3rd Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

 
No Place Like Home By Mary Higgins Clark. Simon & Schuster 2005   Genre: Fiction

“In No Place Like Home, the main character named Liza Barton killed her mother accidentally, while trying to save her from her stepfather. She then injured her stepfather with the pistol. She was 10 when this happened, and after a trail, she was acquitted. 24 years later her second husband purchases her the same home where the murders took place. Liza, who changed her name to Ceila, is harassed, and then the people around her start being killed. She is determined to prove her innocence secretly, and stay alive.   

“ Mary Higgins Clark [possesses an] awesome gift for storytelling… A cunning variation on the haunted-house theme.” –The New York Times

Mary Higgins Clark leaves you wanting to keep reading in this book, and in all the other pieces she has written. In No Place Like Home, she never lets the reader know who the criminal or murderer is, and lets them use their imagination until the climax and resolution in reached, or to think of a possible ending of their own. She then finds a thrilling climax which usually has a very dramatic twist on the whole story, and something will happen that the reader never expected. Mary Higgins Clark also used a lot of foreshadowing, because the main character’s past was what the whole story was based on.
Also in No Place Like Home, the author shows the mood very well. The setting is not always that clear, but the scenes and events that happen are. An example of an image that she described very good was when the house had been vandalized. 3rd person is used which allows you to know what almost all of the characters are thinking. This controls the tone of the story.

“My mother’s eyes were lighter, a sapphire blue, picture perfect with her golden hair. My hair would be dark blonde if I left it natural.” pg. 6

I chose this book because I enjoy reading books my Mary Higgins Clark. She has very good plots and themes to her book which encourage the reader not to put the book down. They usually are somewhat thrilling, and almost always have something to do with murder or a crime, but that is what makes her writing different and very interesting. Some of my favorite books are pieces that she has written, like Two Girls in Blue.

The Life Changing Fire

It was June 1st, and approaching the end of Hilary’s 10th grade school year. She was happy it was summer, and wanted to go home, relax and swim. Hilary walked outside of West Oak High school, and went to the curb were she waited for her father diurnally. 20 minutes later she was still waiting, but decided he was just running late. Her father’s name was Robert Latner, and he worked at Hampton Hospital. He was a benevolent man who achieved notoriety in the hospital for neurosurgeon and performed many surgeries with prowess. Hilary started to walk home, as she appreciated the warm zephyr and relaxing weather. She turned around the block, almost at her house. The next thing she saw would change the rest of her life.
Billowing piles of smoke rose to the sky. Her backpack crashed to the ground, and the sound of her feet running echoed against the cracked pavement. Her biggest fear was now facing her, losing everything she had. By the time Hilary reached her blazing home, tears had been streaked against her face, and her now feeble house was crumbling. Firemen and police cars swarmed the house, and there was also an ambulance. An ambulance. She remembered her father, and how he was late to pick her up. Was he ok? Is he trapped inside? Hilary ran to the police officer nearest to her.
“My name is Hilary Latner, and where is my father?” she screamed while crying.
“He escaped from the fire, and is at the hospital now. He has some burns on his arms, but nothing bad.” said the gaunt police officer.
A wave of relief came over Hilary, but she was still terrified for her home. Where would she stay, and how did this happen?
“I can bring you to the hospital now to be with your dad if you’d like. It’s not safe to be here, especially with all the smoke.” The police officer said breaking her thoughts.
“But what about my house!” Hilary said panicked.
“There is nothing you can do now Hilary, just come with me.” He said in a grave voice.

For Hilary the ride seemed like an eternity. She knew that her life would never be the same. The thing that she was wondering the most about was how the fire started. She knew it wasn’t the stove or oven, because her father didn’t like to cook, and he wouldn’t in the middle of the day. He mostly ate quick meals when he could because he was always working different hours, and called in at different times. So how did it start? She looked up through the small window of the police car. The California sun was so bright, and Hilary wished that it could just be a normal day. They arrived at the hospital that she had seen so many times to visit her father, and realized how terrible today had been.
She walked through the bright hallways, which had paintings and colorings spread everywhere. She walked into the room, not knowing what to expect. Her father was sitting on the bed, his face pallor. The nurse was finishing putting bandages around the bottom of his arms near his hands, where he got skin grafts, and covering contusions. His head peered up, and his face had a mixed expression. She quickly walked to him and sat down on the side of the bed.
“What happened?” Hilary asked trying to contain her curiosity.
“I’m trying to figure that out too Hilary. I was sitting in the den, and the fire just exploded and spread everywhere.” He pause and continued. “I have been thinking about how it started since I ran out of the house, and nothing me or you did started it.”
“What do you mean?” Hilary asked with a angry tone.
“ I think someone set the fire from the outside to try and hurt me. I am just glad they didn’t hurt you.”
They were both silent while sitting on the hospital bed. Hilary’s father than arose and spoke.
“ I have to sign a few papers, but then we can leave.”
“ Where will we go?” Hilary said unsure.
“Anywhere but here.” He said as he walked to the front desk.

