Summer Reading is upon us. This year we're giving away an Acer Aspire laptop for the person with the most points!! We're going to have all sorts of other coolio prizes and programs, so make sure to stop by the reference desk and get signed up. Here's how to earn points:
YA Summer Reading Program: Point System:
Programs 10
Books Read
Up to 200 pgs 5
200-400 pgs 8
400+ pages 10
Book Reviews 5
Movie Reviews 3
CD Reviews 3
*3 Bonus Points if reviews are posted on Teen Blog
(www.eolteens.blogspot.com)
If you want to post a review just reply in the Comment section to this post. I'll be posting a new blog for review weekly.
Remember, you get 3 bonus points for your reviews. A refresher of how it works:
- You can review books, movies or CDs you've read, seen, or listened to since May 20
- In your review, include the title and author/artist
- Tell me what you liked and/or disliked (the plot? characters? the ending? too slow?)
- Please please please do NOT give away the ending, or what happens to major characters. No spoilers!!
- Give a rating of 1-5 stars, with 5 being the best of the best
- Review should be at least 3-5 sentences (be sure to put your initials at the end)
- Be creative! List your favorite tracks of a CD, favorite quote from a book, etc.
- After clicking on "Comments" and writing your review, select "Anonymous"
186 comments:
Title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Author: Betty Smith
Although the title may sound a bit strange, this book was extremely interesting and enjoyable for me. It is about a girl named Francie who has to struggle with poverty at the turn of the 20th Century. She has a drunk father and her family lives in the slums of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
After reading this book, I contemplated back on what I had just read and I realized that this book made me very grateful and appreciative for all the blessings and gifts God has given me. The "tree" in the title contains symbolism; in my opinion, Brooklyn is generally very crowded and filthy, so if a tree can grow there, that may foreshadow change; thus, Francie is going through the turn of the century as she matures into a woman.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something and get something meaningful back; it is neither too boyish or girlish, but it does teach you about the struggles that poor people went through yesterday, today, and the future.
Rating: *****
Posted by: Stephen Y.
Book: The Iliad
Author: Homer, Robert Fagles trans.
Everyone has seen something related to the Trojan War in some shape, form, or fashion. Although I have certain doubts in my mind that this controversial war actually took place, I had to read it for my English class. I enjoyed the epic at some points, for example, when there come upon a good metaphor or simile that I might use, and some points in which I almost dozed off because it was so monotonous. I learned the culture of the ancient Greeks, though, which I thought was quite interesting: the soldiers valued honor higher than life, they act Machiavellian in a few parts of the plot (even though "The Prince" had not been written yet), and I was awed at the courage and bravery of both the Greek and Trojan soldiers.
Even though I did not especially like it, I believe that "The Iliad" is a necessary book to read at some point in one's life because in today's society, there are more allusions drawn to Greek mythology other than the Bible. I do recommend this to the people who aspire to become poets themselves one day or to become entangled in the web of literature. However, if it is merely for a reading-for-fun type of thing, one would become bored and confused in the unique way in which the story of Troy is written. I liked the expertise figuartive language (what else did I expect? It was translated by Robert Fagles, the best living translator of ancient Greek today), but I did not enjoy grinding through the parts about the brutality of the slaughtering of soldiers and of when idiosyncratic rituals were being performed.
Rating: **
Initials: S.Y.
Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Here it is, the famous Southern love story by a "shy, Alabama woman." People have told me about how this book was so very precious to them, and how it's one of the best books that they've ever read.
Unfortunately, my point of views disagrees with the general population's opinion. I liked the plotline and the themse because they showed me what life was in a small Alabama town during the Depression, the struggles of the Finches vs. Rednecks, and the sad trial of Tom Robinson. However, I do not find it unforgettable as another book that I have read this year, one being "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. I will say, on the contrary, that it is a fun read and that you will definitely get something out of it, whether it be a life lesson or jsut an opinion.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a new, classic book. I basically liked the entire book, but if you might have noticed, I said "liked", not "loved." Cheerios
Stars: ***
Book: The Last Juror
Author: John Grisham
"The Last Juror" is about a man named Willie Traynor who moves to Clanton, MS, to own the town's only newspaper company, "The Times." While he is there, a serious legal case concering Danny Padgitt emerges, and since the entire town detests the Padgitt family, they all want him to go to the electric chair.
I liked this book because it contained a lot of what I call"legal humor." Very few people, while Grisham is an exception, can make applausible jokes out of the law. The book starts out with the protagonist being kind of ignorant, but when the plot shifts to the murder case, the tone becomes very serious and suspenseful.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to laugh while reading and also learning about some of the state laws of Mississippi. I also liked how there were very few cusses, an exceptional book indeed.
Stars: *****
Book: The Mediterranean Caper
Author: Clive Cussler
"The Mediterranean Caper" is the first book whose protagonist is Dirk Pitt, a signature character of Clive Cussler. It is about Pitt trying to solve a mystery of how to stop a drug tycoon who is about to send so much cocaine to the U.S. that it can choke halkf the Americans. This is a novel that seems to seep the mother of excietment, as it just keeps building up, so much that the reader just wants to keep reading!
I liked this book very much for its suspenseful that Cussler is a master at, and for the humor inside of it. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a great, short novel that is extremely adventurous.
Stars: *****
Great reviews, Stephen! Thanks!
Book: Along the Edge of America
Author: Peter Jenkins
Peter Jenkins is one of my favorite travel authors because he reveals to you in his books people of different lifestyles that are very interesting to learn.
In this book, Peter goes on a solo cruise from Key West to the shores of Texas that border Mexico. He has virtually no experience with boats, and the main reason he is doing this is because he felt that something was missing in his life, the spirit and call of adventure, I'm hypothesizing.
I liked this book because I was introduced to Americans who have very different backgrounds and ways of life than I do. I definitely learned a ton about marine wildlife in Florida and about the man-made passageways to help boats.
I would recommend this book to anyone because it is not too long, is very interesting, exciting, and educational at the same time, and it offers a completely new approach to how one sees life.
Stars: ****
Initials: S.Y.
Book (Magazine): ESPN the Magazine, June 1st edition
Author(s): ESPN writers
Once again, it's the beginning of the ESPN the Mag reviews! I've noticed that because of the economic turmoil, ESPN has shortened its magazines; last year, a magainze around June probably had >100 pages, while this one has life 70.
I liked the overall reporting, as they make the writing very smooth, but I was upset that Stephen A. Smith, one of my favorite sprots writers, did not have his own page in this one, like he does in very other issue.
I would recommend a serious sports fan subscribing to ESPN the Magainze because it is filled with in-depth information about the current news of the sports world. This magazine had a few great articles in it, but it's not one of my favorites.
Stars: ***
Initials: S.Y.
Book: Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea
Author: Steven Callahan
This book is a true story about Steven Callahan atcually being lost at sea for 76 days. He was in a contest that tested who could go across the Atlantic the fastest using sailboats only. Callahan's boat, Napoleon Sail, is ravaged during a thundrestorm, and is also struck by a whale, and he barely escapes with his life, along with his meager possessions.
Callahan must survive in the blistering Atlantic sun and frequently becomes desperate. It is quite sad that he had to go through this terrible ordeal, but he still enjoys sailing.
I thought that this book was average, but I can't figure out why and how it became a New York Times bestseller. The sentences are not exemplary, and he writes in a weird present tense for some reason.
I learned a lot from this book, about the sea and oceangoing equipement, that is, but it wasn't special in any way, other than almost vomitng when Callahan describes how he catches triggerfish and dorados and eats them raw. However, it also made me grateful for the things that I have. When I'm slumping, I'll think of this book and realize that my life is a lot better than others', and that it could be in a lot worse shape now.
I would not recommend this book to any girls (unless they were tomboys) because, to be frank, it is absolutely disgusting to read it.
Stars: **
Initials: S.Y.
Hey, will somebody else other than myself post a review??? This is so easy it's getting boring..where's the challenge, people???
S.Y.
The Notebook by: Nicholas Sparks
The Notebook has to be one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. When the book started I thought,” Oh just another love story with a fairy tale ending I just hope I can at least get half through this book.” …and then Allie left and I knew something surprising would happen that changed my whole view of the book. I also loved seeing the changes in characters especially Noah. I loved Noah, one of the main characters, because he was very understanding of hard situations and so gentle. I also loved how he read poetry to Allie and made her feel at peace and helped her during hard times. My favorite quote of the book was part of a poem Noah read to Allie. “Nothing is ever really lost, or can be lost, no birth, identity, form-no object of the world, Nor life, nor force, nor any invisible thing:…The body, sluggish, aged, cold-embers left from earlier fires,… shall duly flame again:”
I rate the book with 5 stars for an amazing, surprising, and unusual love story.
ECM
Book: Treasure of Khan
Author: Clive Cussler
"Treasure of Khan" is about Dirk Pitt and his comrades trying to stop a Mongolian oil tycoon who is attempting to bring back the glory days of the reign of Genghis Khan.
What I love about Clive Cussler is that he is absolutely a master of adventure fiction. His books are maestros when it comes to high drama novels that people of all ages will enjoy reading.
I liked basically every part of this book; I noticed, however, that there was not as much swearing as there was in some of Cussler's earlier books.
Stars: *****
Initials: S.Y.
Book: Raise the Titanic!
Author: Clive Cussler
"Raise the Titanic!" is about Dirk Pitt, a trademark character of Cusssler, who needs to locate and raise the Titanic from its watery graves so that he can retreive a rare kind of element that is hidden somewhere in the huge ship's compartments. With NUMA, he eventually salvages the vessel, but meets strong adversaries along the way as well.
I liked this book very much because it truly reflects how much an expert Clive Cussler is when it comes to writing exciting adventure books. I loved the part when it describes the showdown between Pitt and some nasty Reds. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a desire to read something that will make them want to read a lot more of Clive Cussler books.
Stars: *****
Initials: S.Y.
Book: Flood Tide
Author: Clive Cussler
Once again, Cussler fills me with awe as I read one of his best-written books to date. "Flood Tide" deals with Dirk Pitt, the protagonist, fighting a Chinese billionaire, who smuggles illegal Chinese immigrants into the United States and also committs many other high-stake crimes. They are ultimately searching for the legendary remains of Peking Man, the earliest-discovered skeleton of the earliest human primitive.]
I liked most of this book, but at one part, the plot just dragged a little bit, in my opinion. However, overall, I loved reading this book because is has the insignia of Clive Cussler's exemplary writing style.
Stars: *****
Initials: S.Y.
Book: Deep Six
Author: Clive Cussler
"Deep Six", once again, is about Dirk Pitt battling against another Asian invasion, Madame Bougainville, who owns Bougainville Maritimes, one of the biggest commercial shipping companies in the world. Pitt discoveries some muddled things about the owner of this corporation, and when he finds out the shokcing plot, he must go and stop it.
This book was definitely very long, one of the longest Dirk Pitt books I've ever read. I kept truckin' through it, though, and I was very satisfied with finishing this book because it absolutely thrilled my wildest dreams. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a long book to read, in which it can be finished in a short period of time.
Initials: S.Y.
Stars: *****
Book: Iceberg
Author: Clive Cussler
"Iceberg" is about Dirk Pitt having to stop a billionaire from Iceland killing many important world leaders. The plot gets very twisted in the end, so much that I couldn't believe it at first, and instead of Pitt being happy at the end, he is very melancholy.
