Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Elder Wirthlin passes away...
He was a favorite apostle of the LDS church. Died on the first day of Dec. peacefully in his sleep. I will miss him. I really liked his last conference address. If you haven't read it you should. It is about being happy and finding humor in challenges. Even if you bump your head or something, instead of grumbling or swearing you should laugh. "Come What May and LOVE it!" great advice!
Friday, November 07, 2008
A Little Princess & The Secret Garden both by Frances Hodgson Burnett
These are wonderful classics. Amazing how different it is from The Little Princess starring Shirley Temple version. My daughter and I read it together out loud. She then wrote a really good book report about her favorite parts. Here it is:
A Little Princess
This was a good story. It was exciting. I think my whole family should read it.
There was a girl named Sara. She started out very rich. She got more then she ever wanted. She was very nice and not the typical spoiled type. She was kind, generous and not stuck up. She acted like a royal princess.
Then her dad died and she lost everything abut her doll Emily. They made her a servant and she slept in the right hand attic next to Becky the scully maid. Sara had always been friends with this servant girl.
Sara, even though she didn't have money, she still acted like a princess. She worked hard. She didn't get much to eat. She taught the children French lessons. She had a good attitude.
One of my favorite parts was when Miss Michin gave her a basic book on learning French when she first arrived. When the French Master came in she spoke to him in fluent French. She had learned it since birth because her mom was French.
Another favorite part was later when she woke up in the usually cold attic instead it was warm and had a fire, warm blankets and food. she thought it was a dream and maybe even magic.
The sick man from India next door felt sorry for her. It was he that secretly gave her all these things. He was actually looking for her but didn't know it till later.
One time when Sara was out on an errand she was very very hungry. She found a four pence in the mud. She saw a little girl in front of a bakery. She asked the girl if she was hungry. The girl was hungrier then she was. Sara went into the bakery and asked for four buns. The bakery women gave her six. She saw hunger in her eyes and felt sorry for her. Sara took the buns out to share with the hungry girl on the street. She gave her five and only ate one herself.
Sara was finally found by the Indian Gentleman who actually had been her father's partner in the Diamond Mines. She was rich again. The man adopted her and took Becky with them. She was not a scully maid anymore, now she was Sara's personal maid. She always had plenty to eat and warm clothes to wear. Sara also got a dog for a pet.
I think Sara was very courageous. Even though she was poor and unhappy living as a servant, she acted like a generous little princess.
The End.
We also read this last month The Secret Garden. My son decided this was the best book he read all year and wrote this book report on it:
The Best Book I Read All Year
The Best Book I Read All Year was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is about a boy and a girl about 12 years old. They live in Yorkshire, England, in a Manor, which is a huge house with lots of servants and rooms. It is surrounded by the Moors and lots of Gardens. The main two characters are Mary and Colin.
Mary starts out being very lonely and very selfish. She is shown where the key is to a secret forgotten garden. She starts to weed the overgrown plants and helps the garden come back to life. Sometimes she hears strange crying sounds coming from inside the Manor. She discovers her cousin, Colin and they become good friends.
Colin has thought all his life he was going to die. He is sickly and week. His dad is a hunchback man and he thinks he will be just like him. Mary doesn't agree and talks him into thinking he could get better. Colin can't walk because he has sat in his bed most of his life being sick. He throws tantrums and bosses all the servants and doctors around.
One of the funny parts of the book is when Colin is having a tantrum. Mary marches in and stamps her foot, yells louder then Colin, telling him to stop it and tells him she won't be his friend or visit him again if he keeps acting like that. This surprises him and he stops crying. Mary tells him about the secret garden and he wants to go see it. This gives him hope that he can be a normal boy and make his dad proud of him.
There is another boy that lives in the neighborhood named Dickon. He helps Mary in the garden and when Colin wants to go outside he pushes his wheelchair. They all keep the garden a secret from the adults. As they help the garden come to life they each change inside. By taking care of something else they stop being so selfish and self-centered. They become more healthy and happy being outside in the garden. They all become good friends and help each other.
I wish I had a secret garden so that I could play there. This was the best book I read all year.
The End
both are Whole books
A Little Princess
This was a good story. It was exciting. I think my whole family should read it.
There was a girl named Sara. She started out very rich. She got more then she ever wanted. She was very nice and not the typical spoiled type. She was kind, generous and not stuck up. She acted like a royal princess.
Then her dad died and she lost everything abut her doll Emily. They made her a servant and she slept in the right hand attic next to Becky the scully maid. Sara had always been friends with this servant girl.
Sara, even though she didn't have money, she still acted like a princess. She worked hard. She didn't get much to eat. She taught the children French lessons. She had a good attitude.
One of my favorite parts was when Miss Michin gave her a basic book on learning French when she first arrived. When the French Master came in she spoke to him in fluent French. She had learned it since birth because her mom was French.
Another favorite part was later when she woke up in the usually cold attic instead it was warm and had a fire, warm blankets and food. she thought it was a dream and maybe even magic.
The sick man from India next door felt sorry for her. It was he that secretly gave her all these things. He was actually looking for her but didn't know it till later.
One time when Sara was out on an errand she was very very hungry. She found a four pence in the mud. She saw a little girl in front of a bakery. She asked the girl if she was hungry. The girl was hungrier then she was. Sara went into the bakery and asked for four buns. The bakery women gave her six. She saw hunger in her eyes and felt sorry for her. Sara took the buns out to share with the hungry girl on the street. She gave her five and only ate one herself.
