I had my thirty-third birthday this weekend. As I have grown older, I have always been the sort-of person who tries to embrace technology and the changes that come along with it- except when it comes to books. To me, there is nothing greater than the feel of the pages in your hand as you read. There is no greater smell than that of the ink printed on the crisp pages of a book. Before I read anything, I bring the book up to my nose, close my eyes, and inhale the sweet smell of story before I even read. For me, the feeling of that book coupled with its smell is better than the smell of cookies baking in the oven or even the smell of the first Michigan rain in April.
Some women spend a fortune on clothes or purses or shoes. I am not one of these women. I could care less about clothes and shoes. Give me the choice, and I will spend all my money on books. Books never go out of style, and they aren’t usually expensive. I love them like I do my friends and family because for me, my books are great friends too and even better, when I miss my fictional friends, I do not even need to make a call, they are right there at my finger tips.
So, you can understand when I say I was against the idea of getting an electronic reader. How could I like it, without the feeling of freshly inked pages and the non-book smell? Oh, I looked at those electronic readers on several occasions, even admitting to myself that they were in fact, very cool. I even tried downloading a few books to my computer to read them. Oh sure, the instant gratification of wanting to read a book right then and there was great- but I missed taking the trip to the bookstore and the excitement of ordering from Barnes and Noble, my favorite bookstore, on-line. I even had myself convinced that I just could not “Get into the book” unless I held a paper copy in my hands.
When my husband Ben asked me what I wanted for my Birthday and I told him I wanted a Nook, needless to say, he was astounded. “Are you sure?” he asked, uncertainly. What brought on this change of heart? Well, my book collection has gotten a bit out of hand and we were running out of room. In fact, sometimes I feel like the books are crawling off the shelves to get me.
Yet, the real reason I decided to get Nook was because of an article I read. In it, it talked about how electronic texts were the future and by not embracing this new technology we, as book lovers, are hanging on to the past. That got me to thinking. Was I clinging too tightly to the past? Was I becoming the type of person who was unwilling to try new things because they were too much work? Was I clinging those written pages simply to be stubborn?
And that’s when it hit me.
When it came to books, that’s exactly what I was doing.
So I told myself firmly to get a Nook. Now I have the option of getting certain books in the traditional print form to satisfy my love of new paper books, and electronic books for my Nook as well and surprisingly, I love it! Barnes and Noble makes it so easy to order, there are tons of books right at my fingertips, and my Ben even bought me a cover for it that makes me feel like I’m holding a real book.
What does the cover say?
“When I step into this library, I cannot understand why I ever step out of it.” –Marie DeSevigne
Humm…my own portable library. How could I not love it?
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets: By J.K. Rowling
Harry is back in this well written sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! In the first book Harry begins his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he makes new friends, finds a new world and a new home, and keeps the evil Lord Voldemort from returning to human form. In this sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry is awaiting the end of summer vacation. Unusual he wants it to be over so soon, right? Most kids love summer vacation, but not Harry because he is stuck on Privet Drive with the Dursleys- his uncaring and mean family.
Harry is counting down the days until he can return to Hogwarts and is trying to stay out of his horrible families’ way, and almost succeeds- until he is visited by Dobby, a House elf. Dobby warns him that terrible things are about to happen at Hogwarts- and that Harry should not come back to school. And as it turns out, Dobby is right!
Not long before he is back at school, dreadful things start to happen. Kids are being turned to stone! Worse yet, is that everyone thinks Harry is behind all the attacks. Can Harry and his two best friends Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger uncover the truth before it’s too late?
I loved this book. It was even better than Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I could not put it down and zipped through it in record time. However, there are a few things parents should be aware of if they are letting their kids read the series. At its core, this book is about prejudice. Non-magic students, that is, students with muggle parents who have no magic themselves, are referred to as Mudbloods. It is a derogatory name for people with non-magic parents. Hermione is a muggle-born student, and faces being different.
Personally, I think it is handled by Rowling. She tackles the subject of prejudice in such a way that it is both realistic and sensitive to the hurt prejudice causes. Unfortunately, prejudice is a way of life and I applaud Rowling for including this in her books. Also, this book is much darker then the first book. Without giving away the story too much, there is a great deal of violence and dread surrounding the story, but I think it makes for great reading. However, it might be something you want to discuss with your kids if they are reading it on their own, or you are reading it to them. It is without a doubt a fantastic book, but it tackles some very grown-up issues.
Harry is counting down the days until he can return to Hogwarts and is trying to stay out of his horrible families’ way, and almost succeeds- until he is visited by Dobby, a House elf. Dobby warns him that terrible things are about to happen at Hogwarts- and that Harry should not come back to school. And as it turns out, Dobby is right!
Not long before he is back at school, dreadful things start to happen. Kids are being turned to stone! Worse yet, is that everyone thinks Harry is behind all the attacks. Can Harry and his two best friends Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger uncover the truth before it’s too late?
I loved this book. It was even better than Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I could not put it down and zipped through it in record time. However, there are a few things parents should be aware of if they are letting their kids read the series. At its core, this book is about prejudice. Non-magic students, that is, students with muggle parents who have no magic themselves, are referred to as Mudbloods. It is a derogatory name for people with non-magic parents. Hermione is a muggle-born student, and faces being different.
Personally, I think it is handled by Rowling. She tackles the subject of prejudice in such a way that it is both realistic and sensitive to the hurt prejudice causes. Unfortunately, prejudice is a way of life and I applaud Rowling for including this in her books. Also, this book is much darker then the first book. Without giving away the story too much, there is a great deal of violence and dread surrounding the story, but I think it makes for great reading. However, it might be something you want to discuss with your kids if they are reading it on their own, or you are reading it to them. It is without a doubt a fantastic book, but it tackles some very grown-up issues.
The City of Ember: By Jeanne DuPrau
It is time for the truth. The truth is I saw the movie, The City of Ember, before I read the books. I think if I had read the books first, I may not have liked the movie very much. However, I loved the movie. I thought it was so good that I raced out and bought all the books in the series.
Now, I know that this series received lots of awards and recommendations but, I did not love it. It was good enough to keep reading, but there were small details in it that stuck out with and made me less than excited to keep on reading. For example, there is a part in the book where they are supposed to have never done things that you or I take for granted, like light a match, and get it right away. It bothered me because it did not seem authentic. I remember saying to myself, “How could they do that so quickly?”
Yet, DuPrau is a really good writer in spite of missing the details I found significant. She has a way for keeping her text clear and uncluttered- a task that I find difficult as a writer. In all honesty, the style in which she writes is a pleasure to read.
The City of Ember is about two kids named Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow. They live in Ember, an underground city that was formed by a group of men and women everyone refers to as The Builders when life on the surface was coming to an end. The Builders thought of everything from electricity, schools, a governmental system, and anything else that the citizens of Ember might need when they founded the city over 200 years ago. Unfortunately, they only expected the citizens to live there 200 years and did not plan for an extended stay, so the city is very nearly falling apart, and the citizens are running out of all life’s essentials like food and electricity.
The story begins on assignment day- the day where each child is given an important job. Doon wants to work underground so he can be near the generator. He is sure he knows a way to fix it and keep the city of Ember from being engulfed in darkness forever. Lina on the other hand has always wanted to be a messenger and deliver messages from person to person. She loves to run- fast! On assignment day, Doon draws messenger- and wants to switch with Lina, who got a job in the pipe works. So they switch, but their adventure does not end there. Lina and Doon stumble upon a map that could lead them and everyone else out of Ember and back onto the surface where they can live free in the light and the air. But can they uncover the exit before it is too late?
This book has all the right things- good story line, adventure, unusual characters, and an interesting plot- but it really did not do it for me. I wish I had not seen the movie first, because if I had not, I might have liked it more. As it is, I read the rest of the series because I bought them, certain I would love them after seeing the movie, but I was disappointed. Had it been the other way around, I would have liked them more…I think.