Hilary was sitting in the cold hotel bed. She had nothing, and it seemed like a terrible nightmare that she couldn’t wake up from. She would always abhor the person who did this to her. Hilary’s father walked out from the square bathroom that smelled of clean towels and soap.
“I think I know who might have did this.” Hilary’s father said slowly. “ The police called and have a possible suspect now.”
“Who?” Hilary chirped
“ 5 years ago when I was working I had a patient who we thought had brain cancer. She turned out not having it, and I misdiagnosed her. She died, and it is irrevocable, but it was an accident and accidents happen in medicine.”
“Oh.” Said Hilary unsure of what to say.
“The suspect was her husband. He was depressed that he lost his wife, which I understand, but then it turned to anger towards me. I have gotten numerous letters from him over the years. I am afraid they burned down in the fire so if it was him, which I am leery it was, then that evidence is gone.”
Four months later Paul Breanen, the main suspect, was convicted. After the police found the gasoline which was disseminated to start the fire, and a perfect math of his shoe print he was arrested and later admitted to the crime. As for Hilary and her father their new home was constructed, and finished 14 months later. There lives changed forever, but they both learned to forget the past, and look towards the future.

2 Quarter Outside Reading Book

2nd Quarter Outside Reading Book Review Hannah Spring

At First Sight By Nicholas Sparks. Warner Books, 2005 Genre: Fiction

In the book At First Sight, by Nicholas Sparks, there are many points of high tension and excitement which keeps the readers interest. It takes place in the small town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, where the main character Jeremy Marsh is engaged to his pregnant wife Lexie. Throughout the book miscommunication and lies lead to trouble, but the strong couple works together to solve problems of the past and present. Their wedding follows, and some of the worst news of their lives, found in an ultrasound, then really tests their strength and love. Then, another shocking twist in the end of the book shows more messages about love; it is eternal, but can be found.

“Sheds light on the quirks couples discover in each other, and the frustration that can ensue …AT FIRST SIGHT delves deeper still- into the more serious realities of life and love. “ - New Bern Sun-Journal (NC)

Nicholas Sparks shows emotion and detail through the reader’s thoughts, sights, and actions. In his own writing style he does not always have to use dialogue to describe a scene or mood. Dialogue is mostly used in this book for the characters to communicate and figure out a problem, or discuss what is to come. At First Sight is very much alike some of his other pieces or writing; it takes a strong love strong and tangles it with a conflict, which reveals the intense feelings after the problem has concluded, or someone or something is gone. In At First Sight, the end of the book shows this very strongly, and mainly through the protagonists thoughts.

“ On their wedding day, the sun rose over a calm Atlantic Ocean, casting prisms of light across the water. A light mist lingered on the beach as Doris and Lexie cooked breakfast for the guests at the cottage.” Pg. 178.

I really enjoy reading Nicholas Sparks’ books, and he is one of my favorite authors. I own The Wedding, True Believer, and At First Sight, which are my favorite books by Sparks. In these particular books, Nicholas Sparks builds love stories which teach hidden meanings within the text that make you believe in what he’s saying. It takes thought, but is not that difficult to really understand what he is saying in his own kind of message.

Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Quarter Outside Reading Book Review Hannah Spring

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks. Warner Books, 2005 Genre: Fiction

True Believer, written by Nicholas Sparks is a novel written about love, entwined with a scientific story. It takes place in Boone Creek, North Carolina, when Jeremy Marsh investigating ghost appearances, when he falls in love with the town physic’s daughter Lexie Darnell. He later has to make a big choice to either go back home to being an investigator reporter, the thing that ruined his first marriage, but the job he loves, or be with the one he loves.
“Sparks gives his readers another reason to believe.” The book reads along with, “A romantic confection that’s as light as air, smooth as silk, and gloriously sweet.”
The writing style in True Believer is very descriptive. The dialogue is very realistic and Nicholas Sparks does a good job of conveying the author. He shows the emotions very strongly through the characters like they are his own, especially through the main character Jeremy Marsh. Jeremy experiences something he had never expected, falling in love.
To me this book was very different from other literary works by Nicholas Sparks. Although it contained a love story, which all the books I have read by him do, it contained a different twist with the ghosts, plot and setting. But it still had a very good ending.
“Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, and he looked at her. He could see the reflection of the town lights flickering in her eyes.”(pg.322)
I like to read Nicholas Sparks’ books, and that is why I chose to read this book for my outside reading book. Every book that I have read of his always has a very good climax, or ending and leaves me glad I had read the book. I first started reading his books when I watch The Notebook, my favorite movie, which was based on the book he wrote. What I enjoy in his books is how he goes into such great detail when he is describing a characters emotion or something like the setting because it gives me, or any reader a very vivid description in their imagination. The author has affected me because his pieces of writing are so well written it encourages me to read more, or write more. The one thing that I didn’t really like was how he encorporated ghosts into the story, because I don’t believe in them, but either did the main character. This book was overall very good.

