Nolan’s Comments (group member since Oct 01, 2014)

Nolan’s comments from the BDCHS Advanced Reading group.

In the entire world of literature, no author is as respected as William Shakespeare. His plays were true works of art. His sonnets still inspire the greatest masters of literature to this day. He was a master with words. What he made wasn’t simply good literature, it was a usage of a divine gift granted to him by god. Today I will be reviewing one of his works and one of the few non-fiction ones. Today I will be reviewing Julius Cesar, a play of tragedy and sorrow.
The play starts out with Julius Cesar having just returned to Rome after defeating a Roman general named Pompey and stomping out Pompey’s sons. As Cesar and the people rejoice, the wealthy politicians begin to get nervous. They see Cesar as a threat to their power and wealth. They fear that they will be cast out of power and will no longer be able to control Rome. While Cesar is celebrating with his friend Antony, a soothsayer warns him about the 15th of March. Cesar however, ignores the woman and goes back to celebrating.
Behind the scenes, two politicians, Cassius and Casca are trying to another politician named Brutus to agree to a plan to assassinate Cesar when he walks into the senate. After much thought and consoling with his wife over the next few weeks. Brutus finally gives in and agrees, believing it to be for the good of Rome. Whereas the people he’s going along with are only doing this for themselves.
Thus on March 15th when Cesar walks into the senate building. Despite his wife’s pleading and the soothsayer’s warnings. He is jumped by most if not all the senators. What happens next is a long brutal stabbing in plain daylight. As Brutus stabs him Cesar utters one of the most famous lines in all of literature: “Et tu Brutus?” this translates to “You too Brutus?” The senators then run into the streets blood staining their togas and making them look like Roman serial killers.
After a few days the senators and all those thought to be involved are attacked by mobs of angry people looking to avenge their hero. Most of the senators and even some innocent people are killed in the ensuing massacre. As Brutus and Cassius make their escape with their armies. They are tracked and eventually confronted by Antony, Cesar’s close friend, Octavia, Cesar’s successor. After a massive battle in which Cassius falls on his sword to avoid dying by the enemies hands. Brutus falls on his own sword to escape capture. As he dies Antony proclaims to the world that he was “The noblest roman of them all” After which Octavia orders him to be buried with honor.
Through and through this story is good, the characters are good. I can’t find anything wrong with this book. It has good morals and although it’s a bit graphic it is historically accurate and the delivery is fantastic. I have to give this book a 5 out of 5 for being one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time. This story is timeless and has been popular for generations. And it continues to persist to this day. This play is a divine work of art.