Now, I know that this series received lots of awards and recommendations but, I did not love it. It was good enough to keep reading, but there were small details in it that stuck out with and made me less than excited to keep on reading. For example, there is a part in the book where they are supposed to have never done things that you or I take for granted, like light a match, and get it right away. It bothered me because it did not seem authentic. I remember saying to myself, “How could they do that so quickly?”
Yet, DuPrau is a really good writer in spite of missing the details I found significant. She has a way for keeping her text clear and uncluttered- a task that I find difficult as a writer. In all honesty, the style in which she writes is a pleasure to read.
The City of Ember is about two kids named Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow. They live in Ember, an underground city that was formed by a group of men and women everyone refers to as The Builders when life on the surface was coming to an end. The Builders thought of everything from electricity, schools, a governmental system, and anything else that the citizens of Ember might need when they founded the city over 200 years ago. Unfortunately, they only expected the citizens to live there 200 years and did not plan for an extended stay, so the city is very nearly falling apart, and the citizens are running out of all life’s essentials like food and electricity.
The story begins on assignment day- the day where each child is given an important job. Doon wants to work underground so he can be near the generator. He is sure he knows a way to fix it and keep the city of Ember from being engulfed in darkness forever. Lina on the other hand has always wanted to be a messenger and deliver messages from person to person. She loves to run- fast! On assignment day, Doon draws messenger- and wants to switch with Lina, who got a job in the pipe works. So they switch, but their adventure does not end there. Lina and Doon stumble upon a map that could lead them and everyone else out of Ember and back onto the surface where they can live free in the light and the air. But can they uncover the exit before it is too late?
This book has all the right things- good story line, adventure, unusual characters, and an interesting plot- but it really did not do it for me. I wish I had not seen the movie first, because if I had not, I might have liked it more. As it is, I read the rest of the series because I bought them, certain I would love them after seeing the movie, but I was disappointed. Had it been the other way around, I would have liked them more…I think.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Paper Back Swap
I thought I would take a second to tell you all about Paper Back Swap. It is this fantastic website out there where you post old books that you no longer want. When someone is interested in the book, they simply request that book from you and you in turn, mail that book to their home address. Once they receive the book, you earn a credit that you can use to request a book from another member.
Like a lot of people out there, I am always looking for a more eco-friendly and money-saving way to get my hands on books. I often visit garage sales or used book stores in an attempt to satisfy my need to read and keep extra money in my pocket book during the process. I was so excited when I found out about Paper Back Swap because it has already saved me a fortune, and I have found a few books that are out of print I wanted to read.
Paper Back Swap even offers a part on your personal page where you can make up a wish list for books you would like to get when they become available if you really want something and it has not yet made its way to Paper Back Swap yet. It is great!
If you have a chance, you can check it out at paperbackswap.com!
Like a lot of people out there, I am always looking for a more eco-friendly and money-saving way to get my hands on books. I often visit garage sales or used book stores in an attempt to satisfy my need to read and keep extra money in my pocket book during the process. I was so excited when I found out about Paper Back Swap because it has already saved me a fortune, and I have found a few books that are out of print I wanted to read.
Paper Back Swap even offers a part on your personal page where you can make up a wish list for books you would like to get when they become available if you really want something and it has not yet made its way to Paper Back Swap yet. It is great!
If you have a chance, you can check it out at paperbackswap.com!
Secret of Dripping Fang, Book One, The Onts: By Dan Greenburg
This was a fun book! The Secrets of Dripping Fang, Book One, and The Onts is a great book for any eight year old who is learning to read. The book is short, moves quickly and has some really funny parts. The writing is not that difficult and the book is short enough for kids who have just started to take an interest in chapter books to want to continue reading. However, I do not know that I would recommend it for adults who read children’s books, because unlike some children’s book series, this is clearly written for a much younger audience. But, it would be a great book to have your child read to you because it is funny, the characters are unusual, and the story moves along quickly.
The Onts is the first in The Dripping Fang series and it is about two orphan twins named Wally and Cheyenne Shluffmuffin who live in the Jolly Days Orphanage. No one wants to adopt Wally or Cheyenne because Wally has very stinky feet and Cheyenne is allergic to absolutely everything. So, when the Mandible sisters, a pair of old maids, show up at the Jolly Time Orphanage and want to adopt the twins, they cannot help but be suspicious!
Weirder still is that the sisters live in Dripping Fang Forrest, where zombies and glowing slugs call home and want to make the Shluffmuffin twins their very next meal. Prepare to be afraid, laugh out loud and enjoy these unique twins, the characters they meet on their travels, and most of all, their adventures in the Secrets of Dripping Fang Series.
This book was very affordable and the illustrations, which were done by Scott M. Fisher, were incredible! Fisher really brings to life the characters in this book, which I always enjoy, especially when how I imagine a character looks is almost exactly like the illustration. I think any kid who likes silly, outrageous, and sometimes bizarre books would enjoy this series.
The Onts is the first in The Dripping Fang series and it is about two orphan twins named Wally and Cheyenne Shluffmuffin who live in the Jolly Days Orphanage. No one wants to adopt Wally or Cheyenne because Wally has very stinky feet and Cheyenne is allergic to absolutely everything. So, when the Mandible sisters, a pair of old maids, show up at the Jolly Time Orphanage and want to adopt the twins, they cannot help but be suspicious!
Weirder still is that the sisters live in Dripping Fang Forrest, where zombies and glowing slugs call home and want to make the Shluffmuffin twins their very next meal. Prepare to be afraid, laugh out loud and enjoy these unique twins, the characters they meet on their travels, and most of all, their adventures in the Secrets of Dripping Fang Series.
This book was very affordable and the illustrations, which were done by Scott M. Fisher, were incredible! Fisher really brings to life the characters in this book, which I always enjoy, especially when how I imagine a character looks is almost exactly like the illustration. I think any kid who likes silly, outrageous, and sometimes bizarre books would enjoy this series.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Lost Hero: By Rick Riordan
The Lost Hero picks up after the final book in the Percy Jackson series, The Last Olympian, has concluded. This book is about the Greek Gods- with a whole new twist and a whole new set of characters. I was not sure if I would like this book because there were new characters, but Rick Riordan cleverly brings back the old characters and mixes them in with all the new ones in such a way that you find yourself glad you decided to read.
There are three main characters in this book- Jason, who wakes up on a bus, can’t remember who he is or even how he got there. Weirder still is that he’s sitting next to a pretty girl who appears to be his girlfriend, and he can’t remember who she is. The girl’s name is Piper and she can tell Jason is upset, and can’t stand to see him struggling to remember who he is. Even worse, her Dad, a famous actor, has been missing for three days, and she has been having horrible nightmares about him being in trouble. On the seat behind him is Leo, Jason’s supposed best friend and he can’t decide if Jason is joking or not about his memory loss. They are best friends after all- or are they? Yet Leo has bigger problems, because he is seeing ghosts.
The three friends are on a school field trip when chaos ensues and strange creatures attack them. Luckily, they are able to hold them off- that’s when two strange people arrive and insist on taking them to some place safe called Camp Half-blood. That’s when the three friends discover that one of their parents is really a Greek God- but which God is their Dad or Mom? Plus, camp half-blood is in disarray and these new heroes may be the only ones who can set it to rights.
This book is excellent. I think it is Riordan’s best book yet. I read it in less than two days and was very sad when it was over because the new book does not come out until fall of 2011, which means I’ve got to wait to see what happens next. Boo! At any rate, if you start with Percy Jackson and read your way up to this one, I very much doubt you will be disappointed. Rick Riordan is so great at mixing fact and fiction, and changing the characters of Greek Mythology to give them a clever, sometimes funny, modern day personas. These books are great and I think people of any age would enjoy them!
There are three main characters in this book- Jason, who wakes up on a bus, can’t remember who he is or even how he got there. Weirder still is that he’s sitting next to a pretty girl who appears to be his girlfriend, and he can’t remember who she is. The girl’s name is Piper and she can tell Jason is upset, and can’t stand to see him struggling to remember who he is. Even worse, her Dad, a famous actor, has been missing for three days, and she has been having horrible nightmares about him being in trouble. On the seat behind him is Leo, Jason’s supposed best friend and he can’t decide if Jason is joking or not about his memory loss. They are best friends after all- or are they? Yet Leo has bigger problems, because he is seeing ghosts.
