For their final month of book clubs, the Seniors got the choice of which books the book club got to read.
Maurice Thomas: I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang
After getting rejected by every single Ivy League she applied to and falling short of all her parents’ expectations, seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen makes a wish to become her smarter and successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen—only for her wish to come true. Trapped inside Jessica’s body, with access to Jessica’s diary and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student isn’t quite what she imagined. As everyone forgets her existence, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.
This book was okay. It was a decent read with an important message.
The book was predictable but played well into the predictability. I could guess all the main plot points, but it used that to expertly explain the message and explore its concepts.
I, however, didn’t like the main character. She complained about her life while she was pretty well off in life. She had a skill and threw it away as not good enough. She does well, always high up on the podium, but she has to compare herself with the two people she is close with. But I did like that she made up her decision without the influence of her love interest and stuck by it until she came to her own realization.
Good enough read to consider.
Will Hall: The Art of War by Sun-Tzu
2,500 years ago, Sun Tzu wrote this classic book of military strategy based on Chinese warfare and military thought. A cornerstone of Chinese culture, it reveals the psychology, politics, and economics involved in battlefield strategy. While these teachings have been used in all levels of warfare, they have been adapted for use in politics, business and everyday life. The Art of War is a book which should be used to gain advantage of opponents in the boardroom and battlefield alike.
I liked this book.
It was cool to learn about techniques that could be helpful in the future. The stories of Sun-Tzu were highly entertaining and fun. The edition I read, a translation by John Minford, had a straight read through of the text and then the text with commentary with many other scholars. I really enjoyed the depth that this concept allowed.
I recommend this book.
Me: The Oracle by Clive Cussler
In 533 A.D., the last King of the Vandals still rules in Northern Africa- but a prophecy reveals that his reign is doomed. Years before, sacred scrolls had been stolen from a high priestess, who cast a curse on the kingdom unless they were returned. The Vandal kingdom falls before the scrolls are ever found; the perfect challenge for Sam and Remi Fargo. However, before the hunt can begin, the Fargos must tend to problems within their charitable foundation. When they learn that a shipment of supplies intended for a school in Nigeria has been stolen, they drop everything to deliver new supplies themselves. However, their mission becomes infinitely more complicated when they run afoul of a rival bands of robbers. One of these groups take Remi and a group of students hostage, and there are signs that the kidnapping is related to missing scrolls. The Fargos will need all of their skills to uncover the hidden treasure and to protect everything they have worked for with their lives intact.
I have been trying to get book club to read Clive Cussler since I began book club in my freshman year. He is my absolute favorite author. While not my top read of his, the novel still ranks quite high on my list.
While not all treasure hunting, the adventure was still extremely entertaining. The characters are fun and their interactions with each other are probably my favorite part. The Clive Cussler cameo was well done. The villain, as usual, was nicely cruel. The foreshadowing was cleverly written. The history was cool to explore within this context.
The book is just fun; Clive Cussler is fun. I highly recommend this book.
Chloe Benson: The Prisoner Healer by Lynette Noni
Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer. Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill and captured Rebel Queen alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of challenges against the four elements, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals. When a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, demanding her to keep the Queen alive, she volunteers in her place in the trials. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom, but no one has ever survived. With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.
I was highly disappointed by this book as the concept intrigued me.
As a fantasy book, I want to be truly transported into the world the author created. I want highly descriptive settings and immerse myself in the world’s logic. I got none of that. I get that it has but one setting, but I want to fully feel like I am in this prison. Also, the coded messages made me confused as to what the language in this world is. The messages are symbols, but it is never explained if the symbols are the language or if it is just the code. Is the language English? A system that has the same system as English? It frustrated me that these were not answered.
The plot sucked. The main character instigated the events but never does anything else of importance to the story. Instead of driving the plot, she lets the plot have its way with her. The trials are set up in a way that she had no clue what they would be. It was other characters, mainly one character, who helped her and allowed her to succeed. The one thing she did do ended up not mattering as the solution just falls in her lap.
I guessed the second biggest twist and probably would have guessed the biggest one if I cared enough. That twist was also set up really weirdly.
Some people in book club really enjoyed the book and are reading the rest of the series. However, it is my opinion that this book is not worth it.