Sabriel by Garth Nix (Book One of The Abhorsen trilogy)

One of my all-time favorites. If you're interested in the fighting of necromancy, demons, wizards and the undead, then this is the book for you. Sabriel, daughter of an Abhorsen, is the heir to protect an Old Kingdom. Armed with seven bells and the Abhorsen's Sword, find out her destiny.

Quote: “Does the walker choose the path or path the walker?”

The Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind (Book One of The Sword of Truth series)

An exceptional reading in a world comparable to Tolkien's. The magical boundaries between kingdoms are crumbling. Richard Crypher, armed with the Sword of Truth, must stop the evil wizard Darken Rahl from gaining ultimate power. Aided by Kahlan Amnell, a young woman with a secret of her own and Richard's friend the wizard Zedd, they must find the last of the three boxes of Orden to stop Rahl.

Quote: “The wizard's first rule: people are stupid.”

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Book One of The Inheritance trilogy)

A very enjoyable novel set in the world of dragons, shades and orcish creatures called Urgals. Eragon, a farm boy from Palancar Valley, finds a dazzling blue stone. From it hatches a dragon called Saphira, and he realizes he is the only dragonrider to come into existence in many years. He chooses to resist the evil king Galbatorix but it will be a difficult task.

Quote: “Darkness falls…Despair abounds…Evil reigns.”

Fall of a Kingdom by Hilari Bell (Book One of The Farsala trilogy)

The prosperous kingdom of Farsala has enjoyed peace for many years. As a new enemy approaches Farsala, its rulers believe they are invincible and cannot be beaten. However, three young people: Jiaan, Soraya and Kavi realize that they are headed towards destruction. Find out what happens next in this enchanting read.

Quote: “Stories are told of a hero who will come to Farsala's aid when the need is great.”

The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore (Book One of Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale trilogy)

One of the most popular fantasy action books yet. Read about Drizzt Do'Urden, a dark elf warrior who has left his race's traditional home and protection and his friends: the dwarf Bruenor Battlehammer; the halfling Regis; and the barbarian Wulfgar. Their adventures together include defending their home from an army monsters and many more in the subsequent series.

Quote: “Of heroes bold and friendships fast…And the horror of the Crystal Shard.”

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (Book One of The Bartimaeus trilogy)

An amazing novel told in the perspective of Bartimaeus, a five thousand-year-old djinni. The story takes place in present-day London, where magicians rune the British Empire using the power of demons in a magic oriented aristocracy. Nathaniel, a young teenager summons Bartimaeus and they team together to defeat the evil Simon Lovelace.

Quote: “I am Bartimaeus! I am Sakhr al-Jinni, N'gorso the Mighty and the Serpent of Silver Plumes!”-Bartimaeus

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (Book One of The Song of the Lioness quartet)

Alanna of Trebond, who aspires to become knight of the realm of Tortall but which proves nearly impossible as she is a female. She switches places with her brother Thom, who learns magic in a school where she would have learned to become a lady. In time, Alanna befriends the King of Thieves and struggles to defeat a powerful enemy wizard.

Quote: “From now on I'm Alan of Trebond. I'll be a knight.”-Alanna

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (Book One of The Queen's Thief series)

Eugenides or “Gen”, a skilled thief in the prisons of the Sounis, is taken out by the Magus to find a stone with incredible powers called the Hamiathes Gift. Along the journey the exchange tales of gods, politics and the alliances and kingdoms of the time. They eventually develop an unlikely friendship but we find out more about Gen and why he is called The Queen's Thief.

Quote: “He steals more than treasure…”

The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron (Book One of The Lost Years of Merlin series)

If you have ever wondered about the early years of Merlin, this is the book for you. It starts with a young Merlin washed out in the shores of Wales and he must eventually defeat the ancient dragon called Wings of Fire. Witness the powers of Merlin that will only magnify through time.

