Growing up, I loved to read the Anne books by L. M. Montgomery. So it was with a slight twinge of trepidation that I revisited Anne of Green Gables. I was worried that she would not have aged well, that somehow I would have outgrown the fairy fancies. Fortunately, the book is so magnificent that I was instantly swept into that world once more.
Anne is a bright, vivid character with a well-developed voice. Her scrapes are entertaining, but entirely believable. Each character in this book is unique, but real.
Words really can't fully express my love for this book. I would spend more time trying, but I don't want to give away the ending. Let me just say this - if you haven't read this book, do it now. Not only is it a much-beloved classic, but it is good.
Length: Not long enough - that's why there are so many sequels.
Age Range: 10+
Genre: Children's/Young Adult
Additional Comments: I don't know why you're still reading this, when you are supposed to be reading Anne.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
The Sunday Philosophy Club
Alexander McCall Smith
The book is attempting to be a character driven mystery novel, in which the focus is on the detective, not on the mystery. For me, this meant that it was a less than satisfying mystery, since the reader was not given clues or any sort of thing that would help them solve the mystery. Instead, it was a journey with Isabel Dalhousie. If you like her character, then you will probably like the book.
It is simple to guess that the author has a deep and abiding interest in the world of philosophy. Many references will be over the reader's head, but if you are a philosopher, then you will enjoy the issues that are raised and the references that are made.
It is not one of those deeply satisfying mysteries, where the perpetrator is discovered, decried, and justly punished. A neat ending is avoided - perhaps because life, in reality, does not have the kind of tidiness that is too often present in works of fiction. Morality triumphs over legality - an ending not without its moral implications. But perhaps that is the goal of the author, to force his readers to ponder their ideas of right and wrong and to make their own decisions without any kind of authoritative hand-holding.
Length - a little less than three hundred pages
Age Range - definitely adult
Genre - mystery
Additional Notes: Not the book for me, but not a book without merit.
The book is attempting to be a character driven mystery novel, in which the focus is on the detective, not on the mystery. For me, this meant that it was a less than satisfying mystery, since the reader was not given clues or any sort of thing that would help them solve the mystery. Instead, it was a journey with Isabel Dalhousie. If you like her character, then you will probably like the book.
It is simple to guess that the author has a deep and abiding interest in the world of philosophy. Many references will be over the reader's head, but if you are a philosopher, then you will enjoy the issues that are raised and the references that are made.
It is not one of those deeply satisfying mysteries, where the perpetrator is discovered, decried, and justly punished. A neat ending is avoided - perhaps because life, in reality, does not have the kind of tidiness that is too often present in works of fiction. Morality triumphs over legality - an ending not without its moral implications. But perhaps that is the goal of the author, to force his readers to ponder their ideas of right and wrong and to make their own decisions without any kind of authoritative hand-holding.
Length - a little less than three hundred pages
Age Range - definitely adult
Genre - mystery
Additional Notes: Not the book for me, but not a book without merit.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Fairest is a retelling of the tale of Snow White. My verdict? Not as good as Ella Enchanted. This book is certainly not the fairest of them all.
It was interesting to see the way Levine introduced her character's appearance as grotesque, flipping the traditional Snow White on its head, but I never really understood what made her ugly. She was larger than everyone else? She wasn't blonde? Why do these people not find dark hair attractive? As a brunette, I was puzzled and secretly vowed never to visit Ayortha since I don't think I can face that kind of prejudice. Are they Nazis? Basically, I left with the general impression that her broad shoulders and stature made her personal appearance entirely unappealing.
The story moves forward in a predictable fashion, which it should, since it is a retelling of a fairy tale. The singing grates after a while, which was unfortunate as it made me sympathize with the "villain" rather more than one should. I don't think people should run around bursting into song over the silliest things. Even musicals save the songs for more important things than whether your egg whites are properly beaten (note: this is a hypothetical example, not one which actually appears in the book).
The ending was unsatisfactory. Perhaps this says more about me than it does about the book, but I prefer to have proper villains, and there was not a really good one. One could argue that the magic mirror was the villain, but his involvement was so minor that I found it difficult to really give him that important of a position.
Length: shortish to middling
Genre: Youth fantasy
Additional Notes: none.
It was interesting to see the way Levine introduced her character's appearance as grotesque, flipping the traditional Snow White on its head, but I never really understood what made her ugly. She was larger than everyone else? She wasn't blonde? Why do these people not find dark hair attractive? As a brunette, I was puzzled and secretly vowed never to visit Ayortha since I don't think I can face that kind of prejudice. Are they Nazis? Basically, I left with the general impression that her broad shoulders and stature made her personal appearance entirely unappealing.
The story moves forward in a predictable fashion, which it should, since it is a retelling of a fairy tale. The singing grates after a while, which was unfortunate as it made me sympathize with the "villain" rather more than one should. I don't think people should run around bursting into song over the silliest things. Even musicals save the songs for more important things than whether your egg whites are properly beaten (note: this is a hypothetical example, not one which actually appears in the book).
