Greetings Again!

After a long and uncalled-for hiatus, I, Amber Shipp am once again in the world of the Internet to speak to you about the beauty of books, and words, and quotes and such!

Today I have for you a wonderful word.

OVERMORROW
Noun
The day after or over Tomorrow.

Isn't that amazing?  It's a word that I needed all my life yet knew not that I did.
Anyway, please return to your lives, and have fun doing that. And use this word. Yes.


~ Amber Shipp

Quote, Unquote

“In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it’s impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them.... I destroy them.” 

~ Ender, Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game.

Quote, Unquote

"Let others rise, to take our place, until the earth is free!"
~ Enjolras, Les Misérables (The Musical)

Sorry that this quote isn't from a book... but... oh my goodness that moment. - dies -

Vive l'France, sweeties!
~ Amber Shipp

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera

Gaston Leroux

Gothic Horror/Romance/Suspense? ???

8.5/10

The Phantom of the Opera... a myth? A mystery? A prank cooked up in the raucous Backstage of the Opera? The opinion varies over which of these might be true. But the elusive Opera Ghost is none of these. He is a living, breathing, hurting, misunderstood man. And when he finally finds something... or more accurately, someone... to love, he expresses himself in all the wrong ways.

I enjoyed this book very much. It has flaws, like any book, but when it all came together in a wonderful crescendo (haha music terms haha), I began to really appreciate it. I recommend it for a lazy afternoon... and even if you don't like it, well, at least you read it!

I would excersise caution on the part of small children with this story... there are low, subtle sexual undertones throughout... especially with the Phantom's obsession with Christine... but, since this book was written quite a while ago, it is buttoned up sufficiently to allow readers of twelve and above to enjoy without feeling uncomfortable. Other negative content: a few people... get choked to death... Raoul and the Persian are put in a "Torture Chamber", which is a device makes them hallucinate and want to die... I think that's it...

On that note, I would also recommend the musical! It portrays the book fairly accurately, and is very enjoyable.

God give me courage to show you that the nerds are not alone!
~ Amber Shipp

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL READERS OF HOBBLEDEHOYS

Ladies, gentlemen, boys, girls, cats and dogs. I, (Annabelle) and Amber have an important announcement to make. As you may know, February 1st we introduced GiGi Babineaux the Second as an intern. Her internship has ended as of March 14th, and Amber and I have decided whether or not she shall remain a permanent member of our team.

Through an entire half hours worth of deliberations, Amber and I have made the joint decision that she will not. However, you haven't heard the last of GiGi Babineaux. GiGi will become a guest reviewer through Amber, posting the occasional review, quote, new word, etc. We hope that you will enjoy the new "Words From GiGi" section from Amber and will read them as often as they are posted.

We have appreciated the time that GiGi has had with us, and understand her difficulties with availability to write. The act of putting words down can be consuming. If you have any questions, comments or concerns. We hope that you will leave them in the comment area below, and either Amber or I will answer your query as soon as possible.

Love,

Annabelle J.

Amber Shipp
 

Quote, Unquote

They must make a queer pair of lovers. I know just what it is like. Ecstasies in which they forget to kiss. Pure on earth, but joined in heaven. They are souls possessed of senses. They lie among the stars.

~ Grantaire, "Preliminary Gaieties", Les Misérables, Victor Hugo.

He doesn't even know what is going on and he captures it perfectly.

Vive l'France, sweeties.

~ Ambe Shipp

Quote, Unquote ~ Valentine's Day Edition

Is it okay for me to do another quote from Les Mis? Of course it is.

I encountered in the street, a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat was worn, his elbows were in holes; water trickled through his shoes, and the stars shone through his soul.
~ Victor Hugo, "A Heart Beneath a Stone", Les Misérables.

