Synopsis of Jurassic Park
by Michael Crichton, Ballentine Books, 1990
In Jurassic Park scientists successfully extract dinosaur DNA from prehistoric mosquitoes. They clone it and make a variety of dinosaurs to inhabit theme park. People are amazed by this until something goes horribly wrong. The novel makes us think about the motives and responsibility for the experiment, as well as the consequences.
The story opens in a remote village of Costa Rica. Several individuals, in separate incidents, have been seriously injured by what one of the victims calls a "raptor". The velociraptor is one of the most vicious and dangerous of the dinosaurs inhabiting the tiny country, and the animals are part of a project of John Alfred Hammond, a billionaire capitalist.
John Hammond started with the idea of developing "consumer biologicals" which involved duplicating rare or genetically engineered animals for a profit. Between 1983 and 1985 he had raised $870 million from investors to fund his proposed corporation, International Genetic Technologies, Inc. At the same time, he insisted on absolute secrecy about the project. What Hammond, through his researchers, had done was to develop what he called, "the most advanced amusement park in the world, combining the latest in electronic and biological technologies." To make his project more efficient, Hammond used as few people as possible in the park, investing instead in computer technology and automation wherever possible. Hammond planned to make money by charging people very high prices to visit the park.
Hammond's amusement park never makes a public opening, as terrible things happen during a visit by private parties. The scientists' cloned and newly created life forms --the dinosaurs-- get out of control, injuring and killing the visitors. Scientists find they are unable to predict the behaviors, abilities, and adaptations of their creations. As the novel ends, many of the visitors to the park have died. What is so disturbing to the survivors and investigators is the evidence that some of the creatures have developed the ability to reproduce and to survive outside of the park setting.

A blogger’s comment on the book and the film:

Jurassic Park is an excellent movie and an excellent book. It helped a lot that the book's author, Michael Crichton, co-wrote the screenplay and was willing to change things around to suit the film media. He made the action of the story move faster and gave the characters more depth and emphasis on a personality trait to create better tension on the screen.The movie version of Alan Grant wasn't too fond of children (he claimed they were "smelly"), but the book made it clear that Grant was someone who didn't mind kids and recognized a shared excitement for dinosaurs. The movie version of Grant worked well for adding some tension in the movie, as Grant got stuck with the kids, and provided a challenge for the character that was funny to watch at times.Steven Spielberg was the perfect passionate director to channel all of these elements. He made the action and characters faster, crisper, and tighter. The flawless, careful casting for the movie contributed to its success. I am not be ashamed to admit that I hear Sam Neill's voice whenever I read Alan Grant's dialogue in the novel.

THE WOMAN IN WHITE

The Woman in White is a novel written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, published in 1860. It is considered among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the best in sensational novel genre.
The protagonist in the story is Walter Hartright. The story can be considered as an early detective fiction as he uses many sleuthing techniques. Throughout the story the characters encounter a mysterious woman in white, whose own sad story seems connected to those of Laura and her husband. She is the mysterious Anne Catherick, who apparently plays a crucial role in the main events. Hartright first met Anne Catherick on his last night in London but she reappears, having escaped from the mental asylum. Actually, she was committed by Sir Percival since Anne and her mother know a dark secret about him.
The story is told through the accounts by the main characters. Walter Hartright, is a poor artist, a drawing master employed to teach two young women, Laura Fairlie and Marian Halcombe, in Limmeridge House in Cumberland, owned by Frederick Fairlie, a selfish invalid and owner of Limmeridge House in Cumberland. He is Laura's Uncle. Laura's his supposed heir.
Hartright falls in love with pretty and fair Laura Fairlie. His feelings are returned, but she is already engaged to marry Baronet Sir Percival Glyde. Hartright and Laura are parted and she marries Glyde.
The real motive of Sir Percival Glyde appeared after his marriage to Laura. He is determined to gain control over her Laura's wealth and he plans to steal her fortune and identity. Glyde enlists the help of Count Fosco, a fat and sinister Italian, who greatly admires Marian for her intellect. By this Anne, "the woman in white," has died. They then exploit the resemblance between Laura and Anne Catherick. They bury Anne under Laura's name and commit her to an asylum under the name of Anne. As a result, Laura is stripped of her name and money, and almost of her sanity. She is rescued by Marian and with the help of faithful Hartright. He and Marian battle to reclaim Laura's identity, fortune and position in society, and expose the fraud of her husband, Sir Percival Glyde. Laura and Walter marry. Anne Catherick, the woman in white, has always worn white because of advice she received as a child from Laura's late mother, whom she loved for her kindness.