Thursday, May 12, 2016

Into the wild Review by Tatyana Jones

Title of the Book: Into the wild
Author: Jon Krakauer
  # of Pages:224
  Star Rating: ☆☆☆


Review:     Into the Wild  by Jon Krakauer is a life changing  story of an intelligent young man full of lust. This book brings the reader back reality. Even though the nonfiction book is so tragic and horrifying its a great story of Chris McCandless’s journey it gave the young people a place to speak there minds.
 
  This isn't a regular story its way more than just a story about a young boy learning to survive in the wilderness. In this book there are no surprises when it comes to the outcome at the end. Christopher wants you to know the outcome I mean on the first page you know the ending. Christopher made it to where its not the end of his message its behind  how he went from a genius in a wealthy family to a dead man on an abandoned bus in the Alaskan wilderness.


   This story is the type to keep the reader on there feet waiting for more wanting to know reasoning behind his behavior and actions. The way Krakuaer went into depth about Christopher's life about his family , work, and education is what the reader wants to know more about. Even though I've never had any experience like Christopher's I've sure have had the same ideas and thoughts.

This book was maybe one of the best books that I have read this year I just loved the way Jon Krakauer goes into depth on his life and the things that chris went through is what intrigued me the most. I recommend this book to everyone.

Eat, Pray, Love

Title of the Book: Eat, Pray, Love Author: Elizabeth Gilbert # of Pages: 352 Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ Review:I highly recommend this book. It's about a young woman who decides that she's tired of the marriage that she's in. She gets divorced and decides to travel to three different parts of the world in order to find herself. She even picks up a new language and a new way to pray and becomes a healthier person.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Moneyball: Michael Lewis: 288 Pages : Star Rating: ☆☆☆ Review:

Moneyball by Michael Lewis is a non- fictional story about baseball and specifically the Oakland A’s. This book talks about how the manager of the A’s found the cracks in the way the MLB teams draft and find players all because he had 3x less the money than all the other teams did.
This book was unique to me because there is no book like it. If you are a true fan of baseball you feel that you are a complete part of the journey in a time of success for the Oakland A’s. While I was reading this book I felt like I was in the crowd and at some points felt that I was in the dugout helping the manager decide whom to put in the game to save us from a loss. This book gives you a lot of behind the scenes information on what goes into draft day (for baseball).

If you want to be transported into a world of wholehearted baseball Moneyball is the book for you. As a reader I would recommend this book to any fan of baseball or sports in general.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Into the Wild By Jon Krakauer Review Logan O'Donnell



Image result for into the wild
Title: Into the Wild
Author: Jon Krakauer
# of Pages: 224
Rating:

Review:
Into the Wild  by Jon Krakauer is a liberating story of an intelligent young man full of wanderlust. This book brings the reader back to the true roots of humanity and transcendentalism. Although, the plot of this nonfiction book was surrounded by such a tragic event, the inspirational tale of Chris McCandless’s journey has brought an awakening and given a voice to a generation of nomadic young people.

This is not your average story, this is not a tale about a guy who learns how to survive in the wilderness. The reader does not get a chance to have a personal encounter with the subject of the book. There are no surprises when it comes to the outcome of this story, on the very first page you already know the ending. Although, Christopher’s end wasn’t the end of his story or of his message, the ending lies within the reasoning and how he went from a genius in a wealthy family to a dead man on an abandoned bus in the Alaskan wilderness. How is it such an intelligent man could have put himself in such a situation where he had to fight for his life to survive?

The adventurously intriguing tale constantly keeps the reader on their feet trying to understand the reasoning behind his endeavor. Jon Krakauer goes into intensive depth on a timeline of Christopher’s life, including but not limited to his family, education, work, and acquaintances. When the author used his own personal experiences to connect with the persona that is Chris McCandless, it allows readers from many different aspects of life find their own ways of connecting to the character. Personally I can say even though I have never experienced the same situation that Chris had, I have definitely shared more than a few of the same ideals. Jon took this story from a very compassionate place when deciding to analyze this young mans life, as did I have sympathy for the character and everyone whose life he had touched.
This has been by far one of the best books I have read, and highly recommend anyone to read. Into the Wild, not only appeals to the whimsical younger generation, but I believe people of every age and social class would benefit from hearing Christopher’s story. Not only does this book include travel, adventure, and philosophy but it also has a loving family aspect to his findings. Anyone would be happy to have read this book.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Title of the Book:Angela's Ashes   Author: Frank McCourt # of Pages: 378   Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆ ☆  Review:

 Have you ever reflected on your childhood? Perhaps the memories that came back to you led you to a new understanding of how you became the person you are today. Maybe the knowledge that you have now makes you feel differently about a situation than you did in the moment. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt is an excellent illustration of such a reflection. It follows the path of a young Irish boy born in America all the way through to adulthood. As a young man the thoughtful memoir resonated with me very well and I think it will for many other people too.

