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Book:One Night, Two Teams: Alabama vs. USC and the Game That Changed A Nation
Author:Steven Travers
The title tells it all (well, maybe not some of the story). On the night of September 12, 1970 in Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the Californian USC Trojans came to the territory of the Alabama Crimson Tide. While most racist Southerners, particularly Alabamians, thought that Bear Bryant and his men were going to knock the stuffing out of USC, the Trojans countered by thrashing the Tide 42-21 in what many people, myself included, considered as the "game of the century".
At first, I thought that this book was just going to give an extreme version of in-depth analysis of this game, such as what attire the players wore, how many people showed up, the pregame jitters of both games, but it turns out that the author, Steven Travers, does an incredible job of linking this seemingly normal college football game to Christianity and Platonic justice, not to mean racism. Travers allows the reader to explore the rich history of America, from July 4, 1776 to the civil rights movement, and finally to 1970. The book not only talks about football, it also gives the reader at least 2 opinions from people associated with this game in each chapter, thus conjugating a greater expanse of what the times were really like back then. Christianity had a major role in this game, believe it nor not, by questioning the reader about Christian morality and later connecting that with the thoughts of the black USC players.
Okay, so let's start back at the beginning: why is this game so important? Well, to start off, USC was an integrated football team, while 'Bama was still an all-white team, even though they had Wilbur Jackson, who couldn't play because he was still a freshman (the NCAA has changed the rule that freshman can't play on varsity squads). This was the first time that the Tide were going to play a team above the Mason-Dixie line, the invisible barbed wire that seperates integration from segregation. Not only that, but Alabama got slapped hard in both cheeks by a black running back, Sam "the Bam" Cunningham, and a black quarterback, Jimmy Jones.
Some people say that Sam Cunningham advanced integration for America more in 3 hours than Dr. King in 20 years. There's also the legend that Bear Bryant brought him into the Tide's locker room and told his players, "This here's what a football player looks like." There are many rumors surrouding this game, but the most important thing that happened was that "Alabama had finally joined the Union."
I enjoyed reading this book because I learned a lot from it. At the commencement, I thought I'd be getting to know the histories of USC and Alabama football, but I got much more than that:civil rights, black players' worries about what mught happen, and the extinguishing of Alabama's racist philosophy. I think that maybe only people 15 and up should read it because a few of the materials are quite hard to understand; I had to do a little research just to keep on truckin'! But, as always, roll tide roll, baby!!!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Fire Bringer
Author:David Clement-Davies
Fire Bringer is a fiction book that's about deer and a legendary prophecy that might be the only hope of survival for this pack of red deer.
It takes place in america during the revoulutionary war in the forests when a red deer with no anlers joins this red deer pack and soons he rises to second in command and trusted adviser. but he is not all good. He convices the king to destroy the outriders which is a special pack of deer that gaurd the pack. One of these deer was the legendary Captin Brechin who's wife, Elion, gave birth to a buck with a white oak leaf the day Brechin died. Could this be the the deer from the phrophecy? But more importantly, how will he survive? Read this book to find out. I give this book 4 stars so it's not a waste of time.
By:JDK
Movie:Star Trek
I think this was one of the best movies of the year. It was 2 hours of action packed fun. I loved how this movie kept me into it from the end to the beginnig. I would rather see this again then an old Star Wars movie. If sombody has not seen it yet, you better go see it. I don't think there was one bad part in it. It is an easy 5 stars in my mind.
By: JDK
movie: Night of the Museum Two
This was not the greatest movies ever. It was almost like they were trying to hard to be funny. But Ben Stiller did a great job in my opion. My suggestion is that they should have made it more thrilling then funny. It was not worth going to see. If that movie didn't have Ben Stiller in it, I would have given it 2 stars. But i'm going to give it 2 and a half stars.
By:JDK
Book:Fableheaven
Author:Brandon Mull
I was asorbed into this book and kept reading non stop until i finished it. It was one of the best books I'd have ever read and I higly recomend this book to all fiction lovers.
This book is about how two kids, Seth and Kendra, visit there grandparents that like to keep to themselves because they are the caretaker of Fablehaven which is a magical preserve for magical creatures. Seth and Kendra can't see the magical creatures without some special milk. When will Seth and Kendra find out about this magical preserve and does it lead to more trouble up ahead? Read this book to find out.
I give this book 5 stars.
By:JDK
Book:The Secret Society of the Evening Star: Book 2 of the Fable haven series.
