Nancy Werlin's "Impossible"

          Impossible is a book written by the national book award finalist, Nancy Werlin. Its copyright date is 2008. Here is a short summary of what this book is about.
          Lucy Scarboroughs life is a genuine mystery. She is adopted, because at the age of 18, each and every one of the women of the Scarborough line go crazy after they have a baby, which is around the time that they are 17 or 18. Lucy knows all about this, with her insane mother showing up at her doorstep, babbling on about how her life will no longer be her own anymore, singing  her own twisted version of "Scarborough Fair" by Simon and Garfunkel, claiming that there is a curse on the Scarborough women, and that there has been for centuries. Lucy foster mother, Soledad, was, at one time, the best friend of Lucy's mother, so it is killing both Lucy and Soledad to see Lucy's mother, or Miranda, that way. Even though the sadness of her life is obvious, there is still happiness in her life. A romantic interest, Zach, the new next-door neighbor, is seeing Lucy more often, and even shows her off to her prom. To that prom, Lucy is taking the pale, sweet band geek Grey. Zach feels somewhat jealousy when Grey drives off with Lucy, but Lucy is excited for a memorable prom experience. After the prom ends, however, things get a little too memorable. Her whole life turns around, and suddenly the partial normality of her life begins to slip. She starts to listen to her mother more, and starts to realize that the madness that has been passed down might not just be a medical mystery, but a curse that dates back to years before the medieval era, a curse that's coming straight for her. She has nothing else to turn to but the song. The song that Miranda has been singing to her since she was a child. The song that seems to have hidden clues of three impossible tasks that Lucy must do, or else she must join the other Scarborough women, in a world of insanity and possession, until the day that she dies.
          The main conflict of this story is Lucy completing the three tasks until her daughter is born. Upon sight, they all seem impossible, and upon sight, Lucy becomes intimidated. The only way to complete these tasks is with creativity and 4th dimensional thinking. Most of the time is taken up by Lucy contemplating how she will be able to do these, and how, should she fail, to tell her daughter about this once she is reduced and exposed to insanity and hate. However, once she begins to resist the curse by trying to complete the impossible tasks, she is only left with a matter of time before she falls into the arms of madness.
          There are two themes of this book. One of them is determination. This is shown by Lucy going up against everything, risking everything to get a good result, and to stay in control of her own life. Another theme if this story is love, because as Lucy begins to sink into determination, her family and friends are right there with her. Leo and Soledad, her foster parents, are always helping her and there for her emotionally, while Zach makes her feel safer, going above and beyond to stand up for Lucy's right to keep her own life.
          Now it's time for my review of the book. When I first saw this book, I was just browsing in a book store for things to read. The only time that I realized it was when I was about to leave. I saw the description and thought that it wasn't going to be much, but it was something. When I started on it, I was blown away by how engrossed I became in it. I was amazed at the depth, fantasy, and romance that the book portrayed. The tone wasn't upbeat but it wasn't depressing, either. I would recommend this book to ages 13-17, because teenagers in that range will most likely find this book relatable to. Thanks for reading! Tune in later!

"The Green Mile" by Stephen King

    
          The Green Mile is a serial novel by Stephen King. Copyright: 1996. It is told part by part. Wondering what the book is really about? Let be elaborate.      
          Paul Edgecombe is a head prison guard on Death Row at "Cold Mountain State Pen" during the time of 1932, at the time of the "worst urinary infection of is life." Percy Wetmore, an obnoxious, egocentric man is working on E Block, or the Death Row. Because of his connections to the governor through blood, Percy thinks that he can do whatever he wants to both the prison guards and the prisoners, leaving Paul and the rest of the E Block guards stuck with him. Around the time that the story begins, two important prisoners enter E Block: "Wild" Bill Wharton, and John Coffey. Wharton is an insane, scary inmate that is bent on making the guards' life miserable until the day he dies. Coffey is someone who is seemingly unlikely to be put on death row, being afraid of the dark and crying for hours at the mere thought of one's death. It seems to Paul like John Coffey is a little too unlikely, and a little too strange. It's almost like he can hear what Paul is thinking, the way he answers questions before even asked. Is Coffey just an odd man who is nothing but a character, or is he hiding something that would change Paul's idea of being a prison guard for years, and years to come
           From my description, you can tell the obvious conflict was John Coffey. This is the only conflict that I can share with you without giving away a huge chunk of the story. Paul knows that there is something that is not right about John Coffey, and tries to figure him out. As he gets closer to discovering John Coffey out, things become weirder and weirder. Things that were thought by many to be impossible suddenly begin to happen, and questions arise in everyone's mind as to what to do with Coffey, and how to do it.
           It seems to me that the theme is different to everyone. I had such a problem coming up with a theme to this book that would be universal to everyone, not just me and my friends. So if you happen to read The Green Mile, then come up with your own theme, because it's so hard finding one that is universal to everyone.
           Now it's time for my review on this book. I would recommend it to people who range from ages 14-40. The writing style is in the first person for most of the book, and it has a calm, yet eerie tone. When I started out reading, I was really discouraged, because the first part, and half of the second part are so, so boring. It skips from the past to the present to the future multiple times, and because this is done in such a boring way, the book becomes hard to follow. Once, however, you get further in to the second part, the book begins to draw you in. It sticks to a plot on a better and far more interesting basis, and the tone gets quicker and more suspenseful. Definitely read this book if you like realistic fantasy, and realistic fiction.