Book review: The Cave Girl is fun, but misleading

Hi everyone. I finished this book earlier this week and that means it's time for another review. Today's lucky story is The Cave Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Story:
Waldo Emerson Smith-Jones is swept off the ship he was traveling on and washes ashore on an uncharted island. Due to the fact that he is a bookworm and was helicoptered-parented by his mother all his life Waldo is a coward. He soon finds out that the inhabitants of the island are Paleolithic-era people who are intent on killing him. He meets and befriends a beautiful cave girl named Nadara who teaches him her language and how to survive in the wild. She names him Thandar, which translates as "The Brave One." She clings to him in the hopes that he will rid her village of two antagonistic cavemen who are making life hard for everyone. However he flees the first chance he get. As time goes by Waldo gets stronger and braver, and starts to fit into a better role on this island. Will Waldo be able to face his fears and his many enemies and get back home?
I have enjoyed the stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs because I enjoy the places he comes up with and the loyalties the characters develop for each other. When I learned of this title I was hoping for more prehistoric-themed stuff. The story is still fun even if it goes with a lot of Mr. Burroughs story stereotypes. I was disappointed when I was reading that there weren't other Paleolithic inhabitants on this island. Also the story seemed a little fast paced. When it comes down to some of Waldo's health problems I'm not sure that living out in the wild and becoming another Tarzan would cure them. Also I was disappointed with the abrupt ending of the story. Still, I think Mr. Burroughs managed to recreate a nice little paleozoic community in the pages of this book.
Caution:
Many characters, male and female, wear only a loincloth (no further detail is given), though this is probably to recreate the authenticity of the prehistoric people. A woman takes a bath in a stream but nothing is seen. Some blood is mentioned during fights with cavemen and panthers, but nothing graphic. Two people kiss.
Lessons:
Our weaknesses can be made into strengths. Men and women are supposed to come together as husband and wife.

Two Book reviews: Gods of Mars is out of this world and Magic of Oz is magical

I guys. I got two books that I'm reviewing today. They're a little older than what you might be used to, but if you enjoy reading you won't care. The first is the second book chronicling adventures on Barsoom, The Gods of Mars:

Rating: Four out of Five stars
Story:
John Carter finds himself back on Barsoom/Mars, except he's come to a heavily forested area. He meets up with the Green Martian Tars Tarkas while fighting off plant men and white apes. John learns he is in the valley Dor, which lies at the end of the river Iss, which all Barsoomians make a trip down when they are ready to die. While fighting his way through John learns of the mysterious but dangerous Therns, while encountering their enemies the Black Martians. Along the way John learns the truth surrounding the religion and superstitions of Barsoom and must expose it before it takes away everything from him.
Edgar Rice Burroughs is always creative with his adventures and his stories. I like how he used religion as a theme in this book and the warning of how people can use ideas and beliefs to manipulate others. It is not meant to demote religion, but to warn that people will try to use it to hide evil intentions. Racism is used as a tool to show the pride of various Martian races. Readers will find themselves with John Carter on a while roller coaster ride.
Caution:
It is mentioned that Barsoomians don't wear clothes, but that is not focused on. Characters are in constant peril. Some Martian races are described as being cannibals. Monsters attack several people, which may scare some readers.
Lessons:
We should not esteem ourselves as better than others. If we give in to pride, it will prove to be our ruin. We shouldn't be close-minded to new ideas. People may claim to have good intentions when they are hiding sinister purposes.

The next book to be reviewed today is The Magic of Oz:

Rating: Five out of Five stars
Story:
Excitement is in the Land of Oz as Dorothy and her many friends are getting ready to celebrate Ozma's birthday. However unknown to them in a corner of Munchkinland a Hyup boy named Kiki Aru has discovered a magic word that allows him to change his form as well as the forms of others. While flying around the countries that surround the Deadly Desert Kiki encounters Rugeddo, the former Nome King, who makes a deal with him for help to conquer Oz. Meanwhile Dorothy and the Wizard are making plans for a special cake for Ozma while her friends Trot and Cap'n Bill seek another gift. Along the way all parties will encounter unexpected magic and one will be wondering if this will all be fixed before Ozma's birthday.
While not as action packed as most stories, L. Frank Baum has certainly not lost his creativity when dealing with the magical land of Oz. Around the corners are characters and places you wouldn't expect. The magic used in this book is fun, but it is also dangerous as well. Truly reminiscing of the wonders and perils of the classic fairy tales, The Magic of Oz is definitely one for fantasy fans.
Caution:
Characters are transformed into animals, but this is more humorous than scary. A couple of characters are trapped on a magic island.
Lessons:
Wickedness never was happiness. We find greater joy when we help others instead of using them for our selfish gain.

