Book of the Month - May 2011

The Book of the Month award for May 2011 goes to...

...Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder!

Kind of like last month, this wasn't too hard of a choice. Though I love the Gone series, the later books in the series aren't quite up to par with Inside Out, and though some aspects of Inside Out and 1984 were very similar, Inside Out was a much more enjoyable read than 1984.

Inside Out was excellent, and though it took a bit to get into, the suspense in this book was created beautifully, and the many unexpected twists and turns leave you shocked. This is certainly a book dystopian lovers should read!

Please leave any comments on the book, or your personal book of the month as well!

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Inside Out

Inside Out

Maria V. Snyder

Synopsis:
Trella hates her life as a scrub. She is constantly working, cleaning the ducts and pipes that fill the Inside. When not working, she is packed into dangerously close quarters with thousands of other lowly scrubs that live in the lower two levels of the Inside. Normally, Trella tries to be alone and seek solitude in the maze of pipes, but when her friend Cog introduces her to a new Prophet speaking of a way out of the Inside, Trella begins to look for crucial information that can help her, and the rest of the scrubs, escape. Soon, the Pop Cops get suspicious, but to Trella's surprise, the other scrubs begin to cover for her. Trella's list of allies begins to grow, but she knows that the stakes are high, and unless they escape soon, the revolution will fail...

My Thoughts:
Inside Out kind of seemed like a mix of 1984, Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3), and parts of Pathfinder. Trella is fairly similar to Katniss in that she hates the governing body that is oppressing the majority of the population, and then becomes a symbol of revolution. However the government itself reminds me of the one in 1984. The Pop Cops that will arrest and kill you if they suspect you are even thinking "treasonous" thoughts are much like the Thought Police. This combination makes for a really suspenseful book, and especially toward the end, the plot takes turns that you would hardly expect! The plot gets rather complicated quickly, so it was hard to write a short synopsis that covers very much of the story, but believe me that this was a fantastic book that you should definitely read.

Questions for Thought:
1. Were you Trella, would you have listened to Cog and the Prophet and got his tapes?

2. If you were involved in the beginnings of an escape attempt and had learned that LC Karla was watching you, would you continue?

3. Would you have trusted Riley? Were you Riley, would you have trusted Trella?

4. Would you have let a previous traitor be a part of your revolution?

5. How would you set up a new government for the Inside?

6. Knowing that the jobs of the scrubs still will need to be done, how would you go about deciding who does "scrub work" and who gets the nicer jobs?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Blog Update with Broken Records!

Hey everyone! Book Talk has broken some important records!

Okay, to start off with, this has been the longest amount of time I have consecutively blogged on my blog. I have had 3-6 blogging streaks (I can't remember the exact number. If you have some free time on your hands and it means that much to you, you can go look in the archives and figure it out yourself.), and this one has been been 6 months long! I intend to just keep letting that number grow, but I thought I'd share the milestone.

Related to that previous record, 2011 now has 37 posts, beating out 2006's 32! I was going to tell you this new accomplishment earlier, but I figured I'd wait until I could reveal the final record as well.

The final record broken is actually happening RIGHT NOW! (For me anyway, since I am writing the post right now...) THIS post, yeah, this one RIGHT HERE is the 100th post on Book Talk! That's quite a few, and once again, it should keep on growing!

Alright, now that the records are out of the way, I get to talk about whatever pops into my head! First of all, I want to say happy end of the school-year to everyone! Not sure if you are out yet or have been out for a week, but it is about that time of year when we get to kick back and relax for a few months before doing it all over again. Make sure to visit your public library or local bookstore and keep reading throughout the summer!

I promised I would keep you updated on Hunger Games stuff, so here is latest I have found:
This is the first picture revealed of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. Although the she is 20, in this image at least she seems believable age-wise. The hair is very good and the outfit seems to be what they describe in the book. The only thing that doesn't make me think Katniss is that Katniss is supposed to have been nearly starving most of her life, where in the picture she looks skinny, but still well-fed. I totally understand that to look starved would be nearly impossible to fake for a movie, and it really is a minor detail. Really, most of my doubt for Katniss has been wiped away. I just can't wait for more news!

Hmm....I think that is all of the book-related news that I have for the moment. My closing announcement is that I will be at a camp from mid-June to early July, and I have no idea when I will be even able to read, let alone post on the blog. I hope to be able to still get a lot read and have books to review when I get back, but if you don't hear from me for a few weeks, know that I am not giving up on the blog, I'm just away for a while.

As always, please leave some recommendations for books to read, your own thoughts on recent books, any new Hunger Games news (or other book-movie news), and any suggestions for the blog in general!

Happy reading!

