The book is “La vida imaginaria” of Mara Torres. It was first published by Planeta 6th, November, 2012. It has 260 pages. The book´s author is Mara Torres he was born in Madrid, 1974 and she is a journalist, writter, radio host and television presenter. This book is a romance novel and talks about a girl that her boyfriend has cut with her, so the book talk about all the things that she is thinking in her mind. It takes place in Madrid and it isn´t a novel penalty Iit has very funny and optimistic points. The style of the author very simple and easy to read because she use a very day language. I liked the novel so much more than expected, no doubt. The argument at first didn´t say anything special but the entertainment narrative of Mara Torres has made it a novel I´ve read quite comfortable. I recommend this book, It´s very interesting, current and was a finalist for Planeta awards.
By Beki García
METRO 2033 DMITRY GLUKHOVSKY
Data: It’s a science fiction and/or Post-apocalyptic novel It was released in the year 2005 in Russia and 2010 in the US It has a sequel (Metro 2034), a videogame and other books which take place in the same universe by other writers (With Glukhovsky’s permission and approval )
Story & universe: It takes place, as the title says, in the year 2033. After a nuclear war that has devastated Moscow (Along with other cities) a few survivors live in the now old subway network. People live in the old stations, and with time, alliances (such as the Red Line or the Hansa stations) and enemies have appeared. Wars happen often. Military rounds now work as a currency, since they are a scarce source. In the wars, Metro-made bullets are used instead. The dark ones, or Homo Novus are some sort of species that have appeared in the surface. They are the cause of many mental problems in the Metro, also they are kind of hostile. The book focuses on Artyom’s (The protagonist) quest for saving his home from the dark ones menace. A respected warrior, Hunters, gives him a military dog tag to show, which proves that it’s also his petition. He wants to go to the considered capital of the Metro, Polis, which is formed by 4 stations next to each other. Artyom departs from his home, the VDNKh or ‘the Exposition’ The trip takes longer than expected, some issues appear during it. First of all he goes to the station next to his home, where he suffers an attack from the called “Dark ones” which are some kind of new humans. After he arrives there he goes with a person, Bourbon, who is in financial problems, which makes him take alternative routes. They go armed through a bandit station and arrive to their first stop. After negotiations, they have to get out, which makes them leave and Derrick Burton Bravo 4ºB
enter the surface. It’s a hostile place, where traps from the called ‘stalkers’, mutants or radiation can kill you within minutes. They struggle and enter a station, where they held Artyom’s partner. He is executed and Artyom fled with Khan’s (a new character) help. When Khan’s trip is over, Artyom continues. Now he’s looking for Andrew the blacksmith, a citizen of a soviet occupied station. Then, being cautious, he makes it to the frontline of a war, the Red Line against the Reich. After being in the communist station, he is now in a fascist one. He sneaks and finally arrives to his destination. His help request gets denied, therefore his station isn’t getting Hansa’s support, after sneaking, killing and making a long trip. Artyom decides to join their forces, called Spartans. They make a trip to find secret files at the old national library and they find documents with the location of an old military base (D-6), which still works. At the end, they have to climb an old radio tower, from there, he can aim at his objective and guide the nukes that have been found. They launch nukes to the settlement of the Dark Ones, making them completely vanish. Artyom’s long trip is now over, he has successfully completed his mission, not in the way he was originally planning, but he did. CHARACTERS Some of them are: -Artyom -Hunter -Bourbon -Khan -Ulman -Miller -Melnik -Mikhail
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Opinion: This is one of my favorite books. I really enjoyed it, the universe is rich and besides being science-fiction, and it has its logic and realistic feeling. The people in the Metro, even having a complete different lifestyle, have the same problems like us. Artyom’s quest is filled with action and stories, many things happen throughout his journey/quest where he meets different people, situations and realizes (with us, the readers) how crazy can things be out there! I also enjoyed the sequel and the videogame, which is quite fun and made a good job. The book teaches us about how hard is to survive, how generations can pay for something they didn’t do (talking about the nuclear disaster). Artyom gets what he wants, paying the price he had to, but it was that or giving up. Talking about the dark ones, Khan always defended them, saying that they were trying to communicate with us and that they killed anyone who attacked them. Artyom seems to be conscious about this, since he isn’t vulnerable to the paranoia and sickness which they cause when they interact with others. We can see how at the end they do not want to be killed, they try to stop Artyom and use their unknown powers which consist on getting inside his mind. These powers had killed thousands of people. But as always, it’s about the survival of the strongest.
