More great short stories from the master. I really loved "Willa", very chilling. "Gingerbread Girl" was intense and reminiscent of Dean Koontz. "Stati...moreMore great short stories from the master. I really loved "Willa", very chilling. "Gingerbread Girl" was intense and reminiscent of Dean Koontz. "Stationary Bike" was a different concept. "N." was probably my least favorite, it's one of those where the boundary between this world and the next is wearing thin, and the boogeyman's on his way. Those are really my least favorite King themed stories. The man can write. I love his writing style. It's just the monsters from another dimension that I don't get into.(less)
Interesting - I knew the author had a bookstore in Archer, TX, but I never realized exactly what it was. It seems he deals more in rare, collectible b...moreInteresting - I knew the author had a bookstore in Archer, TX, but I never realized exactly what it was. It seems he deals more in rare, collectible books than just your average used bookstore. And apparently has been doing it for quite some time. This was a nice inside look at the book selling industry - I'm talking like appraise your library for insurance purposes kind of thing. It seems to be a fairly insular community, or was back when he and his partner first started their business. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was definitely enjoyable.(less)
This is actually a bit different from Sedaris' previous books. He's still funny, but this has a few more serious moments. Still, the situations that h...moreThis is actually a bit different from Sedaris' previous books. He's still funny, but this has a few more serious moments. Still, the situations that he gets into... I mean, the man does have some absolutely preposterous things happen to him.(less)
I really like the concept of the book - a guy comes home to find a package on his front porch. Inside the package are 7 audio tapes made by a girl he...moreI really like the concept of the book - a guy comes home to find a package on his front porch. Inside the package are 7 audio tapes made by a girl he knew who had committed suicide recently. On these tapes, she tells why everyone on them is involved in her story. I guess I am too far removed from those angsty teen years. I don't want to make light of anyone's thoughts of suicide, but I really don't think what Hannah was going through was really all that bad. I guess it was to her. I was just expecting a little more bang, I guess. The writing was good, and the story was good. I guess I just ended up feeling angry at Hannah because all of the problems she saw could have been fixed so easily; but that is easy to say when you are not that person. She just really didn't strike me as someone who would kill herself over the things she lists as "reasons". (less)
Someone else called this a "speculative biography". I think that's a great definition. We know that Gudrid existed, certain facts I think are accepted...moreSomeone else called this a "speculative biography". I think that's a great definition. We know that Gudrid existed, certain facts I think are accepted as true. Brown uses the sagas and scholarship surrounding them, along with archaelogical evidence found in longhouses and Viking ships, and pulls together a picture of how it might have been. Gudrid was unusual in that she apparently traveled across the Atlantic multiple times. The author visited Iceland and was able to view some of the lands and even participate in a dig, so she was able to really flesh out some of the scholarship that exists out there; I just don't know how much of her book is considered accurate.(less)
Have to admit, I do like this series. This one was a bit lackluster though. Maybe it's just because they all run together in my mind. It becomes harde...moreHave to admit, I do like this series. This one was a bit lackluster though. Maybe it's just because they all run together in my mind. It becomes harder and harder to remember all the characters, and sometimes she'll slide one in that we've never met and doesn't explain who they are. So I'm left thinking I've lost it not remembering that particular person. Anyway, this one was more enjoyable for watching the process a professional caterer goes through in preparing recipes and menus.(less)
Wow, where to start? This book was originally published in 1921, and covers a very general history of the world up to that time. There were a lot of t...moreWow, where to start? This book was originally published in 1921, and covers a very general history of the world up to that time. There were a lot of things that surprised me about it. For one thing, I assumed the author would have different (more "old-fashioned") ideas. I expected some slant, but the direction of the slant was a surprise. The author comes across as what we would probably describe today as fairly liberal. He clearly disagreed with the US's decision to enter WWI; and was not impressed with President Wilson's "Fourteen Points". He seemed to think that the peace treaty was forced upon Europe by the US. I found this view interesting.
Having recently finished listening to a series of lectures on CD called "Everything You've Been Taught is Wrong" (based on the book Lies My Teacher Told Me by Prof. James Loewen), I kind of expected to see a lot of what he calls "bad history" and "bad sociology" - as most people writing history books have tended to base their research on other historians' work rather than doing research with primary materials, some pieces of information got passed along as fact that were not true. However, I did not see much of this that I recognized in this book, possibly because it focuses on the world in general, rather than the US specifically. Except for the claim that Columbus discovered America (p. 301); and even that is followed up by van Loon noting the fact that Vikings were here centuries before Columbus.
