The Outsider by Stephen King
2018 / 560 pgs

Back in the King car this round and what an insane ride this was. After reading nothing but Grad work textbooks, it’s nice to sit and read a novel that takes you away from the daily grid. This one definitely accomplished that task. There was time I was flying and while devouring each word he used to paint events as they are laid out, I forgot I was even in a plane.

Using his Pennywise grips, he holds on to you and takes you on a ride that you won’t want to stop because you need to know how does this end! There are twists so well placed that when you though the story was going one direction, a hard slap on the face and you are now going on the other dark and twisted path. King winds you through his who done it/how can someone be in two places at the same time story that even at some of the climactic moments, it will leave you shocked how it all goes down.

Also known for his Game of Thrones guessing game on who is going to live and who will die, I lost this bet as I was sure I knew who was going down. It will keep you guessing until almost the end. An delicious read that I would recommend to anyone.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a wonderful novel!

Lopaka

International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity by Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki, and Steve Smith
2016/364pgs

The title should give it away. Yes, it’s another book for my graduate work. If one is interested in the theories that IR works in, this is the bible.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Animal Farm by George Orwell
1945/141pgs

Another Orwell classic and I would say a must read. This is a well known anti communist satire. If you understand the early Soviet Union and the power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky after Lenin’s death…reading this novel causes you to place the characters in their proper roles. Seeing what happened to those that supported the Soviet Revolution only to see it slowly change from what the dream truly was is the direction of the novel. The main characters are easy to assign into their human counterparts…

Old Major is Lenin
Napoleon is Stalin
Snowball is Trotsky
Mr. Jones is the Czar
the rest of the Animals are the common people.

While reading the story, I’m sure I’m not the only one wanted Napoleon turned into bacon. Squealer being the voice of the government and manipulating worlds to get the other Animals to fall in line with Napoleon’s wishes, just made me laugh because his name fitted his role perfectly.
This is about government and what happens when people get corrupt with power and others are unwilling to stop them.

I would definitely recommend this novel. It is a fast read, I finished it in four hours. However, if you are hoping Napoleon gets turned into bacon….he doesn’t. It would have felt good though…

Enjoy the coffee and a good book!

Lopaka

Pet Sematary by Stephen King
1984/465pgs

Not as gripping the cold clawed hands of It. It doesn’t hold you close and whisper creepy tales like The Shining. Pet Sematary does something that none of the other King books made me do (so far)…say WTF and look up if he ever stated what happened after the end of the book.

This one tugs at your heart strings if you are a parent, the death of a child. King was inspired by a near death experience of his son and the “What If’s” built the background of Pet Sematary. King cleavery builds the story up with the daughter Eileen’s nightmares that really foreshadow events to come. Events for many pages build to what you are hoping to not happen in the great climb to the climatic moment. Gages (the son) actions don’t surprise the reader when you understand, this is King telling the story, so no holds barred baby!

However, the part that truly made the skin crawl was the end. The WTF moment that also shouldn’t shock anyone since, yes, this is King telling the story.

This isn’t as scary as It. However, what will tear at you and the fear that much of us have….Kings look at death with in the family.

Enjoy the coffee…

Lopaka

The European Union: Readings on the theory and practice of European integration by Nelson, B. F., & Stubb, A. (Eds.)
2014/403pgs

Another reading for my graduates degree. Yes, that’s three books for one class. This one was the roughest of the three. Although, the direction of it is interesting, it can be very very difficult to get through. It is simply about policies and views from leaders and other politicians on the good, bad, and ugly of the EU. Who liked it and who didn’t. Why does it seem like Germany and France really run things.

Also, after reading this, one truly gets a better understanding on why England never really joined the EU “all in”.

An interesting read when it comes to political theory, although, some of the articles chosen makes one reach for a razor blade screaming, please just conclude your theory and stop droning on!

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Markets and Moral Regulation: Cultural Change in the European Union by Paulette Kurzer
2001/210pgs

Another class required reading, however, unlike many other textbooks, this one has a different view on what the EU has done for cultures. It examines how policies within the EU has change long held cultures or is possibility changing national identities within the next generations.

The author looks at the Drug policies in the Netherlands, the ban on abortion in Ireland, and the Alcohol identity of Nordic nations. It examines the before the EU policies, exemptions, and where the culture is moving today. It is very fascinating to see nations evolve with the creation of the EU.

If one is fascinated with how the EU has impacted a few cultures, this is an interesting read.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka