I have been thinking about the stories I enjoy writing lately, and all those stories seem to revolve around dragons. So for today, I want to share with you my list of favourite dragon books, movies, etc.
The Hobbit or There and Back Again
This classic story is still a great story to focus on. I have both read the book and watched the movies. The movies can drag a little due to the length of the movies, 2 plus hours each, but they definitely have stand out moments.
Eragon and the Inheritance Cycle
These books tell a great story, with different twists and turns in a well defined world. They carry many themes and ideas from other stories, but for a first set of works by a young author, they are great. The movie version of Eragon does not do the story justice when compared to the book, but as a stand alone movie it is worth a watch.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The movie scene of the dragon challenge in the Triwizard Tournament is great.
Jennifer Scales books
These books are similar to the stories that I am working on, as people have the ability to turn into dragons, but that is where the similarities end. The books tell of a conflict between two ancient races as well as a young girl coming in to her destiny.
Game of Throne series
I have just started the first book, but I am looking forward to getting to the dragons.
Sword of Truth
The dragon featured in the first two books reminds me of classic dragons, out for blood, but willing to work with others when it serves her needs.
Five Hundred Kingdoms
These books feature dragons becoming champions of good, as well as hording more than just gold, instead they value other things like books or knowledge.
I will be adding more dragon focused books, movies and so forth as I find more. Happy reading!!!!
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Monday, 18 January 2016
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
I have just finished this book and I must say that it was truly enjoyable and engaging. I found the book for a good deal and was drawn to the cover. For those of you who have not seen the cover, it shows a baby carriage, with several iron implements hanging from a tree branch above it. The background is stark, grey and silver.
To start the book drew me back to a book I read in high school, called Tithe, by Holly Black. The book is a modern fairy tale, as is the replacement, putting warring fairy courts in a world of cars, cellphones and all modern technology. For anyone who knows their fairy mythology they know that fairy and iron don't mix, making the modern world with stainless steel, part iron, a challenge to survive.
Fairy tales often involve warring fairy courts, the light and the dark, in the case of The Replacements, The House of Mayhem and the House of Misery. These two houses are ruled by their queens, who have very different desires, one wants the town above their houses to be happy in exchange for prosperity and the other who trades blood for prosperity. These houses are populated with a wide range of characters, who vary from zombie prom queen types to iron clawed torturers.
The main character Mackie, faces the challenge of being a chageling, trying to survive in a world that should have killed years previous. As he discovers the world under his town, he has to decide whether to become involved in the war between the two houses or does he just sit back and let things go on as they always have.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a true fairy tale, where the cast and characters are different kinds of fairies. If you like genre bending as well, this is book you would enjoy, as it mixes magic, modern times, and some political intrigue and mystery.
I have already lent my book out to a friend, who took the time to read the book jacket, and lets just say I think she is hooked without even reading the first page.
Happy reading, and I hope you get the chance to hide away from the weather with a good book.
To start the book drew me back to a book I read in high school, called Tithe, by Holly Black. The book is a modern fairy tale, as is the replacement, putting warring fairy courts in a world of cars, cellphones and all modern technology. For anyone who knows their fairy mythology they know that fairy and iron don't mix, making the modern world with stainless steel, part iron, a challenge to survive.
Fairy tales often involve warring fairy courts, the light and the dark, in the case of The Replacements, The House of Mayhem and the House of Misery. These two houses are ruled by their queens, who have very different desires, one wants the town above their houses to be happy in exchange for prosperity and the other who trades blood for prosperity. These houses are populated with a wide range of characters, who vary from zombie prom queen types to iron clawed torturers.
The main character Mackie, faces the challenge of being a chageling, trying to survive in a world that should have killed years previous. As he discovers the world under his town, he has to decide whether to become involved in the war between the two houses or does he just sit back and let things go on as they always have.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a true fairy tale, where the cast and characters are different kinds of fairies. If you like genre bending as well, this is book you would enjoy, as it mixes magic, modern times, and some political intrigue and mystery.
I have already lent my book out to a friend, who took the time to read the book jacket, and lets just say I think she is hooked without even reading the first page.
Happy reading, and I hope you get the chance to hide away from the weather with a good book.
Sunday, 10 January 2016
Hiding from the Weather
This weekend, I am hiding from a cold snap here in Manitoba, so figured I would give a list of suggestions of book series to read if you are hiding from the weather like I am.