The ending was unsatisfactory. Perhaps this says more about me than it does about the book, but I prefer to have proper villains, and there was not a really good one. One could argue that the magic mirror was the villain, but his involvement was so minor that I found it difficult to really give him that important of a position.
Length: shortish to middling
Genre: Youth fantasy
Additional Notes: none.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Book Thief
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Set in Germany during the Second World War, this book, unlike many others set in this period, does not focus on Jews. There are Jewish characters in the book, and the plight of the Jews is by no means ignored. But our heroine is German. Her name is Liesel.
Some of the characters, though charming, feel too whimsical to be real. The constant name-calling as an expression of affection has its moments, but these are few and far between, making the constant background noise of "saumensch!" feel unnecessary and clunky.
A unique feature of this book is the narrator. He is Death. Zusak's Death is not a silent spectre, nor an aloof observor. He feels, and tries to avoid his feelings. He is a sympathetic figure.
Zusak's style is sharp, choppy, and perfect for this book. I have not read any of his other works, so I am unable to say whether this style is his normal one, or whether he adopted it for this tale. There are points when the style verges on the indulgent, when one simply wants the story to move forward. The lists made by Death feel honest, like the lists people would make when trying to assert control over their world.
What would anyone be without words? This is a question the book addresses. Liesel grows into someone who truly knows the value of words. She knows what is worth stealing. Words have the power to calm frantic people in bomb shelters and to forge steel bonds of friendship between a German and a Jew.
This book is not perfect. But, then, no book is. It is a book that I approached with reluctance and left grudgingly. The first few pages are confusing, but once Zusak begins the core story, it is well worth reading.
Genre: In America, it is classified as Young Adult, in Australia, it is shelved with the Adult fiction. Whatever age range you choose, it is a historical novel dealing with the extreme themes of that time period.
Age Range: I would say it is young adult, but an older young adult. 14+
Length: over 500 pages
Additional Comments: This book is powerful and moving. It may not change your life, but it will help you explore who you want to be and how you view the value of words.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Sherwood Ring
Another book by Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Sherwood Ring cleverly combines fantasy with reality. Ghosts are real, and they can, under certain circumstances, contact the living. This is not a book about Robin Hood!
Peggy Grahame is a young orphan who is sent to live with her reclusive Uncle Enos. Enos lives on the family estate and focuses his energy on preserving the estate in exact historical condition. Since Peggy is without any other companionship, the ghosts of Peggy's ancestors tell her their stories, with very interesting results.
It was a very fun, quick read. I loved the story and the way it unfolded. One of the few negatives I have is that it was a touch predictable. Plus, the present day characters and the ghosts from the past were much too similar. Overall, it was very enjoyable and I would definitely read it again.
Genre: young adult, historical fiction
Length: a few hundred pages
Age: ten and up
Additional Comments: This is a book that will eventually be added to my library.
Peggy Grahame is a young orphan who is sent to live with her reclusive Uncle Enos. Enos lives on the family estate and focuses his energy on preserving the estate in exact historical condition. Since Peggy is without any other companionship, the ghosts of Peggy's ancestors tell her their stories, with very interesting results.
It was a very fun, quick read. I loved the story and the way it unfolded. One of the few negatives I have is that it was a touch predictable. Plus, the present day characters and the ghosts from the past were much too similar. Overall, it was very enjoyable and I would definitely read it again.
Genre: young adult, historical fiction
Length: a few hundred pages
Age: ten and up
Additional Comments: This is a book that will eventually be added to my library.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Trouble, by Gary Schmidt
Gary Schmidt's book Trouble
Whenever a book makes me cry, I say it is good. Why? Because it contains characters that I care enough about to awaken my sympathy, and sometimes even my empathy. This is not a light-hearted romp. It begins with Henry's older brother lying in the hospital in a coma.
throughout the book, Henry must deal with his guilt, his anger, and his racism. He must learn to face reality. This book addresses real topics of forgiveness and hatred, love and hardships, how actions have consequences, and how trouble can never be avoided - it must be faced.
Genre: Young Adult
Length: 300 pages
Age Range: 12+
Additional Comments: Read it.
Whenever a book makes me cry, I say it is good. Why? Because it contains characters that I care enough about to awaken my sympathy, and sometimes even my empathy. This is not a light-hearted romp. It begins with Henry's older brother lying in the hospital in a coma.
throughout the book, Henry must deal with his guilt, his anger, and his racism. He must learn to face reality. This book addresses real topics of forgiveness and hatred, love and hardships, how actions have consequences, and how trouble can never be avoided - it must be faced.
Genre: Young Adult
Length: 300 pages
Age Range: 12+
Additional Comments: Read it.
Dora, by Johanna Spyri
This book, Dora, is brought to us by the author of the beloved children's classic, Heidi. Like Heidi, Dora is about a young orphan girl in Switzerland. It simply is not as good as Heidi. It is not a bad book, but the characters lack the charm and depth of the more famous book.