Late Review: Air Keep literally blows you away.

Hi Everyone. Sorry for the lack of blogging, but school has started and I've been trying to make sure I do a good job in my classes. Anyway, I decided to do a review for a book I read last week in one day, Farworld: Air Keep.

Rating: Five out of Five Stars
Story:
It's been six months since Marcus and Kyja have stopped the Keepers of the Balance and gone their separate ways. Both have hoped that the wizard Master Therapass would've found a way to allow Marcus to safely pass through the mysterious Realm of Shadows into Farworld by now. When an unexpected chain of events send Marcus into a place where the four aspects of time are shown to him, he unwittingly sets off a chain of events that could prove devastating. Kyja, against Master Therapass's orders, senses Marcus is in danger and pulls him into Farworld. However things are not well for the magical world. Blizzards, droughts, and floods are wrecking havoc, and no one has seen the water or land elementals for months. Could they be behind these disasters? Could the unthinkable have happened and they've joined with the Dark Circle? In order to find the answers Marcus and Kyja must find the elusive Air Keep and gain the help of the Air Elementals, but can they do it in time? And will what Marcus set off come to pass? Could this be the end of Farworld?
J. Scott Savage never ceases to amaze me with his creativity and imagination. The world of Farworld is always impressive and magical. He always manages to find some way to make the adventures to find each elemental fun and dangerous at the same time, and the elementals are not always what you'd expect them to be. His characters feel realistic, and sometimes do or act in a way you don't expect. His stories can take really unexpected turns, and when you think all is well something unexpected occurs. If you have not read the Farworld series yet I highly recommend you do.
Caution:
Children are in peril constantly. A monster summons an undead army. Bloodless action against an invading army. Puns are used a lot, though some might be inappropriate.
Lessons:
We should not keep secrets from those we love. It's good to have a healthy sense of humor. There are events in life that we cannot control or change, no matter how hard we want to. Prejudice can lead to terrible consequences.

Review: The McCory Chronicles is more than worth the read

Hi everyone. I just got through reading this amazing book and I wanted to share my thoughts with you. It's called The McCory Chronicles: Katie McCory and the Dagger of Truth.

Rating: Five out of Five Stars
Story:
Katie McCory loves reading about fairies. While she and her brother Billy are visiting their Grandma for Halloween Katie discovers a mysterious chest. Later she, her brother, and their friends are taken to the magical world of Fey, home to all sorts of fairies. The fairy queen tells them that an evil fairy has gotten a hold of a powerful weapon and is turning it evil. Katie, Billy, and their friends must work together to recover the dagger and save the fairies from evil.
I've always loved fantasy and this book is a masterpiece. The story is well written and the plot is paced out nicely. Some might say there are too many fairies in one book, but this is hardly the surface of the world of fairies. There are a few punctuation errors but it's nothing to worry about. If you wanted to find a land as magical as Oz or Narnia, you will find it in Fey. C.L. Collar's knowledge of fairies, combined with her excellent storytelling, engaging characters, Christian parallels, and wonderful imagination, is giving rise to a new generation of fairy tales.
Caution:
Some fairies and demons may be scary for young readers. Characters are in peril from evil fairies and dark magic.
Lessons:
We can overcome problems by putting aside our differences and working together. We can be kept safe from evil by listening to the Spirit and warnings from our parents. No matter who we are or what we've done, we can change and become better. The powers of darkness are no match against the things that are good. Good will always prevail over evil.

Zombies: How they've changed and what I think about them

Hi everyone. For those of you who are into gaming you'll know that this week was the release of the final episode of the second season of The Walking Dead video game from TellTale Games. As part of the event I decided to share with you what I know about zombies, from their history to my personal opinions.

