Ticker by Lisa Matchen

Ticker
by Lisa Matchen

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Book Length: 276 pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Steampunk, Young Adult

Ticker is a steampunk novel complete with springs and gears that drives the book more than the plot does.

Penny is born with a bad heart, so of course, hers is replaced with one made from a clock instead.

Ticker is a world of springs and gears that work almost like magic. The main character having a heart transplant from a clock instead of another heart. When Penny's parents disappear the kidnappers demand that everything related to the Augmentation research be turned over. What follows is a journey against time with lots of characters and a little bit of romance.

The world of Ticker is worth reading, although the writing fell a little flat in places. The climax never reached excellent but I did find it to be an interesting read. It was a different world that the reader is expected to adapt to. I could see where some would have difficulty connecting at all. Personally, I think it could just do with some more depth to the characters and a little more attention on weeding out the plot.

Overall, It was an interesting read. It is good if you are looking for something different.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Book Length: 228 pages

Genre: Classic, Fiction, Romance

I didn't expect to like Pride and Prejudice. I am not sure why. I have enjoyed other books by Jane Austen. There was just too much hype over Pride and Prejudice. There are too many movies that other females swoon over. I do not make a good fangirl - even for book characters. I started the book with the expectation of grinning and bearing it. 

Obviously, from my rating, that is not what happened. 

Jane Austen is an amazing author who has reached across the gulf of time. This book was originally published in 1813! That is over a hundred years ago. Yet, it is still read. It is still loved. It still remains relevant to readers of our generation. 

The writing style is witty. The characters are engaging. Elizabeth Bennet is the parament of strong female lead character. While I may not be swooning over the movies, I will no longer be shying away from Jane Austen's other works.

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A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawkings

A Brief History of Time

by Stephen Hawking

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Book Length: 224 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction, Science, Physics

This book was first published back in 1988. I remember reading it when I was in middle school when most of what I read was physic oriented non-fiction. I was fascinated with time. While this did not really go into time as much as the title would suggest, it was one of my favorite books. 

It has been many years since I have read this book. I have grown both educationally and maturity. In addition, the field of physics has changed since this work was first published. Reading it again, after many years, the work took on a different perspective. There were many ideas that were once unique and fresh that I found to be commonplace. Even talking about Hawking's hope for black holes to be confirmed was more nostalgic than a scientific wonder. I talk with my kids with them regularly - yes really. 

This book deserves to continue to be read. While it was not the first science book to be written for the non-scientist, it is one that made doing such more popular. It is written in such a way to engage and excite even those who do not usually engage in science. 

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