1984 by George Orwell
1949/236pgs

The dystopian world, that makes many in the world scared of where their government is going in today’s political environment. It can also be seen as a warning of we, as a citizen should watch for to prevent this from happening in our own nations. Orwell, a Democratic Socialist, was a staunch anti-communist when this book was written at the beginning of the Cold War. It was his way of saying we don’t want to become what the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics were heading towards in his eyes.

First, “Big Brother”. This is the term for the Supreme Being that everyone in the nation must follow because Big Brother is watching you. In Oceania, Big Brother monitors everyone in the Party at home, walking to work, at work…everywhere. They record everything you say and monitor your every move including your facial expressions. If you don’t look right, you can be taken away and vaporized.

Big Brother controls everything, media, papers, books, etc…they even have a Ministry of Plenty set up to write everything and also edit every book so they say what Big Brother wants them to say. They also change older books and even take words out to prevent people from having their own view because that means they could think independently of big brother and possibly over through the party. They were creating NEWSPEAK and removing many words from OLDSPEAK which is what we speak today. Big Brother wanted to control what you said and also what you read.

It is understood that anyone could be vaporized and all known papers, notes, records of your existence is removed as though you never existed.

There is a clear class system in the book, the Inner Party (Upper Class), Outer Party (Middle Class), and Proles (lower class). At times, the Party members even say that the Proles (workers/laborers) are not even human. Yet, ironically, in the book, the people with the most freedom are the Proles since Big Brother doesn’t monitor them. Also, in proportion to the current world, the Inner Party is less than 2% of the population, the Outer Party is roughly 12%, and the Proles are 85%. Similar to today’s breakup of classes in many nations.

The sad part is marriage is only for producing kids for the service to the party. Sex is viewed as bad because it takes away the positive energy that should be focused on the betterment of the party. Most of the time, the kids, after they are born are taken to government facilities to be raised by the party to make them better followers.

This is the tip of the iceberg. Orwell goes into details on the different types of governments and also the reason for war.

There are a great many lessons in the story of 1984. Although I can say, just like the world that Winston lives in, sad, the book at the finale doesn’t end on the greatest note. I would recommend this book. It’s on my top 10 books list. This is definitely a book that you would have to read again to catch all the many details that Orwell put into the story. The story is good and gripes you. You want to cheer for Winston, however, that is not what Orwell wants you to understand what Big Brother is doing to everyone.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
2017/282 pgs

A quick, easy, and wonderful telling of the Norse Mythology taken from the original sources. If someone is interested in Thor, Odin, and even Loki and what the Norse believed how the gods shaped the world, this book is the one to read.

I loved how Loki got Thor’s infamous Mjollnir created by saving himself from the god of Thunders wraith after stealing his wife’s beautiful hair. Many of the trials and tribulations of Norse mythology comes from the fun Loki has at others expenses.

For myself, one of my favorite gods in Norse Mythology is the one handed god of war Tyr and I’ve always wondered the circumstances that cause Fenrir to bite off Tyr’s right hand.

Also, the true story of Ragnarok and what happens during and after. Unless you want to just live in the Marvel worlds version.

As mentioned, this is a fast read.

Would recommend to anyone that is fascinated with old world Mythology.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Dracula a Mystery Story by Bram Stoker
1897/404pgs

The book that started the tales of Vampires in the imaginations of films directors and authors for over 100 years.

This classic book was a very fascinating read because it is the first novel that I’ve read that was written as if the author gathered a bunch of diary’s or journal entries and letters written by the key characters and bound them into one book to tell the tale of the nightmare that Dracula brought to London.

Also, how six people finally discovered what was happening and then set out to destroy Dracula and stop his blood reign forever.

Many of the myths that have followed in the many movie adaptations come from this novel. Holy objects harm Vampires. A wooden stake through the heart and cutting off the head kills them. Garlic is a Vampires Kryptonite. They can shape shift into bats (and wolves, owls, and a few other animals). They get their power at night after sunset and end at sunrise.

