You start 'em early, Linda!
Hi there!
Richard..
I've got a project going on...I wanted to start a new thread to list all books read thus far...This is taking much longer than I thought...ugh.
Hi Luxx..
Hi, I've got you starred again!!
I have you starred again as well!
Don't wanna lose you!
The Wednesday Wars by
Gary Schmidt.
Have you ever read a book wherein you cried from one sentence, and then laughed at the next?
Have you ever read a book wherein you simply did not want it to end?
Have you ever read a book wherein the characters were so beautifully portrayed that you wanted them as real-life friends?
Have you ever read a book where the writing was magical, the story line so convincingly incredible that you knew it was destined to be one of your top all-time favorites ... ever?
Gary Schmidt has written such a book!
Praise should not be given lightly, rendering the message meaningless. Thus, rarely do I gush or stand on a soap box telling all to read a specific book, but this is an exception.
RUSH to get it, but then slowly read it, savoring every word, every nuance, every turn of the phrase and every heartwarming paragraph.
Welcome to 1967 where Holling Hoodhood is entering Mrs. Baker's seventh grade class at Camillo Junior High in Long Island, NY. The only Presbyterian in Wednesday class, he must stay behind with Mrs. Baker while all others either attend catechism or Hebrew school.
What unfolds is quite surprising to Holling as originally he was convinced Mrs. Baker hated him. He soon discovers a magical, wonderful mentor who instills a love of Shakespeare. Soon Holling is quoting verbatim and applying the emotions set forth by Shakespeare to his own real life, coming- of-age situations.
The cast of characters includes some bullies, some meanies, and many stellar remarkable people. Using Viet Nam as a backdrop,
Schmidt allows us to see the impact on Holling's family, and his teachers, as both Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Bigio, the school cook, have husbands who are fighting in the Viet Nam jungle.
Without over politicizing,
Schmidt makes a statement as we watch L.B. Johnson escalate the war while families watch the six o'clock news with Walter Cronkite.
Through Holling's eyes, we observe the character of a classmate, Mai Thi, A Viet Nam refugee, who becomes a scapegoat and victim of stereotyping.
As Holling not only learns Shakespeare, he garners valuable experiences, and as the year progresses, he learns to stand up for himself -- and in the process gains enough confidence to stand up for others.
Thanks to Alaskabookworm (Linda) and Stasia for recommending this 2008 Newbery Honor book. The only disappointment I have is that it was an honor book when truly, it should have received the medal!
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, sep 26, 2009, 1:41pm.
#9
Sadly, I haven't got this book, I have no funds to buy this book, the wishlist on BM is very long and I even checked our county library system (I don't even have a current library card) and they don't have it.
So, whilst it sounds amazing and your review really sells it, it will be a while before I can enjoy this book! It gets a thumbs up from me.
oh wowww I MUST buy this for myself for Christmas :) For now, I'm putting it on the top of the wishlist - you sure can sell a book, Linda!
p.s. "Praise should not be given lightly, rendering the message meaningless" I completely agree.
I gave your
Wednesday Wars review a thumbs up. Your glowing praise of it actually led me to put the book on my wishlist (I can get it at our library). It's not a book I would have particularly looked twice at otherwise, but you obviously found it to be special.
But I can't rush out and grab it right now. Too much other stuff to read first. :)
Have
Wednesday Wars on order at the library after reading Stasia's review. Can't wait now to get my hands on it.
Found you :)
That sounds wonderful!
Linda - Your review of
The Wednesday Wars is amazing. I have this one on my TBR already, but you have pushed it up toward the top.
Hope you are enjoying the weekend!
Great review! - I have also added it to my wishlist :)
Hi Linda,
The Wednesday Wars has been on my to-read list for a while but your review made me put a hold on it at the library!
Next visit to the doctor, I'm going to INSIST on a knee replacement, just so I can get a couple of weeks off work in order to catch up with reading all the books you make me add to my list. Bad Linda!
*waves*
I'm glad I found you and what a review!
It's now a hot review! I just saw it on the home page when I logged in!
Thanks to all for your comments regarding my review and thoughts of
The Wednesday Wars. Happy Sunday to all.
Linda- Congrats on the Hot Review! You deserved it! The review was very good and yes I have starred your challenge, for further perusal! Hope you have a great Sunday too!
Hey W1! Congrats on the Hot Review. I have added it to my (thankfully) ever-growing TBR. As well as a Tudor or two from your old thread. Nice to be caught up here. And Happy Belated Birthday!
Hey Linda,
Congratulations on your hot review. Wednesday Wars meet TBR list.
Mark, Berly and Brenzi...Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments.
Hi Whisper, I found you again! The Wednesday Wars is definitely going on my wishlist. Thanks for the great review!
ooh, well done on the hot review!
*plop* There goes another book onto the virtual pile. I'm always a sucker for coming-of-age stories, and this one sounds special. Thanks. I think.
Lizzie Bright and The Buckminster Boy by
Gary D. Schmidt.
Once again
Schmidt did it! He wrote an outstandingly beautiful book dealing with very complex, gritty issues.
This book was written before
The Wednesday Wars and received the 1995 Newbery Honor award. It is particularly poignant, outstandingly breathtaking and incredibly tragic.
Based upon true occurrences of race-related issues in Phippsbubrg, Maine, the setting is the early 1900's wherein an interracial community of African Americans, who were rich in values and culture, but poor in financial means, eeked out a living on Malaga Island and, deemed as a blight on the land, were forcibly, cruelly evicted.
Enter Turner Buckminster III, son of the newly appointed pastor of the Congregationalist church, mix in a cast of characters who are ignorant and blatantly inadequate in human kindess, add delightful, spunky, enchanting, courageous African American Lizzie Bright Griffin, then stir the mix by adding a heaping tablespoon of contradictions of the Right Reverend Buckminster II, and the end result is a work of art beyond excellence.
Reminiscent of
To Kill a Mockingbird, another award winning book portraying the scathing underbelly of racism,
Schmidt unflinchingly deals with the hypocrisy of church going folk who sit in the Sunday pews singing the hymns while perpetrating evil on innocent people.
In a cruel, uncaring environment, Turner finds solace and is grounded by a special, forbidden friendship with Lizzie Bright.
As all around him throw stones which land like savage blows filled with hated words and actions in a quagmire of mucky mess, Turner takes the higher ground and walks the path where the waves lap the shores, where the lights are gentle and the cabins are filled with loving, kind African Americans who simply want to live in peace.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, sep 28, 2009, 12:07pm.
Heavy Sigh. Another one bites the list...
Thanks for the links. The book sounds great. :)
lunacat,
please email me your mailing address and I will send you my copy of The Wednesday Wars when I am finished.
In the Name of Jesus,
Sharon
sharontheil@gmail.com
Wow, Whisper -- great reviews. I had never encountered Schmidt, so thanks for highlighting him. I can't wait to read those books!
Oh, wait, there are some other things I kind of have to do first. Like my job. Dang.
How on earth do you motor through so many books? Please, please tell me your secret!
>HA!!! That's one of the best lines I've read since joining LT. I think a lot of us might be following your lead and calling our doctors very soon! :P
#36..
How on earth do you motor through so many books? Please, please tell me your secret!
Every once in awhile, I am like the night owl Stasia and I only sleep a few hours. I was up until 3:00 a.m. last night. Naturally, today was tough.
I hadn't enrountered Schmidt either until Stasia and Alaskabookworm mentioned him.
That is one of the sheer joys of LT, ie finding wonderful books and authors that I would never have discovered.
"That is one of the sheer joys of LT, ie finding wonderful books and authors that I would never have discovered."
That's why I love this group - I've enjoyed several books I never would have heard about if I didn't lurk around here!
#30
Sounds like another wonderful book, thanks for the review
#35
Thank you for the offer Sharon but Linda is very kindly sending me a copy. You are all so generous to me here!
Lunacat,
That is how it should be...we are all in this together.
In His Name,
Sharon.
Just thought you should know that
The Wednesday Wars is waiting for me at my library. And it is refusing to relinquish first place in line to any of the other library books that are sitting on my table already, along with another book that a good friend sent me and I can't get to because she keeps telling me about other good books!
Terri
I'm anxious to know your thoughts, impressions of the book when you have read it.
Tethered by
Amy MackinnonI found this book on Stasia's list and I'm glad I trusted her judgment.
This is a highly crafted, well-written, grip your emotions and never let them go kind of book. Found in the mystery section, it actually transcends just one category.
It is raw, gritty and gripping and the heroine is a flawed, fascinatingly in-depth woman.
Mackinnon crafted an entire set of complex, unfluffy characters and once I began reading this book, I was compelled to finish it in one sitting.
Clara Marsh is an undertaker who is more comfortable with the dead than the living. Badly bruised and emotionally, physically battered from a childhood none should endure, she looks at the world through eyes that have seen too much and a heart that craves to feel very little.
Her boss and his wife provide a haven of stability, and yet as the book progresses, that relationship also becomes tested and tempest tossed.
Clara's emotions are raw when three years prior, she prepared a burial for a beautiful little girl who was horrifically, brutally murdered and, lacking identity was named Precious Doe. When A small waif (Trecie) is found playing in the funeral home Clara sees the warning signs of a child who is badly abused.
From this point forward, the book takes a twisting, turning dark road as Trecie is somehow connected to Precious Doe. As Clara attempts to help Trecie, memories of her childhood are woven in the tale of pain, betrayal and neglect.
A local policeman Mike, who also has his share of tragedy, is like a bee buzzing, pestering Clara to help uncover the identify and killer of Precious Doe and to sew together the threads and pieces of Trecie and Precious Doe in an attempt to prevent a similar fate.
There is a portrayal of the seedy, underbelly of child pornography, and there are of a cast of town folk characters who are not all they appear to be. This book elicits suspicion and a whirlwind of emotions as it increasingly becomes difficult to discern who to trust.
The ending is unpredictable. While the story line is gripping and heart wrenching, the author did not portray the violence simply for the sake of gore.
Highly recommended for the excellent plot, the crisp writing and the portrayal of a redemptive soul, who despite terrible pain and darkness longs to be free of burden and bask in a ray of some sunshine.
Wonderful review! Adding that one to the growing stack.
Sounds like a novel with a somewhat new kind of premise. Very good review and I have added it to the wish list.
Ooooh! This one sounds good! Thanks.
It does look good. *sigh*
This is going on my TBR list. Thanks for the nice review Whisper!
Agree with the others, great review, added to TBR mountain. Thanks.
Great -- way to make the pile bigger.
Seriously, though, that was quite a tantalizing review. I so rarely enter the Mystery section, I often forget that there are things there that I would very much enjoy. Thanks for the reminder. :)
Great review, Linda! I already had
Tethered on my wishlist after reading Stasia's review, and yours just reinforced that I should try and get to it soon!
Great review! Sounds like a stunning book.
*waves* I found you ! Congratulations on the Hot Review and also on your listing all the books read thus far on the thread. I thought of doing that with my thread, but I got tired just thinking of it. So I'll save it for my 2010 resolution.
I'm in awe of the cover art...
Angela
It is a good book cover - cover.
Linda- Very nice review of
Tethered! I have never heard of it before and it sounds very interesting.
Thanks again for recommending this one Stasia!
And, thanks to all for your very kind comments.
Hey you've actually got two hot reviews at once. Wow! Congrats!
Congrats Linda! You are on fire!
Two hot reviews! Cool!
Very good review, thankfully (??) I already had this on my wishlist.
> 45
Tethered is moving up now. What a great review. Thank you!