The three friends are on a school field trip when chaos ensues and strange creatures attack them. Luckily, they are able to hold them off- that’s when two strange people arrive and insist on taking them to some place safe called Camp Half-blood. That’s when the three friends discover that one of their parents is really a Greek God- but which God is their Dad or Mom? Plus, camp half-blood is in disarray and these new heroes may be the only ones who can set it to rights.
This book is excellent. I think it is Riordan’s best book yet. I read it in less than two days and was very sad when it was over because the new book does not come out until fall of 2011, which means I’ve got to wait to see what happens next. Boo! At any rate, if you start with Percy Jackson and read your way up to this one, I very much doubt you will be disappointed. Rick Riordan is so great at mixing fact and fiction, and changing the characters of Greek Mythology to give them a clever, sometimes funny, modern day personas. These books are great and I think people of any age would enjoy them!
Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief: By Rick Riordan
Of all of Rick Riordan’s books, this one is my least favorite- but having said that, this is still a good book. I picked this up because like so many books out on the shelves these days it had the typical, “If you like Harry Potter- you will love this series” disclaimer you see all over the place now. I did not expect to like it as much as I did, but the concept was just so cool that I just had to give it a try.
Percy Jackson is tweleve year old kid who has been kicked out of one school after another. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and struggles with school, with making friends, and most especially with strange things happening to him. Strange things like his Algebra teacher turning into a real life monster. When this happens, Percy has to defend himself- or die. It is shortly after this that Percy discovers his best friend is not really a human, he is not who he thinks he is, and he’s in big trouble. The only safe place for Percy is a place called Camp Half-blood, but in order to get there, he will have to defeat a Minotaur.
Suddenly, Percy is thrown into a new world where monsters really do exist, and the characters of Greek Mythology are not only real, they are angry with him because they think he has stolen Zeus’s master lightning Bolt. It is up to Percy and his new found friends to find the lightening blot and take it back to Zeus before a war begins- and he only has ten days to do it. Percy and his friends embark on an action-filled quest filled with strange creatures, danger and excitement as they travel to Mount Olympus to return the lightning bolt to its rightful owner.
Sounds good, right? It is. Percy is a great character- he is funny and charming and awkward all at the same time. Plus the friends he makes are really cool, and the talents these half-blood kids have are just incredible. So, why did I say this was my least favorite of all Rick Riordan’s books? It is because as the series goes on, the books get better and better. I just re-read this so I could remember what happens, and I have to say, Percy Jackson is not as well developed in this book as he is in the others. As the series goes on, the books get more and more incredible. So I guess my advice is, read this, and even if you think the book was just ok, keep reading the series. You will be so glad that you did! The monsters get bigger and bader, the stories get more complex and the adventures just keep coming.
Percy Jackson is tweleve year old kid who has been kicked out of one school after another. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and struggles with school, with making friends, and most especially with strange things happening to him. Strange things like his Algebra teacher turning into a real life monster. When this happens, Percy has to defend himself- or die. It is shortly after this that Percy discovers his best friend is not really a human, he is not who he thinks he is, and he’s in big trouble. The only safe place for Percy is a place called Camp Half-blood, but in order to get there, he will have to defeat a Minotaur.
Suddenly, Percy is thrown into a new world where monsters really do exist, and the characters of Greek Mythology are not only real, they are angry with him because they think he has stolen Zeus’s master lightning Bolt. It is up to Percy and his new found friends to find the lightening blot and take it back to Zeus before a war begins- and he only has ten days to do it. Percy and his friends embark on an action-filled quest filled with strange creatures, danger and excitement as they travel to Mount Olympus to return the lightning bolt to its rightful owner.
Sounds good, right? It is. Percy is a great character- he is funny and charming and awkward all at the same time. Plus the friends he makes are really cool, and the talents these half-blood kids have are just incredible. So, why did I say this was my least favorite of all Rick Riordan’s books? It is because as the series goes on, the books get better and better. I just re-read this so I could remember what happens, and I have to say, Percy Jackson is not as well developed in this book as he is in the others. As the series goes on, the books get more and more incredible. So I guess my advice is, read this, and even if you think the book was just ok, keep reading the series. You will be so glad that you did! The monsters get bigger and bader, the stories get more complex and the adventures just keep coming.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment- By James Patterson
Maximum Ride- the Angel experiment is a book for a slightly older audience than the books I usually tend to read. I would say it was geared towards people from ages 11-14. There is a little bit of puppy love and some bad language, so you parents out there, heads up. All in all, I do not think it was too bad as far as adult content.
As far as liking this book- it was really interesting. I can honestly say, I have never read another book quite like it. I guess the author James Patterson took one of his adult novels and turned to into a series for a younger audience. I have not read the book it was based on, but the series was recommended to me by a friend I made on paperbackswap.com. Paperbackswap.com is a place where you can post old books you no longer want, and then ship them to someone else who does. You then earn a credit and are only out the cost of shipping. I highly recommend this site to anyone who has books they do not want anymore, and would like new ones for little cost. I have met some really nice people on the site who share my love of books and have made excellent book recommendations.
I read every book in this series. I do not know if it was because I liked the story so much, or because these books were so out there. The main character is called Maximum Ride- a name she picked herself. She is 98% human, and 2% bird (I know, sounds odd) and she can fly. She was created by scientists who are pushing the bounds of science experiments and combining human DNA with that of other animals. She also has friends named Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel who also have wings and are members of her flock (even weirder, I know). Now, the flock has to be on the lookout for other half-human half-wolf mutants that sort-of lust after their bird-human blood.
In this story, Max and her friends are trying to track down their parents and determine whether they were abducted from them, or given away as babies to be experimented on by the scientists who turned them into bird mutants.
In all honesty, I can say that is one of the strangest book series I have ever read. Having said that- I did read the whole series. It was so far-fetched and so weird that I had this compulsion to finish all the books. They are all pretty much written from Max’s point of view, with a few of the other main characters occasionally offering their point of view. Max tells the story in a funny, but exciting way that makes you want to keep on reading.
But was this a really good book? I am honestly not sure because I neither liked nor disliked this book. It felt very outlandish to me and I’m a huge fan of science fiction. Some of the aspects were completely unbelievable- but I still felt it was worth reading, even though I had trouble believing it all. That may be because Max and the rest of her flock are such fun, likable characters. All in all, this series was pretty good for people who find government conspiracies and human experimentation interesting.
As far as liking this book- it was really interesting. I can honestly say, I have never read another book quite like it. I guess the author James Patterson took one of his adult novels and turned to into a series for a younger audience. I have not read the book it was based on, but the series was recommended to me by a friend I made on paperbackswap.com. Paperbackswap.com is a place where you can post old books you no longer want, and then ship them to someone else who does. You then earn a credit and are only out the cost of shipping. I highly recommend this site to anyone who has books they do not want anymore, and would like new ones for little cost. I have met some really nice people on the site who share my love of books and have made excellent book recommendations.
I read every book in this series. I do not know if it was because I liked the story so much, or because these books were so out there. The main character is called Maximum Ride- a name she picked herself. She is 98% human, and 2% bird (I know, sounds odd) and she can fly. She was created by scientists who are pushing the bounds of science experiments and combining human DNA with that of other animals. She also has friends named Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel who also have wings and are members of her flock (even weirder, I know). Now, the flock has to be on the lookout for other half-human half-wolf mutants that sort-of lust after their bird-human blood.
In this story, Max and her friends are trying to track down their parents and determine whether they were abducted from them, or given away as babies to be experimented on by the scientists who turned them into bird mutants.
In all honesty, I can say that is one of the strangest book series I have ever read. Having said that- I did read the whole series. It was so far-fetched and so weird that I had this compulsion to finish all the books. They are all pretty much written from Max’s point of view, with a few of the other main characters occasionally offering their point of view. Max tells the story in a funny, but exciting way that makes you want to keep on reading.
