Saturday, August 16, 2008

On... Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

I approached this book with great enthusiasm. Something about the cover definitely appealed to me and I had had a decent exposure to Levine the first time around with Ella Enchanted even though I do like the movie better than the book.

Thankfully, even though this is placed in the same world as Ella Enchanted the book does not have a movie to compete with. I would have liked to see the "ugly" version of the main character, Aza, because the cover image does not portray what Levine's words describe.

Fairest is yet another book written for young girls about beauty being internal, not external. As much as this topic has been trumpeted and touted Levine creates a story that does not seem trite or cliche. The topic is important, so finding another new way to tell the story is an admirable goal.

I recommend the book, good reading.

On... Punished! by David Lubar

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book after a disappointing initial exposure to Lubar through Hidden Talents. I'm actually quite thankful for the disappointing exposure because it lowered my expectations and made it much easier for Punished! to easily surpass them.

Lubar creates a witty little tale full of fun literary devices. The main character, Logan, after running in the library and getting a face full of magical dust, must complete three missions, all of them missions to "capture" in various methods things such as anagrams and palindromes, a fun way to teach children about those literary devices.

I definitely recommend this book.

On... the Keepers of the Ring series by Angela Hunt

Oh. My. Word. This series is incredible! Of Hunt's three historical series I have to say that this is my absolute favorite.

This series explores the relationship between the English and Indian during the colonial period. The main characters, after the first book, are for the most part of biracial which allows Hunt to explore the choices that such a person would have to face... whether to be English or to be Indian.

At the same time some of the most profound issues Hunt dealt with had to do with whether worship has to have a certain look, whether the worship habits of the Indian or of the Puritan had to be exclusive for the sake of the other.

In addition to the serious issues Hunt also weaves several beautiful love stories, the most poignant being that of Fallon and Gilda in the second book, Jamestown. I have to admit though that I have not read the fifth and last book of the series and thus, though I do not expect to, may find a more beautiful love story.

I strongly recommend this book for any lover of history and excellent writing.

On... The Immortal by Angela Hunt

When I first started to expand my reading taste to authors previously unknown it was about the time that Hunt published this book. I read the summary of the book and dismissed it as too science fiction like for me. I had yet to experience all that I currently love about Hunt's now trademark "expect the unexpected" and her ability to push the limits to tell beautiful truths about God.

After having read the book I can't believe that I ever passed it up. Hunt did it again. I definitely did not expect the twist at the end but I could see a bit of foreshadowing, and almost expected the twist and held my breath for it to occur. Of course, I am a forgetful person so I forgot that little inkling until after I read the outcome of the twist. (Of course I can't say what the twist is, otherwise I would give away the plot of an excellent book that I strongly recommend).

Hunt tells a breathtakingly beautiful story of salvation for both of the main characters who struggle with issues common to many Christians or I should say people that grow up speaking the Christian lingo in the typical American Christian world. Well, the main character grew up in America but the title character did not. (I'm terrible... I've already forgotten his actual name as well).

As mentioned before I definitely recommend this book, especially to the adventurous and those lovers of history.

On... the Legacies of the Ancient River series by Angela Hunt

I have loved every Angela Hunt book I have ever read. Thus it was with great delight that I embarked on reading this series and another to be reviewed next. Both of these series were published years before I become introduced to Hunt and her writing. I definitely enjoy playing catch up because other than that I would have to wait for her new books to be published.

Hunt has mentioned on her blog how writing for her is a process continually improved upon. She often comments on how she will go back and reread some of her older books and find all sorts of things that she would change and never write now.

I could tell with these two books, two out of the three in the series (I don't own the third and have yet to read it), that these are some of Hunt's first books. Her characteristic style has yet to develop.

Don't take that to mean that I didn't enjoy the books. I most certainly did. I have an affinity for well-written books that explore the stories of the Bible. Hunt has written several of my favorites.