In the world of zombie lore, no author is as respected as the legendary Max Brooks. While he is well known for his work on “World War Z”. We aren’t going to be covering that book today. Instead we will be taking a look at one of his other works “The Zombie Survival Guide”. The book is interesting in that it uses references to conventional texts, gives advice on how to attack, run from and defend against, the hordes of the undead. After all, who wants to be eaten alive by a pack of bloodthirsty undead Ghouls?
The book is categorized into several key sections; these sections talk about a certain part of Zombie survival. The first of these is the introduction followed immediately by a section titled “Undead: Myths and Realities”. This section talks about the physical and psychological makeup of zombies as well dismissing popular myths and legends like how zombies can be tamed or how they spare former loved ones. It also dismisses the idea of Zombies being any more than slowly decaying corpses, along with the notion of the “Hollywood Zombie” and the “Voodoo Zombie is an actual zombie”. It also classifies the size of outbreaks and how to recognize an outbreak for what it truly is.
The next section is where the action really begins to occur. This section talks the type of weapons to bring into combat against the undead. For example you should NOT bring a chainsaw or any other power tool into undead combat scenarios. As this does nothing but attract about twice as many zombies for every one you kill. It also talks about firearms, to exemplify; bolt action or semi-automatic rifles are the best weapons to bring into undead combat. Because you need to go for carefully well placed headshots. Not running around with a Machine Gun shooting and screaming like you’re and action hero in a cheesy 80’s action flick. No zombie killing is more of an art than anything else.
This section would probably be one of the most important for any home owner as home defense manual tactics are completely worthless against the undead. We are talking about how to defend your home from the living dead. It describes how to fortify and keep your family (if you have one) safe from the cold dead hands of the monstrous Ghouls literally at the doors. In any zombie scenario the higher place you have with no real access, the safer you will be against the undead. So when you start hearing hellish moans and screams. The time has come to grab what you need, get upstairs and destroy that staircase.
“On The Run” is possibly one of the most important parts of this book. This section details how to escape from zombies in case your refuge gets overrun or needs to be abandoned. It also gives tips on what terrain to use and what vehicle a person should use and what to do when travelling through an infested area. One important tip is to avoid Urban Areas at all costs. This is because of the massive amount of zombies that congregate there because that is where most of the food is likely to be and of how long it also takes to search a decently sized city like Tampa. The next portion of the guide is on how to HUNT zombies. The exact opposite of the previous section. This tells you how to use the terrain to find and eliminate zombies in about any environment. From the dry, hot deserts like the Mojave to the dark underwater depths of bays like Tampa Bay or the Great Lakes. This information is crucial if you want to clear an infested area of zombies when no other option is available.
This last section is the most theoretical of the bunch. This section describes what to do to survive when all of civilization has collapsed and the undead rule the earth. It gives tips on what terrain types are preferable in the face of raiders and legions of the undead. For example: a secluded island is much better for this type of survival than a temperate forest on the mainland. This is only theoretical as this has never been known to have occurred ever. If it did your best bet is to go to the islands ASAP.

This last section would probably be the most debatable of the whole book. This section describes every major historically recorded attack in Human history. Going all way back to about 60,000 BC, to the most recent one around 2002 AD on the US Virgin Isles. This section is highly debatable and can either be argued as fiction or nonfiction. Making this a hotly discussed book between believers and nonbelievers.
Overall this book presents itself as a book of nonfiction and a manual on how to survive the undead. If this book is to be believed then it should be heeded. This book is pretty accurate with zombie lore and even goes as far as to provide an “accurate” timeline to undead history. I would have to give this book a 4.5 out of 5. Sure while it does express itself in a clear and consistent manner. The content just makes the whole of this book laughable and just downright absurd to someone who doesn'tMax Brooks believe in zombies. I personally don’t but I would still recommend getting this book. It is a great read and is a New York Times bestseller. After all, when the zombies come you want to be prepared, don’t you?

"In the world of literature, there are many ways to make a book stand out amongst the crowd. Monster seems to do this in an extremely unique way. Not o...more In the world of literature, there are many ways to make a book stand out amongst the crowd. Monster seems to do this in an extremely unique way. Not only is the tone different than many other books of its type. It is written as a journal/ movie script. Making it feel more like a play than an actual book. It has a unique cast of characters and a very dark and serious tone. The script is very detailed and well written.
The book starts off like any movie, with some background shots to get a feel for the setting. The setting is a prison in the middle of the Harlem section of New York City. Meanwhile a voiceover starts from the main character as the prisoners get a start to the day. It cuts to just before the court case where our African American protagonist, Steve Harmon meets his lawyer a redheaded woman by the name of O’Brien. The charge is murder against two people. One our protagonist and the other, a man named James King are on trial for the murder of a drugstore owner called Mr. Nesbitt.
As the case begins with the prosecutor, Sandra Petrocelli stating the charges and her opening argument. While several witnesses are brought in, Steve transcribes all of the exchanges in his notebook. One of which is a prisoner trying to strike a deal. Another is a cop who arrived at the scene of a crime and the last is an employee of Mr. Nesbitt who found him dead on the floor and noticed some cigarettes were stolen. A brief flash back occurs where Steve accidentally hits a man with a rock before his friend is beaten up and then threatens to kill the man with an Uzi. After which Steve returns to prison to write in his journal how much he hates prison. The font makes the journal entries look handwritten, a nice touch to add to the feel of the story.
After a brief flash back to which Steve and James are talking on the front steps of his house talking about a robbery, it cuts back to the case where another prisoner on the stand is talking about scoring some cigarettes from a guy who said that they were from a robbery gone bad. He talks for a little while before taking a break where Steve writes a journal entry of how a preacher came in and caused an argument between inmates. Steve has a dream about the court case and then talks about the unspoken prison rules.
We are now back at the court house where the court is taking a break and the officer is discussing his house problems with the judge. The judge then allows Petrocelli to show the affidavit on the crime scene. Detective Karyl is called to the stands and everyone listens as he describes the crime scene with pictures flashing behind him on a PowerPoint. As both sides ask him questions the pattern is clear that Karyl knows exactly what he’s talking about. Much unlike the previous witnesses and he knows Steve. We then flash back to Steve talking with Karyl at the 28th Precinct. Then to a nightmare sequence of Steve being laid out for death by lethal injection.
The next scene shows Mrs. O’Brien talking with Steve about the trial and then we get yet another journal entry. This one is about how one of the jurors was late. So Steve and James sat there for a while and Steve laughed when James tried to scare him. Afterword in the courtroom, Steve listens to Osvaldo as he is questioned by all three lawyers. Then it’s revealed that he’s in with a particularly nasty gang called the Diablos. Then his story begins to fall apart. From there we cut back to the prison where Steve’s dad finally comes to talk with him. Before the chapter ends.