But was this a really good book? I am honestly not sure because I neither liked nor disliked this book. It felt very outlandish to me and I’m a huge fan of science fiction. Some of the aspects were completely unbelievable- but I still felt it was worth reading, even though I had trouble believing it all. That may be because Max and the rest of her flock are such fun, likable characters. All in all, this series was pretty good for people who find government conspiracies and human experimentation interesting.
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos: By R.L. LaFevers
Doesn’t this book have the coolest title? I bought it because of the title. Oh sure, I read the dust jacket too and it sounded great, but I had pretty much decided I was going to buy just because of the title. With a name like Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, how could this book not be epic?
Well, I was only partially wrong in my assessment. This book has a very S-L-O-W beginning. I was interested enough to keep reading, but I remember expecting so much of it, and being very disappointed at first- but only at first because this book finishes with a bang! It is not often that I start a book, think it is not that great, keep reading and end up liking it. After reading this book, I have decided to give all books with a slow beginning a chance to redeem itself. Honestly, I could not have been more impressed.
Theodosia Throckmorton has a gift. She is able to see the curses and black magic that surround ancient artifacts. This is fortunate because her Father is the curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities of London, and he has no idea of the dangers he is in. Theodosia, or Theo, uses century’s old magic to remove the curses tied to these artifacts and protect her Father and the other employees at the museum, all of whom are unaware that these dangers even exist. The threat to the museum increases when Theo’s Mother returns to the Museum from an archeological dig with the heart of Egypt- an amulet that was found in an ancient tomb. The curse on this amulet is so strong and so evil that it threatens to destroy the British Empire from within by causing a terrible war. It is up to Theo to use all of her training to stop this horrible event from ever happening.
The middle and ending of this book are so fantastic, I really enjoyed them. In fact, I stayed up until nearly two in the morning in order to finish this book. Honestly, if you had told me that when I had started reading I would have been doubtful. I think the strength of R. L. LaFevers book lies in the action that takes place in her novel. When this book finally picks up, its momentum and plot zoom forward at such a pace that the reader simply cannot put it down. So all you people out there who think this sounds interesting, make sure you give this book a chance. It is well worth the time you will invest in it!
Well, I was only partially wrong in my assessment. This book has a very S-L-O-W beginning. I was interested enough to keep reading, but I remember expecting so much of it, and being very disappointed at first- but only at first because this book finishes with a bang! It is not often that I start a book, think it is not that great, keep reading and end up liking it. After reading this book, I have decided to give all books with a slow beginning a chance to redeem itself. Honestly, I could not have been more impressed.
Theodosia Throckmorton has a gift. She is able to see the curses and black magic that surround ancient artifacts. This is fortunate because her Father is the curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities of London, and he has no idea of the dangers he is in. Theodosia, or Theo, uses century’s old magic to remove the curses tied to these artifacts and protect her Father and the other employees at the museum, all of whom are unaware that these dangers even exist. The threat to the museum increases when Theo’s Mother returns to the Museum from an archeological dig with the heart of Egypt- an amulet that was found in an ancient tomb. The curse on this amulet is so strong and so evil that it threatens to destroy the British Empire from within by causing a terrible war. It is up to Theo to use all of her training to stop this horrible event from ever happening.
The middle and ending of this book are so fantastic, I really enjoyed them. In fact, I stayed up until nearly two in the morning in order to finish this book. Honestly, if you had told me that when I had started reading I would have been doubtful. I think the strength of R. L. LaFevers book lies in the action that takes place in her novel. When this book finally picks up, its momentum and plot zoom forward at such a pace that the reader simply cannot put it down. So all you people out there who think this sounds interesting, make sure you give this book a chance. It is well worth the time you will invest in it!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
My Top Must Read Book Series
When I was considering this blog, I thought about dividing the books into categories for boys and girls, but then I realized I would be doing any boys and girls out there reading this blog a disservice. In one of my writing classes, I learned that boys very often will not read stories where a girl is the main character. On the other hand, a girl will read a story where a boy is the main character. Why is this?
I am here to tell you guys- you are missing out on some excellent books because of this. To me, it does not matter if the main character is male or female. What matters is if the book is exciting, if I enjoy it, if it makes me want to keep on reading and if the writing is good. Really, I could list a million other things, but that would be dull so I will just say this; boys out there reading this blog, give a book on this list a shot and see if you like it. You just never know unless you try. Why miss out on something great because of something so silly? A good book is a good book. Period.
This goes for any adults out there who dismiss children’s books because they feel the content is too juvenile for them. There are some excellent books out there you are missing out on because you think you are too old to read them. Reading children’s books is a great way to connect with the kids in your life. I cannot tell you how often my cousins, nieces, and nephews ask me about books or tell me about books they have read. A shared enthusiasm can really bring you closer to them and give you something to talk about.
I had a tough time narrowing down my list of choices. There are so many great books out there, and I wanted to pick books that are engaging, entertaining and worth loosing yourself in. Plus, there are several series out there that held my attention for the first book or two, then I lost interest. The list I compiled consists of book series I absolutly had to read to the end. Here’s what I came up with in no particular order.
1. Harry Potter Series (JK Rowling): As I have mentioned before, I love this series. Harry Potter holds a special place in my heart and I highly recommend these books to anyone of any age who loves to read.
2. The Sisters Grimm Series (Michael Buckley): Boys, this is a great book series about Fairy Tale Detectives. I know, I know, it’s not macho to like fairy tales. But, these are exciting, the bad guys are dangerous and gruesome and the books are just great so please check them out.
3. The Percy Jackson Series (Rick Riordan): Wow! I haven’t done a review of these yet, but they are crazy good books. Mythology, heroes, and a chosen one. How could I not love these?
4. Charlie Bone Series (Jenny Nimmo): These are great because they are so magical. Adults out there, these would be great to read to your kids at night. I tore through the whole series in three weeks. Excellent!
5. Kane Chronicles Series (Rick Riordan): This book series surprised the heck out of me. I did not think Rick Riordan could make two successful series, but he did. I really enjoyed the first book in this series.
6. Inkheart Trilogy (Cornelia Funke): I could not put these down. They were excellent and I’ve never read anything like them.
7. The Bartimaeus Trilogy (Jonathan Stroud): These are dark and intricate stories about magic and strange creatures. These are good books.
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series (Jeff Kinney): These are easy for kids just starting out to read and they are just plain funny. These are another great series parents can read with their kids.
Well, those are my top series choices. I would have picked 10, but I didn't have a top 10, just a top 8. I do plan on reading some other series soon that I may or may not add to this list. The Guardians of Ga’ Hoole and The Spiderwick Chronicles are among a few I have in mind, so I’ll let you know if they make it on the list or not. In the mean time, please check out something new and remember to read something different because you just might like it =)
I am here to tell you guys- you are missing out on some excellent books because of this. To me, it does not matter if the main character is male or female. What matters is if the book is exciting, if I enjoy it, if it makes me want to keep on reading and if the writing is good. Really, I could list a million other things, but that would be dull so I will just say this; boys out there reading this blog, give a book on this list a shot and see if you like it. You just never know unless you try. Why miss out on something great because of something so silly? A good book is a good book. Period.
This goes for any adults out there who dismiss children’s books because they feel the content is too juvenile for them. There are some excellent books out there you are missing out on because you think you are too old to read them. Reading children’s books is a great way to connect with the kids in your life. I cannot tell you how often my cousins, nieces, and nephews ask me about books or tell me about books they have read. A shared enthusiasm can really bring you closer to them and give you something to talk about.
I had a tough time narrowing down my list of choices. There are so many great books out there, and I wanted to pick books that are engaging, entertaining and worth loosing yourself in. Plus, there are several series out there that held my attention for the first book or two, then I lost interest. The list I compiled consists of book series I absolutly had to read to the end. Here’s what I came up with in no particular order.
1. Harry Potter Series (JK Rowling): As I have mentioned before, I love this series. Harry Potter holds a special place in my heart and I highly recommend these books to anyone of any age who loves to read.
2. The Sisters Grimm Series (Michael Buckley): Boys, this is a great book series about Fairy Tale Detectives. I know, I know, it’s not macho to like fairy tales. But, these are exciting, the bad guys are dangerous and gruesome and the books are just great so please check them out.