The story is written through the eyes of the author as he grows up, because of this the descriptions, and the voice they are given in, naturally advance with the narrator and his journey through childhood in Ireland. While you never hear the author directly commenting on his experience from an adult point of view there are subtle criticisms in the vignettes that he relates. Examples of this can be seen in the repetitive and slightly humorous exchanges between his teachers and their students, as well as the way he describes the interactions between him and the adult figures in his life. This all results in a very relevant and thoughtful piece that focuses on what we gain, and lose, with our experiences as children.

Speaking of experiences, Frank McCourt has a myriad of them that he shares with the readers. Most of these experiences are not positive. Despite this, the novel is not written to make you feel sympathetic toward the author and the many injustices that come against him. In fact, what you get when you read this book is a searingly honest look at the imperfections that plague humans. No one is safe from this uncovering, even the author himself does things that are very hard to get behind. Surprisingly this doesn’t alienate you from the characters or make them unlikeable, it actually does the opposite. Even characters that may have come across as villains or antagonists are more fleshed out and human because of the common thread of mistakes that all characters share. Because of this it makes you feel as if the author is without bias, and is fairly representing the events that transpired.

Just like people no books are perfect. The series of event’s in Angela’s Ashes is sometimes unfocused and hard to follow. It could talk less about the “interfering” that the narrator does. However, these imperfections don’t deter me from making a recommendation of this book to anyone that would enjoy a well developed coming-of-age story. It is engrossing through the last chapter that contains a single word. Within the context this word holds much meaning. It is partly a sigh of resolution to and acceptance of ones past and identity, but more powerful than that is the hope that the word holds. I hope you take the time out your life to read Angela’s Ashes, if you open your mind to how real and honest it is, you certainly won’t regret it.


Monday, April 25, 2016

Title of the Book: Into Think Air
 Author: John Krakauer
 # of Pages: 332
 Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Review:

What’s it really like at the highest point on Earth? John Krakauer’s Into Thin Air gives a personal account of what it’s really like at the top of Mount Everest, but the journey to get to that point and come back down again is the focus of his chronicle. Krakauer is a writer and a climber hired by a magazine to detail his journey up to the roof of the world, but a cruel twist of fate puts him in the middle of one of the deadliest expeditions to the summit and thereby exposes all that went wrong during this particular mission.
For those who are unfamiliar with the technicalities of climbing high altitude peaks, this is a very eye opening narrative of all the processes involved. Krakauer does a great job of explaining in detail the mechanics essential to ascending tremendous altitudes. He also enlightens the reader to those agonizing physical effects felt at such heights. A new appreciation, if not astonishment, is felt for the excruciating conditions and the risks of death that climbers choose to endure to reach the top of a mountain. The only explanation is summit fever as described by Krakauer.
In addition to his empathizing descriptions of the processes, conditions, and physical effects, Krakauer accurately reveals the mental and emotional struggles felt individually, giving the reader a peek into how this great endeavor can feel. There is also an emotional connection to the characters because Krakauer familiarizes the reader with the major people involved, including their families, so you can feel the pain of loss he feels when his friends are perishing. A last goodbye by radio brings tears and a miracle of survival brings cheers.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy adventure. Discovering how a series of mistakes, bad decisions, and bad luck contributed to a horrific situation with devastating consequences at the mercy of Mother Nature will keep the reader intrigued in this page turning narrative.
Title of the Book: The Perfect Storm
Author: Sebastian Junger
# of Pages: 233
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆


Review:
The Andrea Gail is a fishing boat filled with people saying goodbye to their loved ones to go to work. The "Perfect Storm" arrives and leaves the Andrea Gail with no communication. This is the story of several boats of people trying to survive everything that nature throws at them.

Junger keeps the tone dark and mysterious, as if anything could happen at any moment. Even when helicopters are saving lives, you are always aware that others are still out in the sea, facing worse conditions.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in tales of the sea or natural disasters. I felt that this book highlighted the destruction, beauty, and chaos that is a natural disaster.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Title of the Book: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
Author: Kay Redfield Jamison
# of Pages: 219
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Review:
Kay Redfield Jamison is haunted by manic depressive illness, or as commonly known as bipolar disorder. She tells of how normal she is on the outside and shows how mad she is on the inside. Starting in her adolescence, you will be taken on her rollercoaster called life, of literal ups and downs.

