Most Overrated Books in History

There are many so called classics out there that really aren’t worth the paper they were printed on. It’s tough to say what the exact circumstances were that propelled some of these books, most of which should have died in obscurity, to fame, universal acclaim and admiration.

My best guess is that it has to do with the educational system, and young impressionable people being forced at an early age to wade through some of these ‘classics’. How can a twelve year old truly judge the merits of a book if he or she has nothing to compare it to? If the book is only your third, and it happens to be reasonably readable, you are bound to remember it as being better than it was.

Is kind of like your first love. It wasn’t perfect, and you definitely didn’t know what you were doing, but you’re going to remember it for the rest of your life.

Once one of these questionable books gains the dubious title of being a ‘classic’, peer pressure kicks in. Elitist try and make us feel stupid for not having read it. But reading the ‘masterpiece’ is not enough. Not by a long shot. We must also love it. Some of us even delude ourselves into believing that we actually do. I mean, really, why be the odd man out be over something as silly as a book?

Things just deteriorate from there. Everyone has an opinion, and when asked, people just can’t stop sharing it even if the subject matter is not really their strong suit. So, when the general non-reading public is asked, ‘what’s your favorite book?’, what do you think the answer is going to be? That’s right, the three or four books, out of however many they were forced to read in school, that they remember sort of liking.

Of course, don’t get me wrong. There’s no accounting for taste. I’m sure there are many people out there that genuinely like some of these books. That’s okay. Hey, I actually liked Baywatch Nights.

All I’m saying is that these books don’t deserve the mountain of praise and adulation hoisted upon them. Not by a long shot.

I believe the true test for these dubious ‘classics’ is whether or not they would be published today. The answer, of course, is a resounding no. They would die in a slush pile. No publishers in their right minds would take a chance on some of this stuff. And with so much good fiction around, who can blame them?

Here is a short list of some of the most overrated books in history.

Extremely Overrated: The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger.

This is the story of a whining, opinionated, over-privileged slacker, that gets kicked out of prep school and hides out for a couple of days in a hotel in order to keep the news from his parents. It’s supposed to be a couple of days, but to me it felt more like years.

This guy is the most hateful, boring and all around loser in the history of literature. And we spend the entire time inside his head. Maybe the book would have been somewhat tolerable if it at least had a plot.

But there’s nothing.

I read the thing twice, thinking that maybe I missed something the first time.

I didn’t miss anything. There wasn’t anything to miss. I spent most of the second time around wishing this loser would get run over by a bus. And I’m sorry to say this but, all those people out there who claim to ‘identify’ with this retard are the same ‘phonies’ he goes on and on and on about for half the book.

Instead read: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Platz

If you like this style of writing and are all into the teenage angst thing, this book is a much better choice by a way better, less ‘phony’, writer.

Extremely Overrated: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This is another meandering, plot-less glob of nothing that after I finished it, left me wishing I could somehow turn the clock backwards and get my time back.

This is perhaps the most BORING book in all of American literature. You follow this mindless little girl around wishing and praying that something halfway interesting actually happens, or that at least it would all end soon. But no. Page after page of mind-numbing dribble.

The highlight of the book is Atticus Finch shooting a rabid dog. I mean what’s really classic about this thing?

The saddest part is what it did to poor Harper Lee. I’m convinced she too couldn’t understand what the big hoopla was all about. That’s why in all the ensuing years she couldn’t bring herself to write anything else.

Instead read: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

If you like novels about the south, here’s a true masterpiece. They don’t get much better than this.

Extremely Overrated: Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Okay, I was wrong. THIS is the most boring book in American literature. At least Melville’s contemporaries had the common sense to hate it when it was first published. It was not until academics ‘rediscovered’ it that it suddenly became a ‘classic’.

Three quarters of this snoozer is Melville playing at being a poet. There are some exciting parts, but they’re hopelessly buried endless verbiage.

Instead read: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Now this is a story. Enough said.