If you like sci-fi or fantasy you could try:
- Midnighters - a fantasy trilogy where a group of teenagers experience an extra hour and a different world at midnight
- Uglies series - a dystopian fantasy series, where at the age of 16 everyone is given an extreme makeover to turn Pretty, only there are now people struggling against the change
- The Hunger Games - The trilogy makes for a great weekend read
- Peeps and the Last Days - the twist on a classic vampire story will have readers interested and engaged
If you like human interest you could try:
- Lurlene McDaniel books - These books are great stories of dealing with struggle and hardship
- Airhead trilogy - This set looks at our focus on beauty, consumerism and perfection, and tosses in some fun
- 1-800-Where-R-You - Jess is not your average girl, she talks with her fists more often then most, wants a motorcycle not a prom dress and she is perfectly happy not being the best in band, and her life takes an even more interesting turn after she is struck by lightning
- Med Center - These books are older, but they tell a compelling story of a teaching hospital and the struggles faced by the staff and volunteers
If you like mysteries you could try:
- Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys - These novels are a little more grown up than when the characters work as individuals, and the danger the sleuths get into tends to be more intense
- Hear No Evil - A deaf sleuth deals with mysteries in her life and that of her brother, a police detective
These are all shorter series that make for a great weekend read.
Happy reading, and stay warm.
If you like sci-fi or fantasy you could try:
- Midnighters - a fantasy trilogy where a group of teenagers experience an extra hour and a different world at midnight
- Uglies series - a dystopian fantasy series, where at the age of 16 everyone is given an extreme makeover to turn Pretty, only there are now people struggling against the change
- The Hunger Games - The trilogy makes for a great weekend read
- Peeps and the Last Days - the twist on a classic vampire story will have readers interested and engaged
If you like human interest you could try:
- Lurlene McDaniel books - These books are great stories of dealing with struggle and hardship
- Airhead trilogy - This set looks at our focus on beauty, consumerism and perfection, and tosses in some fun
- 1-800-Where-R-You - Jess is not your average girl, she talks with her fists more often then most, wants a motorcycle not a prom dress and she is perfectly happy not being the best in band, and her life takes an even more interesting turn after she is struck by lightning
- Med Center - These books are older, but they tell a compelling story of a teaching hospital and the struggles faced by the staff and volunteers
If you like mysteries you could try:
- Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys - These novels are a little more grown up than when the characters work as individuals, and the danger the sleuths get into tends to be more intense
- Hear No Evil - A deaf sleuth deals with mysteries in her life and that of her brother, a police detective
These are all shorter series that make for a great weekend read.
Happy reading, and stay warm.
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Give a Boy a Gun By Todd Strasser
I know that it has been a little while since my last post, but I am finally feeling like I have a good plan and schedule in my life. As such I have been able to read more, and I just finished a very powerful book called Give a Boy a Gun.
The book is very powerful for several reasons, but the most powerful reason might be the fact that I am a teacher and the book hits very close to home.
The book is the story of a small town, and the horror that took place there one evening, in form of a school shooting. The book tells the story of Gary and Brendan, two bullied and ostracized boys. who go from merely angry and lonely to violent and aggressive.
An interesting piece about the book is that the book is not a clean and straight forward narrative. Instead the story is told from the point of view of a reporter, who has been collecting information on the shooting, trying to understand what happened in her hometown. The book is a collection of facts gathered from research inserted at the bottom of the page, and small sections of recollections from interviews with witnesses.
The witnesses tell both sides of the story, the people who were friends or supporters of the perpetrators and those who are angry at what happened. The heart of the book is trying to understand that which can not be understood, what can drive two people to believe that killing others and themselves is the only solution.
This book should be praised for the realism it portrays and when I first read it, I had to confirm that it was a work of fiction, instead of a non-fiction.
The book also lists incidents of gun violence that occurred prior to the book being published and while the book was being written.
Overall, this a very good book that draws people in and really makes you question our society. One of the most powerful quotes from the book is this..."Time and time again, the gun industry has injected into the civilian market new guns that are specifically designed to be better at killing." pg. 167
For all that this is a young adult/teen book, it is a book that I would recommend for all people to read, in order to think about our society and our current and future actions.
The book is very powerful for several reasons, but the most powerful reason might be the fact that I am a teacher and the book hits very close to home.
The book is the story of a small town, and the horror that took place there one evening, in form of a school shooting. The book tells the story of Gary and Brendan, two bullied and ostracized boys. who go from merely angry and lonely to violent and aggressive.
An interesting piece about the book is that the book is not a clean and straight forward narrative. Instead the story is told from the point of view of a reporter, who has been collecting information on the shooting, trying to understand what happened in her hometown. The book is a collection of facts gathered from research inserted at the bottom of the page, and small sections of recollections from interviews with witnesses.