This book did not stand out as a very plausible one to me because the storyline wasn't as complex as I had hoped it to be. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading it and I'd recommend this book to anyone who is willing to take a few mental hits (hard ones) but will eventually come out in one piece.
Stars: ****
Initials: S.Y.
Book: The Mediterranean Caper
Author: Clive Cussler
This was the first Clive Cussler book that I've ever read, and I have to say that I finished it in less than one day. Concerning Major Dirk Pitt, Special Missions Director of NUMA, this novel signifies around the skirmish between Pitt and a Greek millionaire who is smuggling so much cocaine into the United States it could choke half of the Americans.
This book was not very long, but is had an unusual as well as exciting plot to it. I liked the part when the beautiful lady comes into the story, and how her uncle almost kills Pitt. Great book, good plot and development of character, spectacular author!
Stars: *****
Initials: S.Y.
The last review that I posted does not count because I already posted an earlier review on the same book.
Sorry, Matt!
Stephen Y.
Title:Aerosmith Greatest Hits[CD]
Author:Aerosmith
This is my dads favorite band and he had this CD. This is all of Aerosmith's greatest hits and everyone will like this. It Features Walk This Way by Aerosmith and Run DMC among other hits. Everyone will enjoy Same old Song and Dance, Cast Child, and Dude Look Like A lady.
Rating:****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Title:Rock of THe 80's Volume 4
Author:Various Artists
This is good ol' classic rock and anyone who likes classic rock will like this. Personally i think their aren't many good songs on it the best one being Der Kommisar by After The Fire. The rest Aren't really that good. I think that you can find something you like on this album though.
Rating:***
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Book: Anne Frank Remembered
Author: Miep Gies with Allison Leslie Gold
"Anne Frank Remembered" talks about the harsh experiences that Miep Gies and her husband, Frenk, went through while they were helping the Franks and other Jewish families hide from the Nazis.
I really liked this book, even though it was required reading for my English class. It really shows the reader just how terrible it was for the people who lived under Adolf Hitler's regime of terror, strife, discrimination, racism, and destruction; and those are only the few among many trgedies that he shoved into Europe's throat. I really appreciate those who have survived the Nazis because I strongly believe that they suffered something that no human should have to go through. I'd recommend this book to people who want to learn more about the Nazis and especially about the Frank family and their hiding in the attic.
Stars: ****
Initials: S.Y.
Title:Rebel Rousers best of southern Rock
Author:Various Artists
This Album has Very Few good songs on it and the only song worth mentioning is Blue Sky by the Allman Brothers band and that isn't very good. This album is southern rock but i wouldn't want to have to listen to it for very long. Maybe someone else will like it. If you are looking for southern rock this is not it.
Rating:*
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Book: King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table
Author: Roger Lancelyn Green
Man, I absolutely detest reading this book. My English teacher shoved this novel down my begging-for-mercy throat, and it wasn't even that good. It just tells the reader all the adventures that Arthur and his knights have while they rule England. There's nothing really special about this book, other than it was written in a fashion for teenagers and that the author attempted to make the stories sound classical but he classically failed in doing so.
I would only recommend this book to someone who realistically has no other book to read. I hated it, but I'm surprised I haven't burned it yet...
Stars: *
Initials: S.Y.
Title:Forever rock vol. 2
Author:Various artists
This is a really good album and i would recommend it to anyone. It has lots of classic hits including Peace of mind by Boston andDon't Fear the REaper by the Blue Oyster Cult. this is a great album and i think anyone would like it. My dad had this and now quite a few of these songs are my favorites.
Rating:*****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Album: Mothership (Remastered)
Artist: Led Zeppelin
And now, I present you with the best rock band ever: Led Zeppelin!
I loved this album not only because it contains Zeppelin's best legendary songs, such as "Stairway to Heaven" and "Rock and Roll", but I sense a aura around it that no other album possesses and cannot ever possess. A truly masterful piece that shows listeners who and what Led Zeppelin is and all about, "Mothership" is the mothership of the greatest rock albums ever produced.
I'd recommend this album to everyone because it has such a uniqueness that every person just must hear it!
Stars:************
Initials: S.Y.
Title:Pure Funk
Author:Various artists
This is an okay album. It is more really old stuff versus the classic rock that i like. It does have a few good hits like kong Fu fighting and Car Wash but it isn't my style. The guy on the album cover has a really big afro though. If you like oldies music you will like this.
Rating:****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Title: Liscensed to Ill
Author:Beastie Boys
this is a great album and really funny music but it isn't for all people and definitely not for young children. Their are a couple hits like Slow Ride, Fight For Your Right, and No Sleep Till Brooklyn. This is a great album but not really for young children. Most people will really like this though.
Rating:*****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Title: Let It Be
Author: Beatles
I have listened to these songs but i have never really liked the Beatles that much and i wasn't really impressed by this album. It isn't the best beatles album ever but it wasn't that bad. If you are a Beatles fan you should enjoy this.
Rating:****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Title:No. 10, Upping Street
Author:Big Audio Dynamite
This is classic B.A.D. and i think anybody who likes them will love this album featuring C'mon every Beatbox and Sambadrome. This is a great album and classic rock fans will love it.
Rating:*****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Book: The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World
Author: Alan Greenspan
This book is an autobiography of the former Director of the Federal Reserve, who served on the board and headed it for more than 25 years. The book also explores the world of economics, an insight that I have gained largely from by reading this book.
I learned a profusion of knowledge by reading this book, such as the current problems that society is facing today (lack of education), China on the uproar, cretive destruction, and the ever-changing stock market. I had to read a lot of the passages over again because I did not unerstand them, but I feel that since I've read this book now, I'll have an edge over my peers when we learn about Government and Economics in high school. Even though I did not particularly enjoy reading a book by an economic genius who talks about the complex economy, I felt that this was necessary for myself because it helped me gain a new point of view of the world.
Stars:***
Initials: S.Y.
Title:Hear It now Sound of the 60's
Author: Various Artists
This is not my kind of music but there are hits like Oh, Pretty Woman and Black Gypsy Queen. Another good one is Brown-eyed girl. These are songs that are really old and most of them are too old for my tastes. Anyone who likes oldies though will like this collection of songs from the 60's.
Rating:***
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Title:Disney Hero Songs
Author:Various Artists
This is an album of all the classic disney songs like I can go the Distance and Just Around the Riverbend. These song aren't for every body but i enjoy them sometimes and they are nice for the little kids. Anyone who likes disney songs will like these.
Rating:****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Album: Led Zeppelin I
Artist: Led Zeppelin
People, this is the album that started the Led Zeppelin regime of rock! Now, since it was the first every album produced by Jimmy Page & Co., not ALL of the songs were particularly special or memorable. Some songs, such as "Black Mountainside", "Your Time is Gonna Come", and "Dazed and Confused" caught my breath because of their unique style of blending many different styles of music and their masterful beats. I'd recommend this album to someone who wants to explore and be amazed by the true legend status of Zeppelin.
Stars:****
Initials: S.Y.
Title:Legend
Author:Bob Marley and the Wailers
This is a collection of the best bob marley songs to ever hit the stores. The best song is I Shot the Sheriff but there are many other good ones also. Anyone will like these and they are great hits for all ages. These are old but famous "Legend"s
Rating:*****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Album: Legend
Artist: Bob Marley and the Wailers
This album was truly great. It greatly exposed me to new styles of reggae music, as well as opening to me new doors of musicmaking with my drumset. The songs are perfect for relaxation times, and are quite vivacious if listening to them quietly while reading a magazine. My favorite songs are "Buffalo Soldier" and "Get Up, Stand Up" because their groove appeals to me and my ears very much. I'd recommend this album to someone who wants to listen to a new kind of music instead of the standard pop genre, which is growing lame.
Stars:*****
Initials: S.Y.
Title:Down Home on Dog Hill
Author:Boozoo Chavis
These are a collection of cajun songs sung by Chavis that will make anyone smile. These are great Cajun songs performed by Boozoo on the accordian. Everyone will like these songs from Tell me what you Want to the Twist. I recommend this for anyone in need of cheering up.
Rating:*****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Album: Dark Side of the Moon
Artist: Pink Floyd
At first, I did not like Pink Floyd because I wasn't used to their space-rock kind of rock music. However, I opened up to their style, and soon I began to love and admire their songs. "Dark Side of the Moon" is definitely one of my favorite albums because it showcases some of Pink Floyd's best songs that they ever produced. Some songs, such as "Money", "Time", and "The Great Gig in the Sky" are truly maestros in the rock category, not only because they stand out as sounding very different, but also because of the great integrity in which the band plays the songs. This album introduced to me the legendary Pink Floyd, and also reminded me to give everything a chance before I make my opinion on it.
Stars:*****
Initials: S.Y.
Title:It's a Sunshine Day
Author:Brady Bunch
These are the classic songs from the Brady Bunch show featuring the theme song and American Pie both great hits from the TV show. Everyone who likes the Brady Bunch will love these songs. I hope you will like them but they are a little childish but that is the fun of it.
Rating:***
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Title:Born To Run
Author:Bruc Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen is one of the best rock and rollers of all time and everyone will love this Album. The "Boss" plays Born to Run and Tenth Avenue Freezeout on this album. Those are two of the three songs he played at the superbowl last year and who wouldn't like to hear them again? Everyone will love this album and i know i do.
Rating:*****
Posted By: Jeremiah M.
Album:War
Artist: U2
This album is by far the best one ever produced by U2. Set in the zenith of the band's prosperity in the 1980's, this song features classics such as "Sunday Blood Sunday", written in memory of the 14 innocent bystanders who were killed by British troops on a Sunday morning in 1972. Starting with a unique drum beat that is unpredictable, the song gradually develops until it reaches its pounding climax. Everyone will surely love this album because it is filled with subtle yet great-sounding rock songs. Amen, brother.
Stars:*****
Initials: S.Y.
Album: Taylor Hicks
Artist: Taylor Hicks
I listened to this album once, and will probably not listen to it again. It's not that the songs are horrible, I just don't like the artist himself because his singing style is very different and conflicting with my own. There are no popular songs on the album, and the drum beats are too simple for a guy like me. I wouldn't recommend this album to anyone because you'd waste your time listening to it; reading the "Iliad" is even better than this. I enjoyed seeing Hicks win on American Idol because he is from Birmingham, but after that, his career went rock-bottom. So long, Soul Patrol.
Stars:*
Initials:S.Y.
Album: Sound of Summer Running
Artist:Marc Johnson
In modern society, jazz is very undermined and extremely underappreciated by the general public. I, on the contrary, am a very big supporter of jazz, and after listening to this album, I felt like it had breathed new life into me. This album features legendary jazz drummer Joey Baron, along with Marc Johnson himself and another prolific bass guitar guy; they are the dream trio in the world of jazz, and most of the songs on this album are soothing to the body and great to lsiten to. I'd recommend this album to someone who has an interest to start appreciating jazz,and also for hearing very complex and awesome-sounding drum solos.
