The Lord of the Flies - William Golding

Category: Books
Genre: Fiction
Year Published: 1954

The present society with which we live in is marred by the undying clamor for the breach in the terms stated in the mandate in connection with the freedom of expression as well as the bill of rights of the citizen. Democracy has turned into fascism, as many other people would say. And this is true all over the world for people ruled under the democratic principles of governance.

However, while reading Golding's highly appraised novel, I came to realize that sometimes, it is necessary for a national leader to hold his people tighter if he wants his subjects to be more inclined at what they should be doing, that is, working towards progress.

Evilness and savagery is innate in the blood and veins of humans for we still are animals in any way you look. From the moment we were born, we all possess those qualities but because we are being tamed and honed by an authority of rules and laws, we tend to become more civilized in the process of growth and development. This is the core of Golding's novel.

But no matter how you look on it and no matter how very truthful, or rather, revealing the ideas that the author presented, the whole narrative itself is enveloped by wickedness and darkness. The use of a bunch of school boys may be impressive for many others which truthfully paved the way to a faster transmission of the things the author tried to tell his readers, it's quite far off that the death of some companions should serve as the consequence for the battle of power and superiority.

True, people who do not have other choice than to kill opponents, like those politicians who are very much engrossed at wielding power for their own interests are the very persons who could do that, but a good writer knows how to convey his message in a lighter way which if analyzed, would be more striking than what the senses could naturally perceive.

The Lord of the Flies is a novel about a group of school boys who was stuck in an island after the airplane which they boarded failed to reach its destination due to a storm. At first, everything was in order after they chose a leader and after they decided on their respective tasks to survive and be rescued from the dreadful island. Envy and greed in power caused a rift between the boys which cut loose the string that tied them together.

Little by little, the popularly-selected authority lost control and savagery took over the once civilized boys. They feared of a beast somewhere up in the mountain, but they are unaware that the beast is actually within themselves. Death of two of their companions followed before they were eventually rescued by a passing navy ship and only then did they realize the offenses they did.

Without reference to my previous assertions, I laud Golding for being so bold and for expressing the ills of the society in a creative yet striking manner.

If you want a novel that reveals the prevailing social conditions, then this definitely is for you. But be sure that you're not faint-hearted.

a day when several thousands were spent

this is a very memorable sunday for me. the title already revealed why. several thousands were spent. several thousands of what? of course, nothing else, but money. I have never felt so filthy rich for a day ever since when. (i couldn't really tell when that day ever happened.)

well, of course, the money came from my mom, which I won't reveal the details. let's just say that finally, we have paid our debts from our family's close kins and friends. Bless them!


gaining weight requires a good price



for some of you who is familiar with me, better yet, who have seen me, you would strongly, violently and bloodily (hyperbole ok?) oppose that i'm the type of guy who is macho, who has great abs and a man who have been gifted with a model-like and worth-being-a-magazine-cover physique. No, i'm sure not. I know you'll bet your life if you'd agree to that. (meanies!)

anyway, last year, i've heard, or rather, i've read, or is it seen? Seen would be better. So I've seen this product on a daily which back then seemed to be the answer to my unending call for God's mercy of making my body fit to being a body of my age. I guess He was exhausted already with my clamors, that's why.. hehe..

And so, back to this product. It's branded as APPETON WEIGHT GAIN. But all my hopes turned to a dreadful misery after inquiring about its price as well as its availability. It was out of stock in my place (out of stock meant they don't really bother to order for the product, i guess).

I don't blame them for making it "out of stock" when all the advertisements point out that it's already available nationwide on that particular drug store (save the name, i don't like to be sued). (Since when did our place, a city down south Manila, been erased on the map of the Philippines?)

You wanna know the price? It's a whooping Php 1300 (for 900ml) and Php 750 (for 450ml). Expensive? Yes, for people like us who's parents' monthly earnings are not enough to satisfy our luxuries, only the needs. Back then, I accepted already the sad fact that my tounge wont ever taste even a drop of that milk drink.

