The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Book-to-Movie Now Available on Blu-ray & DVD!

[1]

Book Review by:
Sharon Powers.

     What is as fascinating and perplexing as a trip to the carnival to visit the house of mirrors? What can give the reward of a spiritual journey as you walk through a garden path or stroll through the woods? What tradition fits in with the spooky atmospheres and scary games children and adults utilize as a Halloween activity? What can be as entertaining and educational as a simple game in a Kindergartener's coloring book? And... what prize can you sometimes get from a Cracker Jack's box as a novelty and fun game calling upon your eye-hand co- ordination? You've probably already guessed that the answer to all the questions is, a maze. [2]

     The Museum of Unnatural History tells us that a maze is a "confusing, intricate network of winding pathways; specifically with one or more blind alleys..." and that a maze is nothing more than a puzzle that requires a solution and, therefore, "usually has a goal which is meant to be reached." [2]

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     Scientists have studied rats' ability to remember the pathways needed to work their way through mazes set up to test those abilities. Scientists have tested rats utilizing rewards, such as food, no rewards, smells and various other conditions. The rats were tested to determine their spacial learning and memory. The studies conducted with rats and mazes helped scientists understand "general principles about learning" that were then applied to humans.

     With a title like, The Maze Runner, we shouldn't be surprised that the characters in the novel will be faced with some kind of goal that needs to be reached and to reach that goal, they must traverse the confusing and intricate network of some kind of maze. By the title, we can assume that James Dashner wants the reader to understand what it is like to have to run a maze similar to those the scientists used to test rats abilities. The title prompts me to ask why is the runner running the maze? Is the "Runner" being tested like the scientists tested the rats? And then, almost immediately, I thought of the maze that Harry Potter (and a few other competitors) had to run, in which the runners had to face all sorts of danger and even death. To get started, let's take a look at a short synopsis of the book.

[4]

SHORT BOOK SYNOPSIS:
     From the School Library Journal we find out that Thomas, the protagonist of the book, awakens to being in an enclosed space, an elevator, and that the only thing he can remember at all is his first name. Thomas is confused and panicked and he wonders where he is.

     Coming out of the box, Thomas finds himself with a group of teenage boys, (he thinks) maybe 50 or 60, who look at him and call him a "klunk, shuckface." Feeling confused, Thomas hears someone say that he is now in "The Glade." Thomas asks questions and wants answers, but no one will give them to him. He wants to get away from all these boys, from his "Captors," he thought. The boys seem suspicious of Thomas, but when one boy, Chuck, is assigned to help him, he soon makes friends with him. [5]

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     Thomas must adjust to the life in the Glade, an agrarian community that the boys must work hard to maintain. Life can be harsh for a "Glader"; violation of the rules can cause you to be expelled into the maze, essentially a death sentence. Thomas learns that the boys are looking for a way out of their prison-like environment through the maze, but after two years of searching, they are quickly losing hope. [5] 

     Will Thomas and the other boys be able to figure out the secret of the maze, find out why they are captive, and who is behind all the manipulation? Will Thomas and the other boys ever have their questions answered? Suddenly, the boys are all shocked out of their complacency--everything changes. A comatose girl is delivered via the box (elevator) to the group, then the sunlight is turned off, the food deliveries stopped, and the huge gate into the maze is left opened to let the maze's monsters roam the compound. Now they have only one question: How long can they last? [5]

[7]

     Some books are literally filled with memorable quotes. In John Green's, The Fault in Our Stars, for example, there were so many that I had such a really hard time selecting just one as my favorite. This book, The Maze Runner, by James Dashner, has the opposite problem. While the prose is simple, straightforward, and eminently readable, I had a difficult time selecting a memorable quote because there were so few. In any event, I did select a quote; here it is:

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Thomas swallowed, wondering how he could ever go out there. His desire to become a Runner had taken a major blow. But he had to do it. Somehow he KNEW he had to do it. It was such an odd thing to feel, especially after what he'd just seen... Thomas knew he was a smart kid-he somehow felt it in his bones. But nothing about this place made any sense. Except for one thing. He was supposed to be a Runner. Why did he feel that so strongly? And even now, after seeing what lived in the maze? (p. 39)

     Thomas grapples with conflicting emotions of fear and courage in the face of his desire to become a maze Runner. He feels the strangeness of the juxtaposition of those conflicting feelings and seems to almost take a step back to observe those feelings that he longs to understand. I think many people, especially teenagers in this society, have conflicting feelings because it is so difficult to navigate through the tough teenage years and into adulthood. I am sure that even adults have conflicting emotions at times and may identify with Thomas, too. This is why I think this particular passage was so well-done.

THE MAZE RUNNER--BOOK-TO-MOVIE!
     Any author should be proud of having their book come to the big-screen. Not only will Book 1 of this series be seen on the silver screen, but because the trilogy is so popular, chances are better than good that we may see subsequent book-to-movies from this series. Let's take a look at the trailer:
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      Directing the movie is Wes Ball with writing credits going to James Dashner (book), Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, and T.S. Nowlin (screenplay). Dylan O'Brien will play Thomas, Ki Hong Lee will play Minho, while Aml Ameen will play Alby, Blake Cooper as Chuck, Thomas Brodie Sangster as Newt, Will Poulter as Gally, Dexter Darden as Frypan, and Kaya Scodelario as Teresa. This movie is rated PG-13. [10]

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WHAT I THINK ABOUT THIS BOOK:

     WHAT WORKS FOR ME:
     This book's audience, geared to grades 6-10, I would say is primarily focused on boys in grades 6-10. Even so, I would not exclude girls of these ages from reading this book because I used to read stories like this when I was in middle school and high school. So, if you are a girl that likes not only dystopian novels, but one in which the protagonist is a boy, then go for it. And...girls, don't forget that the one girl in the novel is an important player!