Getting Near To Baby by Audrey CouloumbisThanks to Lunacat (Jenny) for recommending this gem!
Come watch the sunrise on Aunt Patty and Uncle Hob's roof with thirteen year old Willa Jo and her seven-year old grief stricken, mute "Little Sister."
It is hot and steep and dangerous, but the view allows a vista different from what is happening inside the grieving souls of two lonely, heart-broken little girls who recently lost their baby sister.
Once you are up there, why leave? In fact, why not stay throughout the day as neighbors gawk and Aunt Patty vigorously plys her guilt in an attempt to bring you down. In fact, it is Aunt Patty's take charge attitude, lack of understanding and extreme rules that drove you up there in the first place.
This poignant and profoundly sensitive 1990 Newbery Honor book is a gentle look at a family broken apart and uprooted by a series of unexpected events which yield heartbreaking sadness.
The original family of five becomes four when the unemployed father leaves; then they become three when sadly the baby of the family dies. Little Sister retreats inward and refuses to speak while Willa Jo is left to temporarily fend for the family.
While the loving, artistic mother mourns her losses, she valiantly attempts to hold on, but the enormity of her sadness leaves little room for the nurturing of the remaining children, who now become a family of two as they are taken away to live with their mother's sister and her husband.
Well intentioned, childless Aunt Patty is trying her best, but she misses the mark when coping with the two sad little girls who desperately miss their mother and struggle to understand loss and the change it brings.
Walk gently and quietly sit on the roof as dusk approaches and watch as loving, understanding Uncle Hobs is there beside the girls.
Earlier he not only climbed out, but he is now dancing while lending a helping hand and open heart as we slowly understand that Aunt Patty isn't evil, that mother truly does love her children, and if we look high enough, we will indeed find baby.
Highly recommended.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 2, 2009, 2:57pm.
Another interesting book! I may have to boycott this thread soon... LOL
Great review Linda. Sounds like another great read.
And yet another goes onto my wishlist .... thanks for the wonderful review, Linda
You are on a roll these days, Linda - not a bad book in the bunch!
I'm aiming for the goal of 150 books read this year.
and will you eat a 150 gingerbread men along the way too? ;-)
yes, probably..I love ginerbread.
Thanks for stopping by Caroline!
I will have to mail you one of my world-famous gingerbreads, Linda :) Catey is bugging me to make one this week.
Tethered sounds spooky! But I trust you and Stasia so I may have to search that one out at the library.
Linda
150 should be a "piece of cake" with only 19 more to go. I'm aiming for 120 this year and have 22 left to get there. I fully intend to make it. I figure I need to read 7 1/3 books each month to the end of the year which is less than two a week.
I'm putting off
Anna Karenina until next year! :-D
#76: Carolyn, we are talking of doing a group read of
Anna Karenina next year. Would you be interested?
I really want to read it and would consider trying to do it with a group. You know how slow I am! But it would be fun to do it with others so we could discuss along the way. It's such a long book it would be difficult to wait til the end to say anything. :-) Let me know how the plans develop and when the proposed start date is.
Hey Linda, your goal of 150 is certainly in reach and I have no doubt that you will attain it. I guess I should leave 19 empty spaces on my wish list to add your future reads.
I'd love to be in on the
Anna Karenina group read... please count me in.
Hey, I've got an old, unabridged copy of
Anna Karenina sitting on my shelf that I've been thinking about reading, but keep putting off. A group read might just be the ticket!
Hi Linda- I have never read
Anna Karenina. If the timing would work out, I might just tag along. I already have a copy!
Mmmmm....gingerbread and Russian novels. That seems like an unbeatable combination. I could re-read Anna Karenina myself.
>80 There's the spirit!
Posting this a bit late, but I'd never heard of Malaga Island and its story sounds terribly fascinating! I'm going to have to look for more info.
I'd be in for
Anna Karenina. It's a book that I always wanted to try but can't start. Maybe a few friends will push me in the right direction.
Da, Da! I would love to read
Anna Karenina again. It will be so much more fulfilling with all of you, so please count me in.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 5, 2009, 1:31pm.
You lot are far far far braver than me.
Anna Karenina is on the list of Never-tbr, along with
Don Quixote and all Charles Dickens.
You lot are far far far braver than me.
Anna Karenina is on the list of Never-tbr, along with
Don Quixote and all Charles Dickens.
just stopping to say hi ;-)
and to tell I am trying to catch up a little in the group.
Anita
ps
Anna Karenina next year... I might join...
Al Capone Does My Shirts by
Gennifer Choldenko2005 was a stellar year for Newbery Award winning books.
Al Capone Does My Shirts joins two of my favorites, Kira Kira which won the medal and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys which was another honor winner that year.
The setting is 1935 when twelve year old Moose Flanagan moves with his family to Alcatraz prison. His father has a new job as a guard and an electrician on the island. Moose is having a difficult time adjusting, but the learning curve is not as steep as it is for his autistic sister Natalie.
While Moose struggles to make new friends and learn the ropes, his parents seek resources for Natalie, which are very limited in 1935. The beauty of this coming of age story is the realistic and brilliant depiction of autism and a family trying to meet the needs of a special child while struggling not to neglect their son.
This is a well researched novel of life on Alcatraz, and because the author has a sister who is autistic, she accurately and authentically weaves a wonderful tale of complicated dynamics and of love that shines through the imperfections of all family members.
Wonderful review, Linda. This is one I will want to read!
Hello to all and thanks for stopping by. I was out of town for a few days and I hope to spend some time later this evening to catch up on threads.
Welcome back, Linda! It's good to see your positive review of
Al Capone Does My Shirts. I've had the pleasure of attending the Spring Festival of Children's Literature at Frostburg University in Maryland, and
Gennifer Choldenko was my very, very favorite of all the authors and illustrators who did presentations there this year!
And this book is already on my list of planned reads for the 1010 challenge, so you didn't add to my overstuffed TBR pile! :)
ETA to insert the proper name of the festival! Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 6, 2009, 4:51pm.
Terri
That sounds like a wonderful experience! I didn't know that such a conference existed. Can you tell me more about it, and
Gennifer Choldenko's presentation? Thanks!
I could take a lot of time and go on and on about that. This year marked the 27th Annual Spring Festival of Children's Literature at Frostburg University. It's a project of the university's Children's Literature Center. This year, they featured Gennifer Choldenko, Kadir Nelson, Doreen Rappaport, and Matt Tavares for the plenary session presentations at the festival, plus a choice of workshops to choose from on various topics related to children's literature.
I go as part of my Continuing Education requirement as a Library Assistant (the library pays the fee) and I enjoy it immensely. I live close enough to commute from where I live.
Gennifer Choldenko is, well, I would describe her as spunky. She's very short, and very spunky, and she talked about her writing process and doing research for
Al Capone Does My Shirts as well as the sequel (which was just released in September!)
Al Capone Shines My Shoes.
Of course, when she talked about her sister and her sister's influence on her writing, that was very special to me, because my son has autism.
I'll give you a link to the Children's Literature Center home page. It still has the 2009 festival information on it -- they haven't updated yet with information on next year's festival. (I sure hope they continue it, what with the economy and all . . .)
http://www.frostburg.edu/projects/clc/de...Thanks ever so much for the information! The workshop would be something I would love to attend. I'm setting a goal of reading all Newbery award and honor books by the end of 2010. And, I didn't know about the sequel to
Al Capone Does My Shirts. I'll see if my local library has this one.
Regarding your son, I send all good wishes...and prayers.
Welcome back, and wonderful review!
Hi Linda,
If you don't mind me asking, I'm curious about how your rating system works--what does it mean when you give a book 3 stars?
Zoe
While the review given of
Al Capone Does My Shirts was favorable and I liked the book, overall, I gave it three stars because it did not compare as well with other stellar books I've read. For example,
The Wednesday Wars was rated five stars because it made me laugh and cry and the writing was superb.
I try to be balanced and give five stars only to those books that haunt me, stay with me and are so well written that I wish I could write like that particular author.
Make sense?
Three stars is worth reading and a good book...One I would recommend. Four stars is a wonderful book and five stars would be something that I would tell friends here at LT that they really, really should read this one.
Thanks for asking!
Linda- Another Hot Review? You are on a killer roll! The book sounds very good.
Congrats on another Hot Review! Well deserved to be sure.
For all those wanting in on the
Anna Karenina read: Welcome!! I thought I was going to be a group of 1 reading it next year. I am planning to start the Group Read up January 15th, 2010, and divvy the book up into 100-page increments (each of which is read over the course of a month), just like we are doing with the group reads for
War and Peace and
Bleak House this year.
OK, Linda, you can have your thread back now :)
Stasia
You and all members can high jack any time you want.
I've seen the old movie of Anna Karenina, staring Christopher Reeve. I never read the book and I'm looking forward to it and grateful to you for starting the discussion group.
Thanks to all for your kind comments regarding the hot reviews. I love this group. It is nice to be with kind and sensitive people!
Thanks for explaining, and congratulations on the hot review!
There you go again, another hot review. The title of the book is so intriguing and your review so good I just have to add it to my list (groan). Congrats.
Al Capone Does My Shirts sounds like a great read. I'm adding it to my TBR pile. Thanks for a great review!
Way to go, Linda on the Hot Review. Love the title and it sounds interesting so of course I had to add it to my wishlist.
Straw into Gold by
Gary D. SchmidtIf you like fairy tales this is a good book to read. This is the retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, done in a very clever and creative way.
After reading two excellent YA books by
Schmidt, I am on a quest to read all of his writings. His images are crisp, the writing is good and he has the ability to allow the reader to feel the emotions of the characters.
In this version, Rumpelstiltskin is not the ogre or creepy little guy who poses a riddle for his own gain, but rather, he has a unselfish reason to want the child.
Gary Schmidt depicts medieval life and political intrigue in a fascinating portrayal of "what if." What if the straw is spun into gold but the Miller's daughter cannot discover his name. What if Rumelstiltskin gets to keep the baby.
This is a quick, breezy read and while it is not in depth, it is delightful and I recommend it.
Lovely review, Linda! And you are really close to your goal. You have nearly 12 weeks to go--"piece of Cake!" :-)
I want to reach 120--and I have 21 books to go. We'll see. At least I'll definitely make 100 for the second year in a row--which for me is a real accomplishment.
Carolyn
Thanks, as always, for your kind comments.
LT has definitely helped to inspire me to read different books. Good luck with your goal of 120.
I know this is a bit late but I'm just catching up on your threads. If it's possible and I have the time (stupid schoolwork :P), I'd love to join the
Anna Karenina group read!
http://www.librarything.com/work/4124215...Original message edited because touchstone is not working for this book. The link is listed above.
This is anything but a light-hearted YA book. The topics are very serious and troubling and complex issues of bigotry, economic dichotomy, accidental death, grief and forgiveness are but a few of the subjects explored.
This book is darker than the others I've read written by
Schmidt, but similar in that his writing is wonderful, and his ability to capture emotions is very thought provoking.
Henry Smith lives a life of entitlement. His father instilled the belief that if you build your house far away from trouble, it will not come looking and find you. This illusion is shattered one evening as a police car approaches the lovely house to inform the family their son was in a car accident and is barely haning on to life.
The person deemed responsible is Chay Chouan, a Cambodian refugee. Tensions mount as the veneer of class and polite manners tumbles down to the nasty, gritty prejudice of us vs "them."
Recommended.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 10, 2009, 6:08pm.
