Late 2017 to Early 2018 Book Reviews

Today's article is about the fiction books I recently read in the past month. I received some of them for Christmas and others were free online. I have a new format for book reviews so comment if you like the organization.

You might have noticed some changes to the previous posts. I changed the font of the whole blog although for some reason some of the paragraphs just don't want to change font. I also decided to stop putting the accreditation of the photos I use on this blog because it just becomes a hassle for me. Just remember that most of the pictures are not my property.

Books Read

 

 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and

Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain are not shown.

(The Publisher) Summary

Bloodline by Claudia Gray

WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE RESISTANCE

 When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.

 Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy—from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.

 As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position—even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing. . . .

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray

Sixteen-year-old Princess Leia Organa faces the most challenging task of her life so far: proving herself in the areas of body, mind, and heart to be formally named heir to the throne of Alderaan. She's taking rigorous survival courses, practicing politics, and spearheading relief missions to worlds under Imperial control. But Leia has worries beyond her claim to the crown. Her parents, Breha and Bail, aren't acting like themselves lately; they are distant and preoccupied, seemingly more concerned with throwing dinner parties for their allies in the Senate than they are with their own daughter.

Determined to uncover her parents' secrets, Leia starts down an increasingly dangerous path that puts her right under the watchful eye of the Empire. And when Leia discovers what her parents and their allies are planning behind closed doors, she finds herself facing what seems like an impossible choice: dedicate herself to the people of Alderaan including the man she loves or to the galaxy at large, which is in desperate need of a rebel hero...

From a Certain Point of View

On May 25, 1977, the world was introduced to Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and a galaxy full of possibilities. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, more than forty contributors lend their vision to this retelling of Star Wars. Each of the forty short stories reimagines a moment from the original film, but through the eyes of a supporting character. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors, trendsetting artists, and treasured voices from the literary history of Star Wars

The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

"I'm a dead woman, or I shall be soon . . ."

Hercule Poirot's quiet supper in a London coffeehouse is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. Though terrified, she begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done. Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at a London Hotel have been murdered, and a monogrammed cufflink has been placed in each one's mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares another hotel bedroom for a fourth victim.

Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah

"What I intend to say to you will come as a shock..."With these words, Lady Athelinda Playford -- one of the world's most beloved children's authors -- springs a surprise on the lawyer entrusted with her will. As guests arrive for a party at her Irish mansion, Lady Playford has decided to cut off her two children without a penny . . . and leave her vast fortune to someone else: an invalid who has only weeks to live.
Among Lady Playford's visitors are two strangers: the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. Neither knows why he has been invited -- until Poirot begins to wonder if Lady Playford expects a murder. But why does she seem so determined to provoke a killer? And why -- when the crime is committed despite Poirot's best efforts to stop it -- does the identity of the victim make no sense at all?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Beloved in Christmases past, and sure to remain a favorite into Christmases of the future, Dickens’ popular holiday tale is the perfect Christmas present. The uplifting tale follows the mysterious and magical events that transform the miserly, miserable Ebenezer Scrooge into “as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man” as ever lived.

Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain

Tom Sawyer attempts to solve a mysterious murder in this burlesque of the immensely popular detective novels of the time.

Things I Liked

Bloodline by Claudia Gray

I basically liked everything about this book. If you know me, I am partially biased toward books and movies with Leia in them. Leia was the main character, and the author did a great job with her development and showed a lot of great character qualities that Leia has. Greer Sonnel (who has an extra short story at the end of the novel) and Joph Seastriker were developed well enough and although they were new characters, I felt like I knew them as well as other Star Wars characters by the end of the novel. There was a lot of politics, travel, action, and mystery involved. The First Order was introduced in this novel as part of the suspense in this novel. Han Solo, Chewbacca, Admiral Ackbar, and other classic Star Wars characters had minor roles, but were still amazing anyways.

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray

I think that the concept of this novel, the fact that Leia is growing up and learning to be a leader and a rebel, is really crucial to Leia's story. This novel introduces a different and younger Leia that has the same brilliance and compassion that Leia shows when she is older. Although this is a coming-of-age novel in a sense, there is a little bit of adventure, teenager things, and romance in the mix.

{Here's a spoiler warning if you haven't watched The Last Jedi yet}

One of my favorite characters was definitely Amilyn Holdo. In the Last Jedi, she is basically some serious, seclusive, and dull leader who is not very quick to react in emergencies. In my opinion, she was definitely one of the most disappointing characters in the Last Jedi. But in this novel, a completely different Amilyn Holdo is seen. Amilyn is Leia's friend from their Senate debate class and mountain climbing class (I know, it's a long story) and they are both sixteen. Amilyn is "truly an oddball" as the author said, and she loves rainbows and glitter and the crazy and interesting things in life. She loves to stand out, but she acts fast, is a supportive co-leader, and would never do anything she did inside the movie. Whatever you thought she was from The Last Jedi is turned on its head in this book.