By:Brandon Mull
Like the first book,I couldn't put down this book until the very end. Brandon Mull is now one of my favorite authors. I couldn't find one bad part in the book.
Seth and Kendra are back at school when a kobold shows up in diguised as a human and Kendra now takes it upon herself to get rid of this kobold with some help from a magical exterminator. But when Seth has to sneak into a vampires house and retrive a magical objetct that could kill Seth, could this be a trick by the evil Secret Society of the Evening Dawn (which is trying to gain magical artifacts to open the prison that holds Zztix which could change the face of the earth). Any way something happens and the kids are at Fablahaven but is Seth safe from the magical item that transforms into a demon (when Seth fed it when he retrived it) and can everyone be okay even with the new assitence and could one of them be a traitor? Read this book to find out.
I give this book 5 stars.
By:JDK
P.S the book is better than my description.
Title:Arctic Drift
Author:Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler.
This is another book by Cussler about Dirk Pitt and his Children's adventures with NUMA. In this book a scientist has found a way to reverse global warming but it requires an element almost unavailable to anyone. A supposedly "green" billionare , Mitchell Goyette, wants to get his hands on it to stop the process from being used so his solution looks better. With a trail through the Arctic going back 160 years everyone will enjoy this book.
Rating:*****
Posted by Jeremiah M.
Book:Turning of the Tide: How One Game Changed the South
Author:Don Yeager
This book tells the story of the legendary Alabama vs. USC at Legion Field on the eve of September 12, 1970. Though I had already read another novel that explains the significance of this single football game, I also read this one to see if I could discover some new information or look at the same game from a different perspective.
The other novel that I read (it's the first review all the way on the top) was a lot more in-depth that took me to educating myself about the founding of America, the Civil War and slavery, and the srtuggles of blacks after the War Between the States. This book, on the contrary, just gives an overview of the game, how football fared before and after this game, why it's important, and gives short biographies about each of the coaches, Paul 'Bear' Bryant for the Crimson Tide and John McKay for the Trojans, both already Hall of Fame coaches. I liked the fact that the book did not drag on and on and did not get into political issues, history (a lot), and the daily lives in Tuscaloosa and Los Angeles; the other book by Steven Travers included all of those and then some!
Overall, I'd give this book three stars because it was not very challenging to read, and because I basically knew what was going to happen before I read it because I had read a book similar to it the day before. A sports fan, or just a football fan should read this because not enough people know that this single game advanced the civil rights movement, the tip of the iceberg, as I put it.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Book:The Shadow Plague: book 3 of the Fablehaven series
Author: Brandon Mull
Brandon Mull did a great job with book 3 and this was my favorite book yet of the Fablehaven series. He did a great job with keeping the reader into the book until the end.
Fablehaven has fallen under a terrible plague a turning all creatures of light into creatures of dark. What should they do? They have always gone to the Sphinx for help, but is he a traitor? Time is running out and Kendra has been chosen for the Knights of Dawn and she has to go to Georgia to attend a urgent meeting, but is it a trap? Read it to find out.I give it 5 stars.
Blog by:JDK
Book: The Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary: Book 4 of the Fablhaven series
Author: Brandon Mull
This could be the best book I have ever read. Brandon Mull keeps on rolling with the Fablehaven series. If have not read any of these books you are nuts. I can't wait for the 5th to come out.
It is time for the Fablehaven gang to go after the next aftifact, but first they have to go get the key which is in the legendary dragon sanctuary wormroost? But will they manage to get past creatures they have never encountered before? Or will they have to confront Narvahog the mighty Dragon prince? Read this book to find out. I give this book 5 stars.
Blog by:JDK
Book: The Candy Shop War
Author: Brandon Mull
Brandon Mull did a great job witht the idea of magic candies with an old lady in the candy shop. This was a great book, but it was a little creepy at times because of all these wierd creatures.
This book is about a Nate that moved into a new town right about the time a new candy shop opened up. He soon makes friends with a group a kids in a club called the Blue Falcons and one day they decide to go try this new candy store. They meet an old lady and she gets them to do odd jobs like wash the windows and clean the store, but she "accidently" told them one day about her secret candy that gave them powers. But for them to get this candy, they have to go do secret missions like catch beetles, dig up a grave, but the last straw was when the lady asked them to go and harm a fellow candy man. two of them quit and the others go and decide to talk to the other candy man an soon find out that the women was using them and she was actully a magican whoman that was after a magical artifact. Can they take this lady down without much candy? Was the other candy/magicain guy bad too? read this book to find out. I give this book 4 stars.