Good review, Linda. Sounds like a book that's good for group reads - should generate some interesting discussions
looks like your Schmidt phase is going well :)
I am just going to read all of Schmidt's books that I can lay my hands on and have done with it! *stomping off to find the nearest card catalog*
Your reviews of the Schmidt books are great! I had never heard of Schmidt until folks on LT recommended
The Wednesday Wars, but now I also want to read his other books.
BTW, my 17 year-old daughter (the same age as Jenna) also LOVED
The Adoration of Jenna Fox. She does not read much science fiction and was very amazed. She said, "I would never want that to happen to me." That was very interesting since, almost as soon as I started the book, I immediately was suspicious that I would make the same decisions that Jenna's parents made. The differing opinions made for some good discussion. Thanks again for recommending this excellent book!!
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 10, 2009, 9:41am.
The Family Under The Bridge by
Natalie Savage CarlsonFound on Avatiakh's thread, this 1959 Newbery Honor book is a delightful tale regarding the definition of family.
Armand is a homeless man, quite content with his lot in life, he roams the streets of Paris, pushing around an old baby buggy containing his early possessions. He sleeps under a bridge and is quite accustomed to the cold.
He discovers a homeless family consisting of a mother, three children and their dog who are camped in his space under the bridge. While initially Armand is reluctant to help, the children warm their way into his heart and he travels with them as together they find a happy ending.
While the subject matter is difficult, the story is told in a light, breezy way. Overall, the book is not as in depth as many other YA books I've read this year.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 11, 2009, 10:36am.
In the Forest by Edna O'Brien(touchstones not working, so here is the link:)
http://www.librarything.com/work/129136/...I found this book on Prop2gether's list and, like her, I had never heard of this author.
This is a disturbing novel which uses fictional characters to depict a real-life series of murders in Country Clare and Country Galway Ireland. The images are vivid and graphic.
In 1994, a young artist and her three year old son were missing and later found to be murdered near her isolated cottage. During the same time period, a priest met a similar fate at the hands of a seasoned criminal whose name was Brendan O'Donnell.
This is the backdrop for
O'Brien's novel as she takes us on a journey inside the mind of a young man who not only lost his mother, but was abused by priests, his father, prison guards and was failed by a woefully inadequate, neglectful child welfare system.
The writing style reminded me of Truman Capote's famous book
In Cold Blood, wherein the callous murderers of the Clutter family were examined and portrayed in a manner where the perpetrators appeared to be victims of their wretched past.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 11, 2009, 9:57pm.
Looks like you've had some good reads lately, Linda! I just added 5 to my neverending wishlist.
#124/125: I already have both of those on Planet TBR, so no need to add to it again :)
Hi Linda -
The Family under the bridge is a more a children's book rather than YA. I think a lot of children's books from the 1950s & 60s have this sort of delightful charm. Don't forget that the Newbery Medal is for children's books, the Printz Medal is for YA novels.
Linda- Good review! I have heard of this book. I cannot remember the context but I do remember high praise. Looks intriguing!
avatiakh
Now you've done it! I admit I have more than a tad of complusiveness in my personality. I'm on a quest to read all Newbery Medal and Honor books. Looks like I have to add the Printz Medals to the list of books to read throughout '09-'10.
Thanks ... I think!
In the Forest sounds very intriguing ... I must look out for it at the library.
I highly recommend the Printz books (you may have already read a few) from what I can tell though on the ALA website is that the Printz award has only been going since 2000 so there aren't as many as the Newberry awards. I just read the 2008 winner
The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean it sounded so unusual I probably wouldn't have read it otherwise but it was really good so I'm glad I did!
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde
A well crafted, humorous, tongue in cheek, unique spin of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin. There are six variations on the theme of this goblin like character who helps the miller's daughter spin straw to gold.
Some of the tales are so funny that I laughed out loud. All are creative and witty.
133: what an unusual little book you found there! Sounds like a blast!
How ever do you find such off the beaten track books?! You really have a knack for putting variety on my wish list.
You know, I was looking at the page for
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem to see whether I should put it on my TBR list when I realized I had already read it a number of years ago! However, I thought it was really delightful, and it might be worth a reread; thank you for bringing it back to mind!
#133: Yet another one for me to add to the Planet! Thanks (I think, lol)
When The Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
This is one of those books that gently takes your breath away as you read page after page of stunningly beautiful writing.
The reader follows a Japanese-American family through their journey of internment in 1942 when their peaceful family life was uprooted, tossed and turned and split apart because of an irrational fear during WWII.
The writing is eloquent and the beauty lies in the way in which the story is told. It is softly written, like a breeze, yet all the while the reader feels the tempest and overwhelming sadness of the displacement of this gentle, loving family.
Each chapter has a voice of a different person. The journey begins with the sad, pragmatic realization of the mother who begins to pack the possessions.
We then follow the perspective of the children whose father was taken away before the government came for the family.
This is a look at the concept of US vs THEM. This is a look at how "the enemy" is defined. This is a sad look at a snapshot of American history during a troubling time.
The tale is not told in an angry voice, rather, the author takes us down the tearful trail of a Japanese-American family living the American dream in California to lonely, hot, humid, treeless Topaz Utah were they are herded like cattle to swat the flies in the God forsaken dessert.
Highly recommended#137 looks like a very good book. Thanks for the recommendation.
Ah ha! I've actually read your #137 several years ago. One of the few that I have kept for my permanent library. I ditto your thoughts on this book.
Nice review, Whisper. I read this several years ago, and was also moved by it.
Great review, Linda. Sounds like something I would really like to read. One more thing to add to my wishlist today. If only my bank account grew as quickly as my wishlist on a daily basis..... ;-)
#137 - A lovely review. The American internship of Japanese and Japanese-Americans during WWII is not a happy chapter in American history, but given the paranoia of the period, and human nature, understandable. I have several nonfiction titles on the topic; sitting neatly in a pile waiting their turn by the reading lamp :)
#138: Another terrific review! I enjoyed the book very much when I read it earlier this year, too.
138: yay, I'm expecting it from Bookmooch any day now, it has already been sent :D
Ditto, lovely review. That's definitely going on my wishlist.
I love your hot review and am moving it onto my TBR pile. I love historical fiction and had never heard of this one. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Popping by to say hello! You've been reading some great books! Wonderful reviews.
Hi! Another great review for a book that sounds very interesting! I, too, have added your last book to my Wishlist -- and, joy of joys, our county library actually has it on the shelf!
Have to add
Straw into Gold and
All Capone Does My Shirts. I love retakes on the classics (if done well) and the second book should be really be interesting for me: I just saw Alcatraz this summer. Thanks for the recommendations!
Just a quick hello, Linda! I read
When the Emperor Was Divine some years ago and loved it. Thank heaven I don't have to add it to my list like I do most of your books! Hope all is well with you!
Thanks to all for visiting my thread. It is a rainy NE Pennsylvania day. The cold fall wind is nippy. I love these pre-Halloween evenings!
Berly, I'd love to see Alcatraz...and I'd also like to visit Ellis Island. They are both on my to do list.
What did you think of Alcatraz? The Author of
Al Capone Does My shirts seemed to know her history and also researched families who lived on Alcatraz. I think you might like this book.
I thought Alcatraz was absolutely fascinating! It had one of the best audio tours. It talked about the the warden and guards and the families that lived on the island. The island itself had a wild history as a military outpost and the American Indians held a long protest there. And, of course, the most infamous, dastardly criminals filled the cells and a very few inmates plotted most ingenious plans to escape!!
Hah! I am definitely not loving the nippy, rainy evening in SE Pennsylvania, but that's probably because the gas company hasn't turned my heating on yet!
When the Emperor was Devine sounds wonderful. Thanks for the review!
I'm glad you're enjoying the rainy, chilly weather! I woke up this morning in southern central NY to see my car covered in snow... Blah! I am strongly opposed to snow before Halloween.
I was out in the hills of northwestern NJ and the grass was white, though the pavement was all melted. I'd prefer that to the cold, sleety rain we've been having here a bit east. I don't enjoy these kinds of pre-Halloween evenings. Cold's ok...cold rain is not. :-/
Completely lost you there Linda, for a while so just catching up. A few of your reads have ended up on the TBR - including Gary Schmidt. You are becoming our resident expert in Newbury books!
Chilly falls I can handle, but the rain here in MD is not at all pleasant - especially when we had to take the new babe out. :( It seems like fall is here to stay, though, and I'm happy for it!
I used to live in MN and snow before Halloween was definitely frowned upon. >:( All you northeasterners are really making me appreciate my temperate Oregon, rain and all. (But, I have to tell you, the fall colors here have nothing on the spectacular leaves in New England.) Off to get out the rest of my Halloween decorations...
Well I live south of Buffalo and, you guessed it, we had a covering of snow the last two days but they're predicting 60's for next week so there's still hope.
Ah, snow. You mean that whitish kind of stuff that is made of frozen water and covers the earth some times, right? I miss that. It's 23 C here in Athens (73 F) and it's boring. It's gray and rainy. Meanwhile, my grandmother in Romania tells me they have 12cm (about 5 inches) of snow. Lucky bastards.
It is another rainy, damp, chilly day....our fourth day of this! Our poor sheltie Simon longs for the sun. He loves to sit on the deck for hours, sun on his face, nose in the air, wind blowing through his sable colored fur.
Alas, again this morning when I opened the door, he looked at me like I'm crazy to expect him to go out and pee in the rain. He ran down the deck and quickly ran right back in. It is a sleepy kind of day. He now cuddles at my feet, softly snoring. What a dog!
It is a good day to finish reading
Howl's Moving Castle, a book highly recommended by many LT 75 challenge group members.
(no matter how sick you are of seeing my username on your profile, I must comment again! :D I just ordered Howl's Moving Castle to give to my best friend for Christmas because it's one of her favourite movies but she's never read the book - can't wait to read your review! Have you seen the movie? How do you think it compares?
Eliza
I would never get sick of seeing your username n my profile! I haven't seen the movie, but I imagine the visuals are incredible. Thus far it is a delightful escape kind of read.
I hope your day in Athens is anything but boring and that the sun shines through. I'm curious about your grandmother in Romania. And, I'm ignorant regarding the miles between your two countries. How far away is she from you?
Linda ad Eliza--
I did see the movie this summer--one of my students lent it to me with a rave recommendation. We watched it as a family--hubby, grown son, and I. It is beautiful--and we all enjoyed it. Now, I guess I'd better see if she has the book. It is a graphic novel?
165: She is about 1000 km (aka around 620 miles) to the North of me, pretty much exactly upwards as you look on a map. :) She was just here visiting me and my mom not so long ago and got back to Romania in time for the snows - which I don't think she was thrilled with.
166: It's not a graphic novel, it's a children's book I think. Haven't read it. Miyazaki (the director of the film) always has great imagery in his films and very similar themes to Howl's Moving Castle. If you enjoyed it I would recommend also "Spirited Away", which is equally spell-bounding.
Getting Near To Baby by Audrey Couloumbis sounds lovely... all of your reviews are wonderful, but I am avoiding adding too much..I can't belive it has been so long since I posted in your thread!
forgive?
Kath
It is great to see a post from you. I hope things have settled a bit for you.
Getting Near to Baby is a quick read. I finished it in one sitting.
Linda, since you love the cool nippy weather, come up to NE ... it's snowing heavily today. Started out with steady rain, then came sleet, and by 4pm it turned into fat flakes of snow. I love it though ... gives me an excuse to wear my polar bear fleece pj pants and woolly socks
Denne meddelelse er blevet slettet af dens forfatter.
>163: Hmmm, I never knew there was a movie made from
Howl's Moving Castle. I'll have to see if NetFlix has it.