I definitely recommend these books, based on the lives of Joseph and a few other Biblical characters from the time period.

On... Shen of the Sea by Arthur Bowie Chrisman

I couldn't believe how absolutely perfectly I timed the reading of this book of Chinese folk tales. I read and finished the book on the first full day of the Beijing Olympics. Quite appropriate.

Of course, none of the stories were particularly compelling but they did expose some traditionally held Chinese beliefs made more appropriate by the timing.

I recommend the book for any who enjoy folk tales or fables along the lines of Aesop.

On... The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker by Cynthia DeFelice

The title of this book does not give away anything of the true message/theme of the book. I almost appreciate that because I have to suspend any previous notions I may have about a particular subject.


I learned a great deal about at least one superstition that surrounded the spread of disease, in this case consumption or what is known today as tuberculosis. The doctor that Lucas Whitaker was apprenticed too stood on the cusp of change for the medical profession, one that made great discoveries about the tiny creatures invisible to the naked eye that we now know as microbes.

This is a great children's book to teach about history, science and superstition yet not too burdened with details that would bore a child or make a child put down the book.

I definitely recommend this book.

On... Airman by Eoin Colfer

So far only one book of Colfer's outside of the Artemis Fowl series has lived up to the excellence, in my eyes, of that series. This was not that book.

Now, that does not mean that Colfer's writing is any less excellent or that the picture and the characters he creates any less real or vivid. Sometimes I think though that Colfer's desire to create a hero with any number of complexes goes a little too far.

I felt great compassion for the Airman (once again I am writing this review over a week after having read the book so please forgive me for forgetting the character's actual name) and for the injustice. Colfer threw in so many plot twist that my head came away spinning.

The ending felt a little unfulfilled. All of the loose ends didn't seem to be quite tied up so I wonder if this is the first in another series for Colfer. If so then I would be willing to revisit this character and series because I can remember not liking the first book in the Artemis Fowl series for almost the same reason.

On... The Golden Dreams of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexander

Wow. Another excellent Lloyd Alexander book. I have to confess that I am writing this review a week after I read the book so I am a bit more fuzzy on the details than if I had written immediately post-read.

I remember eagerly scanning the shelves of the little library in my junior high for ever Alexander book that I could find. I have to admit that a few of Alexander's character names made their way into my own story that I wrote that year.

This book tells the journey of Carlo Chuchio, Chuchio being a nickname for a lazy bum, and his search for an immeasurable treasure. A lovable band forms around Carlo and in the end Carlo learns a lesson better than all the riches the world could ever offer.

Many of Alexander's books are like this but I still enjoy his writing and his clever wit expressed through at least one court jester like character in each story.

On... Middlemarch by George Eliot

I have added as many of the classics to my to be read list as I can. I hate to say though that I almost always dread opening the book when it comes time to reading it. I felt the same reaction when I picked up Middlemarch and discovered that the book was just over 800 pages.

I did come away with a positive opinion from the book. On one day in particular I invested a significant amount of time to reading the book without interruption, as opposed to on commercials at night as I had been and really got into the flow of the book. At the end though I felt I had been dealt a bad hand by the summary on the back of the book because I really didn't see what I had been lead to expect.

I enjoyed reading the book but I came to the realization that I get more enjoyment and understanding out of listening to the classics than reading them. I have the annoying tendency to skim over whatever texts I read and with classics much can be missed when this tactic is done. I try to slow down but I don't feel like taking hours to read these so called classics when I don't know if the book is actually good or not.

I recommend the book but from now on will look for audio versions of the classics in order to "read" them.

Friday, August 08, 2008

On... The Calico Captive by Elizabeth Geroge Speare

I have to say that I was disappointed by this book. I held out high hopes for this book because of the good experience with The Bronze Bow.

This book read like a preachy goody-two shoes type Christian novel. I know that the book was drawn from a captive diary and that obviously influenced the tone of the novel.