Sara was finally found by the Indian Gentleman who actually had been her father's partner in the Diamond Mines. She was rich again. The man adopted her and took Becky with them. She was not a scully maid anymore, now she was Sara's personal maid. She always had plenty to eat and warm clothes to wear. Sara also got a dog for a pet.
I think Sara was very courageous. Even though she was poor and unhappy living as a servant, she acted like a generous little princess.
The End.
We also read this last month The Secret Garden. My son decided this was the best book he read all year and wrote this book report on it:
The Best Book I Read All Year
The Best Book I Read All Year was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is about a boy and a girl about 12 years old. They live in Yorkshire, England, in a Manor, which is a huge house with lots of servants and rooms. It is surrounded by the Moors and lots of Gardens. The main two characters are Mary and Colin.
Mary starts out being very lonely and very selfish. She is shown where the key is to a secret forgotten garden. She starts to weed the overgrown plants and helps the garden come back to life. Sometimes she hears strange crying sounds coming from inside the Manor. She discovers her cousin, Colin and they become good friends.
Colin has thought all his life he was going to die. He is sickly and week. His dad is a hunchback man and he thinks he will be just like him. Mary doesn't agree and talks him into thinking he could get better. Colin can't walk because he has sat in his bed most of his life being sick. He throws tantrums and bosses all the servants and doctors around.
One of the funny parts of the book is when Colin is having a tantrum. Mary marches in and stamps her foot, yells louder then Colin, telling him to stop it and tells him she won't be his friend or visit him again if he keeps acting like that. This surprises him and he stops crying. Mary tells him about the secret garden and he wants to go see it. This gives him hope that he can be a normal boy and make his dad proud of him.
There is another boy that lives in the neighborhood named Dickon. He helps Mary in the garden and when Colin wants to go outside he pushes his wheelchair. They all keep the garden a secret from the adults. As they help the garden come to life they each change inside. By taking care of something else they stop being so selfish and self-centered. They become more healthy and happy being outside in the garden. They all become good friends and help each other.
I wish I had a secret garden so that I could play there. This was the best book I read all year.
The End
both are Whole books
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
SPOILERS and of course a bit of critique. Don't read any further if you don't want the plot discussed and the details of the whole book brought to light...
This book starts out with the sickest mutilations of the body. War is gross but the details are even worse. This first part though was just details of a satanic type cult chopping off their own body parts or limbs because it was cool. Then sacrificing human slaves. Yuck!!! I really wish I could have censored this part before my son read the book but he read it before I did and what can you do?
Then it was interesting that there was another kind of mutilation to the body but by a noble character for noble reasons. The only way to win the support of this one tribe and to be a person they respected and they would let this person be their ruler was for the people trying to win this office to participate in the Trial of the Long Knives ceremony. One person cuts their arm then the other person cuts and they go up and down both arms and the first person to stop looses and the last one to cut wins. It is so bloody and painful and then they can't have a magician heal them but it must heal naturally so the scars are forever seen and respected by all for bravery and sacrifice.
Then Eragon also does a type of mutilation to his body. He is constantly breaking the bones in his hand as he fights and then he has to use a lot of energy to heal himself with magic. So to save himself the pain and inconvenience of breaking his hands every time he goes into battle he uses magic to make his hand grow huge callouses on his knuckles so they are more durable when breaking peoples head open and killing them in battle.
Compared to today's world there is a lot of plastic surgery to heal scars from accidents or birth defects. There is also a lot of plastic surgery for convenience and to make one self beautiful. There is also tattoos, piercings and other things that are all a form of "mutilation".
Paolini separates Eragon many times from his dragon in this book. This causes lots of problems because there are a lot of people that want him dead. Of course he comes out triumphant in the end.
I like how he visits the land of the Elves and tries to find a sword. He also finds out how the really bad guy gets all his power. Makes sense, he gets it from the second heart which he captured or collected over the years from dead dragons, technically this heart is where the dragon still lives on and isn't really dead completely. Eragon also forges a new sword, which is why this book is called fire. His sword is also called fire, or Brisingr in Elvish language.
Of course we can't forget his brother Roran and his brave true love Katrina, which they rescued from the Ra'zac (evilest of all creatures). His brother is in the army of the good guys, the Varden. He has to kill so many bad guys and the book goes into detail for every person slaughtered. It also has lots of details of war strategy and Raran eventually commits insubordination but in so doing proves what a great leader and brave person he is. He saves the whole division of the army from dieing unnecessarily but risks his own life. When he returns he is whipped 50 lashes but then promoted to captain of his own division. Hmmm, not sure what Paolini is trying to prove there.
Overall the book was long and bloody and disgusting, yet interesting and quite a set up for the next book to follow. All of the characters have been developed and something is should happen to move us along...but the book ended and said sorry you have to wait for the next book, which is actually part of this book but it was getting so long they had to make it in to two book and call it the Eragon cycle not trilogy.
Broken Healing Book not recommended for the faint of heart
This book starts out with the sickest mutilations of the body. War is gross but the details are even worse. This first part though was just details of a satanic type cult chopping off their own body parts or limbs because it was cool. Then sacrificing human slaves. Yuck!!! I really wish I could have censored this part before my son read the book but he read it before I did and what can you do?