3. The Percy Jackson Series (Rick Riordan): Wow! I haven’t done a review of these yet, but they are crazy good books. Mythology, heroes, and a chosen one. How could I not love these?
4. Charlie Bone Series (Jenny Nimmo): These are great because they are so magical. Adults out there, these would be great to read to your kids at night. I tore through the whole series in three weeks. Excellent!
5. Kane Chronicles Series (Rick Riordan): This book series surprised the heck out of me. I did not think Rick Riordan could make two successful series, but he did. I really enjoyed the first book in this series.
6. Inkheart Trilogy (Cornelia Funke): I could not put these down. They were excellent and I’ve never read anything like them.
7. The Bartimaeus Trilogy (Jonathan Stroud): These are dark and intricate stories about magic and strange creatures. These are good books.
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series (Jeff Kinney): These are easy for kids just starting out to read and they are just plain funny. These are another great series parents can read with their kids.
Well, those are my top series choices. I would have picked 10, but I didn't have a top 10, just a top 8. I do plan on reading some other series soon that I may or may not add to this list. The Guardians of Ga’ Hoole and The Spiderwick Chronicles are among a few I have in mind, so I’ll let you know if they make it on the list or not. In the mean time, please check out something new and remember to read something different because you just might like it =)
Midnight for Charlie Bone: By Jenny Nimmo
This is a book series I was hesitant to read because it had the “If you like Harry Potter, you’ll love these books!” recommendation I’ve come across many times before. The problem with this label is that it raises my expectations too much. I end up comparing the books to Harry Potter (my favorite children’s book series), and then they fall short of my expectations.
Yet, this book and all the other books in the Children of the Red King series did not fall short in any way. In fact, I liked them much more than I expected to. Not because of their similarities to Harry Potter, but because of how very different they were. In Midnight for Charlie Bone, the main character, Charlie thinks he is an ordinary boy, and he’s grateful for it. You see, Charlie comes from a family who has unusual gifts.
His Family is directly descended from the Red King. The Red king was “endowed” or gifted with many magical or unusual talents. He had eight children, all of whom were gifted with one of his many endowments and their descendants passed on these gifts to their children, their children’s children and so on down the line.
In Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie finds out he himself has an unusual gift. He can hear what’s happening inside photographs or paintings. Unfortunately, his horrible Aunt’s find out he has a gift, and insist he attend Bloor’s academy for gift and endowed children such as himself. At Bloor’s he realizes that there is a mystery involving an adopted child- a mystery he wants to uncover. He also discovers that there is a balance between good and evil under that roof- and that he is a part of something bigger than he ever could have imagined.
I think it is unfair to compare Jenny Nimmo’s novels to Harry Potter. There are similarities; magic is in both, and a great deal of time is spent with Charlie at Bloor’s Academy, just as a lot of time is spent at Hogwarts, and even Charlie Bone and Harry Potter look a bit the same, (at least in my mind). But Nimmo makes this book her own so well that as a reader I enjoyed the book too much to care if they were similar or not.
Jenny Nimmo is a really good writer with an excellent imagination. She makes this book her own by giving Charlie and all of her characters a distinct personality and showing the reader that even in the same family, there can be good and bad people. He characters are quirky, interesting and thoughtful. It’s my opinion that Nimmo created a wonderful world in this book series. A world I was very glad to visit. The endowments some of the characters have are so imaginative and unique. They use their talents for good, or for evil depending on which side they have chosen and the outcome is a fast paced, can’t-put-the-book-down read.
Yet, this book and all the other books in the Children of the Red King series did not fall short in any way. In fact, I liked them much more than I expected to. Not because of their similarities to Harry Potter, but because of how very different they were. In Midnight for Charlie Bone, the main character, Charlie thinks he is an ordinary boy, and he’s grateful for it. You see, Charlie comes from a family who has unusual gifts.
His Family is directly descended from the Red King. The Red king was “endowed” or gifted with many magical or unusual talents. He had eight children, all of whom were gifted with one of his many endowments and their descendants passed on these gifts to their children, their children’s children and so on down the line.
In Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie finds out he himself has an unusual gift. He can hear what’s happening inside photographs or paintings. Unfortunately, his horrible Aunt’s find out he has a gift, and insist he attend Bloor’s academy for gift and endowed children such as himself. At Bloor’s he realizes that there is a mystery involving an adopted child- a mystery he wants to uncover. He also discovers that there is a balance between good and evil under that roof- and that he is a part of something bigger than he ever could have imagined.
I think it is unfair to compare Jenny Nimmo’s novels to Harry Potter. There are similarities; magic is in both, and a great deal of time is spent with Charlie at Bloor’s Academy, just as a lot of time is spent at Hogwarts, and even Charlie Bone and Harry Potter look a bit the same, (at least in my mind). But Nimmo makes this book her own so well that as a reader I enjoyed the book too much to care if they were similar or not.
Jenny Nimmo is a really good writer with an excellent imagination. She makes this book her own by giving Charlie and all of her characters a distinct personality and showing the reader that even in the same family, there can be good and bad people. He characters are quirky, interesting and thoughtful. It’s my opinion that Nimmo created a wonderful world in this book series. A world I was very glad to visit. The endowments some of the characters have are so imaginative and unique. They use their talents for good, or for evil depending on which side they have chosen and the outcome is a fast paced, can’t-put-the-book-down read.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Penderwicks, and The Penderwicks on Gardam Street: By Jeanne Birdsall
I enjoyed this wholesome family friendly book so much! The Penderwicks is a story about four sisters named Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty. These four girls go with their father to spend the summer at an estate called Arundel on Cape Cod. They spend their stay in a small cottage on the property and simply cannot wait to explore the grounds and see what they can uncover. In the process, they meet a boy called Jeffery who is the son of the owner of Arundel. Unfortunately for the sisters, Jeffery’s Mother does not approve of these outspoken, adventurous girls and their dog, Hound.
One of the very best parts about this book is how well the author gives each of the girls an individual personality and voice. They are so different, but each share a very special bond that reminded me very much of my sister and brothers. The way they get along, fight, and often appreciate one another, albeit grudgingly, rang vey true for me.
All in all, I think this was a fun, happy reading sort-of a book. Unfortunately, the sequel The Penderwicks on Gardam Street did not feel the same for me. This is a classic example of a sequel falling short of the first installment. That’s not to say that this book was bad. In fact, I liked it alright. It was great to revisit the characters and see them grow up a little. It was fun reading about their new adventures as well. But, this book lacked the charm and whimsy of Jeanne Birdsall’s first book.
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is a story about the four sisters dealing with the fact that their father has started to date again. It had been a long time since the death of their mother and the girls’ Aunt encourages Mr. Penderwick to move on with his life and start dating again. When the girls find out, they develop the Save-Daddy-Plan. Unfortunately, their own problems and individual concerns seem to be getting in the way of them putting a stop to their Father’s new social agenda.
This book sounded so great to me, but I couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed with it. I enjoyed the original book, The Penderwicks so much that I may have set my expectations too high. Often, I judge a book by whether or not I’d read the book again. I would most definitely read The Penderwicks again, but I can’t say the same for the squeal. The story was sweet enough and it even had a happy ending, which I’m usually a fan of. Yet, when I finished Gardam Street, all I said was, “Huh. That was cute.”
One of the very best parts about this book is how well the author gives each of the girls an individual personality and voice. They are so different, but each share a very special bond that reminded me very much of my sister and brothers. The way they get along, fight, and often appreciate one another, albeit grudgingly, rang vey true for me.
All in all, I think this was a fun, happy reading sort-of a book. Unfortunately, the sequel The Penderwicks on Gardam Street did not feel the same for me. This is a classic example of a sequel falling short of the first installment. That’s not to say that this book was bad. In fact, I liked it alright. It was great to revisit the characters and see them grow up a little. It was fun reading about their new adventures as well. But, this book lacked the charm and whimsy of Jeanne Birdsall’s first book.