So, this is my quote for Valentine's day! A bit late, granted, but I thought it was appropriate. ;)

Vive l'France, sweeties.
Amber Shipp

The Time Quintet

The Time Quintet

By Madeleine L'Engle

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Psychological Horror

9.5/10

This series of five standalone novels explores the various adventures of the Murry family, a group of individuals that are above average in intellect, yet below average in normalcy. The series starts with the widely renowned "A Wrinkle In Time", which deals with the properties of space, matter, and dimensions. It continues with "A Wind in the Door", another in-depth and frankly strange look at medical science, life, death, and respect for tradition. The next book, "A Swiftly Tilting Planet", is based solely on time travel, cultural roots, and the connection between people who love each other. "Many Waters" takes on a uniquely Biblical look at time travel, sending two major characters to the days before the Flood. The last book in this beautifully written series is "An Acceptable Time", following the main protagonist's daughter through the trials of broken relationships, how to understand your place in the universe, and most importantly, to be content with what the future has in store.

I absolutely loved this series with all my heart. Its words moved me to tears, with the very way it was written. I removed .5 of a point because the plots sometimes were rather weak, but the very force of emotion in the stories makes up for it.
I believe that this series would be acceptable for ages twelve and up, due to confusing theories about physics that are discussed, and some rather awkward content in "Many Waters". I labeled this series "Psychological Horror", because throughout the whole series, there is the threat of the unknown, and many things gave me chills even now, when I reread them. I can't even really say what makes me uncomfortable, because I had a deep sense of edginess throughout the entire series.
So, this is a great series, but know yourself (if you are a reader) and know your child (if you are a parent). If you are a parent, I would suggest reading these before your child.

So. Yes.

Thanks.

Allons-y!
Amber Shipp

Quote, Unquote

Life is a hideous invention of somebody I don't know who. It doesn't last, and it is good for nothing.
You break your neck to live.
~ Grantaire, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.

Sorry to be so depressing so early in the year. (Though, to be fair, Grantaire was rather drunk when he came up with this, and not everything he says should be trusted.)

Vive l'France, sweeties.
Amber Shipp

Quote, Unquote

I shall now display to you a quote.


Why must I unpack my heart with words?
~ William Shakespeare, Hamlet

- flourish - Here ye go.

Allons-y,
Amber Shipp

Quote, Unquote

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."
~ Victor Hugo

Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Victor Hugo

Historical/Political/Inspirational Fiction

9.9/10

Les Misérables is a beautiful and gritty testament to life in poverty in 19th century France. It follows the story of the convict Jean Valjean, who after being released from prison endeavours to make for himself a new life - a life without hatred, sin, or wrong - and follows God with all he has in him.
This book gives us in modern times a glimpse past the historical and political bias of the 1800s. It shows us that not all revolutionaries are murderers, that thieves can change, and that compassion is paramount for living life as God wanted it.

I took off .1 of a point for this book because of unneeded descriptions. However, that is barely a problem if you can sit through them. Negative elements: prostitution, suicide, drinking and drunkenness (two fairly mild instances with the latter), social injustice, child slavery, a few very lovable young men die violent deaths (including stabbed in the chest with a bayonet, shot eight times, and a bullet through the head.), a child is shot,  a fifteen-year-old girl is shot, and there is one very gross sewer scene, but these elements should not surprise a reader that is coming into a book that is named "The Miserable Ones."
I think that a reader of at least 13 years old should be able to handle this book, even with the negative elements, as they are not described graphically. The only problem would be the immense length of the story and the type of verbiage with which it is written.
Foul language includes h--l, d--n, and a couple instances of ba----d and wh--e. These are mainly used by the criminal classes and are not used by any of the characters that one would point to as good role models.
Positive elements: loyalty in the face of death, mercy, drunkenness is highly scorned by more than one character, and all of the other negative elements are vilified as well. One main character does not succumb to pressure on the subject of his chastity.
So, yeah. I probably went too in-depth on that, but I wanted to include everything.
I absolutely adore this book, by the way, and you've probably already picked up on that. :D

Vive l'France, sweeties!
~ Amber Shipp

Quote, Unquote

I said I wanted to face the gods; but how can they face us until we have faces?

~ C. S. Lewis, Until We Have Faces.

Quote, Unquote

"You need to think outside the box."

"I live outside the box."

~ Hill and Coulson, Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.