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Album: The Police (Disc 1)
Artist: The Police
The Police is a band that rose to prominency during the 1980's, and remain a celebrated band to this very band. In this specific album, there are sweet-sounding songs such as "Walking on the Moon" and the famous "Message in a Bottle", a catalyst in combining a difficult guitar beat with an equally complex drum rhythm. I love this band because their style allows drummers to free-style in the songs, which sound great and are absolutely legendary. Everybody may not like this album at first, but once you really start listening to the songs' essential core beat, you'll be blown away.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:The Police(Disc 2)
Artist:The Police
Yeah, The Police weren't very creative when making the titles of their first 2 albums, but so what? The songs are still energetic, and really fire up the soul. A Journey-like song, "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", is still commonly heard on the radio and has a great piano solo at the beginning. I must say, The Police are unlike any other band I've heard, except maybe for Led Zeppelin; they are daring, creative, complex, and best of all, magnificent! I'd wish everyone owned this album, for it will become a lot of people's favorites.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Album: Football
Artist:Football Lover
To be frank, I don't know what the true name of the artist is, but that is but of a small matter right now. This album is, essentially, filled with inpsiring songs directly related to football. There's the well-known Monday Night Football theme song, the Sea Chanty, and another whose name I don't know but still sounds like an American classic. This album is hard to find, but once you hear it, you're sure to want to listen to it over and over again!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Album: Auburn University Marching Band 2007-2008
Artist: Auburn University Marching Band
Although I am an Alabama and UAB fan, I got this CD for free while at District Honor band. I was imperssed with the overall sound of the band, but the drumline was quite off; since this was a college band, I had expected to hear some complex beats in weird time signatures, but most of their beats were in common time. The MBHS drumline is a whole lot better than this, and that drumline is composed of high schoolers! Some songs were abruptly short, such as "Crazy Train", which lasted for only 18 seconds. I would recommend this album to someone who wants to hear the sound of the marching band during the off-season.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Album:All That You Can't Leave Behind
Artist:U2
Huh, what I can leave behind and not care about it is this album. Ever since U2 emerged into the new millenium, they haven't sounded as great as they did during the late 20th Century. I feel that the band thinks they're good because of their past, but other than that, they're no match for today's rock bands, such as Green Day and Metallica. "Beautiful Day" was the only song that sounded average in this album. I loathe this album, and will never listen to it again.
Stars:**
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Rattle and Hum
Artist:U2
This album is basically a live version of "All That You Can't Leave Behind", other than the band playing "The Star-Splangled Banner", which was horrible and is tarnished forever thanks to U2. I didn't like this album at all because the guitar beats were clearly sounding like an amateur's, and not a professional's.
Stars:none
Initials:S.Y.
Book:A Separate Peace
Author: John Grisham
I read this book because I was curious why everybody who was forced to read it detested it. I, on the other hand, liked it very much.
The book is about 2 friends, Gene and Phineas, who are in Devon boarding school in the midst of WWII. One day, Phineas falls off of a tree and breaks his leg, with his buddy standing right next to him before he fell. The plot later develops into something as deep and horrifying asevil itself.
I liked this book because a simple accident stirred something that was a lot bigger than what it seemed like. I liked Phineas because he can get away with anything by coaxing the person who is angry at him. Everyone should read this during their spare time because it is very well-written.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Rumors by: Anna Godbersen
Rumors was not as good as The Luxe, but most sequels don't live up to expectations, in my opinion, so it wasn't that bad. Many of the scenes were predictable, while others were just random or out of place. Rumors was also very slow, where it should've been fast paced with all the different and exciting characters. I did like the ending though, I had let my guard down and was caught by surprise. I also liked the detail she put into describing New York, it gave me a better picture and idea of how things worked.
I give this book three stars for the slow action but great detail.
EM
Fearless by: Taylor Swift
You know you have a great album when most of the songs from the album have been ranked in the top 100 on itunes. Taylor Swift is an amazing singer, her voice is outstanding. I love her songs because many can be related to life and love. This album is probably the most talked about between my friends and I. My favorite song of the album is Fearless.
I give this album four stars, I love it.
EM
The Fame by: Lady GaGa
The Fame is a fun, upbeat album. Many of the songs relate to the lives of well-know, famous people. Hint:The Fame(the fame of people). The album has similar beats throughout songs but is very unique. I will defiantly be listening to this album a few times.
I give this album four stars, it was fun to listen to.
EM
A Walk To Remember by: Nicholas Sparks
This book was inspirational and demonstrated what love really is. It showed what the power of love can accomplish and can bring change to people who need it the most. My favorite character was Landon, although a bad boy at first I loved seeing how Jamie changed him to a sweet and kind young man. I could relate to him sometimes when he couldn't understand all of what Jamie said. This book was a very deep and heart-warming story, with a twist for the worst in the end. I definitely will read this book again later in my life. I recommend it to every teenage girl.
I give this book five stars because of a great plot and touching moments.
EM
Album:Baby Love: Classic Love Songs of the 50's and 60's
Artist: Various Artists
This album, obviously, contains many oldies. A few are in my musical taste bud, such as "Mr. Sandman" and "Blueberry Hill", both which are considered classics. The others, though, were definitely too old-sounding. It's not that they sounded bad, they were just too short and too simple, to say the least. I don't think you can get this album on iTunes, but the songs listed above should be given a chance. By you, of course.
Stars:**
Initials:S.Y.
Album: The Best of 1980-1990
Artist:U2
If the United States had not sent U2 spy planes into the Soviet Union, would this band have existed? I really don't know...
This album had most of my favorite U2 songs, such as "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and "New Year's Day". The others, however, were a complete mystery to me, as I have no idea how they're considered some of the best U2 produced during the 80's. Some, such as "Where the Streets Have No Name", sound lame because it is very quiet in the majority of the song. Get this album if you're interested in U2, but only some songs will actually sonund good to your ears.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Album: Journey:Greatest Hits
Artist:Journey
Finally, I can write a review on an album that I won't criticize! This album is a must-have for everybody, no matter what genre you like. The famous band known as Journey soared through the later
20th Century, their most distinct trait with starting most of their songs with a melodic piano solo, later accompanied by a heartful guitar rhythm. My favorites are "Don't Stop Believin'", "Faithfully", "Open Arms", and "Who's Crying Now" because these songs stand out to me as being masterfully composed and produced with expertise of a true rock band. Everyone should get this album; it's totally worth it!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Promo Only Latin Pop April
Artist:Various Artists
Although all of these songs are in Spanish, and I can understand very few words in that language, all of these songs absolutely made no sense to me. However, their beats and melodies were better than I expected, some good enough that they should be pretty popular on iTunes or Youtube. A songs called "Contigo" is very homogenous to Journey's playing style, starting out with a piano solo and later developing until all of the instruments are together. My father gave this to me, and I don't think you can get it on iTunes. Désolé!
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Stadium Arcadium
Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Fully loaded to the brim, this album, featureing 24 songs by RHCP, is a very plausible one made by one of the most popular bands in the world today. Though a few may sound redneck-ish to some people, the overall songs are very good and very well-played. My favorite is "Snow(Hey Oh)" because it has one of the best guitar beats I've ever heard and the lyrics are semi-inspiring to me for some odd reason. I'd recommend only that song, "Dani California", and "Torture Me" from this album only; there's a lot more albums that feature much better songs from the RHCP.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Album: Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits
Artist:Red Hot Chili Peppers
I can assure you, people, that when RHCP officially disbands, they will surely produce another album containing more of the band's greatest hits. I loved this album very much because it features some of my favorite songs ever, such as "Under the Bridge", "Californication", and "Can't Stop", just to name a few of the many. I'd totally recommend this to anyone and everyone because RHCP is truly a wonderous miracle in this world today.
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Twilight by: Stephenie Meyer
Twilight is one of my favorite books of all. The unlikely romance of a vampire and human is something different that readers needed. It surprised me someone could write about this sort of topic. The plot was very intense and keep me reading. I loved the great detail of Edward, she described him as perfect in every way. The apple Edward holds out to her in the lunchroom is a symbol of forbidden love. This is a perfect example of their love. The whole book was just amazing.
I give this book five stars, no doubt it must have been the most cliff-hanging book I've read, but that component was perfect to keep me going.
EM
New Moon by: Stephinie Meyer
Wow! What a surprise! I never expected Edward would leave Bella but I guess it seemed like the right thing to do. Once Jacob came into play as a boyfriend to Bella I thought Edward was really gone. Jacob seemed liked what Bella needed to save herself. His was almost perfect but I knew a part of her couldn't let go of Edward. This book was just addicting as the first, but not a better plot.
I give this book four stars, it was a pretty good sequel.
EM
Attention by: Kristian Stanfill
Although this album consists of recent songs from their recent album Hello, Kristian Stanfill put together an outstanding album. They are my favorite Christian band and their music is so inspiring and full with songs rejoicing Christ. My favorite song from Attention is Kingdom. It is so truthful and full of passion. This is my favorite album I've ever listened too.
I give this album five stars, there isn't a song I dis-like in the whole album.
EM
Album:Happy Hippie Hits
Artist: Various Artists
Sure, you can gibe the name of the album all you want, maybe until you rest in peace. Just kidding on the last part:)
This album actually has some very good songs in it, my favorite being "Time of the Season" by the Zombies. It begins with a melow-like bass guitar solo at the beginning and the voice is fantastic. I like this album because, well, the songs are tuned to more optimism than pessimism. In today's world, most of the songs talk about malevolent stuff, such as drugs, sex, and violence. Well, guess what, goth people, this album will be the sunshine of your day (that your skin desperately needs)! I like this album, and I think that everyone should give it a try.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Album:The Essential Billy Joel
Artist:Billy Joel
Billy Joel is one of my favorite artists because his songs are filled with great-sounding beats, and combined with his legendary voice, they come out as being pruely classic. This specific album, in my opinion, contains most of Joel's greatest hits, my favorites being "Piano Man", "We Didn't Start the Fire", and "The Longest Time", just to name a few. I think that you should definitely check it out and get some of these songs; you're sure to love them!
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Buldings and Mountains (Single Version)
Artist:The Republic Tigers
I saw this saw one week as the song iTunes features for free for everybody. There's been a chronic pain that iTunes chooses unpolular and horrible songs for their free single of the week, but this one is an exception. I loved listening to this song because is starts off as sounding military-like (radar beat), but later extends to an awesome song.
This is one of the best songs I have ever heard; it has a hasty quitar solo in the middle, and unlike today's boy bands, The Republic Tigers have great potential. Everyone should listen to this single and get it because it's an awesome song!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Season 8 Favorite Performances by: Kris Allen
What a talented singer Kris Allen is. His voice is so peaceful and smooth. The songs in this album are already written songs but he takes them and transforms them into his own. For example, Heartless, was originally written fast and in a rap form, but Kris slowed it down and hit high notes where as Kanye West had gone low. I enjoyed Kris Allen's version more because of his way to change the song into seeming slower and calmer.
I give this album four stars, Kris Allen's voice was perfect and I hope to see more out of him.
EM
Album:American River
Artist:Jonathan Elias
Most people today have no idea how talented a true, great pianist can be. Jonathan Elias is one of my favorite pianists because his songs capture the essence of that specific piece and its theme, which is usually stated in the title. He leads the orchestra on his piano, and the results are astounding; great orchestral songs that are unique and will be enjoyed by everyone.
My favorite pieces is "Move" because when I close my eyes, I really feel that I am in the American wilderness, a dramatic consequence of listening to the soul-quenching piece. This album is spectacular for listening while you want to calm yourself, for doing homework, or for reading. This is truly an extemely exemplary, exemplary, album. Enjoy!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:The Show(Single)
Artist:Lenka
Also featured one week as iTunes's free Single of the Week, Lenka, I believe, is an up-and-coming Australian singer who will most likely rise to prominence in the music industry one day. The song begins as a simple, 3-note rhythm, and the auxillary percussion instruments that fuel the momentum of the song is very harmonic. The singer's voice is also very good, and since it's got a bit of Australian accent in it, that makes it even more entertaining for me. I liked this song, and it's not feminish or too masculine. Try it!