Although, there are some few differences in the book then “traditional” Vampires as we know it, for one, they can walk around in the daytime. The sun doesn’t kill them. They just don’t have their powers during the day.

This novel, like many classics, is a little tough to get into…however when it does start to pick up it’s very hard to put down. Although the long dialog does drag at many places in the book. I guess it was how they talked back in the 1800’s, five sentences for what we today would say in five words. Other then the long dialog at many places, the story is still a great read.

Would I recommend it, yes, oh dear yes. Just get ready for some long dragged out chats that make you wonder “What did you just say?!?!”

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
2013/532 pages

The sequel to The Shining, this bad boy is about the son, Danny, and how did he turn out after the events in the Overlook Hotel. This is Stephen Kings answer to many questions that fans have asked in the many years since the first book was published. To say it didn’t disappoint would be an understatement.

King has a pulse on the human condition that is very unique and the fact that he loves to get under the readers skin and make them shiver makes his stories much more juicer.

In The Shining, the main ethos evolved around alcoholism and the battle Jack Torrence had with it throughout the book.

In Doctor Sleep, Danny is also dealing with the same challenge that many son’s and daughter’s say they will not do, “turn into my parents”. Danny, himself an alcoholic, is dealing with the consequences that he put himself into during his days of heavy drinking. Stephen King, also an recovering addict, naturally tapped deeper into his inner demons during his indulgent times to really hit you in the nerves with the demon that is addiction.

While Danny is facing this challenge head on, the rest of the story deals with the shining and the impacts this gift or curse has had on others.

A very wonderful horror story that deals less with blood and guts and more with inner demons that we all struggle with every day.

I would recommend it. However, read The Shining first, because you get the lovely Easter eggs that King put into Doctor Sleep.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

The Shining by Stephen King
1977/660 pgs

One of classic Stanley Kubrick movies. Naturally, it was loosely adopted from the novel. After reading the book, I completely understand why the author hatted this adaption of his novel. Although, this is before “The Running Man” and other movies that could come out from his novels that followed the story or in the case of “The Running Man” took the name of the characters and the location and created another story around it.

The novel is a classic from the master of horror and this one doesn’t disappoint. It takes place in the Overlook Hotel in the Colorado’s during the winter. Slowly, the Hotel starts to take control of the father and wants the son for itself. The son, “Doc” calls for help from the Chef, Mr Hallormann and there is a great fight between the father, mother, son, and finally the hotel. That is the plot in the movie and the book.

However, there are many differences between the book and the movie. For example, Jack has more responsibility with the caretake of the hotel then what was portrayed in the movie. Also, the fall into madness is much better in the book then the movie. The infamous room is 217, not 237 like in the movie. There are no two girls that stand in the hall and say “Play with us Danny”. Although, that would have added another dimension the book.

The movie is a classic by itself and much of the movie is more Stanley Kubrick taking the bits from the novel and marketing the movie his own. I still love the movie and I throughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend the book for anyone that has seen the movie and think they are the same. They are in essence the same. However, much is in the book that was never in the movie. Plus the ending is completely different in the book.

Enjoy them both.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Neil Strauss, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, and Tommy Lee
2001/431 Pages

Growing up and listening to Motley Crue, I thought when I got Girls Girls Girls, that Wild Side and the title track were some of the greatest songs I’ve heard! (In 1992, that all changed with a song called Pull Me Under) Then, they released Dr Feelgood and it was all clicking for them. Soon after, Vince left the band and all changed for them and their millions of fans.

Knowing the reputation they had as a hard drinking, drug taking, sexual overdrive, kick ass rock and roll band that must be worth millions and getting all the girls they want and living the high life (pun intended) that everything must be perfect. With this novel, you read about their dark times from each member and their own views. Also, secrets that they never told each other (like how many times they slepted with each other’s wife’s, except Mick) and you get the darker side of their lives.