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     I think young men of this age in our society face many of the feelings the protagonist feels. Young men can easily identify with feelings, say, of confusion and anger when restricted to their home or bedroom, or put on suspension by parents. Some of the themes of the book deal with imprisonment or confinement, holding cells, and unjustifiable injury, pain, and death, inflicted as a result of being confined in "The Glade."

I loved this graphic showing
authority manipulating society
members! [13]

     Second, I like other themes in the book, as well: Fear and Confusion; Rules, Justice, and Judgment; Freedom, Exploration; Memory and a Loss of identity; Mystery and Secrets, Trust and Sacrifice and a real big theme, the Manipulation of the children's lives by unknown, unseen others. James Dashner has a lot going on in this book, but the one big advantage he has in addressing these themes is that with "Dystopian" novels, many of these themes are readily present.

     The messages in the book seem to convey to the reader those that are typical of themes and messages found in other dystopian novels. I've reviewed a number of "dystopian" novels, two, for example, are The Giver by Lois Lowry; and Divergent by Veronica Roth (You can see those reviews and discussions of dystopian society by clicking on the links). Dystopian novels typically criticize society and the brutal methods they employ to control citizenry through usurpation of power.

This is Henslowe, from the movie, Shakes-
peare in Love. One of his (and our) favorite
bits of dialogue is, "It's a mystery." [14]

     Many things work for me in this book. Dashner's ability to create a mystery for not only the character in the book, but for the reader to experience, as well, is amazing. Even at the end of the book in the "Epilogue," where we learn more about the "Chancelor, Ava Paige," (and her "Associates"), mystery still pervades the story. The information we learn about what the mysterious group intends--through a "Memorandum" that the Chancelor sends to her Associates--is shocking and is, quite naturally, the springboard with which Dashner propels us into the next novel of the trilogy.

     The writing style is simple and straightforward, dialog (at times) perfunctory, but effective. Style and word choice is typical for readers in this age group. Finally, since Dystopian novels are all the rage right now, it seems a great vehicle in which to write about teens struggling to survive, grow, feel safe, and be able to trust. Well-done James Dashner.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME:

Here is a famous race: the hare stopped to take a nap
and lost the race. [15]

     While Dashner kept the story moving well from the beginning, and showed us how intelligent teenagers can be, how innovative and courageous and capable they can be, and infuses lots of good action sequences in the story, he kind of blows it all at the end. In highschool, I was running a race in a track and field event. I was ahead and knew I would win, I crossed--what I thought was--the finish line and stopped running. It wasn't the finish line. I had made a mistake. Everyone ran passed me and I lost the race.

     Up until we get to the last couple of chapters it went well, but then something happened and the story immediately lost the momentum it had all along. Those chapters are like my track and field event where I stopped running. We then get to the Epilog where the story picks up again. Shocking events propelling us into the next book are given us. Those last couple of chapters should have been cut out, entirely (of course, leaving in the Epilog). Lawyers have a saying that applies here, too. "When you've finished presenting your case, stop talking."

MY RECOMMENDATIONS AND RATING:

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     The intended readers for this book, as I said, above, is for grades 6-10. Many heavy-duty themes exist in this book, everything from death, mayhem and violence, societal abuse of children (including theft of children), horrible suffering of children (the change) including screaming, judgment of death by children against other children, etc. My point is, anyone who knows they are sensitive to these themes in literature should consider before they read. Parents, you know your child best, and must judge whether or not your child is mature enough to read about these themes.

     That being said, many redeeming qualities exist in this book. Children will, most likely, be able to identify with certain characters or situations. Moreover, the teens in this book exhibit noble qualities, like bravery or courage, tenacity, steadfastness, intelligence, loyalty and integrity. So, a balancing of considerations may be in order. As a guideline, the movie is rated PG-13 for "thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images."

     MY RATING: Because of all the reasons I have stated, above, I give this book 4 stars out of 5. If the ending had not stalled-out, I would have given the book a better rating.

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  Thank you for joining me this week as we got to take a look at a very exciting dystopian novel for young people grades 6-10 (or adults--after all, I enjoyed it and I'm an adult!). I sincerely appreciate that you took the time to read my book review of this trending novel that is coming to theaters September 19, 2014. Please join me again, next week as we look at another exciting new read. Have some fun this week and don't forget to read at least a little bit everyday.

Until next time...

This flower is a double white Rose of Sharon [18]

...many happy pages of reading.

My love to you all.

Sharon.

______________________________________________________
REFERENCES/SOURCES
[1] "The Maze Runner." [by James Dashner] amazon.com. Retrieved 08-31-14.
[2] "Amazing Mazes." unmuseum.org. Retrieved 09-12-14.
[3] "Rat Maze." roxx.altervista.org. Retrieved 09-13-14.
[4] "Synopsis." scriptgodsmustdie.com. Retrieved 09-13-14.
[5] "Synopsis: Library School Journal." amazon.com. Retrieved 09-13-14.
[6] "Entering the Glade." haikudeck.com. Retrieved 09-13-14.
[7] "My Favorite Quote." sites.myhomepage.org. Retrieved 09-13-14.
[8] "...I Feel Conflicting Emotions...." reddit.com. Retrieved 09-13-14.
[9] "The Maze Runner Official Trailer #2." youtube.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[10] "The Maze Runner." imdb.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[11] "Girl Reading A Book." pinterest.com/source/zarifadam.tumblr.com/. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[12] "Jail Cell Cartoon." clipartbest.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[13] "Dystopian Fiction, What is it Really?"  giraffedays.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[14] "Henslowe: 'It's A Mystery'" memegenerator.net [by Sharon Powers]. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[15] "The Tortoise and the Hare." mollyspencer.wordpress.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[16] "Identity is Motion." [violence graphic] superflat.typepad.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[17] "My Thoughts: 4 Stars." odetojoandkatniss.wordpress.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.
[18] "Pictures From My Garden." sparkpeople.com. Retrieved 09-14-14.