After yet another journal entry by Steve claiming his innocence and talking about his relationship with his dad. Then it cuts to a flashback of when Steve was first arrested while his mother looks on in sheer horror. Then another journal entry appears of Miss O’Brien being angry at Miss Petrocelli. After which another flashback of Steve and King talking just before the chapter ends.
After another journal entry we cut back to the court case where a witness to the crime is being called to the stands. She identifies James King but not Steve. Then the mastermind Richard “Bobo” Evans is called to the stands. From the beginning it is very clear that he is a basket case and mentally unstable. But he does identify Steve as a partner in crime. He then describes the crime before being questioned by the defense attorneys. This reveals that he didn’t really know that Steve actually wanted to be part of the crime and that he was only supposed to be the lookout man. Then the prosecution questions him before he is led out and the trial ends for the day.
After another journal entry, James’s attorney calls two more witnesses before the trial ends. Miss O’Brien talks to Steve about going onto a stand. When Steve goes onto the stand he denies any and all involvement with the case. This is a flat out lie as we can tell from pictures that Steve was in the drug store. But he didn’t actually participate in the crime.
After the last witness is called who is Steve’s film teacher, both sides give their closing arguments before the jury goes to discuss the verdict. The two teens go to the same cell and are both nervous out of their minds, but James is hiding it. After the last journal entry we head back to the courtroom one last time before James is proven guilty while Steve is proven innocent but Miss O’Brien simply walks off, leaving Steve standing there.
In full, the overall realism of the story and the darkness and underlying racism make for a very interesting read. While I particularly didn’t enjoy this book I am sure that many of you will. This seems to be a very unique book in both style, content and even the format itself! I highly recommend this book and give it an 8.5/10 on the grading spectrum. While it is a good read, the content may upset the young readers and the overall atmosphere is a dark and lonely world. Detailing life in prison and a trial that decides whether someone lives or dies. It isn’t a light hearted book and if you are looking for something like that then you must look elsewhere.