Extremely Overrated: War and Peace Leo Tolstoy

I’m firmly convinced the only reason anyone bother’s with this thing is bragging rights. It takes a special kind of person to get through it. There are hundreds and hundreds of pages with hundreds and hundreds of characters, each more boring than the last. I did enjoy the setting, and the vivid descriptions of Napoleon’s ill fated invasion of Russia. Besides that, if you haven’t yet read this thing, don’t feel bad. Skip it.

Instead read: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor M. Dostoevsky

Now this is a true Russian masterpiece. This is Dostoevsky’s last work and one of the best novels of all times. If you read no other literature, read this.

I could go on and on, but enough said. The moral here is simple. If you have yourself a list of ‘classics’ that you never got around to reading but always thought you should have, don’t feel bad. No need to make time for them. You’re not missing much.

Try some of these instead.

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Roast Beef Books – Roast Beef Has Made the Transition from Cookbooks to Fiction

Somehow – who knows how – roast beef has become such a part of our culture that it has made its way into our books. No, I am not just talking about cookbooks! I am talking about some very interesting fictional books.

Here are a few “roast beef books” that you might want to check out!

Roast Beef on Italian Bread: A Boy and His Dog by Paul V. Dunn

This is not your typical read. In fact, many people would likely describe this book as bizarre. Of course, the bizarre is oftentimes funny, and that is the case with this book. Of course, roast beef is not a major player in the book, but it does get involved in some interesting, if not subtle, ways.

Roast Beef, Medium (the Business Adventures of Emma McChesney) by Edna Ferber

This Roast Beef book is actually about Emma McChesney, a traveling saleswoman. This is a book that seems to declare that roast beef is not just a food, but a philosophy, as well. The book takes place in 1913 and has some very feminist vies. Many publications come with some excellent illustrations.

Wordsworth and the Roast Beef Romance by Todd Strasser

This book is for a younger audience, for children aged 9-12. As you can imagine, it is a rather humorous book that children love from the get-go. Children will fall in love with the fabulous Bassett Hound, Wordsworth. Wordsworth also appeared in another Todd Strasser book, “Wordsworth and the Mail-Order Meatloaf Mess.”

If Roast Beef Could Fly by Jay Leno, Illustrated by S.B. Whitehead

Yes, this book is by Jay Leno, the Jay Leno of late night fame. Of course, this book is written for a select group of people who are likely not allowed to stay up late enough for the late night shows: this book is for children ages 4-8. This book on roast beef is fictional, yes, but it also embellishes a bit on the childhood of Jay Leno himself. Unlike the abovementioned books, though, this funny story does, indeed, focus greatly upon roast beef. Of course, it does not focus on just any roast beef. Rather, it focuses on roast beef that has gone airborne.

As you can see, roast beef, once just a favorite dinner food, has begun to spread to other parts of our culture, as well. Roast beef is even making its way into our bedtime stories! Where will you find roast beef next? Go ahead and check out these fun and interesting reads on roast beef, and also see what other books on meats that you can find. There must be plenty of stories about “mystery meat” and hot dogs!

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Suspense Fiction Books

Suspense fiction books are growing in popularity because of the fact that they include elements no other type of novel does. The type of bitter-sweet diversion they present is that of a mystified entrapment that embeds itself in your brain. Continuously the story tightens it’s grasp around your senses until you are utterly addicted. They transport you to a realm you’re not quite sure you want to enter, but still mysterious enough to read.

Mystery books and other types of these fiction books are a lot better than other typical genres, such as outlandish fairy tales, and romance novels. Suspense novels draw you in so much until you feel like you aren’t just some reader hiding behind a hardcover, but a crucial part of the chronicle, in essence giving the illusion that the risks at hand to the protagonist are your very own.

But isn’t that what we all want? To get away from our boring, ordinary routines, and brought to a world of wonder and suspense by the magic that is catharsis. History tells us yes. For centuries, humans have gone to public shows of some kind to feel the parting of catharsis, forgetting about their concerns and experiencing a variety of emotions that will probably be left at the theater as soon as the movie has ended. Novels, particularly suspense fiction books, give us precisely that, but with the comfort of being able to slip a bestseller into a purse instead of going to a play.

