Book Reviews

I was going through some of my old files and found some book reviews I did during my junior high school. I know it sounds silly, but just want it to be immortalised in my blog.

1) The Enemy
This is a detective story about a murder, an attempt of injuring others.

George Ashton, a scientist who was well known in England. He was once a scientist and a dangerous weapon creator. He had two daughters, Gillian and Penelope. Penelope was taking after his father in science, she was a genetic scientist.

The incident which George Ashton and the housekeeper, Benson, was vanished in crowds when his eldest daughter, Gillian, had an accident; someone had thrown acid on her face. George knew about it and for Penelope's safety, he ran away from the mansion as quickly as he could.

However, Anderson, was Penelope's boyfriend, an undercover agent to check against George Ashton. No one knew about him. After Gillian was assualted, he told Gillian who he was and what was his work about. She was shocked to hear that.

Later, a man named Lord Gregar was after George Ashton's case. Anderson was surprised that Gregar was to be interested in such case, whereby it was not in Gregar's field. Anderson thought that George Ashton must be someone who was not as simple as he thought. He went back to the department to get hold of George Ashton's files and background check. He was curious to find out that George Ashton was a Russian scientist, who helped to invent dangerous yet powerful weapon.

Later, George Ashton was killed by Benton. This made the case even more complicated. But, Anderson was at the scene when Benson shot Ashton. He then shot Benson with his pistol. Anderson found a cutting from his wallet. Inside, was a piece of paper which written: Anything about Benson and Ashton, call Gregar 3930564.

When Anderson searched Ashton's house, he noticed an empty-kept-locked room behind a wall. He was cursious the reason Ashton kept it empty and yet locked. On the other side of the room, he noticed a set of model railway tracks and trains, which was arranged in a peculiar manner. THe engine was in complicated manner that not many people knew the way to access it. His friend, who was so keen on model trains was able to find the key to make it functionable. It was an amazing experience for Anderson because no one had had the access to it so far. Then, Anderson checked on a thick book which contained the departure and arrival timetables. He had compared the timetables with the local timetable. The time was totally different and Anderson can hardly figured out.

Then, Anderson and Penny were kidnapped and were brought to an isolated island. Dangerous genetic and biological experiements were carried out there. After a few days, he realised that Lord Gregard was behind this. One day, when Gregar came to visit, Anderson pounced on him and they struggled and had knocked over some containers that contained highly dangerous fungus. The door was kept locked by the other scientists as a form of quarantine.

At last, Anderson was safe and Gregar was brought to justice. He was illegally undergoing biological experiments and attempted to kill George Ashton.

Yeah, I know it's a bit lame. It was my earlier work while reading for my English class. If you want to stop here, please by all means. Unless you find it to be interesting, read on...

2) Cry Freedom
This is another Black-man stories written by John Brirey. This true story was based on a real man, a very influence man, Steve Biko. He fight for justice and awanted revolutions. Althought the white government was very afraid of his power and intelligence, they still find ways to stop him from massive assault towards the government. He was known as a wanted man in South Africa at that time.

A journalist, Donald Woods, was convering his story at that time. Steve Biko was very impressed by his work and knew that he could help him to fight against the government. Although Woods was just an editor in the newspaper, Daily Dispatch, he helped Biko a lot. He and Biko was met when Biko's men brought Woods to him.

Biko was an intelligent man influential enough to make people or strangers believed in his stories. Woods was one of them. He believed him not as a wanted black man, but a very close firend. He then started to cover his stories and some others Black-stories. The white men in the town were angry for his actions. Woods' newspaper pals told him not to be decieved by Biko's words. They assured Woods that the government would not let him off easily. Woods was grateful to them, but he could not break the promise. A man got to do what he's got to do. He insisted on revealing the true side of Steve Biko, instead of any of the government's propaganda against Biko.

From that moment on, Woods was in lots of troubles. His house was burglared and barged into. None of the white neighbours were dare to help them. The Woods family knew they were getting into trouble, but none of them were giving up nor backing out. They believed that one day, the truth will be known sooner of later.

The newspaper was closed down due to Woods provocative writing in his article. However, he had not given in. He still wanted to fight for Biko. Meanwhile, Biko was apprehended by the lcoal authorities. They questioned him and beaten him to death. This led to a black riot. Many black men who admired Biko's courage were in rage. They vowed to fight for Biko's rights.

