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I have read many books that involve friendship. But I don’t recall reading a book with friendship as its central theme, until this week. I would have preferred the book to be more modern but that would be an absurd demand.

So this book takes place in the 30s and follows two traveling workers (George and Lenny) trying to make enough money to fulfill their dream – to have their own farm. Lenny is mentally handicapped, he seems to have the strength and size of a bear, but the logic of a child. And so, we have George looking after Lenny from the beginning of the story. When they did find a job at a farm, the reader is introduced to a bunch of interesting characters. But soon our protagonists realize that things will be more complicated than simply making some money and buying a farm.

This novel – though short – is the ultimate story of friendship. Masterfully written to symbolize and foreshadow events in genius ways. I’ve stated that this was a story of friendship, but more broadly, this is a story of relationships (or lack of it) with people and that is represented fairly and intelligently.

The story started of strong but the ending was amazing. I would recommend this novel to all readers 14 and above. I give it a 5/5.

So, instead of me ranting of what’s wrong or right with the today’s reading materials and television programs, I will dole out a book that I think EVERYONE should read. Mostly because it truly is a true classic (That’s right, THAT’S HOW TRUE IT IS!). Some readers may have read it, others not. If you have read it, well… no harm in reading it again. If not, definitely add it to a summer reading list (I mean if the reader has one. It really is handy.)

It’s own meaning contradicts itself.  Used in dialogue and text throughout movie and book history! That’s right! It’s Catch-22 by Joseph Heller! A novel for the ages and one that will be embedded in the annals of time (or at least those of the novels).  I can say this because the name itself has been used in all forms of entertainment. For example:

Protagonist 1: …and that’s our plan, we’ll go around here do this that, and Kalamazoo with this. But, we’ll kazzoodle this just to oppose that thingamahoozits there.

Protagonist 2: So… it’s a Catch-22?

Protagonist 1: Precisely!

That contradiction at the beginning (well, in my own made up version of an contradictory plan) is what Catch-22 is. This plan will seem ridiculous. Only to have another say it’s a Catch-22.

Well, this is the catch of Catch-22. There is only one Catch and that is (of course) Catch-22 (Now this is where military Heller’s brilliant satire comes to play). Catch-22 deems that if you are sane enough, then you will be forced to fly more missions. BUT when the bombardier continues to fly more missions, he is deemed INSANE. The only way to be grounded from the missions is to ask. BUT The second you ask, you are deemed SANE and are sent back for more missions. So, in the short of it all, you win some, you lose some.

Here’s a bit of what the book is about (aside from the Catch). Meet Yossarian, the captain of a bomber plane in World War II during the Italian campaign. He does his duty well and does his country (America by the way) good. But, there’s only one problem. Yossarian doesn’t want to be a captain. Really, he’d rather be called a coward and be sent back home then be called brave and test fate as he bombs the enemy behind the lines. So, the whole story is of Yossarian trying to survive World War II and somehow escape it too.

This is a great book that I want to recommend to everyone out there reading this. Once read, and you enjoyed it, pass it along to others, that’s the only catch.

“The answer is 42” that is perhaps my favorite quote from all the books I’ve read.  I was looking for a book that’s funny and enjoyable for a youth audience. That’s when I came across this book. This book is the first installment of “a trilogy in five parts” it is a science fiction book that is very funny but quite unique in style.

The humor of this novel is not that of the outrageous, laugh out loud type. It uses satire and irony at a galactic scale to poke fun at pretty much everything in life. An example of this humor can be found in just about every page. The humor is very intelligent and is often backed up by science.

So basically one day, during lunch, an alien fleet arrives demolished our planet to make room for a hyperspace bypass (this event is foreshadowed in a very funny way). It is quite lucky for our protagonist that his friend –an unemployed actor- is actually a galactical Hitchhiker who has been stranded on earth. At the last possible moment they hitch a ride on one of the alien spaceships and flew away leaving the rest of earth and its population to be vaporized. Now they are ready to face the real problems.

Despite the humor and the amazing situations, the reader can still take this novel seriously because of its genius plot and it suspense. I see the humor as an extra topping on the cake.

This is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone 13 and above.  I give it a 5/5.

It has become extremely difficult for me to find youth novels for guys. I was asked “why don’t you just read girl books”. Well the answer is… I don’t think girl books are very good. But when I think about it, are girl books really inferior or are they just of a different style, and why does it seem like I can’t find any guy books?

Guy books tend to focus on action. Emotion is discussed, but to a minimum, no more than what’s needed to move the plot forward. Guy books also tend to deal with guy issues and interests. Guy books are, in general, more violent and faster paced. Guy books are to the point and even when it comes to “girly subjects” like love, guy books tend to make it masculine. Guy books also seem edgier.

Girl books obviously focus on emotion. Love and relationships tend to be a central theme. Girl books may include violence, but they focus on the emotional effects the violence cause. Girl books are generally subtle and are a lot deeper when it comes to emotions. Girl books often reach levels that guy books never touch on.

So really, it is opinion, not anything that can be judged, but that doesn’t answer the other question: why is there such a relatively small amount of guy books?

I believe that the reason there aren’t as many guy books as girl books is because guys don’t read as much, because we have short attention spans and want fast paced action books.  We don’t find fast paced action books because all the books we come across are girl books, and there are much more girl books because girls read more… and the cycle continues.