Readers want to be scared by a new mystery book every now and then, they want to discover the equivalent of standing on the border of something way too deep. Left with the bittersweet disarray of not knowing what’s to come, only to be tormented by their very own fantasy until it becomes too much to handle. All without any consequences, of course.

We’re placed in scenarios we’d otherwise be much too terrified to experience if it weren’t for the safeness of the novel. Ever ask oneself just how you would react and what it would be like to find yourself man-to-man with a pitiless murdered? Of course you have, and with suspense fiction books, you’ll definitely find out.

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Fiction Books – Fun Filled Stories

Fiction books showcase unreal characters from the imaginary lands that have magical super power and bedazzle you with their incredible grandeur. The larger than life depiction of marvel, luxury and splendour can be experienced by reading the awesome story books. These books may be inspired by real life but they are result of the imagination and the thought process of the writer.

It is one of the most popular genre of books in which there is a lot of excitement and thrill served through interesting depiction of stories with strange characters and plots. Fiction Books are based on imaginary situations and lives of unreal characters. These books are really invigorating and entertaining. Many writers have written exceptionally wonderful stories that are work of their imagination and creativity.

These books are available for readers from different age groups. Many characters have made special place for themselves in the hearts and memories of the readers. The characters like Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew etc have ruled the hearts of the teenagers and ardent book lovers. These books can be based upon science or suspense.

Apart from suspense and thrill, these books can also be full of tragedy and melodrama. Since the creativity depends solely on the imagination of the writer, one can find a wide variety of emotions and expressions in these books. The readers get to experience the magic of mysterious situations and wonderful transcendence of the characters as the story proceeds. The fictional stories showcase myriad expressions and deep emotions that arise through various situations in life. The suspense thrillers serve great adventure with the spine chilling mysteries. The suspicious characters have different shades and intentions.

There have been few highly exciting science fiction novels that have ruled the charts. The bestselling Fiction Books like Time Machine and Invisible Man. Romantic fiction is also very famous. These books have stories that depict love and compassion. The romantic stories have beautiful moments of great splendour and bliss.

These books are extremely interesting and keep the readers totally engrossed from beginning to the end. The influencing stories leave you awestruck with their intense emotions and dramatic situations. The fiction books are a great time pass and give you awesome entertainment. You can search for the best selling books on the internet and avail them at low prices.

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Differences on Book Review For Fiction and Non-Fiction Books

Fiction and nonfiction books are not becoming very popular. They are two different genres of writing and the book reviews for them also vary a lot that require you to be more careful. The following are some differences on the book reviews of fiction and nonfiction books.

The Emphasis of the Notes

The notes for a book telling a story contain many elements including the characters, the setting and the cues of the story while the notes for a nonfiction book emphasize on the understanding of the key points and the ideas of the author. A book telling a story often tells you an interesting story that you should grasp the cue of the whole story. There are many elements for you to take notes. Firstly, you should pay attention to the main characters that are the core of the whole story. Then, better understanding of the setting of the characters and the story will help you have a better knowledge on the actions and development of the story.

The difference of introduction

For a book review of the fiction, the most important points are the characters, the plot, and the conflicts.etc. The main characters are the core of it. Their actions follow the plot and the conflicts between the characters also promote the story. Most of the times, the setting of the characters or the society also give the reader some hints on the cue of the whole story. So, a book review for a story should give a clear and thorough introduction including most of the elements. However, for a nonfiction book review, the details and the key points of the book are the most important. Because the nonfiction one does not contain a story but many paragraphs related to the theme of the whole book.

The writing of a book review for different types of books can be varied a lot. What I am concerned are the main differences of writing book reviews for fiction and nonfiction. And the mixing of the format will make the readers feel puzzled. Therefore, you must be careful and choose the right format to make your review better and easier for understanding.

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Top Military Science Fiction Novels

Dorsai by Gordon Dickinson

Following Donal Graeme, an extraordinary military mercenary warrior, the novel charts his rise as he hires himself out to other planetary governments. Written in the late 50’s, it is an imperfect novel. Donal is of course the unstoppable warrior while his enemies seem less than bright. The dialogue is also rather wooden. But it and the rest of Dickinson’s Childe Cycle series has certainly influenced the entire sub-genre of military science fiction.