Corey

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Plague

Plague
Gone Series #4

Michael Grant

Synopsis:
With Nerezza destroyed, Drake incarcerated, Caine gone, and people hard at work doing their jobs, things seem like they might be peaceful in the FAYZ. However, Albert fears that the water supply is going to run out very soon, so he sends Sam, Dekka, Jack, and Taylor to look for a new lake a few miles away. As they leave, a strange flu seems to be spreading throughout Perdido Beach. Kids are developing severe fevers and begin coughing so hard they literally cough up their lungs and die. Dahra is trying to deal with it the best she can, but without proper training or supplies, she feels helpless. Soon, Drake breaks out of his basement prison and is on the loose, looking for the gaiaphage. Perdido Beach is in chaos, but Sam, many miles away, is oblivious to their troubles. After happening upon a train full of sweet Nutella and sodas, Sam and his crew are in high spirits. Even better, a new site to relocate by a huge new lake is found, but while exploring, Sam and his friends are ambushed by Drake and his new insect army! With little help to fight Drake, and a whole army of car-sized beetles storming Perdido Beach, the only hope may lie in Sam's dire enemy, Caine!

My Thoughts:
Plague may have been the best book in the series to date. Though it was super sad to see Sam and Astrid's relationship crumble, there seemed to be just as much hope in this book as despair. After the weird run-in with Hunter, Sam's excursion makes the reader happy due to all of the exciting new discoveries, mainly the train. I was really hoping the whole time that Diana would be successful in transforming Caine, even if I disapprove of her methods, and I'm glad she left him when he changed. I hope she continues to stay a good person up at the lake. ***SPOILER ALERT*** The whole meeting that split the kids between Sam and Caine was satisfying because they were able to meet peacefully, but I am super disappointed that more didn't go with Sam. I mean, come ON people, can you really forget that Caine was the reason your town was burned down, that your power is off, and you have a bunch of dead friends??? ***SPOILER OVER*** I continue to really like Quinn now that he has accepted his role as fisherman. I am still confused as to what Pete really is, and what his relationship with the gaiaphage, but I think we will get some answers in the next book. The only problem is, I have caught up to the author and have no more books waiting! :( Really, the book was very good, and the mixture of happiness and sorrow/anxiety seemed a little more balanced this time. Great series!

Questions for Thought:
1. What do you think Caine's child will be like?

2. Caine has now helped Sam fight Drake/gaiaphage twice. Can he be trusted?

3. Do you think that Drake can be destroyed?

4. What do YOU think happened to Little Pete?

5. If you were just an average kid, would you go with Sam or stay with Caine at the end of the book? What if you were Quinn? Or Albert?

6. As always, would you leave the FAYZ or stay? Does this differ from your previous answers? Why?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Lies

Lies
Gone Series #3

Michael Grant

Synopsis:
Life in the FAYZ is worse than ever. The power is now off forever with the power plant destroyed and Zil's Human Crew is growing more openly antagonistic toward the "freaks" in Perdido beach. Sam is growing frustrated with the slow pace that the council is addressing the problem, and friction is growing between Sam and Astrid in particular. Sam learns that Orsay, a girl who can enter the dreams of others, claims to be able to see people outside of the FAYZ. She and her new assistant, Nerezza, are spreading the news that it is safe to "poof" at fifteen, that it brings you back into the real world. Eventually, a vision shows her that death is another way out. When the council hears of this, they try to hush it up, scared that kids are really committing suicide. However, the real trouble, as usual, comes from Caine. Caine and the Coates kids are starving, but Bug knows of an island that should be stocked with enough food for months. Caine manipulates Zil to begin a fire through the town as a diversion to escape, and for Sam, Edilio, and the rest of Perdido Beach, the trouble is only beginning...

My Thoughts:
Sorry for the rather poor synopsis, I read this book and the next, Plague, back to back, so the details run together and I kept thinking of the plot of Plague, not Lies. I would have blogged before starting, but I was on a weekend trip without a computer. Anyway, I was happy to see that the gaiaphage really is alive still, because it really seemed way too simple in the previous book. The way Sam kind of looses control in this book kind of freaked me out; I didn't think he was capable of such hostility. As we learn more about Little Pete, it seems to pose more questions than answers. It is hard to tell sometimes if he is even against or for the Darkness. I also wonder if it is really true that the people who die or poof just appear outside, or if it was a vision that the Darkness wanted Orsay to see in order to manipulate others. My guess is that it was to manipulate, especially the way that Brittany described its relationship with the wall, but the fact that there really were parents and TV crews outside when Pete made the wall go away temporarily does make you wonder if it were true or not. I'd say that this book may have been better than Hunger, but it was a lot more depressing.

Questions for Thought:
1. Were you on the council, would you try to keep Orsay quiet, or let her speak, not knowing if she is telling the truth or not?

2. How should Zil be taken care of? He is an obvious problem, but how could it be done fairly and without making him a martyr?