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Blue Bloods by: Melissa de Cruz
Another teen vampire book has become a new hit. Blue Bloods takes you into high society of Manhattan, New York. This book was a sometimes confusing but always with a catch. This book was interesting in that many people told the story not just one person. It possessed drama between different "posies" which is very similar to life during junior high and high school.
I give this book three stars.
EM
Album:Greatest Hits
Artist:Queen
Forever classic Queen, with their unforgettable song, "We Will Rock You" that still stands as an American icon today, blasts the music industry with this album. It features my favorites, "Another One Bites the Dust", and, of course, the unforgettable song.
This is kind of interesting; I was listening to "We Will Rock You", and I noticed that the famous rhythm is simply a Major
5th of the E-flat major scale, which at the end concludes with one f-major and then 2 g-major notes. In my opinion, it's actually simple to an experienced musician, but Leonardo DaVinci once said that simplicitiy is the most noble of all complexities. I guess that it's true!
This album was great, and I recommend everyone to give it a shot. I promise you that you'll enjoy it!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
I must say, Elizabeth, you're very fast at posting blogs. You and Jeremiah are the only ones that are my major opponents right now. I wish you the best of luck, and may the best reader win!
:)Stephen Y.
Masquerade by: Melissa de la Cruz
More drama, a trip to Italy, and committee secrets. Masquerade was even better than the first with the main character showing herself more and more each chapter, you feel as though you are living as Schuyler. With bigger conflicts and secrets you become interested in how it will all map out.
I give this book four stars for beating its prequel and going beyond its expectations.
EM
Haha thanks Steven! I just really need a laptop and it's interesting to see what you think about some of these albums, but I don't agree with what you said about the album Stadium Arcadium, I would have given it a higher rank. (they are an awesome band!!!)
True, RHCP is one of favorties too, but Stadium Arcadium doesn't have the juice that the band had when they made "Under the Bridge" and "Otherside". They'll probably be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame one day.
尹梓杰
Defying Gravity by: Keith Urban
Defying Gravity is a great example for country music. It has songs written about love, summer, and everything that comes with it. Keith Urban is a great guitar player and an amazing singer. The song that represents that the most is Kiss a Girl. Although Kiss a Girl is a great song my favorite is Sweet Thing.
I give this album four stars, it was entertaining to listen to.
EM
Ya, true, so I guess I give them four stars on that album after all because Snow and Dani California were great if only under the bridge had been in that album as well...
Californication by:RED HOT CHILI PEPERS
Of course, a great album, but some of their songs in this album weren't as good as others. The guitar was always in sync and perfectly timed in the music. My favorite songs in this album are Scar Tissue and Californication. Over all it was a great album and defiantly one played many time on my iPod.
I give this album three and a half stars.
EM
Violet on the Runway by: Melissa Walker
If you have ever wanted to become a model this is the book from you. You get to see a high school girl swept up into the fashion world and the dramatic change in her life. I loved reading this book because it was so realistic. Although I've never modeled I feel like I've been through the experience. Snobby girls, demanding agents and boys in clubs, swamped Violet's life and controlled everything. I wasn't surprised by Violet's choice in the end, but I couldn't tell if she would stay true to it. It was a fast and easy read. I enjoyed the book.
I give this book four stars.
EM
Violet by Design by: Melissa Walker
This book was just as good as the first but with more drama and fashion. Violet goes to Brazil and Europe to walk the runways but gets caught up with guys and body size along the way. This booked showed the obsession over size in models which I did not like until Violet spoke out saying a healthy look is best. This book had they same realism as the first in that Violet posts MySpace blogs. I would say about most teenagers have a Facebook or MySpace, and this is how they communicate to everyone, like Violet on MySpace.
I give this book four stars for realism and more fashion.
EM
Life As We Knew It by: Susan Beth Pfeffer
This book was a little strange to read but it was not bad. When astroids hit the moon causing it to move closer to the earth things are still normal but time passes and volcanic eruptions and tsunamis are accruing everyday and the world freezes. You get to see Miranda try to live a permanent winter and people dying everyday. It was strange at first and then I tried to imagine my life similar to hers and I understood the book more. It was defiantly cool to read about something as strange as this but I did get one of my friends to read it and she enjoyed it as well.
I give this book four stars for an interesting plot and something new and different to read.
EM
Eclipse by: Stephenie Meyer
This book was a great addition to the Twilight series. It involved even more competition between Edward and Jacob for the battle of Bella's heart. Although Edward proposes to her, Bella still believe she loves Jacob, but knows her love for Edward is greater. Edward promises to turn Bella into a vampire as long as she marries him. It was also exciting to read about the battles between Victoria and her army vs. the Cullens and werewolves. This book was much better than New Moon in that the characters make adult decisions instead of moping and whining. Watching the characters transfer into adulthood helped me understand decisions made by characters and convinced me Bella made the right choice.
I give this book four stars.
EM
Title: Paul Blart: Mall Cop
This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Some parts at the begining were not family friendly but most of it was absolutely hilarious. Blart is trying to stop the robbers and comes up with some funny plans to eliminate them. Everyone will love Blart and his Segway. I would recommend this movie to anyone. This comedy is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Stephen do reviews on all those albums you have and leave my albums to me i gave them to you and plus you already have a computer in your room, we have two in our house.
The J. Miester
Title:Complete Greatest Hits
Artist:The Cars
This is my mom's favorite album and it has hits like "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Good Times Roll", the latter being one of my favorite songs. This album will be a great hit for anyone who enjoys classic rock. I love this and I know you will too.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:Clannad on Concert
Artist:Clannad
This is an Irish album featuring songs like "Bhean a ti" and Faeries Hornpipe off to California". Anyone who likes Irish music will like this music featuring traditional Irish instruments like the bodhran a type of drum my dad has from his parents. You will like this music if you enjoy lots of orchestral type music.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:Fuaim
Artist:Clannad
This is my favorite Clannad Album becauese of the variety of the songs in here. Some are in english like "Lish Young Buy-a-Broom" but others are in the traditional Gaelic tounge like "Na Buachailli A'lainn". Everyone who enjoys lively music that focuses on the orchestral quality of the instruments will enjoy this album of Irish music.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:LeftRightLeftRightLeft
Artist:Coldplay
This is my only complete coldplay album because it is free on their website as a tribute to the fans who made them who they are today. All these song are live which I don't really like but maybe others will like it. This album has songs like "Death and all His Friends" and "Clocks". I Enjoy this album and would recommend it to anyone else who likes Coldplay
Rating:****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Jeremiah I only have 1 computer in my house! And with four other people to share it with it's horrible!
EM
Title:Everybody else is doing it so why can't we?
Artist:Cranberries
This is one of my least favorite albums but some people might like the Cranberries. All the song names are really short like "How" and "Linger" but the songs themselves aren't that bad. This is probably the best Cranberrie's album but I don't like it very much. Maybe others will.
Rating:**
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:Before the Storm
Artist:Darude
THis is another of my least favorite albums because there are so few songs on it. There are four versions of "Sandstorm" on here and three of "Out of Control". I Just thought this album wasn't very good. I got it at the library so it didn't cost me anything but i don't know if irt was worth it.
Rating:*
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Elizabeth. I have to share mine with six other people.
Jeremiah
Title:Machine Head
Artist:Deep Purple
Another classic hit, Machine Head features the best song ever, "Smoke On the Water". There are only seven songs on this album but most are really good. Another good song is "Space truckin'" Everyone will love this album and i know that i do. This is classic rock at its best. Everyone will love it.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
okay so that is 3.5 on a computer where ours is 5 on a computer! That's pretty rough!
EM
Title:The Count of Monte Cristo Tr. by Lowell Blair
Author:Alexandre Dumas
This is one of my favorite books even though the middle is slow and the plot confusing to most.(Sort of a bad way to start a good review) The plot was complex and you had to understand that everything the Count did was to hurt his enemies even when it seemed like he was helping them. He had a really complex way of killing the people and it wasn't what i would have thought of but he succeeded in his revenge. The middle was boring but i stuck with it and the book got a lot better at the end. It even has a happy ending.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Elizabeth we have two computers, only one works the other can't use the internat and we just unplugged it.
Jeremiah
Title:Star Wars Young Jedi Knights: Lightsabers
Author:Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta
This is a book about what happens to the Republic after the sixth movie. Luke Skywalker starts a Jedi Academy to fight the Second Imperium headed by supposedly Emperor Palpatine even though he is dead. The trainees are learning to make their own lightsabers and
different problems arise. It isn't my favorite book but you can read it when you are bored.
Rating:****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:The Lightening Thief
Artist:Rick Riordan
This is a pretty good book and the start of a good series. Personally I think this is the best one but a new one comes out soon so maybe it will be good. Percy Jackson goes on this long quest to find Zeus's lightening bolt and then finds out that someone else took it and all this other stuff. You have to read it to find out and everyone will enjoy this cliffhanger and read the rest of the series
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:The Very Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractioins
Artist:Elvis Costello and the Attractions
This is a pretty good album even though it is a little old for my tastes. Two good songs are "Accidents will Happen" and "Indoor Fireworks". These songs are a little slow but whatever floats your boat. I think that anyone who enjoys older music will like this album.
Rating:****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:Maverick
Artist:George Thorogood and the Deleware Destroyers
This is one of my favorite Destroyers albums and it has hits like "I drink alone" and "Gear Jammer". Everyone that loves George Thorogood will love another great album by him. This is the stuff that makes the world go 'round. Everyone should get this.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:Working Man's Dead
Artist:Grateful Dead
I have to say, I had heard a lot about Grateful Dead but if this is any gauge of what they are like i would fall asleep at the concert. All the songs are slow and soft but it drove me crazy listening to it. My dad likes "Cumberland Blues" but even that is slow. This is an album for people who like slow songs.
Rating:*
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Movie: First Sunday
When I saw this, it was easily the funniest movie I have ever seen. This movie is about two guys who have to do 40,000 hours of community service for the city of Balitmore unless they can pay their fine, around $10,000 bucks. There's this nearby church that is raising this much amount for their own sakes, and the 2 dudes try to steal it.
This movie was extremely hilarious because Ice Cube does some pretty wacky actions. His sidekick, who didn't want to steal all that green stuff, once said him, "Man, God gonna kick yo as*!" I almost peed in my pants when he said that, it was too funny to be true!
Stars:******
Initials:S.Y.
Movie:Terminator:Salvation
This Terminator film is about a new kind of terminator prototype that actually looks like a human on the surface; his name is Marcus Wright, and though he thinks he is human, he later discovers that he's actually a knew kind of machine created by Skynet. The main character, John Connor, has a conflict with him, but eventually gets help from Marcus.
There was too much gunfighting in this film. I mean, I know that these terminator films are supposed to be filled to the brim with brawls beween man and macine, but this movie had the most skirmishes I have ever seen. The plot was too simple, and they should've used more profanity to make the movie more interesting.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Movie:Angels&Demons
I saw this movie just this Saturday, and I think that I would like the book a lot better.