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper; The Book-to-Movie is now out on Blu-ray & DVD!

[1]

Book Review by:
Sharon Powers.

     Jonathan Tropper, author of This Is Where I Leave You, should be justifiably proud to have his popular book brought to the big screen. We will see the movie come to the big screen on September 12th.

     Jason Bateman will star as Judd, the troubled and cuckolded husband of Jen Foxman. Jane Fonda takes the role and the lime-light as Hillary, the bosom-wielding mother of Judd; Hillary attracts all the licentious men for miles around causing consternation among her children. 

     After watching the trailer (you, too, can watch the trailer below, if you like), I noticed that Jonathan Tropper changed the family name from Foxman, in the book, to Altman for the movie. Also, it is really wonderful that Tropper could do the screenwriting for the movie, as well. I guess we will see how audiences take to this wildly irreverent, pithy and darkly humorous story. Meanwhile, let's take a quick look at the book's synopsis, so we can continue to discuss the very popular book.      

SHORT BOOK SYNOPSIS:

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     Judd Foxman quietly sneaks into his house to deliver a birthday cake to his wife. He lights the candles and tiptoes upstairs prepared to sing Happy Birthday to you.... Quietly, he opens the bedroom door and then freezes in place. Shock overtakes Judd as he sees his wife, Jen, and his "radio-shock-jock" boss naked in his bed having sex. Just like that, Judd's marriage is over.

[3]

     And then, a second catastrophic event happens. Judd's father dies. Soon, Judd is with his dysfunctional family as they come together for seven days of mourning by "sitting shiva" for his father. The Foxman family are ill at ease since it has been many years since they've all been together under the same roof.

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     The Foxman Family should be nervous, because it isn't long before everything is out of control! Judd's mother has had her breasts enlarged. Wearing revealing clothing, all the men, married and single, are ogling and drooling all over themselves, causing Judd consternation. Well-meaning matchmakers try to set Judd up with every single woman around. But then, things get really wild when secrets are exposed, old grudges resurface, sexual passion is rekindled with old flames, and then...Judd's wife shocks everyone with the news that she's pregnant. Plus, there's a shocking twist for another family member at the end of the novel, as well.

SITTING SHIVA:

     I am not Jewish, so I know little about Jewish rituals and customs. With different religions having different customs or traditions for marking the passing of a loved one, I've seen rosary services, candlelight vigils, wakes for the deceased, post funereal dinners and buffets, and religious church services and eulogies. Thankfully, Jonathan Tropper, fills us all in on he Jewish tradition of "sitting shiva." Here's what I learned learned when I read his novel:

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(1) "Sitting Shiva" is the period of time that mourners live together to share the very emotional time following the loved one's death and funeral. The time of mourning is considered a time of spiritual healing when friends and other loved ones visit the family to "make a Shiva call." Everyone shares memories of the deceased, recalling special moments with everyone. Visiting someone who is sitting Shiva is considered "great mitzvah" (an act of kindness).

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(2) Traditionally, Shiva occurs over 7 days. Day 1 is counted starting with the day of the funeral. "Shiva," in English translates as "Seven." Modernly, many families choose to "sit Shiva" for fewer than 7 days.

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(3) On day one, after the funeral, traditionally, the family eat a "meal of condolence." Foods in a round shape symbolize the need for life to move on. "Shiva Food" is provided by relatives, family friends and even neighbors. If the deceased's family observes Jewish dietary laws, kosher foods are given by those bringing food to the family.

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(4) Customs: Traditionally the mirrors are covered; leather shoes are not worn; mourners do not cut their hair (or shave, listen to music, watch TV, or have marital relations--obviously not the case in this novel!); a memorial candle is lit and stays lit for the 7 days; mourner's clothing may be torn (or mourners may wear a black ribbon cut by the Rabbi); small uncomfortable stools or chairs are provided for those sitting Shiva.

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(5) Prayer services may be held every day in the home of the deceased where mourners are sitting Shiva. Prayer services are good times to make Shiva calls to the home. Non-Jews as well as Jews are open to participate.

[10]

(6) Day seven of Shiva, the last day, is observed just for a few hours. The following prayer may be said: "No more will your sun set, nor your moon be darkened, for God will be an eternal light for you, and your days of mourning shall end." (Isaiah 60:20) At the end of mourning the family can take a short symbolic walk around the block to symbolize their return to society. The Foxman family does this in the book. [6]

MY FAVORITE QUOTE:

     The protagonist, Judd Foxman, is the speaker, here. He has excoriated himself about what a bad father he will be, and then later, we have this short scene. Baby Serena is upstairs crying--her parents have decided to let her "cry it out." Judd has had enough and he states that he is going to check on the baby. Judd's mother says, "They're letting her cry...[Judd says,] [t]hat doesn't make it right." (p. 258) Here's the quote:

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SERENA STOPS CRYING the instant I pick her up...She feels almost weightless against my chest in her little pink pajamas. "It's okay," I say softly, and make other idiotic sounds like you do when you're holding a baby. Her tiny fingers find my chin and she latches on with a surprisingly strong grip, like my chin will save her life, like my chin is exactly what she was crying out for. I sit down on the bed cradling her little head against my shoulder, inhaling her sweet baby scent....she is pure and undiminished and beautiful. I lie back on the bed as she sleeps on my chest, listening to her tiny little snores, admiring the soft nub of her unformed nose...when her breathing becomes almost imperceptible, I gently lay her down in the crib and head back downstairs. I crawl under my covers and drift off to sleep, still feeling the warm spot where she lay on my chest. (p.258)

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     This gentle, moving moment is perfection. Judd has put away all sense of self and wrapped his perceptions around the sweet baby. He is in awe of the child, of the life and energy emanating from her sweet being. Being a mother, I have held my children, smelled their sweet baby sent, felt their warmth and looked in those sweet faces and seen them--"pure and undiminished and beautiful." Jonathan Tropper really captures this tender and transcendent moment!