Quote, Unquote

All rightey, here we go. More Quote, Unquotes from Amber Shipp! First one in a few months, and I'm actually kind of excited.
So, as Annabelle knows, I have been gushing about Les Miserables by Victor Hugo lately (ahem, Annabelle, I still want you to read it/watch it/whatever it. In fact, I have the huge novel right at my elbow), and so I shall now present to you one of my favourite quotes.

"So be it," added Enjolras, "A word more. In executing that man, I obeyed necessity; but necessity is a monster of the old world, the name of necessity is Fatality. Now the law of progress is, that monsters disappear before angels, and that Fatality vanish before Fraternity. This is not a moment to pronounce the word love. No matter, I pronounce it, and I glorify it. Love, thine is the future. Death, I use thee, but I hate thee. Citizens, there shall be in the future neither darkness nor thunderbolts; neither ferocious ignorance nor blood for blood. As Satan shall be no more, so Michael shall be no more. In the future, no man shall slay his fellow, the earth shall be radiant, the human race shall love. It will come, citizens, that day when all shall be concord, harmony, light, joy and life; it will come, and it is so that it may come that we are going to die."

~   Victor Hugo, Several Interrogation Points Concerning One Le Cabuc, Who Perhaps Was Not Le Cabuc, Les Miserables

Vive L' France, sweeties.

Amber Shipp

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

Dystopian Fiction

9.5/10

In the very far future, firemen no longer put out fires ~ they start them. The owning and reading of books are considered crimes against the state, punishable by burning to death. And Guy Montag, ten years fireman, owns twenty of them, and his increasingly rasher actions result in consequences he could never have imagined.

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what I thought about this book. The prose was wonderful. The ideas were, quite possibly, world-shaking, but an air of darkness and depression resides over the entire novel. It's just... I don't know. The story is... well-plotted. It's little more than a short story, though, so not much plotting was ultimately needed.
So 9.5 for the quality of writing. I don't know if I like it or not. It would be optimal for twelve and up for the deep and disturbing concepts. There is incredibly minor language, most likely because it was written in the fifties. Swears include d---n and h--l, and no inappropriate content.

There. I did it.

Allons-y!
Amber Shipp

 

Samwise the Brave (Amber's Quote, Unquote)

As a huge Lord of the Rings geek, I shall commence to write down one of my favourite quotes. This may or may not be from the book, I do not, unfortunately, remember, but it's at a pivotal point in The Two Towers, the middle installment in Tolkien's famous three-part saga.

It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it'll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something. That there's still some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.

- Samwise Gamgee

And so I just wanted to share that.

Allons-y!

Amber

Quote, unquote

"On the way home on Apollo 11, it struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye and my thumb blotted out planet Earth. But I didn't feel like a giant. Instead i felt very, very small."
- Neil Armstrong

The Book Thief

The Book Thief

By Markus Zusak

15 (yeah, off the scale)

1939.
Germany.
The Jewish Purge.
And Leisel Meminger is learning how to read.
The little girl sits in a basement, forming a close relationship with words, when her world is turned upside down by a Jewish man arriving at her doorstep.
Her world is closed off on the outside, but her mind expands in ways she could never have imagined.
Nothing will ever be the same.

This book I recommend for ages 12+. Some mild language and vulgarity, and also hard topics like the Holocaust and WWII. I actually had a bit of trouble reading it.

I shall now commence the commending.
Zusak makes the words live. They fly off the page. And the characters-- oh my goodness.
This is a must-read, especially for readers and writers. Even more so for writers.
Oh my goodness.

Allons-y,
Amber Shipp

That Hideous Strength

That Hideous Strength

By C.S. Lewis

Fantasy Science Fiction

10

That Hideous Strength recounts the adventures of the illustrious Dr. Elwin Ransom, the man who went to Venus and fought an ancient darkness there. But now there's another problem, and this time it's on Earth! Merlin's waking, and the descent of horror unimaginable has come. And who can stop this Hideous Strength? Certainly not Ransom.

I would rate this book for ages ten and up, for language and disturbing imagery. Overall, I absolutely adored it. I recommend it highly.