The witnesses tell both sides of the story, the people who were friends or supporters of the perpetrators and those who are angry at what happened. The heart of the book is trying to understand that which can not be understood, what can drive two people to believe that killing others and themselves is the only solution.
This book should be praised for the realism it portrays and when I first read it, I had to confirm that it was a work of fiction, instead of a non-fiction.
The book also lists incidents of gun violence that occurred prior to the book being published and while the book was being written.
Overall, this a very good book that draws people in and really makes you question our society. One of the most powerful quotes from the book is this..."Time and time again, the gun industry has injected into the civilian market new guns that are specifically designed to be better at killing." pg. 167
For all that this is a young adult/teen book, it is a book that I would recommend for all people to read, in order to think about our society and our current and future actions.
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Stones, By William Bell
I read this book, Stones, a while ago, after having read it for the first time when I was in Grade 9. My Eng;lish teacher that year had a reading project for us, that saw us reading a variety of books all year, and this was one of them. I started that year with other books like Give a Boy a Gun and Down the Rabbit Hole. Stones, however, is one book that has stood out from that year.
Stones is by a Canadian author and is set in Ontario. The book combines a modern story, of a struggling high school student, Garnet and the strange new girl he befriends, Raphaella. They are both outsiders in their school, but before they know it, they are haunted by a mystery out of history. The book delves into Canada's past, dating back to the Underground Railroad and the prejudice that still existed towards people of colour. The book mixes an element of the supernatural with a story of struggling to discover who you are and what your place is in the world.
The book is well written, it was even named the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year, and keeps the reader engossed in the mysteries and twists in the story. The characters are both flawed, struggling to find their place in the world and not always making the best decisions, but this could be said of any high school student. This book would be a good fit for a supernatural mystery lover, someone who is looking for something a little different.
Stones is by a Canadian author and is set in Ontario. The book combines a modern story, of a struggling high school student, Garnet and the strange new girl he befriends, Raphaella. They are both outsiders in their school, but before they know it, they are haunted by a mystery out of history. The book delves into Canada's past, dating back to the Underground Railroad and the prejudice that still existed towards people of colour. The book mixes an element of the supernatural with a story of struggling to discover who you are and what your place is in the world.
The book is well written, it was even named the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year, and keeps the reader engossed in the mysteries and twists in the story. The characters are both flawed, struggling to find their place in the world and not always making the best decisions, but this could be said of any high school student. This book would be a good fit for a supernatural mystery lover, someone who is looking for something a little different.
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Being Nikki, Runaway
I have finished the Airhead series, with the last two books being Being Nikki and Runaway. The books follow Em Watts as she adjusts to her new life as Nikki Howard. Em tries to sort out how to let go of her old life, and her old crush and best friend Christopher, keep an eye on her younger sister Frida, over-through the evil Stark Cooperation and oh yeah, survive Nikki's modelling jobs, all while trying to pass Grade 11.
These books carry the story strongly, as you just a chance to see just how far people will go to make money, keep secrets and most importantly, maintain something that is fleeting, youth. In reading the books, readers can ask themselves what is more important, beauty or brains? Along with questions like, how far can money realy take you, as human beings where should we stop or limit scientific innovation and when is it okay to push the boundaries and break the rules?
This is a great triogy for young adults, especially if you want to read a book that is both fun and enjoyable to read, due to highly engaging characters, good action and a well written story, but can also lead to a deeper conversation.
To me, books should lead people to aske questions and look at the bigger picture, even if some people see a book as just a silly teen book. Books are doorways to worlds beyond our own world, but more importantly, they should get us to look at our world, our beliefs and our ideas and then expand them, change them or cause them to grow. I hope that the stories I am writing do this, as they can show people that not all heroes wear a cape or having gleaming armour, and not all monsters have claws or fangs. Heroes are all around, and most often they are found in the unlikeliest of places, in the most unlikely people, often those that we would not expect. So when you read, remember, not monsters and heroes are where you see them, and only defined by how you see them.
These books carry the story strongly, as you just a chance to see just how far people will go to make money, keep secrets and most importantly, maintain something that is fleeting, youth. In reading the books, readers can ask themselves what is more important, beauty or brains? Along with questions like, how far can money realy take you, as human beings where should we stop or limit scientific innovation and when is it okay to push the boundaries and break the rules?
This is a great triogy for young adults, especially if you want to read a book that is both fun and enjoyable to read, due to highly engaging characters, good action and a well written story, but can also lead to a deeper conversation.
