2014 Summer Reading fourth post

The reason I chose SHIP BREAKER out of all of those I could choose from was in part mostly to two reasons. The first and foremost reason I made my choice the way I did was because my primary choice was unavailable to me when I went to purchase a hard copy. The second reason was that at the service counter in the book store I talked to a woman that informed my mother and I about their lack of stock of my selected book was kind enough to pull up the list of books so I could choose another. After taking a minute and searching the monitor I made my decision based on the most fascinating name to me and received a brief description by the kind employee. After hearing her description and the word "pirates" my interest had me nearly begging for its location ( on the inside of course, we need our public appearances at the very least), and was settled the moment I saw the cover. However I was disappointed later in the reading that pirates are only mentioned not seen active in the novel. After reading and during my posting I pondered on any relationships I had with the novel and sadly could not come to a sort of realization or greater understanding of myself. If I were to specifically target a reading audience to recommend the novel I chose it would be to those interested in seeing the differences in the social class at the top and bottom of the society at almost every aspect, and the challenge one faces when dealing with unrealistic disadvantages and being hunted by dangers known only to those that survive them. This going into the challenges Mailer the main character faces and overcomes when he finds his "lucky strike".


P.S.    read the book to get the lucky strike business, or feel forever foolish about it!

2014 Summer Reading third post

The section of the book I found that had the intent of hooking any potential readers was the first paragraph of the first page. Going into greater detail, the last sentence drew my attention the most with vital information hidden inside of it that lets readers pick at bits of the main character's life. The sentence is, "A meter' s worth of precious copper tore loose in his hands and dust clouds enveloped him". This revealed three interesting tidbits to me, the copper, his hands, and dust clouds. Firstly the idea that he describes copper wiring shows his low social class standing and appreciation of things others of a higher social class wouldn't look twice at. Secondly going along with the first the naming of his hands an  not gloves leads one to wonder if the character can afford safety materials or not. And lastly the dust clouds made me realize that our lower class character is venturing into locations not used by others for extended periods of time. And with the context you can use with the sentence, " The staples pinged about the cramped metal passage like coins offered to the scavenge God" you are informed that there is a sort of scavenge God suggesting they do scavenge and the area in which the character is living in an environment where there are gods of different areas of life and offerings are made to them. All of this is great for hooking readers because you are telling the readers that the characters or at least this individual goes through rigorous work gathering materials in small chambers that are bad for breathing with all of the dust and unexplored locations. Not to mention the things people will do in the name of their gods and even ones where "offerings" are not only allowed but encouraged. So with all of that you can only imagine how hectic and dangerous daily life must be for the characters in this situation. Now take all of this in and realize the author slammed this must information in your face on the first paragraph of the first page, and that is why this section has a hook bigger than the average fisherman's for the common reader.