By:JDK
Title: Adam of the Road
Author: Elizabeth Janet Gray
This is a story about a young boy who is a ministrel in the 13th-century world who loses his dog and while he is looking for it he loses his father, Roger the ministrel. He looks all over and misses them barely but still remains by himself. This is a good story with lots of songs and music. The boy falls in love, sort of, and he is thrown out in the world alone when his dad disappears. I likedthis book and recommend it to everyone.
Rating: *****
Posted by Jeremiah M
Title:When Lightning Strikes
Author:Meg Cabot
a girl was struck by lighting. suddenly if she saw a picture of a person, she would know of thier whereabouts in the morning. the fbi liked her gift so they brought her to work for them, but there was one slight problem Jess did not want to work for the fbi. Jess Mastriani became "Lightning Girl." with help from her friends and a few explosives, Jess might just make it out of this mess.
I love this thrilling adventure and Ms.Cabot writing style, it pulled me right in.This is a great book and a quick read.
stars:*****
Susan M.
Book:The Stranger
Author:Albert Camus
First written during the Second World War, "The Stranger" is considered one of the greatest French literary works of the 20th Century and one of the most notable expressions for arguing the absurdity of human indiference. Though this novel is only 123 pages long, its philosophy stetches into some very deep waters.
The book is about a normal Frenchman named Mersault who lives in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. His neighbors are an old man who owns a bald dog and curses it in public everyday and a "warehouse worker" named Raymond. One day, Mersault goes to his mother's senior home to talk with the director, who tells him that she has just died. Surprisingly enough, Mersault refuses to see the dead body and does not feel any pang of sadness. After te funeral, he comes back to his normal life, and that's when absurdity comes into play...
To me, "The Stranger" is an ideal title for this book because the law gravely punishes Mersault for something that he didn't purposely do: kill a man. I can't tell you the whole storyline because that'd ruin your experience, but I will say that when you are finished reading it, reflect on it and you will realize just how absurd ths victim's situation is.
The plot consisted of very simple thngs and was not difficult to comprehend at all. The novel itself is very short, yet it concludes with a very important kind of philosophy that will leave you wondering. I liked the philosophic thought because that challenged my beliefs, who held up against them. If you read this book, you'll come out with an expreience about how innocent people's lives can be ruined by a single moment.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Album:Rubber Soul
Artist:The Beatles
"Rubber Soul" was a pretty good album, but I still like the other Beatles classics more, such as "Hey Jude", "Help!", and "Let it Be". I am very impressed, however, on how harmonic the lyrics to each of the songs are; though the Beatles weren't exactly the most music-playing talented band in their era of pure dominance, they made up lost ground by writing lyrics unmatched by few other songwriters. My favoirte song in this particular album is "Norwegian Wood(This Bird Has Flown)" because it is more instrumental than some of their other songs, and contains a good-feeling beat to it. Overall, I thought that this album was an average one(!). Not that I'm vilifying the band who sold the most albums in the 20th Century, I'm just opiniating that they have produced better ones before. I think that people should give this album a shot because they may like listening to some of the songs that I thought were quite forgettable, but if the album is not incredible to your invaluable opinion, move on to the next Beatles album.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Stephen stop using big confusing words.
Book:Deathnote:Volume 1
Story:Tsugumi Ohba
Art:Takeshi Obata
The "Deathnote" manga series are about a 17-year old named Light Yagami who is a perfect student and made a perfect score on his college entrance exam. One day, however, he finds a notebook called the "Deathnote", where he can write anybody's name on it if he knows their name and face, and they die when Light writes when they do die. At first, Light kills the most hated criminals in Japan; his vision is to create a world free from evil. However, the NPA, or National Police Agency, become suspicious, and they start investigating these murders. They call the unknown suspect "Kira", the name of a death god. They also hire a reclusivr yet ingenius detective name "L". Now it's Light against the government; will he ever be caught?
In this particular volume, the remaining invetigators of the NPA finally meet L, and Light must be more careful now because L suspects him as being Kira.
I like this series very much because the artork is exemplary, and the storyline is very unique, exciting, and interesting. I'd suggest anyone to give these manga novels a shot, because I'm sure that you'll enjoy them very much!