The mood throughout the book is very light. Full of hope. Even when Jamison is talking about her depressive states, you can tell that there is always hope.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what is going on inside the head of madness. What it actually means to be bipolar. I believe that everyone should know the definition of any mental illness and also know that it is a real thing. This book should be read by those who are curious about what mental illnesses are and how they affect others.

Hugo Fonck - Into Thin Air

Hugo Fonck
Title of the Book: Into Thin Air
Author: Jon Krakauer
# of Pages: 301
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆


Review:
Could you handle climbing Mt. Everest? At over 29,000 feet above sea level, the human body cannot survive for an extended period of time, even with significant acclimatization. At that altitude, you are leaving the troposphere behind and at an altitude where the air is just 1/3 as thick as it is at sea level. Blood runs dangerously thick through your body as it tries to carry as much oxygen as possible. This is the cruising altitude of jet traffic - and the highest peak in the world. This fact has driven hundreds in modern history to try and stake their claim on top of the world. Many have died in their attempts, and 'Into Thin Air' explains a personal account on a tragedy that unfolded high on the mountain and the first ever of its kind in May of 1996.

This non-fiction novel follows the events surrounding the May 1996 Mt. Everest disaster, where many climbers perished during a breakdown of communication, leadership combined with a harrowing late-day storm high on the mountain. This book is explicitly non-fiction because Krakauer was there - he was a member of a commercial climbing team that was attempting Everest that year. He was taking the challenge himself to write a story for Outside magazine on the perils of high-altitude climbing. However, the story ended very differently as a disaster unfolded with the other members of his team after Krakauer successfully completes his summit attempt.

This emotional experience takes readers through a destructive tapestry and brings them to the forefront of the tragedy that unfolded tensely at the top of the world. Krakauer's unique style of creating connections, deep self-analysis and flawless reconstruction of events allows readers to see into the tragedy beyond what Krakauer simply saw on the mountain. His perspective allows readers to realize the truth and circumstances of what went wrong.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a thrilling story of tragedy and survival in one of the most desolate places on Earth. This book is eye-opening into the true power of motivation and the drive of the human mind to achieve what most rational thought would rule as impossible.

Title of the Book: A Long Way Gone
Author: Ishmael Beah
# of Pages: 221
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Review:  In Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone, dark subjects of murder, pillaging, and the destruction of childhood are portrayed through an eye opening journey of one boy and the painful path he is forced upon. Ishmael Beah's tragic life story begins in a small happy village in the jungle of Sierra Leone. At the young age of 13 after living happily in his village, the Sierra Leone Civil War fought between the Revolutionary United Front and the traditional government came upon Ishmael's front step. After the fighting got to his village Ishmael was separated from his family and stranded with his friends. The group went from village to village looking for their families until the army catches up with them and conscripts them into fighting. For the next two years Ishmael loses his humanity as he viciously fights in a ruthless bloody war and succumbs to the endless drug use. At the age of 15 UNICEF workers get Ishmael out of the war and into a rehab center where he can start to rebuild. Through the riveting telling of this tragic story, truths about our own humanity and the meaning of having a childhood are revealed. Ishmael fantastically details his journey through a mastery of first person narrative. When Ishmael must overcome a PTSD flashback at a school dance, one of which he recalls sacking a village during their school dance and hearing their screams, it becomes clear how broken and lost poor Ishmael had become. The unheard of subject matter is unlike any other book you could come across especially at such a first person perspective. The novel will take the reader on a beautifully disturbing trip through growth and spiritual rehabilitation and what it means to be alive. While the violence keeps the reader enthralled it comes to the rebirth of Ishmael that intrigues and indulges the mind of the reader. Ishmael's story is one to cherish and pass on to keep the efforts to restore the lives of those whose childhoods were robbed from them. Overall I believe anyone interested in war books or books urging the readers to desire a change in the world will delve into this book. I highly recommend it.
Title of the Book: “Into the Wild”
Author: Jon Krakauer
# of Pages: 224
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆


 Review:

 “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer is a book about the art of pushing yourself to the limits and surviving. It is a story like no other, about a young man and his vision of what human life should be. It gives readers insight of what a nomadic life truly looks like. 
“Into the Wild” is the type of book that makes you wonder if you have what it takes. Chris McCandless gave himself a roller coaster of a life, simply by leaving the american materialistic life behind. What makes this book unique is the similarities between the writer and person of interest. Krakauer and McCandless had the same love for the outdoors and adventures. Krakauer’s knowledge of how nature’s fascinations have a tool on a young man’s soul, makes for the perfect storyteller. 
  The mood of the book is dark and adventurous. Because the author spends a lot of time talking about McCandless's motivations and dysfunctional behavior. It’s more adventurous while Chris McCandless is hitchhiking around the West, because he is having fun and taking risks. Towards his journey in Alaska, the mood changes into being lonely and depressing, because of the isolation he endured during that time.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves biographies about ordinary people and their not so ordinary lives. I think the best thing about this book is you walk away with a true story you won’t forget. 