Everything felt familiar, like I had read it all before. Even though it lacked a spark of originality, I enjoyed reading this book. It was quick and fun - a pancake kind of a book. Young girls who enjoy Heidi will probably also enjoy this one.
Genre: Children's Fiction
Age Range: Probably about 10
Length: Mediumish - simple language
Additional Comments: It may be a little better than I have described it to be. It is not a bad book, simply not an excellent one.
Everything felt familiar, like I had read it all before. Even though it lacked a spark of originality, I enjoyed reading this book. It was quick and fun - a pancake kind of a book. Young girls who enjoy Heidi will probably also enjoy this one.
Genre: Children's Fiction
Age Range: Probably about 10
Length: Mediumish - simple language
Additional Comments: It may be a little better than I have described it to be. It is not a bad book, simply not an excellent one.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Nobody's Fool
Nobody's Fool
by Richard Russo
This book nearly killed me. I would have liked nothing better than to lay it down and never pick it up again. However, dear readers, I thought of you and persevered. The pacing was extremely slow. I found that the writing, although not without merit, did not manage to keep me engaged with the story or the characters.
The book is not without its good points. The characters are very realistic and well developed. The setting is believable, and the situations also feel as though they could be true. However, it feels like nothing happens. There are some small snippets of redemptive growth in a few characters. Maybe it is the worldview of the book that bothers me the most. It feels like a book which has forgotten about hope.
I am not sure if I will ever read any other book by this author. The cover of this book informs me that he is a Pulitzer Prize winning author for Empire Falls, so I may, someday, when I have recovered from this book, give that book a try. Until that day, read at your own risk.
Genre: Modern Fiction
Length: over 500 pages, and it feels at least that long
Age Range: Definitely a book for adults due to the multiple sexual references.
Additional Notes: If this is the kind of book you like, you will like this book. It just is not my cup of tea. This is a bitter green tea, with no sugar or cream to lessen the sharpness.
by Richard Russo
This book nearly killed me. I would have liked nothing better than to lay it down and never pick it up again. However, dear readers, I thought of you and persevered. The pacing was extremely slow. I found that the writing, although not without merit, did not manage to keep me engaged with the story or the characters.
The book is not without its good points. The characters are very realistic and well developed. The setting is believable, and the situations also feel as though they could be true. However, it feels like nothing happens. There are some small snippets of redemptive growth in a few characters. Maybe it is the worldview of the book that bothers me the most. It feels like a book which has forgotten about hope.
I am not sure if I will ever read any other book by this author. The cover of this book informs me that he is a Pulitzer Prize winning author for Empire Falls, so I may, someday, when I have recovered from this book, give that book a try. Until that day, read at your own risk.
Genre: Modern Fiction
Length: over 500 pages, and it feels at least that long
Age Range: Definitely a book for adults due to the multiple sexual references.
Additional Notes: If this is the kind of book you like, you will like this book. It just is not my cup of tea. This is a bitter green tea, with no sugar or cream to lessen the sharpness.
The Perilous Gard
This book, written by Elizabeth Marie Pope in 1971, is my first random find. I had never heard of the author and I had never heard of the book.
It is a book well worth reading. The main character, Katherine, is not a perfect girl. She has many traits that could be considered undesirable. But it is these same traits which aid her when she is banished to the ancient castle known as Perilous Gard. She, with the help of others, struggles to unravel the mysteries surrounding the castle and the ancient legends of the land.
Although this book has a specific historical context, England in the 1500s, knowledge of the time period is not essential. Knowing the history and legends will, however, enhance your enjoyment.
I could go on and on about the deft way in which the fantastical elements are woven into the story, never appearing misplaced or unbelievable. Or I could spend my time giving an exhaustive plot description. But I won't. I will simply state that this is a good book, and you should read it. And don't just take my word for it. I am not the only one to recognize this book's merit. In 1975, it was awarded the Newbery Honor.
Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy
Age Range: I would guess around age 12 and up.
Length: Nearly 300 pages, but it is still a fairly quick read
Additional notes: It feels like a book for girls. Boys may enjoy the adventure and mystery portions of the tale, but they often object to romance.
It is a book well worth reading. The main character, Katherine, is not a perfect girl. She has many traits that could be considered undesirable. But it is these same traits which aid her when she is banished to the ancient castle known as Perilous Gard. She, with the help of others, struggles to unravel the mysteries surrounding the castle and the ancient legends of the land.
Although this book has a specific historical context, England in the 1500s, knowledge of the time period is not essential. Knowing the history and legends will, however, enhance your enjoyment.
I could go on and on about the deft way in which the fantastical elements are woven into the story, never appearing misplaced or unbelievable. Or I could spend my time giving an exhaustive plot description. But I won't. I will simply state that this is a good book, and you should read it. And don't just take my word for it. I am not the only one to recognize this book's merit. In 1975, it was awarded the Newbery Honor.
Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy
Age Range: I would guess around age 12 and up.
Length: Nearly 300 pages, but it is still a fairly quick read
Additional notes: It feels like a book for girls. Boys may enjoy the adventure and mystery portions of the tale, but they often object to romance.
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