Over the years, there have been many books written about Lincoln’s assassination. However the book “Chasing Lincoln’s Killer”, by James L. Swanson stands out because of how it focuses on the assassin’s story, John Wilkes Booth. The story comes with a detailed description of the assassination as well as the race to catch this infamous criminal. The story also depicts the failed assassinations of the other leading cabinet members. The theme is an overall depiction of beliefs and justice; however it is lighthearted compared to some other books on this topic and is a good read for younger audiences.
The book begins with a flashback of the night after the confederate general, Robert E. Lee, surrendered his army. In the flashback, Lincoln appears on the White House balcony and speaks to the crowd. But in the crowd watching is Lincoln’s soon to be assassin, John Wilkes Booth. He is seething in anger at every word the president says. He is a confederate spy and sympathizer and even had a plot to kidnap the president. However the plot was never able to be enacted as the war ended before the plan could be put into motion. So Booth decides then and there that he is going to kill the president.
The book then fast forwards to the fateful day at the Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C. John Wilkes Booth has managed to sneak upstairs after learning about the president’s planned visit to the theater. He somehow manages to bypass the guards and gains access to a hallway behind the booth. He makes sure he cannot be followed and walks behind the president. He takes out his gun and just as the crowd is laughing at a joke onstage, Booth fires and hits the president in the back of the head. As Major Henry Rathbone tries to apprehend the villain he is slashed by a knife. However Booth didn’t get away cleanly; he broke his leg in the process and the only reason he escaped was because he was high on adrenaline. Dr. Charles Leale and others were already climbing to the box, and Lincoln was bleeding badly. The doomed race to save the Presidents life had begun.
Booth didn’t act alone. At the same time, another assassin, Lewis Powell, managed to force his way into Secretary Seward’s house. Seward was recovering from a carriage accident and was completely helpless. Powell ran up the steps and a struggle began. While the entire struggle could have ended with a gunshot to the head, Powell’s gun misfired, so he used it as a club. While the struggle between Powell, Seward’s son, their servant and an Army soldier only lasted minutes, the book dragged this scene out extensively. Powell managed to slash Seward several times before running out. However Seward survived and Powell was utterly lost and alone in the city. People were screaming and running about. A third man, George Azerodt was supposed to assassinate Vice President Johnson, but instead, he got drunk and went home. Later he was arrested on a farm in Germantown, Maryland.
Meanwhile Booth met up with David Herold, his guide for the trip. They quickly picked up weapons and then rode off to escape Maryland. That night only Booth had succeeded at his assassination. After getting his leg bandaged by Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, they rode off, attempting to get down south and rendezvous with a fighting confederate army. In their trek they were hunted by all kinds of folk looking for him. They had dinner with several southern families and hid in bushes off of the main road eating very little. They were relying on the still running Confederate spy network to get them out of the north. They met up with a group of ex-confederate soldiers heading home in Virginia and stayed with them for a little while before heading to the next link in the spy chain. A farmer named Richard Garret let them spend several days there and then locked them in the tobacco barn. When the union hunters arrived, Herold surrendered but Booth did not. The hunters set fire to the barn and when Booth prepared to charge out, he was shot right in the spine by Sergeant Boston Corbett. As Booth bled out, he whispered his dying words “Tell my mother I died for my country.” He then died. All of the conspirators but one were rounded up and jailed. John Suratt managed to escape incarceration since he wasn’t really part of the conspiracy and escaped to Egypt. However, Suratt’s mother, the owner of the confederate townhouse where the vile assassins met, was the first woman ever to be hung in the United States of America. She hung alongside Lewis Powell, David Herold and George Azerodt. The doctor was jailed for helping Booth and the other conspirators received severe prison sentences. But why did he do it, why did he go to such lengths and risk his life? The answer is simple; Booth was hoping that killing the three prominent figures of the Union government would allow the confederacy to win the war or at least carry on fighting. However his goals were never achieved and he died a murderer and traitor to our great country.
Overall I believe this is a great book. It has a great sense of detail and is geared toward younger audiences. What makes it even better is how it tells the story and how it tells the story from John Wilkes Booth’s side and not that of the hunters. This is an interesting change of pace and can be viewed in a way not before seen by young readers. I give this book an 8.9/10. While it is a great book, it doesn’t provide us with enough backstory and detail about how the other arrests were made, just Booth’s, Herold’s and Azerodt’s.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