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Deathnote:Volume 3
Story:Tsugumi Ohba
Art:Takeshi Abata
This volume of "Deathnote", following the storyline of the previous one, which talks about L and the police working together to find out who Kira is, continues on, witnessing L and Light Yagami, the protagonist, becoming "friends". They both score the exact same on their college entrance exams, perfect scores, and they play a match of tennis that leaves much of the student body in awe. However, the real purpose of all of this is so whether L can determine if Light is Kira or not. He tests the waters by putting Light's deduction abilities to the spotlight, in which Light performs magnificently. Later, though, a supposedly second Kira arises from out of nowhere, and L and Light are now in a bigger mess than they were already in.
Personally, my favorite part of the book was when Light's deduction abilities were tested by L, because I agreed with every word that he said. I think that if the two were to exist in real life today, they would be internationally known as brilliant geniuses, except tha Kira is cut out. Overall, I thought that this was a good novel and great artwork as well. There's a hanging climax as the last few pages depict a girl walking with a Shinigami, a death god...
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Deathnote:Volume 4
Story:Tsugami Ohba
Art:Takeshi Obata
Like the previous 3 "Deathnote" volumes, this volume continues with Light Yagami trying to prove to L, a world-famous detective, that he is not Kira, a man-killing unknown. A new Kira comes along by the name of Misa Amane, who wants to help Light in any way and also be her boyfriend at the same time. Since Misa has the "sight", in which she can see a person's real name and life span just by looking at him, Light wants her to get close to L so that he can find out what his real name is and kill him once and for all. Through a series of obstacle, Misa is arrested on suspiscion of being the second Kira, and Light turns himself in because he wants to prove to L that he isn't Kira. At this time, he has already buried his deathnote. What will happen to Light and Misa???
I liked this book because I thought it was funny how Light was annoyed at Misa, even though she's a famous model. The plot line is as interesting as ever, and the graphic artwork is superb.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Deathnote:Volume 5
Story:Tsugumi Ohba
Art:Takeshi Obata
Light is imprisoned in a lonely cell, but can still talk to L and is under surveillance at all times. Once Light is in jail, the mysterious killings immediately stop for 2 weeks, but resume once again. This time, a third Kira has entered the ever-perilous game, wanting to kill people of high positions in big-time corporations so that he and his company, Yotsuba Bank, can be a monoploy in the Japanese banking business. L and the remaining detectives try to figure out if there's a connection between Yotsuba and Kira, and Misa is in more trouble as usual.
I, for once, thought that this book was an average one, a little short of the high drama I experience when I read the pervious 4 Deathnote manga novels. There was a really intense part in which I was actually a little freaked out about, but after that had subsided, everything was pretty childish, void of killings and pressure situations. Overall, though, I still liked this volume, and definitely love the Deathnote series!
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Title:Marked
AuthorP.C Cast and Kristen Cast
Zoey redbird lived in a world where vampyres were commen. When zoey got marked her whole life got messed up. She is spiecal, for the godess Nyx has given Zoey extreme powers. When the head of the Dark Dauthers, Aphrodite, takes great interest in Zoey. She has to chose will she side with her friends or with the Dark Daughters.
star:*****
Susan M.
Book:Deathnote:Volume 6
Story:Tsugumi Ohba
Art:Takeshi Obata
Continuing on with the famously nail-biting "Deathnote" manga novel series, this particular book narrates the crackdown of the identity of the third Kira. Though L still doesn't completely trust Light and is still doubtful of whether he is Kira or not, they team up with Light's father and his associates to solve this case. All of them live in a luxurious hotel in which L commissioned so that they would have a little bit of peace of mind. The method of solving the mystery, though, takes a while to be implicated.
It's somewhat difficult writing a review on a manga novel that is not the first in the series because you don't want to explain the basics of the main storyline over and over again. So, when I wrote this one, I assumed that the reader had read all of my other "Deathnote" reviews. The artwork in this one was fine, but the plot didn't have the same flair it possessed in the first 3 volumes. Overall, however, I liked it.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Book:One Piece:Volume 5
Story and Art:Eiichiro Oda
I like the "One Piece" manga novel series very much because at the beginning of every new chapter, there's always an extremely humorous drawing that is completely unrelated to the book, the courage of the prtagonist, and the exciting storyline. Miss Kaya is an affluent resident of a town who has a butler named Khaladore. The butler, though, has been posing for 3 years, because in reality, he is a pirate captain who's considered one of the most fearsome to roam the seas. He's been wearing the mask of gentility for this long just so he could get his hands on Kaya's enormous fortune. Luffy and his pirate friends, along with Usopp, Kaya's best friend and the town's best liar, attempt to stop the invasion-at-dawn....
