Cheryl B. Dale's Blog: RANDOM MUSINGS, page 45
December 13, 2011
SPIRIT FALLS
I really liked this book, SPIRIT FALLS by Robert E. Townsend. The time is the fifties, the place is northern Wisconsin, the community is comprised of immigrants and/or first generation descendents.
The main character is a sixteen-year-old boy. He and his best friend, a girl his age, trap and work together on the farm. Other people include a displaced person he crushes on, an abused girl who nowadays would be seen screaming for help, some male friends...and enemies. In this coming of age story, we see how he begins to think of places outside Wisconsin, dream of something other than farming.
The writing craft could have been better. The shifting points of view were sometimes abrupt with little transition, and with another abrupt shift within a few paragraphs so that I had to figure out who was thinking what. The characterizations were sometimes over the top, too, with some heavyhanded stereotyping and people behaving strangely. In one place an incident was referred to that didn't happen till later on in the story.
But I felt the lure of the beautiful northwest. I could see the beauty, hear the rushing water, feel the cold. Boy, could I feel the cold! This is one of the coldest books I've ever read.
And even when I put it down, I was wondering what was going to happen, and looking forward to picking it up again.
I liked it so much I intend to reread it, taking in things I missed in my haste to get through it.
This is an excellent read.
The main character is a sixteen-year-old boy. He and his best friend, a girl his age, trap and work together on the farm. Other people include a displaced person he crushes on, an abused girl who nowadays would be seen screaming for help, some male friends...and enemies. In this coming of age story, we see how he begins to think of places outside Wisconsin, dream of something other than farming.
The writing craft could have been better. The shifting points of view were sometimes abrupt with little transition, and with another abrupt shift within a few paragraphs so that I had to figure out who was thinking what. The characterizations were sometimes over the top, too, with some heavyhanded stereotyping and people behaving strangely. In one place an incident was referred to that didn't happen till later on in the story.
But I felt the lure of the beautiful northwest. I could see the beauty, hear the rushing water, feel the cold. Boy, could I feel the cold! This is one of the coldest books I've ever read.
And even when I put it down, I was wondering what was going to happen, and looking forward to picking it up again.
I liked it so much I intend to reread it, taking in things I missed in my haste to get through it.
This is an excellent read.
December 12, 2011
NEW WATER HEATER
Okay. So the kitchen stove wasn't working properly when we moved back to N GA. We've had it worked on. Took them a while but...
Then we had to buy a new washer and dryer. The washer was dancing around the floor, the dryer refused to cut off. But after twenty years, what do you expect?
Then the heat didn't work. Got it fixed. Then this summer, the air didn't work. Got it fixed. Then the heat wouldn't work again. Got it fixed. Had to put in a new handler and rewire but hey...It's working now.
Then the dishwasher refused to cycle properly. I had to set it on wash, turn it off, drain, and set on rinse to get the dishes washed. Got it fixed. Sears forgot to tell the repairman he had to replace another part so it blew the board. And he had to come back and replace it.
The icemaker on the refrigerator didn't work so we got it fixed. Not much more to go wrong, right?
Went back to the coastal condo to check on things and guess what. The hot water heater was leaking out the bottom. Not ten years old but we had to get a new one.
I think all that's left is the fridge. And I'm afraid it's time for it to go, too. If 2012 isn't better than 2011, I'm ready to surrender and go to a boarding house somewhere. With or without the cats.
Then we had to buy a new washer and dryer. The washer was dancing around the floor, the dryer refused to cut off. But after twenty years, what do you expect?
Then the heat didn't work. Got it fixed. Then this summer, the air didn't work. Got it fixed. Then the heat wouldn't work again. Got it fixed. Had to put in a new handler and rewire but hey...It's working now.
Then the dishwasher refused to cycle properly. I had to set it on wash, turn it off, drain, and set on rinse to get the dishes washed. Got it fixed. Sears forgot to tell the repairman he had to replace another part so it blew the board. And he had to come back and replace it.
The icemaker on the refrigerator didn't work so we got it fixed. Not much more to go wrong, right?
Went back to the coastal condo to check on things and guess what. The hot water heater was leaking out the bottom. Not ten years old but we had to get a new one.
I think all that's left is the fridge. And I'm afraid it's time for it to go, too. If 2012 isn't better than 2011, I'm ready to surrender and go to a boarding house somewhere. With or without the cats.
December 4, 2011
DUST
Excellent MG story. Eleven-year-old Robert is the only one who suspects the stranger in town is...not what he seems.
This story by Arthur Slade takes place in the Canada, during their Dust Bowl of the 1930s. I could almost taste the dust from Slade's descriptive writing. One day Robert's younger brother Matthew sets off to walk to town with his parents to follow a few minutes later. Matthew never reaches town. He's gone.
That same day a stranger appears who promises he can make rain. Only Robert and his Uncle Alden are skeptical. Robert's parents fall into line with the rest of the town and in the process seem to forget entirely about the missing Matthew and two other missing children. Then strange things begin happening...
Eerie, fascinating, compelling.
An easy read for adults and middle graders should enjoy it as well.
This story by Arthur Slade takes place in the Canada, during their Dust Bowl of the 1930s. I could almost taste the dust from Slade's descriptive writing. One day Robert's younger brother Matthew sets off to walk to town with his parents to follow a few minutes later. Matthew never reaches town. He's gone.
That same day a stranger appears who promises he can make rain. Only Robert and his Uncle Alden are skeptical. Robert's parents fall into line with the rest of the town and in the process seem to forget entirely about the missing Matthew and two other missing children. Then strange things begin happening...
Eerie, fascinating, compelling.
An easy read for adults and middle graders should enjoy it as well.
November 27, 2011
THE CRUD
For some reason, either my guy or I get the crud around holidays. This Thanksgiving it was my turn.
So...No traveling to my brother's for fear of giving him the stuff. No turkey and fixings that my sister-in-law cooked without my help. No leftovers carried home to feast on later.
Instead, we had soup. And I lay on the sofa and watched the parade and dozed through football.
My guy was sweet though. I tried to send him to his sister's here in town, knowing she always cooks enough for extra guests. But he declined and stayed with me.
I think it was the football he wanted to see actually but...
So...No traveling to my brother's for fear of giving him the stuff. No turkey and fixings that my sister-in-law cooked without my help. No leftovers carried home to feast on later.
Instead, we had soup. And I lay on the sofa and watched the parade and dozed through football.
My guy was sweet though. I tried to send him to his sister's here in town, knowing she always cooks enough for extra guests. But he declined and stayed with me.
I think it was the football he wanted to see actually but...