From what I've learned about creatures of myth, legend, and folklore zombies have essentially remained unchanged throughout history, a human corpse that had been brought back to life. However the purpose behind their reanimation and how it is accomplished has changed. In the original tales from Haitian culture a person of great magical powers, like a witch or necromancer, could use their powers to bring a person who has died back to life. The corpse would then be used as a slave with the bonus of being tireless and having no need for food. Essentially the zombie was a source of labor.
What then has changed? Most of the early media stuck with the original legends of zombies as servants created through dark magic to serve the forces of evil. The answer: Night of the Living Dead.

George A. Romero's classic horror film forever changed the way the public viewed zombies. Instead of being reanimated by magic, the cause of the horror is completely unknown, though radiation is theorized. It also gave that the dead have a taste for things that are still living. It was one of the films, if not the film, that changed the way people viewed the horror genera. Children who saw the film actually got scared.
Ever since the stories that feature zombies have changed. No more are the undead servants of powerful witches and warlocks, but are now predators that eat anything and anyone they can find. It also no longer matters how old or rotten the bodies are. If the person is dead, they are guaranteed to come back to life.
What exactly causes the person to come back from the dead? Well there have been many causes used throughout the years. Like in Romero's film exposure to radiation has the power to get the dead back on their feet. One common factor used more recently is the idea that a virus of unknown origin could cause a person to die, and then come back with a taste for the living. I've seen one TV show and read one book where the cause of the zombie revival was the use of parasites which infest a person, kill them, and then take control of the functions of the body. Whatever the cause, the effect is still the same. The majority of the population gets wiped out and being bitten by a zombie causes you to become a zombie, much like in the legends of the vampire.
George A. Romero may not deserve all the credit. In the Epic of Gilgamesh there was a moment where the goddess Ishtar vowed that there would come a time where the gates of the Underworld would open and the dead would eat the living. As far as I know there hasn't been a film, game, book or TV show that has used the threat of Ishtar as the cause for the zombie apocalypse, but it would be interesting to see that used.
Before anyone asks, no I do not plan to use zombies or any related type of undead creature. I'm not a fan of horror and there's a lot I still don't get about zombies. First off, if they are supposed to be reanimated bodies, why do they only have a taste for that which is living? Shouldn't they still have the same body functions as when they were alive? Last time I checked we don't have a basic instinct that tells us to go around eating everyone we know, especially raw. Second, I still don't get why people insist that the undead problem is irreversible. If it is caused by a disease, it should be curable. Granted there are diseases that cures aren't known for. That doesn't mean they don't exist. We just haven't found them yet. Third, I don't see how a body that is deteriorating and rotting away would still be able to function so well. Surely the muscles would not be able to last and endure the stress so well. The organs must surely be tearing themselves apart all the time.
My last reason deals more with the matters of religion. I do not mean to offend anyone here. These are my personal thoughts. I believe very strongly in the Resurrection, and when I think about it I see bodies becoming zombies as a mockery of the idea that the dead would return to life. It makes it seem like we should fear seeing those who leave us come back from the dead because they'd be interested in eating our brains (and the rest of us for that matter). Also to me the zombie apocalypse idea always makes me depressed and sad because it makes it seem like there would be no hope for humanity. All we would've accomplished would be lost. Every day would be lived in fear, scavenging around for enough food and worrying that you could get attacked by something that should be dead. I do not mean to offend anyone who enjoys stories of zombies. If you like them that's your personal choice. I was just sharing my opinion of why zombie stories are generally not my favorite.