I find Luffy a very funny character because he has incredibly strong powers but can also be superbly ignorant at time. Unlike other pirate captains, who are ruthless to the bone, he's a benevolent person who seeks to do the right thing and protects good-hearted, hard-working people. The artwork, especially the ones with imaginative animals, is awesome.
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:One Piece:Volume 6
Story and Art:Eiichiro Oda
Luffy and his pirate crew finally defeat the Cat Pirates and their captain, Khaladore. The captain, who had 7-foot long fingernails, could instantly disappear and then reappear in the blink of an eye, but even this couldn't stop Luffy's determination to crush him. As Usopp joins the crew, they meet a huge ship that's actually a floating restaurant. There, Luffy inadverdently blasts a big hole in the captain's quarters, but finally finds his ship's cook, who has a fighting style of his own.
In these books, there are occasionally answers to some of Eiichiro Oda's fans' questions. Sometimes they are normal, but sometimes they are ludicrious as well. I liked the artwork and the savageness of the cook because though his behavior may seem normal, he lovingly cares about food. I like "One Piece" very much!
Stars:****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:The Beekeeper's Apprentice
Author:Laurie R. King
The way in which the author thought up of this book is quite strange and, in my opinion, plagristic:one day, King finds a mysterious package with no return address on it, and inside are various random items, but in the very bottom, there lies a manuscript called "On the Segregation of the Queen". Not knowing what to do, Kind decided to re-write the story in here own words, and soon after that, it got published and became a national bestseller. Truly ludicrous...
Anyway, to get to the point, this book is about a young woman named Mary Russell who was wandering in the English countryside and bumped into a seeminglessly harmless beekeeper, who was quite old. The man of bees is actually Sherlock Holmes, and when he tested Russell's logical reasoning, the girl unofficially became his apprentice. Together, they do experiments and solve minor crimes, balancing this with Russell's studying at Oxford University. A new crime arises, however, filled to the brim with clues, but none of them leading to the culprit. Together, Holmes and Russell formulate a risky plan that may or may not work...
I liked this book because its vocabulary was very good, and the plotline, combined with Holmes's shrewdness, is indeed very, very exemplary. However, I do want to state that it got quite monotonous at some points, and at a few times even discouraging to keep on reading. Overall, though, I thought that this book was better than average.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Eden:It's an Endless World!, Volume 1
Author:Hiroki Endo
The "Eden:It's an Endless World!" manga series is about a young boy named Elijah who is one of the few humans who survived a deadly pandemic that wiped out most of the human race, including the United Nations, the United States, and numerous other countries. Now, there is a sinisted organization that call themselves Propater, who desire to take over the entire world. Elijah has only one companion, an artificially intelligent robot named Cherubim, and they both are captured by Propater. At first, they are treated fairly, but in this bizarre, futuristic world, nothing seems stable...
This first book was basically a prologue to the main sequence of events. More than half of the novel talked about how Elijah's parents came together, but moreover, it also showed the savageness and callousness of the Propater organization. They are mostly machines with only a human brain and heart, so they are much stronger and smarter than young Elijah. How will he face the world now???
I thought that the plotline of a virus wiping ou the majority of the human race was pretty interesting, but the characters talked a lot about God, whether He exists, and basically just put His name down. I didn't like that at all, but what I also noticed was that even though the book was published in Japan, a country in which Christianity does not have its tightest reins, the author still mention the Lord a ton more than other Japanese manga authors. Just a minor point, I guess.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Eden:It's an Endless World! Volume 2
Story and Art by:Hiroki Endo
This continuous volume of the "Eden" series deals with Elijah still being with his kidnappers, who are actually the protagonists instead of the antagonists, which I wrongly surmised at the end of the last book. A South American girl, a descendant of the Incas, pops up into the scene, along with a prostitute that claims her job is filled with honor. Sophia, the beautiful woman who traded away her body (except for her heart and brain) for a mechanical body, sets a trap for Propater forces, but in the end of the story, the latter wins by quite a longshoot. The rebels' camp is completely annihilated, and nothing is heard of the survivors (if there are any, that is).
I didn't realize until by the end of this book that these "Eden" manga novel series are for adults. On the front of each volume, I inadverdently missed the words "Explicit Content, Parental Advisory", but I probably won't read this series again because the plotline is becoming adjunct to me now. I'd rather abscond my frat party than read these books again, for goodness' sake; the pictures look as if they have been adumbrated, and there are an excessive number of unnecessary profanity words that only worsen the story. Sorry if I'm being a bit acromonious, but I won't exhibit any sign of affectation for these books because, they are, to be my frankest frank, abysmal. The end.