Just stopped by to wave hello. Hope the weather is improving!
Re Howl's Moving Casle film vs book, the book is one of Diana
Wynne Jones's most popular (and a big favourite of mine too). Yep, it's a children's book.
I saw the film at the Cambridge Film Festival a couple of years ago, before it went on general release - the big draw for me being that Diana
Wynne Jones was there to take questions at the end (I was too nervous to ask any - I slightly regret that!).
Anyway, I too very much enjoyed the film (particularly Miyazaki's rendition of the Witch of the Waste, who is fantastic. Howl himself was a bit drippy.), but really, beyond the initial plot, it bears very little relation to the book. In fact, you completely lose one of my favourite aspects, the fact that wizard Howl actually comes from Wales (this is not giving anything away). I'd say it's closer to the film "Spirited Away". I prefer to look on it as a homage ;)
Ah, we rarely get proper snow over here (UK, I live in the south) - and when we do get a few flakes, the whole country grinds to a halt. It's ridiculous. It's still quite lovely at the moment though - a bit grey today, but we're having a lot of those lovely crisp but sunny days. I love it.
really, beyond the initial plot, it bears very little relation to the book
I can't say I expected the book to be similar to the movie because in the movie the plot isn't that important - for me at least - while I expect the book to have a good/decent plot so that it keeps your interest. The movie grabs you with its wonderful imagery/cinematography and its emotional power so the storyline is not THAT crucial. I love how Miyazaki manages to weave his own personal interests and usual topics into a story that is not his own - here, for example, environmentalism, the anti-war theme (as I understand, the book isn't set during wartime while the movie is), the beautiful landscapes etc. So I don't want the book to be identical to the movie - I do want it to be good, but in a different way than the film :)
Hopefully it'll make you happy then ;) Yep, no war happening in the book - or not directly affecting the storyline/characters anyway (interestingly, in the less good sequel, one of the main characters is a war vet).
I agree about Miyazaki's films - I've not seen many, but the ones I've seen are just incredibly imaginative and evocative.
I finished the book and now with all these comments about the movie, I need to rent it and watch it.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Hold on to your magic hat, your wand, your broomstick and your potions and take a wild ride in the spinning, floating, swiftly moving castle with a magician who sometimes has different monikers, but always is a clever young man.
Along the way you will meet a young woman named Sophie Hatter who, like the magician and the castle, is changeable and once was young but now is old; you will laugh at the antics of apprentice Michael as he struggles to make sense in a swiftly turning world, and you will learn to like the "evil" Calcifer who is a fire demon.
While fantasy writing is usually not my pot of brew, I enjoyed this book. There are three sisters, one step mother, a scarecrow, a King, a Princess, a magician and his apprentice, some spells, a wicked witch of the waste and many adventures along the journey.
This is a clever book!
#178
I picked up
Howl's Moving Castle last night. I haven't read more than a few pages yet but I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks for the review.
Another one for which I am already looking! I saw the film version at the insistence of my oldest daughter (and basically spent the entire movie trying to figure out what was going on), so I am really looking forward to reading the book.
Ooh this sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Thanks for the trippy review, Linda. On to the wishlist it goes.
#178 Ooooh, I do so love it when other people enjoy my favourites! :)
#180 alcottacre, I should warn you that, while the film is lovely, it's nothing like the book...
Just wanted to say good morning!
Good Morning to you Luxx. I enjoy hearing about Max and your family. I send all good wishes!
You're very sweet - thank you. :)
I'm not sure how I managed to keep
Howl's Moving Castle off my list for so long (I know I've heard of it before--maybe the boys have the movie?), but your comments clinch it--it's on there now!
Thanks for the rec, and I hope all is going well for you!
Linda, have you looked at this
tag page? The related tags are especially interesting. And with such a small amount of data available--imagine if everyone tagged the recommender! (She says, having started to do so just within the hour ;))
Linda, have you looked at this
tag page? The related tags are especially interesting. And with such a small amount of data available--imagine if everyone tagged the recommender! (She says, having started to do so just within the hour ;))
Zoe...How did you obtain the "tag page?"
I went to the search page and typed in the tag I was looking for, but I think you could also just change the address directly.
The Shadow Children by
Steven SchnurTouchstone isn't working, so here is the link:
http://www.librarything.com/work/472745I simply love Library Thing! This book was listed as a recommendation based on my books cataloged. And now, I've discovered not only a book I can highly recommend, but in addition, I learned of the Sydney Taylor Book Award!
Steven Schnur's book was the 1994 recipient of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, established for authors of the most distinguished contributions to Jewish children's literature.
This coming of age book is the story of Etienne, an eleven year old young man, his grandfather and the sleepy French countryside of Mount Brulant.
While the writing is simple, the subject matter is gripping. While visiting his grandfather during post WWII, Etienne sees the ghosts of hundreds of starving, emaciated, raggedy, forlorn children hiding in the woods.
When asking his grandfather and other adults about his discovery, at first denied the truth, eventually, he learns the sad, tragic, terrible truth that Jewish children were sent to the country side seeking refuge, only to be hunted down by the Nazi's and killed.
While the kind people of Mount Brulant tried to help the children, in the end, they watched as the children were herded into trains to meet their death.
The story not only focuses on the children, but also allows us to feel the guilt of those who were unsuccessful in their attempts to save.
This is NOT a ghost story, this is a tale of a town that tried to do the right thing. This is a tale of innocent children who wanted to live.
Well Linda I just looked at that Recommendations thing for the first time the other day and I guess I didn't realize it was based on books that I'd cataloged, but it had some good recommendations. I guess you found that out yourself, based on your very fine review. Isn't it wonderful that you can keep discovering new things on LT that are so useful?
Thanks to you, Linda, I went to look for the Recommendations thing, found a whole list of suggestions. I wonder though, if the recommendations are based only on books I've catalogued, or if they're also based on the number of stars I've given to the ones I've read. I sure wouldn't want to have books recommended because they're similar to the ones I've not enjoyed.
193: unfortunately they don't take star ratings into account, meaning they will recommend books based on ALL the books you have, whether or not you've enjoyed them. What you can do is put all the books you hated into one collection and exclude that collection from recommendations, I believe that's possible. The good thing is that you can easily see why LT has recommended a particular book to you: underneath every book recommended if you click on "why?" it tells you which books from your library the rec is based on. So you can just pick the ones that are based on books you actually enjoyed!
I finally got caught up to you! Wow have you had some wonderful reads.
*wishlist groans with the added weight of books*
hmm....I'm going to need to start a new collection of my books when I add them from now on. I've been playing with the recommendations, and I see what you mean, guglass -- I checked out the whys for some of the books recommended and they pointed to the ones I detested. Still, on the whole there's also a very very nice list of recommendations I will have to check out over time. So many books, so little time! arrrggghhhhhhhh
Whisper,
Howl's Moving Castle (which I loved) has an actual sequel,
House of Many Ways. I would love to hear your thoughts on it, or anyone's.
To write a sequel after so many years -- and an in-between that wasn't really a sequel (
Castle in the Air, which was enjoyable, but I thought not as good) -- seems like it would be a challenge, as far as engaging the reader again.
Off to try the recommendations 'thingy' as well!!
Did not know that Howl's had a sequel. Will be adding that to my wish list.
Whisper--you read some amazing books.
Hi Trish!
beserene, I'm going to the library this weekend to see if I can obtain House of Many Ways.
Thanks to all for stopping by!
The other thing you can do with recommendations, is that if it is based on books in your catalog that you didn't care for, you can click on "No thanks" and it takes it off the list.
Passing through.....
Both books look somewhat interesting, but for some reason I rarely pick up a YA .
Ir is always ncie to come here though and se what treasure you have found for yourself :)
Hi Linda - In the Forest looks really interesting. I have O'Brien's
The Country Girls on my bookshelf but I'd never heard of this one. On the list... bother.
Also to say belatedly that I'm definitely up for joining an Anna Karenina group read - literally just posted on BJ's thread of my disappointment at not conquering Tolstoy this year, so it would be nice to fix that in company :)
Stasia..When learning about the award, I did see the
All-of-A-Kind Family series mentioned.
The Shadow Children is a book that also contains marvelous art work! It won't take long to read and I do recommend it highly.
Thanks for stopping by.
Rachael, I'll have to add The Contry Girls to the tbr pile.
Kath, as mentioned previously, I discovered YA through Anita (FAMultsee) and it opened a whole new world of reading. Her thread had wonderful descriptions of books and I was intrigued. One of her favorite authors, and mine is
David Almond. I don't want to push you into a genre you might not like, but I do highly recommend his works.
Linda, because Anita flipped your blanket on the YAs and you've been on such a hot streak with them, I've decided to take the plunge too. I got
Gods of Manhattan Scott Mebus by
Scott Mebus to test the waters.
Oh! Hey! I came here to proselytize! Thanks to koalamom, I now know how to get ONLY the touchstone you want, instead of having to search and search! When you open the single bracket, type the title and then put in two spaces, then type the full name of the author of that book! Like this: {The Shadow Children(spacespace)Steven Schnur}
And then, mirabile dictu, you *don't have to correct touchstones if you edit a post!!*
I've asked koalamom to marry me, but I have a sneaking suspicion she's already married, and heaven only knows what The Divine Miss would say, but it seemed like the thing to do at the time.
Hey, Linda....stopped by to say Hi..and added a whole load of TBR Titles *thanks alot, you*
;-)
J
Congratulations on your engagement, Richard. May you have long years of happiness and marital bliss (*snort*).
Thanks for that post on the touchstones - it is very helpful indeed.
Richard-- aren't you already engaged to someone on LT???? You two-timer you!
Two-timer................I think he's secretly got about 5 wives hidden in the closet!!
Think it's easy for a gay man to hide five wives?! Try it sometime! Go on, I double-dog dare ya!
Can't even try. Not gay. Not a man. I suck at hide-and-seek!
I am overwhelmed with feeble book geek excitement at this new touchstone trick. Thank you, koalamom-via-richard. From the bottom of my page-sniffing, yellowed-edge, spine-creased heart (hmm, I'm not very kind to my books).
And thanks to all for the laughter and good spirited banter! I love this group and the wonderful, kind people who visit here! And, Richard...love you as well, so perhaps I could be hidden wife number six. Sounds like a book title...The Six Wives of Richard I. Oh, please let me be the Anne Boleyn of the bunch...intelligent, haughty, seductive, astute...
Thanks for the touchstone tip.
That touchstone tip is going to change my life...well maybe that's a bit much!
Linda - I saw on another thread that you've started
Tender Morsels, how are you finding it?
It is very well written and sad....I've only read the first 50 pages and I'm hooked.
Thanks for your recommendation!
I'm trying to catch up LT threads . . . so behind . . . just stopping by to say hello . . . . HELLO!
The touchstone tip is good . . . one thing, when the author has several books in a series that start with the same word, you still have to choose -- but at least there are far fewer choices. One book that seemed to have no touchstone at all, one appeared using the new touchstone tip.
But it can look funny in the post, with the title and author name together, as in the one book I'm readking,
Easy Phillip Depoy. Makes it look like Phillip is easy?
:)
>217
About the tip: I found the same thing with the author name and title together.
Hi Linda- Just dropping by to say hey! Hope you are having a nice weekend!
Six wives and I can't even have one.. life can be so unfair~~
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 25, 2009, 12:00pm.
#214
But..........if you're Anne Boleyn then you'll get your head chopped off. I think I'd rather be Anne of Cleves. She got to be happy(ish).
