Thursday, April 5, 2012

Ender's Game

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!

Ender’s Game
(source Orson Scott Card's website)

Love this story. When I first read it, I was blown away. The characters were so real, so different from other books I’d read. I remember thinking that the author’s mind was incredible. How could people think up things like that? The scenes in the zero gravity section were my favourites – just the way of looking at the world – having to realize there was no up or down.  Reading Ender’s Game really expanded my thinking and way of looking at the world.

Do you remember the first book making you look beyond what you’d always known?

40 comments:

Eric W. Trant said...

I was thinking about this book last night. While most writers recycle their world throughout a series -- and even recycle plots and characters, as Terry Brooks did -- Card created a unique piece twice, once with Game, and again with Speaker for the Dead, and was rewarded with awards for both!

There's a lesson in there somewhere. I'm not sure what it is, but there's a lesson.


- Eric

Anonymous said...

I just saw this book on someone else's blog. It's on my wish list. It sounds awesome.

I also wonder how some authors think up of things.

Old Kitty said...

What a great recommendation!! Thanks!! I think reading my first SF book - HG Wells' Time Machine was truly mind blowing for me! Take care
x

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

This is the second post on the same book. Great post and I hope I can get the book in this country,

Yvonne.

JeffO said...

This is one of those books that always comes up on must read lists. One of these days I'll actually read it!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I still need to read this. Many have said my first book reminds them of Ender's Game.
Book that changed how I saw things - Terry Brooks' Sword of Shannara. Opened up a whole world of fantasy for me.

Jemi Fraser said...

Eric - Card is so creative - love the way his brain works! And I agree -there's a lesson in there somewhere :)

Medeia - I agree! I love the unique ideas people can come up with - so much fun :)

Old Kitty - the sci-fi books did a lot for me and my world view too. They really are mind blowing!

Yvonne - that's neat! I'd be surprised if you couldn't get this one everywhere!

Jeff - it's worth it. So many times my reading style doesn't seem to match up with lists - but this one is great!

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - I think you'd love Ender's Game! And Shannara is such a fabulous world. I read Elf Queen first and fell in love with the series! :)

Yvonne Osborne said...

This one sounds familiar. Thanks for the review. You're going to fill up my shelf. I wish I could just read and write for a living.

Mary said...

Watership Down was my first "beyond" book (though it wasn't technically off the planet earth). I didn't really read space books until later in life but I watched a lot of Star Wars!

Unknown said...

I have never read this book but I have read his book on writing. It's one of the best I've ever read.

As to the book that really impressed me when I was younger is the Brotherhood of the Rose series by Morrell. It stuck with me through the years.

Amy said...

Great pick! I haven't read this one before, but I'll definitely be checking it out now. Thank you for sharing! :)

Shelley Sly said...

This is my husband's favorite book. I enjoyed it as well, though I wouldn't call it a favorite. I think if I read it again, I'd enjoy it more, but the first time through, I was just trying to understand everything, hehe. :)

Heather M. Gardner said...

I remember reading the story Alive about the plane crash where the team had to eat people to survive. That was eye opening for me.
Heather

Unknown said...

I have it on my shelves, but I've never been quite able to get into it. I guess I should give it another try!
--Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge

cleemckenzie said...

One the best sci-fi reads in the world. Loved seeing it here on your blog about E.

Unknown said...

I loved Ender's Game and I loved Ender's Shadow too. I have to admit though, I love Ender but I love Bean just that little bit more ;)

Precy Larkins said...

This is on my TBR list. :)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I like books that take me out of my world.

T

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I think A Wrinkle in Time did that for me. It introduced me to fantasy and scifiction all at one time.

Elana Johnson said...

I think ENDER'S GAME might have been that book for me too! I read it later in life, and I distinctly remember it.

Jean Oram said...

I don't recall the first book that made me look beyond what I'd always known, but crazy thing is I was just thinking about this book and voila!!!! (Haven't read it though. Just signed it out a lot as a librarian.)

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - sorry! Okay - not really! There's nothing quite like having a really tall TBR pile!

Mary - I don't remember Watership Down, but I must have read it. Right? It's one of those books!

Clarissa - I've never even heard of that one! I love that we have so many powerful books in our past!

Amy - you're welcome! It's a great read :)

Shelley - there are some books that really are better the 2nd (or 3rd) time around!

Heather - I'd forgotten about that one! I think I read it with one eye closed in horror - but I read it!

Damyanti - not every book is for every person - I think it's best that we all have our own unique books that change our heart!

Lee - it really is wonderful! I fell into the world.

Elaine - I do too! Bean is an awesome character :)

Cherie - I hope you love it! :)

Teresa - me too! My list of favourites is full of those kinds of books :)

Susan - I wish I'd read Wrinkle as a child. I didn't find it until I was an adult. I love it - but I think I'd have loved it even more :)

Elana - it's really powerful! I bet it's that kind of book for a lot of people!

Jean - I bet it gets taken out a lot! Must be our tag team brain at work again :)

Beth Zimmerman said...

I know there have been some but I don't recall them just now. How do you keep up with so many comments to respond to and blogs to visit? You're my hero! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - LOL :) You're too sweet! I try to check my blog in the morning before I leave for work (I leave at 7:30) - then I can't do anything about it until after supper and family stuff - makes for a fun/hectic evening! :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I haven't read this one. I think the first dystopian book was The Uglies...I fell in love with the genre after reading the first book in the series.

Jemi Fraser said...

Sharon - the Uglies is a GREAT series! I just gave it to a student today who like dystopians too :)

Jennifer Lane said...

I've never read this but would like to. I think Lord of the Flies made me see the potential evil in people. I was very Polyannaish as a child.

Jemi Fraser said...

Jennifer - I loved, LOVED Lord of the Flies. Such an awesome book. The story broke my heart and made me wonder. I was pretty Polyannish too! :)

Margo Berendsen said...

Agree on the expanding thinking!!! But you don't mention the amazing twist at the end? To this day, when I think of a good "didn't see that coming, but of course it had to be that" twist, I always think of Ender's Game.

Ciara said...

I LOVED Ender's Game. I didn't read it until I was an adult. There are so many books, I can't choose one.

Beth said...

I read this book a couple of years ago, on the recommendation of my (then) 12 year old daughter. I'm glad I did!

Theresa Milstein said...

I won't read this book, or any of his books, because Orson Scott Card has made homophobic statements. I think about gay children who might look up to him and come across his statements.

Jemi Fraser said...

Margo - so true! Now I want to reread it - right now! :)

Ciara - I know! It's so hard to choose favoruties when there are so many incredible books!

Beth - you've got a good reader on your hands! With great taste too!

Theresa - he has??? That's the first I've heard of it! That's totally unacceptable. I didn't know that at all. Wow.

Karen Strong said...

ENDER'S GAME is one of my favorite books! It was the first one I read by Orson Scott Card and now I've read several more by him.

Jemi Fraser said...

Karen - I went through a whole stretch where I read every of his I could get my hands on - but this was my fave! :)

Patricia Stoltey said...

Ah, a new one for my reading list. I love your A to Z series, Jemi.

Jemi Fraser said...

Pat - thanks! This is one I need to reread myself! Such a great story :)

A said...

It's been on my list for a loooong time!

Jemi Fraser said...

Agnes - and it's worth the wait! I'm itching to read it again too :)