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Showing posts from January, 2013

Mockingjay

Surviving two deadly games was no windfall… Leading a rebellion was an overthrow… A story of revenge, blood-splattered mayhem, unyielding struggle, unremitting sacrifices, and terrifying quest for freedom and peace,  Mockingjay , the final installment of Suzanne Collins’  The Hunger Games  trilogy, is a remarkable literary success and history. The victor becomes the ‘mockingjay’, the emblem of rebellion against the ruling Capitol… The events that occurred were overwhelming. Katniss’ survival from the bleeding battleground was not a promise of safety and immunity; rather, it detonated the Capitol’s anger and thirst for revenge. She must pay for the insurgence that she inspired. But not only she was not secured—everyone was at the verge of a burning hell created by the domineering Capitol. Within the story, you will find the images of painful death, the depravity of bloody battles, the face of brokenness, the sweet taste of love, the importance of family, the joy of freedom

Catching Fire

New game, new rules, the same thrill and excitement… Right when they thought the game was over, they realized it has only just begun… It was mixed feelings that plagued me when I read The Hunger Games’ sequel,  Catching Fire . At the outset, I was reassured that despite the excruciating scenes I witnessed during the game, Katniss and Peeta could finally breath the air of freedom when the shackles of oppression and dominance were unleashed by their inspiring triumph in the arena. They survived the first death-defying wallop of the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, they had vanquished the other contenders in a battle to death, and they were ready to see the world—their own fragile, little world in District 12 where their families were waiting in anticipation and joy that they made it through. Yet, things didn’t turn out the way Katniss wanted them to be.  Things were not getting better for her and her long-time friend Gale. Peeta had done far worse that it broke her heart. An

The Hunger Games

Packed with interesting and absolutely amazing cast of characters, thought-provoking plot and mind-blowing scenes, this is one of the almost-can’t-put-it-down books that I have read so far… When the book was released, book enthusiasts were very excited. My friends were talking about it, and I was like wondering what the fuss to make this book big news. When my friend unselfishly shared her copy of the book, I became interested to discover the answers to my own questions. The rest was history. I didn’t care about the controversial issues on the concept of the story; I just loved everything about this book. For me, The Hunger Games is heartbreaking, Machiavellian and inspiring all at once.  I was captivated at how Collins depicted the essence of a typical family whose members struggle to keep the bond that holds them together through the Everdeens. I admired Katniss’ love for her family that she was willing to sacrifice her life for her sister, and changed her mother’s outlook on l

Eona: The Last Dragoneye

I adored Eon, I know that. But when the concealment was over and Eona came to life, I loved him even more. No, I loved her. It was petrifying to witness and follow Eona as she acted upon her duty as the first female Dragoneye in centuries—a young girl destined to face the wicked and the powerful archenemies of the empire. Non-stop action, spine-tingling adventure and overshadowing magic took my breath away as I tagged along Eona and her fellow dissenters who were evading High Lord Sethon’s army. I was also moved by Ryko and Lady Dela’s allegiance to Eona. Their willingness to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a good empire is an admirable heroic act. Eona and her legion’s quest for the black folio, which was stolen by Dillon, was filled with electrifying turns and death-defying encounters every once in a while. Racing against time, they also needed to find the young Pearl Emperor, Kygo, who terribly needed Eona’s power and the black folio in his struggle to reclaim his thron

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

Dragon and magic are two of the most beautiful and powerful emblems that I love to read about. More so when the chronicle is strewn with spoils of deception, rivalry, power struggle, romance, and bone-chilling action. Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye  is a breathtaking saga that never failed to astonish me. All throughout its carefully crafted and very captivating plot, I kept on guessing the story’s conclusion—with erratic gasps at every unexpected twists and turns. Truly, I admire Eon as a young but wise crippled boy who, despite his physical imperfection that goaded his trainers and other candidates to loathe him, patiently worked his way through learning the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years. I revere his willpower to aspire for great things notwithstanding the fact that he could fail.  But his dream to become an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune is awe-inspiring that even truth he must conceal. Wanting to achieve his dream at whatever cost, h

Long Train Passing

At times, my fascination to stories associated to the literal warfare is quite trifling. But with my career as a writer, I have not enough choices other than read and decipher hundreds of war-inspired biographic accounts and excruciating memoirs that would connect me to the world wars and other notable battles in history. These accounts depict unnerving bloodshed, miserable broken homes, desolate nations, and heart-rending visages of people in anguish until peace is secured. When I began reading  Long Train Passing  by Steven W. Wise, I thought it was lackluster and monotonous. However, when the storyline unraveled progressively, I found something worthy of note. It is not the typical narrative set against the backdrop of World War II and the Korean War; it is something more intense, with flashbacks sporadically taking me to the past where touching scenes happened—poignant and deeper than the images of war. Here, I was caught unguarded by the painful reality that a father is capab

The Student Conductor

This is among the books I never thought of reading. When I saw this literary piece on a pile of literature in a local bookstore, I was captivated by its intriguing title. My intuition was right when it persuaded me to rope it in to my collection and probably find it interesting. Cascading powerful themes,  The Student Conductor  significantly fueled my interest in the world of music. The revelation of its spectacular cast of characters, however, enthralled me unexpectedly. Each character plays a very imperative role in the development of an engrossing and sterling story that certainly brings something more than entertainment to its readers. Love, carnal desires, vestiges of hostilities, and the cut-throat scrimmage in the world of orchestra are all swayed into an incredible novel of superb plot. This thought-provoking book is about a young symphony conductor’s odyssey through Germany where he faces his challenges from showcasing his remarkable talent, his interests and his perso