So, I believe that one of my goals on this website is to find the good guy books out there and review them so that guys have a reason to read.

What do you think is better: guy books or girl books (please comment below)?  And if you have read a guy book that you think is pretty good, feel free to comment.

Tune in next week for my review on Lord of the Flies.

It’s been a relatively long time since I’ve read a funny novel, so reading this was quite refreshing. The story is told in a unique way, it manages to be funny and still present a realistic interpretation of high school.

The story is told though the journal entries of a social outcast named Mike “Storky” Pomerantz’s. Mike is our insecure protagonist; he is going through a lot of problems and just wants to get through high school without being completely humiliated, is that too much to ask for? The answer is usually yes, it seems like he keeps finding ways to embarrass himself, and it can often be quite funny.

It turns out that despite being highly intelligent “storky” has a lot to learn if he wants to fit-in in high school, and also a lot to learn about people and life in general.

One thing I like about this book was that since it was written in journal entries, the reader can clearly see the character changing. This is an interesting book that’s quite hilarious and great for anyone entering high school (though it might make more sense for the guys). I would recommend this to anyone 13 and above, and I give this book a 4/5.

I’ve always wanted to figure out what novel is my absolute favorite, but since I’ve read so many books, I always end up with a huge list and I just can’t seem to pick my favorite. So this week I decided to compile a list of my favorite 10 novels. The list is constructed in no specific order and series only take up one spot. So here it is.

-The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, (book 3 not out yet) this series is great for teenagers even who don’t often read. It is beautifully written, suspenseful, and exciting, both guys and girls will love it.

-His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, a genius series that involves science, religion, war, and politics. This is as epic as stories get and yet it is told mostly through the eyes of children.

-World War Z by Max Brooks, a detailed story about a zombie war written in the format of a bunch of interviews. It involves every aspect of war and is the best zombie novel I’ve every read.

-I am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, great youth novel that is realistic yet remains motivational and optimistic.

-The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, kind similar to with “to kill a mocking bird” but also very different and extremely original.

-Paper Towns by John Green, a very funny yet extremely deep story, one that speaks to today’s teens.

-Looking for Alaska by John Green, a serious, deep and moving story. This story says a lot about life and mortality.

-Percy Jackson and The Olympians series by Rick Riordan, interesting novel that anyone can enjoy.

-The “GONE” novels Michael grant, a great interpretation of an adultless world, exciting and suspenseful.

-The Fade by Chris Wooding, beautifully imagined world, but perhaps the most depressing novel out there, but I still really enjoy it.

And that’s the list, not much else to say except that “twilight” was not included for reasons that should be obvious

Last week I reviewed a novel called “I am the messenger” by Markus Zusak. I decided that since that book was so awesome, I would read and review another one of his novels. So this week I’m reviewing “the book thief” by Markus Zusak.

This novel is narrated by “death”, I found that quite interesting. Death is represented as a conscious being, with emotions and morals. In this novel death is not evil but wise and fair. It is very strange to have a narrator that is all knowing and constantly jumps through time, a narrator who knows the ending before the story begins, but I found it quite enjoyable.

Despite the narrator being death the protagonist of this story is a 9 year old girl named Liesel. She is a poor girl growing up with her foster parents in Nazi Germany, this is a story of her growing up and discovery the different aspects of life and books-something she can not resist.

This novel reminded me of “to kill a mockingbird” with the way society is explored though the perspective of maturing children. This story is moving and beautifully written.

One of my favorite things about this novel was how death believed that humans are evil but at the same time capable of great beauty. I would recommend this to anyone 14+ and enjoys reading; I give this novel a 5/5.

I’m guessing most of you have read The Twilight Saga or at least heard of it.  Earlier this week, Sam posted her thoughts on this popular series by Stephenie Meyer – the pros of the Saga, if you will.  Now here I am to tell the other side of the story: The Cons.  Though the books were better then the movies, the books weren’t that much better…

• Most of the Twilight books are too easy, and boring.
• The plot was shallow.
• The quality of writing was poor.
• They should be considered childrens books, but the content is inappropriate for children.  There is a lot of violence in the book, and children really shouldn’t be reading romance novels.  The only book in the whole series that was not completely inappropriate would have to be the first one.
• The Twilight series is cliche and a lot of it doesn’t make sense.  How would it be possible for the Cullens to sparkle in the sun and for no one to notice?  If vampires are so powerful, why would they care about staying a secret?
• Stephenie Meyer recreated the vampire myth and turned vampires into fake silly mythical creatures. Vampires are not supposed to sparkle in the sun.
• It also has a limited view of women, and Bella isn’t a very good role model for young girls…
• …Bella gives up her college plans for Edward, and she constantly needs  to be saved.
• Rosalie is obsessed with her appearance and very jealous.
• Men are portrayed as stronger, more intelligent, powerful and independent,
• Women are portrayed as weak, shallow, and always needing to be saved.
• Even though Edward has obsessive, violent, possessive, stalker like qualities, hes described as the perfect lover.
• And honestly…Edward is just kind of a creepy person, lol.

And there you have it, some of the cons of Twilight.  The books weren’t that great, and I think there are a lot of other vampire novels that were so much better.