Then it was interesting that there was another kind of mutilation to the body but by a noble character for noble reasons. The only way to win the support of this one tribe and to be a person they respected and they would let this person be their ruler was for the people trying to win this office to participate in the Trial of the Long Knives ceremony. One person cuts their arm then the other person cuts and they go up and down both arms and the first person to stop looses and the last one to cut wins. It is so bloody and painful and then they can't have a magician heal them but it must heal naturally so the scars are forever seen and respected by all for bravery and sacrifice.
Then Eragon also does a type of mutilation to his body. He is constantly breaking the bones in his hand as he fights and then he has to use a lot of energy to heal himself with magic. So to save himself the pain and inconvenience of breaking his hands every time he goes into battle he uses magic to make his hand grow huge callouses on his knuckles so they are more durable when breaking peoples head open and killing them in battle.
Compared to today's world there is a lot of plastic surgery to heal scars from accidents or birth defects. There is also a lot of plastic surgery for convenience and to make one self beautiful. There is also tattoos, piercings and other things that are all a form of "mutilation".
Paolini separates Eragon many times from his dragon in this book. This causes lots of problems because there are a lot of people that want him dead. Of course he comes out triumphant in the end.
I like how he visits the land of the Elves and tries to find a sword. He also finds out how the really bad guy gets all his power. Makes sense, he gets it from the second heart which he captured or collected over the years from dead dragons, technically this heart is where the dragon still lives on and isn't really dead completely. Eragon also forges a new sword, which is why this book is called fire. His sword is also called fire, or Brisingr in Elvish language.
Of course we can't forget his brother Roran and his brave true love Katrina, which they rescued from the Ra'zac (evilest of all creatures). His brother is in the army of the good guys, the Varden. He has to kill so many bad guys and the book goes into detail for every person slaughtered. It also has lots of details of war strategy and Raran eventually commits insubordination but in so doing proves what a great leader and brave person he is. He saves the whole division of the army from dieing unnecessarily but risks his own life. When he returns he is whipped 50 lashes but then promoted to captain of his own division. Hmmm, not sure what Paolini is trying to prove there.
Overall the book was long and bloody and disgusting, yet interesting and quite a set up for the next book to follow. All of the characters have been developed and something is should happen to move us along...but the book ended and said sorry you have to wait for the next book, which is actually part of this book but it was getting so long they had to make it in to two book and call it the Eragon cycle not trilogy.
Broken Healing Book not recommended for the faint of heart
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Journey To The Center Of The Earth by Jules Verne
Whew, finally finished it! Way too much geology for me! It was amazing how much imagination he crammed in to one book. I really couldn't tell what was fiction and what was just fake.
I guess now I can watch the movie.
Whole Book
I guess now I can watch the movie.
Whole Book
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale
I waited in anticipation for this book to finally come and when I got it I was shocked...it was an illustrated novel. I have never been into comics. In fact I never read them. But since I had the book and it was one of my favorite authors I read it.
Surprisingly it was very entertaining and unique. I couldn't guess what Rapunzel would do next. I have never heard this slant on the age old fairytale story and I couldn't wait to read the whole thing. It was longer then I thought for a comic but worth the read.
My favorite thing about the book is Rapunzel's long red hair. She has it braided into two long ropes and then uses them as a whip like Indiana Jones to get places or to knock things (like guns) out of others hands. She is very brave.
If you want to borrow it let me know!
Whole Book
Surprisingly it was very entertaining and unique. I couldn't guess what Rapunzel would do next. I have never heard this slant on the age old fairytale story and I couldn't wait to read the whole thing. It was longer then I thought for a comic but worth the read.
My favorite thing about the book is Rapunzel's long red hair. She has it braided into two long ropes and then uses them as a whip like Indiana Jones to get places or to knock things (like guns) out of others hands. She is very brave.
If you want to borrow it let me know!
Whole Book
Friday, September 05, 2008
The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
This was three books in one...750 pages of Pern! Since I still don't have a house and I try to make myself scarce at my sister in laws house this was a good time to read a really big book. Dragonquest, Dragonflight and the White Dragon.
I loved them. It is so interesting to take yourself into another world and just think about that all the time. I even dreamed about Pern every night for a few weeks. (except a few times I dreamed about my sister and her not boyfriend at a political convention). I wish I had a dragon! But the last book in the series had a weird twist, the White Dragon, kind of weird. Anyway, other then that it all ended up happily ever after. Love those happy endings....or is it the end? There are more books to read!
Not really whole books but definitely science fiction/fantasy classics. Not recommended for children.
I loved them. It is so interesting to take yourself into another world and just think about that all the time. I even dreamed about Pern every night for a few weeks. (except a few times I dreamed about my sister and her not boyfriend at a political convention). I wish I had a dragon! But the last book in the series had a weird twist, the White Dragon, kind of weird. Anyway, other then that it all ended up happily ever after. Love those happy endings....or is it the end? There are more books to read!
Not really whole books but definitely science fiction/fantasy classics. Not recommended for children.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
SPOILERS!!! I give tons of the plot away so don't read this if you want to be surprised when you read the book. I will say right up front...The book is not for children!!!!!!!!
What was Stephanie Meyer thinking? Is she taking over every parents responsibly to teach their children/teenager about Sex! Does she think she has the right to write all those books then end with one more in the series that of course all those same young girls that have been reading her books all along are going to read, despite her warning that it isn't for children under 13...I don't think it is for children under 18!!!