This movie is about Professor Robert Langdon going to the Vatican and Rome and tries to find the trail to the Church of the Illuminati, a secrret organization made up of non-God believers in the 17th Century. The person who threatens has antimatter, and also has the 4 Preferrati, the 4 Vaticans who are candidates to succeed the deceased pope.
I thought that the plot was extremely complicated and twisted, but that was the highest point of the story. The reviews that I read of it gibed it for leaving out major parts of the story that was in the book. Overall, however, I liked the movie because I actually learned a few facts of the Catholic Church's dark history.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Movie:Fast and Furious 4
This movie is about a guy who streetraces for money, and goes out to find the killers, Mexican drug smugglers, that slaughtered his girlfridend. There's also this FBI guy who previously had a friendship with the protagonist, and they seemingly team up, with conflicts, of course.
There were some REALLY hot girls in this film, esp. when the movie showed the parties before and after the main race. The plot was pretty simple, but I thought that the action was absolutely fantastic.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Movie: The Simpsons Movie
This movie is about the Simpson family being chased by cops everywhere because they made Springfield go under the giant glass dome.
The plot was very creative and kind of twisted, and it was very awkward how Homer and Marge kissed at the end of the movie while riding a motorcycle. I loved this movie because I like the show itself, and I hope that they'll make more Simpson, or even Family Guy movies!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Movie:Transformers
Transformers, as everyone might know, hopefully, that is, is about a young teenager named Sam who discovers that his granddaddy discovered a frozen Megatron, and that he holds the key to Earth's future.
I gotta say, Megan Fox is SO hot in this film; she's also a great actor, and so is the Shea LeBouf, who plays the Sam. The machines, of course, were computer-generated, and I though it was superb of the actors to act like they were really there; now that takes some skill! There were also twisted facts in this film, such as saying that the Hoover Dam was built to hide Megatron from the public, instead of generating hydroelectricity for the towns of Colorado. Great movie with good actors, good actions and plot of events.
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Title: appetite for destruction
Artist: Guns and Roses
This is one of my favorite albums because it has "Welcome to the Jungle". Another song is "Sweet Cild o' Mine. The music is a little loud but it is good, clean music. Everybody will enjoy this music. I love this album and know everyone else will also.
Rating:*****
posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title of movie: The Blues Brothers
After Jake gets out of jail and is picked up to the amusment of his jailers in his brothers cop car. They head to the place where they grew up with a nun teaching them and find out the building will be destroyed if the nun doesn't come up with 5000 dollars in a week. She charges Jake and Elwood with a task from God, raising the money. They resurrect their band, The Blues Brothers, and try to get the money. They end up in trouble with the law and get chased across the state trying to pay the 5000 dollars they made and pay off the debt. This movie is hilarious but it is rated R and has a lot of cusses.
Rating:*****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title: angels and demons
PG-13
This was a really long movie. I saw it with a friend and a hour and a half into it we thought the movie was almost over. It continued for another hour revealling this whole conspiracy about the first half. The movie was good, kind of like National Treasure but not as many clues. The main character, Professor Langdon, is tracking down a mysterious group of murderers called the Illuminati. These people captured the four cardinals of which one will become the new pope. The Illuminati killer murders them on the hour in different churches leading to the church of the Illumination where a quantity of antimatter capable of destroying the Vatican is hidden. They must race against time to save the cardinals and the country. I really liked this movie.
Rating: *****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:20 of Hank Williams Greatest Hits
Artist:Hank Williams
This album features classic hits from the great Hank Williams. With songs like "Honky Tonk Blues" and "Hey Good Lookin'". The songs are kind of swlow and they take a while to get good but have patience and you will be rewarded. These are classics everyone will like and I listened to them as a child and am sure everyone else will like them as well.
Rating:****
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:Cracked Rear View
Artist:Hootie and the Blowfish
This is an okay album but I don't really like it that much. Featuring "Hannah Jane" and "Running from an Angel" this album has lots of good songs. The music is lively but I don't like it. This is pop music so maybe some people will enjoy this album by the Blowfish. I hope others enjoy this album.
Rating:**
Posted by: Jeremiah M.
Title:Come Dancing With the Kinks
Artist:The Kinks
This is one of my favorite albums with songs like "A Gallon of Gas" and "I Wish I Could Fly Like Superman". These are classic rock and the songs are3 quite funny if you listen to the lyrics. The Kinks are an older band but they still hve great music that everyone will enjoy. My favorite is "Catch Me Now I'm Falling". It is a long song about how America helped everyone else but they won't help America. Everyone will love this album
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Title:Songs You know by Heart
Artist:Jimmy Buffet
Thuis is an essential Jimmy Buffet album with songs like "Boat Drinks" and my personal favorite "Cheeseburger in Paradise". Everyone knows these songs by heart and will laugh at hearing them again. My whole family loves these songs and i am sure you will to.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Title:I'm The Man
Artist:Joe Jackson
This is a hilarious album with my dad's favorite song, "I'm the Man", about a door to door salesman who says he can sell you anything from a thin safety pin to a pork pie hat. The whole song is him trying to get someone to buy his stuff. Another song is "Get that Girl", about Joe Jackson wanting to dance with another person's girlfriend. There are really funny songs on this CD and everyone will love them.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Title:Night and Day
Artist:Joe Jackson
This isn't as good of an album as I'm the Man but it is still funny. There are hits like "Chinatown" and "TV Age" these songs are mediocre though, nothing like I'm the man. If you like Joe Jackson you will like this but it isn't his best work.
Rating:***
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Title:Original best of Johnny Cash Disc 2
Artist:Johnny Cash
This was my favorite album when i was young. With hits like "The Orange Blossom Special" and "Walk the Line" this is an exceptional album. My favorites are "Ring of Fire" and "Sunday Morning Coming Down". Everyone will love these classic Johnny Cash songs.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Title:UK Jive
Artist:The Kinks
This is an okay Kinks album but not as good as Come Dancing. My favorite song here is "The War is Over" which is about what it says. It talks about the aftermath of war. I liked this song but the album isn't that good. The Kinks are awesome though and everybody will enjoy them.
Rating:****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Borne Identity
This movie was action packed and full of explosions and shooting. Although it didn't have a really detailed plot it was a good movie. Jason Bourne is found unconscious in the ocean by fisherman who help him bak to his normal self. When he is healed he can't remember anything from his past but has flash backs that help him discover part of his life. He finds a code written on his hip (bank account number), goes to the bank and opens his account only to find guns, money, and passports, that's when the chase begins. As soon as he leaves the bank he is being tracked. He then hops countries to try to escape the men after him. This is a movie similar to James Bond and other spy movies.
I give this movie four stars.
EM
Bourne Supremacy
This was the sequel to Bourne Identity and definitely proved itself worthy to watch. Jason and his girlfriend, Marie, have permanently moved to a quiet coast and think they have left Jason's past behind. But when an assassin shows up to kill Jason a car chase occurs killing Marie and making public believe they both died when their car swerved of a bridge into a river. This allows Jason to figure out his next move while the government is on rest. As soon as he leaves he is seen and the government is after him once again. Matt Damon couldn't have done a better acting job. This movie was just as good if not better than the first.
I give this movie four stars.
EM
Book:Rebecca
Author: Daphne Du Maurier
"Rebecca" is about a young girl, about 21 years old, that is a servant for a rich, old American lady that is currently vacationing in Monte Carlo in southern France. It turns out that this lady loves talking to famous people, and since the hotel is filled to the brim with these, she grabs their attention for a few minutes and talks nonsense to them. One day, as she's doing this to a middle-aged man, the young girl falls in love with him, and marries him. He owns a huge estate in Manderley in southern England, but the girl is haunted by memories of his deceased wife, Rebecca.
This book had a very twisted plot. I would say that it's the best romance novel I've ever read, but I read it because I was interested in why it's such a masterpiece, as said by the "Houston Post". When I showed this book to some of my friends, they mocked me for reading a romance novel that looked feminish, but I said that you should give every book a chance.
Overall, the novel is excellently written, but this book, frankly, would suit girls a lot better than boys.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
jEREMIAH, YOUR REVIEWS ARE REALLY PIYIFUL, GIVE MORE EFFORT. NOT BEING MEAN HERE, BUDDY.
Bourne Ultimatum
This was the best of all the Bourne movies. It consisted of even more explosions, more intense car chases, and a whole lot of shooting. Although many complain about the shaky camera, I think it just adds to the intensity of the scenes. Although I won't give away the ending, I was a little confused at the end but after thinking about I understood it. I didn't want this series to end. It was so fun and exciting to watch it always had me at the end of my seat. Matt Damon and his crew were lights-out the best I have ever seen them. These movies were perfect and I will definitely be watching these over again.
I give this movie five stars.
EM
The Shack by: William P. Young
The Shack is a book about always finding and accepting Jesus even in the worst of situations. It also helps you understand the complex belief of the Trinity . Four years before this story begins Mack's daughter, Missy, is abducted on a vacation. Four years later her body isn't found but there is obvious evidence she has been murdered. When he checks the mail he finds a letter from God, it is an invitation to join God for a weekend at Missy's death spot. He ends up spending the weekend with God, Jesus, and the holy spirit (the Trinity). He learns that God is always doing what is right for him. There is a surprise in the end of his weekend with Jesus that almost made me cry it was so perfect, and I hope to have a similar experience when my time comes. This was one of the best christian books I have read, and advise all Christians to read it for better knowledge of the Trinity.
I give this book five stars.
EM
The Dark Knight
The Dark Night is one of my favorite movies. Consisting of drama, action, romance, and crime this movie has it ALL. Although the Joker was a little creepy (probably b/c I'm a girl), Heath Ledger did a phenomenal job playing probably the toughest role in the movie. Christian Bale was also flawless playing a role with a ton of stunts. The cast selection couldn't have been better. I loved the ending as well, it was such a batman scene. I loved this movie so much i bought it on DVD, which I never do so it must be good!
I give this movie five stars.
EM
Twilight (the movie)
Twilight the book was perfect, so how did they make a movie just as good? This movie couldn't have been better with the great cast and well played soundtrack. Being a Twilight vampire meant perfection and flawlessness, I believe the actors did a great job and came very close, but after all, they are humans. My favorite scene in the movie was the prom, when Edward and Bella are dancing under a romantic canopy of lights. Although they were supposed to be on a bench, I loved they way they filmed it and the reworded dialogue made t all the better.
I give this movie four and a half stars.
EM
Step Up
This was defiantly the dance movie of the year. Hip-hop and ballet in one movie is hard to put together but it was easily done with this plot. When street dancer Tyler Gage tries to help Nora with her dance performance while her boyfriend, Andrew, can't dance, they automatically have feelings for each other. Tyler agrees to do Nora's performance to help get her a scholarship, Andrew gets better and wants to do the dance with Nora. Tyler decides just to forget it all. The ending is AMAZING and perfect. This moving had a great cast, I mean Channing Tatum was indescribably perfect for the part and a great hip-hop dancer.
I give this movie four stars.
EM
Step Up 2
This movie killed its prequel!!! This is the best dance movie I have ever seen and the actors/dancers were outstanding! The choreography was amazing and since the two main characters really are dating, the romance in Step Up 2 looks really real. My favorite scene was the last. It was the final competition and it was raining, I won't tell you who wins, but I will tell you it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. The songs were also just as great. The best part of the movie had to be Robert Hoffmn. He swept the audience away with his good looks and skilled dancing.
