The Dark Tower 4: Wizard and Glass

The main character of The Dark Tower series is a brilliant creation. I love Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, the cowboy, the knight. He is representative of a dead age. He is an interesting, multifaceted character. He is described as having the most piercing eyes; eyes to love and to fear. I just don’t think the story of his first love needed to be so long. I was itching to get back to Eddie, Susannah and Jake halfway through that section.

I hate to say this, but Wizard and Glass is probably the weakest of the series so far. I was captivated by the first three novels. I was able to read through them in what felt like no time at all. In the middle of this novel, I had to push myself along for a few chapters. I am itching to read books 5-7, I just hope that I don’t find myself wishing it was a hundred pages shorter.

The Incredible Hulk

The Hulk really was incredible. There was a real connection, not just with the actors playing Bruce Banner and Betty Ross, but with Betty and the Hulk. You get to see the human, the person trapped within Hulk, struggling to take control. Betty really reaches him; she is able to exhibit a control that even Bruce Banner can’t. They make it all seem so real.

The fight scenes are fantastic. The growth of General Ross’s character actually seems believable. Abomination isn’t just Hulk-like, he’s insane. I’m excited to see what happens to “Mr. Blue.” Liv Tyler is amazing as Betty Ross. Edward Norton is fantastic! He plays the quiet, unassuming Bruce Banner wonderfully. But he can get that, “Hulk” look in his eyes too. A fabulous summer flick!

The Chaos Curse

The Chaos Curse, the final book in The Cleric Quintet leaves you saddened. It was a long and difficult battle. Many fought and many died. The battle allowed the inner truth of many emerge into the light or fade into the darkness. Who could have predicted Dorigen’s end or the Dean’s? Standing in the face of “evil” their choices revealed what lay in their hearts. Something that can be applied to real life. When presented with life and death choices, each having dire consequences, what would you choose? Kierkan Rufo, though he tries to blame Cadderly, makes his choice, but doesn’t take ownership of it. Cadderly blames no one for his choices. He understands circumstance, but he also understands free will. It is Cadderly’s choices which lead to his ultimate end.