The whole book was filled with Bella and Edwards sexual life and thoughts, not just the beginning when we went on their honeymoon with them but throughout the whole book they constantly couldn't wait to be alone and get it on! All the way to the last page you hear it, they are consumed by each others sexual desires!!!! Sure you can get into the book and just try to ignore this but my daughters won't be reading this type of smut until they are more mature and have a better understanding of the difference between love and LUST! It is a part of life and they are married but I don't need to read about it, little girls don't need to idolize the characters in the book and think about this yet!
Can you imagine writing about your honeymoon, or about how much you want your husband and how many times a day you think about him and want him in bed or can't wait till the kids are asleep, then you take these writings and hand them to your daughter or your daughters best friend...maybe around the age of 14 or even 16 and say, "Here, would you like to read an adventure story about mom and dad?" YIKES. Really teenagers do not need to be focusing on this until they are adults and ready to date seriously and get married. Teenagers don't need to take it to this level yet!
Okay, now that I got that off my skin. The book was sappy and slightly predictable. It was also a great ending or beginning for Bella and Edward and their little girl. I liked Bella's new self a lot better then the old one as a human. She is strong, smart and not so wimpy, dependent on Edward or Jacob.
The part where she gives birth is pretty gross because most of her bones break and you don't know what kind of monster is going to come out and she has to go through the pain of becoming a vampire, very intense. BUT I was a little disappointed she one of the first things she does as a vampire is lie about what she went through. The excuse is she is trying to protect feeling of the ones she loves but I still think the truth is always better then a lie. Really they could have dealt with it after they already dealt with so much. This doesn't give her any integrity points in my book.
The whole drinking human blood is something I will never be able to get used too, even if it is very common in these books because it is vampires and shape-shifters. This is very satanic no matter what science fiction book you want to jump into. It is just sick and wrong. Sure sure, they have to eat something but I'm sorry it is just wrong and not something I want to think is common or okay for someone.
Overall a very creative book. Alice is of course my favorite. She adds mystery and spice to the book near the end. I felt sorry for Charlie but I'm glad he wasn't just dumped like the poor mom. The mean Italian mafia was a bit overdone but at least the fight never happened even though it was like it did because they talked and planned for it so much before it was to happen. I'm glad Jacob is happy, it was really too bad he was going to be left behind but now he isn't.
It was a good adult book. Lots of sex and love with the whole supernatural thing going. I would say it is a Broken Book. I don't recommend it for children and I think parents should discuss it with their girls because of course they are going to read the last book in the series! The movie comes out soon for the first book, if you have read the other reviews I wrote about these books you know I don't think any of them are for children/teenagers because of all the mixed messages they send about what is right and wrong. All Broken books, good is bad and bad is good.
That's all, hope you enjoyed your read!
BENT BOOK
What was Stephanie Meyer thinking? Is she taking over every parents responsibly to teach their children/teenager about Sex! Does she think she has the right to write all those books then end with one more in the series that of course all those same young girls that have been reading her books all along are going to read, despite her warning that it isn't for children under 13...I don't think it is for children under 18!!!
The whole book was filled with Bella and Edwards sexual life and thoughts, not just the beginning when we went on their honeymoon with them but throughout the whole book they constantly couldn't wait to be alone and get it on! All the way to the last page you hear it, they are consumed by each others sexual desires!!!! Sure you can get into the book and just try to ignore this but my daughters won't be reading this type of smut until they are more mature and have a better understanding of the difference between love and LUST! It is a part of life and they are married but I don't need to read about it, little girls don't need to idolize the characters in the book and think about this yet!
Can you imagine writing about your honeymoon, or about how much you want your husband and how many times a day you think about him and want him in bed or can't wait till the kids are asleep, then you take these writings and hand them to your daughter or your daughters best friend...maybe around the age of 14 or even 16 and say, "Here, would you like to read an adventure story about mom and dad?" YIKES. Really teenagers do not need to be focusing on this until they are adults and ready to date seriously and get married. Teenagers don't need to take it to this level yet!
Okay, now that I got that off my skin. The book was sappy and slightly predictable. It was also a great ending or beginning for Bella and Edward and their little girl. I liked Bella's new self a lot better then the old one as a human. She is strong, smart and not so wimpy, dependent on Edward or Jacob.
The part where she gives birth is pretty gross because most of her bones break and you don't know what kind of monster is going to come out and she has to go through the pain of becoming a vampire, very intense. BUT I was a little disappointed she one of the first things she does as a vampire is lie about what she went through. The excuse is she is trying to protect feeling of the ones she loves but I still think the truth is always better then a lie. Really they could have dealt with it after they already dealt with so much. This doesn't give her any integrity points in my book.
The whole drinking human blood is something I will never be able to get used too, even if it is very common in these books because it is vampires and shape-shifters. This is very satanic no matter what science fiction book you want to jump into. It is just sick and wrong. Sure sure, they have to eat something but I'm sorry it is just wrong and not something I want to think is common or okay for someone.
Overall a very creative book. Alice is of course my favorite. She adds mystery and spice to the book near the end. I felt sorry for Charlie but I'm glad he wasn't just dumped like the poor mom. The mean Italian mafia was a bit overdone but at least the fight never happened even though it was like it did because they talked and planned for it so much before it was to happen. I'm glad Jacob is happy, it was really too bad he was going to be left behind but now he isn't.