‘If it’s hostile, you kill it’ is the most memorable phrase from the book. Hunter said that to Artyom at the beginning, and at the end, this phrase is used again. It’s simple enough to understand how the situation is in the Metro.
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TITLE: The boy in the striped pajamas
AUTHOR: John Boyne is a novelist who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1971, that studied English Literature at Trinity College. He has published 9 novels for adults and five for younger readers, including The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas which was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was made into a Miramax feature film. It has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide, and his novels are published in 48 languages.
GENRE: Fiction, historical novel, children’s literatura and tragicomedy
PLOT: Bruno is a nine-year-old boy growing up during World War II in Berlin. He lives with his parents, his 12-year-old sister Gretel and maids, one of whom is called Maria. After a visit by Adolf Hitler, Bruno's father is promoted to commandant, and the family has to move because of the orders. One day, Bruno sees a camp and decides to explore the strange wire fence. As he walks, he meets a Jewish boy named Shmuel. Bruno and Shmuel talk and become very good friends, although Bruno still does not understand very much about Shmuel and his side of the fence. When lice eggs are discovered in Bruno's hair he is forced to get all of his hair shaved off. Bruno comments that he looks like Shmuel. Bruno's mother eventually persuades his father to take them back to Berlin but he stays there without them. So the next day Bruno concocts a plan with Shmuel to sneak into the camp to look for Shmuel's father. Shmuel brings a set of prison clothes, and Bruno leaves his own clothes outside the fence. As they search the camp, both children are rounded up along with a group of prisoners to be sent to the gas chamber. Bruno apologizes to Shmuel that they didn't successfully find his father, which Shmuel does not have a chance to reply to before the gas is turned on, and they both die.
CHARACTERS: The main character is Bruno , is tall, thin, dark hair and light eyes. He has a very brave personality and he prefers to help others instead benefit himself. Another character is Shmuel , who is thin ,he has blue eyes, shaved head and he wears striped pajamas. He has a friendly personality , he is peace-loving and he knows how to forgiving others. I don’t have any favorite because both of them bring good things to the story
THEMES: The ideas and topics that are told in the story are mainly empathy and friendship. I don’t feel 100 % identified with the story because it isn’t a time like that which can happen to me, but there are times when I have to choose or
between friendship and to be a good friend, or my dignity. And of course, I choose to be a good person
SETTING: The story takes place near a concentration camp during the Second World War.
PERSONAL OPINION: I chose this book because I find very interesting everything about what happened during the Second World War , and I enjoyed it because it is very entertaining to see the story told by an innocent child and learned more about that stage. I recommend it because it is not a very long book and when you start reading it, you won't want to stop it.
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS: 1. My book is called The boy in the striped pajamas. 2. It was written by John Boyne and was first published in Irland in the year 2006. 3. The story takes place in Out-With. 4. The main characters are called Bruno and Shmuel. 5. They are a very friendly sort of person.