In the world of literature, there are many ways to make a book stand out amongst the crowd. Monster seems to do this in an extremely unique way. Not only is the tone different than many other books of its type. It is written as a journal/ movie script. Making it feel more like a play than an actual book. It has a unique cast of characters and a very dark and serious tone. The script is very detailed and well written.
The book starts off like any movie, with some background shots to get a feel for the setting. The setting is a prison in the middle of the Harlem section of New York City. Meanwhile a voiceover starts from the main character as the prisoners get a start to the day. It cuts to just before the court case where our African American protagonist, Steve Harmon meets his lawyer a redheaded woman by the name of O’Brien. The charge is murder against two people. One our protagonist and the other, a man named James King are on trial for the murder of a drugstore owner called Mr. Nesbitt.
As the case begins with the prosecutor, Sandra Petrocelli stating the charges and her opening argument. While several witnesses are brought in, Steve transcribes all of the exchanges in his notebook. One of which is a prisoner trying to strike a deal. Another is a cop who arrived at the scene of a crime and the last is an employee of Mr. Nesbitt who found him dead on the floor and noticed some cigarettes were stolen. A brief flash back occurs where Steve accidentally hits a man with a rock before his friend is beaten up and then threatens to kill the man with an Uzi. After which Steve returns to prison to write in his journal how much he hates prison. The font makes the journal entries look handwritten, a nice touch to add to the feel of the story.
After a brief flash back to which Steve and James are talking on the front steps of his house talking about a robbery, it cuts back to the case where another prisoner on the stand is talking about scoring some cigarettes from a guy who said that they were from a robbery gone bad. He talks for a little while before taking a break where Steve writes a journal entry of how a preacher came in and caused an argument between inmates. Steve has a dream about the court case and then talks about the unspoken prison rules.
We are now back at the court house where the court is taking a break and the officer is discussing his house problems with the judge. The judge then allows Petrocelli to show the affidavit on the crime scene. Detective Karyl is called to the stands and everyone listens as he describes the crime scene with pictures flashing behind him on a PowerPoint. As both sides ask him questions the pattern is clear that Karyl knows exactly what he’s talking about. Much unlike the previous witnesses and he knows Steve. We then flash back to Steve talking with Karyl at the 28th Precinct. Then to a nightmare sequence of Steve being laid out for death by lethal injection.
The next scene shows Mrs. O’Brien talking with Steve about the trial and then we get yet another journal entry. This one is about how one of the jurors was late. So Steve and James sat there for a while and Steve laughed when James tried to scare him. Afterword in the courtroom, Steve listens to Osvaldo as he is questioned by all three lawyers. Then it’s revealed that he’s in with a particularly nasty gang called the Diablos. Then his story begins to fall apart. From there we cut back to the prison where Steve’s dad finally comes to talk with him. Before the chapter ends.

After yet another journal entry by Steve claiming his innocence and talking about his relationship with his dad. Then it cuts to a flashback of when Steve was first arrested while his mother looks on in sheer horror. Then another journal entry appears of Miss O’Brien being angry at Miss Petrocelli. After which another flashback of Steve and King talking just before the chapter ends.
After another journal entry we cut back to the court case where a witness to the crime is being called to the stands. She identifies James King but not Steve. Then the mastermind Richard “Bobo” Evans is called to the stands. From the beginning it is very clear that he is a basket case and mentally unstable. But he does identify Steve as a partner in crime. He then describes the crime before being questioned by the defense attorneys. This reveals that he didn’t really know that Steve actually wanted to be part of the crime and that he was only supposed to be the lookout man. Then the prosecution questions him before he is led out and the trial ends for the day.
After another journal entry, James’s attorney calls two more witnesses before the trial ends. Miss O’Brien talks to Steve about going onto a stand. When Steve goes onto the stand he denies any and all involvement with the case. This is a flat out lie as we can tell from pictures that Steve was in the drug store. But he didn’t actually participate in the crime.
After the last witness is called who is Steve’s film teacher, both sides give their closing arguments before the jury goes to discuss the verdict. The two teens go to the same cell and are both nervous out of their minds, but James is hiding it. After the last journal entry we head back to the courtroom one last time before James is proven guilty while Steve is proven innocent but Miss O’Brien simply walks off, leaving Steve standing there.
In full, the overall realism of the story and the darkness and underlying racism make for a very interesting read. While I particularly didn’t enjoy this book I am sure that many of you will. This seems to be a very unique book in both style, content and even the format itself! I highly recommend this book and give it an 8.5/10 on the grading spectrum. While it is a good read, the content may upset the young readers and the overall atmosphere is a dark and lonely world. Detailing life in prison and a trial that decides whether someone lives or dies. It isn’t a light hearted book and if you are looking for something like that then you must look elsewhere.