It was a good adult book. Lots of sex and love with the whole supernatural thing going. I would say it is a Broken Book. I don't recommend it for children and I think parents should discuss it with their girls because of course they are going to read the last book in the series! The movie comes out soon for the first book, if you have read the other reviews I wrote about these books you know I don't think any of them are for children/teenagers because of all the mixed messages they send about what is right and wrong. All Broken books, good is bad and bad is good.
That's all, hope you enjoyed your read!
BENT BOOK
Friday, August 15, 2008
Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey
Yep it takes a good dragon book to get me back blogging. I love Anne McCaffrey's books. This one in chronological order for the Dragon riders of Pern series is the beginning. The very first one, how it all began, the first landing and everything from the creation of dragons to the first Thread Fall and the first dragon riders.
It was very technical and scientific and a lot of imagination. I think it helped me understand a bit more of the other books. Like I never remembered the dolphins.
Really cool. I still have a few more books to read from the series there are like over 20 but I think if I read them in Chronological order I will be able to make more sense out of it all. Not that science fiction needs to make sense all the time, just sit back and let the imagination flow!
My grandfather introduced me to these books when my sister and I went on a long educational road trip across the US. These are his favorite books and when I read them I am reminded of him. Now his son, my uncle is excited to let me borrow books from his collection. He loves these books too. So thanks to him I am reading some again and some for the first time. Thanks Uncle R!
Whole book
Chronological Order of Pern Books
In the First Pass:
Dragonsdawn
The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall
In the Second Pass:
Dragonseye
In the Third Pass:
Dragon's Kin
Dragonsblood by Todd McCaffrey (release date to be announced)
In the Sixth Pass:
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
Nerilka's Story
In the Ninth Pass:
Dragonflight
Dragonsong
Dragonquest
Dragonsinger (overlaps with Dragonquest)
The White Dragon
Dragondrums (overlaps with The White Dragon)
Masterharper of Pern (overlaps with all of the above and more)
Renegades of Pern
The Girl Who Heard Dragons (short story)
(also the title of an anthology of short stories, not all of which are set on Pern)
All The Weyrs of Pern
The Dolphins of Pern
The Skies of Pern
It was very technical and scientific and a lot of imagination. I think it helped me understand a bit more of the other books. Like I never remembered the dolphins.
Really cool. I still have a few more books to read from the series there are like over 20 but I think if I read them in Chronological order I will be able to make more sense out of it all. Not that science fiction needs to make sense all the time, just sit back and let the imagination flow!
My grandfather introduced me to these books when my sister and I went on a long educational road trip across the US. These are his favorite books and when I read them I am reminded of him. Now his son, my uncle is excited to let me borrow books from his collection. He loves these books too. So thanks to him I am reading some again and some for the first time. Thanks Uncle R!
Whole book
Chronological Order of Pern Books
In the First Pass:
Dragonsdawn
The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall
In the Second Pass:
Dragonseye
In the Third Pass:
Dragon's Kin
Dragonsblood by Todd McCaffrey (release date to be announced)
In the Sixth Pass:
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
Nerilka's Story
In the Ninth Pass:
Dragonflight
Dragonsong
Dragonquest
Dragonsinger (overlaps with Dragonquest)
The White Dragon
Dragondrums (overlaps with The White Dragon)
Masterharper of Pern (overlaps with all of the above and more)
Renegades of Pern
The Girl Who Heard Dragons (short story)
(also the title of an anthology of short stories, not all of which are set on Pern)
All The Weyrs of Pern
The Dolphins of Pern
The Skies of Pern
Friday, July 25, 2008
Freckles by Gene Stratton Porter
I loved this book just like I loved The Girl of the Limberlost. Freckles, I believe came first but I read them out of order. Still worth it.
GSPorter always does an excellent job filling us in on all the wildlife and nature. It is very educational. I love her descriptions of the vulture family that Freckles finds in a hollow tree.
Some people might be surprised with how much Freckles can't get over his low status in society but in the 1900's this is how they really believed. Once your family was poor you were always poor and you couldn't associate with the rich and educated or rise to their level in society. I think she wrote true to how people thought back then.
And yes, again this was a sappy love story with a happy ending! A really good sappy love story. (I like the old fashion love stories where they hardly even hold hands and if they do they blush and dream about it for days.) Classic!
WHOLE BOOK
GSPorter always does an excellent job filling us in on all the wildlife and nature. It is very educational. I love her descriptions of the vulture family that Freckles finds in a hollow tree.
Some people might be surprised with how much Freckles can't get over his low status in society but in the 1900's this is how they really believed. Once your family was poor you were always poor and you couldn't associate with the rich and educated or rise to their level in society. I think she wrote true to how people thought back then.
And yes, again this was a sappy love story with a happy ending! A really good sappy love story. (I like the old fashion love stories where they hardly even hold hands and if they do they blush and dream about it for days.) Classic!
WHOLE BOOK
Sunday, June 08, 2008
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
Blah...this was a horrible book. I had to see it it got any better so I read it to the end. What a waste of time. I loved The Secret Life of Bees but this one doesn't even come close.
I don't think she thinks very highly of the Catholic Religion. But she loves Mermaid Folklore.
BROKEN BOOK
I don't think she thinks very highly of the Catholic Religion. But she loves Mermaid Folklore.