     The other thing I like about this scene is, it can be looked at as a metaphor. Sitting Shiva is for spiritual healing and consolation. The deceased's family is not left alone to grieve, but given love and consolation--the very act of being with the family, of praying with them or even just sitting silently, brings a measure of peace to those who mourn. Judd realizes that it just isn't right to leave Baby Serena to cry-it-out all by herself. He picks her up and holds her, comforts her, and in the cessation of her tears, we see healing not only for the baby, but for Judd, as well. This is "great mitzvah," or act of kindness, that mirrors the beautiful purpose for "sitting Shiva."

WHAT I THINK ABOUT THIS BOOK:

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     WHAT WORKS FOR ME:
     First, Jonathan Tropper's writing, especially the dialog, is pithy, funny and poignant. I found the interfamilial interactions had the ring of truth, or authenticity, if you will, to them. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the dialog, even when the situation in the story seemed to call for decorum and being reserved. I suppose it is the same as when you hear laughter at funerals. The tension needs to be broken, not that you find a situation funny--it's more like you make the situation funny. 

     Jonathan Tropper's book is a lot like that. We laugh at the thought of Judd pushing the birthday cake, not in his boss's face, but up his naked backside. Shocking and irreverent and bawdy, but funny, too, if you don't want to cry over the terrible situation of finding your wife in bed with another man.

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     Second, "sitting Shiva" is the tool Tropper uses to get us to observe the dynamics of the Foxman family. Shiva keeps everyone under one roof and we watch as arguments unfold, infidelity rears its ugly head, physical injuries and fist fights happen, and secrets explode across the pages of the book. With the end of Shiva, one last bomb of a secret explodes--shocking everyone. What a rip-roaring fun, scary, shocking, risque, and bawdy time we have!

WHAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME:
     I have to get this off my chest: I really don't like the name that Jonathan Tropper selected for our protagonist--Judd Foxman. It may not have much to do with the writing style or technical proficiency of authoring a book, but I still just don't like that name. No. I never knew anyone with that name. My dislike comes from the old stage production of Oklahoma...where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.... Oddly enough the song is about a funeral (talk about ironic); don't ya just love those songs about funerals? Anyway, Judd was the bad dude in the play and I can still hear his song even now:
   

[From youtube 15]

     Second, the other, more troubling thing about the book, is that it jumped about a bit too much for me.Tropper starts out with a chronological progression from his wife's infidelity and the ending of his marriage, gradually unfolding the week of Shiva at the Foxman home. 

Just confusing. [16]

     Here's the problem: Judd shares with us his remembrances of times past, jumping back and forth not only back and forth in time in his mind, but also moving forward in time and then to alternate locations, as well. Add to that, the huge cast of characters in the novel, and it ends up just a little bit too chaotic for me. I do realize that funerals, or as in this case, "sitting Shiva" may prompt a bit of familial disruption. It naturally would. As a reader, however, I don't think its helpful to get so lost that it results in confusion. 

THE MOVIE:
     This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper is slated to open in theaters on September 12, 2014. As pithy and wry as I found the book to be, the movie looks to be filled with slapstick humor and wildly poignant moments. Take a look at the short trailer from youtube and see what you think.


[17]

     Directing the movie is Shawn Levy; writing credits go to Jonathan Tropper (for both the novel and screenplay). Starring in the movie will be Jason Bateman as Judd Altman, Jane Fonda as Judd's mother, Hillary Altman, Tina Fey as Wendy Altman, Corey Stoll as Paul Altman, Adam Driver as Phillip Altman, Kathryn Hahn as Alice Altman, Rose Byrne as Penny Moore, and Timothy Olyphant as Horry Callen. [18]

RECOMMENDATIONS AND RATING:

     This book is a book for adults. Children and overly sensitive readers should consider this before reading the book. Tropper's book contains graphic scenes of sex, drunkenness, drug use, infidelity, and physical violence (fighting). The target audience, mature adults, should be fine with the subject matter of the book; indeed, many adults will love this book.

   This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper is funny, and deals with raw emotions in the wake of the death of Judd Foxman's father. All persons deal with the havoc of life and death, marriage, divorce, pregnancy, family, infidelity, and the unbreakable blood bonds of family. Even with the problems, I stated, above, I did enjoy this book, and for these reasons, I rate this book 4.0 stars out of 5.0 stars.

[22]

     Thank you for joining me this week as we took a look at Jonathan Tropper's widely-popular book, This Is Where I Leave You. Please join me again, next week as we look at another book. Please take time this week to read a bit of something you enjoy.

Until next time...

This is a double-white Rose of Sharon. [23]

...many happy pages of reading!

Sharon.





