The Hobbit by JRR Tolken (Alright)

Sorry I'm late posting, and, truth be told, this isn't my normal review (I think I'm skipping the summary), but I figure there's no way anyone will read this because it's a super well known book.  Also, since I'm sure there are hundreds of good reviews out there for this book, I'm not supplying one.  If you don't want an honest opinion, don't read this blog.

I'm sure that you've heard about The Lord of the Rings.  I'd be amazed if you hadn't.  Anyway, a long, long time ago, I gave in and started reading The Hobbit... and I finished it sometime last week.  Thoroughly unimpressed with it.  The first hundred pages were torture to go through.  It got better after that, and I don't think I would have had as much trouble with the idea that I didn't like it if it hadn't had so much hype. 

I really had a problem with all the riddles and songs.  There was one every ten pages, and every time I saw one, I wanted to scream.  One chapter was almost completely riddles.  Personally, I don't find that particularly entertaining.

On a side note, at the end, *SPOILER ALERT* When Thorin died, it wasn't obvious.  I had to re-read the paragraphs before it, before it made sense.  It seemed like he just left instead of died.  *SPOILER OFF*

All together, I wasn't impressed, but I will still probably read the other book with the hope that they are better because #1, The Hobbit is a prequel, which is a sign that it's worse than the other books and #2, I want to understand references to it. 

On different topics:

1. I started watching Burn Notice, a TV show, and am really enjoying it.
2. I re-read BZRK (still amazing the 2nd time) and am psyched for book 2.  (February 26)

That's all for this week.  Sorry again that I was late, and I apologize for all of the awkward sentences above.  My grammer ran out the window tonight.

Feel free, as always, to comment.

The Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Shusterman (Awesome)

I'm going to get right into it this week, so here's the cover:

The cover shows metal glove shooting lasers out of the fingers.  I really like the lettering on it; it really sets the mood.  And the title, surprisingly not actually depressing, and perfect once you've read the book.

To tell you the truth, I would feel guilty even writing a summary of this book.  The whole thing is revealed as it goes along and you can't summarize it without mention a main point, which would ruin a chunk of the beginning of the book.  I read it without having any idea what it was about (I love Neal Shusterman) and that worked out great, for the best even.  I'll put in a summary at the end of the post, just in case, and I'll make sure it won't ruin the surprise.

It was an amazing story with action, love, random funny bits, and a couple dramatic twists.  I thought I should put in the first sentence because, well, I don't really know.  Anyway: "Ethan died of a burst appendix."  (Random thought, why do Ethans never live long in TV shows and books?  My advice is to never get too attached to a character named Ethan; you'll regret it.) 

I would definitely suggest reading this book.  It wasn't long, maybe 200 pages, but it was definitely worth reading.  And the ending...  Well, if you've ever read a book by Neal Shusterman, you'll know the kind of ending he usually uses.  One that wraps everything up nicely except for one thing, which the reader is almost certain they know how will end up.  It leaves you hanging, not enough to make a sequel, but makes you think about it for a long, long time.  They should give him a prize for his amazing (if sometimes sad) endings.

Oh, random tid bit.  There's this character, Ralphy Sherman, who appears in a whole bunch of Neal's books.  He is a guy who "stretches the truth" a long ways.  Keep an eye out for him, makes it a bit more interesting.

And here's where I'll write my summary.  I'll try my hardest to make it spoiler free.

Jason lives in a nice little town where everything is normal and nice.  Nothing interesting ever happens.  That is, until his friend Ethan dies.  Then strange things start happening.  The janitor gives Jason something that, let's just say, is very unusual.  Jason and Paula start poking around the town and find somethings are not as they seem.  If fact, nothing at all is how it seems.  And it all seems to connect with a problem that happened in Old Town twenty years before and the fact that Grant (the janitor) has his satellite dish pointed in the wrong direction.

Once again, this is an amazing book and I would recommend it to every one.

P.S. I had a realization the other day that the Gone Series has a couple bits that I would feel guilty recommending to anyone under twelve years old, starting in the second or third book.  I mean, most would be okay with it, but I need to point it out just the same.  I think that currently it is my favorite series. (It's amazing, and I haven't gotten tired of it like Harry Potter, yet.)  So don't think I'm complaining.  It's just that, well, there is a little PG 13 content a little later in the series.  (I hope you know what I mean there.  If not, ask in the comments, but that's super uncomfortable, so please don't.)  I thought I'd throw that all out there and hope it doesn't deter you from the series because it is beyond amazing. I mean, seriously, go out and read it.