A compared review of two books

The two books I chose to read for this course were “Wonder” written by RJ Palacio and “The curious incident of the dog in the night-time” by Mark Haddon. I didn’t find many difficulties in understanding because both of them are told by kids and young people in a simple language.

“Wonder” tells the story of August, a boy with a terrible facial abnormality who is sent for the first time to a real school at the age of 10 and has to deal with bullying and with finding acceptance and friendships.

“The curious incident of the dog in the night-time” is about a Christopher, a teenager with Asperger’s syndrome who wants to investigate and write a book about the murder of his neighbour’s dog. This investigation leads him to an unexpected journey that will help him to improve his behavioural problems and change his life.

Both books are told in 1^st person by their main characters but, in the first novel, there are also different points of view from some of the people who are connected with August. On the other hand, in the second novel, the only narrator who tells the story is Christopher.

Moreover, both protagonists are kids in spite of the fact that they have nothing to do with each other. August is a clever and sensitive boy who always was hiding his face and who wants to be an ordinary boy at school. On the contrary, Christopher is physically a normal teenager but has serious problems of socialization due to his behavioural difficulties. He can’t empathize with people and even understand his own feelings. In addition, he has an extraordinary intelligence and he is brilliant in physics and maths.

Personally, I prefer the novel “Wonder” because I really enjoyed reading it. August is a touching boy and you will end up loving him. Also, his story is more moving than Christopher’s. “The curious incident of the dog in the night-time” is an entertaining book but it can be a bit difficult to understand Christopher’s mind. In some parts, when he starts to talk about the maps he does and his mathematical thinking, I lost my train of thoughts. However, reading both books was a pleasant experience for me and I had a good time. I think I made the right decision choosing them.

Composition 3: write an email to your classmate Emily to recommend a book to read

To: emilycarter3@hotmail.com

From: maru85@gmail.com

Subject: About the book for the 1^st English book.

Dear Emily:

I have a great book to recommend reading: “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. It isn’t a graduated book for English learners but I assure you that you’ll find no difficulty in understanding it and you’ll really enjoy it.

I chose this book because a friend who works in a bookstore recommended it and told me its English version had been sold quite well among English students.

The novel tells the story of August, a boy with a terrible facial abnormality who is sent for the first time to a real school at the age of ten. He only wants to be accepted as the ordinary boy he thinks he is, but the outside world can be very cruel for a kid like him. This novel is told in first person from different points of view: August; Via, his sister, some of his classmates (Summer, Jack, Julian) and other people who are connected with August.

It’s been written by R.J. Palacio, an American designer of book covers who had always wanted to write her own book. This has been her first novel, and, curiously, its cover hasn’t been designed by her, but she thinks it’s lovely.

I strongly recommend “Wonder” because it has some important lessons that we should always think about: we have to accept ourselves just as we are; we have to smile even on bad days and, the most important part, we should know that in the end, we’ll always find a helping hand.

I hope you’ll make a good choice and read this book. You won’t regret it.

Kindly yours,

Mariana.

(265 words)

SPEAKING ABOUT A NOVEL: THIS ROUGH MAGIC

1.      What was the novel about?

“This rough Magic” is an adapted version of the original novel with the same title written in 1964 by Mary Stewart. The novel is set in the Greek island of Corfu and tells the adventures that Lucy Waring lives when she goes there for holidays. There are some murders that she helps to investigate with other people in the island and also there is a love story.

2.      What do you think about the novel?

I think This Rough Magic is an enjoyable book. It had suspense and romance which I really love in a novel. Reading this novel was a good experience because it is not too long and it is not very difficult to understand. Mary Stewart described the beautiful nature of the Greek island of Corfu with so much detail that made me want to book a flight there to go swimming and relaxing with dolphins and handsome Greek man. I would recommend reading this novel This Rough Magic to everybody.

3.      What would you change about the novel or the plot?

I wouldn’t change any part of the novel because I think it has a great story. What I would have like to have is a longer story, especially in the romantic part. Maybe I should have chosen the original version instead of the adapted version.

4.      What about the author?

Mary Stewart, whose real name was Florence Elinor, was born in 1916 in the UK. She is a well-known and popular novelist whose novels have been bestsellers in many countries. Several of her books are set in Greece because it is a country that she knew very well and loved a lot. Her fame was due to her “Merlin Trilogy” which her first volume was “The crystal cave”, written in 1970.

5.      Why did you choose this novel and what is for the next term?

I had bought this novel two years ago when I had the purpose of taking the First Certificate in English exam. The official Cambridge website recommended this novel among others books and I chose this one. In the end I didn’t take the Cambridge exam because it was too difficult for me but I read the novel I really enjoyed it.

For the next term I am going to read a bestseller called “Wonder” written by R.J.Palacios. A good friend of mine recommended me this novel because it is easy to understand and because it is a lovely story. 

6.      What was the most interesting moment in the plot for you and why?

The most interesting moment for me is the end of the story because Lucy appears as a heroine to help to catch the murderer. I also like the end because the love story finishes with a proposal of marriage.

7.      What can you tell me about the characters?

My favourite character is the main character Lucy Waring who tells the story in the book. She is intelligent, brave and an animal lover because there are some scenes involving a dolphin who becomes important for her.