_________________________________________________________
REFERENCES/SOURCES
[1] "This is Where I Leave You." [by Jonathan Tropper] amazon.com. Retrieved 08-31-14.
[2] "Marshall Turns 31!" jettagirl.wordpress.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[3] "Sitting Shiva." theatermania.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[4] "76-year-old Jane Fonda Made His New Breasts!" good-kovka.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[5] "Mitzvah Quotes." quotehd.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[6] "How to Sit Shiva." wikihow.com. Retrieved 09-09-14.
[7] "Deli King of Linden Shiva." delikinglinden.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[8] "Hallucinations of Loss, Visions of Grief." [photo of covered mirror] psychcentral.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[9] "Lighting a Candle." brightonmemorialchapel.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[10] "Family." bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 09-09-14.
[11] "Responsibilities of the Father of the Unborn Child." doh.sd.gov. Retrieved 09-09-14.
[12] "Mitzvah Mission, IV Edition." santabarbara.hillel.org. Retrieved 09-09-14.
[13] "Laugh Out Loud." orkugifs.com. Retrieved 09-09-14.
[14] "Shhh... Four of the Grossest Secrets about Weight Loss No One Tells You About." workoutandeatin.com. Retrieved 09-10-14.
[15] "Oklahoma the Original London Cast (1998)-Poor Jud is Dead." youtube.com. Retrieved 09-10-14.
[16] "Dean Baker: Confusing the Confusion." pieria.co.uk. Retrieved 09-10-14.
[17] "This Is Where I Leave You Featurette." youtube.com. Retrieved 09-08-14.
[18] "This is Where I Leave You." imdb.com. Retrieved 09-10-14.
[19] "This is Where I Leave You." [by Jonathan Tropper] amazon.com. Retrieved 08-31-14.
[20] "A Trip and A Tropper." readingforrobin.wordpress.com. Retrieved 09-10-14.
[21] "Goodreads Author: Jonathan Tropper." goodreads.com. Retrieved 09-10-14.
[22] "Cheesy Double-Bean Chili." kristin-williams.blogspot.com. Retrieved 09-10-14.
[23] "Pictures From My Garden." sparkpeople.com. Retrieved 09-10-14.

The Broken Eye: The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks.

[1]

Book Review by: Sharon Powers.

     "The two Blackguards approached the White's door, the younger rhymically cracking the knuckles of his right fist nervously. The Greyling brothers stopped in front of the door, hesitated. Pop, pop, pop. Pop, pop, pop.  

    "The elder brother, Gill looked at his little brother, as if trying to emulate their commander's sledge-gaze. Gavin hated it when Gill did that, but he quit popping his knuckles.

     "'We gain nothing by waiting,' Gill said. 'Put that fist to use.'

     "It was early morning. The White usually didn't emerge from her chambers for at least another two hours. With her declining health, the Blackguard were doing all they could to make the old woman's last months easy.

     "'How come it's always me who--' Gavin asked. At nineteen, Gill was two years older, but they were the same rank, and they'd been elevated to full Blackguard status at the same time.

The three book covers, just above, are the first three books in the
The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks. A fourth book is in the
works for this series, entitled, "The Blood Mirror."  It appears
that no release date has yet been set, but from past publications,
we can probably expect to see "The Blood Mirror," sometime in 2016.
[Sigh....] [2]

     "'If you make her miss it because you- 're arguing with me' ...Gill let the threat hang. 'Fist,' he said. ...Scowling, Gavin Greyling knocked on the door. After wait- ing the customary five seconds, he opened the door. The brothers stepp- ed inside.

     "The White wasn't in her bed. She and her room slave were praying....Cold wind blew in around the two old women...'High Mistress,' Gill said. 'Your pardon. There's something you must see'...She broke off her prayers, and they helped her into her wheeled chair...[and] pushed her out onto the balcony. 'In the bay,' Gill said....And then, finally, a shape came around the bend of Big Jasper." (Kindle Loc. 21-44 of 13117.)

Balcony Room With a View of the Bay
of Naples by Carl Gustav Carus. [3]

     And so we have the opening, the first few paragraphs, of Brent Weeks' new and highly-anticipated book, The Broken Eye. Just like some movies I've seen, the opening of the book moves from a close-up shot of two blackguards walking toward a door, one popping his knuckles, the other serious and also anxious, chiding his brother that no advantage was gained in waiting. They knock and move inside and the cameras of our eyes see the scene widen to take up the room with two women praying. Soon the camera moves out to the balcony with the blackguards and "The White." We see the scene gradually expand to show us the waters of a bay lapping at the edges of a large city and a dark shape coming in towards the city. 

     We go from an intimate magnifying glass view of the guards to a panoramic view of the city and bay. What a wonderful set of visual images Brent Weeks gives us in this opening scene. Wow! And we haven't read any further than a few paragraphs, and we are instantly plunged into the story and looking at the large dark shape coming towards us and the city.  We join the characters in their apprehension and anxiety. I just love the opening images. But before we continue to discuss the book, let's look at a brief synopsis of it.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF BOOK:

Here's a famous scene from the movie,
Ben Hur. The slaves are chained to the
oars, just as in Brent Weeks' book,
The Broken Eye. [4]

     The old gods have been seen--they are waking, and wreaking havoc and destruction in their wake. Chromeria, once-dominant, now finds itself in a civil war and unrest and dissention wherever it turns. The Prism is missing--known only to a few, he has been captured and made a prisoner by his old enemy. Now the Prism, Gavin Guile, after losing his powers and his ability to tap into the magic, has been made a slave and is being forced to row in a pirate galley. Gavin's hands blister and bleed constantly. With only gruel to eat, chained to the oars, and abused at the hands of his captor, Gavin's suffering is constant.

One of the returning characters:
Commander of the Prism's Black-
guards is Commander Ironfist:
Fan Art by Jaik O. from Brent
Weeks Forum. Ironfist's brother
is  Tremblefist (also a Blackguard).[5]

     Kip, too, must deal with both seen and hidden enemies. Ever wary of being assassinated, Kip must also, now, play a deadly game with his grandfather. A grandfather, once a "wight," but now with renewed vigor and magic at his finger-tips steps to the fore of the country's political scene. He looks to replace Kip's father, as Prism, with another and take the power for himself. Kip struggles to survive the political intrigue and assassination attempts; he must survive the silent war amongst the noble houses, religious factions, the rebels, and most importantly, the growing secret society of assassins, "The Broken Eye."

     Brent Weeks brings back our favorite characters from the previous two Lightbringer books. We get to see "The White," Karris, Commander Ironfist and his brother Tremblefist, Magister Kadah (a teacher), Grinwoody, Master Sharp (also called "Murder Sharp,") is an assassin for The Broken Eye), Captain Gunner, Eirene Malargos, Marissia (Gavin's room slave), Aliviana (Liv) Danavis, Corvan Danavis, and, of course, the infamous, Zymun. Also coming back, are Kip's friends, Teia, Cruxor, Ferkudi, Goss, and others.

WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE BOOK--THE BROKEN EYE:
     First, I just have to say...AWESOME! Oh, my, my, my! I loved this book. Brent weeks did NOT disappoint. There, I have that out of my system...Uhm...OK, not really. I admit it's barely under control, here. But on we shall go.

We first saw Kip on the battlefield searching for remnants
of luxin to collect and sell--a scared boy. [6]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
     Brent Weeks just gets better and better with every book he writes. Take the character development, for instance. When we first saw Kip, it was in The Black Prism while he was scavenging a field for luxin remnants to sell and make some money. At this point he was just a scared boy. By the time we get to book three, The Broken Eye, Kip has become known as Breaker to his group of blackguard initiates. He has seen battle, developed a relationship with Gavin Guile (his father), navigated the dangerous waters of the relationship with his grandfather (Andross Guile), avoided assassination, studied hard and practiced fighting, faced ostracism from other blackguard initiates, grew stronger, lost weight, had his first kiss, and grew into a young man. We see Kip change so much that he outgrows the name of "Kip."

Teia, Karris and Breaker. [7]

     Teia is, likewise, another wonderful character showing incredible development. She really comes into her own in this book, The Broken Eye. She moves from a fearful and cornered character into a young woman who accepts her own freedom and acts independently in making choices about her future. No longer a slave to fear and others' threats and blackmail, she goes on the offensive and develops her strength, showing she is worthy to become a blackguard. During some of her scenes, I literally held my breath in anticipation of the outcome! Whew!

     A third charter showing amazing development is Karris Whiteoak. While she's always been a strong woman, she really comes into her own in this book. I can tell you no more because it, again, would reveal too much of the plot--just wait until you get to near the end of the book. Karris will blow you out of the water during several scenes that will leave your jaw dropping! Kip, Teia and Karris are just three of the many characters Weeks has developed beautifully in the book.

THE TITLE OF THE BOOK:
     The Broken Eye. The most obvious reason for titling of the book would seem to be for the secret society of assassins, The Broken Eye. They assassinate people, steal important articles, blackmail when efficacious, torture, and operate behind the political scene.

One artist's conception of a "broken eye." [8]

     Another use could possibly be what happens when a drafter "breaks the halo" of their eye, resulting in a "Broken Eye." I think the title is less likely to be for this reason because a drafter normally has two eyes, not one, resulting in "broken eyes," plural.

     A third, and I think, a wonderful alternate reason the book could be called, The Broken Eye, is for Gavin Guile. As you recall, he lost his ability to draft when the sword plunged through his chest. It seemed to drain him of all his abilities and he no longer had access to magic and could only see the world as black and white and various shades of grays. Something additional happens to Gavin Guile in this book (which I cannot reveal to you because it gives away too much of the plot). When you read the book, you will understand why I include Gavin in this third reason.

     Finally, there is always the metaphorical meaning of the title. The Broken Eye can mean a person who fails to see things either correctly, or realistically, or perhaps even what is right in front of them--they are effectually blind. They could be blind to the plots all around them, blind to love in their hearts, blind to their misdeeds, or blind spiritually. Figuring out the meaning for the title of any book really adds to the texture and richness of the novel for any reader. And, no, I won't tell you which of the, above, reasons fit the book title--you will figure it out by the end.

OTHER ATTRIBUTES OF THE BOOK:

     As I mentioned at the top of the post, Brent Weeks' writing gets better with each book he's written. I started reading his Night Angel Trilogy and very much enjoyed that trilogy. I never dreamed as he began this new series, The Lightbringer Series, that his work would just get better and better and better. He well-deserved the  David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy for 2013 for his Lightbringer novel, The Blinding Knife. 

     Of this book, The Broken Eye, I found Week's writing skills to be masterful. I am absolutely in awe of the way he wove all the plots and subplots together; indeed, they are not only technically proficient, they are written in such a way  as to make the reader sit on the edge of her seat, hold her breath while waiting for an outcome, and sigh with relief when the scene is over. Wow! I am simply dumbfounded at how hard he must have worked to give us all such a thrilling and exciting and memorable read. 

     In this book, I fell in love with a few of the more expansive and emotive scenes. One was between the Blackguard's Commander, Ironfist, and his brother Tremblefist--due in large part to Kip (No, you're not getting any more than that out of me). Very touching...

Fan Art concept of Karris
White Oak. [11]

     Two scenes with Karris Whiteoak had my jaw dropping and left me speechless. I had to go back and reread the scene(s) over to see if I really read what I had just read. Flat out freaking amazing!

     While there is more than one BIG reveal in this book, one that I am thinking of happens towards the very end of the book. We learn some things that are so shocking and dramatic that I could hardly believe my eyes when I read it. Think love. Think betrayal. Think hero. Think family. (Yeah. Try to figure that one out!).

     Teia is involved in some revelations, as well. What she accomplishes is absolutely stunning. You are just going to be flat out amazed. In a couple of her scenes, I really did hold my breath to see if she would make it through the experience. I only realized I had been holding my breath when I finally let out a huge exhale. Teia--I never knew you had it in ya. Talk about dangerous and deadly. My, my, my.

     And, there is so much more ("The White," Magister Kadah, Grinwoody, Master "Murder" Sharp, Gunner, Liv Danavis, Cruxor, Goss, and of course, that snake Zymun.). One little heads up: I found tears leaking out of my eyes in a few places in the book. The moments were so poignant. The whole book is just so delicious. So very delicious. 

[12]

I am planning on rereading my book again this weekend because I enjoyed it so much. I guess I beat myself to the punch by telling you how very much I enjoyed this book. So, here it is, my recommendation: Run, do not walk to your nearest book purveyor, or better yet, buy it as an e-book and start reading it NOW! This takes in account that you have already read books 1 and 2, however. If you haven't read them, go get them now.

