Fiction – Page 33 – Ryan's Book Blog

A Study in Scarlet

December 18, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

A Study in Scarlet is the first novel with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Written in 1886 by Arthur Conan Doyle. This work introduces Mr. Holmes’ famed powers of deduction and sets up his rocky association with Scotland Yard.

Also included is a short story of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” which is a quick murder mystery which is solved by Mr. Holmes.

My Thoughts

Surprisingly, it was more a story of the killer than of Sherlock and Watson. More surprising, it gave a description of the Mormon Pioneers and life in frontier Salt Lake City before Utah became part of the United States after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was surprised and a little dismayed by the light cast on the church and how they did business at that time. Conan Doyle stated it was a work of fiction and “best to let the matter rest”. I will also let it rest but simply to say, I didn’t expect it.

Recommendation

I enjoyed the read. It also spurred me to check out a number of sources regarding the time period. I would recommend it.

Animal Farm

November 26, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

George Orwell made such a splash with this book it is still used as required reading in schools across the nation. Animal Farm is the bedrock of anti-totalitarian books and was published during the second world war.

The book is a story of the animals on a farm who throw off their oppressive masters and start living their lives as equals. As time passes, many things change and very quickly the animals learn that some are “more equal”.

My Thoughts

I’m so glad my daughter was given the assignment to read this book as it had been far too long since I had even thought of it. I remember the phrase “more equal” being quoted to me while I lived in Bulgaria and was being told about where the “party members” lived. The Bulgarians were very familiar with the concepts of communism and much of the story rung true their experience.

I think the story does a great job of showing even how the best of intentions can go astray. How the best of us can be corrupted and misused if we are simply given something we can believe in. The horse Boxer’s mottos of, “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right” are good examples of this. He had the ability to stop what was happening but he clung to the ideals and ended up working himself to death.

Recommendation

A good quick read. No one has put it better than Orwell.

The Last Battle

November 20, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The last book of the Narnia Series is the Last Battle. It is the seventh novel in the series and was published in 1956. The story starts many years after the last visit to Narnia with King Tirian now leading the country. There has been peace throughout the years and no one has seen Aslan for so long… Narnia is fooled by a false Aslan and is soon overrun by enemies. The Last Battle is indeed the last battle for Narnia.

My Thoughts

So much Christian symbology… Aslan even sets up the analogy of Christ and Satan when he sets himself opposite of Tash. It really was an odd story when you back away from it. The notion all the Narnians could get so worked up over a false prophet… There is precedent enough in history I suppose. Still, it seemed too easy. They were too trusting…

I enjoyed some of the off moments such as when Aslan demonstrates the dwarves wouldn’t allow themselves to be helped. Also the description of Susan, to paraphrase, ‘she was in such a hurry to get to the silliest part of life and then tries to stay there as long as possible.’

My Recommendation

A fun story and a good read.

The Silver Chair

November 12, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The Silver Chair was published in 1953 and Decades have passed in Narnia since the Voyage of the Dawn Treader and now King Caspian is an old man. Eustace Scrubb, now in boarding school and having learned not to be such a selfish jerk, finds his way back to Narnia with his school mate Jill Pole. They quickly find themselves on a quest with a “marshwiggle” named Puddleglum.

My Thoughts

The marshwiggle character was interesting. Why not make up your own creature and put him in the middle of everything. Part mud, part Eeyore, part superhero, Puddleglum is interesting to say the least. He would be a much more fun character if it wasn’t for his worldview. I found I couldn’t connect with the humans very well as neither were that likable.

The story seemed to have a lot of inspiration from Jack and the Beanstalk. (There is a whole giant section…) The whole story seemed to meander around. When we finally meet the missing Prince, the story seems to go very quickly.

Recommendations

Though I enjoyed it more than the last and it was still a good read, it is not my favorite.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

November 11, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the next book in C.S. Lewis’s Narnia Series. Published in 1952, it distinguishes itself by being the only book in the series that doesn’t have a main villain. The Dawn Treader is a ship commissioned and sailed by Prince Caspian. They are trying to get to the far East (Aslan’s county). It brings in a new character, Eustace Scrubb. He is the cousin of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. Eustace is nuisance and ends up learning a great lesson.

