Book Domino Chain World Record

Quote of the Day

 “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” 

Jorge Luis Borges

  

Under the Dome by Stephen King

A little while ago I read this monster of a book and thoroughly enjoyed it! Some of you may have seen that a television adaptation has recently been done and so far the series isn't thrilling me, not like the book did. It is the story of a small town in America that suddenly and unceremoniously finds itself shut off from the rest of the world by an invisible dome. The story documents how the townspeople react to this and the psychological and social effects of such an event.You're presented with a range of characters, from the young military hero and hard-nosed journalist investigative duo, to the ego-maniacal local councilman and his tribe of lawless, unofficial 'peacekeepers' and the power struggles that ensue throughout the novel.

It is quite a large book, however it doesn't feel like you're climbing a mountain reading it as you are taken on a journey of discovery along with the trapped townsfolk making it intriguing and exciting to read and actually quite intense at certain parts.

My only criticism of this book however, would perhaps be the explanation at the end of what the dome is and the general ending as a whole. After reading such a big story, you feel it needs a big ending. And although it was an interesting idea Mr King took on, it just seemed a bit of a lame conclusion to everything. The lead up to the finale however was riveting and the range of issues and the dynamics Stephen King took on worked brilliantly.

Personal Rating: 8/10

Quote of the Day

"Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul."

Joyce Carol-Oates

Back in Action!

I know, I know, I have not posted anything for quite some time... I fell out of blogging and got caught up with many other things however I want to get back into this as I thoroughly enjoyed it so am now making the time for it once again!

So what have I been doing?

Well as I said in my last post, I went off to sail the seven seas and work on a cruise. I had an amazing time! Saw so many places I never even knew existed, met people from all over the world...one of the best things I ever did. That was from October 2011 - April 2012.

When I got back, i moved into my own place, took a day job to pay the bills (which luckily I really enjoy) and I am most definitely still reading :)

So what of that literary career I had aspirations for? That has certainly not been forgotten! I'm currently studying a proof-reading course. One of these work from home type things and it's going well. So my plan is to still move into that field and write and correct the world's literacy abilities (or dis-abilities) and that leads me up to now, August 2013. Ready to re-start my literary blog and hopefully you still want to read it!

Hi blog followers

I know it's been almost 2 months since I last posted something (bad Kaska!) but I've been really busy lately and havn't really had any time for literature, shocking and terrible I know!

This blog is still something I love and hope to work on but it is going to be taking a mini break as I'm off to work on a cruise for 6 months!

So....I will be setting up a new blog - all about cruise life and I hope all you guys can follow that one too :)

When it's up and running I'll let you all know - thanks for the support of this blog and hope to see you at the next one...... and then back at this one next year!

x

Quote of the Day

"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen."

John Steinbeck

School Literacy Drive

Headteacher in Kindle row launches new literacy drive. News

I read this article the other day and it links in well with the rants I seem to go on, about replacing books with technology. A headteacher wants to remove the books in the school library and fill it with kindles and iPads instead....hmmmmmm

1) Surely this is more expensive?

2) It can't be good for all the pupils' eyes?
                 (no pun intended)

However, I found this article interesting because it goes on to say that the headteacher is backing the importance of literacy by issuing a compulsory summer reading list to his students.Well I sincerely doubt he's going to loan out the kindles and iPads so surely this is a contradiciton of ideals? In the article he is quoted as saying "I don't care so much whether children read on a kindle or paper." So why go to the trouble of digitalising the school library? My guess......simply to look more flashy and get one up in the league tables perhaps as being a 'forward-thinking' school.

Take this whole technology vs. books issue out and the idea of encouraging each student to read 5 books in the 2 months they have off for summer is great. I feel the value of reading is often under appreciated and kids spending their free time by staring at screens has killed the imagination that books inspire. However issuing reading lists might seem more like a chore than an enjoyable past time as it should be. It would be best to encourage the students to have an input and choose for themselves what they would like to read, with the teachers simply suggesting some choices and showing them what kind of authors and books there are to discover.

Hopefully this literacy drive will be successful and more schools will follow suit. I'd like to hear of kids reading more books and something other than Harry Potter!

Quote of the Day

"To write something you have to risk making a fool of yourself"

Anne Rice

Quote of the Day

"Fiction is a branch of neurology: the scenarios of nerve and blood vessels are the written mythologies of memory and desire"

J G Ballard