Some things I found quite relevant to today, and I found it interesting that the author chose to include them in his work. Some examples:
p. 79: "The Greeks, before everything else, wanted to be 'free,' both in mind and body. That they might maintain their liberty, and be truly free in spirit, they reduced their daily needs to the lowest possible point." What a lovely thought, and something to strive for, at least for me! P 175-176: Discusses the importance of progress and not being "sentimental about the Good Old Days." P 254: Firmly states that no one believed the earth was flat - going back to Dr. Loewen - this is one of those things I was taught in elementary school and it's just not true. I was happy to see that van Loon, at least, did not perpetuate this myth. p 239-240: van Loon predicts that dependence on sea travel will soon change to dependence on air travel P 250: [Christians of the western world] "came to the easy conclusion that these strange divinities were just plain devils who ... did not deserve the respect of the true sons of the Church... That system had certain very definite disadvantages. It has left us an unpleasant heritage of ill-will which promises litttle good for the immediate future." This was specifically referring to Buddhism and Confucianism, but can't it easily be applied to other non-Christian religions?
I found this book very interesting, though it took me a while to get through it! It was written in an engaging and appealing style that was not too dry and boring. I enjoyed the drawings too.
I read an updated edition that came out in 1984. However, I didn't read all the extra chapters, since they weren't in the edition that received the Newbery Medal!
This was a cute, little story. I enjoyed it. I think it's funny when animals talk, and they sound all formal. The father rabbit made me laugh. I thoug...moreThis was a cute, little story. I enjoyed it. I think it's funny when animals talk, and they sound all formal. The father rabbit made me laugh. I thought it was done well. (less)
Ginny travels to the UK after her aunt's death. Notes from her aunt send her on kind of a scavenger hunt around London and she learns to rely on herse...moreGinny travels to the UK after her aunt's death. Notes from her aunt send her on kind of a scavenger hunt around London and she learns to rely on herself as she goes. The only thing that really bugged me was that there was really no mention of her parents... She got the notes and headed out. I thought that was a little unrealistic. But it was a fun story otherwise.(less)
Interesting story of a girl, Clara, who is sent to a village in Mexico for the summer. She lives with her grandparents, who basically have nothing. Co...moreInteresting story of a girl, Clara, who is sent to a village in Mexico for the summer. She lives with her grandparents, who basically have nothing. Coming from the suburbs, she has to adjust to the new lifestyle but begins to enjoy it. When her grandmother begins to teach her some of her healing arts, Clara begins to feel as though she were meant to live that way, and resolves to not fall into the conspicuous consumption trap back home.(less)
I really liked this a lot! I felt like I could relate to the characters, even though they were quite a bit younger than me. I was a little annoyed at...moreI really liked this a lot! I felt like I could relate to the characters, even though they were quite a bit younger than me. I was a little annoyed at Nick at first, I mean, he dated the girl for 6 months and was THAT broken up about the breakup? I thought that was a little too emo for me. But it was okay. I love the references to the 80s and My So Called Life - that really made me laugh. (less)
How does a single father raise a daughter after the mother dies? I can't imagine it would be easy, especially with the relationship that Georgia and h...moreHow does a single father raise a daughter after the mother dies? I can't imagine it would be easy, especially with the relationship that Georgia and her father have. They don't really communicate with each other, and it's even more difficult now that Georgia is entering adolescence. This was an engaging YA (or younger, even) story about a girl who loves art, and her father, who loves her but doesn't really know how to show it.(less)
It was a little hard to get into this, because the writing style distracted me from the actual writing. There for a while in the begining, it was like...moreIt was a little hard to get into this, because the writing style distracted me from the actual writing. There for a while in the begining, it was like, "Hey, look at me, I'm a writer, see what I can do!" But maybe that was just me. Anyway, once he settled down a bit and the story moved on, I really liked it. It was definitely a different way to go. I think I'd try this author one more time. (less)
I can't believe I never read these as a kid! This book was so cute. I'm sure I would have loved it. I was especially amused at how the Spanish called...moreI can't believe I never read these as a kid! This book was so cute. I'm sure I would have loved it. I was especially amused at how the Spanish called him "Juan Hagapoco". That made me laugh. It got a little tedious there for a while, while they were on the island; and then it seemed to rush to the end. But the middle parts, with the actual adventure, that was definitely worth reading. I also enjoyed the idea of traveling the sea floor in a giant snail with a transparent shell. Very imaginative.