Walter Dean Myers

As you know, there are many kinds of fantasy books out there. Among them rank several famous titles, for example the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolken or Eragon by Christopher Paolini. However they all take place in ancient times where knights and magic were still commonplace. However a fairly recent book series has been put in the spotlight. The series of Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer has been a big success and puts a new spin on the magical world of Fairies, Elves and Goblins. But, the original isn’t the focus of my review. This review pertains to the second book in this bold new series. The book being reviewed today is about family, Crime syndicates, betrayal and uncommon allies, about technical genius and a hint of magic with a comical spin. The book is known as Artemis Fowl, the Arctic incident, the hit sequel to the book that shot the series into the limelight.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
The book starts right off the bat to a flashback to the night when Artemis Fowl Sr.’ ship, the Fowl Star was sunk in the bay of Kola, in northern Russia. After a while of talks between two Russian Mafiya members the gangsters stumble across the inert form of Mr. Fowl. The book then jumps ahead several years to a year after the events of the first book when Artemis receives a message from a bound Fowl Sr. Artemis immediately begins to formulate a plan, only to be taken underground by a captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon police department. Holly just recently had to pull a pixie out of a deathtrap set up by goblins using human batteries to power outlawed deadly weapons. The poor captain was quickly sent above ground to find the goblin’s human contact. The fairies assumed it was none other than Artemis Fowl, the only human to have successfully outwitted the fairies. Fowl was quickly proven innocent and asked for help in the matter concerning the Goblins. Holly and the LEP commander, Julius Root are sent to help Artemis and his bodyguard/ manservant, Butler apprehend the supplier. Fowl agrees, but in return they are to help him get his father back from the Russian Mafiya. The two fairies reluctantly agree. After tracking down the supplier, who attempts to kill Butler only to get subdued by him. They head out to find Artemis’ father in Russia. After stopping to pick up an escaped convict and possible asset dwarf Mulch Diggums.
While trekking across the wasteland to get to his prison. They are attacked by a goblin hit squad sent after them by the masterminds of the plot, Opal Koboi of Koboi industries and former commander Briar Cudgeon who was disgraced by Root during the original fairy crisis. After a brief fight scene where it was discovered that the fairy weapons were deactivated by Opal Koboi. They end up having to heal holly’s finger and return underground to stop this plot. Meanwhile, the LEP is in absolute disarray, with no real weapons of their own to speak with and their opponents well-armed. Their technical genius, a centaur named Foaly has been turned into a scapegoat for Koboi and Cudgeon. In the meantime, Fowl and his companions have successfully infiltrated the Koboi facility and the Goblin leaders have been put out of commission. Fowl managed to get into the main computer room through a deactivated plasma conduit. After giving foaly his computer system back, Fowl is taken hostage by Cudgeon before being knocked into a live plasma conduit by Koboi after finding out about his master plan. After rescuing Fowl’s father, they say thanks and then they depart ways. The book sums up with Artemis now having learned friendship and how far he’s willing to go to save those he cares about.


Overall I liked the plot and how it played out. The whole idea of fairies still existing in modern times but in hiding is an extremely interesting concept. Eoin Colfer played this out masterfully, the book was fun to read. However it wasn’t really a moral that I haven’t seen before. So sadly I didn’t learn anything from the book. The story was good, the plot was good and the characters were diverse and interesting the book even introduced several new ones. These factors made for a very interesting book. I would highly recommend reading this and by extent, the whole series. This is an extremely fun series and will have you begging for more.