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
Derrick Burton Bravo 4ºB
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
Derrick Burton Bravo 4ºB
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.
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 Brontë 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
Recommended