But just this morning, I was truly elated to see that my father thought about buying me one. (the 450 ml only, actually, but, thankfully, he wanted to be "economical" so he bought the bigger one, twice the content of the "little appeton"). Well, I guess, he's afraid that I might end up being teased by my future students as unworthy of the profession all because of my "physical deficiency". my "slimmnes".



Honestly, that was already planned because I don't pretty much have anything good to do this summer vacation but to sleep, eat, do my hobbies, sleep, eat, and do my hobbies again. Nothing more, nothing less. I won't be needing to sleep at 7AM and eventually wake up at 8AM of the same day to catch up with a trip to my university. Thank God, a two-month rest from school was mandated. Or else, I'm a dead meat, or better, bone if not! Whoo!

So after finally holding it, as if it's a priced possessions; as if it's a chest brimming with jewelry and greenbacks, I fondly imagined myself turning into a well-built man from a stick. I hope my "greatest dream" would come true. So help me God. (Dad's actually forcing me to sleep right now because he reasoned that I won't feel the benefits of the milk drink if I always sleep at 3AM. Sorry dad, but I have to finish this. I'm quite thrilled to write, see.)


And so, after finally releasing the milk drink from it's tight lid, I then noticed this: PRODUCT OF FRANCE. So, that answers why it's worth a gold bar! It crossed-over the continents just to fall in my hands. But, I do hope that it would keep the promise of improving my weight. I hope I did not waste not only several hundreds of pesos as well as this blog entry cum promotional ad just for some fraud. I have high hopes on you!!


belting down that slim waist

i've got loads of problems when it comes to my weight. At a tender age of 19, I have already suffered too much! Too much, I say! (sigh...)

when I pay a visit to the malls, I always receive frustrated eyes of sales ladies after finally giving up all the chances of dressing me up, after several tries, ESPECIALLY that of my lower part of the body. No good pants really fitted me. That's why, I always end up with the not-so-stylish ones. Although back then, when I still have some of those withered fats, I have bought merchandise next to good ones.

therefore, all of my good ones have considerably grown larger to my recent self. so, I have to use good belts to help my body carry the weight of the jeans. Bust sadly, last year, my one and only "good belt" which really fits into my unique waistline bid me goodbye. It surrendered already with so much work I give him. so, I ended up using the "not-so-good ones" until now.

to tell you the truth, it's really hard to use belts which are manufactured for people whose waistline range from 40 cm - 50 cm. I felt like i'm being tied into a rope and never breath to death afterwards. I curse that belt!

well, luckily again, my father agreed to buy me a new one (probably out of pity). One with stylish colors on it, though simple in a glance. I like simple things.

i'm not really particular on the things that I wear, whether they are fake or original. As long as I could use them, and as long as it makes me good on the eyes of other, then I'm satisfied. But after buying that belt on a mall near our place, I resented on how much it costed us.

it's Php 299.75, just for a belt! That's truly absurd! But sadly, I only thought about it when I was already walking away from the counter while the sales ladies wave me goodbye for joy that they once again fooled another helpless being. I pitied myself.

i could have bought something more reasonable that just a belt with that money. Oh, why should the grudge always appear after the event. Silly life!


opening a new window

since i'm always being haunted by my daily practice during schooldays (sleeping early in the morning), I always had difficulty sleeping. And so, as always, I kept myself busy with a book to lull me to sleep, at the same time, give me enjoyment and satisfaction that I have fulfilled something each day.

i don't want wasting my time over things which won't give me something new to learn or experience. I am hungry of knowledge, insights and experiences. I'm that kind of person. Honest!

i want to tell the world that I have done something good this summer vacation. Well, I just have finished reading The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewiss and recently, or rather, yesterday morning, at about 3:30AM, I finished The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. My reviews on them will follow shortly if I found time and eagerness to write.

because I was left speechless in the utter goodness of the story, I was determined to grab a copy of its supposed sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which I luckily bought this day. After writing this very long blog entry (mind you, I started at 12:30 AM and it's already 1:40AM, 5/5/08!) i'll be leafing through its pages. I can't wait to see what happens next! (mouth drooling)


a new member of the family

my mom has always wanted to have her own cell phone. But she couldn't buy one because her salary is just enough for our needs here. so with this chance, we bought her a brand new phone, an imitation of Nokia 6300 (don't tell this to other ok? this is a secret between the two of us!). Although it's not truly the same with the original, the good thing is, it's price is fair enough, Php 3, 300.00 and it's features are just right for my mom's needs.

