One Second After Book Review

William R. Forstchen's One Second After is a dramatic story of power and relationship. The game of trust tests the characters throughout the novel keeping the reader captivated through every chapter. Forstchen uses strong understandings of the extremes of war to create a truly shockingly dramatic must read.  

In the peaceful town of Black Mountain in North Carolina, a retired Army Colonel, John Matherson, is living a calm and pleasant life as a married professor with 2 young children. However one day the power goes and doesn't come back. All electricity, vehicles and communication shut down. At first the citizens of Black Mountain think it is just something common like a power cut, but after a few days they realize a disaster much more greater than that has occurred. They learn to find out that multiple EMP’s have gone off over the globe. The town of Black Mountain has been sent back to medieval times. Food supplies, water, medicine, communications and all utilities immediately stop. Strong leadership and community spirit can bring the small town of Black Mountain together or they can let it break apart.

My favourite part about the book were the lessons of survival it taught you. The novel questions you on your ability to survive without the modern equipment, such as what would you do if stranded a long way from resources, what skills do you have that would benefit you, who can you go to for help, how to deal with medical resources, can you use self defence, would you be able to hunt or farm and finally could you manage to look after others as well as yourself. I found these interesting as it showed you how unprepared we actually are and how big a part of our life electricity is.

The most shocking factor of the storyline is that all of it is very easily capable of happening. The shock value creates a real sense of fear for the reader throughout the novel. This is backed up by the Forstchen's use of realism in the novel. He puts you into the body of John Matherson making him feel and think how you are, as if the pages are reading your mind. This encourages the sense of fear in the reader even forcing them to go to the length of plotting their own survival tactics!

Joy Of 6 Extended

It was 20 years since England had won the world cup and 20 years since England had beaten Argentina in a competitive match. It was the day England had been waiting for. Dedicated fans travelled over 5000 miles for a once in a lifetime opportunity, the quarter final of the World Cup. 51 minutes into the match, this seemed to be a fair game between the future rivals. However England's hopes and dreams were crushed as Diego Maradona left the stadium astounded as Argentina went up 1-0. The infamous hand of god. The referees allowed a clear violation of the game as Maradona punched the ball past an astounded Peter Shilton. Shilton and his teammates instantly signalled at the inexperienced Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser however the goal was still allowed. Terry Fenwick and Glenn Hoddle chased Bin Nasser back to the centre circle, but their protests fell on deaf ears.

After England's determination the game harshly ended 2-1 Argentina after his 2, a goal of the century by England's new villain Maradona, and a late consolation goal. Bobby Robson A photo which clearly showed Maradona using his fist to strike the ball was released after the match. Maradona could hardly claim that he had nothing up his sleeve "the goal was a little with the hand of Maradona and a little with the hand of god. I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me, and no one came... I told them, 'Come hug me or the referee isn't going to allow it". Tension had surrounded the match because it was the first time the new rivals had met since the Falkland War, the games spectators were playing this down, but the media certainly weren't. Before the game Maradona stated 'I want retribution against England for my countries defeat in the Falkland War. This is revenge'. Everyone knew something was up after the suspicious comment from the world star, but no one expected a violation as shocking as that. England coach Bobby Robson was in no mood for an embrace. "I saw the ball in the air and Maradona going for it, Shilton went for it as well but Maradona handled the ball into the net. You don't expect decisions like that at World Cup level".

After the West German referee, Rudolf Kreitlein, had sent off Antonio Rattin when they lost to England in the 1966 finals, some will argue that justice of a kind was done 20 years later. Shouts of the Falklands war echoed from the stands around the Azteca Stadium. There was a brief outbreak of arrests at the start of the second half but the rivalry English and Argentinian fans maintained a more peaceful atmosphere. For many Argentineans, pick-pocketing the English in this fashion was a deeply satisfying experience.

The phrase ‘hand of god’ has been used ever since as a term by for many football fans for a deliberate hand ball. Maradona says he loves the infamous quote and hopes it lives on after he dies. Maradona’s hand of god has gone down as one of the most controversial moments in sporting history. Maradona is still a big name in the sporting world having managed Argentina to the quarter finals of the 2010 world cup but ironically losing to Germany, England’s other rivals, in the quarter finals by a solid 4-0 defeat. Many Argentinians see Maradona as a role model because of his skill of football, despite the hand of god incident. Even the world’s number 1 player, Lionel Messi, looks up to Maradona as a role model and has even copied some of his most famous moments, including the hand of god. Pope Francis quoted ‘I am truly very happy and I am certain that my enthusiasm is shared by the whole Argentinian people’.

Maradona will live on from his infamous actions at the Azteca Stadium in 1986, however one thing is for sure that England will never forget this and their rivalry still lives on as well. 

Joy Of 6

It was the day England had been waiting for. Fans travelled over 5000 miles for a once in a lifetime opportunity, the quarter final of the World Cup. 51 minutes into the match, which seemed to be a fair game between the future rivals. However England's hopes and dreams were crushed as Diego Maradona left the stadium astounded as Argentina went up 2-1. The infamous hand of god. After Maradona scored the goal of the century, the referees allowed a clear violation of the game as Maradona punched the ball past an astounded Peter Shilton.

