Okay. Wow. There's

Chatterbox: Blab About Books

Ender's Game (Help! I have so many mixed opinions!)
Okay. Wow. There's...

Okay. Wow. There's so many things I detest and love about this book, and I was wondering if there's anyone on here who's read this book who can help me sort out my feelings. This is the first book only. If you haven't read the first book, Spoiler Alert! First off--

1. The characters

The one thing I'm sure that I...extremely dislike, to put it, is the characters. As a child myself (obviously xD), I have experience in this matter. xD Most of them are children who don't act, in a single way, like children. More of like late teens or adults. They're violent and they dislike each other for reasons that children would not have conflict over. SPOILER ALERT! The problem that I hate most is that Ender kills a boy at six years old. Six year olds aren't very strong, and Ender at six is simply just so strong and already a genius because he can figure out when people are manipulating and using him, etc. 

Before someone says that he's naturally a genius and that it's okay because that's how he's like, I'd like to point out that the setting of Ender's life wouldn't teach him how people are manipulating him that well, and how to manipulate people so that they never hurt him again, even if Peter manipulated him, Peter did it in quite a different way. 

Also, the mannerisms of some of his different twelve year old commanders and the 'older boys' are just strange--yes, some people tend to be like that ('that' is what I'm referring to a few boys talking about constantly, Rose The Nose for example. Not mentioning it here.), but never in real life--they tend to do it online, while their agenda is hidden.

2. The buggers

Such an original plot point, honestly, and very unique.

But part of me wants to say that it's slightly...well....strange. But I still love it, and can't make up my mind...help!

3. The Giant's Drink

How did the buggers know about this? Can somebody please help me? I love this book (and hate some parts of it), but some of it confuses me.

Thanks!

~Icy 

 

This book is suggested for ages 12 and up.

Admin



submitted by Icy, age 13inmonths, The Forest
(June 14, 2017 - 4:44 pm)

back to the Blab about Books

I read this book in high school.  I had already wanted to read it, and then my online English course gave me a selection of books for an essay.  I had to identify a human rights issue in the book, and compare it to the same issue happening in our country and one other country.  I chose parental rights with a focus on education (I was homeschooled so this was a very important and easy one for me) with examples of unfair and unlawful treatment by authorities of homeschoolers, as well as the legal but inhumane treatment of homeschooling families in Germany.  Now, I don't remember all of the points of the book since it's been several years, but I do remember a fair bit.

1.  So the points you made about characters is a legitimate point, but remember, this is supposed to take place well in the future.  While there are certain things that aren't true of adolescents no matter the time, the way youth were reared in Ender's Game was different, almost militarian.  They weren't supposed to be like typical children.  Childhood as we know it had virtually been eradicated because childhood doesn't win wars.  While I agree it was unrealistic that Ender should have had the strength to kill that boy, it wasn't so much about his brains as his reaction to the situation.  Generally, the mentality of the kids is understandable because they were raised and bred as soldiers, not children.  

2.  The Buggers really were strange, but then again I mean aliens against humans has been done so much, Orson Scott Card I think was really just going for something out of the usual.  Plus I think he was trying to bring example into it by making the Buggers share traits of insects we know for deeper meaning.  Such as like bees and ants, as in them needing a queen.  Their less than pleasant appearance.  Their colonization habits.  They were supposed to seem threatening without trying.  

3.  This one I don't really remember about the book, there were so many other points that got lost in my memory.  I'm not sure it was ever fully explained.  Plus there are other and later books to the series fo if you continue reading on it might explain a bit.

I wrote this over a period of time so if it doesn't all make sense my apologies, I have to reread the book sometime soon. 

submitted by Blonde Heroines Rule
(June 15, 2017 - 10:48 pm)

Thank you so much, that helps so much!

=^. .>= 

submitted by Icy ❄BhR, age 13inmonths, The Forest
(June 16, 2017 - 6:56 pm)

The Buggers were attempting to contact Ender telepathically via the Giant's Drink  because they could not communicate in a way that we could really understand.

 

I don't think that the plot is the most original plot ever, but it's not the average alien invasion story.

The emphasis on children that are born with inherent gifts (genetic engineering or not) as opposed to experience or learned skill is pretty annoying. 

submitted by Blue Smoke, age 13, Rivendell
(August 29, 2017 - 6:17 pm)