BROKEN BOOK
Friday, May 30, 2008
Prince Caspian (the book not the movie) by CS Lewis
LOVED it, of course. I remember reading the beginning of this book a few times but I think this was the first time I actually got to the end. I can't wait to see the movie, I wonder how they do the tree people. (don't tell me, I am probably the only one that is waiting for the movie to come out in Redbox.)
I wonder if I would believe in Aslan no matter what, or be a doubter??? I think mice with swords are cool. Do my children hear enough about the Old Testament? Are they familiar with the stories of Jesus, how the world was made and who we can turn to for help in our daily lives? Will they be able to rise to the occasion and face challenges in life with faith and strength from God?
Whole Book (EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS ONE!)
And another thing...
And can anyone guess where this picture was taken? Here are some clues: I didn't take it, I wasn't there, those kids are strange (they take after their father), there is something peculiar about that fountain...and the house behind it...tiny steps will make anyone go crazy if you climb them enough times!
I wonder if I would believe in Aslan no matter what, or be a doubter??? I think mice with swords are cool. Do my children hear enough about the Old Testament? Are they familiar with the stories of Jesus, how the world was made and who we can turn to for help in our daily lives? Will they be able to rise to the occasion and face challenges in life with faith and strength from God?
Whole Book (EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS ONE!)
And another thing...
And can anyone guess where this picture was taken? Here are some clues: I didn't take it, I wasn't there, those kids are strange (they take after their father), there is something peculiar about that fountain...and the house behind it...tiny steps will make anyone go crazy if you climb them enough times!
Monday, May 19, 2008
CS Lewis
We listened to The Horse and His Boy and I just finished The Magician's Nephew. Love them! We read them so we could go see the movie Prince Caspian but you can see we didn't read Prince Caspian yet...ummm, that as the whole point. I can't get a hold of this book on CD or tape from the library. Everyone must have had the same idea...so as we wait we will read the rest of the Narnia Series. I am not good at waiting...I wanted to see the movie!!!! Of course my son has read it a couple of times and is very disappointed to not see it last weekend right when it came out and waiting is not his forte.
Did anyone else see it? Don't tell me what happens but tell me if it is worth waiting for.
Did anyone else see it? Don't tell me what happens but tell me if it is worth waiting for.
Bool of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
This is one of her new books! She also has another book coming out near the end of the summer! I can't wait! (she wrote Goose Girl and Princess Academy if you can't remember who she is.)
This book is another coming of age story of a young maid and a princess but with a twist. I was surprised that the story was not about the princess but about the servant girl instead. I really liked this book after I got through the first quarter, that part was dragging but I realized later it was on purpose. Then right before the middle it started getting very interesting and finally came together.
Hale wrote it in a very unique style, every chapter is a journal entry. She also took the story from a Grimm Brother's fairy tale and researched Medieval Mongolia. It had a kind of Genghis Khan feel to parts of it. Since I am not familiar with this area of the world in Asia or its folklore I found the story very intriguing and inspiring. There was adventure, romance, drama and mystery. A very unpredictable ending but of course a happier ever after kiss was on the last page, that was where the fairy tale comes back in.
The two girls get locked in a tower. They almost go completely mad. They don't stay there for the whole story but 1000 days is a long long time to be in a tower. I won't say anything more or I will give away some of the suspense in the story. They also really hate rats, which live in the tower with them eating all their food. The story has some violent parts and quite a few heroic parts. There is a very evil man and a young dreamy prince. I would read it again and think it was a really fun book!
Whole Book, Healing Book
This book is another coming of age story of a young maid and a princess but with a twist. I was surprised that the story was not about the princess but about the servant girl instead. I really liked this book after I got through the first quarter, that part was dragging but I realized later it was on purpose. Then right before the middle it started getting very interesting and finally came together.
Hale wrote it in a very unique style, every chapter is a journal entry. She also took the story from a Grimm Brother's fairy tale and researched Medieval Mongolia. It had a kind of Genghis Khan feel to parts of it. Since I am not familiar with this area of the world in Asia or its folklore I found the story very intriguing and inspiring. There was adventure, romance, drama and mystery. A very unpredictable ending but of course a happier ever after kiss was on the last page, that was where the fairy tale comes back in.
The two girls get locked in a tower. They almost go completely mad. They don't stay there for the whole story but 1000 days is a long long time to be in a tower. I won't say anything more or I will give away some of the suspense in the story. They also really hate rats, which live in the tower with them eating all their food. The story has some violent parts and quite a few heroic parts. There is a very evil man and a young dreamy prince. I would read it again and think it was a really fun book!
Whole Book, Healing Book
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Boy and Going Solo by Roald Dahl
Two books but since the second one picks up right when the 1st one ends I am putting them together in this blog.
Roald Dahl is one of my favorites! LOVE HIS WEIRD SILLY CHILDREN'S BOOKS!!! I don't think I will like any of this weird adult books. Yep I'll pass on those.
To refresh your memory some of his children's books are: BFG, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Those are just his most famous books but my favorite is The Witches. This book was inspired by his grandmother. He also has some really weird cookbooks out too.
This is the strangest little known fact about him. He wrote that horribly scary movie the Gremlins! Kim do you remember that one? Are you still having nightmares?
He was born in 1916, he spent a lot of time in boarding schools but despite that he got a great education in England. His children's book career didn't start until 1960 when he actually had children.