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is a story about the four sisters dealing with the fact that their father has started to date again. It had been a long time since the death of their mother and the girls’ Aunt encourages Mr. Penderwick to move on with his life and start dating again. When the girls find out, they develop the Save-Daddy-Plan. Unfortunately, their own problems and individual concerns seem to be getting in the way of them putting a stop to their Father’s new social agenda.
This book sounded so great to me, but I couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed with it. I enjoyed the original book, The Penderwicks so much that I may have set my expectations too high. Often, I judge a book by whether or not I’d read the book again. I would most definitely read The Penderwicks again, but I can’t say the same for the squeal. The story was sweet enough and it even had a happy ending, which I’m usually a fan of. Yet, when I finished Gardam Street, all I said was, “Huh. That was cute.”
Monday, September 13, 2010
Why I Love A Series.
At an early age, I became a fan of the children's book series. Among my favorites were The Baby-Sitters Club, Sweet Valley High and Anne of Green Gables. I felt even then that the best part about a book was getting to know the characters. For me, these fictional characters were friends I could visit any time I wanted without ever leaving my house and I still find the same is true today.
There are some excellent stand alone books out there- I've even reviewed some on my blog- but I love it so much when I can revisit the same characters over and over again in a new way. Admittedly, sometimes I read the first book in a series and love it, then go on to the next ones and feel disappointment because they failed to be as good as the first. It's sort-of like watching a movie sequel that fails to live up to the same standard of the first film. Sure it's great to see the familiar faces, but it lacks that spark produced the first time around and the same is true for literature.
Lucky for me, the number of book series I like has grown at a rapid rate over the last several years. A few that comes to mind are Harry Potter, The Sisters Grimm and my new love, the Charlie Bone Series (which I will talk about at a later date).
I think the trick in doing a series well is to have the characters strike a chord with readers in some way. What I like might be different then what someone else enjoys, but the trick is in getting someone to love the character, and continue to love them enough to keep reading. Plus, each series book has to be exciting, interesting, and have a good plot.
What really makes a series work, is that if the book had to, it could stand on its own. Take the Sisters' Grimm series, you could read any story in that series and understand what is happening because the author explains what's happened in past books to the reader. The author makes it easy to read the book on its own, but usually uses a hook at the end to bring the reader back for more.
I also love getting to see the characters grow and change throughout a series of books. That's how it is in the Harry Potter series. Each book is one year at Hogwarts. Harry changes from a sad, lonely boy into a man. The changes are gradual and sometimes difficult, but as readers, we get to grow up with Harry.
The same is true for my childhood love, Anne of Green Gables. I still have the original copies of my books. The pages are yellowed and falling out, but I can't seem to bring myself to replace them. For me, those yellowed pages represent a friend who, however old and worn, is just as dear to me as any flesh-and-blood friend I've ever had.
That is the true reason I love books, especially book series. Someone might carry them with them forever, just like me.
There are some excellent stand alone books out there- I've even reviewed some on my blog- but I love it so much when I can revisit the same characters over and over again in a new way. Admittedly, sometimes I read the first book in a series and love it, then go on to the next ones and feel disappointment because they failed to be as good as the first. It's sort-of like watching a movie sequel that fails to live up to the same standard of the first film. Sure it's great to see the familiar faces, but it lacks that spark produced the first time around and the same is true for literature.
Lucky for me, the number of book series I like has grown at a rapid rate over the last several years. A few that comes to mind are Harry Potter, The Sisters Grimm and my new love, the Charlie Bone Series (which I will talk about at a later date).
I think the trick in doing a series well is to have the characters strike a chord with readers in some way. What I like might be different then what someone else enjoys, but the trick is in getting someone to love the character, and continue to love them enough to keep reading. Plus, each series book has to be exciting, interesting, and have a good plot.
What really makes a series work, is that if the book had to, it could stand on its own. Take the Sisters' Grimm series, you could read any story in that series and understand what is happening because the author explains what's happened in past books to the reader. The author makes it easy to read the book on its own, but usually uses a hook at the end to bring the reader back for more.
I also love getting to see the characters grow and change throughout a series of books. That's how it is in the Harry Potter series. Each book is one year at Hogwarts. Harry changes from a sad, lonely boy into a man. The changes are gradual and sometimes difficult, but as readers, we get to grow up with Harry.
The same is true for my childhood love, Anne of Green Gables. I still have the original copies of my books. The pages are yellowed and falling out, but I can't seem to bring myself to replace them. For me, those yellowed pages represent a friend who, however old and worn, is just as dear to me as any flesh-and-blood friend I've ever had.
That is the true reason I love books, especially book series. Someone might carry them with them forever, just like me.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Mysterious Benedict Society: By Trenton Lee Stewart
This was a book that I picked up several times in the bookstore. You know how sometimes something sounds really good, but you are not sure about it? So, you put it back, then then next time you go to the bookstore you do the same thing. That's how this book was for me. The back of it gives you so little to go on as far as description. It says, "Are you a Gifted Child looking for Special Opportunities?" and goes on to explain that this was an ad put in the paper that dozens of kids responded to. Then, they had to perform a series of crazy tests, but in the end only a few were chosen. The few that were picked were told they would go on a secret mission. Huh. Not much to go on. So, I thought, what the heck! I bought it and I was very glad that I did.
This book is about four kids, Reyine Muldoon a boy who's good at puzzles, Sticky Washington a boy who's uncommonly book smart, Kate Weatherall a resourceful girl who's a great inventor, and Constance Contraire a girl who's good at poetry and being stubborn. These four each discover that they passed a test designed to find kids who were selected by Mr Benedict and his associates for a very important task: saving the world.
Because they are all so different, each child brings something unique to the mission. They each have strengths and weaknesses but find that they work very well with one another, and even become good friends.
This book is so interesting. It reminded me of a Roald Dahl story. It blends clues and capable kids with riveting text to create a magical world that is both unique and intriguing. I really enjoyed this book. Having said that, it may not be the easiest book for beginning readers. It uses big words and it may be a bit advanced for say, an eight year old. If you are a fan of Dahl, then you might like this as it has a similar feel to it. This book is a very good read.
This book is about four kids, Reyine Muldoon a boy who's good at puzzles, Sticky Washington a boy who's uncommonly book smart, Kate Weatherall a resourceful girl who's a great inventor, and Constance Contraire a girl who's good at poetry and being stubborn. These four each discover that they passed a test designed to find kids who were selected by Mr Benedict and his associates for a very important task: saving the world.
Because they are all so different, each child brings something unique to the mission. They each have strengths and weaknesses but find that they work very well with one another, and even become good friends.
This book is so interesting. It reminded me of a Roald Dahl story. It blends clues and capable kids with riveting text to create a magical world that is both unique and intriguing. I really enjoyed this book. Having said that, it may not be the easiest book for beginning readers. It uses big words and it may be a bit advanced for say, an eight year old. If you are a fan of Dahl, then you might like this as it has a similar feel to it. This book is a very good read.
The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives: By Michael Buckley
This my friends, is one fabulous series. The Sisters Grimm book series is about two little girls named Sabrina and Daphne Grimm whose parents mysteriously disappeared. These two girls were shuffled from one foster home to the next until they came to live with Relda Grimm, a grandmother they never knew they had, in a town called Fairyport landing. Here's the fantastic part; Sabrina and Daphne are descendants of the Brothers Grimm whose fairy tales are not actually make-believe stories, but actual historical accounts of the lives of these fairy tale folks.
So where do these girls fit in? It has always been the job of the Grimm family to protect to protect the people of Fairyport Landing as fairy tale detectives. In the first book, The Fairy Tale Detectives, Sabrina and Daphne have to stop a giant from destroying their new found home.
What I like best about these books is the way Buckley blends these stories with real life scenarios. For example, Snow White is the local school teacher and Puck, from Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, is a flying Fairy that lives with the girls' Granny Relda and is every bit as mischievous as readers expect him to be.
In all honesty, these books are just fun. I spent a great deal of my childhood reading Fairy-tales and when my sister told me about these books, I rushed out to buy them all. They even look like old volumes of fairy-tales with their hard covers embossed with gold writing and a small picture that looks like a snapshot on the cover. What could be better than that?