Tender Morsels by
Margo LanaganThere are mixed reviews regarding this book. I found the writing good, but the story line was far too troubling, graphic and disturbing for my taste. It is a fairytale retelling of Rose Red/Rose White. It missed the mark. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but disappointing enough that while I wanted to know the ending, I should have closed the book long before I did.
Not recommended.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 25, 2009, 9:17pm.
Hmm.. I have this on my tbr pile ... thanks for the tip off, Linda. I think I'll push it all the way down to the bottom and perhaps use it to stabilize a wonky-legged table
Finally... a book that won't have to go on my TBR tower. Thank you Linda!
Hi Linda - I see you didn't end up liking
Tender Morsels. While I liked it I also can see how it won't appeal to everyone. Her short stories are dark so I was probably more prepared for the read. I did stall my reading of it for about a year because of those mixed reviews.
When FlossieT read it, she questioned how it sat as a YA novel because it is obviously only suitable for older teens.
I put down
Tender Morsels after the first few chapters, Linda, even though I have enjoyed Lanagan's short stories in the past. I heard it gets better from some other members of the group, so I may eventually give it another chance, but with your review, the chances of that went down greatly.
A day later, I can now outline why I didn't like the book.
I thought the descriptions of the following subjects were way too over the top:
rape
incest
beastiality
forced sodomy
There seemed to be little joy and way too much darkness with all these heavy laden topics thrown in throughout. I wasn't sure why the author felt the need to tackle this many graphic descriptions in what is listed as YA! I have to agree with Rachael, though I don't think it is suitable for older teens either.
The flip side is that there were some very heartfelt stories.
OK, I had
Tender Morsels in the BlackHole. It is now officially thrown out!
rape
incest
beastiality
forced sodomy
In a YA book?! Was a time not so long ago that laundry list of infamy would've made an ADULT book bannable in 46 states and the Commonwealth!
I'm shocked that those topics are in a YA book!
That is the perfect example of why I prefer to read a book before my son gets to it. Thanks for the heads up on this one, Linda.
I forgot to mention that some of the topics in the book also include:
abortion
gang rape
suicide attempt
In reading reviews on Amazon and throughout the internet, many people do like the book because of the creative writing style.
Doesn't seem like "creative writing style" could trump repugnant topics!
Whoa, the topics covered seem a bit mature for a YA audience. I wonder do you think you would have found the coverage of these topics less repugnant if it was billed as an adult book?
Apropos of Nothing-in-Particular...i want to say i am grateful that you read so much YA Lit....i read everything..but the teenagers and such who borrow from me are constantly asking "what's new?" in their age group...well, i have this thread STARRED and now they can check out the Good (as opposed to the merely Popular)..thanks much, lady...you do good work.
J
Trish
I would have found the topics repungent in any book! I'm not a prude, but it really did appear that the author was packing in as much shock as possible!
juthloue -- thanks!
brenzi...Did you see that you have another hot review?
It seems like a lot of authors are pushing the envelope deliberately in YA -- I don't know if it's because they don't want to be on those shelves or because they think it's what teens want to see or if it's just that the publisher saw a fairy tale retelling and thought, "hey, that must be for kids" -- but when it's so gratuitous, without purpose or meaning, it bugs me. Thanks for the heads up.
I abandoned
Tender Morsels pretty early on because I found the subject matter just way too disturbing. I've heard such good things about it that I wondered if I made a good choice, but from the sound of it things just got worse, so I'm glad I stopped when I did. I thought I had a fairly high tolerance for disturbing YA, but that book was just too much for me.
Hi Linda- Speaking of YA novels, I'm on the home stretch with
The Hunger Games and it's been terrific and it managed that without addressing any of those issues you listed above!
Extraordinarily good stuff where sheer power of story is concerned -- but beware the cliffhanger endings! I finished
Catching Fire, the sequel, recently and now I REALLY want the next book.
Brooklyn Bridge by
Karen HesseA winner of the 2009 Sydney Taylor book award, this historical fiction YA book is a compelling read. Using as a springboard the true story of the Russian immigrant Mitchon family who made and manufactured the first US Teddy bears, the author weaves a dramatic tale of life in Brooklyn, New York at the turn of the century.
There are strong characters and a wonderful portrayal of Jewish life and hope in the new world. Hesse compares and contrasts the life of strugglng and accomplishing the American dream with a parrallel tale of abandoned children living under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Interspersed with poignant moments of family love and bonding of the Mitchon extended family is also the reality that not all achieved economic success.
At times it is confusing when the author shifts back and forth from the two dichotomous life styles, but still, it is worth the time spent in reading.
Beserene, I think you may be right. I think that some authors may just be pushing the envelope because they think it sells and they really think that teens want to read such material. My friend who is a teacher told me that one of the teachers assigned a book for a seventh grade class in which one of the main characters is described masturbating (and apparently in vivid detail). And when some of the parents had a problem with this, she could not understand their complaints.
PS: I have never purposefully tried to stretch out a book as much as I have
Catching Fire. I think I may be on my three week mark and all in an attempt to have it for longer.
Here if you Need Me: A True Story by
Kate BraestrupThis book is a gem! It is sad, it is poignant, it is heartwarming, it is spiritual in a deep abiding way without the trappings of New Age mantras and without the heavy handed preachy manner of well-intended, but misguided organized religion.
Kate Braestrup blesses the reader by allowing them to walk with her on the journey beginning with the day her beloved state trouper husband was tragically killed in an auto accident, leaving her and four children to grieve, to find lessons and to move forward in life.
As her life dramatically changed, Kate became a Maine Game Warden Service Chaplain and a Unitarian-Universalist minister. Through wonderful, crisp, heart felt writing, Braestrup takes us with her into the lives of those who rescue, who search the cold woods, frozen lakes and Maine environment to find those lost as she ministers to the families, to the brave people who help and to simply be there both when the outcome is good and when the hoped for result does not occur.
The prevailing theme of loss is woven with the abundant hope of gain, of falling down and of getting up, and, of searching and sometimes finding what is least expected.
It is very appropriate that I finished this book on the day of my daughter's wedding.
Here if you need me is a wonderful phrase to capsulize my feelings of love toward my sensitive, warm, loving adopted daughter who came as a blessing when she was three, a small waif with a heart full of hurt and little trust as a result of adults who harmed her. She came to us with both a hurting soul and a spunky spirit.
Here is my prayerYou know life can harm and hurt. And, I am proud that your gentle and wonderfully kind spirit consistently reaches out to those who are hurting.
You know life can throw a curve ball that bruises the soft areas. And, I am proud that you provide a catchers mit to help others.
You had your share of rain, but still, you sought the rainbow.
You know amid pain, there is immense joy.
You know that while you may stumble, you are very capable of standing tall.
Today you begin a new journey, one that was taken in small steps and now, in trusting your heart, you embrace hope.
You know you are loved and I trust that you also know
I am here if you need me.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, okt 31, 2009, 9:38am.
Congratulations to your daughter. May she and you have many many years of happiness :)
Thanks Jenny! I appreciate your outreach!
Linda- Beautiful prayer and I wish your daughter all the best!
Congratulations to your family on this happy occasion!
I hope you all have a magical day!
Oh, Linda what good news. Congratulations to all. October is a lovely time for a wedding, in fact I chose it for my own. This lovely prayer is so appropriate on many different levels. I'm copying it and inserting it in our family bible.
Linda, Linda, Linda! I think you know that I'm doing National Novel Writing Month starting tomorrow...a mainstream series mystery with a gay sleuth...but I haven't seen your face around the thread where I'll be posting my dailies yet!
I've got four characters outlined in the
Death in Blue & White thread...the hero, the sidekick, the magical helper, and the trickster...along with an obituary of the victim. Come visit!
And, if you're wondering, I am really and truly looking for your honest reaction to the book. SOmetimes it helps more to know what your target audience DOESN'T like than what they DO like, so feel free to say that.
Linda - I hope that you enjoy this very special day!
Congratulations and best wishes to your daughter.
And, your post 245 actually brought tears to my eyes. (Beautiful meshing of RL and books on LT.)
Linda
By now you just might be dancing at your daughter's wedding. Congratulations to you and best wishes to the bride and groom. Your prayer is beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt sentiments at this joyous time in your family's life. May your daughter and her husband find joy and comfort in each other as they travel the seasons of life together.
What a beautiful prayer. I hope you're enjoying your daughter's wedding and kicking up your heels dancing. Congratulations and best wishes to your daughter and her husband
That was a beautiful prayer. May your daughter have many, many years of love and joy.
Thanks for sharing that beautiful prayer with us, Linda. Congratulations to your daughter, and to you!
I am so happy for you and Breanna and wish her and her new husband all the best.
May all joy be with you and with your daughter and her new husband!
Thanks to all for your lovely messages! I deeply appreciate your outreach!
The wedding went well. It was a very special time!
I'm very glad to hear it :)
Lovely prayer in #245, Linda! I'm glad everything went well. Congratulations to your daughter and her husband, and to you, too, for doing a great job raising her!
Just wanted to add my congratulations -- best wishes to your daughter and all the family!
edited for general oopsiness.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 2, 2009, 5:04pm.
#265 edited for general oopsiness
That sounds like a lot of my posts and edits!
#266
Sounds a lot like my life ;)
Congratulations to your daughter Linda - hope you all had a fantastic day!
oopsiness. Good word. ;)
#267 Sounds a lot like my life ;)
Yeah, that too . . .
Wait, we can go back and edit away our life mistakes? ;)
Congratulations to your daughter, Linda!
Zoe
I think the answer to your question is NO..As Joni Mitchell said in her song The Circle Game,
We can't return, we can only look, behind from where we came, and go round and round and round in the Circle Game
Coincidentally I was reading in the (UK trade publication) Bookseller today about a novel that some UK publisher has just bought, about a woman who can go back in time and advise her younger self on the decisions she ought to have taken. Shiver.
That sounds like an interesting book. I don't suppose you remember the title?
Speaking of going round and round and round... I may have that song stuck in my head now! :)
Intriguing -- so that book gives us the idea that I could have gone back in time and advised myself against the oops, thus eliminating the need for the edit...
But also eliminating the fun of using a non-word like "oopsiness"...
Nah, I'll stick with the forwards-lived life. :)
I agree with beserene. Besides, whose to say if you make a revised decision it wouldn't lead to even worse consequences! I'll take my chances with the choices I've made.
>273 I can't remember, but the magazine is right next to me so I shall cheat and copy it out :-)
"Madeleine Buston at Darley Anderson received multiple offers for UK and Commonwealth rights for Carolyn Jess-Cooke's The Guardian Angel's Journal, and is holding an auction this week. Buston said Frankfurt was "so exciting for this book", a novel about a woman sent back to earth as a guardian angel to herself, to re-experience her mistakes."
Thanks!
I don't think I'd really want to undo anything in my life either, but it's an interesting concept to consider.
Chiming in again on the conversation regarding going back in time and changing decisions or choices, I'm reminded of Mark Twain's excellent book
The Mysterious Stranger. As I recall, in this book, one of the themes is that if you try to change some action, there is another reaction and it just might be worse than the original consequence.
I remember reading this book in college and having excellent discussions. We basically called it the domino theory, ie if you hit one domino the others follow, but if you take one out, the directional path is totally different.
Some choices we make are thought out and intentional -- and then there are other small decisions we make on a daily basis that appear inconsequential and yet have long lasting effects.
For example, if I would have originally joined the 50 challenge group, I never would have met such wonderful folk. I would have met different people, but not these. Thus, perhaps my tbr pile would be totally different...