Title of the Book: Into thin Air
 Author: Jon Krakauer
 # of Pages: 364
 Star Rating: ☆☆☆

 Review:

Jon Krakauer begins Into thin Air at the top of Mount Everest. Krakauer’s recollection is not chronological by any means. It is organized by location on Everest, and specifically altitude. Krakauer is a journalist and it was his career which funded his expedition. Motivation to climb Mount Everest held a different meaning for each individual climber. For Krakauer, it meant fulfilling his childhood dream. Into thin Air is not just any personal account though. Krakauer began his journey with more than he ended it with.

At first glance, Into thin Air was just another transcendentalist non-fiction book. But, the author has a completely unexpected lens. He does not romanticize standing on top of the world. In fact, Krakauer does the exact opposite. Krakauer refers to his his fellow climbers as “clients” and other teams as “commercial expeditions.” His voice is sarcastic and pessimistic even when the section is informative. At times his negativity was even humorous. The comedy was what got me through the first half of the book, because the mountain climbing jargon was even slightly boring.

I found the book more compelling towards the end as he describes the more tragic part of Everest: descending in the storm. The inverse relationship of climbing higher into the atmosphere and depleting mentally and physically ends at the summit of Everest. Suddenly, Krakauer and the other people became more relatable. The effects of oxygen deprivation is very clear throughout the last quarter of the book. However, after reading responses from the other climbers to Jon Krakauer’s book, I lost some respect for it. Specifically, Sandy Pittman’s survival story was celebrated until Jon Krakauer’s article momentarily ruined her reputation as an athlete.

Despite it’s faults, Into thin Air is definitely worth reading. It is simply uniquely written and successful. Do not make a snap judgement about the book based on the first half though as there are definitely sharp switches in voice to keep you as a reader on your toes.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Title of the Book: Into the Wild
Author: Jon Krakauer
Number of pages: 251
Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Human kind has a true calling. When the human race first was made what was the true calling of its species. To live, survive and thrive in nature, or it it to conform to a society of rules and expectations of living. There are many people that go through life doing things because they are told to do it that way but, there are people that live there lives only to find what makes them happy. In the book Into the wild there is a man by the name of Alex that starts out as a college student that graduates from Emory University in Atlanta. He lives his life “normal” but then makes the decision to leave everything and travel in his bus. Alex McCandless before leaving mails his family his college transcripts and leaves a note saying that he is leaving and will never see them again. Alex takes off to Nevada where he gets his car struck and broken in a flood. He then starts to travel on foot to his next destination with a backpack. Alex then hitchhiked to lake tahoe in California and then continues to the Cascade mountains. Alex moves to the idaho panhandle where he meets two people. Jan Burres and her boyfriends Bob quickly make friends with the couple. Wile Alex is traveling his parents go to Atlanta to find him and then quickly find out he has left and his apartment has been abandoned they shortly find out he donated $24,000 to OXFAM instead of using it for a law degree. They also found Alex’s Car abandoned where it was damaged by the flood. Still walking Alex travels to the Arizona where he buys a canoe. He continues down the Colorado river, Lake Havasu, Bill Williams River, Colorado Indian reservation, two wildlife refuges and the U.S Army Yuma Proving Grounds. Finds big trouble from waterfalls and comes close to dieing. Hunters find him and drive him the the gulf of California. Alex back in the canoe encounters very large winds and almost drowns. After this experience moves back to the US but gets caught and arrested in jail for 1 day. Camps out and buries his backpack in the sand. He then hitchhikes to Las Vegas. Still moving Alex moves to Bullhead City Arizona where he works for McDonalds and lives in a RV a man named Charlie over watched. The rights to Jan Buries from Bullhead about seeing him because they were not far from him in California. Alex quickly hates his job and the people so leaves to surprisingly show up and Jan Buries campsite. Alex then hitchhiked to mean a very nice man named Franz a old veteran. A month later tells Frank that he is living on the streets of San Diego and Franz pick Alex up and drives him to his house. Franz and Alex seem to bond and be good friends. Alex then finds a job at Westerberg’s grain elevator in Carthage. There we was described as not technically smart. A girlfriends described him as intriguing and that he just wanted to be happy and was the only person to chase his dreams. Leaves for Alaska and makes some stops along the way. Buys a gone and finds a truck driver to take him to Alaska. Finds a but to stay at and lives off the land. Rights in his journal weak and hungry but still high spirited. Gets trapped and stays on the bus. Rights a note on the bus “extremely weak, Fault of pot seed. A lot of trouble please help. Alex then dies and is found by hunters. Franz who was awaiting Alex after Alex told him he's living his life not to the fullest and not being free wants to join him when he returns. But finds out he passed away. This was hard on Franz because he lost a son before and wanted to adopt Alex. This devastated Franz. This book in unique because it shows how people have been living sheltered lives and not living to what they truly want to be in life. The writing style in different because it's a man telling what he thinks having researched everything. The most devastating moment for me was when Frank found his friends had died. This made me sad because of the amount of heartache Franz has went threw. Many people will enjoy this book because it has a deeper meaning to it. It also has you questioning different lifestyles and is also just a fun book to read