To be fair, it was because of the game The Walking Dead from TellTale Games that kind of made me see this scenario in a different light. I was watching one of my brothers watch a walkthrough for the sequel and I saw the games didn't focus on gore and hopelessness. Rather, after watching the walkthroughs for both games online, it seemed the games found more purpose in telling stories of people who are surviving the epidemic and trying to hold on to hope that things will get better. True the choices of the players help to shape both the characters and the stories, but I think that's to help us in deciding who they are. Anyway, as I was watching my brother watch the game actually accomplished something I didn't expect: I felt concerned for the characters, especially the main character of The Walking Dead Season Two, Clementine. What I saw was a little girl whose childhood was being spent growing up learning to stay alive in a world where Survival of the Fittest had become the only law in existence. To see someone in that situation made me sad, and concerned for her future. I found myself hoping that she would stay alive, and worrying that something bad would happen to her. According to what I know of storytelling if a story can make you feel actual emotions for a character, good or bad, it means the story has been well written, or at least the character has been. Also from what I've seen despite all that has happened to the characters (all of them) in the games, it's hope that keeps them going. Hope that there's a place of safety for them. Hope that they can survive this horrible time. Hope that there will be a better tomorrow. This doesn't mean I'm going to start reading zombie books and watching zombie films. I am willing to concede that scenarios with zombies can be used for good purposes just as they can be used for bad.

Review: Prince of Alasia is a Great Read

Hi everyone. Sorry about the hiatus in blogging. I got distracted with the internet and school. Anyway I got a book to review here. It's the first of the Annals of Alasia series, Prince of Alasia.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Story:
Prince of Alasia is about Prince Jaymin, whose life is turned upside down when soldiers from the neighboring kingdom of Malorn invade and kill his parents. Jaymin, with his best friend/bodyguard Erik, is forced into hiding. While living as a peasant, Jaymin learns how hard life is for his subjects, and witnesses first hand the cruelty and injustice the Malornian soldiers inflict upon the people. Prince Jaymin has to learn not only how to survive, but how to become the king Alasia needs him to be.
Even though I read the third book first I still found this story enjoyable. Annie Douglass Lima doesn't waste time in her fantasies coming up with a bunch of mystical races. Her stories focus on the people themselves and the lives they live. Jaymin's struggle to believe in himself and the loyalty of Erik make this story a must read. The life of peasantry is well written here, and the emotions of the people oppressed by their conquerors are accurately written. There were times where I was thinking in a similar fashion to the Alasians even though I knew there was more at work. Don't leave this book sitting on a shelf.
Caution:
A woman drinks alcohol. Some people might get angry at the cruelty of the Malornian soldiers. A boy mentions being beaten cruelly by a soldier. Two boys get into a fight, and some blood is mentioned. A boy fights off two soldiers. Two armies fight, but it is non-graphic.
Lessons:
When the rights of the people are oppressed by their leaders, it is the duty of the citizen to protect their freedoms. We should not be angry at those who wrong us because we don't always have the facts. Don't be afraid to stand up for your rights and freedoms. We should seek to learn as much as we can. The greatest act of love is to lay down your life for another. We may not always feel qualified to do the things we are called to do in life, but if we have faith we can do anything.

Finding hope

Hi everyone. I haven't been good with blogging, but I've been thinking about something that I thought I should share with all of you. For a while I've been struggling with writing and doing well in school. I was really struggling with the math related courses and the major I was in seemed only to be encouraged to go into a field I have no interest in. I've also felt like no matter what I did my book was not going to be the success I hoped it would. In essence I kind of lost hope.
The things I thought and felt were terrible. During the time when this was going on I felt as if this world didn't care about dreams coming true. I thought things like life only wanted us to find a niche to fill and be satisfied regardless of whether or not we liked it. It felt as if the things we liked were irrelevant and we were only supposed to flow with the current life puts us in.
I've voiced some of my concerns in the past, and you've responded in encouraging me to keep going. All of you helped me to see that the depression dragon can be slain, and we all can rise above our shortcomings. Yesterday my mom told me this: Follow your heart. I will try to live up to her words of advice.
I think the problem that came up is something many people fall into: we look at what we've failed to do and overlook what we succeeded at. I was saddened by my struggles with passing a math class that I didn't think about how well I was doing elsewhere. Just because my book didn't become the next New York bestseller doesn't mean I failed as an author. The persistence and determination to actually write a book makes it successful enough. I know we all have our problems, but they aren't as big as they may seem. They exist but for a small moment.
My mom's kind words reminded me of the love Heavenly Father has for all of us. He does want us to succeed, but sometimes we think we know better. Just because something doesn't go the way we want them to doesn't mean that something better isn't waiting for us further down the road. I'll keep going and I'll have the faith and the hope that there is something better coming my way.