We are to send this phone to her to China (funny, it's a China phone, but it was bought in the Philippines only to be brought back and used in China) through my youngest sister since she was invited by my mom's employer to tour in Zhu Hai, China, a city just a ferry away from Hong Kong.

She's lucky, yes. I do hope I could also see the place one day. But it's good for her since she was forced to stop attending school because my parents can't afford to send us to college at the same time. So, in exchange, she'll be with my mom the whole time. (jealous...)



So, back to the phone. Although some say that a China phone is not a better choice for wise buyers, I must disagree because I could testify that the one that I've bought just last January looks as new as ever. so no need to worry too much about the great deal of money spent. It just depends on the user. That's true. If you take care of your things, naturally, they'll be at their best when you'll need them.

but this is a secret between the two of us, okay, whoever you are. Because my mom has no idea about this. I don't know whether she will be happy that we spent that much for her phone or be delighted that we at least have thought about her after doing so much to secure the money she owe to her boss. Dad already said she might get angry. You see, she's not the type of person who considers her welfare and interests first among the rest. She's someone who thinks first of our welfare before herself. And that's why I could call my mother a true noble person.

'till the next time...

Harry Potter and The Epic Journey to Fame - A Scrutiny of the Greatest Bildungsroman Ever Told

This is a published review on our college paper. Hope you'd enjoy it... If there's anything offensive here, just let me know. If you want to cite something, here's how you can do it:

Guinto, Nicanor L. "Harry Potter and the Epic Journey to Fame - A Scrutiny of the Greatest Bildungsroman Ever Told." The Footprints. Vol. 13, No. 1. June - December, 2007. pp. 18-19.

I really worked so hard to write this. I hope you could appreciate it.

Harry Potter and the Epic Journey to Fame
A Scrutiny of the Greatest Bildungsroman ever told

For seventeen years, we have seen how a fictional character by the name of Harry James Potter grow up in the hands of a newbie in the literary scene. We have sympathized with Harry’s plight as an orphan, tasted triumphs and defeats in his wealth of adventures, delivered peace and battled adversities in light for goodness, deciphered clues and uncovered truths enroute out of trouble and savored glory coupled with bliss for every trek well-passed. We have also seen the lighter side of Harry as he learned to love, reach out for love and fall out of love. Indeed, nothing is comparable with the vividness and subtlety of Harry’s character in the sea of fictional outgrowth – a character who lives not merely as a personality in a book but a living person in the hearts and minds of Potter enthusiasts and who in one way or another had been a companion, a comrade and a friend.

Every bits and pieces of Harry now provides the living proof of Joanne Kathlene Rowling’s magical wisdom and impeccable ingenuity. Her extraordinary jumpstart came to redefine the prodigious history of fiction writing, as she was hailed today as the author who rekindled the beauty of writing as well as the burning desire of readers in hope for a good story.

But there is more to Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling, which in itself a story of some kind. And here, I highlight some vital points which ushered this bildungsroman to an epic journey to fame.

Harry Potter and the Magical Writer

Imagine yourself as a plain language teacher with no other goals than to give your daughter a brighter future singlehandedly because your husband felt that you do not deserve him. Then after a couple of years, while sitting on a train station as a nobody, you became very very excited on something – a peculiar tale that keeps on urging you to put it into writing though you know that there’s not a single drop of a writer’s blood that flows in your body. But then, you finally decided to let it overcome you and in an instant you became the face of every magazine and the words of every newspaper print.

