Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card | Book Review


Description

Ender Wiggin is Battle School's latest recruit. His teachers reckon he could become a great leader. And they need one.

A vast alien force is headed for Earth, its mission: the annihilation of all human life. Ender could be our only hope. But first he must survive the most brutal military training program in the galaxy...


Review 

If ever there was a book to demonstrate the importance of reading a book as well as watching the film it inspired this would be it. 

I've had this book in my TBR pile for so long but I kept putting it off to read newly published titles, heck am I glad I made the time to read this! 

I had already watched the film inspired by this book with my son, he loved the film and so did I. It is unusual for me to read the book after the film but on this occasion I'm glad I did because I was able to appreciate the film for what it was, a toned down version of the book that focused on the action and adventure but almost completely ignored the philosophical and political elements to the original text. 


I absolutely loved the book, it's multiple layers of ingenious. It's complexity intertwined with action and adventure, that even those who don't want to think on the political and philosophical elements, can enjoy.

Now I am very aware of the things that have been said about the author, Orson Scott Card, about his personal views (issues surrounding homophobia & sexism) and I know that some reviewers have expressed concern that his personal views seep out in the text. My personal view though Is that I like to see fiction as fiction. I try not to let what is said about authors, either by others or self admission, effect my view of a fictional story. I judge the fictional text as it is, as fiction. So when I read fiction containing sexism, violence, crime, homophobia, racism all the terrible things that exist in humanity I try not to compare what I'm reading to the real world, I remind myself that when I'm reading a book I'm in that fictional world. Then when I close the book I'm closing that world. Yes I analyse it, yes I think on it but I do both those things purely for a book review and out of academic appreciation of the writing. I do not get myself caught up on what the authors personal views and opinions might be. I'm interested in their fictional world's, not their personal lives. Why do I do this? So I can read freely, so that I can pick up any fictional text and give it a chance. 

The book is marketed as YA but I'd say that adults would be better able to appreciate the depth of the book whilst young adults would enjoy it for the fantastical adventure. 

This is only book 1 of the saga, I now know that I need to get the rest and read them. If they are anything like this one I will love them! 

Rating:  5 stars 

Purchase this book here.