Old Man’s Army by John Scalzi

John Perry, aged 75, joins the Colonial Defense Forces having agreed to do so 10 years earlier, along with his now deceased wife. Thus he is taken to the CDF where his mind is transferred to a new body, made from his original DNA, but containing enhancements so that Perry’s new body is stronger and his senses much more acute. The novel follows Perry from raw new recruit to Captain and is easily on par with the greats such as Heinlein or Haldeman.

A Hymn before Battle by John Ringo

John Ringo’s innovative novel, A Hymn before Battle tells the tale of a near future Earth as they discover the news that yes, there’s intelligent alien life out there (who are good) but the Earth is in the line of fire as these “good” aliens battle it out with their enemies. It is in this environment that Michael O’Neal and his fellow grunts are thrown into the front lines of intergalactic combat. If you like David Weber, you’re gonna love A Hymn before Battle!

Honor Harrington Series by David Weber

It was difficult to come up with one particular novel from David Weber’s explosive, series, so we decided to nominate the whole series. Taking his inspiration from C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower series, Weber has created a unique character in Honor that readers have gladly followed since Weber’s first Harrington novel, On Basilisk Station. Part political intrigue (we love that the Peeps aren’t just “the bad guys”), part kick ass space warfare, it’s easy to see why the Honorverse has dominated science fiction bookshelves for the past 15 years.

Hammer’s Slammers by David Drake

David Drake’s collection of stories based around the mercenary regiment “Hammer’s Slammers” and its leader, Colonel Alois Hammer helped make the military science fiction genre the way it is today. Taking elements of mythology and historical events, and placing it against the backdrop of a realistic military organization, the results are gritty must-reads.

Semper Mars by Ian Douglas

Unlike pretty much every other novel on this list, Semper Mars is unique in that the war being waged isn’t between us humans and some unknown alien creature. Instead, the war is between a brow beaten US and the now powerful United Nations. While the novel is set in the year 2040 and features alien artifacts on Mars, it is the battle between the US and the UN that takes center stage- which is perhaps a little more realistic compared to the happy “one nation” Earth that we usually see in science fiction. The world that Douglas creates shows the darker side of the “one nation” future, and the only people that stand in the way are the USMC.

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card

Given that this book is on the US Marine Corp’s recommended reading list, this was a no brainer contender for our top military science fiction novels. After having barely won two battles with an alien insectoid race, Earth’s International Fleet looks to its young children for the future military commander who will help them fight the “Buggers” in the much anticipated third invasion. Thus, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is sent to Battle School to train to be the military commander they need, and ultimately, the human race’s saviour.

Armor by John Steakley

John Steakley tells two halves of a story in his novel, Armor. The first half follows Felix, as he makes his first drop onto the alien world of Banshee, clad in machine-like armour, to fight against the insectoid race known as Ants. As Felix fights for his own survival, he discovers that by switching on “the machine” he is good in battle. However, due to poor military bureaucracy, Felix finds himself called up on combat drop without reprieve, which will surely kill him. The second half of the novel takes place on the Planet Sanction. The war now being over, it follows anti-hero Jack Crow who finds Felix’s old battle armour and is able to experience everything that Felix had gone through on Banshee. Confused? It does come together in the end. Ultimately, the novel focuses on the psychological effect of warfare on humans.

Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Joe Haldeman’s Forever War is in many ways an autobiographical story told in a space opera setting. Haldeman’s novel lets go of the many clichés found in military science fiction, such as the hero single-handedly turning the course of a battle (this book is arguably anti-heroic), instead Haldeman focuses on the military machine and its treatment of soldiers as well as the soldier’s reintegration when they return home. All of these themes make this the perfect choice for the basis of Ridley Scott’s latest science fiction outing, and hopefully the director will stay faithful to this masterpiece.

