Red Rising

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

"Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow."—Scott Sigler

Not going to lie, this endorsement is what snagged me! I've always enjoyed dystopian novels, but since The Hunger Games I feel that too many authors are trying to dabble in it. (Kind of like how vampire books took off after Twilight.) Thankfully, Pierce Brown not only rose to the genre's potential, he made his mark on it!

Red Rising is a mix of the Iliad and Star Trek where meddling Greek gods meet robotic weaponry and outer space war. The mix of ancient and futuristic references gives the book a very distinct and memorable feel. There were a few parts I had to reread in the beginning of the book, because it's so unique and the wording and vocabulary take a little getting used to. That's to be expected though. Any time you're dealing with slang or futuristic technology it's going to be an adjustment for the reader to get in sync with the language of the book. 

This world that Pierce creates is colorful (pun intended) with characters fueled with personality and motivations. Darrow easily won a spot on my list of favorite fictional characters. His depth and inner struggle of his wants versus the greater good is something everyone can relate to. He pushes the limits, not certain when he's crossed the line. Daring is a great quality. It's also a dangerous one, which makes him exciting to read about. 

Between the battle scenes and the suspense of the overall storyline, I finished this book in under 48 hours...something that hasn't happened since I read And Then There Were None in middle school. 

I highly recommend this book! 5 x 5 x 5! Seriously though, I've already sent it to friends in Brasil so they can enjoy it too.

Title: Red Rising

Author: Pierce Brown

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group 

Published: 28/01/2014

Available: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

                            

       

                            











             









                   

The Poisonwood Bible

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

The Poisonwood Bible is an eye-opening look at the life of missionary work in the Congo during the 1960's. The poetic imagery that Barbara uses to recreate life in the Congo brings the story to life, but what really gives this book legs are her characters—a zealous preacher, his reluctant wife, and their four daughters.

I loved the first half of the book, because the characters were full of raw emotions and distinct voices and personalities. It's normally a struggle for me when every chapter is from a different POV, but the story flowed so well with Barbara's characters. In fact, the different voices balanced the hopes and fears of each character, so what could have been a depressing storyline turned into a all encompassing one.

The second half was harder for me to read. There was a distinct shift in the book, almost like I read two different books. All of a sudden years passed between each chapter, and I felt that I missed chunks of the story. It's like a whole new group of actors replaced the original cast after the first season. Same names but not the same people. While I understand her reason for this time shift (to show how the Congo shaped each of characters' lives), it was still a struggle for me.

Overall, it's easy to see why this book is used in school English departments. From an educational standpoint, the book is full of history, character styled writing, and figurative language (seriously, the language is so rich, that Barbara paints pictures with her words). From my standpoint, I missed the characters I met and loved in the first half of the book!

Title: The Poisonwood Bible

Author: Barbara Kingsolver 

Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classic 

Published: 1998

Available: Indie Bound, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

This book hit home on a very personal level. For anyone that has served a mission (regardless of religious faith), this book is a reflection of the emotions felt when away from home in an unfamiliar place. When I was 21, I chose to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For a year-and-a-half I lived in various cities in the mission Brasil, Goiânia sharing everything I knew and loved about two special books—The Bible and The Book of Mormon.

As a missionary we looked for ways to help in service, share our talents to uplift others, and of course invited everyone to follow Christ by being baptized by those who have the priesthood authority to do so.

I learned 6 major lessons from my mission experiences, some things Nathan Price could have learned:

1. There is beauty ALL around

Just because someplace is different from what you're used to doesn't mean it's bad. Keep your eyes and your heart open at all times, or you may miss out on the beauty around you! Dirt roads often have the best scenery.

2. Education never ends

I was the only American in this entire city, meaning I either learned to speak Portuguese...or else! There is so much to learn in the world, so much we are able to learn, that we should take advantage of every opportunity to learn something new.

3. Live simply, happily, and with purpose

This was our "laundry room" —an outdoor sink with wires strung across for us to hang our clothes to air dry. There were no carpets, no a.c. units, and we walked to get anywhere. It was hard, but we knew why were doing it, so we were oh so happy!

4. Count your blessings

We walked all day, every day (with the occasional bus ride). Missionary shoes are proof of the physical demands of sharing the gospel. I'm so grateful that my body was healthy enough to walk and work on tar, concrete, and dirt roads, in the pouring monsoon seasons and the 100 degree summers.

5. Love = Service

You cannot serve someone and not end up loving them. The people of Brasil have a year-and-a-half of my service and a lifetime of my love. 

6. Enjoy the journey

Our work as missionaries was important, but my fondest memories of the mission include smiles and laughter. Life is a journey, so we need to make sure that we allow ourselves to enjoy it. This street translates to Lollipop Road :)

If you would like more information on what I did as a missionary, just send me an email: boofaireblog (at) gmail (dot) come