I give this movie five stars, it is probably one of the top five movies I've seen.
EM
Stephen i know that was YOU!!!!!!!
;)
Title:Treasure Island
Author:Robert Louis Stevenson
This is a great book and i really enjoyed it. I think that everyone will like the adventure. I tried to guess what came next and was suprised at what actually happened. The story starts off with this pirate coming to the inn where Jim Hawkins works. The pirate is then killed by his buddies who were looking for a treasure map that he had. Jim gets away with the map and he and a doctor get together and find a ship to take them to the island where the treasure is, aptly named Treasure Island. They then find out that the crew are pirates who then take over the ship. The loyal crew of seven escapes but one is killed and Jim runs off. The rest of the story is about how they keep the treasure from the pirates and get home. Everyone will like this story.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Title:Led Zepplin I
Artist: Led Zepplin
This is one of my favorite albums. It has songs like "Black Mountain side" and "Communication Breakdown" by Jimmy Page. This is a great band that everyone will love and Jimmy Page played at the Olympics last year. I like this album a lot even though "Black Mountain Side" has no lyrics. I recommed this to everyone.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Book: Lost Horizon
Author: James Hilton
The term "Shangri-La", meaning a paradise on earth, was first put to use in "Lost Horizon".
This book is about a small crew who are flying over the mountains of Nepal when their plane crashes. They are later escorted into a mysterious lamasery hidden deep in the mountain range, and it is here that they discover the paradise on earth. They explore and discover many astonishing things about this monastery, a few that I was completely caught off-guard by!
I had to read this as a class novel, and I abhored it because I had to annotate the entire book, which is an abomination to me. If I did not have to take notes in it, I would've liked it a lot better. The language is much mroe urbane than today's, and the plot is not complex but filled with startling findings. It's not a long book, but the events go by very slowly.
The main theme of this book is that you have lost your horizon, and that you must find it; this is what the main characters are doing. I wouldn't recommend this book to the majority of the general public, but only to those who are willing to stand a month's worth of monotony.
Star:**
Initials:S.Y.
Book: Queen Eleanor: Independent Spirit of the Medieval World
Author: Polly Schoyer Brooks
This is a shortened biography of ueen Eleanor, written in a fashion so that the whole of society can understand it. I actually liked reading it because I learned a ton of stuff about the Queen and the reigns of her children and grandchildren. It wasn't boring most of the time, and also was littered with interesting facts about Europe around the 1000's.
I would recommend everyone to read this book. It's not long, it's fun to read and educational at the same time, so it's like killing 2 birds with 1 stone, pretty much.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Title: Sahara
Author: Clive Cussler
this is the only Dirk Pitt book with a movie on it but it isnt the best.While searching for a Confederate ironclad in the Niger they come upon a startling revelation, the Niger is being polluted and will pollute the ocean if Dirk doesn't stop the problem fast. Racing all over the Sahara Pitt and his pal, Al Giordino, try to locate the entry point of the toxin polluting the Niger. They find the source and try to evade a millionare general bent on killing them before they expose it. Dirk Pitt manages to come out on top and get another classic car in the end. This is a great book everyone will love.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
13 going on 30
Jenna rink was having the worst birthday party trying to get into the "in" crowd. Her only friend was chubby and getting her no where. When she finds out the "in" crowd ditched her in the closet she becomes upset and wishes she was 30 as magic dust from Matt's dollhouse falls on her. The next morning she wakes up in apartment and the rest of the day she finds out who she is, a a famous fashion magazine editor living with New York's hottest hockey player. As her life goes on she runs into Matt, who she hasn't seen since her 13th birthday. She realizes they weren't friends after the party and she was part of the "in" crowd. Jenna got to understand that life isn't about being popular its about being yourself. This was an okay movie, Jennifer Garner was amazing though. She did a great job playing the role of a confused and lost 13-year old girl.
I give this movie four stars.
Title:Watership Down
Author:Richard Adams
This is one of the most confusing books I have ever read. We read this in class this year because it was supposed to be a microcosm of today's life. I could find nothing to compare the bunnies in this story to us aprt from they talked, walked, and argued. This book was incredibly boring and I couldn't stand it, maybe others will though. It is about these bunnies that go off in search of a new home and the dangers they meet. This was one boring book.
Rating:*
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:The Dark is Rising
Author:Susan Cooper
This is a really good book about this boy who is the last of the "Old Ones" and the Dark, the story is Light versus Dark,has taken over the village he is in. Some of the Old Ones help him at times as he finds the signs that will defeat the dark, little crosses inside a circle made of varying materials. It is weird at times especially when they stop time and things like that. Overall this is a good book and part of a good series though.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Ender's Game
Author:Orson Scott Card
This was a realy good book with lots of thinking in it. The main character, Ender, was really smart even though he was young and rose through the ranks of a battle academy designed to fight aliens. This book is of his life in the bugger wars where they fight the aliens and he plays a key role. Everyone will like this book.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Ender's Shadow
Author:Orson Scott Card
This was a terrible book especially after the first one was so great. This is about a kid, Bean, who grows up in the slums and is taken to the battle academy for fighting aliens. He is put under the command of Ender Wiggin who is the smart kid from the first book. Bean is a lot smarter but small and full of himself. This book dragged on and on and wasn't worth the time it took to read it. Maybe others will like it though.
Rating:*
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Anne Frank Remembered
Author:Miep Gies and Allison Leslie Gold
This is the story of Anne Frank's life in the Attic of the workshop while hiding from the Nazis trying to arrest all the Jews. It is told from Miep Gies's view point nd is a good story. This is all true even though some of it seems to bad to be true. Everyone will like this book about a young girl in center of a war with enemies on every side.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Anne Frank Remembered, the movie
Tis is the movie of the popular book Anne Frank Remembered telling the life of Anne Frank hiding from Nazis in WWII. The movie is in good ol' black and white and the acting is funny. This movie shows what happens while Miep is away because it is more from the family's point of view. I liked this book even thought there were added detals like a bomb hitting the shop they were in. Everyone will like this book.
Rating:****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Queen Eleanor
Author:Polly Schoyer Brooks
This is the book about the life of Queen Eleanor sometimes called "Mother of Europe" because her children were on most thrones when they got older. She was an energetic woman but also a control freak. She wanted to do everything herself and rule for her children. She lived for a long time but was in prison for almost years. This is a good book and people will like it.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Lost Horizon
Author:James Hilton
This is a good book about these people who are kidnapped and taken to Shangri La, a mystical place hidden in the mountains of Tibet where people live really long. The book is interesting but not really exciting to me, plus i had to annotate it. The characters are in the monastery and are talking to the monks who are all old and one of the guys gets to meet the head lama who tells him stuff and they then try and leave with varying degrees of success. This book was good but not that engaging.
Rating:****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table
Author:Roger Lancelyn Green
This is just a collection of King Arthur stories, not nescessarily the best ones though. The first part is with Merlin and the beginning of King Arthur's rule. The second part is random quests and the last is the Quest for the Holy Grail. The stories aren't the most exciting ones but it is a good story and i enjoyed reading it. Everyone will enjoy classic stories that have been handed down for centuries.
Rating:****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:To Kill a Mockingbird
Author:Harper Lee
This is an old classic about a young girls life in the deep south. Her dad, Atticus, is a lawyer defending a black against a white in court. This is a difficult case and the girl, Scout, soon feels the pressure at school along with her brother. This book paints a vivid picture of life in the south for small towns. Everyone knows everyone else and they have to get together to survive the hard times. This is a classic everyone will enjoy.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Iliad tr by Robert Fagles
Author:Homer
This is the iliad but in poetic form it isn't that exciting. I would rather have a version without the phrases and all attached. The book itself was good detailing the Rage of Achilles. I liked it and would recommend it to everyone but I would pick a different translation when I read it because this was a tedious translation and i couldn't read it that well. Others may like the stanza format and if that is you you will love this book.
Rating:****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Brisingr
Author:Cristopher Paolini
This is the sequel to Eragon and is a good overall story. It was a long time coming and i didn't really like the end but this tells more about Eragon and Saphira,his dragon. I really liked that it took a few days to read even though it took like three years to come out. Everyone will like this good fantasy about saving the world from the clutches of the evil dude(I know, it sounds like the plot of allmost everyother book but it is good).
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Book:Watership Down
Author:Richard Adams
I had to read this for my English class, and the first time I read it, I took notes on every chapter, so I had about 16 pages of notes once I was done with it. the 2nd time I read it, though, I thought that it wasn't too bad.
"Watership Down" is about a band of rabbits who go searching for a new home after their old one is bulldozed for building luxury condominiums. They reach their destination, but also confront other obstacles.
I did not like this book, I abhor it, actually, because it is way too detailed and it's about rabbits. I know that the theme of the story is an allegory, man's inhumanity to man, but still, the plot was just so weird. The ending is too vague because you don't really know if one of the major characters has died or not, and it's freaky that the rabbits have a god. This book is only meant to be read for English, and not for the sake of one's pursuit of happiness.
Stars:**
Initials:S.Y.
Book: Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
Author:Edith Hamilton
This book basically tells all the major stories in Greek mythology. Even though I had to read this for my English class, I liked it because the tales were very entertaining and interesting, unlike many other books. Edith Hamilton does not express the myths by overusing words, but she writes in a fashion so that the reader has a feeling that she wrote it in an urbane manner. The details were very clear and precise, leaving nothing out of it. This book is superb for anyone having an interest in learning about Greek mythology.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Title:Eragon
Author:Cristopher Paulini
This is the first book of an amazing series that everyone will enjoy. Eragon is a boy who finds a dragon's egg which grows into a dragon. They get chased all around by lots of strange characters who want to kill him because he has the dragon. He meets another man who teaches him to fight and shows him about magic. Everyone will love this good book and its sequel Brisingr. I can't wait for the next book.
Rating: *****
posted by Jeremiah M.
Title:Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy
Author:Douglas Adams
This is one of the funniest serieses I have ever read. The main character gets rescued from his planet, which is about to be destroyed, by his friend who turns out to be an alien editor for The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy. They hitchhike their way onboard the Heart of Gold which is this ship designed to go anywhere in the universe only one problem being you don't know where it will end up. He meets Marvin, the melancholy robot who by the end of the series is three times as old as the galaxy, and they go on all these adventures. Everyone will love this series.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Bride Wars
This movie wasn't as good as I expected. Liv and Emma always dreamed about marrying at the Plaza since they were kids, when they both get engaged they go to the Plaza together to book their weddings. When the two best friends book their weddings at the same place and same time the girls go nuts over who will have it. Weather it dying the others hair blue, or messing up a tan to orange the girls would do anything for the other to call her wedding off. While all this is happening Fletcher and Emma start fighting and the both have trouble dealing with the other. They decide to both decide to have their wedding just in different wings of the Plaza, but when Liv's cousin doesn't replace a CD of Emma's wild spring break that plays during her wedding things go wrong. Although this movie had great acting I thought the movie was a little slow and to predictable. It was not worth seeing and very boring at times.
I give this movie two stars.
EM
Title:2001 a Space Odyssey
Author:Arthur C Clarke
This was a good book but a little confusing. Humans have colonized the moon and they discover a magnetic anomaly on the moon. They dig up TMA-1(tyche magnetic anomaly 1). This mysterious rectangle of black material sends out a signal to the stars when they dig it up. They send a spaceship to one of Jupiter's moons where they think the signal was headed. Along the way they are attacked from within by their supercomputer, HAL. One person makes it and comes upon a startling revelation.
