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theinfophile's reviews
263 reviews
Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving by Betty Dodson
This book is really dated, and I can see how outstanding it must have been when it was originally published. I don't find it really helpful for people who are already sex-positive; however, for people who don't yet appreciate their bodies, I feel it's excellent. I suggested it to a friend who was almost 30 and had never masturbated and she said it really helped her learn to love and know herself.
My Name Is Not Angelica by Scott O'Dell
Please see my review of "The Island of the Blue Dolphins" and apply it to this book as well.
Hey, I'm lazy tonight.
Hey, I'm lazy tonight.
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME THINGS YOU MAY CONSIDER AS SPOILERS, though, I think they are just nuances because I'm not telling huge chunks of the story.
I like this book because I like Harry Potter, and they are very similar, but I’ll get to that later.
This is the first book in a series of five called The Belgariad, which chronicles the quest of a boy who learns he is a sorcerer. His parents were killed when he was a baby, and he lives with his aunt. Sound familiar? This book was published in 1982.
What I liked most about “Pawn of Prophecy” is that the characters are quite human, and quite funny and smart-assed. I’ve laughed aloud a few times, and the author allows the characters to make fun of themselves and the antiquated language they sometimes employ. It’s also rather exciting and it’s an entire new world to learn a la Tolkein.
I feel secure in saying that I would like this book and perhaps this series had I never read Harry Potter; however, I am a huge HP fan and there is such a great number of parallels between “Pawn of Prophecy” and HP:
1) Garion, the boy who finds out he is a sorcerer, lives with his aunt. His parents were murdered when he was a baby, and he has sworn to avenge their deaths.
2) His aunt can turn into an animal. What animal? A great snowy owl, of course!
3) There is an important scene where Aunt Pol tells Garion he “must not say the name” of the evil god that, unbeknownst to him, he is to face in later books. This was prophesied before he was even born.
4) Also, “It’s not a good idea to speak his name. He has certain powers which might make it possible for him to know our every move if we alert him to our location, and he can hear his name spoken a thousand leagues away.”
5) The peoples in the Belgariad are separated by the gods, each choosing his own people to represent and each peoples having certain personality traits, much like the four houses of Hogwarts.
6) The author makes a deal about a cut on Garion’s forehead early on and I wonder if it has remained as a scar.
7) The old sorcerer, Garion’s grandfather, has this said about his eyes: “His eyes were a deep and merry blue, forever young and forever full of mischief.” Of course, this old sorcerer, Belgarath, has long white hair and a white beard etc. etc.
8) Garion has a “mark” upon his person that has been there as long as he can remember.
9) One of the men on Garion’s quest is regularly mistaken for a giant, as he is a big, hairy man.
10) Garion goes through this thing of where everyone keeps referring to him as “the boy” [who lived?] and he has problems with that.
11) Said of the Murgos: “There are some among them who can reach out and pick the thoughts right out of your mind.” Hmm, occlumency circa 1982?
I like this book because I like Harry Potter, and they are very similar, but I’ll get to that later.
This is the first book in a series of five called The Belgariad, which chronicles the quest of a boy who learns he is a sorcerer. His parents were killed when he was a baby, and he lives with his aunt. Sound familiar? This book was published in 1982.
What I liked most about “Pawn of Prophecy” is that the characters are quite human, and quite funny and smart-assed. I’ve laughed aloud a few times, and the author allows the characters to make fun of themselves and the antiquated language they sometimes employ. It’s also rather exciting and it’s an entire new world to learn a la Tolkein.
I feel secure in saying that I would like this book and perhaps this series had I never read Harry Potter; however, I am a huge HP fan and there is such a great number of parallels between “Pawn of Prophecy” and HP:
1) Garion, the boy who finds out he is a sorcerer, lives with his aunt. His parents were murdered when he was a baby, and he has sworn to avenge their deaths.
2) His aunt can turn into an animal. What animal? A great snowy owl, of course!
3) There is an important scene where Aunt Pol tells Garion he “must not say the name” of the evil god that, unbeknownst to him, he is to face in later books. This was prophesied before he was even born.
4) Also, “It’s not a good idea to speak his name. He has certain powers which might make it possible for him to know our every move if we alert him to our location, and he can hear his name spoken a thousand leagues away.”
5) The peoples in the Belgariad are separated by the gods, each choosing his own people to represent and each peoples having certain personality traits, much like the four houses of Hogwarts.
6) The author makes a deal about a cut on Garion’s forehead early on and I wonder if it has remained as a scar.
7) The old sorcerer, Garion’s grandfather, has this said about his eyes: “His eyes were a deep and merry blue, forever young and forever full of mischief.” Of course, this old sorcerer, Belgarath, has long white hair and a white beard etc. etc.
8) Garion has a “mark” upon his person that has been there as long as he can remember.
9) One of the men on Garion’s quest is regularly mistaken for a giant, as he is a big, hairy man.
10) Garion goes through this thing of where everyone keeps referring to him as “the boy” [who lived?] and he has problems with that.
11) Said of the Murgos: “There are some among them who can reach out and pick the thoughts right out of your mind.” Hmm, occlumency circa 1982?
Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
I can no longer ignore that these books are a bit on the "badly written" side; however, they are fun and I highly recommend them to young readers or even adults who want to be entertained without much thought.
Most of the Harry Potter parallels were in the first book of the series, "Pawn of Prophecy."
The only couple of parallels in this book specifically are that Garion finds out he's a sorcerer (duh) and all the snake-imagery along with the serpent-language that the snake empress or whatever can speak.
I look forward to finishing the series.
Most of the Harry Potter parallels were in the first book of the series, "Pawn of Prophecy."
The only couple of parallels in this book specifically are that Garion finds out he's a sorcerer (duh) and all the snake-imagery along with the serpent-language that the snake empress or whatever can speak.
I look forward to finishing the series.
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
It took me a while to read this not because it was badly written, nor because I wasn't inspired to finish. I simply didn't want it to end. It's the second in a trilogy, so I know there is one whole book to go, BUT IT DOESN'T COME OUT UNTIL 9 SEPTEMBER 2008!!! Ugh.
Inkspell left a million things wide open at the end. It's a wonderful book, a book for booklovers as was "Inkheart" and I totally recommend it.
I'm just so sad that I have to wait a year to get some closure.
Inkspell left a million things wide open at the end. It's a wonderful book, a book for booklovers as was "Inkheart" and I totally recommend it.
I'm just so sad that I have to wait a year to get some closure.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I never read this book as a child, so I got it from the library and read it today.
I cried, as I tend to emote when I'm reading. This is the most beautiful book I have read thus far.
I cried, as I tend to emote when I'm reading. This is the most beautiful book I have read thus far.
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
This is the first book I remember being able to read all by myself.
Eccentric and Bizarre Behaviors by John M. Grossberg, Louis R. Franzini
I love me some crazies. Then again, I love myself so much, how could I not love other crazies?