These two books are a sort of autobiography of the memories that stick out most in his childhood and his service during WWII. He was actually born in Wales and is Norwegian. His dad died when he was still young. He loved to ride his bike, eat candy bought from a local sweets shop and he loved playing sports.
When he finished school he got a job in Africa for Shell. He then joined the air defense to fight Hitler. He was very very lucky and had some narrow escapes every day he did that. He hates snakes (because there are quite a few in Africa that almost killed him). He loves giraffe, elephants and all jungle creatures.
Both books were very entertaining. He had a good childhood. He commented a lot on the Head masters at some of the boarding schools and the violence that was common in that time against rule breakers or just poor innocent boys being boys. He still can't get his mind around the spankings and beatings that were allowed at some of his schools. He also had his share for pranks and once was accused of cheating but of course they didn't believe him when he said he wasn't cheating just asking for some ink from the boy next to him.
He had some hard times too. It seems that he was always faced with death of loved ones and sickness. He was a very generous man and learned a lot of compassion and patience. He later helped others in the community and even the world through donations and personal friendships and visits with very sick children.
There is a cool website for his books http://www.roalddahl.com/
Healing Books
Roald Dahl is one of my favorites! LOVE HIS WEIRD SILLY CHILDREN'S BOOKS!!! I don't think I will like any of this weird adult books. Yep I'll pass on those.
To refresh your memory some of his children's books are: BFG, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Those are just his most famous books but my favorite is The Witches. This book was inspired by his grandmother. He also has some really weird cookbooks out too.
This is the strangest little known fact about him. He wrote that horribly scary movie the Gremlins! Kim do you remember that one? Are you still having nightmares?
He was born in 1916, he spent a lot of time in boarding schools but despite that he got a great education in England. His children's book career didn't start until 1960 when he actually had children.
These two books are a sort of autobiography of the memories that stick out most in his childhood and his service during WWII. He was actually born in Wales and is Norwegian. His dad died when he was still young. He loved to ride his bike, eat candy bought from a local sweets shop and he loved playing sports.
When he finished school he got a job in Africa for Shell. He then joined the air defense to fight Hitler. He was very very lucky and had some narrow escapes every day he did that. He hates snakes (because there are quite a few in Africa that almost killed him). He loves giraffe, elephants and all jungle creatures.
Both books were very entertaining. He had a good childhood. He commented a lot on the Head masters at some of the boarding schools and the violence that was common in that time against rule breakers or just poor innocent boys being boys. He still can't get his mind around the spankings and beatings that were allowed at some of his schools. He also had his share for pranks and once was accused of cheating but of course they didn't believe him when he said he wasn't cheating just asking for some ink from the boy next to him.
He had some hard times too. It seems that he was always faced with death of loved ones and sickness. He was a very generous man and learned a lot of compassion and patience. He later helped others in the community and even the world through donations and personal friendships and visits with very sick children.
There is a cool website for his books http://www.roalddahl.com/
Healing Books
Friday, May 09, 2008
Sherlock Holmes selected stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
I never really read any of his stuff before. It was pretty good and very mysterious. Whole Book
Friday, May 02, 2008
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
What a fun book! A murder mystery written in a children's book! There were clues throughout the book just waiting to have someone put them together and figure it all out! Which a few people almost do and only one does completely in the end.
I really wished I had made a chart of the different characters in the book and the clues that went with each one. There were 16 suspects. I kept getting them all mixed up! Luckily I was reading the book on my own while listening to it with the kids in the car at the same time so I had a little review on a few parts.
One of the characters is a little girl named Turtle. She is my favorite. Instead of bottling up her problems and feelings inside she always kicks people in the shin. Hilarious! Now we have more then one person limping...
Overall the books was funny, entertaining, sly, and tricky. Each person bettered themselves and made some new friends by the end of the book.
Loved it!
Whole Book
I really wished I had made a chart of the different characters in the book and the clues that went with each one. There were 16 suspects. I kept getting them all mixed up! Luckily I was reading the book on my own while listening to it with the kids in the car at the same time so I had a little review on a few parts.
One of the characters is a little girl named Turtle. She is my favorite. Instead of bottling up her problems and feelings inside she always kicks people in the shin. Hilarious! Now we have more then one person limping...
Overall the books was funny, entertaining, sly, and tricky. Each person bettered themselves and made some new friends by the end of the book.
Loved it!
Whole Book
Pretties and Specials by Scott Westerfield
Okay, I didn't give the first book a lot of slack but the second and third books were really fun! I could not put them down and had to read the third right after finishing the second. I didn't get a lot of anything else done for a few days until I had come to the end.
There was lots of adventure and creativity in these last two. They were surprising and not so shallow as the first book, Uglies.
If you haven't finished the series I recommend that you do. Pretties and Specials were worth the read.
Broken Books, Healing Books
Also there is a fourth book Extras that takes place in Japan or something. I think I will skip that one. I am done with this whole world of Utopias for a while.
There was lots of adventure and creativity in these last two. They were surprising and not so shallow as the first book, Uglies.
If you haven't finished the series I recommend that you do. Pretties and Specials were worth the read.
Broken Books, Healing Books
Also there is a fourth book Extras that takes place in Japan or something. I think I will skip that one. I am done with this whole world of Utopias for a while.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 13 The End By Lemony Snicket
Finally I got around to finishing this book. I don't think I finished #12 because some of the stuff didn't sound familiar.