Fantasy

The cutting of frost taking over the body of every soul it came by. The day went dark. The world went quiet. Suddenly a voice, echoing through the vast forests and the fearful cities of Ayleirim, reaching into the ear of every helpless body. A weak glimmer of life was born, growing stronger and stronger overpowering any light of this world. A power to big for this world. A blinding flash of white swept across the land of Ayleirim, reflecting off the eye of every human, animal and creature. The voice came again, it was of no modern language, turning the spines of everything as still as solid stone.

Monologue

(John is sitting inside a church by himself on Christmas Eve)

What the hell has happened to me life. No friends, no job, no house, even me son hates me! Me family don't deserve this, to put up with is. Am a failure. Why couldn't a been a real dad, a role model instead of a pathetic waste of space. He'll end up just like is. People say Christmas is the happiest time of the year, not for me it ain't. Nothin' more heartbreakin' than the look of excitement and joy get washed away by the tears of misery and disappointment on me own sons face. He would be better off without is. I should never go back, let his gran take care of him because all am doin is gettin' in the way. A wasted my life and am not wastin' yours to! It ain't all me fault, it was his careless idiot of a mothers. I't was all going well until she left is scumbag! I could strangle him! tearing me family apart, a have nothing.

Task 4

I don't agree with the writers ideas because from my knowledge the teenagers that read tend to be the quieter ones at school. While a lot of the kids are out socializing at break time and lunchtime the readers spend theirs in the library in a world of a book. However I do agree that reading should be encouraged on teenagers as it can keep the brain working which will help them to learn for GCSEs and A levels. Although I believe it is a good idea for reading to be encouraged through school, it is presented in the wrong way to children. Children should think of reading as a pleasure but now it is related to much to school making it seem more like work which is something they shouldn't do during their spare time. If books were presented more like games consoles or toys then children would be more enthusiastic about them. Giving teenagers a free choice in what they can read will make it a lot more fun for them as they can actually choose something they enjoy and can talk about with friends. Doing this will make teenagers more social as they get older it will make them more intercultural and will encourage that to be a key part of a persons personality.

Task 3 - Private Peaceful Review

The FANTASTIC best seller private peaceful, written by Michael Morpurgo, is one of the greatest children books ever. The book was so successful it was made into a film last year which captured the awful irony of the novel.

Although Private Peaceful is a children book it was a bit of a tough read. This was because it made you think about the sadness and hopelessness of war. Set in the countryside Devon and the battlefields of WW1, the whole story is written in the past tense of the main character 'Tommo' and builds up to present tense. This allows tension to be built up and keeps the reader gripped for the whole story. The story is based around three brothers, Big Joe, who has an intercultural disability, Charlie and Tommo. Morpurgo created Big Joe to be disabled to show no matter what you are you still have just an important opinion as everyone else.

Charlie and Tommo share the same childhood sweetheart which Charlie goes on to marry and have a child with. The novel also tells the story of love and loss as the reader really feels for Tommo as he looses his love to his older brother.

Morpurgo uses the novel to underline the hatred of war and expose the humane dream of peace. This is demonstrated in one of my favorite scenes. A Nazi spared the life of Tommo and showed he too wanted peace in Europe and to befriend Tommo. This shows the humanity is war and the care between two soilders surviving war.

I found that as I got further through the book I got more and more drawn in. I could visualize the terrible life the soldiers were given. The more I read the more I loved the characters and the more I hated war. This made me reflect on each event and got me to think of a world without war and full of love and peace.

Morpurgo wrote the novel in a way you could easily understand how horrible war must be. Now that I have read it I now understand how much of an issue war is and feel strongly about it.

After reading the novel I often thought what if this happened or what if they did this instead. After watching them go from the peaceful life of the countryside to the terrifying battlefields of WW1, you really feel for the characters. The story engages you so much that you can even feel the same emotions that Tommo is feeling and you cant stop worrying for him and Charlie.

Even though Private Peaceful was extremely sad and full of emotions I am very happy I read it. I would recommend the novel to people of all ages as anyone can enjoy this heartbreaking story.

Task 2

Q1: As a child my favorite books were the Cherub series. Although they were not as challenging as other childhood books, The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, I enjoyed the amusing easy read Cherub gave. I was about 11 when I started reading the series. I couldn't put down the thrilling adventures of James and friends as they entered the challenging world of the MI5 secret organisation CHERUB. One of the many features about the Cherub series was, although it is a childs book it includes some mature content which made it even more special and exciting for a child of that age.

Q2: I would say my favorite genre to read are fantasy books. My favorite trilogy is the Lord of The Rings, I loved to imagine the elfish town of Rivendale or the Dwarven mines of Moria. I think books that push your imagination to the limit are the most amusing to read and this is one of the main differences with fantasy. I think of fantasy books as a place that I can escape to. If I've had a hard day or its just a boring rainy day, the world of fantasy is somewhere I can escape to and forget about all the worries in the real world.

Q3: The adventures of a new world can engage me for hours. Making the reader use their imagination is the key feature to writing a sell out book. Forcing  the reader to think will engage them with the story and almost feel like they are actually there. This makes the story fun for the reader and will engage them for hours.