Rating: *****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title: Looking Back A Book of Memories
Author: Lois Lowry
I really enjoyed reading this book. Some of the storis were funny and some of the stories were sad. I liked how she did a quote from a book then wrote a comparison to it. I didn't like how sometimes when I read a story I had questions that didn't get answered. Lois Lowry reflected on her life in this memior. Lois, her sister, her mother, and her children were the main characters. I did not think the book was too slow. If I rated it 1-5 I would give it a 3. My favorite quote was "You're on your own"
MAC
THIS IS A PUBLIC WARNING TO ALL COMPETITORS FOR THE LAPTOP. I WILL WIN THIS READING WAR, BUT AT LEAST MY REVIEWS AREN'T AS BAD AS jEREMIAH'S. LOL, GUYS, HAPPY READING!!!!!
P.S. I WILL WIN, THOUGH.....
Stephen don't comment on my abilities mister shangri la is in Nepal.
Title:The time paradox
Author:Eoin Colfer
This is the last book in the Artemis Fowl series. I didn't think it was as good as the rest though. Artemis's mother has this diseasse which is cured by this type of lemur's brain fluid. The lemur is extinct and they go back in time and get in all sorts of trouble with Artemis's past self plus another evil person. This is a good book but not as good as the rest of the series.
Rating:***
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Fire Ice
Author:Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos
This is a NUMA files story about Kurt Austin. He is trying to save the world from a madman who claims to be the heir of the russian throne after the last surviving relatives are killed save one. He is also planning to speed up global warming and make russia warm and fertile. This plan has one problem though, the rest of the world will be inhospitable forever. Find out how Kurt saves the day in this action book. I really enjoyed this book.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Book:Out of the Night That Covers Me
Author:Pat Cunningham Devoto
Pat Cunningham Devoto is one of my favorite Southern novelists because her stories are very interesting as well as educational. This particular book is about a young boy named John McMillan who is forced to live with his aunt's family after his mother (his dad died in WWII) dies. It turns out that they live in a tenant house, and it's in a small southern town in Alabama called Lower Peach Tree. John had to cope with this new lifestyle, his alcoholic uncle, and the pain of having all of his possessions being sold to a vague seller from Selma.
This book was divided into many short chapters, and it featured a lot of cussing that came from blacks. I learned how to talk like southern blacks, which can be really fun if you work at it. That's not meant to be racist, by the way. I liked this novel overall because it shows the reader a lot about how small, southern towns operate in the dawn of the commencement of the civil rights movement. Everyone should give this book a try, and they'll probably like it, much to their surprise.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by: JK Rowling
This book was about Harry finding the horcruxes so he can destroy them in order to kill Voldemort. Harry destroys five of them thinking there is only one left, but he encounters Voldemort and finds out there are seven and he is one of them after talking to Dumbledore. Since he was "killed" there was only one more to destroy, Voldemort's snake. Niville Longbottom ends up killing the snake and then you must read to find out who dies and who survives. I loved this book. It was a great way to end the Harry Potter series. This book had almost no flaws, the only bad thing is personal. Dobby and Remus Lupin die, and I know nothing can be perfect but this broke my heart.
I give this book five stars.
EM
The Lake House
This movie was about two people living in the same house but two years apart. They can communicate through the mailbox in front of the lake house as if it is a way of letter time travel. As they talk more and more they realize they are falling in love with each other. They are determined to meet each other no matter what the date. I thought this movie was confusing at some points but overall it was pretty good and the acting was great. Although I liked this movie, none of my friends did, so maybe I just have bad taste in movies, but its a movie a wouldn't mind seeing twice.
I give this movie four stars.
EM
Title:Medusa
Author:Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos
This is a good book even though it isn't Dirk Pitt or the Oregon. Kurt Austin is dragged into a murder game when his friend is nearly killed and a deadly virus breaks out in China. Things get dicey when the quarintine fails and the only lab close to an antidote vanishes without a trace. Kurt Austin must stop a triplet headed criminal orginization from getting the vaccine. This is a great book and everyone will enjoy it.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Flood Tide
Author:Clive Cussler
In this Dirk Pitt adventure a mad chinese millionare builds a high-tech loading dock in the middle of a swamp. When a mysterious series of events leads Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino to come calling on this out of the way structure and find out there is more to its location meets the eye. They uncover a plot to reroute the Mississippi river and as an effect drown an entire city. Find out what happens in this Dirk Pitt adventure. Can Pitt save the dad? Of course he can, he's Dirk Pitt.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:Tinkerbell
Rated G
Disney Productions
I watched this with my four year-old brother at our grandmothers and thought it was okay. The faerie, Tinkerbell, is made from a flower and becomes a Tinker, someone who makes stuff. She heres all these stories about the Mainland, where humans live, and really wants to go but Tinkers aren't allowed to go. She encounters other troubles like messing up spring a little bit but she saves the day. It was a good movie but I was a little old for it.
Rating:****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Book: One Piece Volume 1:Romance Dawn
Story and Art:Eiichiro Oda
I loved watching the show "One Piece" when I was a kid, and I thought that these books were even better than the shows.
"One Piece" is about a young boy named Luffy who wants to become king of the pirates and retrieve the one piece, the legendary traasure of Gold Roger. In this volume, the reader is introduced into why Luffy wanted to become a pirate and it also talks about Luffy's meddlings with big-name pirates.
I liked the story and the artwork very much. It's not too long, and it's very funny.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:One Piece Volume 2:Buggy the Clown
Story and Art:Eiichiro Oda
This story continues from Volume 1. Luffy and his pirate crew of 3 meet Buggy the Clown and his crew. Buggy has special powers because he once ate a rare fruit call the devil fruit, same as Luffy. The story is mainly about how the 2 fght back and forth, and there are many funny parts throughout the story. Luffy has gained 2 more friends, Nami, a thieve, and Zolo, a legedary priate hunter.
I think that everyone should read this because the artwork is very enjoyable and the story is asolutely hilarious.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Title:Treasure
Author:Clive Cussler
When the Library of Alexandria is destroyed a few quick people manage to escape with the most valuable records and items and take them to a hidden location somewhere none have ever gone before. They die fighting the natives and none can record where the treasure was buried. In present day two very different people(or are they?) are acting as religious figures to take over their countries and rid the world of the United States with a flood of immigrants overwhelming the borders. Dirk Pitt must locate the treasure before it can never be found again. In this race against time the fights get intense and everyone will enjoy it. I loved this book and have a copy I bought from the book sale at the library. for 50 cents it was worth it.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Book: One Piece Volume 3:Don't Get Fooled Again
Story and Art:Eiichiro Oda
Continuing upon Volume 2, this book takes on the chronic funniness of Luffy and his gang. They defeat Buggy the Clown at the start of the story, and then they come to this deserted island filled with exotic animals and a funny-looking dude who is stuck inside a box. At the end of the story, they come to this village, where they discover the sinister plot of a seemingly-executed priate leader.
There are many flashbacks in this story, and I think that they are embellishing to the overall plot. The art, once again, is excellent. What I think that Americans have to get used to is to read from left to right, and when you are used to that, an entire world of maga comes to your way. This is a very good series of manga novels.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Stick It
This movie was about Haley, a teen in trouble with the law, being forced to enter the gymnasts world once again. She is not welcomed when she goes to VGA, an elite gymnast academy run by Burt Vickerman, once a famous gymnast. She rebels and tries to escape but Burt will not allow it, he needs her for the nationals just up ahead. I thought this was a good movie with a great plot but slow at some parts. My favorite character was Haley. She was stubborn at times but when she knew what she won't she gave a good battle for it. This movie teaches perseverance and over coming obstacles.
I give this movie four stars.
EM
The House Bunny
Shelly was raised in an orphanage, but as she grew up she grew into a beautiful woman and moved into the Playboy Mansion. But when she turned 27 she was kicked out for being too old. When she follows a couple of beautiful girls, she finds herself in a sorority house asking to join, not realizing where she is. She continues walking down the street and ends up being rejected by everyone by the Zeta Alpha Zeta. Shelly realizes that the girls aren't exactly cool but she is determined to turn her sorority around. She gives the girls make overs and helps throw them cool parties, but when other sororities become jealous things change and so do their attitudes. I loved this movie, it was cute and gave everyone more ideas of sorority life. Anna Faris was an amazing actor and nailed her part as a dumb blonde, playboy bunny.
I give this movie four stars.
EM
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Rebecca is a total shopaholic and has gone into debt, but somehow finds herself writing for a financial column. Her bills are piling up and her debt collector won't leave her alone. Pressure is on to stop the addiction and get the money but things happen along the way. I loved this movie and so did all my friends. It had what every girl could ever wont in it clothes, money, and romance. This was not a disappointing movie and I will probably see this movie a couple more times in the future. The actors were outstanding and there was just the right amount of comedy.
I give this movie four stars.
EM
Breaking Dawn by: Stephenie Meyer
Edward and Bella are married and on there honeymoon on an exotic island Bella becomes pregnant and this is not a normal pregnancy. With the baby growing at an unusual pace they abandoned the honeymoon and headed straight to Forks for Carlisle's help. Edward wants Bella to have an abortion, but she refuses and uses Rosalie for her backup, because the baby could harm her, even kill her. During childbirth Bella goes into a stage near death, so Edward bites her causing her to become a vampire. During the three day process of transforming into a vampire, the baby is taken care of and named Renesmee. When Bella wakes she feels complete and happy. She asks about Renesmee but the Cullen's refuse to take the chance of Bella drinking the blood of her own child. But the child attracts much danger. This book was a perfect way to end the series. It was more unique than the others because half the book was told by Jacob Black instead of Bella. I loved the choices made by the characters, especially Jacob's. While Bella's child was not born yet the Quileute werewolf tribe planed to destroy Bella and the child because they fear danger from the child. Jacob's love for Bella overcomes they passion for his tribe and he runs to protect the Cullens. I also loved Renesmee although half human and half vampire she grew at incredible speed and her power was pretty cool as well.
I give this book five stars.
EM
Book (Magazine): ESPN the Magazine, June 15th edition
Author(s): ESPN reporters
This edition of ESPN the Mag was a ton better than the last one, who had mediocre articles and a cut-back on the number of pages each one contained. The current one, on the contrary, is filled with 85 pages of sports-must articles and funny advertisements, such as Wolverine in a "Got Milk?" ad. There was still no exclusive article written by my favorite sports reporter, Stephen A. Smith, but I'm certain that he'll return very soon. Bill Simmons, who is often nicknamed the Sports Guy because of his voluminous knowledge of sports, wrote an article explaining the ups and downs of Big Papi's recent batting slump. I was very interested in reading another which talked about a proffessional female motorbike person, who is deaf but defies it in incredible ways. The rest were the usuals, insiders on all of America's big sports leagues.
I was very satisfied with this one because it had some very well-written articles and funny ones as well. A serious sports fan should definitely subscribe to this wonderful magazine.
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Iron Man
This movie was not the cheesy superhero kind I expected. It ended up having great action scenes and a little comedy. Although it was a little predictable, it's a superhero movie, it's not like it is supposed to end badly. The acting was just as great as its plot. Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) was amazing as well as Jeff Bridges who played Obadiah Stane(the villain). This was a movie worth buying and I CANT wait to see the second come out.
I give this movie five stars.