To me, books should lead people to aske questions and look at the bigger picture, even if some people see a book as just a silly teen book. Books are doorways to worlds beyond our own world, but more importantly, they should get us to look at our world, our beliefs and our ideas and then expand them, change them or cause them to grow. I hope that the stories I am writing do this, as they can show people that not all heroes wear a cape or having gleaming armour, and not all monsters have claws or fangs. Heroes are all around, and most often they are found in the unlikeliest of places, in the most unlikely people, often those that we would not expect. So when you read, remember, not monsters and heroes are where you see them, and only defined by how you see them.
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Airhead By Meg Cabot
I am currently reading my way through the Airhead trilogy and I really enjoyed the first book, simply called Airhead. The book is a few years old, but is a very enjoyable read, and is still incredibly relevant.
Airhead is set in New York, where a mega-coorporation called Stark is opening a new entertainment store, like Future Shop or Best Buy. Emerson Watts, the main character, a tomboy who is not a supporter of Stark, but is forced to take her younger sister to the store opening, to see her new favourite musician Gabriel Luna. Unfortunately, there is an accident at the store opening and Em is killed.
Stark however, has a major secret that will change Em's life forever, as her brain is transplanted into the body of Nikki Howard, the "Face of Stark," and teenage supermodel. Em is forced to not only step up as a supermodel in order to keep Stark's secret, but she is also trying to keep connections to her old life and follow her own dreams and desires. Em also finds out that Nikki's life is not nearly as perfect as people think, and Nikki just might have a few secrets of her own.
The book is a great book by Meg Cabot. Cabot has a history of well written young adult fiction, including books like the 1-800-Where-R-You series, the Avalon High series, and the Princess Diaries along with stand alone books like Jinx and Teen Idol. Cabot writes books with vivid characters, full of quirks and faults, making them very realistic and relatable. She also has a knack for creating very interesting plot points and situations for the characters to face, like gaining psychic powers, getting caught up in magic, a brain transplant into a supermodel or a retelling of King Arthur and Camelot.
The main character in Airhead, Em, is a strong young woman, who as firmly held beliefs and ideas. She does not bow to celebrities, in fact, she thinks that they are overly popular and they should not weild the power that they do. She does not bow to established ideas of female beauty and perfection, until she is thrust into the body of a supermodel. In Nikki's body, she learns that modeling and fame are not nearly as easy as they look, and they are in no way shape or form comfortable.
The secondary characters in the story are also very well written, as they grow and change, instead of being static or only following the changes in main character.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good young adult read, that has well developed characters, as well as a well established plot with twists and turns to keep you reading and engaged. Also, if you are a fan of any of Meg Cabot's other books, I can tell you this one won't disappoint.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
Airhead is set in New York, where a mega-coorporation called Stark is opening a new entertainment store, like Future Shop or Best Buy. Emerson Watts, the main character, a tomboy who is not a supporter of Stark, but is forced to take her younger sister to the store opening, to see her new favourite musician Gabriel Luna. Unfortunately, there is an accident at the store opening and Em is killed.
Stark however, has a major secret that will change Em's life forever, as her brain is transplanted into the body of Nikki Howard, the "Face of Stark," and teenage supermodel. Em is forced to not only step up as a supermodel in order to keep Stark's secret, but she is also trying to keep connections to her old life and follow her own dreams and desires. Em also finds out that Nikki's life is not nearly as perfect as people think, and Nikki just might have a few secrets of her own.
The book is a great book by Meg Cabot. Cabot has a history of well written young adult fiction, including books like the 1-800-Where-R-You series, the Avalon High series, and the Princess Diaries along with stand alone books like Jinx and Teen Idol. Cabot writes books with vivid characters, full of quirks and faults, making them very realistic and relatable. She also has a knack for creating very interesting plot points and situations for the characters to face, like gaining psychic powers, getting caught up in magic, a brain transplant into a supermodel or a retelling of King Arthur and Camelot.
The main character in Airhead, Em, is a strong young woman, who as firmly held beliefs and ideas. She does not bow to celebrities, in fact, she thinks that they are overly popular and they should not weild the power that they do. She does not bow to established ideas of female beauty and perfection, until she is thrust into the body of a supermodel. In Nikki's body, she learns that modeling and fame are not nearly as easy as they look, and they are in no way shape or form comfortable.
The secondary characters in the story are also very well written, as they grow and change, instead of being static or only following the changes in main character.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good young adult read, that has well developed characters, as well as a well established plot with twists and turns to keep you reading and engaged. Also, if you are a fan of any of Meg Cabot's other books, I can tell you this one won't disappoint.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
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