The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

This review will probably be a short one.  Not because I read a lousy book.  It's not easy writing a review on something that is meant to make fun of everything.  The Restaurant at the End of the Universe does just that, it continues it's parody of a sci-fi novel.

Summary:

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe starts where The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy leaves off.  Arthur Dent and his friends are headed towards the Restaurant at the End of the Universe for lunch.  They find themselves in adventure after adventure once again, starting with another encounter with the Vogons and ending with Arthur and Ford being left on Earth two million years in the past.

Highlights:

The restaurant.  It's in a protected field outside of time allowing patrons to enjoy a meal and watch the universe end as entertainment.  Later, patrons can return to their own time

The Heart of Gold putting so much effort into figuring out what tea is.

Arthur and Ford ending up on a Golgfrincham ship with frozen phone sanitizers and hairdressers.

Recommendations:

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is for high school age and up.  If you know someone who doesn't like to read, this is a good book.  The chapters are short, dialog is funny, and no analysis is required.
Rating:

I would have to say that The Restaurant at the End of the Universe should be read at least once.  Mostly for the lighthearted take on everything.  We all need a good laugh.

Until next time, Happy Reading.

Next week is Watership Down.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Most of the books I read tend to be a little serious in nature.  I don't mean that I only read biographies or histories.  I enjoy a good Sci-Fi or Fantasy novel.  In fact they make up the bulk of my collection.  In these books, there are rules and these rules lead to a plausible ending.

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, all the standard rules the the reader is used to are thrown out.  The story does not go in a plausible direction.  There are twists and turns the further you read.  And to top it off, it's only Book 1.

Summary:

Earth is destroyed to make room for a new highway and Arthur Dent is the only Earthman who survives thanks to an alien named Ford Prefect.  Ford Prefect just so happens to be doing the research needed to update The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a book that's like an encyclopedia of the whole galaxy.

Thanks to Ford, Arthur finds himself on an adventure through the galaxy, learning about improbability drives, Sens-O-Tape...

Throughout the book the reader will meet Marvin the depressed robot, Trillian a female Earthling, and Zaphod Beeblebrox president of the Galactic Government.

Highlights:

I found the explanation for crop circles and alien sighting quite hilarious.

The reader will give a chuckle over who's the smartest being on planet earth.

Short chapters.  Each chapter is only a couple of pages making it easy to find a stopping point when needed.

Recommendations:

This book is for anyone who enjoys Science Fiction and needs a good laugh.  I found myself laughing so many times.  This book is not designed for deep thinking, which provides a good break from a difficult day.

Rating:

This is one of those books that should be read at least once.  And if you need brainless reading without picking up a tabloid, than The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fits the bill.

Until next time, Happy Reading.

And remember "the answer is 42."

Next review will be The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

A Christmas Carol

By Solana Cortez

I know, I am late in getting this out.  I have been finishing up my Christmas gifts and getting them all wrapped.  I didn't have time to sit down and read, much less write a review.  Now, the gifts are all wrapped and under the tree, and the cards are sent.  All I have left is making a cheesecake for Christmas dessert.

I sincerely hope everyone has finished their shopping and are taking these last few days to relax and enjoy the remainder of this holiday season.

The book I have chosen for your reading pleasure is another classic.  One that we've all seen on TV in some form or another.  I feel this story embraces the holiday spirit in the way it is meant to be embraced.  The story I am talking about is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Since everyone has seen some form of this story on TV, or has seen the latest version in the theatre (I, myself, have not had the chance yet), the basic plot is very familiar.

Summary:

Ebenezer Scrooge is a wealthy old man.  He's stingy and a penny pincher.  He's cold hearted and harbours no compassion for others.  Scrooge employs a single clerk, Bob Cratchit, and pays him a meagerly wage.

On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by his dead partner, Jacob Marley, who warns Scrooge of the condition of his soul.  Marley also warns Scrooge that he will be haunted by three spirits.  These spirits will take Scrooge on a journey through his past, present, and future.  This journey hopefully will end in Scrooge's redemption.

Highlights:

The Writing. 