By Beatriz
WUTHERING HEIGHTS By Alba G. AUTHOR: It was written by Emily Jane BrontĂŤ an English novelist and poet. And published in the year 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. GENRE: Fantasy and gothic novel. PLOT: In 1801 Lockwood, a man from the South of England,rents Thrushcross Grange in Yorkshire. He visits his landlord, Heathcliff, who lives in, Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff seems to be a gentleman, but his manners are uncouth. One day when Lockwood had gone to Wuthering Heights it snows,so Lockwood have to stay there and sleep in a bedroom that in the past belongs to a girl called Catherine. He falls asleep and has a nightmare in which he sees the ghostly Catherine trying to enter through the window. He cries and shout so Heathcliff went to the bedroom, Lockwood was convinced that what he saw was real. So Heathcliff, believing Lockwood to be right, examines the window and opens it, hoping to allow Catherine's spirit to enter. When nothing happens Heathcliff shows Lockwood to his own bedroom and returns to keep watch at the window. When Lockwood returns to Thrushcross Grange, he asks the housekeeper, Nelly Dean, about the family at Wuthering Heights, and she tells him the tale. The most exciting for me was the love history between Heatcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. CHARACTERS:
Heathcliff: orphaned, found on the streets of Liverpool and taken by Mr Earnshaw to Wuthering Heights. He is a handsome man, he looks like a gypsy, he has dark eyes and black hair. He is rude and vengeful. He and Catherine grow close and their love is the central theme of the first volume. Catherine:she is the daughter from Mr Earnshaw. She is beautiful, capricious and arrogant. She is in love with Heatcliff but she marries with another man who is rich. Edgar Linton: introduced as a child in the Linton family, he resides at Thrushcross Grange. Edgar's style and manners are in sharp contrast to those of Heathcliff, who instantly dislikes him. He is good looking.Edgar marries with Catherine. Nelly Dean: the main narrator of the novel, Nelly is a servant to three generations of the Earnshaws and two of the Linton family. Mr Lockwood: the first narrator, he rents Thrushcross Grange to escape society, but in the end decides society is preferable. Hindley Earnshaw: Catherine's elder brother, Hindley despises Heathcliff immediately and bullies him throughout their childhood before his father sends him away to college. Hindley returns with his wife, Frances, after Mr Earnshaw dies. When his wife dies he starts to drink. Hareton Earnshaw: The son of Hindley and Frances, raised at first by Nelly but soon by Heathcliff. He occupies a position similar to a servant at Wuthering Heights and he speaks like one. Isabella Linton: Edgar’s youngest sister. She is in love with Heathcliff and becomes participant in his plot for revenge Against Edgar. Heathcliff marries her, but treats her abusively. Pregnant, she escapes to London and gives birth to a son, Linton. Cathy Linton: The daughter of Catherine Earnshaw and Edgar Linton, a spirited and strong-willed girl unaware of her parents' history. Edgar is very protective of her and as a result she is eager to discover what lies beyond the confines of the Grange.
Linton Heathcliff: The son of Heathcliff and Isabella. A weak child, his early years are spent with his mother in the south of England. He learns of his father's identity and existence only after his mother dies, when he is twelve. I like some of the characters like Nelly the housekeeper because she is a good person with all the others characters. And I like Cathy Linton because she is kindly and strong. THEME The story talks about passion,vengeful,dreams,love and the tragedies that this characters live. It made me think how cruel, vindictive and cowardly, can become humans sometimes and what makes the hatred to the persons. I felt curious about the history of the two families and so this made me continue reading. I hate the most of the characters of the history and I didn’t identify with any of the situations. SETTING The story takes place in Yorkshire between the year 1801 and 1802. The atmosphere is cold and lonely. PERSONAL OPINION Because I wanted to read a classic book and Wuthering Heights was a good option. I enjoyed the book a lot because the writer knows how capture the attention from the reader with her words. So I finished the book very quickly. Yes, I learnt things like: why is i not good be avaricious, for example Catherine only married with Edgar because he has money, but the person she loves, Heathcliff, didn't had money. Why is not good bully other
persons, because then they are going to be afraid or angry with all the people, in general with the world. If I had to choose a passage from the book to read to the class I would read this: “My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Healthcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.” I don’t know why but I like a lot this passage. I recommend this book to everyone, I think that is necessary read a classic like this one.
By Paula My book is called after and it's written by Anna Todd. Anna is a first-time writer who lives in Austin, in United States. Anna is in her twenties and she married her husband when they get the degree at the university. When her husband, who is a soldier, was in irak she worked as staff in a make up shop, but she had always wanted to be writer. She loves boy bands like one direction and that's the reason why some characters in the book are inspired on them. After is a romantic story divided in 4 books, the first one published in 2014, that talk about a couple, Tessa and Hardin, and the different problems and situations they have trough out their whole story. Tessa is an 18 years girl that starts university far away from home. She is shy, doesn't like parties and boys too much, she has very conservative thoughts, she cares a lot about what people think about her and she needs that everything has to be perfect always. Hardin is 21 years old rude, loves parties and girls and doesn't think about the world or the people around him. They are just opposite poles. Their story takes place in Washington university first, and then in different cities like Seattle or New York. I liked both characters because I agree in some aspects with Tessa and in other ones with Hardin. The story deals with all the aspects in a young couple and I think that's the reason why I like them so much. They make me think about how complicated are relationships and what would have done if I were Tessa or Hardin. Sometimes I feel quite indentify and that's other reason why I love these books. I love these books because they describe a situation usually bad-interpreted by the adults and they give an accurate image of teenage love. While I was reading these books I think a lot about how teenage world is described in this book and how it's written in other ones, in love and it creates on me some moral doubts. It has also changed my own opinions in some ideas. I would recommend this book for everyone with an open mind who is willing to have different vision on teenager's world.