In Rowling’s case, it’s not a mere imagination, though. It’s a reality which is worth the buzz since if she never let loose such an overwhelming thought, she would never have been richer than Queen Elizabeth herself and as highly acclaimed as the man who was crucified to death.

“There is a J.K. Rowling who lives in the hearts and minds of children everywhere,” writes Lev Grossman in TIME’s July 23, 2005 issue. The kids and adults alike who share the same interest with the literary feat will forever remember the picturesque world of witchcraft and wizardry nor will they forget the times they took part to a history in the making as they stood to wait in a seamlessly endless line of devouts to the cashier in every book release.

Interestingly, as Grossman reveals in his interview with the author, this woman who invaded bookstores worldwide by storm through her spellbinding tale does not even like fantasy novels. She did not even finish reading Lord of the Rings nor did she lift her fingertips on a Narnia book – two early 50’s novels to which her books are being compared a lot. She tells that it was only when she finished writing the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone in the US) back in 1997, that she realized she had produced a 309-paged one.

The fiction writer, however, stood to her decision, until the release of the last installment last July 21, that she may never again write a Harry-Ron-Hermione sentence in her future books. But, nevertheless, fans are still hopeful that one day, Rowling would eventually give in and write another Harry.

Harry Potter and the Monumental Climb

The Harry Potter series by far has bent substantially all the records a book could ever have. Primarily, The Deathly Hallows soared as the fastest selling book of all time, having been sold with eleven million copies in the first 24 hours of its release worldwide. That’s roughly 127 copies per minute! Accordingly, the series became the primary cause why The New York Times introduced a Children’s Book Bestsellers back in 2000 because Harry Potter never left the number one spot.

Would you believe that before the bestselling series trailed its way to success, the author has been turned down by a number of publishers claiming that the theme and the universe of the story is so obsolete and fictionally clichéd? It was Bloomsbury which first saw the potential of Rowling. By now, the British publisher enjoys several billions of dollars and innumerable submissions from other prolific writers. It’s the same with the American publisher, Scholastic through Arthur A Levine, which holds majority of outside UK publications.

Rowling remembers that when her first book finally flew right onto her hands, ambivalence, instead of uncanny euphoria took over her. Would you blame her for such a shrill emotion when your little piece of ingenuity will fall under the conservative eyes of literature pundits?

But no negative comments made this phenomenal book break the sturdy wall that for so long have separated the young from the old. After months of the quiet launch, an unprecedented number of people in various ages and nationalities have learned their faithful ways to every book shop selling the novel and have embraced the thought that there will be a more enticing world in the perspective of a newbie in the fiction scene which they’ll be following all through its very end.

It reached its peak when it finally entered the United States. Early raves in Britain brought about unparalleled curiosity to each and every sons of Uncle Sam. What was then a silenced book launch became a tumultuous line of mid-night party releases from different parts of the globe in the book launches that followed.

And now, the image of that small, skinny, bespectacled boy will forever remain in the hearts and minds of people, most of which are adults, which will always remind them that once they’ve felthow to be a child again. By the way, “… old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young,” right?

Harry Potter and the Ingredients of Greatness

Professor Albus Dumbledore is probably the wisest of the wise in the literary picture today (though recently revealed to be a homosexual by the author herself). His wisdom echoes that of the author’s character. No wonder, her brilliance in concocting the best personality traits of her characters and painting a picture of a more enthralling world through balanced yet exuberant narratives are perhaps the most likely ingredients that paved the way to a “modern classic,” as critics put it, which “will last for a century, and a century after that, and another century after that,’ until mankind dissolves from existence.

Ruel S. De Vera, in his review with the Deathly Hallows (Phil. Daily Inquirer, July 23, 2007, p. C1) wrote “After 10 years…Rowling’s world-changing series about a young wizard growing up at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry reaches its conclusion as the most anticipated novel in history.” Indeed there’s no point of argument over such assertion as perceived from the statistical records earned by the books over the years.

