Prose // Booklog

Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics by Charles Ludwig
Young Michael Faraday never thought that he would make such a big difference. He had a speech impediment, an unproportionally large head, and a severe lack of formal education. His family was struggling through the slums of London as dissenters. Yet he was considered as one of the world's greatest experimental scientists. He invented the electric motor, the generator, and the transformer. He discovered benzene and was the first to turn chlorine to liquid. Throughout his life, Michael would contribute so much to the principles of science.

This is one of my favorite books. It's a shame it's considered a "schoolbook," the kind of books you wouldn't read unless your teacher told you to. I admit, I didn't think I'd like it when it was first assigned to me. Written in fictionalized form, this biography is no "When I was 14, I was taken in as an apprentice" story. It's a marvelous narrative with many plot intricacies - from Michael's challenge against his speech impediment to the Napoleonic War taking place in his time to his never-ending pursuit for knowledge. Those immensely interested in Science will enjoy this book even more as it lays out many facts throughout the story, such as the first device to produce a continual flow of electricity.

My eyes sparkled with desire for more as I delved deeper into this book. As someone more interested in Biology, I never found electricity to be appealing. But I after I read this book, my opinion changed. I felt very fascinated with it, and every fact that I picked up was a sliver of wonder to me. What I liked most about the story was the fact that even though Faraday was a scientist, he never let go of his faith. In his time, science wasn't a principle that defied religion. Rather, it was a law from God. The one thing that disappointed me though was that the author seldom wrote about his personal life. But that's just one con among the many pros of the book.

Overall, Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics is an excellent book. I loved it to bits and will definitely be one of my absolute favorites for a very long time.

Genre: Biography
Side note: Try out Faraday's experiments. They're fun! ^^;

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherill
"...We must tell people that no pit is so deep that He is not deeper still. They will believe us, because we were here." - Betsie

The touching story of Cornelia ten boom, a Christian woman and member of the anti-Nazi underground. With her family, she takes into Jewish refuges in her home at the risk of their own lives. With God by their side, they struggle to live in a world full of fear and terror.

I laughed. I cried. I did everything in between. Corrie narrates her life story in great eloquency, so much that I felt her experiences, her pain, and her happiness. Each chapter always has a provoking message that will leave you thinking, and there is not a mundane moment. The most moving part of the story is during Corrie and her sister Betsie's imprisonment. Read it to find out what happened...

This is a truly wonderful book that will strengthen your faith and open your eyes. Corrie and her family's strong faith in God has taught me many values that I now strongly believe in. I learned to love my enemies, for only love can win over them. I learned that only God can give us perfect love - to share with others. I learned to be grateful for any situation I may be in, for it can only get worse. I learned that He is always looking after us, carrying our burdens with and for us. And I learned that when the darkest time comes, He will give us all the strength we need.

The religious aspects of this book are very deep, but I advise you to read it anyways. It's not something that enforces you to change your beliefs, rather it teaches you the most important value you can ever have - selfless love. It's just wonderful.

Genre: Biography/Religion

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a genius and the youngest member of the infamous Fowl dynasty - a criminal mastermind. To retrieve a lost fortune, Artemis kidnaps a fairy from underground. But Holly Short is no ordinary fairy, she is the Captain of the LEPrecon police force. What follows is a resuce attempt by the fairy police, a goblin raid inside Fowl Manor, and a blue-rinse that could kill Artemis and his entire household!

This review will probably consist of nothing but "OMG! I love this book so read it or die!!!" and other such babbles. I have nothing but praise for it. It was wittingly written with a cracking and refreshing plot that's funny and touching at times. And even though Artemis is the bad guy of the story, his sharp intellect and attitude will leave you rooting for him anyways. The fairies are different, too. They're not dressed in ancient clothing waving a magic wand around. They wield guns and possess fairy technology that far surpasses ours! (And they don't pollute. Take that, humans.)

All in all, Artemis Fowl is two thumbs up. So, uh... read it or die! :P

Genre: Young Adult
Side note: Crack the codes at the bottom of the pages. It's very addicting.