These books are excellent for readers just starting out too because Buckley is very gifted at explaining things simply, so the reader understands what he means. I would highly recommend these to anyone who wants to be entertained from cover to cover.
So where do these girls fit in? It has always been the job of the Grimm family to protect to protect the people of Fairyport Landing as fairy tale detectives. In the first book, The Fairy Tale Detectives, Sabrina and Daphne have to stop a giant from destroying their new found home.
What I like best about these books is the way Buckley blends these stories with real life scenarios. For example, Snow White is the local school teacher and Puck, from Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, is a flying Fairy that lives with the girls' Granny Relda and is every bit as mischievous as readers expect him to be.
In all honesty, these books are just fun. I spent a great deal of my childhood reading Fairy-tales and when my sister told me about these books, I rushed out to buy them all. They even look like old volumes of fairy-tales with their hard covers embossed with gold writing and a small picture that looks like a snapshot on the cover. What could be better than that?
These books are excellent for readers just starting out too because Buckley is very gifted at explaining things simply, so the reader understands what he means. I would highly recommend these to anyone who wants to be entertained from cover to cover.
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Graveyard Book: By Neil Gaiman
Usually a Newberry Medal winner is very good, but this book was terrific. Neil Gaiman has this incredible way of creating these dark worlds that are somehow still silly, humorous, and playful. Having read a number of his other books, I believe this to be one of his best.
Nobody Owens (also known as Bod) lives in a Graveyard where he escaped as an infant after his parents were murdered by a man called Jack. His guardian is neither living nor dead and lives in the in-between; plus he sleeps in a tomb and has been given the freedom of the graveyard by all the ghosts that call the cemetery home. Bod doesn't attend a convectional school because Jack may still be after him. Instead, the ghosts in the graveyard teach him different histories and subjects, giving him an unusual perspective on life. Unfortunately, this has meant a sad and lonely life for Bod, and he yearns for some human companionship.
That's when Bod decides he wants to go to school and all sorts of wild adventures befall him. Jack knows Bod must be in the area somewhere- he can sense it. He knows he is close to finding Bod, the infant who got away, and will not rest until he finds him.
All I have left to say about this book is that it is magical, unusual, imaginative and exciting. I loved it!
Nobody Owens (also known as Bod) lives in a Graveyard where he escaped as an infant after his parents were murdered by a man called Jack. His guardian is neither living nor dead and lives in the in-between; plus he sleeps in a tomb and has been given the freedom of the graveyard by all the ghosts that call the cemetery home. Bod doesn't attend a convectional school because Jack may still be after him. Instead, the ghosts in the graveyard teach him different histories and subjects, giving him an unusual perspective on life. Unfortunately, this has meant a sad and lonely life for Bod, and he yearns for some human companionship.
That's when Bod decides he wants to go to school and all sorts of wild adventures befall him. Jack knows Bod must be in the area somewhere- he can sense it. He knows he is close to finding Bod, the infant who got away, and will not rest until he finds him.
All I have left to say about this book is that it is magical, unusual, imaginative and exciting. I loved it!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Red Pyramid: By Rick Riordan
As a big fan of the Percy Jackson series, I couldn't help but reach for this book in the book store. Rick Riordan is amazing at weaving old history within a modern day setting. His knowledge of Greek legend in the Percy Jackson series, and in this case, Egyptian folklore, is quite impressive.
The Red Pyramid is about Carter Kane, a boy who travels the world (for six years)moving from this place to the next with his father, Julius Kane (an Egyptologist). Carter's sister Sadie on the other hand lives with her grandparents and has what Carter wishes he had- a permanent home, friends, and a life that doesn't involve a suitcase. Unfortunately for the siblings, the six years spent apart has left them with nothing at all in common.
The pair are finally brought back together on Christmas Eve when there Dad drags them to The British Museum, claiming that he can fix everything that has kept their family apart- though Carter and Sadie have no idea what he's talking about. As they look on, their Dad summons a dark figure and then disappears. Very quickly, Carter and Sadie find out that the Ancient Egyptian Gods really do exist and that their family has a very long, and tangled history with something called the House of Life. In order to save their Dad, Carter and Sadie have to go to dangerous lengths to find out more about these Egyptian gods and confront the worst of them, Set, who tries to stop them at every turn.
From start to finish, this is an exciting book. I love how the lines of fact and fiction cease to exist in Riordan's novels. He mixes everything so well that you forget to check what is fact and fiction and just sit back and enjoy the story. In my opinion, The Kane Chronicles are even better than the Percy Jackson series, which are quite good as well. I really liked both Carter and Sadie as characters. Their differences, but shared love for one another really strengthen the novel and make you want to keep on reading. I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
The Red Pyramid is about Carter Kane, a boy who travels the world (for six years)moving from this place to the next with his father, Julius Kane (an Egyptologist). Carter's sister Sadie on the other hand lives with her grandparents and has what Carter wishes he had- a permanent home, friends, and a life that doesn't involve a suitcase. Unfortunately for the siblings, the six years spent apart has left them with nothing at all in common.
The pair are finally brought back together on Christmas Eve when there Dad drags them to The British Museum, claiming that he can fix everything that has kept their family apart- though Carter and Sadie have no idea what he's talking about. As they look on, their Dad summons a dark figure and then disappears. Very quickly, Carter and Sadie find out that the Ancient Egyptian Gods really do exist and that their family has a very long, and tangled history with something called the House of Life. In order to save their Dad, Carter and Sadie have to go to dangerous lengths to find out more about these Egyptian gods and confront the worst of them, Set, who tries to stop them at every turn.
From start to finish, this is an exciting book. I love how the lines of fact and fiction cease to exist in Riordan's novels. He mixes everything so well that you forget to check what is fact and fiction and just sit back and enjoy the story. In my opinion, The Kane Chronicles are even better than the Percy Jackson series, which are quite good as well. I really liked both Carter and Sadie as characters. Their differences, but shared love for one another really strengthen the novel and make you want to keep on reading. I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
Monday, August 16, 2010
The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls: By Elise Primavera
This is a must read for any one who loves The Wizard of Oz. The Secret Order of the Gumm Street girls is a story about four girls- none of whom like one another. Franny, Ivy, Pru and Cat are as different as four girls can be. All four girls live on Gumm Street and attend school at Sherbert Academy. Sherbert Acadamy was founded by Hieronymonymus Gumm and is divided into four groups of students named after Hieronymonymus Gumm's favorite sandwiches: Liverwurst, Egg-Salad, Tuna-on-Rye and Bacon Lettuce and Tomato.
I mentioned these girls do not like one another, maybe because they have so little in common. That is, until a mysterious pair of ruby slippers disappears and a woman called Cha-cha Stacco shows up in town. Cha-cha reminds the girls of the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz, but how could she be? These four unlikely friends are thrown into a secret world where they have to work together to stop the evil Cha-cha from getting the Ruby Slippers and find their way back home before they are stuck there forever.
This book is so much fun! It made me laugh out loud several times. Primavera has the most incredible and unusual imagination. She adds her own drawings to the book (sometimes they creep over an entire page) which only adds to the fun when you are reading this. I could not put this book down, then I passed it on to my sister to read when I was finished. Honestly, I've never read anything like it. Its imaginative, funny, clever and a must read for little (and big) girls everywhere!
I mentioned these girls do not like one another, maybe because they have so little in common. That is, until a mysterious pair of ruby slippers disappears and a woman called Cha-cha Stacco shows up in town. Cha-cha reminds the girls of the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz, but how could she be? These four unlikely friends are thrown into a secret world where they have to work together to stop the evil Cha-cha from getting the Ruby Slippers and find their way back home before they are stuck there forever.