Stars:**
Initials:S.Y.
Book:The Count of Monte Cristo
Author:Alexrandre Dumas; translated and abridged by Lowell Blair
"The Count of Monte Cristo" is about an aspiring sailor named Edmond Dantes who is about to marry the girl of his dreams, Mercedes, and not only that, but the shipowner in which he is employed to, Morrel, is about to promote him to being the captain of one of his major ships, the "Pharaon". However, two nemesis, Caderrousse and Danglars, plot an evil plan to send him to hell on earth by posing as him writing a letter to a pertinent Bonaparnist situated in Paris. Please note that this was the turbulent era that showcased the continuing struggle between the French Monarchy and Napoleon Bonaparte. Edmond is found guilt by the magistrate,Monsieur de Villefort, and is sentenced to life in a terrible prison called the Chateau d'Ilf. There, after planning out his ultimate retribution against his enemies who wrongfully sent him to this wretched place, Edmond miraculously escapes and carries out his wrought plan. This plan, however, is so complicated and somewhat sinister and ungodly that the reader will probably not realize the entireity of it until the end of the book.
Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because it showed me the splendor and urbaneness of Paris in the 19th Century, but also adumbrated a smudge-black picture of the plan in which Edmond, who later became the Count of Monte Cristo, which, in my opinion, was thoughtfully commenced with sharp twists at every semmingly predictable turn. Edmond's acumen for this is unmatched by anyone else, and though he seems affable and urbane on the outside, his real intentions are shrouded in shadows.
As the plan is continued throughout the book, the victims are repudiated from their lofty social positions in the City of Lights, while other innocent people inadverdently die because of its cruelty (to a limited point). I enjoed reading the book very much because the plot was incredibly complex, and that I did not possess the ability to predict what would come next in the next page. Parfait, Monsieur Dumas et Blair!!!
Stars:*****
Initials:S.Y.
Book:ESPN the Magazine, July 13th, 2008 edition
Author:ESPN writers
Overall, I still liked the humorous writing of sports-giants writers such as Bill Simmons and Rick Reilly, but I noticed that their articles did not shine on the major events in sports today. Unfortunately, there are currently no out-of-the-box events that have occurred, other than the murder-suicide of former Tenneessee Titans and future Football Hall-of-Famer Steve McNair. So that is maybe why the subjects were somewhat extrinsic.
There really were no interesting articles, except for one about a UC Santa Barbara soccer star that was accused of rape a year ago and is in California state prison. He's from Nigeria or Kenya, and all the evidence pinpoints to his innocence, but because of his race (he was black, and only 2% of Santa Barbara's denizens share the same skin color), the white judge, along with an all-white jury, declared him guilty. Other than that intriguing article, there was another short one about Li Ning, the monster Chinese brand that opened up their first US store in Oregon, home of Nike. I think that it'll be interesting to see how they fare outside of Asia, because after Nike and Adidas, Li Ning is the 3rd largest shoe manufacturer in the world.
Stars:***
Initials:S.Y.
Book:Today Matters
Author:John C. Maxwell
"Today Matters" is easily one of the most influential books that I have ever read so far in my 14-year old life. In it, Dr. Maxwell, who is nationall known for his inspiring leadership seminars and conferences, describes and accentuates the importance of today. He argues that people need to stop living in the past and dreaming in the future, which I readily agree with him. The book contains 12 key themes, along with self-discovery exercises, about how to make the most of today. Most importantly, Maxwell claims that if you do these today and everyday, you can be successful.
A profusion of reasons of why I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Today Matters" pops into my mind, but the most pertinent one, personally, is that I want to improve the quality of both my life and other people's lives in every way possible, everyday. I want success, that's what everybody aspires to grasp, but I gained the wisdom from this book that if I follow the 12 themes and truly live out to my fullest potential today and everyday, that it will follow like the tail of a comet. That's what important. I feel that equipped with the knowledge that I have retained from this book, I can set myself out at this very moment to become a better person, a better citizen, and a better Christian.
Stars:*********
Initials:S.Y.
Quote:
"Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
-Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, whose life is a masterpiece
Book:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J. K. Rowling
This is a truly wonderful book, I believe it to be the best one out of all the Harry Potter books. This book tells the tale of Harry and his friends as they go around Europe searching for horcruxes. As they do this J. K. Rowling is able to answer any questions you may have had about the series through the course of the last book. I highly recommend this great book as it is a reward for reading the rest of the series.