The writing itself is amazing.  Charles Dickens weaves a wonderful tale.  He puts just enough detail to get the imagination running.

Fred Visits Scrooge.

Fred comes to call upon Scrooge at his office.  Fred is a kind, light hearted character.  He didn't inherit any of his uncle's miserlyness.  And Fred is the only person who does not cower before Scrooge, as is evident is this scene.  The reader can't help but smile at Fred's witty remarks.

Belle's Family.

The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to see Belle.  Every movie has shown the breakup scene between Scrooge and Belle, but it's left at that.  Belle leaves the movie forever and isn't mentioned again.  Dickens does not do this however.  He shows the reader exactly what happens to Belle.  This is a powerful scene.  Scrooge see the life Belle has made for herself.  A life full of joy and contentment.  A life full of love, surrounded by children.  A life Scrooge could have shared with her.  This realization hits Scrooge so hard, he attacks the Ghost of Christmas Past.  And it's the glimpse into Belle's life that opens Scrooge up for a real transformation.

Ghost of Christmas Present.

This is my favorite spirit.  The Ghost of Christmas Present is so jovial.  It makes the reader want to spread a little Christmas Joy himself.

Bob Cratchit's Family.

The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to see how his clerk lives.  Scrooge sees Tiny Tim for the first time and feels genuine compassion for the child.

Tiny Tim's Death.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come takes Scrooge to see Tiny Tim's family mourning over the child's death.  This is a huge contrast to the unfeeling or happy way people are towards the unknown man's passing.

Recommendations:

This is a great story for anyone over the age of 10 years old to read on his own.  I wouldn't recommend this book for younger readers merely because the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a bit creepy.  It's a great book for the family to read together.  And the story itself is not very long (only 114 pages).

Rating:

This story is timeless.  The theme never gets old.  And in the rush of the Christmas season, A Christmas Carol
is a great reminder of what's truly important.

A Christmas Carol rates a MUST READ AGAIN.

Until next time, happy reading.

And a very Merry Christmas.

Or as Tiny Tim would say, "God Bless Us, Every One!"

The Lost World

 By Solana Cortez


Since I did a review on Jurassic Park, I thought it would only be fitting to do a review on The Lost World. Now I'm not talking about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World, rather Michael Crichton's book of the same title. And if you have seen the movie then you really don't know what the book is about. The movie plot and the book plot deviate quite a bit to a point where the story lines can't be adequately compared.

Summary

Jurassic Park ends with the island being distroyed. What isn't known is that there is a second island where all the dinosaurs were born before being brought to the park island. And that is where the adventure is. Like the first book there are hungry dinosaurs running around. The story takes place six years after the Jurassic Park incident. INGEN no longer exists, and those involved with Jurassic Park have been well compensated to avoid any publicity on the event.

Ian Malcolm is back after spending a long time recooperating from the injury he incurred while on a trip to Costa Rica. He now works at the Santa Fe Institute giving seminars. It is there, Malcolm finds himself unwilling recruited for a trip back to Costa Rica to look for dinosaurs.

The story turns into a rescue mission when an over zealous scientist rushes off to the island (Site B) to get the proof he needs. Malcolm and a team (predetermined by the scientist) go off to find him. On the island they uncover more of INGEN's dirty secrets.

Highlights

There is less mathematics and science involved and more action for those who found the first book overwhelming.

Sarah Harding is a kick butt type of female. She's intelligent and definitely doesn't play the damsel in distress. In one scene Harding is hiding under a car with a guy who had tried to kill her. She gives the guy a good shove making him tyranosaur fodder.

If you are into philisophical or indepth thinking, there are good portions of it throughout the book.

Recommendations

I would recommend this book to people ages teen through adult. There is violence throughout (dinosaurs eating people can be considered violent), so keep that in mind. This is a good book for those who want something entertaining to read and for those who want something thought provoking. Some of the words and ideas presented are college level, but it does not hinder the experience. If anything it encourages more research into ideas.

While I personally prefer the first book, The Lost World ranks among my top books for pleasure.

Rating

The Lost World rates A MUST READ

Until next time.  Happy Reading.

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! 

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.