by Orson Scott Card
Yeah, why isn't it there already?
I am, however, considering giving up the current bland fantasy book I've got to either start on your copy of Howl's Moving Castle or to start on my copy of This is Your Brain on Music. Or I could start on both. I'm that gifted. ]]>
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Hayley wrote: "Your three questions are insightful. I thought of a variant of your first question while I was read...more " |
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Nature nurtures creativity, spirituality, mental health and a slew of other good qualities in children exposed to it, says the author of this well-written book supported by a lot of research (though some call it too anecdotal). But kids today don't go outside much.
The author identifies this problem as "nature deficit disorder," then presents anecdotes and studies supporting the importance of nature for kids--and everyone else. Stories about the great outdoors and peoples' efforts to green their cities ensure that the book almost never bores (I did struggle through a chapter on land-use planning...and parts about how fear of injury lawsuits make parents want to keep their kids indoors...but maybe I'm just impatient).
Some of the author's plans for bringing nature back into peoples' lives reach far into the future and seem idealistic. But I think the value of this book is that it points out a major problem, not that its proposed solutions are perfect.
I was particularly struck by the assertion that nature allows the mind to roam and the senses to sharpen. There are lots other bits of wisdom...including the fact that one survey showed that more people would be willing to protect the environment because it's "God's creation" than because it has a utilitarian value.
Interestingly, this book attempts to show a destructive side of science--the tendency toward reductionism that may ruin the wonder of simply being in nature, knowing the names of plants and animals and getting to know the environment around you.
The book isn't anti-science (and of course it's not anti-environmentalist), but it mourns the loss of natural history, which scientists practice less and less. Personally, I can attest that the classes I took on the taxonomy of plants and birds were among my favorites while getting a bachelor's in bio. Naming stuff in the outdoors isn't science, but it makes me feel more attuned.
Among my favorite ideas from this book: People today tend to think of "nature" as something happening far away--like in tropical rainforests, which U.S. kids may never visit. Kids may be taught more about animals in distant places than the animals in the woods, fields or vacant lots near them. As a kid, I spent a lot of time both in woods and vacant lots, and I can attest that the author makes a good observation when he says that even these small, altered bits of nature can awaken a kid's mind and provide a satisfying place for all-important play.
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by Diana Wynne Jones
Is this, like... a Howl SEQUEL?
That makes me almost want to read the original book and then read this one. Maybe I will when it becomes too tantalizing. ]]>
by Richard Louv
Wes wrote: "I have always wanted to spend an entire day following one lizard around.
Of course if I did so I'd look like a weirdo…and the mostly-ancient-and-nosy people populating my subdivision would probabl..."
This urge of yours...it's why scientists develop and deploy tiny cameras.
I think there was even a video on the Science Friday (an NPR show) website where they camera-equipped an armadillo. ]]>
Slight...spoilers. Nothing that's going to ruin the plot...but I use names. Not all names in the book are immediately revealed.
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This book excels mainly by its unique concept: That gods traveled to the United States in the minds of immigrants, and that they linger on here in the forms of seemingly ordinary (or quirky, but believable) people.
My favorite part of that concept is that a lot of the tacky, roadside attractions in the country become places of power--places that feed the needs of these immigrant gods. (I'm a little biased: I was especially glad to see them mention the mermaids of Weeki Wachi, Florida...among my favorite childhood spectacles...and a place called Rock City that I once went to on vacation).
The most interesting part of this book, for me, was seeing how each deity--from Odin to Easter to the African god Anansi and the Egyptian god Anubis--was portrayed by Gaiman in their seemingly normal form. What does the jackal headed god of the dead do for his day job? Well...read and find out. Thought I must say, his didn't take the most imagination.
My one complaint, however, is this: In this colorful parade of gods, I didn't get extremely attached to any one character...not even to the main character Shadow or to the gods he spends the most time with.
But the story was very good, and it had a twist that I might have figured out early if I hadn't been trying to puzzle out Gaiman's symbolisms. Sometimes the book became too vague for me--and maybe people who are better at dissecting literary symbolism won't have that problem.
But just when the book seemed to be losing me in vagueness, Gaiman wrapped it up fairly well. Oh, and don't let me forget that there's plenty of good humor throughout the book.
Final verdict: It doesn't matter if you get all of Gaiman's nuances--the book is good from surface to its depths, has an incredibly creative concept, funny dialogue between characters, and makes great use of silly American tourist attractions--which to me, always did have a vague sense of magic...despite (or because of) the fact that they're...kinda gross.
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bookshelves: to-read
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It's about as good as the first book, but I almost gave it three stars because it didn't quite explore some angles I'd have liked.
Look at my review of its predecessor for its virtues...they're similar. The author puts her characters through an even more creative gauntlet of horrors, and I do feel like some of the characters are gaining depth, but she could still do better.
I think that this series needs one major thing, and that is: getting into someone else's head besides that of the main character, Katniss. For God's sake, let's hear from someone watching the Games. Katniss continues to imagine what reaction she elicits from the viewers...let's see how that stacks up against the real thing. Last time I would've nominated the difficult-to-understand Cinna as a watcher...but now he's...out of commission I guess. How about Gale? We need a new perspective.
The book also needs a more interesting villain. So the president's a tyrant. So the Capitol's rules are unfair and horrid. It would be better if the rulers were tyrants and unfair but also compelling. Only the rebels are compelling--but the best of stories make you attached to both sides. Think Tigana and...I dunno...Star Wars. Tigana, there's no completely good or evil person. Star Wars, the evil people are pretty evil, but they're very entertaining. ]]>
bookshelves: to-read
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