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein

This book is probably the pinnacle of military science fiction. Following the story of Johnnie Rico as he goes from raw recruit to eventually commanding his own unit, Rico’s Roughneck’s, this book doesn’t just lay out the day to day workings of the military and it certainly isn’t just about the war against the “bugs”. Heinlein, as one might expect, goes much deeper than this. In Heinlein’s world, the right to vote and hold public office is given only to those that have served in the military. What’s more, for those willing to serve, the military must then find a place for that person, regardless of aptitude. The book dwells as much on themes such as civic duty, capital punishment and government as it does on the war against the bugs. These themes were satirized in the poor adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven. The novel has also been on the reading lists for the US Army, USMC and the Navy. It was also required reading for the USCM, although we have to wonder if Rico’s Roughneck’s might have fared a little better in that fight!

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Book Review – Nineteen Minutes

Reading has been one of my greatest pleasures from the time I begged my mother to read Green Eggs and Ham to me repeatedly. Like most folks, my reading habits have not always been consistent, due to time constraints. In recent years, in addition to the fact that none of my days ever seem to have enough hours in them, my reading for pleasure has been sporadic, at best, due to all of the medical challenges I have faced related to my eyes. I recently underwent cataract surgery on my right eye and, despite complications, am amazed by the fact that, for the first time since I was a nine-year-old fourth-grader, I do not have myopia (near-sightedness)! Although I must still wear reading glasses, I have no prescription for distance vision. Additionally, the ophthalmologist implanted a lens which eliminated the astigmatism. Once again, I am reading just for the fun of it during every spare moment. Although there are precious few of those, I have enjoyed perusing my bookshelves and deciding which of the many, many unread books there I plan to read over the next few months.

It was easy to decide to read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult first. The book has been on the shelf for a couple of years and a number of her books have been highly recommended to me by good friends. I could not have predicted, of course, that just as I was finishing Nineteen Minutes, the topic of school bullying would again make headlines.

Synopsis:

The official synopsis from the author’s website describes the story in this fashion: “In this emotionally charged novel, Jodi Picoult delves beneath the surface of a small town to explore what it means to be different in our society…. Do we ever really know someone?”

The story is set in Sterling, New Hampshire. Peter Houghton became the target of bullying en route to the first day of kindergarten. In contrast, Josie Cormier is one of the “in” crowd at their high school — popular and dating the school’s biggest jock, Matt.

When Peter carries out the ultimate act of revenge upon his cruel classmates, the lives of everyone in Sterling are changed forever. Including his.

Josie’s mother, Alex Cormier, is a superior court judge torn between her desire to preside over the most important case of her career and her need to protect her traumatized daughter, with whom her relationship has never been easy. Josie claims she can’t remember what happened that morning.

Lacy and Lewis Houghton, Peter’s parents, are left wondering how they raised a son capable of inflicting the worst imaginable type of pain upon an entire community.

Review:

One of the reasons I wanted to read Picoult’s handling of the topics of school bullying and violence was the fact that I remember all too well the day that schoolyard violence erupted here in San Joaquin County. It was January 17, 1989, and I was en route to my parent’s house with my oldest son who was then 22 months old. I could not believe what I was hearing on the radio as I drove. That afternoon, I sat in front of the television with my parents, stunned and disbelieving reports of Patrick Purdy storming the playground at Cleveland School — where he had been a student — in nearby Stockton. Purdy murdered five Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrant children, and wounded 29 others, as well as one teacher, before turning the gun on himself. (I did not know any of those children or their families, but I have been to their graves many times — they are in the cemetery where my mother-in-law and father-in-law are buried.) It was a seminal moment — the first time, as a new parent, it ever occurred to me that, in addition to worrying about my child getting safely to and from school, I would have something else to worry about: Whether he would be safe at school.