Book: A Confederacy of Dunces
Author: John Kennedy Tool
A Confederacy of Dunces is easily one of the funniest books I have ever read. It tells the tale of Ignatius Riley and his quest to find and keep a job. As he searches he meets many interesting people,who all impact him in different ways. This is a wonderful tale of a curious character, and I hope that you'll read it.
MUST READ!!!!
Book: The Three Musketeers
Author: Alexandre Dumas
This is a wonderful book and is considered a classic by many. It tells of the adventure of d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. This book is wonderful and is a great adventure story. As they travel they battle enemies, duel each other, and even defend a fort from an entire army by themselves. This book is my favorite book of all time and I highly recommend it.
Stars: *****
Book: The Count of Monte Cristo
Author: Alexandre Dumas
This book is about the life of Edward Dantes. In the beginning he is wrongfully thrown in jail, but he soon breaks out. While he was in there he plotted revenge on every single one of them, and this book tells of how he ingeniously extracts revenge on every single one of them. This is a wonderful tale of adventure and will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more and more. I love this book and highly recommend it.
Stars: *****
Book: Young James Bond, Double or Die
Author: Charlie Higson
This is a good book and a quick read. It is about James Bond and some friends from school as they try to find out what happened to a teacher that went missing. It is a good story with twists and turns that you'll never see coming. It's pretty good book and I recommend it if you are just wanting a quick read.
Stars: ***
Book: The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
Author: A. J. Jacobs
This is book is hilarious! It is about a man who tries to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. As he reads it he learns random and obscure facts that somehow keep relating to his life, but reading the Encyclopedia is also hurting his social life because people think that he is being a "know-it-all." As you read you'll learn about all sorts of things, and you'll finally learn whether a tomato is a fruit or vegetable. This book is very funny and I highly recommend that you read it.
Stars: ****
Book: The Lightening Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
This book is a great blend of mythology and modern-day life. Percy Jackson, after getting attacked by the furies and a minotaur, finds out that he is the son of a god. He then goes to a camp for children of gods and soon disembarks on a quest with some friends. This is a wonderful book filled with adventure and monsters from old myths incorporated into modern-day life. This is a great book for those who love mythology and even those who don't.
Stars: ****
Book:The Stranger
Author: Albert Camus
This book, the story of semi-existentialist Meursault, stands as one of Camus' greatest works. It purports that the only meaning in life, is death. Without giving much away, Meursault essentially murders someone, and is sent to prison, the book consisting mainly of his trial for the murder. The thing that concerns the authorities, is his lack of remorse for the killing, and his lack of grief at the death of his mother. Meursault attempts to use reason to explain to the authorities things such as, "well I wasn't terribly close to my mother" and "shooting him 4 more times, didn't make him more dead". They do not listen to him, and he is executed. Upon his execution, he is expecting a grand crowd, hoping in an odd way that they will hate him, and by hating him at least show some form of caring about him and his fate. Instead, it is a small crowd, that jeeers at him as he is silently beheaded.
The Iliad
Homer
A Greek epic poem composed around the late eighth century, the Iliad tells the story of the last few years of the Trojan war. The battle sequences focus primarily on Achilles, but during the period of time Achilles resides in his tent, the battles of Patroclus and Diomedes and Ajax are covered, as well as many other greater and lesser Trojan and Greek warriors. This epic poem is a must read, I personally consider it to be better than the widely loved Odyssey.
The Odyssey
Homer
This epic poem follows the events of the Iliad. It is the story of the ten year return journey of one of the Trojan war's greatest warriors, Odysseus - the title itself means "of Odysseus". Odysseus battles the will of the gods to return to Penelope and Telemachus in his home in Ithica, Greece. It is a classic tale of perseverance and skill, endowing wisdom on the reader. A must read.
"The Erotic Poems"
Ovid
Don't get the wrong idea about this book from it's title, usage of the Greek word erotic simply means love poems. In these poems, Ovid gives his recommendations for methodology in wooing women. From the solemn to the absurd, he recommends avoiding the lamplight, as it can be deceiving. In the end, he simply states that if all else fails, the theaters are a hotbed for rape... in a very unsettling manner...
The Aeneid
Virgil
The Aeneid, meaning "of Aeneas", is the story of the journey of Aeneas to found the city of Rome in Italia after the Trojan war. Aeneas takes the remaining Trojans who manage to survive the sacking of the city and flees to found the new city of Rome. In the end, he kills the leader of the natives, binding Rome to a fate of eternal civil war. He is not able to found the city of Rome, which is instead founded centuries later in Aeneas' chosen spot.