Quote: “Spat out by the sea, the boy lay on the rocks, as still as death. Even if he survived the day, he had no home. No memory. And no name.”

The Rover by Mel Odom (Book One of The Rover series)

Here is the story about the imperfect hero and an easily distracted dreamer, the halfling Third Level Librarian Edgewick Lamplighter. His learning is disrupted when he is captured and sold off to slavery in a far-off land. This does not stop him from gaining experience in a wider world which he eventually hopes to add back home in Greydawn Moors, where the world's remaining library is stored in the “Vault of All Knowledge”. Comparable to Tolkien's Hobbit where the main character is a reluctant adventurer.

Quote: “The elven wardens guarded the island's forests and mountains, the humans pretended to be pirates out in the Blood-Soaked Sea, and the dwarven guards and craftsmen all serve to protect the Vault of All Knowledge secretly hidden in Greydawn Moors.”

“Orion's Belt and sworded hip” is a reference to constellations and draws a link towards the soldier. Descriptions of the soldier's' resting place include “woodlands that stand together” and “kestrel hovering by the day” provide the reader with a generally positive view of peace and tranquility. The blackbirds' song can be viewed as tender and reassuring. The speaker encourages war in this respect as there is no mention of negative consequences of war but has more emphasis on the essence of life and glorifies the soldier through the mention of a resting place after death.

Compared to typical mentions of bodies lying unburied or being ripped apart by shrapnels in war, the speaker suggests of a quiet resting place that the soldier can look forward to. The mention of horses stresses the romantic ideals of early poets like Grenfell and the reliance on cavalry. It is also noticeable that there is no mention of gunpowder. The second passage from the 35th line is directed towards the excitement of battle, and this is demonstrated by “And only the Joy of Battle takes him by the throat.”

The use of “neither lead nor steel” indicates that the soldier's death shall not be at gunpoint or because of the sword. There is more of an inclination to the slow embracing of death as seen by “in the air Death moans and sings.” The quotation “And Night shall fold him in soft wings” presents a gentler version of death which can be perceived to be almost welcome.

The speaker of Wilfred Owen's “Spring Offensive” introduces a more pessimistic view of death and warfare in general. The introductory line indicates of a break with “they” meaning the soldiers and that they had “halted against the shade of a last hill.” The lack of discipline for some soldiers is highlighted as they “carelessly slept,” but the mention of other soldiers on the alert gives an indication of danger.

The “careless sleeping” of some soldiers might also be an indication of the soldiers' indifference in death. Instead of a frontier of defense or action, the gloominess can be sensed since the battlefield is regarded as “the end of the world.” Like the first poem, there is also mention of outside creatures like wasps and midges. Similarly, there is also mention of trees in this poem, but in this context they are used to describe the insects' breathing rather than a resting place.

The mention of the insects also bring a gloomier quality to the poem as they portray a better life than a soldier's. The quotation “And tighten them for battle” gives the reader proof to realize that the insect is actually a metaphor of soldiers. The “whole sky burned” is an indication of the sky being full of bombs from fighter planes.

The use of “soft sudden cups opened in thousands for blood” refers of craters appearing due to bombings and its devastation. Death has a gloomier perspective and is illustrated by the mention of hell instead of a peaceful end. In the final stanza “why they speak not of comrades” portrays essentially the forgetting of fallen soldiers in war by the community and the later generations.

In Maycomb's community, Lee reveals to us that there are a few “mockingbirds”, with one being the so-called “Boo Radley” or Arthur Radley who is the cruel victim after an innocent prank. According to the neighborhood, Arthur and his friends, in their teens, locked up Maycomb's law officer Mr. Conner in the court's outhouse. Whey they were brought before the magistrate, Arthur's friends were sent to the state industrial school but Arthur was grounded by his father. For a relatively harmless prank, Arthur spent almost his entire life outside of people's sight.