Twenty-one years later, Phoebe Prince, age 15, was bullied and humiliated to the point that she told a close friend school had become “intolerable.” Phoebe hanged herself in order to escape being called a “stupid slut” and “whore,” cornered and attacked in the school bathroom, threatened via text messages, and taunted by girls who were jealous of the fact that she had dated two of the boys on whom they had adolescent crushes. The day before she took her own life, they yelled at her, “Why don’t you go kill yourself?” On January 15, 2010, she did. Nine students now face criminal charges — their lives forever changed as surely as Phoebe’s was and Phoebe’s family’s is. In the aftermath, the topic of schoolyard bullying and the tragedies to which it can lead, are again the focus of discussion and debate.

Since the day bullets rang out in Stockton until today, have we learned anything about what makes kids into bullies, how to stop them from turning into schoolhouse monsters, or how to protect the children they prey upon? While conducting research for Nineteen Minutes, Picoult says that “[t]wo… facts… surprised me: for many of these shooters, there is the thinnest line between suicide and homicide. They go to the school planning to kill themselves and decide at the last minute to shoot others too. And that, psychologically, a single act of childhood bullying is as scarring emotionally as a single act of sexual abuse.”

Through a combination of flashbacks and present-tense narratives, Picoult tells the story of two families: One comprised of a highly successful, professional, single woman and the daughter she refused to abort. Alex Cormier raised Josie on her own when her married lover abandoned them. The other is an intact family of four. Both families suffer in ways none of them could have ever imagined. Picoult cleverly takes the reader just to the point in the present-day story where she wants his/her attention focused before yanking the action back to a few months or even years prior. It is a highly effective way of keeping the reader interested, while divulging important character or plot details at the precise point in the reader’s experience, pace, and with the impact Picoult designed.

Picoult aptly describes the book as the tale of “an archetypical moral dilemma: Do you act like yourself, and risk becoming an outcast? Or do you pretend to be someone you’re not, and hope no one finds out you’re faking?” How to fit in and get along within a peer group is a quandary that comes into full bloom during adolescence, of course. But it is a quagmire that never really ends as we move through college, young adulthood, and into middle age, navigating workplaces, social organizations, and our communities.

Picoult skillfully evokes empathy with every main character, including Peter. We all know how it feels to be out of the “in” crowd, so Picoult’s descriptions of the bullying and harassment to which Peter is subjected are chilling and heart-breaking. The reader can, to a point, put him/herself in Peter’s place — or his parents’. Surprisingly, I did not become as emotionally attached to Alex as I thought I would. That is because the character was initially quite self-absorbed, to her daughter’s detriment. Moreover, as an attorney, I was annoyed by the character’s foolish determination to be the judge who would eventually preside over Peter’s criminal trial, even though her daughter was one of the students most impacted by his actions. I lost respect for Alex, which was probably not a result unintended by Picoult, although by the end of the book I felt some renewed compassion for her.

Rather, the character with whom I found myself most identifying and emoting was Lacy, Peter’s mother:

Through the driving downpour, with her hair and clothes plastered to her, she took stock of the grave­yard and saw the faces of the children who would still be alive, if her own son had never been born.

Lacy put her hand over her abdomen. The pain cut her in half, like a magician’s trick, except she knew she would never really be put back together.

All parents experience boundless hope about their young child’s future, and ultimately suffer some disappointment when the child misbehaves, does not excel at a particular task in the way the parent had hoped, or exhibits a character trait the parent abhors. Few, however, will ever experience the type of disheartening, tormenting defeat that befell Peter’s parents. Through them, Picoult poses two questions that many parents, on some level, will have to address at some point: “Do you stop loving your son just because he’s done something horrible? And if you don’t, do you start hating yourself?” I was mesmerized by the parents’ reactions as events unfolded, wondering how each would cope and whether their relationship could possibly withstand the strain. They were, in fact, the only two characters whose fate I found myself wondering about long after I read the last page of the book. Lacy reminded me of a woman here in Lodi whose son was found guilty of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. For many years after that, I saw her at church on a regular basis. While I never saw her husband accompany her, she was obviously getting on with her life, continuing to serve her congregation. I used to watch her standing in the back of the sanctuary, greeting other parishioners and handing them bulletins, wondering how she managed to pull herself out of bed each morning and even keep living her life at the most basic level. Through the character of Lacy, Picoult givers readers a sense of the depth of anguish felt by the parent of a child who could commit such a heinous act and, in so doing, makes Lacy the most fully developed, compelling, complex character in the book.

