Monday, October 20, 2014
3rd Blog Post
Over the weekend I finish, "A Superior Death", by Nevada Barr, which wasn't much less than a superior novel, and hardly even sub-par. The murder mystery ended with the capture of the killer, who had done it because of the "priceless" wine hidden on a sunken ship in Lake Superior. The women who was missing, and presumed dead, was actually just hiding from her abusive husband. These two mysteries were not exactly exciting to be revealed. My favorite part of this book was just being done with it. By the way, sorry for the spoilers, but you shouldn't read this book anyways, so I just saved you 300 pages of anti-climatic disappointment. I definitely need a break from murder mysteries with lame endings. I've started my new book, "Watership Down", by Richard Adams. You may perhaps recognized this title if you have ever had Mr. Bourjaily, who advertises this book in his classroom and on his arm. This book concerns the quest of a group of young rabbits as they attempt to find a new home after leaving their old warren. 70 pages in and this book is amazing. If you have ever read any of the "Redwall" books by Brian Jacques, probably my favorite author of all time, you will find this book extremely similar and enjoyable. "Watership Down" personifies rabbits while still retaining a sense of animal instinct or behavior in them, Such as in Jack London's "Into the Wild". I personally enjoy books with animals as protagonists more than those concerning the life of humans. As long as I am on the topic of favorite and least favorite types of books, I can say that my favorite books always involve an heir of magical or supernatural force within them. "Life of Pi", "The Underland Chronicles", "Redwall", and "Lord of the Rings", are but a few examples. I have found, with few exceptions, that books without magic, that is, concerning the lives of normal people, always fail to arouse my interest. "A Superior Death" was one of these books. Perhaps the only exceptions I can think of include "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Grapes of Wrath". I cannot remember any other "realistic" books I have found enjoyable or even stimulating. At a closing, I'll say that the next two books I intend to read are "The Zombie Survival Guide" by Max Brooks, The Bible, and then perhaps Hobbes' "Leviathan".
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First of all, I like how you were completely honest on your own view of the book a superior death. And you did not just say you did not like it. You gave a really good reason to why you disliked it. I agree to your statement a mystery story should not have a lame ending. To me a great mystery story should have a great ending or theres like no point in even reading the book. I also like how you found similarities with the books you have read and could compare them. But i do have a few questions on the rabbits. What was the reason that they had to leave their old warren? So what i'm understanding from what you said about Watership down is that its kinda like a fable but not all the way. Because in fables animals talk. But does Watership down have a meaning to it yet? Just a suggestion since you don't really enjoy human life books. But maybe you should try a science fiction book such as Divergent by Veronica Roth. It is a page turner. Im almost done reading it and its a great book. I have yet to get bored of the book and its my second time reading it. And one more thing, reading your blog makes me what to read Watership Down. The book sounds really interesting so far that i read about.
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