Matched II

     I've read more of Matched, written by Ally Condie, and I can't put it down! I've only read up to chapter four and there's already challenges that Cassia has come face to face with. In my last blog, the book began with Cassia, her mother, and her father going into the city for the matching banquet where Cassia will be paired with a husband. While on the train, she talks to her childhood best friend Xander, who is also going to the banquet to be matched. Both Cassia and Xander are nervous about meeting their matches, but they both confide in the fact that the Society does not make mistakes. Once Cassia arrives at the banquet hall, she notices a large screen that takes up most of the wall. This is for viewing your match; usually the person that is matched to you lives in a different part of the country (they are matched by personality comparability and then go where the Society tells them to live). After a few people are matched, it is Cassia's turn. To her surprise, no one shows up on the screen! That means only one thing; her match is in the room with her. Cassia is delighted to find out that she is matched with her best friend Xander and, as is customary, she is given a small computer card with all of Xander's personal information on it. Cassia really won't need it since she and Xander are such good friends, but she wants to view it anyway. She rushes home to view the card, but when she puts it into her computer, a different face pops up! It's Ky, another one of her childhood friends and what they call an aberration: a dangerous member of the Society.

Matched I

     I just received a book for Christmas called Matched, written by Ally Condie, from a friend; I've only read the first few chapters but it seems like a good book. The book takes place in what seems to be future America (I'm just guessing; the book doesn't really say). Condie describes it as more civilized and orderly than the world we live in today. The Society, as it is called in the book, runs the entire nation in a structured and orderly fashion; there is no crime, no sickness, no poverty.  Citizens don't have a say like we do. They do as they are told. Guided by Officials, their version of police officers, the citizens are placed into different careers based on their skills, they are told where to live, and they are matched with a spouse that is chosen for them (if they wish). Not only does the government do this for all its citizens, but it also requires everyone to carry a small case, containing three pills, wherever they go. The first two pills, blue and green, are fairly harmless; they calm anxiety and can be taken whenever the carrier wants. The third pill, the red one, is a mystery; no one is allowed to even touch it unless an official tells you to do so. Pretty crazy right? The book's main character is a young girl named Cassia. The story begins with Cassia and her family heading to the matching banquet; she will soon find out who her chosen husband will be. It sounds like an interesting story and I am looking forward to reading more!

There are Rules of Being Human??

I actually find it hard to believe that someone made a list of RULES of being human. RULES? Since when does a person have to follow rules to be considered a human? How can there be a list of rules to follow to be considered human if there are so many unique people living on Earth? At best, this is a list of statements that people agree with or disagree with. Being human means that you think for yourself, you have compassion towards others, and that you are charged with responsibility for your own actions; it is not a list; however, the items on the list are valid. For example, the first thing on the list is that you will receive a body and, weather you like it or not, its yours to keep. This is painfully true; what you get is what you get, but this is hardly a rule of being human. This is a reminder that you need to treat your body and the gift of life with dignity and reverence. Not everyone listens to this reminder, though, and they are still considered human! Are you still human if you have tattoos? Yes. Are you still human if you have piercings? Yes. Are you still human if your body takes constant abuse like that of an MMA fighter? Yes. So, to sum this up, this list of rules for being human should not discourage you or make you change your ways to conform to this list; it is merely someone's opinion. Remember, every person is unique and every person has amazing qualities that make them who they are.

The Lovely Bones Character Overview

The main character in the novel The Lovely Bones, a fourteen year old girl named Susie Salmon, affects almost all of the characters by her actions or by her presence both in the other characters’ lives and in proximity.  One example of Susie’s actions that affect other characters, in this case her mom, dad, little sister and little brother, is her poor choice to follow her neighbor into the cornfield to see the fort he supposedly build for all the neighborhood children.  Susie’s actions here cause her to be late for dinner, which nearly sends her parents into panic attacks.  They were so worried about her that they called the police and barely slept until they reported any evidence to them.  When her family found out that she was dead, the news put her whole family into a deep depression and a state of shock.  This state of depression and shock is mostly seen in Susie’s father, who would lock himself in his study every day after Susie’s death.  Her mother was equally depressed, but handled it in a different way; she had an affair with the chief detective who was working on Susie’s murder case then left her husband and living children out of guilt for her actions.  Susie’s little sister, Lindsey, and Susie’s little brother, Buckley, were affected by both Susie’s actions and by their mother’s actions and had to take care of their heartbroken father.  Their mother’s actions also affected Lindsey and Buckley’s grandmother, who moved into their house after their mother left to help take care of them and their father.  That is how the main character’s actions affect other people in The Lovely Bones.

