Ender's Game

Book: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Page count: 323
Format: E-book, Kindle
Start date: June 12, 2011
Finish date: June 13, 2011



Thoughts/impressions:

This may be a bit difficult, because I'm dumb and left this blog post for way too long after reading the book. However, that being said, I loved this book. I remember first hearing about it when I was in 8th grade. We had certain books to chose between and present upon, and Ender's Game was one of those. I obviously didn't read it, but I was very intrigued by my classmate's presentations and I honestly don't know why I didn't read it before now. Still, when I saw it was on the list I was very excited to have the chance to finally read it.

Needless to say, I was not disappointed. This story had so many elements that appealed to me. This edition had a foreword from Orson Scott Card, which was really interesting to read and really shaped the book as one that is about the characters and the effect they have on the readers. Throughout the story, I was engrossed with the character of Ender and finding bits of myself in him, and therefore being driven to consider what I would have done in similar positions. I think that's part of why I read this book so quickly...the character of Ender seemed to real to me and I didn't want to leave him hanging in the balance of the book. I wanted the resolution for him.

There was so much to love about this story: the plot, the characters, the setting, the style of writing. Ah. This is making me want to read the book all over again, and in my mind, that's the mark of a good story.

Quotes:

"It isn't what he did, Mrs. Wiggin. It's why." (19)

"Ender didn't like fighting. He didn't like Peter's kind, the strong against, the weak, and he didn't like his own kind either, the smart against the stupid." (21)

"Human beings are free except when humanity needs them. Maybe humanity needs you. To do something. Maybe humanity needs me - to find out what you're good for. We might both do despicable things, Ender, but if humankind survives, then we were good tools." (35)

"Believed, but the seed of doubt was there, and it stayed, and every now and then sent out a little root. It changed everything, to have that seed growing. It made Ender listen more carefully to what people meant, instead of what they said. IT made him wise." (111)

"Well, I'm your man. I'm the bloody bastard you wanted when you had me spawned. I'm your tool, and what difference does it make if I hate the part of me that you most need? What difference does it make that when the little serpents killed me in the game, I agreed with them, and was glad." (118)

"With Alai, to a degree impossible even with Shen, Ender had come to feel a unity so strong that the word we came to his lips much more easily than I." (171)

"Humanity does not ask us to be happy. It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf. survival first, then happiness as we can manage it." (277)

"We had to have a commander with so much empathy that he would think like the buggers, understand them and anticipate them. So much compassion that he could win the love of his underlings and work with them like a perfect machine, as perfect as the buggers. But somebody with that much compassion could never be the killer we needed. Could never go into battle willing to win at all costs. If you knew, you couldn't do it." (297)

"Welcome to the human race. Nobody controls his own life, Ender. The best you can do is choose to fill the roles given you by good people, by people who love you. (313)

Summary in one sentence:
A boy is raised and manipulated into becoming the weapon the human race needs, through his coming of age.

Progress:
8/100