Ah, this is the kind of thinking that can drive one insane. I think I'll wait a few minutes before waling downstairs, because if I walk down now I could fall from the weight of the heavy comments I just posted, but in waiting a few minutes my dog Simon could perhaps move a certain way and I would trip....
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 3, 2009, 9:10pm.
I'll have to keep an eye out for
The Mysterious Stranger. It sounds like a really thought-provoking read.
That said, I don't know if I agree with your particular example.... I did join the 50 Book Challenge group last year, but I didn't think the discussion there was particularly great. So I came here for the new year... and I've never looked back! The result is approximately the same, even if a year later. (Maybe I was fated to join this group and my choices were actually irrelevant in the end? Hehe.)
>278 Uh Linda you could have joined both the 50 and 75 challenge groups as I've done and have an even more out of control TBR list. I guess at some point I have to jump one way or the other but for now I'm enjoying the best of both worlds;)
Bother. Just lost half my message. Let's try again.
Hmmm, yes,
The Mysterious Stranger sounds very interesting - going to look it out.
Rachael, there's actually a Canadian TV show called
Being Erica - I wonder if they're related?
I've always felt that the mistakes you make in life are part of what makes you who you are - you learn from them (hopefully) - I wouldn't be who I am without having made the mistakes I have. I deeply believe that you can get at least some small positive thing out of any mistake/problem you encounter if you look hard enough. ...So... Although I don't mind the idea of going back to
look at my past life (and there are certainly people that I wish I could bring back from the dead), I hate the idea of changing even the slightest thing (Chaos theory and all that).
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 4, 2009, 5:36am.
Ah! You'd already convinced me to put it on my wishlist!
I love these conversations! This is exactly why I am so glad I am a part of the 75 challenge group!
Thanks to all!
Linda my friend, over in "Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple pour le Peuple," Salon founder EnriqueFreeque started a thread called "Thanksgiving" in which he publicly gives thanks for his blessings.
I am very thankful you decided to be on LT, because I would never have known your kindness and spiritual balance otherwise. Thanks for being you.
Linda - I loved the book
Here if You Need Me and I love your beautiful prayer for your daughter. May she and her husband have a wonderful marriage.
Thanks again to all for your wonderful comments and good wishes regarding my daughter's wedding held last Saturday. I appreciate the outreach.
Nancy, I agree,
Here if you Need Me really is a great book!
I am happy that your daughter is safely married and on her way to a life filled with happiness :)
The Bear's Embrace by
Patricia Van TighemWhen hiking on a snow covered path in the Canadian rockies, life forever changed for
Patricia Van Tighem and her husband. In a fast second, a large grizzly bear attacked. The first mauling swipe damaged her husband. As Patricia desperately climbed, the bear battered itself against the tree, violently knocking her to the ground. Aiming to kill, the bear nearly succeeded in his goal.
As she and her husband were helped by fellow hikers, they desperately clung to both their severely damaged bodies and their lives.
This is a riveting, dramatic story of a horrific attack and the slow, courageous journey toward healing. Losing her eye, facing years of multiple surgeries, coping with severe, permanent disfigurement, excruciating painful infections, and barely clinging to sanity, Van Tighem tells her story in an honest and raw manner.
Years of post tramatic stress rendered the author helpless and emotionally vulnerable. She was strong, but throughout her remaining years, suffered from severe depression and numerous institutionalizations.
While my description of the book sounds depressing, this is also a story of courage and of coping against all odds.
Specifically, I recommend this book to those who deal with long-term health conditions and/ or multiple surgeries. There is tremendous strength simply putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.
My only quarrel with the book is that the ending is too neat and tidy. After pages of pain, the author felt the need to put a red ribbon on the package and end with a contrived happy few paragraphs of song and dance. It is sad that the author could not remain true to her feelings and trust that the readers would accept her journey and struggles.
The book was written in 2001. Feeling the incongruency of the ending, I searched further and discovered that the author died of suicide in 2005.
Great review! Are you planning to post it on the work page? I went there looking to give it a thumb....
I don't think I actually want to read this book, though.
Zoe
Thanks for your affirmation. I went in and posted the review.
In writing the review, I was concerned that more people would have the feeling you did, ie that you wouldn't want to read the book.
Thanks for posting it. I think it's important to be able to make an informed decision about a book; it's not that your review made it sound bad, just not the kind of thing I'm generally interested in reading.
Hey Linda great review. I thumbed it. It sounds like one of those inspiring stories that most of us can never hope to achieve but love reading about how other courageous souls do it :)
Congratulations on your hot review! :)
Way to Go! Another hot review! (I gave it a thumb, too!)
Hey Linda- Another strong review! Good job!
Nice going, Miss Hot Review!
Congratulations on another Hot Review, Linda.
Great review, Linda. Not sure I have the courage to read it though!
Thanks everyone! I so appreciate your comments!
I am fairly sure that I will not be reading the book, but you did a great job on the review! Congratulations on having another 'hot' one!
I obtained this book at a local library sale. After visiting Yellowstone Nat'l. Park this summer, I was very much aware of the wilderness and the natural habitat of the creatures therein.
If anyone would like to read the book, I will send it to you...(first come, first served.) Simply leave your name and address on my homepage and I'll get it out to you.
Not one for me either, but was interesting to read about it and your followup.
Linda, Belated good wishes and congratulations on the marriage of your daughter.
Also, congratulations on the hot review. I'll make a note of
The Bear's Embrace -- a patient might find it helpful. At this point I don't think I could read it - it does sound really depressing.
Thanks to your review..i acquired a copy of
getting near to baby by Audrey Couloumbis.....and put it on the list of recent acquisitions i post to my, "younger" Book Borrowers....and someone is coming to get it today...i have barely had a chance to peruse the Gem...oh, well....i'll get it back eventually...
Great review of
The Bear's Embrace, Linda. I find it a bit chilling that she ended the book on a pseudo-happy ending and then committed suicide a few years later. I do the same thing you do--after reading a book like that, I research "what happened next?" You find out some interesting information.
I have just caught up with 306 posts. I think I need a little rest! Sorry to have fallen so far behind, because you have some really interesting reads here Whisp. I don't think I've ever heard you whoop over a book the way you did over
The Wednesday Wars! I don't know if our village library has it but I'm going to check. Very belated congratulations for your daughter's marriage. But I do think I'm going to give
The Bear's Embrace a pass. That way be nightmares!
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 8, 2009, 10:27am.
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by
Tiffany Baker.
Truly Place came into the world as a huge baby and rapidly continued to expand to gigantic proportions. As her mother died in childbirth, Truly's world was tempest tossed. Suffering the cruel taunts of small town tiny minded people, asTruly's bulk grew, her spirit shrank.
Adding more burden was the fact that Truly's older sister was everything she was not. Unlike Truly, Serena Jane was loved, beautiful, small, sparkling and vivacious. She was --most of all -- egotistical and self centered.
The relationship Truly struggles to achieve with her sister is the springboard of a story of have and have nots, of a town and people enamored with facades. As the story progresses, Truly picks up the pieces her sister has left behind, raising Serena's son when Serena leaves and becoming the brunt of abuse by Serena's physician husband who pokes and prods and stings with words and experiments.
In the end, Truly is as loving and wise as her size and is placed in some situations where she forgives those who caused her pain.
The book is well written and peppered with wonderful descriptive phrases. It was interesting enough to keep me reading through the 341 pages. While I liked it, there are parts that fell flat.
This is the second consecutive book I've read wherein the author, after hundreds of descriptive pages of angst and pain, felt the need to throw in a contrived happy ending.
Guardedly recommended.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 8, 2009, 9:27am.
I think I will give that one a pass, although I must say, that at least in this case the contrived happy ending was fictional.
I fell behind on here for a while... just wanted to say belated congratulations to your daughter on her wedding, and best wishes for you and your entire family!
I hate contrived endings. Thanks for the review! I'll pass on that one, too.
Well Linda it's good to not feel I have to put every book you review on my TBR pile. You do such a great job revieiwng that I can easily choose which ones I'll want to consider reading.
>289: I, too, enjoyed
The Bear's Embrace, but was saddened to learn that the author committed suicide. I'm thinking that we probably can't comprehend just how difficult her recovery was. And, going back even further, I wholeheartedly second every good thing you said in your review of
Here If You Need Me. I do love these real-life stories of how people cope with tragedies in their lives.
Belated congratulations on your daughter's wedding. The groom will never forget his Halloween anniversary! We just got back from visiting our sons in Denver and Colorado Springs and coincidentally got to celebrate our youngest son's first anniversary with them. It is so fulfilling when those kids grow up and begin their own families. And we just wait for those grandchildren!
Donna
It is good to chat with someone who has read
The Bear's Embrace. It haunts me.
Happy Anniversary to your son and his wife.
Thanks for the review, Linda. I think I'm going to give this one a pass.
Hi Linda, just catching up on your thread... fun to read all your great reviews! Keep it up :)
Wolf Hall by
Hilary MantelRead this book! It is incredible. Finally, there is a book that does not paint Thomas More as a saint! Finally, there is a book that enables you to feel the intrigue, the nastiness and the cut throat politics of the Tudor court.
lindsacl, lunacat and Kidzdoc have wonderful reviews and I refer you to those with the following link:
http://www.librarything.com/work/8023914...I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of that one. Now if only my local library would cooperate . . .
I'm adding
Wolf Hall to my list as well. In fact, I'm number 15 out of 16 holds for this book at my county library. That's o.k though, I have sooo many other books lined up on my TBR shelves that need to be read.
My only quibble with the book is that at times it was difficult to follow the story line.
Ha, Ha! I am already reading
Wolf Hall!! I agree with the difficulty following the story line, but I am enjoying it nevertheless!
Timidly chimes in...
Would I be able to enjoy and understand
Wolf Hall if I have let's say...NO knowledge of the Tudors or of the time period in which it takes place?
The book looks good to me but my lack of knowledge (or lack of recollection) of that time in history embarrasses me...(blushes)
Angela, if you don't mind me popping in: I'm not finished with it yet, but I was also concerned about (a) the size and (b) although I am familiar with the Henry VIII story, I knew NOTHING about Cromwell or Thomas More. It reads like a good story, so, unless it changes later in the book, I think she does a great job of telling an interesting story. I would pick it up without embarrassment. In fact, I did!
Awesome! My copy of
Wolf Hall just came into the library today, so I can't wait to read it!
I also have a copy now, I'll be reading it later this year once I clear my 999 challenge and the current crop of library books.
Thanks Terri!
Hey Linda- Glad you enjoyed
Wolf Hall! It seems to be one of the hot reads around here and I need to snag a copy!
I am blushing because I am so obsessed with the Tudor period of history. Anne Boleyn is one of my favorite historical characters and I've read just about anything I can find regarding her.
Angela, I agree with Terri. It is a good story and even if you are not familiar with the Tudor era, you may find it an enjoyable read. As mentioned though, some of the passages are difficult to plod through, but overall it is very well written.
Linda - I'm glad to hear that you loved
Wolf Hall. I thought it was a great read too, and I learned a LOT about Henry VIII and the time period in general. I think that I'd enjoy a re-read of it after I read more about this period. I'm sure that there are a number of things that I missed.
Linda - These look great! Onto the TBR list they go.
Hi Linda - I know what you mean about
Say you're one of them, you know these stories are out there in the real world.
Linda,
I know exactly what you mean about
Say You're One of Them; tough stuff but unfortunately it's happening in the world today but it's not an uplifting read.
Hello Linda.
