Day 6 "The girl who played with fire"

The Girl who played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Of the three books in the entire "Millennium Trilogy" this is probably my least favorite. The lead character "Liz Salander" goes into hiding for about half the book and for me there were parts where the book dragged. Once I got through the middle half of the book it did start to pick up some momentum which leads you into book three.

This is the book that twists the entire plot of the first book into the center of a new and bolder plot. The entire series takes on the form of a spy/secret agent/espionage book. Which, frankly, is right up my alley considering that I dig James Bond-like stuff.

It's too bad that author passed away and that these books were published after his death. People would have been screaming for more of "Liz Salander".

Day 5 "The girl with the dragon tattoo"

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

A book that I have been seeing on book store shelves for a very long time and my curiosity finally got the best of me. I had consistently been seeing the Stieg Larsson titles breaching the top of New York Best Selling lists for over a year! What really tipped the scale for me was when Stephen King had listed the entire "Millennium Trilogy" as a must read on his 2010 Summer reading list.

When I heard the word "trilogy" that really peaked my interest. I had no idea that the other books that I randomly passed by in the book store were any way, shape, or form, connected? And yet after thinking about it momentarily it all came together and made perfect sense. So, I braved enough courage to order the first book on my Kindle and read it with ease.

At first, I wasn't sure I was going to grasp "The girl with the dragon tattoo". It was very Swedish in nature and that makes a lot of sense being that the entire book takes place in Sweden!! And the author himself was a longtime author and editor of a Swedish magazine and newspaper.

Lots of names, lots of facts, lots of things are thrown at the reader and it can be hard to digest for a short sitting. HOWEVER, if you get to the middle of the book it really begins to take shape and develops a life of its own. If you get through book one....you won't be able to NOT read book two. You guessed it. If you get through book two...you won't be able to NOT read book three. It comes together marvelously in three separate books.

I have always had a little sick interest in serial killers and what makes them tick. So, the fact that this book takes that twist really pulled me into the plot.

Day 4 "Animal Farm"

"Animal Farm" by George Orwell

This thought provoking book really got me thinking about power
and control within government. The analogy was clearly a depiction of communism.

You had the farm animals over throw an existing government for the good of the entire farm. Everything was equal and every animal worked together. Except for the pigs. They were put into the leadership role and all was fair at the beginning until Napoleon took over.

Again, you could CLEARLY see the comparison between the pigs as Stallen and Trotsky. And you couldn't help but start to feel for the rest of the animals as the pigs gained control of the farm and stamp out an positive idea of communism could have been. It opened itself up to dictatorship. It opened itself up for colossal failure because of greed and corruption. The animals portraying the parts couldn't have been more perfect.

The only sad thing is the lack of a sequel. It would have been
interesting to see a followup book that showed what happened to the farm once Napoleon was dead and gone. Almost like a mirror to the Soviet Union. Animal Farm part 2.

Day 3 "Lord of the Flies"

"Lord of the Flies" By William Golding

Another classic that starts out innocent with a group of boys stranded on a remote island. But the book takes an evil twist as the group finds themselves going into animal-savage mode and fighting for power and ultimate survival.

What I found most striking in the book was the inner animal and basic instincts in us all. The struggle for control and power and the survival of the fittest. A character like "Piggy" wouldn't survive long in the elements because he was, in fact, in superior. His only way for survival was to align himself with a more powerful tribe. In the event that the tribe would fail or dissolve it left the character of "Piggy" out in the open and vulnerable.

The ending is what really jumps out to me. That the "animal" within was set to kill, set to hunt and destroy and end life. But as soon as civil order presented itself back into the equation the inner animal, the inner savage, the inner evil...disappeared. Yet.....it was there. Maybe its pointing to the fact that the same inner animal is within us all? Maybe its just waiting to rear its ugly head? Lets hope not.

Day 2 "Jekyll and Hyde"

"The Strange Case Of DR. JEKYLL and MR. HYDE"

By

Robert Louis Stevenson

Novel number two in the leather bound book by Robert Louis Stevenson.

This book was a bit shorter and lays the foundations of a popular story told in many different ways about the good and evil found in one person.

The story of Jekyll and Hyde transcends generations and most everyone is accustomed to the story.

What I found most interesting in the book was the ending. How the author led the reader to a point where DR. Jekyll himself was narrating. It had reached a point where slowly Mr. Hyde was taking over and unfortunately, for the good doctor, the drugs that would subdue Hyde were running out.

So many stories could spawn off from this novel and have. Even a musical was derived from its written context. It was good to have read it. It does make me ponder life in general, and how our own selfish motives could lead us all down a path of ruin. Lets hope that the good in us all will prevail. Even the guiltiest of parties should feel a little sympathy for Jekyll.

Day 1 "Treasure Island"

"Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson

I had read the child version of the story when I was younger, but I had recently purchased a nice leather bound book of 7 novels by Robert Louis Stevenson's works and thought I would read through the book.

Treasure Island happened to be the first novel in the book and it read quickly.

Naturally a timeless classic with the character of Long John Silver forever being immortalized.

There were parts of the novel that naturally were left out of the children's version of the story, and is was a lot more detailed and bloody. Especially the scene when Jim (our hero) comes face to face with Israel Hands on the ship.

Some of the Old English was a little wordy in the read, but was still a good classic to go back over.

"Aye Aye Captain and Shiver me Timbers!"

The 365 Day Journey

I was reading a short article on a book titled, "Tolstoy and the Purple Chair", and the title grabbed my attention.

First, I had recently downloaded Tolstoy's "War and Peace" and wanted to get the writers review on what she thought of the timeless classic.

Second, I discovered that the author had turned to books as a form of therapy after losing her eldest sister. This therapy turned into a 365 day journey.

Third, it was this 365 journey that fascinated me enough to get the book. (Which I will be blogging about in future entries.) The author went on a 365 day book reading therapy. One book a day over 365 straight long days!! That's amazing!! (I'm not sure how many have ever ready "War and Peace"??? Can you read that in one sitting?? Can you read that in one day? Just a thought.

I felt compelled to join this 365 day challenge and start reading and blogging my way through the book world!!!

I have always loved books. They fascinate me. Some of my readings are simple and yet some of my readings can be quite complicated. Weird? Yes. Sometimes I dabble in the weird and strange. I love to dive into mystery and suspense. Romance? Not so much. Although I have been suckered into a few romance flicks without really knowing. Sometimes I find myself going back and reading the "Classics". Books that I have read when I was younger, but some that have always been listed as classics but my eyes have never been lucky enough to glance upon.

So.......

My journey starts today. Here is to a year of good reading.......

(On another note....Here is what I hope to accomplish from this mini adventure into reading. I hope to find some great books. I hope to learn and to lose myself in the art of good reading and writing. And I hope that if failure strikes early in NOT being able to accomplish the task of reading ONE BOOK A DAY. That I don't give up and that I continue pressing forward in the journey ahead.).

Here's to reading.