My Thoughts

This was an interesting book. I’m not the fondest of boats and the like so it wasn’t my favorite setting. However, the islands were interesting. This book reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. Not my favorite but a good read none the less.

Recommendation

My least favorite of the books thus far but still worth reading.

Prince Caspian

November 10, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The next book in the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis is Prince Caspian. It was published in 1951 and once again involves children from our world being brought to Narnia to help out the rightful heir to the throne of Narnia. Prince Caspian must rise up against the man who took his rightful place as King.

My Thoughts

A good read as was the others. This volume was a little contrived and it took a while to build to the climax. Emotionally, we are still connected to the 4 kids introduced in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe but their presence kind of muddles the protagonists. Still I enjoyed it.

Recommendation

A good read and a good story.

A Horse and His Boy

November 9, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

A Horse and His Boy was written after several of the Narnia books were released and chronologically occurs after The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. It is largely the tail of Shasta, a boy who is raised as a slave and ends up on an adventure.

My Thoughts

I quite enjoyed this book though it wasn’t the epic which was The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I also hadn’t read it before or at least I didn’t remember it… It was like reading a new book either way and I really enjoyed it.

It is a quick read and it took a while to get moving. However, it had a lot of C.S. Lewis hallmarks; the horse was arrogant and humbled toward the end, the boy thought he was nothing but turned out to be the lost prince and later the king and so on… It had plenty of the archetypal stories we love to hear.

Recommendations

Great book. I would recommend it to anyone and my boys are reading it now.

The Lion the Witch and Wardrobe

November 1, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

CS Lewis’s classic “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” came out in 1950 and has been a classic and required reading in schools all over the world. It has reached every medium (written, video, audio, theater) and has even sunk into the mainstream culture.

My thoughts

Loved it! It was even better than I remembered though it has been a number of years. I listened to it as an audiobook read by Michael York which was fantastic. Particularly after the last read I was so happy to have a short fun novel.

The first time I read this story was in 3rd grade which would put me at about 8 to 9 years old. I didn’t understand the strong Christian overtones or really even think about what was being said. It was a good story and that’s all I cared about.

It is still a good story but the allegories are very apparent. The sinless sacrifice, the humiliation before such, the rumor of his return and so on. It is my understanding that CS Lewis denied it being intentional but it seems pretty heavy handed when you read it.

Recommendation

I really enjoyed the story and will be coming back. I would recommend it to just about anyone. In fact, it is on the shelf in my living room if you need a copy….

Starship Troopers

October 22, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Heinlein’s iconic book Starship Troopers is about a semi-dystopian future where aliens are not only real but we fight wars against them as well.

My Thoughts

Starship Troopers was something I saw in the movies a long time ago. I remember a few scenes from it but not much else. In my day job with the United States Marines, it gets referenced from time to time and is on the Commandant’s reading list. So… I thought I should read the book. The book is always better right?

In this case, yes. The book was pretty fantastic. I can understand why the Commandant would want Marines to read this as it has some pretty solid lessons as to why we fight, honor, and even where the swagger came from. If you want to get inside Marine’s mind. This is a good place to start.

Recommendations

I wouldn’t say this book is for kids based on the level of violence however I believe it is a solid read for pretty much everyone.

Ready Player 1

October 17, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Wade is just a poor boy, he needs no sympathy… In the future, the earth is broken. Ravaged by climate change and by a shortage of natural resources, it is a bleak time to live. However, you can virtually live inside a video game known as “The Oasis”.

The man who created The Oasis died a very rich man and will give his vast fortune to the first player who finds his Easter Egg.

My Comments

I haven’t been able to put this one down. I love all the 80’s comments and references. It’s like being brought back to my childhood. I’m excited for the movie and I’m glad I read the book first. I could do without the profanity and if you stop and think about the dystopian world in which they lived, it is pretty terrifying… Still, fun story.

My Recommendations

I’d wait till I was 14 or so to read it due to some of the scenes being a little off color and the general bad language. However, I have a hard time thinking most people (who didn’t grow up playing video games and role playing games in the 80s) won’t get most of the references. I enjoyed it thoroughly.