This book is so much fun! It made me laugh out loud several times. Primavera has the most incredible and unusual imagination. She adds her own drawings to the book (sometimes they creep over an entire page) which only adds to the fun when you are reading this. I could not put this book down, then I passed it on to my sister to read when I was finished. Honestly, I've never read anything like it. Its imaginative, funny, clever and a must read for little (and big) girls everywhere!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo: By Obert Skye
What a fantastic concept! Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo is a story about a boy, Leven Thumps, who has been transplanted in the human world from a place called Foo. Foo is a secret world that has always existed and gives humans the ability to dream and hope. In Foo, a specific being is given the task of watching over the hopes and dreams of certain humans on Earth. But Foo is in absolute chaos because Sabine, resident Foo bad guy, is trying to find a way to open the gateway from Foo to the human world forever. By opening the door, the residents of Foo could leave their world for good. The result? Humans would no longer be able to dream or hope. This is where Leven Thumps comes in.
Leven is the only one who can stop Sabine from finding the gateway to Foo. In order to do this, he'll need the help of 3 people who have been transplanted to Earth to guide him on his quest: Clover, a tiny creature from Foo, Winter, a girl with a special power and Geth, the heir to the Foo throne. Their job is to not only help Leven on his quest, but to convince him that he can do what is necessary to keep Foo from disappearing forever.
Again, this book was a fantastic concept but parts of it moved a little slow for me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it didn't feel congruent. Action sequences moved fast and I was completely wrapped up in the story, but then, the book would slow down to an almost dead pace and I'd have to resist the urge to skip ahead. However, the last quarter of the book was excellent and very exciting.
I'm having trouble deciding if I'd like to read the rest of the books in the series. I may give book two, Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret, a shot then decide if it's worth continuing. It may have been that I liked the concept so much that I then raised my expectations a bit too high and was disappointed. I'm just not sure. Yet, overall, I'd say this was a pretty good book.
Leven is the only one who can stop Sabine from finding the gateway to Foo. In order to do this, he'll need the help of 3 people who have been transplanted to Earth to guide him on his quest: Clover, a tiny creature from Foo, Winter, a girl with a special power and Geth, the heir to the Foo throne. Their job is to not only help Leven on his quest, but to convince him that he can do what is necessary to keep Foo from disappearing forever.
Again, this book was a fantastic concept but parts of it moved a little slow for me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it didn't feel congruent. Action sequences moved fast and I was completely wrapped up in the story, but then, the book would slow down to an almost dead pace and I'd have to resist the urge to skip ahead. However, the last quarter of the book was excellent and very exciting.
I'm having trouble deciding if I'd like to read the rest of the books in the series. I may give book two, Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret, a shot then decide if it's worth continuing. It may have been that I liked the concept so much that I then raised my expectations a bit too high and was disappointed. I'm just not sure. Yet, overall, I'd say this was a pretty good book.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- by J.K. Rowling
I love these books. Period. I've read all of them at least 30 times, and this is not an exaggeration. In all honesty, the first time I read the books was after I dragged my sister Whittney unwillingly to see the very first HP movie when it came out. I was hooked during the first fifteen minutes of the film when poor Harry Potter drew a picture of a birthday cake in the dirt and blew out the candles. Call me a sucker for hard luck cases, but my heart went out to him. I love a story about the chosen one or a prophecy of any kind. Right after the movie, I raced over to the book store and bought the first three books in paperback and the fourth book, which had just come out, in hardback.
Anyone who has read the books will tell you that the books are far superior to the movies. The books (starting with the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) just get better and better. At first, I tried to write about this series as a whole, but I found it far to difficult. These novels are just to meaty for that kind-of shoddy treatment, so I'll break them down.
One of the things I like most about Rowling is how she describes her characters. There isn't a simple description of he looks like this, or she wears that, instead she uses clever ways to integrate the characters personality and intertwine that with how they look so the reader gets a very clear image of the type of person that character is on the inside and out. I read somewhere that she does a complete history for each character, and in my opinion, it shows.
The first of her novels, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone begins with Harry Potter delivered to his Aunt and Uncle, the Dursley's, when he is just an infant after an attempt was made on his life by Lord Voldmort, Harry's once and future nemesis. Lord Voldemort is the magical worlds equivalent to any number of tyrants that have existed throughout history.
Harry comes to Hogwarts at age eleven where he is introduced for the first time to the wizarding world. As readers, we watch as Harry struggles to learn magic, find a place for himself in this strange new world, and pass his classes without getting into to much trouble. In the course of the school year, Harry and his friends Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger discover someone is trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone (a magical item that produces the elixir of life and makes the drinker of the elixir immortal). With the help of his friends Ron and Hermione, Harry manages to keep Lord Voldemort from returning to power.
This book is full of imagination and excitement. I would recommend it to any one of any age who likes a good fantasy novel. It is well thought out, well organized, and frankly, fun to read.
Anyone who has read the books will tell you that the books are far superior to the movies. The books (starting with the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) just get better and better. At first, I tried to write about this series as a whole, but I found it far to difficult. These novels are just to meaty for that kind-of shoddy treatment, so I'll break them down.
One of the things I like most about Rowling is how she describes her characters. There isn't a simple description of he looks like this, or she wears that, instead she uses clever ways to integrate the characters personality and intertwine that with how they look so the reader gets a very clear image of the type of person that character is on the inside and out. I read somewhere that she does a complete history for each character, and in my opinion, it shows.
The first of her novels, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone begins with Harry Potter delivered to his Aunt and Uncle, the Dursley's, when he is just an infant after an attempt was made on his life by Lord Voldmort, Harry's once and future nemesis. Lord Voldemort is the magical worlds equivalent to any number of tyrants that have existed throughout history.
Harry comes to Hogwarts at age eleven where he is introduced for the first time to the wizarding world. As readers, we watch as Harry struggles to learn magic, find a place for himself in this strange new world, and pass his classes without getting into to much trouble. In the course of the school year, Harry and his friends Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger discover someone is trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone (a magical item that produces the elixir of life and makes the drinker of the elixir immortal). With the help of his friends Ron and Hermione, Harry manages to keep Lord Voldemort from returning to power.
This book is full of imagination and excitement. I would recommend it to any one of any age who likes a good fantasy novel. It is well thought out, well organized, and frankly, fun to read.
Why I love Childern's books.
More than once, I've been described as child-like. Maybe it's the way I laugh, or carry myself. Or maybe it's because I secretly still like to play and act silly. Above all things, I think a great imagination is the very best thing a person can have. Imagination can take you anywhere, and you can do anything- as long as you can dream it up.
Which is what I do whenever I begin another book. I've always relied on my imagination to act as a refuge. That's not to say I try to avoid reality. All my life I've given myself five minutes here or there to imagine what things would be like if they happened differently. In the minutes I allowed myself, I learned what I wanted to do with my life: write children's books.
For years, I have been reading children's books because the truth is, in a children's book, it's alright to believe in magic and a fairy tale is something common place, even expected. To me, the ultimate fun is in throwing yourself into a world someone else has created, or in my case, one I've dreamt up. What makes writing or reading a books so great is that even though the author has made this world their own, we all put our own spin on it. In each of our minds, the make believe world is just a little bit different and so is how we view the characters.
Isn't that a wonderful thought? That every time we pick up a book, we bring something of ourselves with us? Amazing. Which brings me to my decision on what to blog about. There is nothing I love more than to read- and most of my favorite books come from the children's book section- so here are my toughts on them.
Which is what I do whenever I begin another book. I've always relied on my imagination to act as a refuge. That's not to say I try to avoid reality. All my life I've given myself five minutes here or there to imagine what things would be like if they happened differently. In the minutes I allowed myself, I learned what I wanted to do with my life: write children's books.
For years, I have been reading children's books because the truth is, in a children's book, it's alright to believe in magic and a fairy tale is something common place, even expected. To me, the ultimate fun is in throwing yourself into a world someone else has created, or in my case, one I've dreamt up. What makes writing or reading a books so great is that even though the author has made this world their own, we all put our own spin on it. In each of our minds, the make believe world is just a little bit different and so is how we view the characters.
Isn't that a wonderful thought? That every time we pick up a book, we bring something of ourselves with us? Amazing. Which brings me to my decision on what to blog about. There is nothing I love more than to read- and most of my favorite books come from the children's book section- so here are my toughts on them.
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