BOOK REVIEW By Alba F. TITLE: Drowning Instinct AUTHOR Ilsa J. Bick: She was licensed in Literature and Cinematographic Arts, and until she became a successful author, she worked as a forensic child and adolescent psychiatrist. Fond of literature and science fiction, has written numerous stories that have won some major awards from fans of the genre, such as Stage New Worlds, which rewards stories whose plot takes place in the universe of Star Trek. He also wrote mystery stories very well received by critics. His first novel, “Draw the Dark” (2010), which was awarded the Westchester Fiction Award, and Ilsa became one of the most promising young voices of the current narrative, have confirmed expectations with his next titles. GENRE It is a realistic drama story. PLOT It's been years since Jenna was about to die. Back then, it was her brother who was saved from the flames. But now scared for life, not only of that tragedy, it seems that you get another accident. It is in the hospital, where the detective Pendleton asked her to tell what happened. To tell the truth. As something easy, as if truth could be built with words. Faced with a recorder, Jenna begins to tell his story. Every situation, every thought, every feeling ... There are several twists which makes the story really interesting, where there is no white or black, where you can discover where the real monsters are hidden. The main character is a girl of 16 years old named Jenna. She has an ethereal beauty, the kind that go unnoticed. She's very smart and educated, interested in good art, good music and good stories. However, her life severely punished her. Her father is a hypocrite, her mother is an alcoholic and her beloved brother is in a military service in the Middle East. In addition, s he spent time in psychiatric and it is irresistible to Jenna to hurt herself. One thing in her life is good. Good enough to cover the bad things. Her professor Mr. Anderson. My favourite character is Jenna because I love her personality and her thoughts. They don’t talk much about her brother, but I like him also. In addition, I like a lot Mr. Anderson too. THEMES The main topics about the story are psychological trauma, family problems and forbidden love.
The book made me think about that some people pass though a lot of things in life which were so hard, and they are still alive, living every day of the life overcoming the problems. I can identify sometimes with the thoughts of Jenna in some situations. SETTING In Wisconsin, U.S.A. It doesn’t mention the time, but we can deduce that is nowadays. PERSONAL OPINION I choose this book because I love the realistic part about the story and how it is narrated. I enjoy it a lot, but as you read the book feel different things: joy, nervousness, anxiety, sadness,... I like how the book make feel and I like how the book makes you reach the emotions of the situation in each scene. I learnt about how hard is life, current problems of teenagers... I recommend it a lot. For people who like to read and like realistic stories with love and drama as well as suspense.
Ivan’s Dream My book is called Ivan’s Dream. It was written by Roberto Santiago and was the first published by SM in the year 2011. Roberto Santiago was born in Madrid in the year 1968. Besides of being a writer he is also a film director, scupt writer and novelist. He specializes in teen and children’s books, all with a football theme in them. Ivan’s Dream is an adventure novel with a twist of mystery and romance. The story takes place somewhere in Spain and Mexico in this century. The main character is called Ivan, an 11-year-old boy. He is not very tall and he has brown eyes and hair. Morenilla is his enemy. He is 11, is also short with blonde hair and brown eyes. Paula is 11, she is Ivan’s best friend. She is tall, blonde and pretty. At the end of the story they become girlfriend and boyfriend. This story is about a young boy whose passion is football and how he becomes a famous footballer. The most mysterious incident was when he supplanted an injured player and scored the winning goal. Mainly the story is about the life of a future football player. This book made me think about the future in football. When I was reading the book I felt very excited because it reflected my life as a football player. The thing I enjoyed most about the book was when Ivan supplants Morenilla his life-time rival and scores the winning goal. In my opinion the book has helped me to continue the hard work in order to achieve all my goals. I chose this book because I love football and I enjoy reading books. I would surely recommend this book to all football lovers. By Alvaro