Slowly through time, myths began to circulate around the neighborhood of Arthur's unspeakable deeds: that flowers withered at his sight, he only came out at night and looked into windows. Out of one's natural curiosity and imagination, children like Jem portrayed him to be hideous and violent. The “Boo Radley” was born. However, we soon find out the myth is not true, as Jem and Scout begin to receive gifts of chewing gums, nickels, figurines and pendants from a tree's knothole nearby “the Radley place”. The reader also realizes who the real sadist is when Arthur Radley's elder brother Mr. Nathan fills up the hole to sever the exchange.

Like “Boo Radley”, Maycomb's Dolphus Raymond is another “mockingbird” who is the town's exception when he breaks the “unwritten social code” by marrying a black woman even though he is white. When Dill is aghast at the racism present in the courthouse and at Mr. Gilmer “talking hatefully” at Tom Robinson's case, Mr. Raymond reveals his personal opinion. “If you aren't thin-headed, it makes you sick doesn't it?”(199). The mention of “thin headed” is a reference to the rest of Maycomb's white residents, who are either indifferent or believe racism to be acceptable.

Dolphus Raymond is thus portrayed to be ahead of his time in terms of racial equality. The reader also discovers that instead of the town myth of Dolphus frequently drinking from a whiskey is false as he actually possesses only a coke bottle. He deliberately allows rumors to spread about him as his attitude is then less disturbing to the town and causes him less harassment.

The portrayal of Tom Robinson's situation depicts the social and cultural milieu of Maycomb County. A victim of white supremacy, he is sent to trial under the accusations of raping the eighteen year old Mayella Ewell. Throughout the case, the reader uncovers the real picture: of how lonely Mayella was, Tom's kindly attitude in helping out whenever possible, and the final act out where Mayella had actually grabbed and kissed Tom due to her increasing loneliness. We also realize that Mayella, like many other, becomes ashamed of her actions and finally decides to stand on trial under her father's pressure, who had witnessed the entire incident and beats Mayella brutally.

However, Scout's father Atticus becomes Tom's lawyer and clearly shows through reasoning on hpw Tom isn't guilty. The logic is put to place through a revelation of Mayella's life at home and of her bruises being mostly caused by a left-handed person even though Tom Robinson's left hand was maimed in a cotton-machine accident.

When Tom is declared guilty under the false accusations, he is devoid of hope. Instead of listening to Atticus's suggestion of further appeals, he attempts an escape and is killed. Tom, even though is visibly innocent, becomes another victim of Maycomb's racially prejudiced juries. Instead of being rightfully released, the ancient rule of a black never winning a case against a white is put into motion.

Yes, George felt compassion towards Lennie and he sought to relieve Lennie of all the trouble he is facing. What George had done to Lennie mirrored the incident of what Candy wished he had done to his dog, an act of kindness to relieve suffering. George realized that even though he liked Lennie like his best friend, cared for him; it would be best to murder Lennie to relieve his sufferings. Like euthanasia today, it is comforting to have a person's caregiver nearby in the event of one's death. Today it is referred to as “mercy killing”.

After Curley found out about the death of his wife by Lennie, he organized a search to hunt down Lennie and bring him to justice. At this time, George also realized that there was no place for Lennie to go, and the pain he would suffer and the intimidation at probably the life imprisonment at jail would be horrible. George also came to the shocking revelation that he had no choice but to kill Lennie to avoid him facing the inevitable and crueler future. Also since Lennie wouldn't survive on his own, I think it was best for George to gently kill him than let him face all the torture, pain and suffering he would have to experience in his near future if he did not die as he was a murder criminal.

It is also important to note that George deeply regretted having to kill Lennie, although he understood that he was virtually left with no option and was forced by the circumstances that forced him to take that action. The guilt he feels along with Slim that Curly and Carlson doesn't experience is emphasized in “What's eating those two?”(Steinbeck, 107). These turn of events leave this book with a tragic but memorable ending.