The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit is the predecessor to the LOTR series, describing the journeys of Bilbo Baggins across middle earth. He fights drgaons, battles through enchanted forests, and travels through mines. This is a great classic adventure story, and a wonderful way to get hooked on Tolkien's amazing series.
-Also a great background in the culture before watching the movies, will lend alot of understanding to the genre.
The Great Train Robbery
Michael Crichton
This books chronicles the preparations, execution, and aftermath of a massive train robbery in Victorian England. The robbery itself is well planned and goes smoothly, but the aftermath is borderline disastrous. For someone interested in Victorian era organized crime, this is a wonderful thriller.
Hamlet
Shakespeare
The story of a man, and man's struggle "to be" in such a cruel world. It tells the tale of the Dutch prince, Hamlet, seeking justice for his murdered father, but he is not sure if the ghost, who told Hamlet to avenge him, was really his father or just a hallucination. As the story progresses Hamlet plots revenge against the king, who murdered his father. This is a wonderful story filled deception, romance, and suspense. I highly recommend it.
Stars: *****
Album: À L'Olympia (Live)
Artist: Émilie Simon
This album is entirely in French. It is an interesting experience to listen to an album in another language, especially this one, because it allows you to really examine the music, and how music is used to meld with language for such sounds.
Album: Absolution
Artist: Muse
This album, considered by many to be their best, is a wonderful blend of vocals and piano, with large hollow stomping beats. The album incites the idea of large numbers of people, and a sort of crescendo tone to something dire. Wonderful music when you're working outside at night.
Add It Up
-The Violent Femmes
Wonderful afternoon music, I must personally say that this makes some of the best driving music out there. It lends light exposed beats to some rough vocals that anyone can sing along to. Wonderful to drive to, though the song topics can occasionally get a little bit racy.
Book: Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
Author: C. S. Lewis
This is a good book, although not as adventurous or exciting as the others. Polly Plummer and Digory Kirke are transported to different worlds by an experiment done by Digory's uncle. As they are in the different worlds they witness the creation of Narnia and its beings. This is a good book and a quick read; I recommend it if you are looking for a quick read.
Stars: ***
Ænima
Tool
This album uses many different elements of music making, from incredible guitar parts, to intense procussion, and very intense synthesizer addons to create a blend of audio experience that's not for everyone. It is a very intense album, good for listening to when you can really focus on it. Nice to solder to.
Book: Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Author: C. S. Lewis
This is the first in the series, and it is one of the best. During the London Blitz, the three Pevensie children are evacuated to Professor Digory Kirke's, also from The Magician's Nephew, mansion. At the mansion, the children find a magical wardrobe, which works as a portal to Narnia. In Narnia they learn many new things and go on a mesmerizing adventure. I highly recommend this book for anytime.
Stars: *****
All America Songs
Winn-Dixie
This is a collection of songs sold at local supermarkets, all in the Country genre [no pun intended]. Songs such as God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner, and America the Beautiful dot the score of this album. Always great to listen to, especially on the 4th of July!
All Time Greatest Hits
Lynard Skynard
A classic southern band, Lynard Skynard is just great music. Great to listen to when working outdoors and cleaning. Sadly, most of the original band was killed in a plane crash, so the glorious days of Lynard Skynard have ended.
Also contains the unofficial anthem of Alabama, Sweet Home Alabama!
Book: Narnia: Prince Caspian
Author: C. S. Lewis
This is a great book filled with adventure and battle. Prince Caspian takes place hundreds of years after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It starts out with Price Caspian running away after trying to be killed. As he is running away he is taken in by mythical creatures. The Pevensies are then transported there and the adventure begins. This is a great book, and I highly recommend it.
Stars: *****
Book: Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Author: C. S. Lewis
This is a good book, although it may get boring at points, but if you stick with it then you'll be happy. It is about Lucy and Edmund Pevensie as they sail through Narnian seas with Prince Caspian and Eustace Scrubb, their cousin who has never been to Narnia before. They then sail around and search for many things. This is a great tale of adventure and a wonderful read. I recommend this book for anytime.
Stars: ****
"Alice In Wonderland" (Movie)
In the movie, Alice is asked to get married to a rich man but she doesn't want to because she is too young to know about marriage. When she follows the rabbit into the hole in the ground she falls into a mystical world where She is told to be the legendary Alice to save everyone from the big headed witch. She dosnt beleive them because she dosn't remember the dreams she had about the world when she was little.
stars:****
JW
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