Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October #4

Reading a Clancy novel is literally an experience. There is no other word describing his level of detail, his character and plot development. Jack Ryan really doesn't change from book to book. It's merely the situations he are in that change. Politics are always in the way, he's always performing ridiculous stunts, and being the perfect diplomat. That's before Hollywood gets the rights for a screenplay too. This really was a brilliant experience. I just wish I could have been there, because I felt like I have been. There is something fake when you watch a movie, because you see someone else's interpretation of a text. With Clancy's books, he gives you enough detail that you can't veer too far away from what his thought was, while at the same time, making you bring the story to life. It will not at all surprise me if I start making references to the minor experiences of Ryan in the novel, and then claiming that I witnessed them. Obviously, this won't happen right away, but it feels so real, that down the road when my I try to remember back far enough that my memories of my imagination and my actual past have meshed, I will not be able to tell the difference. The Hunt for Red October is truly brilliant.

Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October #3

As the plot has now become roped in suspense by politics, as I'd suspected earlier, I have no doubt that the ending will be some ridiculous risk taken by Ryan (Jack Ryan) to put trust into someone that really shouldn't be trusted. I've read many other Clancy novels with Ryan as the main character, and that is always, always how it ends. It is unfortunate that the ending is rather predictable, but I love reading how Clancy puts these scenarios together in his mind. It's really as if he was there, in the same room as this went on. It's as if he has a photographic memory of everything going on at once. It's brilliant. I despise having to talk about the plot of the book in blogs, because I can't stand not being able to rant without having to give, “examples from the book.” Seeing as how this is an assignment, I'll do it once. The submarine. I've read Ian Fleming novels involving submarines. Never once did I come across a line explaining that one single gauge on the panel was faulting. Not once have I read an acronym for every piece of equipment in view. With Clancy, you just do.

Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October #2

I have noticed that time does actually travel fantastically slow in this novel. So much happens at any one point in any one day. I think to the point I've read so far, which is near as makes no difference to halfway, is only a few days. There is just an immense amount of detail from action to action. When Captain Ramius does any action, in particular, the death in his quarters, there is enough detail to be able to make a solvable crime scene just from what Clancy has written. The glass, the setting, down to the color of the carpet, I love that! The only part he leaves reasonably vague is how the action actually takes place. It leaves something for the reader's brain to think about. There are so many different ways to slip and fall. Keep in mind, that detail is just one action in the book. It probably went by in under five minutes real-time, but the level of detail makes it feel like it has taken minutes just for the body to fall to the floor. It's just fantastic!

Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October #1

The Hunt for Red October is a brilliant piece of literature. I saw the movie several years ago, and since then, I've been itching to read the book. The great thing about Tom Clancy is that what is in the text is always far different than the movies and video games, particularly in the detail. There are plot differences as well, but not so much you'd notice. You'd have to look for them. In the beginning of the book, we are introduced to the ideas and basic character, not necessarily in great detail of Captain Ramius and his submarine, the Red October. The politics that can be found in every Clancy novel along with the action appear in the beginning here too. In comparison to Clear and Present Danger, the politics don't come into the picture as fast, but I think they come in too fast in both novels. However, that is of course because I am assuming that the politics will add tension to the plot as his novels usually do, so I guess I'll find out in the next bit of reading.

What does it mean to be human?

As humans. we communicate, we experience feelings like love, happiness, and fear; but what truly sets us apart from other animals, is that we attempt to understand them, and attempt to understand what goes on beyond the world we know. That sense of imagination. A Cheetah, for instance, can feel fear, and happiness, but it can't express it, nor does it bother to truly understand it. Many animals mate hundreds of times during the course of their existence with countless different partners, but as humans, we feel that there is some other human, just one, that we can spend the rest of our lives with, and never tire of. Our senses are only part of the equation. The rest is the mere fact that we interpret feelings, and have the ability to think beyond what we know for certain.

Pride and Prejudice 3

The end of the book. I feel smart now, since I've been able to make it through this book and still know my own name. Ok, I'm sorry, the number of characters isn't my only beef with this book, though it's a big one. I can't stand predictability in a novel. I knew from pretty early on, that Eliza and Darcy would be married, as well as Jane and Bingley. What I didn't see coming was the influences of the less important characters on the larger ones. The Bennet sisters, Lydia specifically, caused the plot change, and the shift in character personality. That wasn't bad, I enjoyed that, but the predictability of the rest of it was annoying. All in all, I know why we studied the book, I did enjoy the book as a study, but I would have stopped reading it if I pursed it on my own.

Pride and Prejudice 2

The character list is no better. If we weren't doing exercises in class and having class discussions, I do believe I would think Mr. Bennet wanted to marry his daughter, and that Mr. Bingley was already married. There are some interesting things though, in the story. I like where it's going, now that I know the characters, its a complicated plot, and I like to have to think. The only problem I'm facing is to keep track of who is doing what with who, so that I can think about how that might effect the overall plot, and the rest of the characters.

Pride and Prejudice 1

Pride and Prejudice is a very confusing book. It's like there is literally an unlimited number of characters, and as a reader, I can't even begin to figure out which ones are staying or leaving. It's really confusing. On the plus side, I do think it might turn out ok. I think if I stick with one set of characters, and follow them through the story, I'll be able find and follow a decent story. This test is going to be horrific. Especially if all these characters are going to stay for the whole story.

Robinson Crusoe: On the Island

This book is absolutely brilliant. There are times in my life where I think it would be fantastic to live off the grid, to live on an island, ditch all technology, and be completely self-sufficient. In this case, Crusoe did not want to be there at first, but as time passes, he seems to be enjoying it more and more. He seems content with how he is living, he is self-sufficient, and he is living. His faith in God has gotten much stronger than it ever was, and it continues to grow. I think though, that he prays to keep himself safe, on the island, and not to be rescued. He has finally come to a point where he can keep stability in his life. He has pets, a talking parrot, a full-fledged house not just a shelter, pottery, and everything else that he would have on the mainland, with the exception of other humans. I think he misses that, and after just a few months, I know I would, I don't know if I could make it as long as he has. Having been there for years though, he may be passed that, and actually happy. I think it will be very interesting what he reaction will be when the opportunity for a serious rescue arises.

The Welcome Blog

Every time I set up a new blog, I always add a welcome post, so that the page isn't empty. Today, is no different.An explanation of the purpose of this blog is in order, so here it is: I am a part of the FA class of 2009, and this blog is here for the sole purpose of being able to digitally discuss classic novels. That's about the just of it. Look for more posts soon!