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Today's @LitBooth comes from @ghostwritten, who reviews an exciting-looking book with a rather novel twist. ____________________________________________________________________
TITLE: Cloud Atlas
AUTHOR: David Mitchell
Six stories, six genres. One epic novel.
The journal of a troubled nineteenth-century American, sailing back home from New Zealand.
The letters of an impoverished British musician, working as a composer’s assistant in 1930s Belgium.
A draft of a mystery novel, starring a journalist investigating a murder at a nuclear power plant.
The comedy-thriller account of a publisher who finds himself trapped in a nursing home whilst on the run from gangsters.
An interview with a genetically-modified clone, who is about to be executed for rebellion in a dystopian near-future.
The campfire tale of one of humanity’s only survivors, in post-apocalyptic, distant-future Hawaii.
David Mitchell (not to be confused with the British comedian) builds on the ‘novel in many parts’ idea of his first book, ‘Ghostwritten’, but this time experiments with a variety of forms of writing.
The result is something that is perhaps a little less polished than his debut, but is even more original and ambitious, and an even better showcase for his ‘chameleon’ ability of taking on very different styles and character voices. The lives of the protagonists are interlinked, as are their stories, often in surprising ways.
A fantastic read, with a beautiful cover :)4 commentsApril 27th, 2010
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Your reviews do not have to be long, nor elaborate, as long as they convey your personal feelings. A review can be about a book that you have read recently or that sticks in your memory; something that you have cherished.
It may even be about a book you do not have any affection for. Has there been a book that you wished that you had never picked up? One that had finished long before you finished it?
If you need to be acquainted with the premise of LitBooth then visit http://is.gd/5E8Qv
Any questions, queries and submissions can be directed to the LitBooth inbox at the e-mail provided.
Happy reading.0 commentsFebruary 3rd, 2010
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Today's @LitBooth comes from @bandgeek8408
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TITLE: The Book Thief
AUTHOR: Markus Zusak
It’s World War II. The Nazis have control of Germany. Jews are being persecuted right and left. Death is coming for thousands of people each day . . . and he’s exhausted. To distract himself from the carnage that piles higher each day, Death tells us the story of one of his more interesting cases . . . Liesel Meminger, a foster child in Munich, who learns to read from a book stolen from the graveside of her brother . . . and is soon stealing books from Nazi book burnings and the mayor’s library, reading them to her neighbors during bomb raids and to the Jew living in secret in her basement, and learning about the incredible power of the written word.
This book tells an ordinary story in an extraordinary way. It’s a World War II story, and with that comes everything we would expect from such a story. Liesel’s book thievery is the unique point of this story. Each section of the story revolves in some way around one of the books that she has stolen. What makes this story extraordinary, however, is the fact that the narrator is Death. This puts a whole different spin as the story, as we see what is a very human tale told from an inhuman point of view.
This is one of those books that everyone--regardless of race, religion, gender, age, whatever--should find and read. It is a truly incredible story.4 commentsJanuary 18th, 2010
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Today's @LitBooth comes from the stupendous @HelloLeah
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TITLE: An Abundance of Katherines
AUTHOR: @johngreen
Colin Singleton appears to be your average anagram-loving child prodigy, but Colin also has had his fair share of relationships, nineteen to be exact; nineteen girls, all named Katherine. On the day of his high school graduation, Colin is dumped by Katherine XIX. Though devastated and in denial, he and his best friend Hassan set out on a road trip, during which Colin yearns to have a “eureka moment” by creating the Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability. Perhaps he can even determine that any relationship can be predicted and show that there is hope for all “dumpees” (opposite of the “dumper”).
Many times, it takes a few chapters or so for me to really get into a book but, after reading the very first paragraph of An Abundance Of Katherines¸ I knew that I was going to absolutely love this book. My great first impressions were not let down as the book progressed. Green does an excellent job of creating the character of Colin and making him someone that you could imagine being someone you know, your best friend, or even relate to yourself.
In An Abundance of Katherines, Colin is heartbroken over his ex-girlfriend who he loved, but dumped him anyway. This is a common storyline in teen fiction, but Green makes sure that the story does not become clichéd in any way; this makes for many creative twists and surprises that propel the reader through the story without getting bored or confused.
An Abundance of Katherines is a book that anyone looking for an enjoyable read would love. Teens will relate to Colin’s love issues and adventures of the road, while self-confessed nerds like myself can appreciate the actual math that goes behind The Theorem can relate to Colin’s struggle to become more than just potential.3 commentsJanuary 15th, 2010
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Today's @LitBooth comes from the wonderful @Rileas, who presents a book by one of my favourite authors.
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TITLE: Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis)
AUTHOR: Franz Kafka
"Die Verwandlung" (engl.: The Metamorphosis) tells the story of an industrious commercial traveller named Gregor Samsa, who spends his long days working hard in an effort pay off the debts his father got into.
One morning Gregor wakes up; not as a human being but as a giant beatle. The situation is very bizarre and Kafka does not explain why Gregor got into that situation, which makes it very interesting to read. Indeed the German language has an own word for such puzzling surrealism: 'kafkaesk'.
Rendered helpless, Gregor becomes reliant upon the care of his family. His father immediately sees him as a parasite and wants nothing to do with him. While mother tries her best to help, she is far too weak to stand up to the father.