Some plot points are completely predictable and, to be fair, the book would not be a believable read were they not. To compensate, Picoult has thrown in a couple of unexpected twists, along with creating characters who could be your next door neighbor, including Peter. Picoult’s research led her to the conclusion that “kids who resort to violence are not all that different from the one living upstairs in your own house, most likely – as scary as that is to imagine.” Thus, this story does not boast a classic protagonist and antagonist, and raises numerous difficult questions, ultimately providing few, if any, answers. Therein lies its strength. As one reviewer put it, in Nineteen Minutes, Picoult succeeds in her mission “to keep readers on the treacherous edge of making their own minds up.”

If, like me, you enjoy reading fiction that explores current social issues within the context of human emotion and relationships, you must read Nineteen Minutes.

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How to Use the Internet to Undertake Research For a Non-Fiction Book

Starting to research and write a non-fiction book can seem a daunting task! But there are many different resources that you can use to help you in your task.

A non-fiction book cannot be written without some form of research. When writing a fiction book, you can use creativity to elaborate and exaggerate the truth. However, a non-fiction book must be more truthful, and facts must be researched accordingly.

In this day and age the internet is often your main research tool. It is advisable to break your research down in manageable chunks, perhaps chapter by chapter or by using key words. Search engines such as Google will often direct you to where you can find articles, newspapers and databases. Some databases that you find may require a subscription fee to join, although others may be free for public use. Another useful tool could also be public forums, where you will be able to gain other people’s opinions and thoughts on a variety of topics.

However, you cannot believe everything that you would read on the internet, as a lot will be based upon people’s opinions and thoughts. When writing your book you need to make sure that you can fully reference any facts given in your work.

Several books have been written for guidance as to how to research on the internet. For example, The Associated Press Guide to Internet Research and Reporting by Frank Bass, or Internet Research Illustrated by Donald I Barker and Carol D Terry (both available on Amazon UK).

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King’s Shadow Historical Fiction Book

Want a good book to read? In the novel King’s Shadow by Elizabeth Alder, Evyn the main character gets his tongue cut off which lead to a series of horrible, unfortunate events that are full of excitement, adventure, betrayal, and death. People can find all these things in the novel and more and that is why people should definitely read it! King’s Shadow is a great book worth the time people spend on reading. It’s interesting plot, characters and intriguing dialogue will suck people in and they will never want to put the book down!

The interesting plot is enough to sell people on the thought of King’s Shadow. The series of events that lead to the climax are nothing less than amazing. Every little detail is shown brightly! Evyn, a young boy working on a manor oblivious to the outside world, has the voice of an angel and trains to become a storiawr. As his uncle shows up on his door step Evyn thinks that this could lead to trouble! They all go to the village meeting and celebrate and are merry. Evyns uncle has a little too much to drink and disrespects some nobles; this outrages them and leads to the big battle. In the end of this battle Evyn gets the only talent he has taken away from him, his tongue! This is where everything begins. Evyns tongue getting cut off leads to a series of very tragic events. Many things happen to Evyn; he is put into slavery, learns to read and write and is taken under the wing of King Harold! Evyns life is full of excitement, sadness and tragedy but he manages it! All of these terrible but great events are in the book. Evyn has one long adventure as he goes through England. The plot just sucks people and makes them never want to put the book down. All the events fuse with each other and create one great adventure.

The characters in this novel are all unique! They all have their own personalities, ways of thinking and acting. They all have their own story to tell and that story is told in King’s Shadow. Evyn, a young village boy gets his life turned upside down when his tongue is cut off. His story is a tragic one but also full of joy! Evyn is a happy optimistic boy, even when the worst has happened he doesn’t give up hope. Evyns uncle seemed like a nice guy until he showed his true colours. He betrays Evyn and shows us that he is a selfish sneak! The characters correspond with the plot, as the story progresses, characters start to open up and show their true colours. Earl Harold, or also know as King Harold is a very king and gentle person. Though he may seem like an intimidating man when he opens up to Evyn he changes to his kind true self. The characters in this novel are very well portrayed. Their personalities shine and they connect with each other fluently. Elizabeth Alder did an amazing job at showing who the characters really are. The characters in the novel are very original and are portrayed superbly.