Title Of Book: The Glass Castle Author: Jeannette Walls # of Pages: 289 Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ Review: The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir looking into the past of a peculiar, but none the less, loyal and a loving family. Within the first 3 pages it is evident this story is to be one full of unsuspecting turn of events. Jeanette Walls takes her readers through her journey of a less than substational childhood full of unpredictable hardships unimaginable for a girl so young to overcome. The Walls household was one that was of a unique nature to say the least. Rex Walls,the father of the family, while exciting and charismatic was inebriated majority of the time leaving his wife and kids in constant wonder of what he were to destroy in his next rampage; In combination with a free spirited mother who was unconcerned with the responsibilities of motherhood, the Walls children were left to fend for themselves. The children had an undying loyalty to one another and were always there to support one another. Jeanette does an impeccable job of taking the reader deep inside the ride and allowing for one to be able to truly get an understanding of her life’s journey and what it had entailed. Her writing made insightful interpretations by the reader flawless. The story truly stimulates the deepest parts of imagination and empathy while still maintaining a With determination and a great sense of what they did not want to be in life the children all worked their way to a new life in New York City. The memoir is truly breathtaking and takes the reader on an unforgettable emotional rollercoaster. A great read for those inclined to experience a thrilling, heartbreaking, inspirational piece that leaves you with an entirely new perspective on poverty and the world we live in.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Title of the Book: All But My Life
Author: Gerda Weissmann Klein
# of Pages: 246
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Review:

"'Heil Hitler! Heil Hitler! Heil Hitler!' and the watch says 9:10... It was september 3, 1939, Sunday morning." This is when Gerda's Life Changed forever. All But My Life is a tragic novel about a young girl as she lives through hell on earth. As Gerda shares her memories she shows the reader the true horrors of Nazi Germany. As she walks thousands of Kilometers through Europe, she makes the reader aware of true suffering. In every chapter Gerda finds a way to make the reader grateful for the bountiful amounts of things they have to be grateful for. As you read Gerda's hardships through her life she shows the story of those around her who could not make it for themselves. Her heart wrenching story will make you feel every
emotion to it's entirety and leave you rethinking how you look at your own hardships.
This book was unique because it doesn't tell only one story. Gerda tells the story of everyone she meets in her fullest knowledge. People are forever living through her memory in this book and I think that is the most important thing to do. Gerda uses her tone to really make the reader feel the pain, hunger and hope that she went through roughly 70 years ago.
The most memorable part of this book was a letter Gerda receives from one of her old school mates. This passage describes how a whole town was massacred and rid of all Jewish people. She describes watching her baby brother being taken by the SS with such brutal imagery that the reader feels as if he/she were sitting in the room. As Gerda's friend writes she slowly shows that she has been driven mad by the sorrow. That is the last Gerda ever heard from her.
This book would best suit someone who enjoys reading the horrible truth about the past, also the reader must be okay with tears on almost a constant basis. DO NOT READ IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE SAD AND CONTEMPLATE LIFE.
Title of the Book: A Piece of Cake
 Author: Cupcake Brown
 # of Pages: 465
 Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆


 Review: A Piece Of Cake is a marvelous book that doesn't hold back on relaying a series of events too rough to believe. The unique style of Brown's writing is what makes the text so easy to relate to. It's like listening to a close friend retelling a story without ever sparing a detail. The fact that the book is so revealing makes it difficult to put down. I would recommend this book to anyone who can handle the subject matter.

When the book opens it's just a simple family tale, but then the story changes drastically in a span of 10 pages. Then the story continues winding through abuse, drugs, and drinking all before our main character even turns 12 years old. From there the story continues through gangs, violence, crimes, and more substance abuse. While reading the book it's easy to get lost in the story but when it's put into perspective that this is someone's real life and everything was actually lived makes it so moving.