What makes it great then? Not the title, not the cover, not even the never-ending praise and criticisms nor the unkind fate of Harry, his gang and even that of Voldemort’s, but the thought and feeling that there is a possibility of a thoroughly established world where magic really does exist just lingering somewhere around our planet.

They have a bank run by goblins, a form of currency in exchange of products and services, a marketplace – the Leaky Cauldron, a school – Hogwarts - which trains potential children, a concrete law, a variety of means for transportation and communication, a well-reserved history, a treasure trove of culture, traditions, practices and beliefs and of course, a government agency, the Ministry of Magic, which acts as mediator and overseer of the wizarding community. An extraordinary world as such, as Ms. Rowling puts it, is hidden under the International Confederation of Wizard’s Statute of Secrecy - a brilliant scheme to introduce a world that neither exists in the eyes of muggles (non-magical people) nor is acceptable in the olden days.

The author even made a strong relation to that of our written history because several centuries back, witches have been dispersed and worse burned to death by old Europe which may have caused them to go into hiding from the public’s eyes, given that the tale is true. Hence, the Potter books may be regarded as another living proof that if history and fiction connives, any imaginary piece will shine a brighter glow in a multitude of colors of prominence. Talk about The Da Vinci Code.

Harry Potter and the Sinister Attacks

J. D. Salinger, with his forceful novel The Catcher in the Rye have been in the prime light for scrutiny over the years due to its exposition of explicit and unacceptable language in his narratives and expressly including in improper teenage pretentions and angst. But then, it’s ironical that the novel now fulfills its greatness in various academic curriculums, including that of the Philippines’.

The same with the Potter books, the Order of the Phoenix became the talk of conservatives and fundamentalists regarding the outward expression of love and lust of the character towards one another and the “below-the-belt” violence spiced even more by death as its main theme. For an instance, Harry and Ron caught Ginny and Dean kissing with one another in a very conspicuous place and time but the latter dismissed the idea of doing their thing somewhere private. For those reasons, it now appears at the list of the Most Challenged Book of the century in close rank with that of Salinger’s.

Again, ironically, California State University, and now a number of other academic institutions, have introduced a course “The World of Harry Potter” in their curriculums. Some initiated various other activities related to the series which are geared towards promoting a thorough study of the novel.

Meanwhile other religious analysts argue that the book is highly heretical because it not only neglected God as the supreme being, it also promoted the vindictive deeds of witches which in the medieval ages have been condemned and kept into oblivion till now by none other than the church which dominated Europe back then. They say that a children’s book must inculcate the idea of a God as what its predecessors had done - The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia - which were mainly based on Christian teachings.

However, as I see it in a perspective of a devout, there are certain points in the novel which may have implicitly promoted a religion – Christianity to be exact. Didn’t Harry receive gifts from persons he loves when it is Christmas Day? and didn’t they have the so-called Easter Holidays?

In addition, isn’t Rowling’s stance of not defining a specific religion on her novels a brilliant scheme? If she never did so, no Muslim, nor Hindu nor Jew nor Bhuddist would have leafed through the pages of her book only to find out that a religion that is foreign to them or maybe which they probably condemn is highly appraised on the fictional work. If she did so, it wouldn’t be a worldwide craze as it is now.

Furthermore, Rowling was outwardly criticized for treating her story non-sentimentally. But Grossman in his article in TIME - J.K. Rowling, Hogwarts and All - gave the most appropriate notion as to why the Potter books now lies in the pinnacle amidst a sea of negative reactions. “It’s precisely Rowling’s lack of sentimentality,” Grossman writes, “her earthy, salty realness, her refusal to buy into the basic clichés of fantasy, that make her such a great fantasy writer.” And for that, she became a one of a kind trend-setter. Look at how James Patterson’s Maximum Ride Series, Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart Series and many others sprouted so fast in the bookshelves. Truly, the aforementioned answers the reader’s hunger for more plots similar to that of the Potter books while they stand waiting for the next volume to be released.