I predicted the end to this novel even after only two pages... before the Indian attack.

I don't recommend the book.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

On... Silent to the Bone by E. L. Konisburg

I loved this book. I was not expecting to read a mystery book when I first opened the cover but found myself engrossed within pages.

The only thing that I didn't like about the book was the confusing switch between different times. Konisburg utilized flashbacks to tell the story but they weren't always clear.

Konisburg could have delved into some pretty icky subjects if he had chosen too but instead only alluded to those details because those details were important to how the story turned out.

In the end I had a suspicion of who the culprit had been all along but it was one of those nagging thoughts that I figured was misleading or some information dropped to mislead the reader and make the mystery harder to figure out. In the end my nagging suspicion turned out to be correct.

I definitely recommend this book.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

On... The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

I knew nothing about this book before I picked it up and started reading. I hoped that this book would not disappointing like the previous read. I also expected that the book would have something to do with Native Americans or something like that based both on the title and one of the covers that displayed a Native American looking boy.

No, my expectations for this book turned out to be completely wrong. I ended up with a very positive read which was so wonderful after one of David Almond's books. The book is set in Jerusalem during the time of Roman occupation and Jesus' three year ministry.

I absolutely loved watching Daniel grow from the bitter, angry boy that he once was at the beginning of the book, so angry at the Romans who killed his parents and somehow (on this point I'm not quite sure) left his sister demon possessed and irrevocably damaged. Daniel makes quite a mature yet still young character that I think will appeal to many young readers both boys and girls.

I definitely recommend this book!

On... Kit's Wilderness by David Almond

I have to admit that I did not hold out high hopes for this book after having read Skellig. My expectation turned out to be accurate.

The whole book, from the very first page focused on Death and promoted a dark tone throughout the book. I kept looking for glimmers of life and light but none existed.

I have to say that after this book I hoped that the next book I read was far more positive in nature.

I do not recommend David Almond at all.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

On... Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

I thought this book was fantastic. I didn't realize until near the end of the book that this was a Cinderella type story.

Napoli weaves together the typical traditions of the Chinese during the Ming dynasty but in such a way that the story is not clearly a Cinderella type story which for me would have ruined the plot of the story because I would have been expecting the twist that came within the last 20 pages and would not have received the "benefit" that I did from not expecting the twist.

I really did enjoy this book and would definitely recommend it.

On... Skellig by David Almond

I didn't know quite what to think about this book. I kept wondering where the book was going and what the point was. I thought at first that the message of the book was reaching out to the unlovable because the main character brought food as often as he could to this really disgusting creature.

Yes... creature

Skellig, the creature, turned out to be some sort of evolved creature, a cross between a human and some sort of bird. I don't really know what the message of the book and didn't really understand where it was supposed to be going.

I don't recommend this book.

On... The Herculeah Jones series by Betsy Byars

I enjoyed these books. I wouldn't say that these were the best mystery books I have ever read although I have to admit that I haven't read Nancy Drew books or other mystery books written for that age in a long time.

Personally I felt that the subject matter was a little series for the age group that the books were aimed for but Byars avoided telling any gruesome details and managed to tell a fairly good mystery although a bit convoluted and obvious.

I did find out something interesting. Byars mentioned in passing a local grocery store and I thought, "wait, I know that store. She has to be from somewhere around here." So, I flipped to the back and saw that indeed... she lives in the same relative area that I do. I found that quite interesting.

Monday, August 04, 2008

On... The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis

I am not much of a science fiction aficionado but I gave these books by C. S. Lewis a try because I love the Chronicles of Narnia so much.

I didn't really like these books. I never really got into them. the plot of all three of them while connected in some ways really had nothing to do with each other and really didn't seem all that connected within the books themselves.

I did enjoy the books but the plot took such a turn that often I really didn't understand the story. I guess I'm still not much for science fiction and found myself very disappointed especially when comparing those books to Chronicles of Narnia which I absolutely love.