C.A. Gray's Blog, page 48
July 3, 2020
Peter and the Starcatchers, by Barry and Pearson
Today’s podcast review comes from this blog review of Peter and the Starcatchers.
The post Peter and the Starcatchers, by Barry and Pearson appeared first on C.A. Gray.
July 2, 2020
Review of The Blight of Muirwood
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I still really enjoyed reading this one as I have all of Jeff Wheeler’s books, but I had a few more insights into why I have such a hard time following what’s going on: perhaps this is typical of high fantasy (which I almost never read), but many made up objects, titles, cities, and names are used on a regular basis and are never actually defined. I never noticed this before because the context makes me feel like I know what’s going on as I’m listening… yet then when I try to recount the plot to myself, I can’t. It’s sort of like following a lecture just well enough that you feel like you understand in the moment, but then when you walk away you realize you don’t actually remember what was said. This isn’t a criticism necessarily, it’s just a stylistic feature that I couldn’t put my finger on before.
I also had a few more mixed feelings in this one, from a religious standpoint. In previous books, I felt like all symbolism represented indisputable wisdom. In this one, I felt like it was specifically an allegory of the Mormon faith. I’m not Mormon, but I know just enough that I could recognize where certain aspects of the maston test and beliefs in the story paralleled Mormon theology. That’s not exactly a criticism either–in a way it was kind of fascinating to read between the lines and learn what a different faith (likely) believes by inferring it from its allegorical representation. It’s just that as soon as I felt that the morals espoused in the story deviated from my own beliefs, I began to feel like an outsider looking in, rather than a participant in the story, if that makes any sense.
I did really enjoy the further development of the relationship between Colvin and Lia, though. There were some surprising twists at the beginning, but I’m glad that it came back around at the end. That part was satisfying. I do intend to finish the series.
My rating: ****
Language: none
Sexual content: none
Violence: fantasy only
Political content: none
The post Review of The Blight of Muirwood appeared first on C.A. Gray.
June 26, 2020
The Wretched of Muirwood
Today’s podcast review comes from this blog post, The Wretched of Muirwood.
The post The Wretched of Muirwood appeared first on C.A. Gray.
June 24, 2020
Review of Peter and the Starcatchers
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This was so much fun — I felt like I’d discovered another Harry Potter! Partly this was because it was narrated by Jim Dale, who also narrated the Harry Potter series.
Peter is an orphan, the head of a band of orphan boys, who finds himself aboard a ship called the Wasp where they are poorly treated. On accident, a suspiciously magical trunk gets loaded on to the ship: it has the ability to both make people and animals that touch it fly, and to suffuse them with a sense of golden well-being and joy. Peter comes across the trunk while scavenging food for his charges, and also encounters Molly, an upper class girl on board the same ship who seems to know more about the trunk than she’s letting on. The trunk turns out to be filled with “star stuff,” the stuff of all the magical legends and the explanation for every fantastical tale of sea monsters, mermaids, genius, and heinous evil throughout the ages. But unfortunately, a fearsome pirate known as Black ‘Stache knows of the star stuff too, and he’s after it. Peter, Molly, and Peter’s band of boys must make sure that the stuff does not fall into his hands. In the process of trying to keep it from him, they find themselves on a deserted island which, thanks to the star stuff, turns into “Neverland.”
The way in which all the elements of Peter Pan come to be in this origin story as so very creative–on a number of occasions I felt like there was a little wink-wink from the authors to readers in the know. The characters are lively, the story is engaging and funny at times, and the writing style held my interest throughout. I’m always a little sad at the end because Peter doesn’t age (that’s kind of his hallmark trait), which means he can’t have a traditional “happily ever after.” But this book is the first in a series, so I’m definitely looking forward to continuing it!
My rating: *****
Language: none (it’s middle grade)
Sexual content: none
Violence: none
Political content: none
The post Review of Peter and the Starcatchers appeared first on C.A. Gray.
