Ender's Game is the 41st book I have completed for my Comprehensive Reading List, or CRL as I call it. As I have mentioned a few times throughout the year, the goal is to read 75% of the 67 books I have listed on that list. As of now, I'm at approximately 61.19% (or 61.19402... to be exact). If I didn't add an additional 10 books to the list, I'd be much closer to accomplishing my goal of reading 75% (I'd be only 2 books away, instead of 10 away at the moment). But I'm cool with it! I made this list to be fluid, being able to add and remove books whenever I wanted. There have been times where I removed a book or two because I felt that I didn't take away anything from a book or reading it felt like a waste of time. I still have roughly 3.5 months before the year is over, so I'm hoping to get really close to that magic number.
Ender's Game was a fascinating read. There were times that I had to be reminded that Ender was a boy of nine years, even though he had the maturity of a young man. I can understand why this book was met with much friction, especially from mothers and school teachers. Events that transpired among students aboard the Battle School seemed illogical for children to commit and attempt, ranging from humiliations, bodily harm, and even murder. "Children should be children, not be forced to be adults at such a young age," I guess is the main argument. However, a book like this can have us reflect our actions and behavior toward others and ask ourselves, "Were my actions justified? Or was I malicious and excessive?" While the characters involved (with the exception of Graff, of course) and overall plot was nowhere near morally ambiguous, the actions of certain people were. I've read somewhere that some branches of the military actually recommend reading Ender's Game for its philosophical implications, especially knowing that many soldiers can and will commit actions that we, as civilians, won't ever comprehend unless we were there in combat also. Maybe somebody can confirm this for me? I personally can't wait for the film adaptation to be released. I'm very confident that some scenes that transpired in the novel will, without a doubt, be altered considerably. I don't mind this at all, as long as the core message of the novel stays the same, which we should always hope for in adaptations.
Next on my reading list is Robert Ellis' The Lost Witness, which I don't know what the novel is about or what to expect. The book was given to me by a friend since he didn't have time to read it and he knew that I have a collection that is constantly growing. I'm hoping it's a good read!