I'd recommend this book everyone who is able to handle the subject matter of this book. Brown makes a heart wrenching book that still has the ability to make you laugh and relate. Through all of the darkness some how hope and love shine through keeping the reader holding on to see just how Cupcake makes it out of these situations. Once the book is started the reader won't be able to put the book down. I loved every minute of this story and I loved it even more knowing that it was a true story of over coming everything.

Title of the Book:  Into The Wild
 Author: John Krakauer
 # of Pages: 215
 Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
 Review:
Why would a young college grad with a promising future leave friends, family, and possessions behind in order to venture solo into the Alaskan wilderness?  This is the question Jon Krakauer addresses in his nonfiction book about Chris McCandless, Into the Wild.  After graduating college, Chris leaves Virginia and heads west on a soul searching adventure.  Two years later, his emaciated body would be found by hunters in the Alaskan bush.  Krakauer retraces Chris’s steps from North Dakota and Nevada to California and New Mexico.  He interviews many of the people Chris met along the way and through their stories we gain insight and compassion for this enigmatic young man.


What’s interesting about this novel is the way Krakauer reveals his story.  We learn of Chris’s fate in the onset of the book.  The remainder of the story is a jigsaw ensemble of events and motivations that help us understand his journey.  Chris was an ideologue who wanted to rid himself of material properties and subsist on his own.  We learn about his upbringing,  his family struggles, his academic and sporting accomplishments, as well as his stubbornness and determination.  To build a better understanding of Chris’s character, Krakauer also includes excerpts about others who shared his quest to survive alone in the wilderness.  One such excerpt is about Krakauer’s own time spent mountaineering in Alaska.

I highly recommend this book to teens and older readers.  It is a quick read that satisfies the spirit of adventure but also presents challenging moral questions.  I encourage you to learn more about Chris and his ill-fated journey by reading Into the Wild.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Title of the Book:   The Right Stuff
Author:                   Tom Wolfe
# of Pages:              351
Star Rating:            ☆☆☆☆☆

Review:


Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky
Be with them always, in the air
In darkening storms and sunlight fair.
Oh hear us when we lift our prayer
For those in peril in the air.*

Imagine hearing this song so often you know the words by heart. If you were a test pilot or a wife of a test pilot in the 1950s or 60s you probably heard it every week after a fellow pilot, a colleague, a friend died in some type of horrible plane crash. This is the very effective way that Tom Wolfe introduces his concept of “The Right Stuff” and the people who had it. He explains that it is more than courage that makes up the right stuff. For the men who were test pilots it was the courage to risk your life every day while having the confidence in yourself to keep your cool doing it. They knew the risks but made light of them. They didn’t talk about being brave because that very thing would cancel out their right stuff. These were the men that NASA chose to get the new space program under way, our first astronauts. These were the men who would willingly and even eagerly risk their lives sitting on top of massive rockets waiting for someone to ignite them. But the men weren’t the only ones who had “the right stuff”. Wolfe also successfully gets across the idea that, although it was different, their wives had it too. For them, it was standing by their husbands through the fear and stress of wondering if they would come back alive as well as the willingness to be put in the public eye and follow them wherever their jobs would take them.

     So many non-fiction books I have read in the past have been so dry it was very difficult to get through them. That was not the case with The Right Stuff. It is suspenseful and exciting at times and funny at other times. One of the things that made “The Right Stuff” so enjoyable for me is the way that Tom Wolfe gives the reader a glimpse into the minds of so many different characters to give a more complete picture of what it was like in the days of the cold war and the space race. This really gave you an idea of how the different people involved felt. There were even times I could really identify with the characters. Sometimes I felt angry or bad for them. I remember thinking that John Glenn was asking for it when he was acting so “proper” in their first days at NASA instead of being just one of the guys. And when Scott Carpenter kept using fuel to experiment during his flight after he’d been warned to conserve it. I knew there would be trouble for him, too. That proved to be right both times.

     Wolfe’s skillful use of colorful adjectives like “pudknockers” (pilots who thought they were the best but were really unskilled amateurs), as well as well-placed repetitive phrases added to the readability of the book. His writing style included conversation as well as giving you behind the scenes information and back stories. I think this is what made this book so unique. “The Right Stuff” is an excellent and entertaining way to learn about this fascinating time in our country’s history and is well worth the read.


*-Version evolved from Mary C.D. Hamilton's "Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly" (1915)

The Mercury Astronauts
From Left to Right: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper,
John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra,
Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton

Noah Ruiz's review of Black Boy, by Richard Wright-- 384 pages
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

Review:

Richard Wright went from his humble beginnings--burning down his house at age 6, hanging a kitten by the neck until dead just to spite his father, becoming an alcoholic by age 8-- to being a disillusioned intellectual and ex-communist drifting around Chicago in just under 20 years.