This was a fun and gloomy series. Lots of mystery, deception and of course horrible unfortunate events.
One good thing about the stories...they are very unpredictable.
I do learn lots of new words too. Like argybargy, braewoman,ceviche, and herpetologist.
Very clever, good ending and I would still have to say they are broken books. They don't even come close to the healing book category either, just broken on purpose for the young readers enjoyment..now there is something wrong with this, don't you think?
This was a fun and gloomy series. Lots of mystery, deception and of course horrible unfortunate events.
One good thing about the stories...they are very unpredictable.
I do learn lots of new words too. Like argybargy, braewoman,ceviche, and herpetologist.
Very clever, good ending and I would still have to say they are broken books. They don't even come close to the healing book category either, just broken on purpose for the young readers enjoyment..now there is something wrong with this, don't you think?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Hmm, it was a weird book. Very Young Adult (teenager level). Everybody gets to be super model gorgeous, what is wrong with that? Uh, I can think of lots of things but the book spends the whole time trying to convince us that beauty is everything...or maybe not? Then the book leaves us all hanging in the end. Why? Well, there is a second book called Pretties. Oh, I guess I will have to read that one now so I can maybe find the answer to this question.
I think the book reminds me of The Giver and The White Mountains but with a horrible shallow spin on the whole Utopia thing. It doesn't make any sense that the main character and the group she is rebelling with never get caught even though the society has high tech spy agency and future advances in biology working against them. It is a bit "dumbed down" so your average cheerleader would be able to read this book. AND I can't believe the main girl just doesn't tell the truth! She lies and keeps getting deeper and deeper and then digs a pit so deep she ends the book doing something really stupid but of course made to look like the ultimate sacrifice or penitence for her lying. She is such a heroine.
Overall I found it entertaining and enthralling enough to read it straight through only stopping to right a talk and sleep and eat sometimes eat. Now to get my hands on the second and third books!
Healing Book
I think the book reminds me of The Giver and The White Mountains but with a horrible shallow spin on the whole Utopia thing. It doesn't make any sense that the main character and the group she is rebelling with never get caught even though the society has high tech spy agency and future advances in biology working against them. It is a bit "dumbed down" so your average cheerleader would be able to read this book. AND I can't believe the main girl just doesn't tell the truth! She lies and keeps getting deeper and deeper and then digs a pit so deep she ends the book doing something really stupid but of course made to look like the ultimate sacrifice or penitence for her lying. She is such a heroine.
Overall I found it entertaining and enthralling enough to read it straight through only stopping to right a talk and sleep and eat sometimes eat. Now to get my hands on the second and third books!
Healing Book
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories
This was a very scary book!
I usually don't read Ghost Stories. I think they are too scary and I always get nightmares so I'm not sure why I picked up this book in the first place. I do love the author so I guess I just wanted to see what he could possibly write to scare me. WELL, this book wasn't written by him, just compiled by him and it had plenty of ghosts to keep me up at night.
In 1958 Roald Dahl wanted to make a tv series of ghost stories. He read 749 short stories called ghost stories. He was very disappointed in the first fifty or so stories because they were trivial and not the least spooky. Finally he found one that gave him the shivers! In the end he found about 24 really good ones and the rest were just gibberish. At first the female ghost story authors were ahead but in the end the males caught up. He thought this was interesting that females write really good children's books and really good scary stories but weren't very top ranking in sculpture, painting or music. This is all in his Introduction in the book, which I liked better then the ghost stories. He really rambles on about interesting things. Anyway, he never got to do the tv series because their pilot was a big flop in Hollywood because it offended American Catholics or something. Bummer.
So the book has 14 short stories that will scare the pants off you! Each one by a different author, each one original and unpredictable.
"The best ghost stories don't have ghosts in them. At least, you don't see the ghost. Instead, you only see the result of his actions. Occasionally you can feel it brushing past you, or you are aware of its presence by subtle means...I hope you will be disturbed by all the stories in this book they were written with precisely that end in mind." R. Dahl
I usually don't read Ghost Stories. I think they are too scary and I always get nightmares so I'm not sure why I picked up this book in the first place. I do love the author so I guess I just wanted to see what he could possibly write to scare me. WELL, this book wasn't written by him, just compiled by him and it had plenty of ghosts to keep me up at night.
In 1958 Roald Dahl wanted to make a tv series of ghost stories. He read 749 short stories called ghost stories. He was very disappointed in the first fifty or so stories because they were trivial and not the least spooky. Finally he found one that gave him the shivers! In the end he found about 24 really good ones and the rest were just gibberish. At first the female ghost story authors were ahead but in the end the males caught up. He thought this was interesting that females write really good children's books and really good scary stories but weren't very top ranking in sculpture, painting or music. This is all in his Introduction in the book, which I liked better then the ghost stories. He really rambles on about interesting things. Anyway, he never got to do the tv series because their pilot was a big flop in Hollywood because it offended American Catholics or something. Bummer.
So the book has 14 short stories that will scare the pants off you! Each one by a different author, each one original and unpredictable.
"The best ghost stories don't have ghosts in them. At least, you don't see the ghost. Instead, you only see the result of his actions. Occasionally you can feel it brushing past you, or you are aware of its presence by subtle means...I hope you will be disturbed by all the stories in this book they were written with precisely that end in mind." R. Dahl
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)