Copyright lawsuits were also thrown upon the author and her books. Even the-not-so-famous The Legend of Rah and the Muggles and Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly, a novel by Nancy Stouffer in 1984 partake in the Potter craze. Stouffer claims that she is the rightful owner of several concepts in Rowling’s work and that she (Rowling) plagiarized her work. But later on, the case was “dismissed with prejudice” and she was fined $50,000 for her "pattern of intentional bad faith conduct." However, in another interview with TIME, Rowling revealed how affected she was by the issue saying “It felt as if some strange woman had come out of nowhere saying she was my children's mother ... It was like a punch in the stomach.”

Moving on, when it comes to book releases, the author had always set a particular date for her work to be published. The problem is, spoiler embargoes had not been evenly tight. In the release of the Deathly Hallows, copies were delivered and contained in high security vaults, as if the book is jewelry worth several billions! Dealers to where the books were delivered were also forced to sign a contract which mandated them not to open the boxes till the official release date. Reports even say, that just to keep the suspense in tact, the publishers printed the books in pitch darkness yet, no substantial details could support such claim.

But here’s what’s true. Analysts revealed that the publishers have spent several millions of dollars to be assured that copies will be taken out of the box in the exact day and time prescribed by the author. But then, “technical” failures caused a copy (Deathly Hallows) to fall in the hands of a 17-year old in the U.S three days before the official release date. They say that Scholastic paid the teenager with a great amount (exact figures were not identified) just to stop him reading the book and continue it only on the day prescribed.

***

The fun never ends as some would say but with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last July 21, a period has already been drawn in the story which means Harry-Ron-Hermione is most likely over and done with.

However, more and more enthusiasts began their advocacy of continuing the story through signature campaigns which would be submitted to the author as a plea to create a Wizard University. With only two movies left in the line, Harry Potter is in danger of becoming a figment of history as its predecessors had become. It’s the greatest fear of majority of Harry Potter fans. But let’s not go away with the possibility that the Potter books could have hatched a generation of superb story tellers, far more better than those we now have. Since everyone is considered a good writer at their own disposal, we can say that the possibilities are endless. Perhaps, one of Potter breeds could be the next J. K. Rowling who would soon arrive in the avenues of success and streets of fame (and fortune). It could probably be any one. It could probably be you.

© Harry Potter is a copyright of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury in U.K. and Scholastic Press in U.S.

REMINDER:

IF YOU ARE TO QUOTE ANYTHING FROM THIS REVIEW, PLEASE, AT LEAST CITE MY NAME. IF YOU ARE TO COPY THE WHOLE REVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT bibliosensei@gmail.com. THANKS!

Check out my other reviews at:

www.bibliosensei.multiply.com (add me up)
www.bibliosensei.blogspot.com
www.nickyguinto.blogs.friendster.com

On FRODO, HARRY and LUCY

This review is virtually late for I have promised one right after I read each, though I've done one with The Hallows. But, nevertheless, though I can hardly remember vital instances that could beef up this review, I would rather cite important points which could give you something to ponder about if ever you've read any of these or rather wants to read the other ones sooner or later.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA [The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]

Yes, you could see two books in the picture but sad to say due to the unrelenting wave of responsibilities piling up on my stack of unfinished tasks, I only managed to finish the one with the movie version already, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

However, I've read some 1/4th of the 3rd one in the row entitled The Horse and His Boy but I'll just talk about it as soon as I manage to complete all of my tasks at hand.

Well, Narnia is actually a book which could be most appropriately given to growing up children for I personally find it to be written for them. The story is told in simple terms which virtually everyone could understand and contains out-of-this world points which most likely would be of interest to young boys and girls.

The plotline is simple and every bits and pieces of the story could all be recalled in a flash top it up with illustrations which could eventually foster faster comprehension to its readers.