June 19, 2020
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins
Today’s podcast review comes from this blog review of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The post The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins appeared first on C.A. Gray.
June 16, 2020
Review of the Wretched of Muirwood
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I wish I could put my finger on what it is about Jeff Wheeler’s writing that I find so compelling, because most books that I’d consider similar don’t do it for me at all. Also, there’s so much going on that after the fact, I have a really hard time even remembering what happened! I think it must all come down to three things: compelling characters, a world so rich with detail that I feel like I could get lost in it, and the sense that I’m reading rich spiritual allegory peppered with wisdom. A normal novel is entertaining but offers no lasting satisfaction. Wheeler’s books are full of paraphrased scripture verses, profound insights into human nature, and beautiful descriptions of the character of God (though in the Muirwood series, God is called the Medium, just as in the Kingfountain series, He was called the Fountain.)
13-year old Lia is a servant, a “wretched,” in the abbey called Muirwood. She’s ignored and despised, and yet embued with magic from watching and imitating the Aldermaston whom she serves. Then one day, an injured squire turns up on her doorstep, and she has to help hide him from prying eyes. He despises her too, but she is willing to help him if in exchange he will provide the means for her to receive the thing she wants most: to learn to read. The two embark on a grand adventure, the details of which I can now no longer recall. And yet, I have the non-specific sense that good triumphs, virtue is rewarded, and all is right with the world, without being cheesy. I look forward to continuing the series!
My rating: ****1/2
Political content: none
Sexual content: none
Language: none
Violence: fantasy only (none to speak of)
The post Review of the Wretched of Muirwood appeared first on C.A. Gray.
June 12, 2020
Murder at Melrose Court, Karen Menuhin
Today’s podcast review comes from this blog post, Murder at Melrose Court.
The post Murder at Melrose Court, Karen Menuhin appeared first on C.A. Gray.
June 11, 2020
Review of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
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I know better than to read villain origin stories, and yet… it was from the world of the Hunger Games. How could I resist?
Beautifully written, and horrifying in the same way that the original trilogy were, this prequel follows Coriolanus Snow before he becomes the President who is Katniss Everdeen’s nemesis. You like him; you really like him at first. That’s inevitable (nobody will continue reading if they can’t root for the protagonist), but you also know you’re set up for a fall from the very beginning. You want her to somehow rewrite history and make him turn out good after all, but… no. Of course he won’t.
Amazingly, he retains his integrity for about 3/4 of the story, though. The little decisions he makes that lead him down the slippery slope into evil are so cleverly done, so minor at first that you can almost justify them, if you hold an opportunistic view of morality rather than an absolute standard. But we are the choices we repeatedly make, and each poor choice makes the next one that much easier. The final denouement happens quicker than I think it should have, though–he had too far to fall in too short a period of time, I guess. Still, at that point since I knew it was coming, I preferred to just “rip the bandaid off” and have done with it.
My rating: ****
Violence: Of course (it’s the Hunger Games, after all)
Sexual content: none
Language: none that I can recall
Political content: none
The post Review of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes appeared first on C.A. Gray.
June 5, 2020
Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection
Today’s podcast review comes from this blog review of Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for Ultrahuman Protection.
The post Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection appeared first on C.A. Gray.
Review of Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection
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This is hilarious! A tongue-in-cheek superhero story centering on disillusioned 20-something Andrea, who finds herself as the administrative assistant at a company very much like Dilbert’s or The Office–except they lease superheroes to save the world from impending destruction. CUP (The Corporation for Ultrahuman Protection) involves a ridiculous mix of office politics and bureaucracy with their apocalyptic activities. There’s never a dull moment, but every crisis is delightfully underplayed. Also: the narrator is incredible! What a range of voices!
My rating: *****
Language: some, but minor
Violence: none (comic book style only)
Sexual content: present, and in one or two places gratuitous
Political content: some, but not too over the top
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