However, the title is a little misleading, as this book only documents one voyage!(less)
Historical kid-lit that attempts to solve the mystery of the Mona Lisa. I always enjoy E.L. Konigsburg, and this was no exception. Maybe not as good a...moreHistorical kid-lit that attempts to solve the mystery of the Mona Lisa. I always enjoy E.L. Konigsburg, and this was no exception. Maybe not as good as The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, but that's possibly because that one has a special place in my heart.(less)
Thought it could be interesting and funny - I mean, a cozy mystery starring a gay vampire? Fabulous, right? As a mystery, it was okay. I thought the v...moreThought it could be interesting and funny - I mean, a cozy mystery starring a gay vampire? Fabulous, right? As a mystery, it was okay. I thought the vampire issue was just thrown in, though. Simon takes a certain drug that enables him to basically behave as a normal human. He only acts as a vampire when the author needs certain traits, like super sensitive hearing. I think the author was just jumping on the vampire train, when it would have made a cute cozy mystery without the vampire aspect. (less)
I enjoyed the story of Birdie and her family, farmers in Florida. The tension with the neighbors because of the fences was well done. I knew that had...moreI enjoyed the story of Birdie and her family, farmers in Florida. The tension with the neighbors because of the fences was well done. I knew that had happened in the west, but didn't realize it took place in Florida as well.
I thought the characters of Birdie and Shoestring were fairly well drawn. Some of the other characters, like Shoestring's brothers and father, were rather one-dimensional. I appreciated the dilemma that Shoestring's mother faced, trying (sort of) to keep good relationships with the neighbors while her husband and older sons were just making trouble. The ending was wrapped up a little too neatly but otherwise, a good story for kids.(less)
It took me a while to get into this book. Usually, you don't expect the main character to be such a... jerk! And, wow, Johnny Tremain was pretty jerky...moreIt took me a while to get into this book. Usually, you don't expect the main character to be such a... jerk! And, wow, Johnny Tremain was pretty jerky. Then I decided that I liked that. It actually made him more real to me. So many times in historical fiction, the characters are all just way too perfect, and this was not the case here.
This book really simplified the "taxation without representation" issue that drove the colonists to throw that infamous Tea Party. I think that an elementary schooler reading this would learn a lot about the times and the feelings of the times. I also liked how the author made sure to show that the "Indians" only threw the tea over - that was what the argument was about, and that was the only thing they touched; even threw over one of the boys who was stealing it. It made a statement about the honor of the founding fathers as they did what they felt they had to do, which I think is important, even (or maybe especially) these days. It says a lot, to me, about who we are as a nation (or should be).
This was my first book in the "Read the Newberys". I'm hoping to catch up on the older ones going forward, but in reading the reviews of some of them, I'm glad I started with this one!(less)
**spoiler alert** Ummm... Weird. A homemade doll, made of a twig with a hickory nut for a head, is abandoned over the winter and has to survive alone....more**spoiler alert** Ummm... Weird. A homemade doll, made of a twig with a hickory nut for a head, is abandoned over the winter and has to survive alone. Or rather, with some help from the animals around. In the end, she loses her head to a starving squirrel and winds up attaching her twig self to an apple tree, thereby reviving it and helping it to bloom again. This was written well before the 60s, so I don't think there was any acid involved in the writing of it, but it couldn't hurt to have some handy for the reading part.
This is a Newbery Award winner. Even though we are using May as a catch-up month, I had already checked this out from the library, and it's due back tomorrow. So I figured I'd go ahead and read it. Don't know if I'm glad I did or not.(less)
I am a sucker for winter survival stories. I liked this one because it took place in the same general area as Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter,...moreI am a sucker for winter survival stories. I liked this one because it took place in the same general area as Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter, but many years later. As the characters in this book refer to previous hard winters, I was constantly reminded of the one the Ingalls family lived through. This time, they had cars and plenty of food and coal for the stoves. But some of the children are forced to stay at school for a few days during a blizzard, because it can still be too dangerous to wander around outside.
I also liked the fact that the author based this book on a real prairie school, the teacher of which she had been in touch with. The students also wrote her letters, and she visited the area as well for research.(less)
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