EM
Album:Blue Train
Artist:John Coltrane
"Blue Train" is an exemplary jazz album produced by the legendary jazz tenor saxophonist, John Coltrane. Coltrane was an incredibly prolific composer, producing 50 albums in just 12 years.
There are only 5 songs included in "Blue Train", but all of them are very long as well as melancholy in an optimistic attitude. Many solos were featured in most of the pieces, but the tenor sax solos dominated the music scene. My favorite one from this album is, without question, "I'm Old Fashioned". This particular song sounds and feels sad yet peaceful and graceful at the same time. While I listened to this, I, for some unknown reason, started visualizing 2 of the world's most powerful leaders walking along a river by the sunset. I don't really know how to explain it, but the song is almost implying that the end of the world will soon commence. At the same time, I am reading "Ender's Game", a science fiction novel that involves aliens attacking humans. The 2 world leaders that I mentioned earlier are slowly walking alongside each other just as the human race is about to be wiped out forever by some extraterristrial force. It's kind of ironic, I guess, but it makes sense to me anyway.
"Lazy Bird", in contrary to the previous songs' slowness, contains a very fast tempo and feels upbeat, completely different from the way I felt when i listened to "I'm Old Fashioned".
I think that this album will be enjoyed by a huge number of people if they just give it a chance. Jazz is a very unique type of music that centers between musical chaos and organization. This album surely calmed me down and quietly contemplate on life itself. This was truly a superb album that will not be forgotten by me.
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Kind of Blue
Artist:Miles Davis
Miles Davis is the main catalyst for advancing contemporary jazz, and without him, the jazz scene both in the past and today would look pretty depressing. Davis is analogous to being the John Bonham of the trumpet, or, to put it to society's standards, as well of a trumpet player as was George WAshington leading the American rebels into defeating King George III's British army, then the largest and most powerful army in the world.
"Kind of Blue" does not have a profusion of jazz songs, 6 pieces, to be exact, but each has its own unique characteristics and its special style. Daivs, along with his jazz buddies Paul Chambers (bass) and this nobody named John Coltrane (tenor sax), perfectly groove along to the background piano's soft melody.
I did not have any particular favorites in this album, as all of them transcended my vision of a jazz maestro, but a feature about Davis's style is that he likes to play things pretty slow in this album. The tempos weren't at 200 bpm, but neither were they dragging. I liked this album because it brings calmness to me in this ever-turbulent world, and it introduced me to great music. Also, I can play these songs with my drumset, which is absoutely awesome for me! Everyone should get this album because it really takes you to another reality. Of course, not everyone on the planet will get this album until we have all agreed on what the definition of music, specifically jazz music, really is.
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Ender's Game
Author:Orson Scott Card
"Ender's Game" is about a young boy named Ender Wiggin who is sent to Battle School, a post in space that trains children to fight buggers, extraterrestrial creatures who have attacked Earth twice. The kids go through simulations called battles where they are divided into teams and battle each other. Ender is brilliant, and before long, he went to Command School at the age of 11, about 5 years before the average student goes there. However, something fishy is going on with the teachers, and with Ender's siblings...
I liked this book because it contained a unique plot and I loved how Ender outsmarted or brutally beat up people older than him. Ender is the perfect character to put into this book; noy only does he break age barriers, he also has an astounding gift of leading others. I think that only boys should read this, because girls may find it kind of monotonous as the storyline drags on and on.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Book: Sabriel
Author: Garth Nix
This is the first book in a trilogy, which starts with the main character of Sabriel, a teenage girl growing up in the more normal half of the world. The fictional setting is split into the general realms of north and south by a giant magical wall. The southern "kingdom" is a full of magic, mostly in the form of necromancy. Yay, zombies! This is not a mindless zombie series, however (sorry to disappoint). There is one special necromancer called the Abhorsen who undoes the bad necromancy by taking the risen dead thing's soul and sending it back into death using necromancy bells. The concepts of death and the bells and how everything works is quite different from reality, but I won't bother explaining. The overall magicalness of the south can't spread past the magical barrier into the north (which is actually fairly modern. IE cars, telegraphs, electricity, all that jazz), so Sabriel, the Abhorsen-in-waiting, is safe there until her father, the Abhorsen, gets trapped in death! Oh no! So she goes through the whole "let's save daddy" thing, and picks up some friends (Touchstone, royalty in the south; Mogget, the Abhorsen's useful pet magic beast that's trapped in the form of a cat).
It's a great coming-of-age story for Sabriel, not to mention a great fantasy (with some reality thrown in with the north). And just about all NOT brainless zombie stories are amazing. This book (and the whole series)is great for just about all reading ages. My brother read it when he was 12 or 13 and loves it, and my mom read it just this year at 48 and she loves it. So read and enjoy. :)
Rating: 5/5
Book: Lirael
Author: Garth Nix
Second book in the Abhorsen trilogy, right behind Sabriel. Since I'm not to give away the ending of Sabriel, this review will be considerably more difficult to write. :P
Plot: Well, this one starts out with Sabriel's kids (I can't tell you who she hooked up with because that's part of the ending of Sabriel). They, like their mother, are being raised in the north away from unfriendly dead things. The elder girl, Ellimere, is painted to be a perfect child while her younger brother, Sameth, is painted as the lazy, klutzy child. Sabriel gets so busy in the south doing her Abhorsen thing that Ellimere and Sameth have to come down there to help her out. Sameth, who's supposed to be the Abhorsen-in-waiting, has this slight problem: he's pretty deathly afraid of the dead, death, and having to raise or put down dead. Obviously not good Abhorsen material. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the south, a member of a clairvoyant clan known as the Clayr has similar issues. She can't see into the future like every other Clayr. After much adventure and coming across Mogget, the Abhorsen's cat/magic beast, and a magic dog who calls herself the Disreputable Dog, Lirael and Sameth end up adventuring together to try to save and help Lirael from the looming threat of a dark and powerful necromancer.
Another great book, and great follow up to Sabriel. It's basically the same as the first one though. Just a continuation. More cool non brainless zombie and fantasy, and more adventure and coming-of-age stuff. It also ends at a bit of a cliff hanger, so it really makes you pick up the next book, Abhorsen.
Rating: 5/5
Title:The Lightnig Thief
Author:Rick Riordon
Percy Jackson was an ordinary kid who found out he was a demi-god, and a powerful one at that.His mom relizes that she must get Percy to the one and only safe place for a demi-god to be,Camp Half-Blood.
When Zeus's master lighting bolt gets stolen Percy is the only suspect.He and friends,Grover and Annabeth,must find the culprit and return the bolt before the winter solstace,which happens to be in ten days.He also cannot forget about the traitor that was mentioned in the oricles's prediction.
rating:*****
Susan M.
Album:The End of the Innocence
Artist:Don Henley & Bruce Hornsby
Don Henley was the legendary lead vocalist for the maestro, the Eagles, and also commanded the drumset at the same time. Bruce Hornsby is an exemplary pianist who is known for "That's Just the Way It Is", among other great hits. In this album, they combine to make a very formidable duo (with other artists), so much that "Rolling Stone Magazine" ranked this album as No.389 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
The first song is, by a wide margin, the best song in the album, and its name is "The End of the Innocence". This song was written in the mid-80's during the Reagan era, and it mainly talks about how the havens of a lot of innocent people are being destroyed. This is mainly attributed to the great increase in nuclear weapons the United States has made. The song first says to be taken to place that man hasn't set foot on yet, and just relaxing and looking at the sky; however, in the nest stanza, Don Henley says that now those skies are now threatening. There is also a beautiful saophone solo in the middle of the song that absolutely took my breath away, it was just too gorgeous. This is one of the greatest songs I have ever listened to, with its sweet-sounding piano beat, and smooth sax solo.
The other songs were average, but I'd definitely recommend everyone to get "The End of the Innocence" because I'm sure that everyone will instantly love it.
Rating:****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Major Tom(Single Version)
Artist:Shiny Toy Guns
"Major Tom(Coming Home)" was first recorded in the 1980's, but this version is by far the better version. I first heard this song when I saw a Lincoln MKZ commercial, and immediately I knew that I wanted this song.
This song is based off of the movie, "The Space Oddity", and it talks about Major Tom coming home from space, but a computer error occurs, and he dies while coming down to earth. The chorus is majestic, even though it is only a few words, and it took my breath away. This is the elecronic version of the original song, and I'd recommend all of you guys to get this song because it sounds like...it was made in heaven, to be frank. Get it!!!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Steppin' Out
Artist:Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is one of the greatest singers of all time. He is a legendary jazz singer, and is also an accomplished painter; some of his paintings have been sold for as high as $80,000!
This album is all jazz with Bennett singing. Most of the songs have a harmonic piano solo in the beginning, and later, the string bass comes quietly roarng in, followed by a soothing jazz drum beat. I did not have any clear favorites in this album because I liked all of the songs equally. All of these songs are about love, as Tony Bennett is known for singing about spending time with a girl. This album is excellent for listening to when you're doing homework, or right before you go to sleep. Just give the album a chance, and soon you'll be loving it!
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Delicate Sound of Thunder(Disc 1)
Artist:Pink Floyd
Disc 1, this album, was a so-so album, in my personal opinion. I love Pink Floyd, the band itself, for their unique creativity and being a catalyst in the rock era when they faced legendary competitiors such as the Police and Led Zeppelin. I thought that the best song in this album was "Yet Another Movie" because it had a pretty cool free-style drum beat and sounded well-tuned overall. The others, though, were forgettable. This entire album was recorded live, so it annoys me that about 1 minute of each song constitutes of the fans screaming at the top of their lungs. I prefer albums that are recorded in the studio and not in a live performance, but that's just me.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Delicate Sound of Thunder(Disc 2)
Artist:Pink Floyd
Compared to Disc 1, Disc 2 was a lot better because it featured better songs and a greater contrast of overall sound quality. My favoirte song and one of my favorite ever is "Time" because it starts out slow, then is approached by a great-sounding piano solo, followed by an Africanesque drum beat. Even though this song is supposed to be pretty subtle, the live version was more successful than I thought. Other songs that I thought were notable were "Wish You Were Here", "Money", and the famous "Another Brick in the Wall".
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Exodus
Artist:Bob Marley & the Wailers
Bob Marley is credited for bringing Jamaican music to the United States and hugely popularizing it. With the Wailers showcasing extremely talent-filled auxillary music beats, "Exodus" is my favorite album by Marley. In 1999, Time magazine awarded this album with the title, "Greatest Album of the 20th Century", surpassing the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, among other notable music legends. Listening to this album, along with "Legend", has made me appreciative of Carribean music, especially from Jamaica. I had no particular favorite from this album because I liked all of them equally. However, I will say that Bob Marley's voice is so unique and fruitful that I'll never forget that unique tone and the awesome background music.
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Title: Pagan in Exile
Author: Catherine Jinks
This book is about a boy from 1100s Jerusalem. He joins the Knights Templar in the first book in this series. He becomes the squire to Lord Roland Roucy de Bram. In this second book, he and Roland go to Roland's home in Lanquedoc, France. They plan to raise support for a crusade to the Holy Land, where Saladin the Infidel has captured Jerusalem. However, when they arrive in Lanquedoc, they find themselves caught between Roland's family and St. Jerome's, the local abbey. Roland tries to stop the fighting, but neither side will budge. This whole series is a great read, although the books have to be read in order.
H
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