If there's a better way to introduce the sheer spectrum of human experience this book encapsulates, I would be damned I didn't think of it-- and I didn't even mention his journey through the Jim Crow south on his way from Mississippi to Chicago.
But as Wright will prove to readers, its not the journey that matters, nor the destination...it's the vulnerability of humanity, the bridges the isolated build between themselves and the world, and the sense of American hunger which underlies it all and keeps alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human.

 The uniqueness of this book is derived almost entirely from its style, language, and tone. The novel is at once contemplative, full of yearning, and hopeful, yet remains tempered by social disappointment and cynicism. It stands as a cultural critique and as a personal manifesto of brilliance and great depth. The language and tone evoke the bygone era of pre-WWII African American life and the social travesties of events like the Red Scare and popular movements like Garveyism. It stands further as a record of social injustice and human suffering, of formative years which turn innocence to experience and the surly, brutal, cold, and suspicious young Wright into a man standing exalted above the common lot on a stage of human enlightenment that is achievable only through the profound understandings which are gleaned solely through introspection.
The novel is both historic and personal, and its profundity lies perhaps in its ability to derive intense meaning from every formative experience Wright encountered. Symbolically, Wright has crafted a perfect representation of his own ascension from the cold dark of the Southern intellectual darkness into a brisk dawn under the pale light of a Northern star.

I recommend this book. It is a life-changer.
It is unbelievable the perspective that one man can give through written word. Wright has captured the spirit of an era, the drama of an eternal struggle--the life of an unsung genius.
Title of the Book: Born on the Fourth of July
Author:Ron Kovic
# of Pages: 224
Star Rating: 4☆


Review: In his autobiography, Born on The Fourth of July, Ron Kovic tells us about the hardship and pain he has struggled through his entire life. He starts by talking about what it was like being in World War II, and then continually shifts back and forth between his life before and after the war. Before the war there really was no struggle for him though, as he was just any ordinary kid that hung out with his friends, played baseball, and pretended being American war heroes defeating communist enemies. The book then shifts to show what the war has really done to him after being in combat, by writing about his excruciating difficulty of being paralyzed from the chest down. Aside from that, he then begins to take a stand against the war and protests ensue. This book is an account of freedom, and the pain that comes from fighting for it.

It might be hard for one to see this book as anything but just another war book that glorifies the United States and their wins. I was surprised to find out that this book is anything but that. Although Ron Kovic does love the United States, he had been mistreated greatly by it. After the war he was alienated from the rest of the world be being buried in V.A. hospitals that didn’t care one bit for him. There were many painful, sleepless nights he had gone through in which I had became emotional because to read that a man that fought for his country was being mistreated was hard to understand. I don’t know how, but through all of that he stayed positive and that’s why at the point he became an inspiration.

What I found not as well written in the book was when Kovic talked about when he started to protest the war. He had gone across the country to protest the war because of what it had done to him. From then on it became a little difficult to understand how much of a difference it was really making then what he was actually writing. For instance, he had gone to a Nixon campaign rally, and he had shouted out protesting against Nixon. Kovic says he obtained Nixon’s attention, and was then wheeled out by secret service, but he never talks about if that actually made a difference and if Nixon even really acknowledged what he was doing. That could of course just be me having a picky taste in writing styles also.

From then on, this is a book worth reading that I did really enjoy. It’s not just some heroic war story; it’s a story about heroics on and off the battlefield and the battle that continues even after the war. It served as inspiration to me to stay positive in any situation I may be in, because this man managed to through the roughest of scenarios. This book was definitely worth the read.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Title of the Book: Into The Wild
Author: Jon Krakauer
  # of Pages:200
  Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Review:




According to many Alaskan people there is a lot of out of state young men who want to live in the wild and come every year. Most come straight out of college to live the life of an outdoors man with wildlife and away from society. Sadly, the majority of these young men end up getting hurt or dying because of the harsh winters. “Into The Wild” entails one of the many stories of someone who went to Alaska. Chris McCandles story stands out over the others for some reason and the author Jon Krakauer wrote this book to show why.









