night, hunting the Parasites in hopes of saving what is left of humanity in Satellite City. But soon they find themselves caught in a web far more complicated than they’d imagined, and they discover a horrifying secret that will force them to question everything they believe in.
As a book reviewer, I hate to use clichés, but there really is only one word to describe The Supernaturalist: unique. Eoin Colfer’s more famous Artemis Fowl series and even his stand-alone novel, The Wish List have overshadowed his brilliant science fiction novel. Written with the humour and imagination I have come to expect from him, The Supernaturalist is absolutely brilliant.
Cosmo is pretty much your stereotypical protagonist in the beginning, but as the story progresses, he develops at a very natural pace. And as he slowly finds out the truth about the Parasites, we really do see an interesting side of him: the brave, more daring side. His struggle to fit in with the Supernaturalists, who have a group dynamic similar to that of The Thief Lord, also makes him identifiable with pretty much every adolescent in the world.
Eoin Colfer inserts so many plot twists and turns in The Supernaturalist that I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t be able to guess the ending, which is a huge surprise. The surprise ending is a whopper, but it’s also incredibly satisfying and brings some closure to this novel. For once, I have nothing to criticize about a book’s ending because Eoin Colfer was able to finish it in a pinch.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
(Cover picture courtesy of Sarah’s Reviews.)
Artemis is at boarding school in Ireland when he receives an urgent e-mail from Russia. It is a plea from a man who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafiya: his father. As Artemis rushes to his rescue, he is stopped by a familiar nemesis, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. But this time, instead of battling fairies, he is going to have to join forces with them if he wants to save one of the few people in the world he loves.
The Arctic Incident is the second book in Eoin Colfer’s bestselling Artemis Fowl series and it really improves upon the first novel. It picks up with a plea from Artemis’ father, who has been missing for the past two years and because of this, we really see the side of Artemis that is still a twelve-year-old boy. This vulnerable side gives him a lot more depth and makes him much easier to relate to than he is in the first book. Holly Short, who joins him on this quest after he helps the LEP with the goblin rebellion, is also given more depth. Her dislike of Artemis is evident (he did kidnap her after all), but by the end of the novel she has warmed up to him a lot more. The dynamics of their ‘friendship’ are very interesting and Eoin Colfer plays up this “unlikely friends” angle a lot, much to his readers’ delight.
As for the plot, well, what can I say? There’s always a sense of urgency and the point of view switches at all the right places to keep the novel moving along very quickly. Seeing the story from a few different perspectives is really interesting because each one is so unique. when it comes to switching writing styles quickly, Eoin Colfer is king.
The characters and plot are excellent, but what I love most about The Arctic Incident is all of the technology the fairies have developed. In most fantasy, creatures that have magic are far behind in science and technology, but this is definitely not the case. The Neutrino 2000, the Moonbelts and even the suits the LEP use for above-ground missions are truly amazing. Yet it’s magic, not science, that heals Holly when she’s badly hurt in Russia. This combination of science and magic is probably my favourite part ofThe Arctic Incident.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars.
Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz
(Cover picture courtesy of English I Book Reviews.)
Teen superspy Alex Rider’s world shatter when he discovers that the father he never knew may have been an assassin for Scorpia, the deadliest terrorist organization in the world. And now Scorpia wants Alex on their side, and will stop at nothing to get to him.
Alex Rider’s doubts about MI6 have resurfaced in this book, this time with extraordinary consequences. Just like Yassen told him before he died in Eagle Strike, he seeks out Scorpia in Italy. This leads to a whole series of dangerous adventures, interesting characters and incredibly tough decisions. Will Alex choose between working for Scorpia like his father supposedly did or will he continue to work for MI6, an organization that has manipulated him again and again?
Scorpia is probably the best book in the whole Alex Rider series because Alex finally acquires some depth. He’s still a bit too perfect for a fourteen year old boy, but he is more of a three dimensional character now than before. The villain, Julia Rothman, is better than many of the villains in the previous novels, but she will still never make my list of good villains.
As for the plot, it’s very fast-paced and showcases Anthony Horowitz at his best. He has achieved the perfect balance between description and dialogue for an action novel and there is never a dull moment in Scorpia because of this. As usual, he has done his research well and transports readers to each exotic location in the novel very well.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
Wilde’s Fire by Krystal Wade
“There is no pain in this death, only peace, knowing I am going to die with the one I love the most.” — Katriona WildeKatriona Wilde has never wondered what it would feel like to have everything she’s ever known and loved ripped away, but she is about to find out. When she inadvertently leads her sister and best friend through a portal into a world she’s dreamed of for six years, she finds herself faced with more than just the frightening creatures in front of her. She’s forced to accept a new truth: her entire life has been a lie, and those closest to her have betrayed her. What’s worse, she has no control over her new future, and it’s full of magic and horrors from which nightmares are made. Will she discover and learn to control who she really is in time to save the ones she loves, or will all be lost?
[Full disclosure: I received a free book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
After my rant about the lack of diversity in fantasy, I took a break from the genre for a bit, knowing that a return would prompt another rant. Now that I’m through my cooling off period, I decided to give fantasy another chance. And you know what? I’m glad I did because I found Wilde’s Fire by Krystal Wade.
Romance, fascinating characters, a love triangle with a huge twist and superb world-building…what more could you ask for in fantasy? Well, this first book in the Darkness Falls series will leave you anxious for the second book, but nothing else because it is such a satisfying read. Wilde’s Fire is a fast-paced roller coaster that will keep you quite literally on the edge of your seat. The book starts out slow, but I guarantee that after the second chapter, you won’t want to put it down.
Katriona “Kate” Wilde, the main character, is pretty much your typical female lead in the beginning, but as she becomes more sure of herself and falls in love, she becomes a very strong protagonist. I would call this more of a character driven novel than a plot driven novel, which I actually don’t mind because Kate is such a good character. She stays strong, but she has her vulnerable, more human moments and she doesn’t fall in Insta-Love. It’s a nice change, actually.
For those of you that love good world-building, I would recommend this book. The daemons, the magical animals, the different humanoid races…they are partly clichés, but Krystal Wade had put a spin on these old fantasy tropes. For a first time writer, she really does have amazing world-building. Heck, she’s better than most experienced writers when it comes to world-building.
I give this book 5/5 stars.