The Pit and the Pendulum

 By Solana Cortez


 In honour of Halloween I was planning on treating you with a review of Frankenstein . Unfortunately, my copy has gone missing.

So instead I have decided to treat you with a little Edgar Allan Poe. Specifically, The Pit and the Pendulum. I know it's a short story, but short stories need love too. 

 

 

Summary:

The narrator has been convicted of a crime. What crime, the reader is never told. The story goes on to tell how the narrator manages to escape his punishment (shear luck, shear genius, and shear luck again). Each time he manages to avoid death, it comes at him again in a new form.

Highlights:

The detail is great. Poe engages all your senses. The reader can feel the slime on the prison walls, and smell the rotting fungus.

Recommendations:

Definitely mature junior high and beyond level. Not a story I'd read to a five year old unless I wanted to explain to his parents why he's having nightmares about demon eyes.

It's great for reading around a camp fire, or a Halloween read. I'm not telling you that these are the only times this sort of story is to be read. If you are in the mood for some dark reading that engages your senses then this is a good pick. I personally enjoy Edgar Allan Poe on a dreary day with some candle light to get into the mood.

Rating:

This is a classic, so you will probably be forced to read it for some class in your future. However, if you have managed to get through school without reading The Pit and the Pendulum you have been deprived of a very good read. If your children have not read this by the time they are through high school, you should question the quality of education they are receiving.

And to top it off, it is a few pages long. That means you can read it while in the doctor's waiting room, riding the bus, etc... So no excuses.

This story rates a MUST READ.

Until next time.  Happy Reading.  And Happy Halloween! 

Tattered Cover Bookstore, LoDo Denver CO

 By Solana Cortez

During a visit to Colorado, it was recommended that I visit the Tattered Cover Bookstore in the Lower Downtown area of Denver. Being a book lover, I just could not pass up an opportunity to check out a bookstore.

Entering this place took my breath away. It's perfect. The atmosphere is so inviting, you almost expect a grandmother to show up and offer you a plate of cookies with a glass of milk. The bookshelves are a dark stained wood, which reminds me of someone's private library than a bookstore. There are chairs placed throughout the store. They do not all match, they aren't even the same type, but they all offer the same thing. A comfortable place to sit down and peruse through a good book.

There's even a cafe like area where you can order coffee, tea, cocoa, and something to munch on. Great for someone who can spend an entire day in a place like this. And who wouldn't want to? The lighting is just enough to look at the books, but not so bright that you feel like you are in some large chain store.

That's just the first floor.

Towards the back is a staircase. Of course I had to go check out what treasures were available on the next floor, so up I went. I went up one flight of stairs which has this section of flooring that is about the size of my bedroom. There are shelves lining the walls with recommended reading material. I went through them just to see what genre was most popular for the area. They have a broad selection of recommendations. There's the classical writers and the newer ones. They got an A+ from me for that.

On the second floor, there are (you guessed it) more books. Same inviting atmosphere as downstairs, but a little more private. There are actual little offshoots into rooms that you can sit down in and read quietly.

This place is not without its humor. In the psychology section I found a couch like the ones seen on TV that the patient sits on while lamenting over how horrible his childhood was. I couldn't help but laugh.

The only thing lacking is a fireplace with a crackling fire to read by. That's probably to keep the clientele from taking up permanent residence there.

So if you happen to be in the LoDo area of Denver go check out the Tatter Cover Bookstore. It will definitely be worth your time.

Till next time. Happy Reading.

Jurassic Park

 By Solana Cortez

The first time I read this book, I was 12 years old. My first Michael Crichton novel and I've been hooked ever since. If you've seen the movie, you know the basic plot. Man clones dinos, dinos get loose, dinos try eating man, man escapes island. While the movie is great, the book is so much better.

Summary

Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler are sent to an island under the impression that they are consultants for a biological preserve. What they end up going to is an island full of living breathing dinosaurs. After the initial shock and excitement over seeing these giants up close, reality soon sets in. Besides the fact that some unknown lizards are appearing on the mainland, someone gets greedy and shuts off the power on the island. Unfortunately, he doesn't consider the fact that when power is shut off so are all the barriers that keep the dinos in check. So a seemingly quiet visit to a preserve turns into dino eating mayham. When power and order is seemingly restored the scientists have the added task of going and accounting for the "unauthorized" breeding that's going on in the island.

Highlights

The science and mathematics involved were simple enough to keep the reader entertained, and enough to spark the curiosity for the subjects for enthusiasts.  While it is the early 90s, so it can't be said that the science is sound, but Crichton's descriptions make the process seem so real.

The scene where Grant and the children are floating down the river on a raft. Grant is explaining to Tim about frog DNA. Basically it's a beautiful scene. They're floating through a preserve, with dinosaurs scattered about. And to top it off Tim is getting attention from one of his idols in a father like manner which he is unable to get from his own dad at home. It's almost a peaceful atomosphere.

Being in the Velocoraptor nest. The reader practically holds his breath during this scene. They are smack dab in the middle of the nest counting how many have hatched. And to top it off, the adults are there. The scene is amazing, being surrounded by all these dinosaur eggs, but then the added danger of the adults makes the reader cringe.

Hammond getting his just rewards. I can't say much more than that without giving away the end, but I found it quite ironic.

Recommendations

I would not recommend letting a 12 year read this book since it does contain some mature material. It did seal my fate of going into genetics. The novel is detailed when it comes to college level math and science. Also there's a lot of mention of "entrails" being pulled out.

I'd say this novel is great for age 15 and beyond. And if you're a dinosaur fan this book needs to be in your collection.

Rating

My first copy is so tattered and worn from reading that I actually had to invest in a hardcover copy. There are details that you miss the first time around, and the story line itself never gets old. I even used this novel to write an essay for my college English class (received an A). So this book, Jurassic Park
rates a MUST READ AGAIN.

Until next time.  Happy Reading.

Introduction

 By Solana Cortez

First, I thought I'd start with the basics.  This is a blog about books.  Basically it's a book review.  Not something that can be used to write a book report or an essay.  So if that's what you are looking for, you are at the wrong place.  I will give a brief summary of the books I read (and I will try not to put in any spoilers).  This summary will include my reaction to the book, whether or not I'd read it again, what age it would be appropriate for and why.

I will be including new releases, books that are popular thanks to the media, some not so well known books and of course the classics.  This is to 1) encourage discussion between readers 2) prevent buyers remorse (buying a book that you just could not get into) 3) encourage the use of your local library 4) let some of the lesser known but good books receive some love, and above all else 5) encourage a love for reading.

I do encourage requests for a review (within reason).  If I don't have a review up for a book that you would like to know about, please comment.  If it's something I have available, I will gladly write a review.

Posts will be titled by book.  This is too make searching for titles easier.  So instead of titling the post "The Greatest Book I Have Ever Read," I will title it "Jurassic Park."  Posts involving books in a series will have the series title.  I will post individuals reviews about each books in that single post.

Most books I review are for pleasure reading.  Every once in a while I might review a book outside that category (DIY, beginners books...), but those reviews will consist of how easy the instructions were to follow and if I actually accomplished "rewiring my house in one weekend".

These are my hopes for this blog.  I am open to suggestions to make it more user friendly, on book reviews, or just plain friendly discussion.

Till next time.  Happy Reading.