“Into The Wild” isn't a book straight out of the journal of McCandles, it's different than most books where a character “Survives” in nature. Because the author Jon Krakauer was an outdoors man himself he knew what he was talking about when he wrote the book. Many other survival books start with the person going out into nature and then ends when the person is either rescued or leaves, but Krakauer did something different than that. He started from McCandles life beforehand, he wrote about who McCandles was and what his family was like. Krakauer didn't just write the story, he interviewed and met the same people that McCandles met when he was on his way to Alaska. And instead of just writing about his time in Alaska he wrote about how McCandles got there. What makes McCandles story different is how he approached his adventure, instead of flying or driving to Alaska he left everything of his behind hand tramped his way across the country. He wasn't in it just to do it for fun, he was finding something, he was finding something in himself that he though may have been missing. So he started off by leaving his money, car, house, and relationships behind. What I found amazing in his story was how he met people on his way, the relationships he gained from his adventure were true and the people he met were interesting. Krakauer writes in a way that makes you build your own thought of the experience but he also give you the facts about it. What intrigued me about the story the most was the many questions that were left untouched, it left me with a feeling of wanting to know more about McCandles even though Krakauer had explained everything already.





McCandles had a rough family life, his mom and dad fought and even threatened to divorce. Throughout college McCandles just went with life he just wanted to get done with college to make his parents happy even though he had no drive to actually pursue a career in his major. Once college was over and he moved away he decided to “Disappear” for a little while. He gave all of his money to charity left his house and society behind. He didn't use his real name for anything either he preffered to go by “Alex Supertramp” He had nothing but his backpack full of little things and some food. For the first few months he traveled randomly around the U.S. Without money and hitchhiked from place to place. He traveled to Mexico, Wisconsin, California, Alaska, and on his way he went through many other states. He met many people and stayed with them for short amounts of time leaving impacts on their lives. He liked people but he didn't want to grow on them too much so he would abruptly leave the people he met. After his adventures around the U.S. He wanted to go to Alaska and he did just so. But he didn't live in a town, he went straight out into the forest and wild. He lived in the wiled and even found an abandoned bus for shelter and he claimed it his home. As the weather began to change he tried to leave but the river he had crossed before had flooded, he tried surviving off of vegetation and small animals but after eating the wrong type of plant he became ill. A few weeks later some 4wheeler hunters found the shelter with McCandles body inside.









There are plenty of emotional parts in the book that had me with watery eyes, I don't want to spoil them but many of them were the ways McCandles left relationships on his adventure. Krakauer met the people that McCandles did and from just reading the book I can see the impact he left with them, McCandles even changed the way someone looked at the world. I am inspired by McCandles because his adventure is something that a lot of people would never do. We live in such an enclosed society that herd mentality is what we all follow, but people like McCandles are much more different than anyone else. Many people just go on with their lives because everyone else does, but McCandles didn't want to live a normal life, he wanted to see the beauty of the world from an entirely different perspective. I can honestly say I cried a little at the end of the book because of what McCandles wrote and how I knew he felt, and how true the words he wrote are. I believe that anyone can enjoy this book, they even made a movie from it.






There is so much to the book that makes me wish I knew McCandles. And you can't understand the whole story unless you read it, even though it is nonfictional it almost seems fictional just because it took no effort for McCandles to leave everything behind. I don't know anyone who would be able to do what he did and that is what makes “Into The Wild” interesting, nothing about it is average life and it's a huge adventure for both the reader and the author.

 

Monday, April 18, 2016

Into the Wild

Image result for into the wild book titles
Into the Wild
Author: Jon Krakauer
Star Rating: ☆☆☆ ☆
By Emily Lehl
 Review:

“The older person does not realize the soul-flights of the adolescent”, observation made by a friend of the author. The friend notes “how difficult it is for those of us preoccupied with the humdrum concerns of adulthood to recall how forcefully we were once buffeted by the passion and longings of youth”.   Chris McCandless was straight out of college when he went on his epic journey of discovering the wild world on his own.  Jon Krakauer literary novel, Into the Wild, is about McCandeless’ tragic death and the mystery of the whys behind his journey.  
                Jon Krakauer was also like the free-spirited McCandless but unlike McCandless he survived his journey. Krakauer feels compelled to help us understand McCandless’ spirit and reasoning behind his journey into the wild. One has to admire Krakauer devotion to the research he did in understanding his character and writing this novel. He introduces the story in a unique way by telling the reader the tragic ending upfront but giving us questions as to why. From there is moves on to establish a relationship of our understanding into the mind of McCandles. We are able to travel alongside him in his adventure by meeting the people he established relationships with. We get to experience life on the road with him from South Dakota wheat fields to the Mexican Baja and into the Alaskan wildernest.   Krakauer does an excellent job of setting the stage to understanding the mindset of McCandless.  

                This book is full of the descriptive experiences McCandless had on his risk-taking journey.  Krakauer tells the story as if he was on the journey alongside McCandless.  He followed in McCandless’ footsteps and leaves the reader with an epic adventure and solves the mystery into his death.  Into the Wild is for everyone who enjoys a story about travel, adventure and self discovery. Krakauer is able to help ignite our adventurous spirit through McCandless’ epic journey while sitting in the comforts of our home.