"The Clockwork Angel" - Cassandra Clare

Fan made video of Will and Tessa's love story.

Plot


Tessa is a young American who recently grieved the death of her Aunt that she grew up with and writes her brother, Nate, who left to find money in England to better sustain them. He sent some money back and eventually sent for her once their Aunt died.

Upon arrival she is swept up by the Dark Sisters who claim they are colleagues of Nate and torture her continually until she discovers her talent. Once the Dark Sisters find out how to evoke her talent they train her on how to change appearances.

Repeatedly they tell Tessa that unless she cooperates they will kill Nate. All the while suffering this ordeal she fights to escape and find Nate without any luck until Will crashes into her bedroom and she  smacks him with a water jug. Eventually they make it out alive. Will takes her back to the Institute and end up helping her find Nate.

Amidst their search they battle a vampire clan of well over 100, burn a mansion down, fight demons, and discover a new breed of beast that has been created. They are neither dead or alive. Tessa fights to find her own identity because she is neither human or warlock.

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Personal Thoughts

Now character wise I like Tessa but I am not sold on Will. They have a hot cold relationship. First of all he is a Shadowhunter and she is her own creation, so that definitely complicates the matter already. Plus, I think Will is a lot more extreme and harsher than Jace ever was in the Mortal Instruments series.

I like Jace but Will seems to be Jace in a negative extreme. Now, I don't hate Will. Sometimes I like him and sometimes I don't.

Jem is simply awesome! He is the contrasting white knight to Will. Sadly, he is addicted to Opium and will not survive for very long. I already know I will ball my eyes  out when he dies. Terrible thing. :(

Jessamine is a selfish twit! Thats right you heard me. She is worth much mention here. Anyways the plot is the same but I feel like there are some good ideas that make it creative. Or maybe its a combination of a lot of ideas that mix well? I have heard a lot about Cassandra Clare and plagiarism but I haven't done my research. Maybe when I don't have two jobs I can spare the time. Lol.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy. It doesn't have any swear words and its rated PG in my book so I like it a lot. Check it out when you have time!

                                                      By: J Feistner

"On the Decay of the Art of Lying" -Mark Twain

     It's a short essay. Automatically many are turned off by the title because it is 'unseemly'. I was not sure what to expect when reading it either, so I did my best to keep an open mind.

     I really like this essay even though there are many points I disagree with. Twain states that Christians or those aligning themselves with truth tend to be blunt and unnecessarily hurt other people's feelings. I use 'tact' . . . well try to at least.

Dictionary.com
Tact: adroitness or sensitivity in dealing with other's or difficult issues.
i.e. the inspector broke the news to me with tact and consideration. 

So What of the Essay: People have forgotten over time how to lie effectively in order to spare others from pain and ourselves.

Now, I do not completely agree with Mark Twain.

Love it!

"An injurious truth has no merit over an injurious lie. Neither should be uttered."

      I agree with him on this point. Any injurious statement should not be uttered. But there is a reason why I myself partake of the sacrament on Sunday because I am a sinner. Twain then goes on to explain the differences in the types of lying.

One of the lies that he explains is "the silent lie: You have left it to be inferred  that you had no fault to find the matter. "

     He then uses an example to show that excluding information or not giving any when some is known is in itself is lying. We think we are innocent when we do this yet we are guilty because we are not being honest or upfront.

     Towards the end Twain hinted that if we all lied with a care for other people first we wouldn't have ranks or 'the pestilent truth' as he put it.

     If we didn't corrupt so easily as humans this might be possible. Sadly, we are so selfish no matter how we try and repent all our lives we still indulge, hide things, hurt others, and seek power. That is what makes us human!

     We are a mixture of good and bad and we decide which one is winning. No other creature on this planet chooses consciously whether it wants to be chaste or villainous to the degree we do.

     I really enjoyed this short essay. check it out on your lunch break. There is a lot more that could be discussed but I will leave it at this. :) Great conversation starter too if you don't try to force others to your perspective. :D

P.S. Sorry if my posts seem at random times I am having a hard time finding a few minutes to post between my jobs. (I am blessed to have two part time jobs.)