3. What really happens when you poof?

4. Do you think that the darkness can be destroyed? How?

5. What do you think would happen to the FAYZ if Little Pete died?

6. With new hardships to face, would you leave the FAYZ or stay? Does this differ from your previous answers? Why?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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1984

1984

George Orwell

Synopsis:
Winston is not the same as most of the people in 1984. Winston, despite being a member of the Outer Party, has committed serious thoughtcrime, and when, not if, he is caught, he knows he will be killed. Winston is a member of the Ministry of Truth, or Minitrue in Newspeak, and he works to correct the past to make sure the Party was always right, that Big Brother always made the correct predictions, and that all who were vaporized could never have existed. Unlike most truely orthodox employees of the Inner and Outer Parties, Winston secretly wants to rebell, thinking that things used to be better in the world and Big Brother is lying. Winston starts keeping a Diary of his thoughts, but to whom he does not know. As he puts it, "Either the future would resemble the present, in which case it would not listen to him: or it would be different from it, and his predicament would be meaningless."Still, Winston has hope. One day, a young worker in the fiction department slips Winston a note reading only "I LOVE YOU". Soon after, they find a way to secretly meet beyond the reach of the omnipresent telescreens and the dreaded Thought Police. As their relationship grows, Winston becomes more and more desperate to find a way to rebel, but he knows that every step he takes is a step closer to death...

My Thoughts:
This story is deep. The entire time I was reading, Winston was making very philosophical theories about humanity and, especially toward the end, contemplating the existence of reality itself which the Party seems to override. The book was very good, however I would recommend reading it at a slower pace than all in one day so you truly can enjoy it instead of rushing through like I had to for my English report. This is definitely a book that young adults should read, not only since it has many good themes throughout but also since it makes you think a lot. Personally, since it was such a deep book with very formal and elaborate language, I would recommend reading it again at some point to try and understand more of the undertones of the story that may have been lost the first time through. This kind of story always leaves me thinking about it for a long time afterward, and it is obvious as to why this is considered a classic.

Questions for Thought:
1. Why is the society described in 1984 possible or impossible to appear in the future?

2. Winston describes the proles as being humans while the members of the Party are not. What, in your opinion, makes this distinction?

3. In his book, Goldstein seems to imply that a utopian society could be eventually created if the upper and middle classes were willing. Do you think that a classless society where everyone has the things they need is possible?

4. Winston believes that he is the last true man. Obviously there are others being tortured in the Ministry of Love, but most cases seem to be significantly less extreme than Winston's. Do you think that his assumption is true?

5. Will the proles ever gain enough desire and intelligence to overthrown the Party, or to even know they should?

6. Could such a society as the one created by the Party ever seem like a utopia for those living their? Once Newspeak is perfected and people can never truelly commit thoughtcrime, this seems to be the intent of the Party.


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Hunger

Hunger
Gone Series #2

Michael Grant

Synopsis:
Everyone over the age of 15 has disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach. One moment they were there, and the next, nothing remained but empty space. That was months ago. Since then, Sam has taken control of Perdido Beach and driven out Caine and his band of power-hungry Coates kids. Even though this victory seemed to lighten everyone's mood, when the food supply dwindles, kids start to get desperate. Ridiculous fights about who can watch what movie or when people should go to bed plague Sam and push him to the breaking point. Unfortunately for Sam, now is not a good time to rest. Caine is on the move again. This time, he hopes to control the power plant, regulating who gets electricity and who doesn't. Sam knows a fight is coming, but with little morale, Lana the healer missing, and the "normal" kids beginning to rial against the "freaks", the fight will be harder than ever.

My Thoughts:
Once again, a great book in the Gone series, but not quite as good as the first. This may be because the first has a slightly more positive outlook, but I felt that the ending of this one seemed to easy, and the sacrifice too meaningless. Had it ended in a greater climax, I think it would have been better. Still, the book was great. New characters were introduced, and old characters developed even more under new amounts of pressure. Sam is starting to crumble both physically and emotionally, which saddens me because he was such a strong figure in the first book, even with his reluctance to take power. Really, this extra weakness makes things more suspenseful than the first, and this book continued the demand for the next in the series. It drove me crazy having to wait to start Lies until after I finished 1984 for an English assignment.

Questions for Thought:
1. How would you try to combat the zekes and get the food from the fields?

2. What is the best way to deal with Zil and the HC?

3. Is the idea of money a good one, or should everything be kept free? Or is a bartering system better? How would your system be set up compared to Albert's?

4. Knowing you were the only person who could heal people, would you risk your life to combat the Darkness?

5. Now that Caine has shown cooperation with Sam, how should Sam proceed with their relationship?

6. With new hardships to face, would you leave the FAYZ or stay? Does this differ from your previous answer? Why?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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