In the core, they are just as human as we are with real emotions and goals in lives like all of us. They made it to the top and then fell hard. Through that they took more drugs then any human should ever take, maybe except Keith Richards, and they are still alive today.

It was interesting reading about them and what they went through and to see that the lime-life is not all that we see on T.V. This was a fast and fun read.

Would I recommend this? I still listen to Crue and it was an interesting world to see from their view. However, it also is a great lesson to anyone that thinks money and fame will buy you happiness. For this Rock and Roll band, that was sometimes the curse of their lives.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations by Michal Walzer
382 pgs (347 reading)

Every now and then, I read a book for class and it takes me away.   Although it is a rare case.  This novel is one of those rare times.  Although published in 1977, which was during the cold war with the big Russian bear staring at the rest of the free world ready to strike it down, the many lessons and thoughts in the book are still relevant.

The book is about warfare.  Simply, what is a legal war, when is it legal to go to war and finally, how does a nation conduct war after they have entered it.  First, he starts off with the four different foundations about warfare.  The Bellicist, Realist, Just War, and finally Pacifist.  After thoroughly explaining that Just War is his main focus, he then dives into Jus an Bellum and Jus in Bello and how they should be thought of as separate but corresponding points to warfare.  Finally, he dives into what is allowed and when it should be allowed.

Like the Lord of the Rings, there is much information within each paragraph.  Every student in the class stated that one paragraph felt like 10 pages of information.  Even keeping notes, it was challenging to recall the information that is presented in the book.

I found the book difficult to put down, however, as a fanatic of history, this book is like eating a dessert that I enjoyed morsel by morsel.

I don’t know if I would recommend this novel to anyone that is not a political theorist or history buff.  Many in my class were not enjoying the material, although it is very important to understand for International Relations majors.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Artemis by Andy Weir
2017      305pgs

A fun story that takes place on the moon.  Also, like The Spy Who Loved Me and Dolores Claiborne, it is told from a female’s view.  More than that, it was like she was writing the story and breaking the 4th wall at various times in the novel.

The story takes place in the future where we have inhabited the moon.  About everyday people just trying to make a living when the protagonist gets an offer she can’t refuse. This starts her on a journey that takes not only her but also those around her on a journey and mystery that has a few delightful twists and turns.

Unlike his previous novel, The Martian, Mr. Weir doesn’t use as much science in this novel.  There a bit added here and there to explain how things work on the moon.  That just adds to the flavor of the story.

A good narrative that is very alluring.

Happy Reading,

Lopaka

Make Your Bed by Admiral Willaim H McRaven (USN, Retired)
2017    105pgs

To say this is a fast read…I read the book in just about an hour.  This is a simple leadership.  Anyone who has taken any leadership course or read any leadership books, the lessons in this are the same.  The main difference is what McRaven uses as his school that taught him these lessons and how they applied throughout his career.

Navy Seal School.

Each lesson starts with what was ingrained into him at Seal School and how that was still with him later in his career.

A nice book and simple lessons.

Happy Reading

Lopaka

The Martian by Andy Weir
2011 369pgs

This novel is a fast read. A very simple story, an lone Astronaut gets stranded on Mars with equipment that was designed to last only one month. The next mission that could pick him up will not arrive on Mars for 4 years. To make matters better, he can’t talk to NASA on Earth or his fellow Astronauts in the spacecraft leaving mars to let them know he is alive. How will he survive and get back home?

The story is the same for the book and movie. There’s lots and lots of science and many challenges for our protagonist to overcome. The book, unlike the movie, actually goes into more details, however, easy scientific explanations that keep the story moving forward. Many more challenges, and much more mental hurdles, the book really shows more that the movie just simplified.

Not wanting to give away anymore of the plot, the movies does follow the book in the over all story.

Would I recommend the book?

It was an enjoyable book that, as mentioned, is a fast read. Only took me just about a day to read the book, and I’m a slow reader. I enjoyed the movie and would recommend anyone that likes the movie to read the book.

Happy Reading

Lopaka