This one sounds almost too tough to read. But I love Africa and books of Africa and we know the atrocities going on there. I did put
Say You're One of Them on my TBR listing, but will have to wait until my mind is in a safer place to read it.
Thank you for the rec. You, brenzi, avatiakh and porchie.
big warm hug,
belva
P.S. Thank you.
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
This book has passages wherein you laugh right out loud, and keep right on laughing until you side hurts. And, then again, there are passages where the story line becomes repetitive, redundant, and the silly phrases fall flat.
Judd Foxman and his family are "dysfunctional" to the max. His successful mother wrote a best selling novel about child rearing. Like some psychologists who tell others how to raise a family, she hasn't done such a great job herself.
Judd's siblings quarrel, get in fist fights, throw acerbic emotional verbal bombs at each other and judge harshly.
Judd's life is upside down after finding his wife in bed with his boss.
And now, this cast of characters is stuck together for seven days while sitting shiva for Judd's recently departed father.
The book started out well. It was fun to read, until I grew weary of the dysfunction. I felt the author didn't know when to quit. He could have ended 100 pages sooner.
I give it 2.5 stars.
I hope your next read is better for you, Linda!
#331 Great recommendations of the Tudor period Linda! I can really immerse myself in this era as if I were a part of it somehow. It's weird how it almost seems like deja vu......
Thanks for your opinion Linda. I will definitely check out
Wolf Hall at some point. I might learn some history while I enjoy a good story.
#3 on library waiting list of 44
you have been a busy reader, my friend!
>146: That's too bad. It's always disappointing when something starts out fun and then the author doesn't know how to keep the balls in the air.
Thanks for your opinion on
Wolf Hall. I'm just getting started on it.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 15, 2009, 8:58pm.
I almost picked up
Wolf Hall this weekend, but didn't know if I wanted to spend $27 on it. I have Elizabeth I's signature tattooed on my foot, so I guess you could
call me a bit of a nut as well. ;) Maybe I'll grab it with the next coupon...
Dear fellow nut.
If you have to be nuts about something, Tudor history is a great thing to be nuts about.
I liked
Wolf Hall, but I'm not sure I would spend $27 on it. However, Barnes and Noble had a wonderful large book regarding the Tudors, complete with great color prints. I couldn't resist it!
Luxx, that's a hoot! If you get it through the BookDepository, it's much cheaper..no postage charge either.
#345 - If I had seen that book I'm sure I would have picked it up, too. :)
#346- BookDepository? Tell me more...
#336 I started
This is Where I Leave You with high hopes and then just got bored and never finished it. Now I don't feel so bad...
#347:
www.bookdepository.comIt's in England, ships all over the world with no shipping charges and is frequently competitive with, if not better than, Amazon. If something is out of stock, they have a "notify me" feature and they do! You can "wishlist" there too.
ETA: and I don't work for a commission for them, darn it, but I do use them all the time. They ship their books one at a time, which I like.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 17, 2009, 9:32am.
Thanks for the information Tiffin!
Joanne, I read your review of
A Christmas Blizzard and gave it a thumbs up!
I've added this book to my list to read during the holiday!
Linda,
Thanks for the link to Hilary Mantel discussing
Wolf Hall. I am totally engrossed in the book right now.
In addition to what Tui said about The Book Depository, it has several additional advantages over Amazon US, Amazon UK, or other online booksellers:
(1) No minimum purchase required for free shipping, to North America and most of Europe: You can buy a single £5 book or 10 books, with no difference in price or shipping fee.
(2) Most, if not all, books are discounted below the list price: I paid a little over £11 for
Wolf Hall, which listed for £18.99 (I think).
(3) Wide selection of books published in the UK: No more waiting for
months for a UK book to become available in the US! Last week I received a copy of
Small Memories, a new collection of essays by José Saramago, which isn't available in the US yet. The list price is £12.99 (a little less than $22), but I paid only $16.26 for it.
IMO, The Book Depository is one of the very few things that sounds too good to be true, but is true! I've ordered at least 20-30 books from TBD over the past couple of years, and I haven't had a single problem with any of my orders (knock on wood).
I agree completely with the kudos heaped on The Book Depository's head. I have been ordering from them for a couple of years now, and like Darryl said, have not had a single problem with them.
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
This coming of age book is a gem. It is well written and thought provoking.
Abandoned by her mother, Naomi and her brother live with their great grandmother in a tiny trailer located in Lemon Tree, California.
Granny is a strong, common sense, loving woman who, to her immense credit, assumed the responsibility of two bi-cultural children who came to her severely emotionally fragile.
Naomi is quiet and shy. Because of a birth defect, Owen has the moniker of "funny looking kid." Owen's shirts are plastered with tape which he uses as a security blanket to basically hold himself together. Naomi obsessively compiles lists and carves intricate animals from soap.
Life is good until near-do-well, irresponsible mommy dearest comes knocking on the door to claim only one of the two children.
Nasty boyfriend follows behind to simply get the welfare money that might come his way from Naomi.
This set of critters climb out from under a rock to take advantage of a grandmother who sacrificed and two children who are already struggling.
Like many juvenile and/or young adult books, this one deals with serious topics. Unlike some real-life struggles wherein neglectful parents show up years later to emotionally harm once again, the story has a happy ending.
Recommended!
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 17, 2009, 2:03pm.
#355: Adding that one to the BlackHole, Linda. Thanks for the review and recommendation!
Linda, I think you would have made the most brilliant children's librarian.
I agree with you there, Tui!
Tiffin and Stasia....
ah, Youz Guys (as they say here in NE Pennsylvania) or You'all (as they say in the south), make me blush!
Thanks!
I sent a Spanish version of
Becoming Naomi Leon to Joyce in Panama, but haven't read the book myself yet. Sounds like a good one.
Hi Linda - just stopping in to look around - and I'm getting a little dizzy. So many great books. I'm just skimming, and I'll have to come back again to read more closely. I wondering if the fairy-tale retellings might help cleanse my brain of the Disney versions. (I've a copy of Grimm by my bedside - but haven't opened it yet.)
349, 353 - Thank you for the info! Books for less? With free shipping? It sounds like my kind of place.
Vis-a-vis the BookDepository - Free shipping sounds great, and may be worthwhile for single book orders. But I've never used them, as I've always found amazon the the more economic option by buying 3 to 5 books at a time. Amazon's larger discounts per book* outweigh the shipping cost factor - sometimes by quite considerable amounts.
* Consider the hardback edition of "Wolf Hall" (since that seems to be the book of the moment). Today's prices: BD = USD24.95 / Amazon = USD13.50 (even at approx. USD9.00 for shipping to me here in Japan, Amazon still works out marginally cheaper). If you're in the US the rates are even better of course (even free shipping under certain conditions).
Of course I'm sure there are examples that would prove me wrong ;)
By the way Linda - still lurking, still reading :)
For those of us in the US, shopping from Amazon US is a better deal for books available here. Amazon UK probably has better prices than The Book Depository, but there is no free shipping across the pond, which is where The Book Depository's advantage lies, for books that are published in the UK and are not available stateside.
Yes, Darryl...I got Wolf Hall before it became available in the US or Canada. Sometimes when you are greedy and impatient, you just go for the gusto.
We're not greedy and impatient, Tui; we're ahead of the curve. :)
The curve, that's it! Riiiiight! {Best Bill Cosby voice}
I bought Wolf Hall from Book Depository before it was available in the US too, and I partly justified it because there was a paperback version available in the UK through Book Depository, and I personally much prefer to read a long book in paperback. Plus I liked the UK cover better. But if the book is out in the US, I'd probably use Amazon or the library if possible (the cheapest option of all).
*waves* Hi! Way behind on threads, but finally caught up on yours. I, too, think you would make a great children's librarian. In fact, you can have my job!! LOL. I am the default volunteer librarian at my daughter's school and I haven't a clue. Learning as I go. Right now, I have installed the bar code software and, with my committee, am busily scanning in and labeling the books. Then we will know what we have and what we are missing so I can order a bunch of books with grant money! That will be fun! I will have to come back and reread your threads for ideas. :)
Good luck with your project Kimberly!
Tiffin...congratulations on your hot review re. Wolf Hall.
Peter, nice to hear from you. I hope your little guys are doing well.
Thanks to all for stopping by!
Wow, you move fast! Just stopping in to say hello and throw a few books on my pile! I could've sworn I've only been AWOL for a week, but I was already 50 posts behind!
About Wolf Hall- everyone has been saying great things about it, but I'm always hesitant to read fiction about periods I don't know in case I get a false impression of that time. Since you read a lot about that period, do you think Wolf Hall's historical accuracy is up to par? Does it have a "what if" slant, or is trying for verisimilitude? Sorry, maybe I'm too picky with my historical fiction!
Katie
Your questions are good ones. What I found so very interesting about Wolf Hall is that Hilary Mantel focused on a snipet of a period of time in Henry VIII's court and Cromwell. She did not take the reader through the entire life of Cromwell and his tragic fall from grace but, as she said in an interview, wanted to tell the story of an obscure man who rose to extreme power and changed history. She wondered about fate and decisions that change the man.
"Historical accuracy" in a novel or even in an attempt to document historical "facts" can be an oxymoron. To me, that is what is so fascinating about history, ie while specific documents exist, the way in which the story is told can be seen through many prisms.
I think the writing of Wolf Hall is so good that if you don't know a lot about the Tudors, still, the pace doesn't drag and holds interest.
Thanks for asking my opinion.
I first saw this book listed on Darryl's (kidzdoc) thread. I trust his judgment and thus, when he raved about it, I knew I had to read it.
Great reviews, Linda! I am slobbering with envy to read Wolf Hall. I love historical fiction and I love the Tudor era. I am so slow at reading right now though, I will have to wait for a better time. I'm enjoying the vicarious pleasure of the book discussions.
Hang in there, we all have a lull in reading some time. Well, on second thought, let me change that to say all BUT Stasia.
Thanks for giving me your opinion, Linda. I agree about history being largely a matter of perspective: we can't really know what "really" happened, so asking fiction to follow the "true" story is a bit quixotic. Some of my favorite books are ones that play with that idea. I worry about it with actual history, though, since sources aren't usually cited and I have no way of knowing if the author's interpretation is way off base. It's put me off a lot of historical fiction, which is sad because I do think history can best be told in that form. I'm probably being way too cautious, though, since I wouldn't exactly be checking the references if I were reading a nonfiction book (although I suppose the author would at least be explaining what leads them to their conclusions). Wolf Hall sounds excellent, though, so I think it's definitely going on the wishlist. Thanks for answering my question!
#374: I had a lull in my reading time yesterday, I will have you know. It lasted 15 minutes :)
#371 Foxen - I agree with Linda. I was very worried about this too, so I quizzed my mum who read Wolf Hall when it came out and is a historian (and this is one of her periods).
Apparently the stuff that is known about is very well researched. On the other hand there are several gaps that she's filled in with guesswork/fiction (mostly interpersonal relationships eg those of Wolsey), but as there's nothing known about this kind of thing, I think it's fair game really (and my mother was of that opinion too - and she
really minds about that kind of thing)!
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 19, 2009, 7:32am.
Thanks for the link - it's very interesting - and I'm sending it to my mum!
Ooh, thanks for all the information and the link! I am vastly reassured. Wolf Hall is definitely going on the wishlist- now if only I had time to get to it.
#376 Stasia, the lull doesn't count if you were eating or taking a shower ya know.
#378 Great link Linda! Thanks. Course now I have to add Wolfie to my list, bless and curse you at the same time.
