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My name is Christina. I'm a work at home mom with a Tupperware business on the side. My husband and I have been happily married since October 2000, and our beautiful son was born in August 2005.
Reviews (9)
11 Jan, 2006
Crossroads: A resounding YAWN throughout Randland
7 of 12 found this helpful Where Jordan left off
When we last saw our heroes, well, they were scattered throughout Randland. Perrin’s multi-book search for Faile continues. Egwene is struggling to become feared, if not respected, as Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai. Mat has kidnapped Tuon, whom he knows he is fated to marry, and is trying to escape Ebou Dar with his life and the lives of a handful of marath'damane. A now-pregnant Elayne is trying to secure the Lion Throne of Andor, and her first-sister Aveindha is clinging to her side trying to learn "wetlander" customs. Oh yeah, and some little bit of nonsense about Rand and Nynaeve cleansing the taint on saidin. That might be important. *sniff*
The prologue that never ends
Didn’t we go through this already? Oh yeah. Jordan decided that he really likes writing prologues that follow the POV of a hundred different characters before actually starting the first chapter. CoT suffers from a bulky prologue (almost 100 pages!) where we see nothing from "our heroes." Unless you count the several pages about Gawyn, Jordan uses this space to introduce a slew of new minor characters and subplots that do absolutely nothing to further existing storylines mentioned above. A hundred pages could’ve done an awful lot for those of use hoping for some actual furthering of the plot.
Yeah, yeah. Plot twists and multiple dimensions add depth. But too many dimensions is more harmful than helpful to the enjoyment of this already complex story.
The ending
Without giving it away, for those of you who choose to stick it out until the end, I need to make a comment. The last few pages of the last chapter are good. There’s a plan. There’s a change in the plan. There’s a twist you won’t see coming. Boom! Action! And just when it gets good… it’s the last page, and you see the Epilogue. And the Epilogue poses yet another GREAT possibility for the plot, but it’s over. It’s like getting to the climax of a movie and having the director yell, "Cut! That’s a wrap!" - just when the scene had been set.
What was missing
The action was missing. The first 600 pages of the book brought us chronologically to where Winter’s Heart ended. The last hundred pages might have jumped ahead a day or a month, we just can’t be sure. A whole lot of talk, but no real movement of the plot.
The Forsaken were missing. Some of the greatest scenes from the earlier books involved the Forsaken. The only one we see in CoT is Mesaana, and we still don’t know who she is in Tar Valon. No mention of what happened when Moghedien got caught in the blast from WH. No one notices that Dashiva/Osan’gar/Aginor is gone. No mention of Moridin/Ishamael or his mindtrapped charge, Cyndane/Lanfear. The identities of Demandred and Semhirage are still up in the air, no matter how much we fans may theorize. Where’s Graendal? Oh yeah, I guess we do get to see Halima/Aran’gar/Balthamel, as well. But none of the Aes Sedai have yet caught on to her game. If I missed a Forsaken or two here, it doesn’t matter. Jordan didn’t mention them anyway.
In summary
CoT was an exercise in how to fill about 700 pages with nothing. It was the literary equivalent to an entire season of Seinfeld reruns. But would I recommend it? Sadly, yes. If you’ve been sucked into the WoT world, you have to read it. You have to know where everyone is at. You’re going to get bored, frustrated, and so angry about being bored and frustrated that you may throw your hardcover across the room.
15 Jan, 2006
A shocking dystopia: Could it happen in America?
6 of 11 found this helpful BooksAll Categories
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The Handmaid's Tale
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Review Summary
A shocking dystopia: Could it happen in America?
Apr 17 '00 (Updated Apr 17 '00)
Author's Product Rating
Pros
The writing is incredible, engrossing, and horrifying.
Cons
I already mentioned horrifying.
Full Review
This is one of the very few books I didn't sell back at the end of the semester from my Core I class. The Handmaid's Tale is one of the best books I have ever read, and I suggest it to absolutely everyone.
Required for Core I - Perspectives on the Individual, I had to read Margaret Atwood's novel. I am glad, though, because it's a book I most likely would never have even picked up otherwise.
Offred ("Of Fred") is the narrator of this story. Ripped from her home and family after a very extremist Christian group had overthrown the U.S. Government, she is now basically property, maybe even a pet, to her Commander. Her sole purpose in life is to bear him a child, as many women have been rendered infertile due to nuclear radiation and other factors. Her "freedom from" is great - freedom from harm, freedom from fanciful emotions like love and passion. But her "freedom to" do anything else has been restricted to all but the bare essentials - eating, sleeping, doing her exercises, going to buy food, and preparing for the "ritual" where the Commander will try to impregnate her.
Atwood creates a whole different world, a counter reaction to the greater liberalization of society. The Japanese women in their lipstick and high heels are used as a symbol of "what America had been before," a world that Offred can't even relate to anymore.
With increasingly more liberal attitudes today, are we going to come full circle and revert once again to an ultra-conservative state? This is what Atwood suggests when creating the Republic of Gilead. The Commanders, the Wives, the Handmaids, the Marthas, and the Eyes... Could it really happen? The mere thought sends chills down my spine.
I also love the very end of the book. If you haven't read it, I won't spoil it for you. I believe it is an "Afterward" that puts a whole new spin on the entire book you just read. Absolutely ingenious.
You will despise almost everything you read in this book, but it will make you think. And that's what is so great about it. I've heard that it was made into a movie some years ago, but I haven't been able to locate it. I also heard that an X-Files fan had written a great fan-fic crossover where Scully became Offred and Mulder became Nick, one of the Eyes. I keep hoping to come across either of these things, because The Handmaid's Tale is that fantastic.
15 Jan, 2006
Because "happily ever after" rarely comes easily
16 of 21 found this helpful Everyone knows the Cinderella story, or at least the Disney version. Some may even know the story by the brothers Grimm. Now I like fairy tales, but I'd never fallen in love with one until I saw Ever After with Drew Barrymore.
Few movies manage to truly transport me into their world. But from the very start, Ever After had me captivated. The world of little Danielle became mine. What did it? The location was perfect for the farm. The costumes were superb. The dialogue coach did an incredible job. And all of the actors were very Renaissance to me.
The script managed to turn an unbelievable fairy tale into a story that is now very much real. Forget pumpkins and mice. This Ella of the Cinders slept with the book Utopia by her side, mingled with the other servants on the estate, and managed to befriend and eventually enlist the help of none other than Leonardo Da Vinci - a far cry from a handful of singing, dancing mice. It took more than a dance and a fancy dress to make this Prince Charming - Or Prince Henry, as the case may be - fall in love with our Cinderella. She did it with her wit, her charm, her poise, and her intellect that was way ahead of its time. Wicked stepmother? Indeed. Wicked stepsisters? Well, one of them. A fantastical creation that was masterfully crafted, this new Cinderella set the new standard for modern fairy tales.
As I've already mentioned, the characters in this version of the Cinderella story are very real. Drew Barrymore was the perfect choice for the lead role. Her supporting cast was well chosen, and we see more than just the one-dimensional personalities of the old story. Bravo to the cast and the casting director.
A true romantic at heart, I must admit that I'm a sucker for a good love story. But Ever After is more than just a flimsy script and a few cutesy moments. There is real drama and real emotion, real conflict and real talent to be seen. This is more than just another attempt to remake a classic story.
I recommend this movie to anyone else who is a romantic at heart. Ever After would be especially good for winding down after a long week with the person you love. So cuddle up on the sofa and see for yourself. I hope you agree.