At Biko's funeral, many turned up, mostly black men. Woods and wife were the only white couple who were allowed to that noble ceremony. Woods was in great sorrow of Biko's sudden death. He knew that although Biko had left his brothers to another world, the government would not let his brothers off that easy. They were suffering. Woods knew the only way to save Biko and his native friends was to seek help in Britain.

However, the local government who knew about Woods' help towards Biko detained him and would not let him out of the country. His documents were confiscated. He had no choice but to stay on. The church priest, who was a good friend of Biko and Woods was willing to help him to get out of the country. His wife was to stay in the country for diversion. He was to disguise as a priest and a holder of another priest's passport. He managed to get away from the nasty self-governed white men.

Woods' great escape was a close one. He was nearly caught when he was at the border towards the northen part of South Africa. When he finally boarded the plane, he was praying for Biko and his people, for he was about to change the life of Biko's brothers. He had fulfilled his promise and the hope for freedom of his friend, a true African hero, the late Steve Biko.

I know the following article has been a classics, and has been much well written compared to myself. I guess, I just gave away the plot easily, so, no point you people to read the whole book. Hahaha...

3) Wuthering Heights
This story was written by Emily Bronte. This is a story about a man, Mr. Lockwood, who was renting a house where tragic was happened. The house was known as Wuterhing Height and the owner was Mr. Heatcliff who was an anti-social landlord.

Heathcliff, was adopted as a child by Mr. Earnshaw. Mr Earnshaw has another son, Hidley and a daughter, Catherine. Heatcliff, however was always being beaten and looked down upon by Hindley. He wanted to fight back but couldn't. Cathering, on the other hand, was kind and loving. She cared for Heatcliff and in return, Heatcliff would protect her whenever he could.

After their father died, Hindley, as the older brother, wanted Cathering to marry Edgar from the Linton family. Heatcliff was dissapointed and his heart crushed to pieces, for he loved Cathering not only as sister but also as wife. Edgar had married Cathering. Besides, Hindley was cruel to Heatcliff and demanded Heatcliff to stay with the servants and worked in the field. This made Heatcliff left the house to seek his fortune, without losing hope that Cathering would someday return to be his beloved wife.

After a few months, Catherine gave birth to a baby girl, whose name was Cathy. Meanwhile, Hindley was married to Frances. Unfortunately, she died after giving birth o Hereton. Hindley had become mad after his wife died. He hated Hereton, even to look at him. Ellen, the maid, was afraid that Hindley was to kill his only son, so she took good care of Hereton. After Frances' death, Hindley didn't work and was insane. Soon enough, his father's fortune was all gone. He always come home drunk and everyone in Wuthering Heights was scared of him.

Unexpectedly, Heatcliff came back to Wuthering Height after three years in town. Hindley was totally welcoming Heatcliff because of his fortune. He went to Catherine at Linton's cottage across Yorkshire Moors. They talked and laughed as if they were children again. Heatcliff never liked Edgar. That's why he and Edgar was like enemy.

Edgar had a sister, Isabella. She was in love with Heatcliff at first sight. She started to visit Heatcliff at Wuthering Heights. Edgar knew and forbided her from seeing Heatcliff. Later, Isabella was running away from her brother to Wuthering Height. Isabella was then married to Heatcliff and gave birth to a son, called Linton.

Catherine wanted Heatcliff to pay a quiet visit to her for her husband had forbidden her to Wuthering Height. She waited, waited, and waited. heatcliff did not turn up. She was sick and there was no cure for she had had heart sick. When Heatcliff was finally there to see Catherine, she was delighted at first. When she told Catherine that he no longer wanted to see her anymore for he had Isabella. She was heart-broken and her illness was never recovered.

She even tried to go Wuthering Height, but did not have the strength. She cried and cried all day and all night... until she wanted to open her bedroom window on a cold winter night. She died of cold after the cold wind blew hard on her weak body. Heatcliff was sad. After that day, Heatcliff often hit Isabella. He was suddenly turned into a beast, which no one has control of. Isabella was afraid Heatcliff might hurt her, so she ran away again to a far away land to hide from Heatcliff.

From that day, Heatcliff had often heard knocking sound from his bedroom's window. Catherine's voice could be heard. He was regretted that he never told the truth about his love towards Catherine and he blamed himself to have made Catherine died. Therefore, Ellen, the maid was to look after Heatcliff, Hereton, and Linton.

Oops, I only found three copies of the book reviews from my file. Thank you for making it till here. And, sorry that the stories sounds so boring. Well, talking about it, I find these to be boring to read. I only wonder what motivation was I having that made me sit through the whole book. I wonder ....