[13]

MY RATING:

     Given all the reasons I have stated, above, I rate this book 5 stars out of 5. Thank you, Brent Weeks for this most wonderful read (I loved all your characters--even the deliciously evil ones!)!

     Thank you for joining me this week as we finally got to look at the widely-desired book release for Brent Weeks, The Broken Eye: The Lightbringer Series, Book 3. I have been so stoked about being able to finally do this review for you all. Please do yourself a kindness and go get Brent Weeks' trilogy and read it now. I especially recommend his newest book that I review, today. Thank you, my friends, for taking time to read my review of this wonderful new book. God bless you and keep you. 

Until next time...

A double white Rose of Sharon. [14]

...many happy pages of reading.

My very best to you.


Sharon.



________________________________________________________
REFERENCES/SOURCES
[1] "The Broken Eye: Lightbringer Series, Book 3." amazon.com. Retrieved 09-01-14.
[2] "5 Modern Authors You Should Definitely Try (Brent Weeks)" fantasyandanime.wordpress.com. Retrieved 09-03-14.
[3] "Balcony Room With a View of the Bay of Naples." [by Carl Gustav Carus] commons.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 09-03-14.
[4] "What Kind of Power Should Government Have Over Your Life?" anunews.net. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[5] "Meet Ironfist." [by Jaik O.; Brent Weeks Forum] brentweeks.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[6] "Chris Z #1."  [by Fan Artist Chris Z.] brentweeks.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[7] "The Warriors from the Lightbringer Series by Brandon Sanderson: Teia Karren and Breaker." [Note: two misnomers, here: They should be labeled Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks and Teia, Karris and Breaker.], [art by Thomas Blamire] blamgraphics.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[8] "Broken Eye." [graphic of eye] freecodesource.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[9] "Brent Weeks." [photo] twitter.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[10] "Brent Weeks Goodreads Author." goodrreads.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[11] "Karris White-Oak." [by lenayga] lenayga.deviantart.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[12] "The Broken Eye Banner." brentweeks.ning.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[13] "Passed 5 out of 5 stars." bettingsystemtruths.com. Retrieved 09-04-14.
[14] "Pictures From My Garden." sparkpeople.com. Retrieved 08-11-14.

Children's Book Week: "Nest"--Esther Ehrlich's Debut Novel Now for Sale at Bookstands!

This book, Nest, by Esther Ehrlich, comes
to book stands on September 9, 2014. [1]

Book Review by:
Sharon Powers.

     A dog-eared field guide is gripped in one hand while the other grips his binoculars and the man peers through them. He watches the birds--one and then another. His eyes searching... searching...searching. All his long waking hours sitting quietly...observing. 

     Hour upon hour, he is "in the grip of an ornithological frenzy." Night comes and, reluctantly, he goes to his bed--surrounding himself with his books about birds. He reads about trips he can take to observe, yet more birds. He looks at the "field markings of species"--those birds he hasn't yet observed through his binocs. He studies the markings. And, studying the markings, he falls into slumber.  He dreams of birds. 

[2]

     Who is the man in the "grip of an ornithological frenzy"? What man would spend hour upon hour with his binoculars watching birds? James Marcus of the Los Angeles Times, tells us in a book review that he did of The Discomfort Zone: A Personal History, that it was none other than the author, Jonathan Franzen. 

This is just one guide to the birds
of Cape Cod. This book is
by Peter Trull. [4]

     Marcus indicates that it is the last chapter of Franzen's book, that captivates him. The Chapter, entitled, "My Bird Problem," is, according to Marcus, simply is the best chapter of the entire book. Marcus goes on to say that Franzen "seems to be taking Emily Dickinson at her word: "Hope, if indeed it existed, is most certainly the thing with feathers." [3]

     Chirp, our young protagonist, in Esther Ehrlich's debut novel, Nest, is so very taken with birds. She seems to live in the world of birds, not unlike Jonathan Franzen, in his "ornithological frenzy." Just as some children seek the shelter of books, Chirp seeks the refuge of the salt marsh and the birds she loves. But, before we talk any more about Chirp and her family, let's take a quick look at the synopsis of Esther Ehrlich's book

SHORT BOOK SYNOPSIS: 

A Red-throated Loon, photo by
Neil Hayward [5]

     Esther Ehrlich writes a deeply-felt account for middle-grade school readers about a young girl and her family. The sojourn of eleven-year-old Naomi, who prefers to be called "Chirp" because she loves birds--especially the rare Red-throated Loon who makes its appearance only infrequently in the area. Chirp lives with her older sister, Rachel, her father (who is a psychiatrist), and her mother who is a vivacious dancer--Chirp's mother communicates her ardent love of dancing to Chirp and her family. 

     To Chirp, indeed, the story is one of a journey of a family's changing life and traditions because of heartbreaking misfortune and tragedy that visits the small intimate family. Struggling to make sense of her life turned topsy-turvy, "Chirp" flees to the Cape Cod salt marsh to find comfort by her special tree and the birds that fill its branches and the sky around it. 

Chirp finds a bird's nest in her special
place, near her tree. The nest comes to
symbolize, for her, safety and security
in the inexplicable, topsy turvy world
into which she has been thrust. [6]

     Joey, a neighbor boy becomes "Chirp's" friend. Chirp learns about genuine friendship and love; she experiences a sharing of sorrow, and joy, as well as adventure and discovery. As Chirp learns about friendship, she also learns that there is a way through the chaotic, topsy-turvy, life she is living. Chirp and Joey devise a plan to create their own world and, in doing so, come to share a tender friendship that helps them to feel safe as birds in a nest--at least for a while.

