in lieu of technology

Iinferno by dan brown

setting : italy

prof. robert langdon, who's impeccable knowledge on symbols and dante's writings (dante alighieri's, divine comedy) led to the unfolding of an already viral virus. langdon and the genius doctor sienna brooks became hand in hand in unravelling what the video message of zobrist (scientist & siena's ex, he made the virus) meant.  prof. langdon woke up at a hospital in italy. he was told he was shot whilst he was on a sabbatical.

the world health organization sent langdon on a mission to found out what the WHO can't in relation to zobrist's plans. his mission is to release a virus of some kind to ward off population explosion. he then commited suicide by jumping off a historic building afterwards scheduled the release of his video borrowing phrases from dante a. for the experts to figure. the WHO suspected langdon's loyalty and later on was on a hunt to find langdon as he might have taken on a new leaf and started working for the enemies. but, that was just an assumption on the WHO's end. langdon didn't know brooks got involved with zobrist and so on and so forth.  fast forward. langdon was made believe that people are after him. that, he was shot in the head and brooks was out to help him out of the situation just for him to find that she's not indeed an ally but someone after to propagate the virus made by zobrist which was again an assumption on langdon's and the WHO's end. the two traveled as far as turkey to prevent the virus from spreading just to find that they're too late. the virus already gone airbourne which inflicted tons of the population already. the virus was meant to avoid population growth thus will turn vast of the population infertile. the virus can no longer be reversed but there was no indication on the book that they will let it go on widespread unresolved. the book ended well, langdon now ok with the WHO, was again friends with sienna then went back to boston.

t'was  an exciting read although it took me long to finish it because i can't wrap my head around too many jargons used in the book and i'm not into science and stuff that much although i felt like i was running with robert langdon and sienna brooks in the streets of italy.

• out of the easy by ruta sepetys • 

setting : new orleans, La

i found the book very exciting to read. 

characters:

•josie moraine - main character; daughter of a prostitute.

•patrick - charlie's son; josie' s closest childhood friend

•charlie - patrick's dad, former writer and has turned looney, owner of a bookstore; gave josie a small space on the 2nd floor of the bookshop when she could live.

•jessie - josie's love interest

•willie - owner of a brothel house where josie's mother works.

josie and her mom were settlers in new orleans. josie's mom is a prostitute but she described her not in a filthy way. she accept gifts from men and loves money more than her daughter. josie's mom was ambitious and once told her she was supposed to go to hollywood to pursue a career as an actress until she got pregnant with her. what kind of momma blames a daughter for her misfortunes? josie met a fine man named mr. hearne at the bookstore where she and patrick works, he said he's in new orleans to watch a game and drop by at the bookstore to find himself nice reads. he assumed josie's in college. josie was born out of wedlock so he once dreamt of having a father and the man was too fitting to be his father. josie dreamt about going to college  because she met charlotte, a girl who goes to school uptown. she goes to Smith where fine young girls goes to school. charlotte invited josie to apply to Smith. willie, owner of the brothel house where josie works as a cleaner, heard of josie's plan of going to smith so discouraged her to apply  and instead advised her to go for northampton. willie was supportive of josie's dreams despite her harshness towards her. josie once told willie that she's her fairy godmother.  mr. hearne died all of a sudden, someone slipped a drug on his drink at the bar. josie's mom was the suspect as she was last seen with him. her mom left new orleans with cincinnatti, a thief and and a dick who hurts her mother. her mother got away with her involvement with mr. hearne's death but josie was asked for 5 grand to pay off the group who covered up for her mom. willie helped josie. 

josie & patrick - the two kissed but their relationship never prospered because patrick said he liked josie as a friend because he's now with a girl named kitty. 

josie's mum along with her bf stole her college funds which was raised by cokie (works for willie and protects josie like a friend and father). josie was devastated. she failed Smith to aggravate the situation.  jessie became josie's crying shoulder.

willie had a heart attack after josie told her how her mother stole her money and ran off with cincinnatti. josie got willie's vacation home in shady grove. cokie and sadie (willie's trusted brothel house employees), all got their share as stated on willie's last will and testament. 

josie ended up with jessie and as the book ended she's headed to northampton to pursue college.

t'was enticing to read because of the swift turn of events. i didn't even notice i was down to the last few pages as i was expecting for more. but then, i couldn't think of a better ending for josie.  it is indeed a nice read. i was addicted at some point. sometimes i judge the book by it's cover and most of the time the cover tells so much about the book if you will just take notice. there's always a gem lurking in each and every book i guess.