Recommending the Eragon series

Eragon, Eldest, Brisinger, and Inheritance, all written by Christopher Paolini, are extremely captivating books that explore a world of dragons, magic, and the comeback of extinct protectors of very different races against evil.  The series follows the adventures of a young boy named Eragon, who lives with his Uncle ,Garrow, and his cousin, Roran in Palencar Valley, located in the continent of Alegasia.  After hunting alone one day in the dense forest near his home, nicknamed The Spine, Eragon finds an oblong, blue stone and, thinking that he could bring home a little extra money for his family, he takes the stone in hopes of selling it at the market.  However, Eragon soon finds out that he hasn't found a stone at all, but an egg when it hatches unexpectedly and a small blue dragon appears.  He makes a special connection when he touches the baby dragon, whom he names Saphira, that is marked by a silvery tattoo on the palm of his hand.  This tattoo marks him as an ancient protecter of humans, elves and dwarves: he is now a dragon rider, but he is now in danger.  The king of Alegasia, Galbatorix, was the leader of a traitorous band of dragon riders known as the Forsworn who exterminated the dragon riders and will stop at nothing to ensure that they do not return.  All of a sudden Eragon finds himself caught in the midst of this century old war with no one by his side except his dragon, Saphira, and his mentor and former dragon rider, Brom. Eragon's connections with Saphira and Brom see him through this amazing world of magic that I strongly recommend for those looking for adventure, action, friendship, and romance all combined into four books that are impossible to put down.

Recommending The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones is one of the best books I have read so far.  It was sad, scary, somewhat disturbing, but it was also an absolutely amazing tale of a young girl's version heaven with a view of the world below.  The Lovely Bones is the story of a fourteen-year-old girl named Susie Salmon who was brutally murdered by her neighbor, Mr. Harvey, however only Susie, Mr. Harvey and the reader share that information.  Almost immediately after her murder, she is separated from her body and enters a heaven-like purgatory where she can watch the lives of her family and friends (in this book, there are two "levels" of heaven; Susie still wishes to watch those who are still living, so she is in the first level.  When the person who has died finally accepts their death and stops watching the world of the living, he/she moves into a different heaven, one completely void of pain, however the people who enter this level must freely give up watching the world of the living).  From this heaven, Susie is almost tortured by watching her family struggle with her death and with the dead-end police investigation of her murder over the years.  Honestly, the plot of this story is hard to explain, and reading this description of The Lovely Bones does not compare to reading the actual story.

The Hunger Games Trilogy Re-read*

I recently started re-reading The Hunger Games trilogy and I'm finding that they are just as exciting and as vivid as the first time I read them.  The reason that I love these books is because these are the very first books in which I can relate to the attributes, personalities and choices of two characters: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.  Katniss is a very strong, independent young woman who has taken up the role of the head of the household since her father dies, leaving behind Katniss, her little sister, Prim, and her mother to take care of each other.  Everyone would expect Katniss' mother to take care of her children, but she falls into a deep and immobilizing depression and the responsibility is left to Katniss.  I can relate to Katniss' newfound responsibility when her father died because I felt that I had the same responsibility when my father would deploy overseas for up to six months at a time.  Though my mother was not like Katniss' mother and I didn't have to hunt for food to feed my family, I felt extremely protective of my family, especially of my little brother, just like Katniss felt extremely protective of Prim.  Peeta, on the other hand, is a soft-spoken yet passionate and dependable young man who selflessly cares for Katniss, her wellbeing and her safety throughout the games.  I would say that I'm similar to Peeta in the sense that I'm very passionate about the people I love and the things I love doing and when it comes to being there for those who need me I would say that I'm dependable, but I would say that I'm not as soft-spoken as Peeta.  So, although I do relate to both Peeta and Katniss, I seem to have more in common with Katniss than I do with Peeta.