The novel, King’s Shadow has many messages in it. Some are pretty obvious and some are hidden. The novel portrays the theme of never giving up hope. Never giving up hope is everywhere in the novel. Evyns tongue getting cut off was the death of him until new opportunities opened up to him. King Harold thought that the battle of Hastings was lost. They never gave up hope even if they were going to lose. The novel also shows the theme of destiny. Evyn was destined to be a serf and then a mute but all of that change. It didn’t matter of his nobility, all that mattered is that he never gave up hope and believed which led him to a better life. Never giving hope and destiny up are key themes in this novel. They are both deeply expressed in the characters lives and the novels plot.

As you can see King’s Shadow is a fantastic novel full of great characters an intriguing plot, meaningful messages, descriptive detail and much more the makes it so great. This book has a bit of something for everyone. The characters suck in people and make them care deeply for their fate and lives. They are varied, the plot is very intriguing. Each scene is full of something new and interesting. You will never want to put the book down due to all the new twists and detail being introduced. The themes and messages in the book are clearly expressed through the novel. The author used fantastic detail when describing the scene it makes you feel as if a person were there. The author looked at this book at every aspect and made sure to harmonize all the great things in it. The characters, the plot, their all amazing!

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More Dads Doing Diaper Duty – Fathers Taking Parental Leave

Although fathers taking paternity leave is becoming much more common, according to my research, only one in ten men in Canada take parental leave to be home with their babies, with the exception of Quebec where the practise is much more common. Almost half of fathers in Quebec take advantage of paternity leave; as well as many German, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish fathers who also opt to stay home with their children.

As one father said, ‘It is an excellent way for fathers to bond with their children. It is an amazing experience for fathers – one that women have had for years – of watching first smiles, first roll-overs, first-time sitting up, crawling and walking; not to mention all the other firsts there are in a young child’s first year of life. It is not as exciting to hear it from someone else as it is to see it for yourself.’

As every stay-at-home mother knows, special bonding is more likely to happen when you’re around for all the subtle changes that are missed when the baby is only seen in the evening when both the child and parent are tired from an already full and busy day.

If this eventually becomes a common practise with fathers sharing parental leave, perhaps we may start hearing children call ‘dad’ as often as they call ‘mom’. Or children, when they’ve had a bump will say, ‘I need a daddy hug’ instead of running past dad to mom to be consoled. (Interestingly, two out of my three sons, who have children, have opted to do shared parental leave).

The initial adjustment in becoming parents to a newborn is much easier when it is shared and doesn’t fall on one parent only. When a new father becomes the primary caregiver of a new baby, it is an eye opener regarding how much time is involved in caring for a small baby. There is a song about tough men becoming marshmallows when they have children. This is even more the situation when men become their child’s full-time caregiver. They don’t just see their child’s cranky times when they get home from work and the child is ready for bed; they experience all the wonderful times there are to enjoy with their children throughout the day.

Why do some fathers not make paternity leave an option?

There can be many reasons. One of the main reasons is because financially it may not be feasible to do so. Other reasons are that there is no interest in doing so; they are not emotionally motivated to do so; or they don’t receive support from superiors or colleagues (this could be because it may not be considered the manly thing to do by some men). There may also be varying assumptions and expectations between spouses relating to childcare and financial responsibilities.

My son and daughter-in-law believe strongly that one parent should stay home with their child for the first few years. Because my daughter-in-law’s income is higher, my son is the stay-at-home parent for their two year old daughter. This has worked very well for them. My daughter-in-law enjoys her job and after working towards her PhD does not want to give up what she enjoys doing. And my son appreciates the opportunity to develop a strong relationship with his daughter.

For those fathers who have chosen the path of stay-at-home dad, most are happy they made the decision to do so.

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