From a Certain Point of View

I love the concept of a collection of stories from the viewpoint of very minor characters. I especially liked the one about Captain Antilles on the Tantive IV, the one about Beru Lars, Luke's adoptive mother, and the ones about Obi-Wan either preparing to train Luke or after he was killed by Darth Vader. My favorite section was the one narrated by the pilots attacking the Death Star. This book provides retellings of A New Hope through the eyes of very minor characters including the Imperial officers on the Death Star, Jawas, Tusken Raiders, those at the Cantina, stormtroopers, and the pilots involved with the attack at the Death Star.

The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

This novel is a continuation of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series although it is written by Sophie Hannah. These novels have been authorized by the Christie estate, and take place in February 1929 after Mystery of the Blue Train and before Peril at End House. First of all, I love extra mysteries with Poirot. The author has Poirot completely on point except for one minor detail which I will speak of in the next section. Sophie Hannah is known for her suspense in her mystery novels, and I can see why. The writing style is different from Agatha Christie's, but good still.

Edward Catchpool was an amazing character. He is more of a student than a sidekick, and I am finally glad to come across a character who will not solve the mystery, but is not super stupid, romantic, or frivolous. He is such an interesting character with an interesting life story and is basically a polar opposite of other sidekick's like Dr. Watson or Hastings.

Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah

This is a continuation of The Monogram Murders and although this book wasn't as great as the previous one, I still enjoyed it. I loved Poirot's grand entrance every time he calls Catchpool: "It is I, Catchpool - Hercule Poirot!" I don't how Christie and Hannah do that, but they make Poirot's vanity more hilarious than irritating.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I have read parts of this novel, but I haven't read the full novel until December 2017. I like Charles Dickens' style of writing and descriptions in general so I enjoyed this novel as well. I think it's such a nice story about Christmas and the Christmas spirit.

Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain

I didn't love this novel, but I did enjoy when Tom Sawyer interrupted the court proceeding to answer every single question about the murder correctly.


Things I Disliked

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray

I really disliked the character and personality of Leia's love interest, Keir Domadi. He is so serious that to me every scene where Leia and Keir are talking is just so boring. He loves history, but he just makes everything he likes sound uninteresting that I would rather hear more about Amilyn Holdo or Mon Mothma. He is completely incomparable Han Solo, and I think he sucked the fun out of the whole novel from beginning to end. Leia and Keir also run away together when they're supposed to be at this ball which just felt unnecessary.

From a Certain Point of View

Again, there was minor mentions of a few characters mostly from this one Star Wars author, Chuck Wendig, who wrote the Aftermath trilogy and for some reason felt complied to trash the Star Wars universe with at least five gay characters. According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin, and I hate to see it portrayed as normal in any setting because it is neither biologically normal or morally normal. I have read that many Christian bloggers decide not to read books with major gay characters because it goes against their faith, and I decided to do the same by not reading the Aftermath trilogy for that reason because there are major gay characters in those books.

There were also many stories that were so confusing and boring because they come from the point of view of Jawas, Tusken Raiders, and random drunkards at the Mos Eisley Cantina. I found those stories uninteresting and pointless. One of those more random, vague story contain two gay characters as the main characters. I didn't really think much of it probably because I was more confused and bored.

The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

This is the one small detail that was kind of off character for Poirot, but in the novel we find out that Catchpool hates God for some reason which the author hints that it has to do with his romantic life and that's why he has no more romantic life. From my perspective, Poirot would have probably restored his faith in God because Poirot is a Catholic who teaches the reader a moral or sheds light upon human nature in nearly every Agatha Christie book. That fact can be debated, but I felt like the story was missing a lesson.

Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain

I've read three Mark Twain books and I was disappointed with each of them because they just are boring and the comedy is more of bathroom humor which is inappropriate anyways. He tries to portray kids pretending to act like adults (which may be satire), but it really is not funny. The mystery is also not logical whatsoever.

Rating

I'll be rating the book by saying whether I recommend it (R) or don't recommend it (DR). There will be other labels but those are the main ones for now.

Bloodline by Claudia Gray: R (Recommend)
Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray: R (Recommend)
From a Certain Point of View: PR (Partially Recommend)

Because many of the stories were really boring and confusing, but others were filled with great emotional depth, comedy, and adventure.

The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah: R (Recommend)
Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah: R (Recommend)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: R (Recommend)
Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain: NR (Not Recommended)

 &

I hoped you enjoy the book reviews, and like the new format I will be using for reviews because I think it's more efficient than just having to summarize the book on my own. The verse for this week is 1 John 1:6-7. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

The term Christian is thrown around a lot, so much that everyone whether they even believe in the Bible or Christ says they are one. It's so misused that I sometimes prefer to use Protestant or Fundamentalist (which is the term for 20th century Christians who adhered to the fundamentals of the Bible despite the swarm of unbiblical teachings). According to the Bible, Christian means "little Christ." In this passage, it is explained that those who truly are Christians and follow Christ "walk in His light." That means obeying His commandments, and believing every word He says. As Christians, we should be set apart from the world because we don't make the rules; God does. It is important that as Christians we are truly set apart and that the world knows that Christians are different not only in belief but also in practice.