Value Essay

The Value of Adventures By: Hannah Spring

Ever wonder how peoples values are so different from your own? In the United States, and all over the world, people have very different values. For some, their values are their religion, some their children, and others their million dollar homes. Americans usually have different values depending on there class. Very rich, first class Americans, or celebrities who get paid millions, usually value there cars, or diamonds, whereas people who live in the lower class, or some who have close to nothing might value there job, children or food.


I lay on the beach as the sun scorches my skin. The sound of waves is heard crashing nearby, along with the yells of people all ages. I straighten out the beach towel and enjoy the time I have left of the week vacation in Rhode Island with my best friends. The suns rays are strong, as we race to the water to cool down. The foam makes us jump, but then is a relaxing feeling. I wade in, as the waves come closer to crashing on me. I dive through an oncoming wave, a second of fear overcoming me, but then rise to the surface. I am at my favorite place, the beach for my annual Rhode Island vacation, with my neighbors for a week.
After we realize we have had enough at the beach for that day, my neighbors and I load up all of the boogie boards, umbrellas, towels, and food. We drive two minutes to the blue beach house on the ocean. We unload the car and make a dash towards the little shower. I wait my time, patiently waiting to rinse all of the sand away, and to finally relax. I later step out of the wooden shower walls and into the house. I climb up the cottages’ narrow spiral staircase to the small upstairs that contains no walls, and 7 small cots. The day is fun and we later walk down the sandy streets to get ice cream. I inhale the aroma of the salt water, hoping that I will never forget the smell. As I walk the streets I realize how hot it can be on an early August night in Rhode Island .
Over the next few days of the somewhat same routine of going to the beach and then coming home, and doing different various activities those nights, sadness starts to come over me, because I soon realize I will be departing the next day. We wake early and pack our bags. I trickily walk down the spiral staircase with two big bags, watching each step. I shove open the door with the bag and load it in the trunk of the green van. Soon everything is out of the blue cottage, and I say goodbye. We get in the van and await a long 2-hour car ride home, with the noises of kids card games and jokes the whole way.

With the key in my hand I start up the powerful engine. I swerve the blue two-seated go-kart out of my driveway and into the field. I press down the pedal and accelerate up the hill. I feel free, as the wind is against me, in the pretty field with no one around I take the wheel with two hands and pull it to a sharp right. I zoom down the fresh cut path, watching carefully for oncoming bunnies or animals that might jump my way. The humming motor reminds me to be in control, but to have a good time. I then pull out of the narrow paths, and race past my house, to see my pond and see if I can see the muskrats that occasionally swim by. I increase the speed with no sighting, and loop back around to my field. I then take a corner to sharp, and pull the reverse gear towards me. The gear shifts, and I slide backwards. I shift it forward into drive again and go back to my joy ride. The blue go-kart, given to my siblings and I is the ultimate source of fun.
After a fun ride, which usually lasts about half an hour, I pull the go-kart around my house. I am careful to stay away from things I could hit, knowing how much trouble I would be in. I take the wheel and drive into the garage, then shut off the motor. I press the red, square, button, and unlatch the seat belt.
With an automatic transmission, two seats, disc brakes, headlights, 35mph speed, and shocks, you can have a fun time with a friend, or at night. I mostly ride in the summer, because the go-kart doesn’t really work that well over deep snow. But my favorite time to ride is in the summer, because of the weather. My dad cuts paths through the field behind my house in the early summer before all of the long grass, bushes, flowers and plants grow in, so my siblings and I can race through them, and play games with the go-kart and our mini dirt bike. I value my go-kart because it gives me an sense of fun and freedom.
I value both my Rhode Island trip and go-kart very much. Although in someway they both cost money, for things like gas to drive to Rhode Island and to drive around in the go-kart, they are both priceless to me because they both provide me with travel, fun, and relaxation. They are also very much alike because I always look forward to both.
Although value may not matter in some peoples lives, its very important to me. Things that I value usually have a big role in my life, and help me. They help me relax through stressful times, or just have fun. I also value them because I am lucky to be able to have a go-kart, and also to be able to go to the beach for a week with my neighbors and stay in a beach cottage. There are also many things that are very important in my life like my family, and friends that mean very much to me. This is why value is very imporant in my life.