REVIEW TEXT

Force of Nature

Kim Baldwin

1020 Livezey Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119

ISBN: 1933110236, $ 15.95,235 pp.

Arlene Germain

Reviewer

      Kim Baldwin returns with her second novel, Force of Nature, which is distinctly different from her award-winning debut work, Hunter’s Pursuit. The wonderfully entertaining Pursuit was primarily an action/thriller with the focal point being the one main character’s skill in survival at any cost. Force of Nature is action-package, has fast-paced thrilling rescue scenes, but here the author has chosen to focus her character development on the two main characters.

      Baldwin has a natural gift for creating a scene and immediately attracting the reader. Compelled by the violent tornado winds, both Gable and the reader hit that three foot wide drainpipe just in time to escape almost certain death. “It was upon her in an instant, trying to pull up her from the pipe, tugging at her with fierce determination.” The reader can feel the vacuum inside that pipe; can experience the hands sliding helplessly along the exposed legs. The reality of the situation is skillfully conveyed through the concise syntax and expert word choice.

      Force of Nature is an exciting and substantial reading experience which will long remain with the reader. Likeable characters with acceptable problems and concerns, imaginative settings, engrossing events, and a well-tailored writing style all contribute to an exceptional novel. Baldwin’s characterization is acutely and exactly circumscribed and expensive. It is indeed delighted to see a new author’s attempt and succeed in expanding her literary technique and writing style. Kim Baldwin is an author who has registered both in Force of Nature.

1.      The purpose of the text is to … Kim Baldwin’s second novel.

a.       sell

b.      evaluate

c.       inform

d.      advertise

e.       expose

2.      What is the reviewer’s judgment about the book?

a.       The book is poorly written.

b.      The story makes readers get bored.

c.       The writer uses good choices of words.

d.      The characters in the story are complicated.

e.       The book is written using a unique development technique.

3.      What does the reviewer suggest to readers?

a.       The book is exciting

b.      The book is not worth reading

c.       The book is interesting to read

d.      People should not buy the book

e.       The book is too expensive to buy.

It is indeed delighted to see a new author’s attempt and succeed in (in the last pharagraph)

The underlined word has close meaning with:

a.       dissappointed

b.      enjoyful

c.       playful

d.      bored

e.       dislike

This text is for questions …

Harrison Ford puts on the dog. He barks. He snarls. He even yips a couple times. Too bad Han Solo hasn't learned any new tricks lately.

What's most telling about Ford's bulldog performance as Jack Stanfield, a bank security expert living in a Modern Architecture dream house near Seattle, is that he spends most of his time looking over his shoulder. After watching "Firewall," you realize he's probably hunting for a new agent.

The film reeks terribly of deja vu. The clankity-clank plot, about a family held prisoners in their home by some hottie thugs while chief baddie (Paul Bettany of "Wimbledon") forces Dad to transfer $100 million into a Swiss account, is about as original as "Big Momma's House 2."

Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, and even Ford have taken this angry daddy role out for a number of spins, transforming into blustery papa bears determined to retrieve their kin from the clutches of sleazoids.

"Firewall" lowers the bar on the action genre to a subterranean level. That's due to a bone-tired script by first-timer Joe Forte and lethargic direction by Richard Loncraine ("Wimbledon"). The biggest travesty occurs in the traffic wreck of an ending, a horribly patched together affair that makes us wonder where Ford's acting talent fled to. After a string of flops, it's his career that seems most in need of rescuing.

"Firewall" actually does hint at something new, preying on our fear of identity theft.

On the plus side, the family dog is used to great effect, and Bettany does well as a slick villain, even though the role is ineptly written. Other than that, "Firewall" seems to take great pride in being bland. Even sexy Virginia Madsen, as Jack's wife, is repressed in a bleached-out role that requires nothing more of her than to constantly cling to her two kids in that lovely bed and only occasionally sass back at her boy-band-looking captors. Gee, wonder if that will come up later? In "Firewall," there are simply no surprises, except just how bad this movie really is.

4. The writer’s intention on the text is to ….

1. to critique a movie
2. describe “Firewall” movie
3. inform about “Firewall” movie
4. entertain the reader with the story
5. present two point of view about the “Firewall”

5. The writer evaluate that the “Firewall” is a … movie.

a.       great

b.      tricky

c.       surprising

d.      really bad

e.       wonderful

6. The writer suggests the reader ….

a.                                                                           to buy the movie

b.                                                                          to watch the movie

c.                                                                           to evaluate the movie

d.                                                                          not to watch the movie

e.                                                                           to agree with his critique

This text is for questions …

FILMS INTACT

2002. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

      Federico and Sam are two lucky men, Federico survived an earthquake and has the power to wrench fortune from those around him; he has the gift. Sam id a survivor of the Jewish holocaust and manages a casino in the middle of a lava desert. One day Federico challenges Sam, who expels him from paradise, taking his gift from him. 

      Years later, Federico thinks that he has found in Tomas, the only survivor of an air accident, the instrument of his vengeance. By teaching him to control fortune, he can use him to return to the casino and challenge the God of fortune. Together they begin a journey of initiation, a succession of ever more strange and difficult tests in which the highest bet is the luck of others; luck, which in this game is captured in a simple photograph. Everything goes well until Sara, a policewoman who survives a car accident which kills her family, becomes obsessed with discovering what is behind these clandestine games in which death and luck become enmeshed. In which only one can remain intact.

This film is really worth watching.

7.      The purpose of the text is ….

a.       to describe a film

b.      to describe how a film is made

c.       to inform readers about a good film

d.      to entertain readers by telling a story

e.       to review a film for a public audience

8.      After reading the review, how would you judge this film?

a.       Bad

b.      Mediocre

c.       Fair

d.      Excellent

e.       Not bad

9.      What does the writer suggest to the audience?

a.       The film is forgettable.

b.      They should watch the film.

c.       They should neglect the film.

d.      They should make another film.

e.       The writer should promote the film

This text is for questions …

Bridge to Terabithia is a powerful novel by an American author, Katherine Paterson. It was first published in 1977 and has remained popular ever since. The novel is a real-life fiction that explores friendship, love, and grief telling the story of Jess Aarons and his new neighbor, Leslie Burke.

The plot is this. Jess Aarons lives on a farm with his large family. At school, he wants to be the fastest runner but is beaten by Leslie Burke, a girl! Jess and Leslie become friends and play in a make-believe land on an island in a dry creek bed that they call Terabithia. In Terabithia, Jess is strong and courageous king. One day, however, a tragedy occurs and Jess must overcome his grief and horror. Told in the third person, Bridge to Terabithia is a well-placed story in a straightforward yet thought-provoking way.

Bridge to Terabithia is a very moving novel with believable characters and a plot that keeps the reader’s interest. You feel sympathy for Jess and can understand what he has to go though emotionally. Its message of the power of friendship and the need to care about others and nature makes this a highly suitable book for teenage readers.

10. What is the text about?

1. Jess Aarons’ tragedy
2. A worth reading novel
3. An island in a dry creek bed
4. Jess Aarons, a strong and courageous king
5. A review of a novel entitled Bridge to Terabithia

11. “In Terabithia, Jess is a strong and courageous king.” (par.2)

The antonym of the underlined word is …

1. mean
2. weak
3. kind
4. brave
5. gentle

12. Which of the following is not true about the text?

1. Jess is actually a king
2. The story is told in the third person
3. The author of the novel is American
4. Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke are the main characters
5. The power of friendship and the need to care about others is the message of the story