NEST--WHAT I THINK ABOUT THIS BOOK:

I created this meme for you on memegenerator.net for a
graphic image (http://sharonsloveofbooks.blogspot.com/).[7]

   The thing that most impressed me about Esther Ehrlich's book, Nest, is that while many novels for teens and pre-teens write about dysfunctional families as a way to help children come to grip with problems life has thrown at them, Esther Ehr- lich stays away from the overly dysfunctional family as that kind of tool.

     Instead, Ehrlich writes about Naomi's (Chirp's) fam- ily as more of a contemporary family with its joyous tra- ditions, typical problems, and quirky parents in which Chirp feels safe and secure--until, that is, Chirp's family-world is turned upside down by tragedy. I really like the way Ehrlich helps the reader to focus on the girl, Naomi/Chirp, and how she deals with her world turned upside down, rather than the chaos of the family dysfunction. A brilliant choice in creating the framework of the story--one I enjoyed very much as a reader and one, I think, with which children will identify, appreciate and love.

[8]

     One of my favorite parts of the book is what Chirp does when tragedy strikes her family--she retreats to her room and builds a "nest" of her own with her clothes and sleeps there. She takes a terrible turn-of-events and creates her own haven of safety, her own nest. Also, later in the book, Chirp and Joey create a "metaphorical nest" of safety: they devise a plan to go to a special location and recreate for Chirp a safe, happy time in her life. This escape from reality into this metaphorical nest, for a time, gives Chirp hope. Even though the feelings of safety, hope, and happiness don't last, they do give Nest something precious--a friendship with Joey that is a different, intangible nest, trust, love, and safety in friendship.

Radagast has a birds nest in his
hair--a visual pun for the quote
in the paragraph on the right.[10]

     I really like the title of Ehrlich's book, "Nest." It is so appropriate for a variety of reasons. The first, of course, is the one I just mentioned: the family. Many sayings pervade cultures about birds and nests, such as: "The empty nest," "Light as a feather," "Nest egg," "A chattering bird builds no nest," "You cannot prevent birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair," [9] and, the one quote by Emily Dickinson that I gave you at the top of the blog post: "Hope, if indeed it existed, is most certainly the thing with feathers." Undoubtedly, for Chirp, her solace and "hope...is...the thing with feathers."

     Ehrlich's writing style is natural and easy with dialog that sounds realistic, lending the reader the perception intimacy and authenticity seldom seen in other teen or pre-teen novels. Then, we get to a scene where the writing calls for a more staccato approach to move the story along. I found these sections in the book a nice way of breaking up the smooth-flow of the story to give the reader a little variety in its exposition. Lovely.

     Finally, I have to tell you that I realized as I was reading the book that I had fallen in love with Chirp. She and Joey simply stole my heart. I came to love her passionate love for her mother, family, and friend, Joey. I loved her almost obsessive love for the Cape Cod marshes and her tree and birds, what James Marcus of the Los Angeles Times, called an "ornithological frenzy." So very, very charming.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS AND RATING:
     I would recommend this book to the target audience [Ages 10 and up or grades 5-7]. Since this book is a children's book for the ages I just listed, above, anyone should be able to read the book without discovering prohibitive material in its pages. The one caveat I always give readers is that if you are of a sensitive nature the themes of disease, death, suicide, loneliness, child abuse, and fear, perhaps you should consider the themes before reading the book. I found this book to deal sensitively with all of those themes--in fact, I would highly recommend this book to children dealing with any of those issues.

   Esther Ehrlich's, Nest, is an ardent and an remarkable tale of a middle-grade-aged girl and her love for her family and the birds of her Cape Cod marshes, one which sees this fascinating girl deal with tragedy, change, love and friendship. The powerful and tender novel will, undoubtedly haunt you long after you finish reading its pages. This image, the image of a young girl in her nest, will stay with you even after you finish the book with its ambiguous conclusion and leave you wondering what will become of Chirp and Joey. My Rating: For all the reasons I have given above, I give this book 4.0 stars out of 5.

[12]

     Thank you for joining me this week as we took a look at an exciting new children's book, Nest by Esther Ehrlich. Please join me again, next week as we look at a another new book. Until then, please consider picking up a book and reading it for a little
pleasure in your life.

Until next time...

[13]

...many happy pages of reading.

Sharon.

________________________________________________________

REFERENCES/SOURCES
[1] "Nest." [Esther Ehrlich] amazon.com. Retrieved 08-08-14.
[2] "Wanna Be My Friend?" [The Kotek Report]-[Field glasses graphic] thekotykreport.blogspot.com. Retrieved 08-28-14.
[3] "Birds Become A Metaphor For Family Tug of War." articles.baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 08-28-14.
[4] "An Illustrated Guide to the Common Birds of Cape Cod." [by Peter Trull] barnesandnoble.com. Retrieved 08-28-14.
[5] "Periodic Wanderings." [Red-throated Loon] reallybigyear.wordpress.com. Retrieved 08-27-14.
[6] "Inspiration for Our Nest." [In The Fields] acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com. Retrieved 08-27-14.
[7] "My Whole World Has Been Turned Upside Down." memegenerator.net. Retrieved 08-30-14.
[8] "Hope." obsessivelycompulsivelyyours.wordpress.com. Retrieved 08-28-14.
[9] "Bird Proverbs and Sayings List." flyingwild.org. Retrieved 08-30-14.
[10] "Radagast." theblogthattimeforgot.blogspot.com. Retrieved 08-30-14.
[11] "Esther Ehrlich." [GoodReads Author] goodreads.com. Retrieved 08-30-14.
[12] "Hair of the Dog: Blue Dot Double IPA." [5 star graphic] thebrewboys.com. Retrieved 08-30-14.
[13]"Pictures From My Garden." sparkpeople.com. Retrieved 08-11-14.
[*] "Net Galley." [Net Galley Disclosure] Retrieved 08-30-14.