:)
Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout
Oh how I like this book! The writing is exquisitely detailed; the characters are magnificently developed and the scenery of the New England small town atmosphere is painted with a wonderful artistic brush of an amalgamation of impressionist soft tones contrasted with a stark canvas of sharp layers of vivid, clearly defined lines.
Tyler Caskey is an intelligent, well-liked, handsome minister of West Annett Maine.
Strout places him and the town folk in a late 1950's setting when even tiny rural towns are cognizant of the threat of Russian domination and the build up of nuclear arms.
While the fuzzy uncertain world is changing as two super powers wrestle for solutions, amid this backdrop, is the stark portrait and fall out of 1950's values and small mindedness and petty gossip. The reader realizes that human nature is frail and personal relationships are exceedingly difficult, thus, perhaps world peace is an illusion.
Tyler's wife died of cancer leaving him with two little girls, one of whom is badly acting out. Parishioners never warmed to his beautiful, cosmopolitan wife and thus now, rather than help, the misguided townsfolk cackle and harm. Rather than embrace, the mean spirited ninnies throw stones.
Using the wonderful hymn Abide With Me,
Stout shows redemption in both Tyler Caskey and the town folk as they learn that giving love is difficult, and accepting it is even harder.
Five Stars!
I've added
Abide with Me to my wishlist -- but I wonder, why does the book's main page give the title as "Stay with Me"? I can't find that any edition uses that wording for the title. Makes no sense to me.
eta to add: Oops! A kind soul pointed out that the record I downloaded was inaccurate -- the reason my listing came up "Stay with Me."
That's just the kind of day I'm having . . . sick kid, had to miss my book discussion group, broken microwave, faulty library records . . . :(
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 19, 2009, 9:09pm.
I seem to have missed your thread for a while as there were 37 posts... don't know how that happened...
On the Book Depository: I do order from them, but do watch out if you're ordering international or slightly obscure books; they appear to list a lot of stock that they have no intention of carrying, presumably as some sort of SEO tactic. I'm guessing the presumption is that you'll find them via searching online for a specific and unusual title - which they list and few others do, certainly at their discount price - and then go on to buy other stuff when you see it's not in stock. I've lost track of the number of times I've set up an 'in stock alert', got to the end of 60 days and had an email notification telling me it's not likely to come back into stock. Humph.
For more generally available stuff, they're excellent. And they're NOT AMAZON. From whose UK arm I only buy if I have LITERALLY no alternative after they ruined a Christmas shop for me a few years back.
Wolf Hall: a link to add to the YouTube clips -
Hilary Mantel at the London Review Bookshop reading from Wolf Hall and generally discussing the challenges of writing historical fiction.
I am adding
Abide with Me to the ever-expanding BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation!
I gave your review of
Abide with Me a thumbs up! Excellent review! I almost read that when it first arrived at our library, and now I wish I had and intend to soon.
And I fixed my record of the book, and my post 383 above. A big oops for me. Just that kind of day . . .
Glad you found a book to enjoy so much! I've had two duds in a row in my fiction reads, and am working on a third, I think.
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 19, 2009, 9:48pm.
Hey, Linda, you've got a hot review! Congrats!
You're on fire again, Linda. Kudos!
On to my wish list
Abide with Me goes. Very good review, I like the reference you made to art. The town sounds like impressionism meets cubism.
>382: I am so glad that I've already read (and loved!)
Abide With Me because your excellent review would make me want read it immediately. And right now I am considering canceling Thanksgiving dinner because I have so much good reading on my plate. How's that for a seasonal pun?
Ha!
Abide With Me is already on my list! Like Mark, I loved
Olive Kitteridge so the minute I heard about another book, it went onto the list. One that I don't have to add. I'm safe until you read another book. Perhaps you should just routinely send me books after you've read them...
Hi Linda! What a great review of
Abide with Me. I loved that book too, and you captured its essence so well.
Hi Linda, I just wanted to stop by and say that I read
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem after discovering it here! Also, I'm curious, which of the stories did you like best?
I really want to pick up
Straw into Gold now too.
Hi Linda, I loved your review of
Abide With Me. I saw it at a bookstore here in Australia and was so tempted to pick it up after reading your review, but books here, I've discovered are almost double the price of those back in the US, so I'm going to hold off until i get home next week, to look for it.
Just passing through to say hello, and thanks for hanging in with me....
looking forward to hearing about your next read.
Catching up with your reading, Linda. Wolf Hall is obviously a MUST read. I just got it out of the library but can only have it for two weeks - and it is a big book. It may be that I will just have to buy a copy.
The Strout book looks really good, too. Thanks.
The Wayward Muse by
Elizabeth HickeyI'm fascinated by the Victorian painters who were a part of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Their art is exquisite! Thus, I was anxious to read this book regarding Jane Burden-Morris who was the model for many of the most stunning paintings that came from this movement.
When attending a theater production, Jane's life changed dramatically the day she met Dante Gabriel Rossetti. At the ripe age of 17, Dante plucked her like a pomegranate and took her from poverty to the rich, exciting world of the whirlwind, uncommon and unconventional life of this group of artists who had a mission to set convention upside down.
Dante seduced young Jane while he was still in a complicated relationship with his previous muse Lizzie Siddal. Breaking Jane's heart, he returned to Lizzie.
In a complicated web of intrigue, Jane developed a relationship with Dante's rich and talented friend William Morris, a co-member of the Pre-Raphaelites who was also was smitten by Jane.
Marrying Morris paved the way for a fuller and more stable life, but the cad Rossetti simply could not let her go.
While
Hickey's writing is bland and not as powerful as I think it could be, I recommend this book to anyone interested in the paintings of Rossetti and the background of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood and their incredible art!
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&am...ooh... on to the wishlist it goes. Thanks for the review, Linda.
just stopping to say hi
And to say I enjoyed all the reviews and very belated congratulations on your daughters wedding (msg 245), yes I was WAY behind ;-)
Anita
I'm also just stopping to say hi - and looking forward to your thoughts on Libra. Also coming to warn to that the stories are a little complicated in the beginning until they start making sense, but when they do it's worth it so don't use the *insert number* page rule ! :)
Linda- I just wanted to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! Keep the good books comin'!!
349, 353, 364 - I have yet to order from The Book Depository, but I shared the site with two other people today, and they had great success. One was a friend who was having a hard time locating a few books, and the other was my husband. He found that The Book Depository beats Amazon's prices on programming and coding books (often quite expensive), which he found very exciting. He's already spreading the word to fellow geeks, and he wanted me to come back and thank you all for the tip.
Linda, just stopping by to say Happy Thanksgiving!
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving, Linda!
As I count my blessings, certainly the wonderful folk I've met here on LT and our 75 challenge group are among the things I am extremely grateful for!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Linda! I am grateful to be able to claim you as a friend. And please, come check out our MO Readers group! We've read some good books, and you don't have to live here, or even know where we are! Just another opportunity to read some different books!
hope you are well and happy... and had a good thanksgiving day :)
Stunner The Fall and Rise of Fanny Cornforth by
Kirsty Stonell Walker.
The famous Pre Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti primarily used three stunning models for his paintings. Each became a muse and a lover. Not much is known about Fanny Cornforth. What is documented about Fanny is through a Victorian male perspective and is unkind, snitty and undeserved.
Fanny clearly did not fit the traditional idea of Victorian beauty. She was heavy, she was uneducated, she was matter of fact, common sensical and lacked what were deemed the social graces.
While Rosetti was a brilliant artist, he was needy, self-centered, manipulative and a blatant user of all who entered is circle. In the hypocritical Victorian age, these were the traits attributed to Fanny. When Dante felt the least bit guilty for his indiscretions, his selfishness that drove Lizzie Siddall to suicide, his original abandonment of Jane Burden, his distasteful debauchery and cruelty, he projected angrily and negatively onto Fanny!
The loyal puppy Fanny stayed with Rossetti even after he discarded her and yet selfishly threw a treat once in awhile to play with her emotions. His friends ostracized her because she did not sip tea while holding a china cup, smiling every so slightly.
Fanny was as Rossetti's portraits portray, a large, beautiful, lusty woman who looked at the world straight on, shoulders squarely displayed, double chin evident, eyes piercing with bright hair cascading round her face.
This excellently written book shines a clear light on the Victorian era when women were arrested for prostitution and portrayed as whores while the men who were engaged in these acts were unscathed and blameless This was an era of blame. Those who were poor were perceived as at fault. Women who were used were made to learn their place. Those who tried to overcome poverty and escape destitution were reminded in hundreds of ways that they simply could never aspire to anything but the gutter.
I like Fanny. She got out of the gutter and no matter how often the elite tried to push her back down, she simply refused to be treated like an animal.
Accused of being a liar, a murderess, a whore and a thief, Fanny rose above. In fact, as the author shows, long after Rossetti's life ended as a result of his drug and alcohol addictions, it was Fanny Cornforth who was helpful in preserving his art.
Fanny was, as
Walker portrays her, a Stunner!
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 27, 2009, 8:36pm.
How lovely to have a face to match to your review. Thank you!
Bravo! That was a fantastic review, and the portraits were a wonderful addition. I'm adding this to my wish list. Congratulations on reaching 150 books, too!
Thanks Luxx and Darryl. I found this book to be very fascinating! I couldn't help but get a tad riled at the overwhelming hypocrisy of those nasty, naughty Victorians.
Great review (as always) of
Stunner. I will be on the lookout for the book.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by
Emily Lockhart. Thanks to Alaskabookworm (Linda) for recommending this YA book.
Frankie Landau-Banks is feisty and intelligent. This coming of age book takes a sharp look at peer pressure and the need to belong. Set in a Northern New England wealthy prep school, the previously independent Frankie finds the spot light when one of the richest and the most attractive, popular young man looks her way. Wanting to belong in the boys network, she sadly learns the barriers and perceptions of male vs. female roles.
There is nothing particularly in depth or special about this book, but, it was a quick, delightful read.
Ha! I already have that one in the BlackHole, so I do not have to add it again :)
Those Pre-Raphaelite books sound really interesting. Thank you for posting the pictures as well!
Meddelelse redigeret af dens forfatter, nov 28, 2009, 11:56am.
I don't often read YA books...but I received one from vine this month.
Possessed by Kate Cann. It doesn't show up here on T-stone.
http://www.librarything.com/work/8621493...is a link to it here..I quite liked it. I should post my review here.....
oh lord, i should know better than to stop by...always Wishlisting titles....but stop by i did...thanks for your reviews...my YA borrowers love to read your thread...and constantly badger me to "buy more books"..as if....
best wishes
Jude
Hey Linda you've got another hot review. Congrats! I'm actually using your YA reviews to say yea or nay to additions to our school library. Thanks for your help.
Brenzi
That is quite a compliment. Thank you!
Jude!
Thank you for your kind affirmation!
> 411 & 412 Great review and thank you so much for the links to the paintings. I am adding it to the WishNotebook and look forward to reading it!!
HI Cher
Thanks for stopping by!
Great review of book #150!
Thanks flissp.
Thanks, as always, for visiting my thread.
It was a good book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a snapshot of Victorian England.
Loved the link to the paintings!
Thanks! I love the art of the Pre-Raphaelites.
J.W. Waterhouse is my favorite. This painting reminds me of my work load. The paperwork arrives, gets processed and then double the pages arrive again...
The work load is very much like the women in the painting who fill the vessel, only to have the water flow right out again.
http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/view.cfm?rec...Great review of Stunner.
Hey Linda,
Got yourself another Hot Review! Great job!
(til toppen)