Although the universe of the story could, in some ways be similar to that of TLOTR and HP Series, i find it very short to the point that it seems I was deprived of vital circumstances that could have pointed the reason as to why this or that happened. I hate to say this , but the story seemed dull. Add up the scarcity of characters who most likely are very hard to picture in mind should illustrations were not present.
I've seen the movie and it seemed better than how it went in the book. I did not picture a whole battlefield with green grass enveloping the travelers who come in search for Aslan nor did I vision a batallion of gargoyles, tree ghosts, elves, dwarves and trolls battling under the evil queen's command. Neither did I saw a good battle between the protagonists and the antagonist. It all seemed to me as children on stage portraying the character traits suggested in the book. It's dull, truly dull and I honestly felt the hunger for more DETAILS.

I should say now that it was due to the book that I learned the importance of side stories which frequently adds more volume to novels. It quenches the reader's thirst for something to ponder about which later in the story could give dramatic changes to how readers hoped or foresaw the whole story to end.

The bottomline, The Chronicles of Narnia, with all its seven books did not much satisfied my craving for a world I longed to be utterly familiar with. It is indeed a children's book as its label suggests.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS [The Fellowship of the Ring]

You are right if you've guessed that the book is thickly clad with descriptions ranging from the clothing of the characters to the weather situation as it happens in the story. TLOTR is definitely the opposite of Narnia.

The universe of the story is richly written in carefuly selected and arranged prose narratives making it as vivid as the real world can be. What particularly amazes me is that it seemed to me as if the writer, J.R.R. Tolkien really did made some sort of a History of Hobbits to the point that it's not a fiction but a revealing fact. I've felt that with Tolkien's narrative. And it could have possibly been even more clearer to me if ever I've read the prequel first to the series, entitled The Hobbits before leafing through the pages of the first one.

But with that, it had been so confusing on my part. When I was in some 1/4th of the story already, only then that I found that Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, Men and wizards in the story share similar attributes physically, only, they differ in height and ornaments that they put in their bodies.

I usually picture an elf and dwarf to have an image that is very far from that of humans, and so as hobbits, if ever they've been a part of folk tales.

Yes, the plotline seemed realistic due to the clarity of descriptions, but sometimes, I feel the whole novel is outpouring with unnecessary points which could be trimmed out to achive brevity and speedy comprehension.

It's much like those classic novels containing an immense number of descriptions that could have been written rather simpler than the way they are seen today.
I came to the point that I am totally intrigued about what would come next but due to the overwhelming statements and unworthy citations I literally fall out of my desire to finish the whole story.

I even had resigned to continue reading it at one point but with my inclination to know what happens next won over my boredom. Thank God or else you probably won't be seing this review.

Nonetheless, overall, I should argue that the story is worthy of being comapred to Rowling's books for it somewhat contains the same elements which readers of Harry Potter have found very exciting and worth finishing to the very end.

HARRY POTTER SERIES

The picture is a shelf-ful of my potter books. the first six are of course in paperback covers since it has just been recently that I discovered its wonders and the seventh one, the hard cover. But as soon as I leave school to pursue my goals, I'll find a way to buy the first six in hard cover version and I would be happier if I could buy it personally in a bookstore from the U.S. Hehe..

Now with my review. Without bias or anything, I should say that the Potter series still hold the number one spot on my list with regards to these three books.

It's detailed and is written in the simple lexicon having a world that is richly painted with characters and settings that highly supports the narratives. It's as if a reality brought in print and an interesting historical record of a boy who, at first do not contain the bearing of a hero, as literature defines it, or a powerful protagonist who could blow away adversities and hindrances in a flash.

In my opinion, the subtlety of the friends C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien have all been combined in the head of Rowling, less the negative sides of the former and more of the creative side of the latter.

As you continue reading the potter books, it's as if for every event in the story is a climax which later on would be replaced by an increasing feeling of satisfaction as the story nears its end.

And in every volume is an ever-perplexing twist which could paint a smile on reader's faces after saying "I thought the story would end this way..." then after finally releasing the copy from the tight grip, "... but better end it that way..."
**More to follow...

Please leave some trace by commenting on what you've read.. thank you.

Posted by Nicky Guinto on December 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM in Books at Friendster Blogs