By contrast Gregor's sister is going through some kind of mental metamorphosis as well. In the beginning of the book she is very caring, trying to find out what Gregor needs, as by being an insect he cannot talk. In the course of the book she comes to dislike Gregor more and more.
By the end Gregor is left very desperate. He is weak, no one helps him and he can't do anything for himself. His family, especially his sister and father, do their best to get rid of him.
I found this book to be amazing. It's so grotesque, absurd and bizarre. I would definitely recommend it if you like short stories; the book has only about 70 pages in total. Be that as it may, I wouldn't recommend it as a bedside reading
as the story is quite intense.3 commentsJanuary 12th, 2010
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Today's @LitBooth comes from @xXRawrAtChelsXx
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TITLE: The Hunger Games
AUTHOR: Suzane Collins
The Hunger Games has a very simple cover. The book also has very little to do with Hunger and my description will sound a little odd. But anyone who thinks this book looks boring should consider the saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" because once you start reading, you'll notice how truly great the book is and you'll never want to put it down.
In the ruins of North America lies 12 districts run by the Capitol. The districts are very poor and treated horridly by the Capital (which is rich. They has hovercrafts and basically anything you'd think of).
Every year, the capital throws The Hunger Games which is when they choose one boy and one girl from each district from a raffle. Once they have their 24 contestants, they all go for tv shows, some training and some other things to get set. Then they all go into an arena made by the capital. They have no idea what they're going into until they're in there. It can vary from a desert to a jungle to a frozen wasteland.
Once in the arena, they fight for weapons, food, shelter and (most of all) their life. People make allies and enemies. Katniss and Peeta (the contestants from district 12) have a problem with all of this. They are not your average contestants nor does this turn out to be your average "Games". Read about Katniss and Peeta's story about their turn in The Hunger Games and feel the suspense rage within you as if you were actually in their shoes.
"Winning means fame and fortune.
Losing means certain death.
The Hunger Games have begun."
Catching Fire ( thesecond book to The Hunger Games) is out as well.
The third book (rumored to be called the Victors) should be coming out August, 2010.3 commentsJanuary 11th, 2010
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The @LitBooth today is from @SqualledPrincess
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TITLE: Nineteen Eighty-Four
AUTHOR: George Orwell
It boggles my mind that a novel written in 1948 would be so relevant in 2010. George Orwell’s 1984 is nothing short of brilliance. The story follows a middle-aged man named Winston Smith and the life he leads in a totalitarian society. Every freedom is stripped away—to the point that even thought is no longer private. “Big Brother” knows where you are and what you are thinking at all times. When I first read 1984, I was under the opinion that a dystopia such as this could never exist…but going through it now, several years later, I can’t believe how closely it resembles life today. Orwell was so ahead of his time. This is a must read. How closely do you think Orwell’s world mirrors ours?
“You are afraid…that in another moment something is going to break. Your especial fear is that it will be your backbone. You have a vivid mental picture of the vertebrae snapping apart and the spinal fluid dripping out of them. That is what you are thinking, is it not, Winston (202)?”16 commentsJanuary 9th, 2010
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Today's @LitBooth was submitted by @DizzyLight. Keep the reviews coming LitBoothers.
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TITLE : My Sister's Keeper
AUTHOR : Jodi Picoult
This dramatic portrayal of family life when one daughter is struck with Leukemia and the other seeks medical emancipation from her parents.
Anna Fitzgerald was conceived soley to be used as a donor for her Leukemia stricken sister. When she reaches 11 years old, she walks into Campbell Alexander's office and demands he help her get the emancipation she is seeking. As the book unfolds, the secrets spill as the sole thing holding the family together slowly falls apart.
This book really touched me. It's the first book to ever make me cry. It explores bonds and relationships and the pressures illness puts upon the whole family.
Personally, as good as the film was, I feel that the book delved deeper into the lives of the less-mentioned characters and is overall fantastically written.1 commentJanuary 5th, 2010
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While the growth of LitBooth has been expanding at a gleeful and grandiose rate, the same cannot be said for the LitBooth inbox which remains as impotent as my phallus.
So this is a call to all LitBoothers to kindle our literary fires.
Your reviews do not have to be long, nor elaborate, as long as they convey your personal feelings. A review can be about a book that you have read recently or that sticks in your memory; something that you have cherished.
It may even be about a book you do not have any affection for. Has there been a book that you wished that you had never picked up? One that had finished long before you finished it?
If you need to be acquainted with the premise of LitBooth then visit http://is.gd/5E8Qv
Any questions, queries and submissions can be directed to the LitBooth inbox at the e-mail provided.
Happy reading4 commentsJanuary 4th, 2010
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Today's act of benefaction comes from @miss_courtney1994
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TITLE: Shiver
AUTHOR: Maggie Stiefvater
“And then I opened my eyes and it was just Grace and me -- nothing anywhere but Grace and me -- She pressing her lips together as though she were keeping my kiss inside her, and me holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands.”
Grace is your average teenage girl, who is obsessed with wolves. She has one wolf that she calls her wolf or the yellow-eyed wolf.
Sam has two lives, one as a wolf and the other as a human. “Sam must fight to stay human -- and Grace must fight to keep him.” Pretty much the story is about two lovers who fight to stay together. I personally find the book very emotional. While reading it I cried, as there are sad parts. I really don’t want to say anymore as I’m afraid I’ll spoil the book but I definitely recommend it.3 commentsJanuary 3rd, 2010