                                                By: J Feistner

"Theft of Swords" - Michael J. Sullivan

Worst theives ever! All they had to do was remove a sword that was stashed away for them. However, they couldn't help but be blamed for beheading the King and stealing the prince away to see an ancient wizard while still not achieving the reason for their hire.

Hadrian and Royce are known as Riyria; in elvish it means two. Elves, dwarves, orcs, once wizards, and humans all dwell in the same world but in far different stages of well being.

It opens in a scene where Hadrian and Royce are stopped by some robbers but avoid being robbed and killed because of their reputation as thieves. They are far from being pathetic theives  rather they are very devious and cunning. While talking themselves our of being robbed they give pointers to the robbers as they ride away.

Hadrian is the softy of the pair contrary to his gruff and oversized stature. He gets Royce angry at him all the time for taking jobs that are seen as 'good deeds'. Hadrian has the desire to do the right thing and help others out of terrible situations which always complicates the tight situation they are already in during a job.

Royce is my favorite personally. No he isn't smoking hot. He is the exact opposite of Hadrian. If he can get something on someone else' dime he is fine with that. When scouting out areas he blends into the darkness and his small frame is better at squeezing into all crannies available with the silence of a grave as his cloak. He finds other people's pain funny at times and is fair with the money.

These two take a good deed job from Princess Arista to take her brother to a wizard in a Prison across the land only hours after the Kings death. Along the way they find a Monk named Myron who no longer has an Abbey to work in and Royce takes a liking to him.

Swear words? The author makes up his own and I love it! :D There is no inappropriate behavior between characters and the sarcasm is very entertaining. :D I highly recommend this book to those who love fantasy and two thieves who just want to make some money.

Here is the website: http://riyria.blogspot.com



                                     By: J Feistner

"A Farewell to Arms" -Ernest Hermingway

There are many war books that have been published but this has been considered a masterpiece. I do not normally read war books but a friend referred it to me and so I picked it up at  my local library. Its has five parts to the story which is a good set up and signifier of Frederic Henry's growth as a person over his time in the Italian campaign during World War 1.

     Henry's friend Rinaldi introduces him to Catherine whom he seeks just to seduce for a little fun. However, after being hit by a mortar she takes care of him in the hospital in Milan and they become closer together. Once Henry is healed Catherine is three months pregnant and he is called to the front again. They make a plan to stay together despite the war.

     When the front was ordered to retreat Henry and a comrade meet the battle police after running from the enemy non stop. Upon arrival all the officers are interrogated and shot because it was their fault that Italy had to retreat. Henry escapes by jumping into the river and hiding his identity. He finds Catherine and they escape in the night on a rowboat to Switzerland.
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     This story does not have a happy ending but I liked it so much that I won't give it away. If you are seriously dying to find out what happens to Catherine and Henry you can read it online.

     Hemingway cannot be rushed. This is why you didn't have a post to read last week. I have never read a novel by him just small poems and excerpts for classes. He seems very dry and boring. I can't tell you how much I yawned because I lost count. Also, there are swear words such as the F word a lot and some nasty name calling.

     Though  I did like the story. I feel like it caught a good capture of war and the desperation it can put into people. Many of us do not know what war is like and I am glad I don't but I am grateful for the insight Hemingway gave me. No it's not completely accurate for every person that's been to war but it presented some interesting thoughts.

     Such as, at first Henry and Catherine both pretend like they are in love even though they aren't because it makes them feel better. How sad! But it helped them  get through their troubles and eventually their pretend love grew into reality.

      I cannot say that Hemingway is my favorite but we are 'friends' I will say. I can take him in small doses but never try to party hard at 2 a.m. with. Lol :D

Book Overload!

     I get almost all my books from the public library and once in a while I will have more than three books at a time available for pick up at once and I don't want to lose my reservation spot so I end up getting a pile. So much to read! Realistically, now looking at it I won't be able to read the sewing ones which will be fine for now.

 

Theft of Swords is next! :D If you have any books you would like for me to review make a comment and I will check it out. :D

 

                                                    By: J Feistner