2006

The Prophet of Yonwood

2006, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Don't Read This /

Well, I was disappointed. That pretty much covers it. Prophet of Yonwood is a prequel to the much loved by me People of Sparks and City of Ember. I don’t care much for prequels as a rule but I found this one particularly disappointing.

The story takes place long before people went “underground” so it isn’t much of a prequel. It’s also full of propaganda and while the message it sends regarding religious zealots and fear is an important one, it just comes off as condescending. I can’t imagine what kids would think about this book. Kids who’ve read Sparks and Ember will probably be more disappointed than those who haven’t read them.

Just skip this one, people. Read the other two and let’s hope Duprau gives us a better story next time.

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Some Pig!

2 Comments / 2006, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction /

I never did want a pig. Not even during my Charlotte’s Web fixated childhood and certainly not after my childrens’ Charlotte’s Web fixated childhood. I have inquired into the health of the pot-bellied pig which belongs to friends of my children, and commiserated over a botched hoof surgery. But a pig, no, it isn’t a pet I’ve ever been interested in. When TW talks about having a cow, I’ve always been pleased that she didn’t toss a pig or two into her fantasies.

When Katie said she needed some folks to read The Good Good Pig with her, I started to refuse. But, she read The Moonstone with me so I owed her one. I think I got the better deal.

Christopher Hogwood’s story was a lot like Marley & Me, but from a pig point of view. I thought it was going to be a little to “back to the earth” for me but it wasn’t like that at all. Just a normal married couple who like animals and nature and wind up with a pig. It’s a terrific feel good story. Read it, you’ll feel good when you finish.

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The Girls

6 Comments / 2006, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction /

I don’t seem to read many books about “elders” or “seniors”. Is that because there aren’t many? Or am I simply overlooking them? I should go talk to Ronni Bennett about this…

The Girls is a book I picked up at the Friends of the Library sale – I don’t know if it was in the spring or if it was last fall, I just know it’s been on the shelf for quite awhile. It probably would have stayed on the shelf for quite some time if Sassymonkey hadn’t put the “read 5 books you own but have never read” item on her summer reading challenge. That would have been a real disappointment.

I loved the whole Jewish/Miami/South Beach scene. I loved all four sisters. Flora reminds me a little of my grandmother, though even my grandmother wouldn’t have been that umm, interesting. Retirement villages, nursing homes, assisted living, assisted suicide with a little racial prejudice and religious stereotyping tossed in – all tough topics but the book, well, go read it and see what you think.

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The Effect of Living Backwards

2006, Books in Bed, Fiction /

I got a Barnes & Noble giftcard awhile back, from some Judy’s Book promotional thing I participated in so I went in search of some inexpensive but unusual books – things I would probably never read otherwise. The Effect of Living Backwards is one of the books I bought (Mrs Shakespeare is another). Boy was it something I’d probably not have read otherwise.

Odd. Book.

What if your childhood was all a big misunderstanding? An elaborate ruse?

That is only the beginning. What if your whole life was like that. Events that happened, they were all set up, part of a big experiment. What if you were on a plane that was hijacked and lived through this whole ordeal only to find out it was a set-up, a game, an experiment? How would you ever know what was real and what wasn’t real? Particularly if you joined the terrorist academy – or anti-terroist academy (depends on your perspective as to which it is).

Weird, weird book. But I almost enjoyed it, particularly the last half of it – after I settled in and figured out what was going on, well what was going on and what might have been going on and what could have been going on.

Weird book.

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Midwives

9 Comments / 2006, Books in Bed, Fiction /

I hate it when I enjoy Oprah Book Club books. I really hate it, particularly if Oprah has chosen the book before I’ve read it. But, I liked Midwives and I wonder why I didn’t read it sooner. What’s not to like?

I’m always surprised at how well Chris Bojhalian (link to his blog), handles women’s topics. Water Witches and Midwives, very cool. His choice of narrator, Connie – the daughter of the accused Midwife, was excellent. I can’t imagine how the story might have been told from the Rand’s perspective (Rand is Sybil’s husband) and I think if it had been told from the midwife Sybil’s perspective, it would have been to clunky. Connie was a good choice.

I enjoyed it, darn Oprah. I hate it when she does this sort of thing to me.

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Gravity’s Rainbow – Help Me!

3 Comments / 2006, Books in Bed, Classics, Don't Read This /

Gravity’s Rainbow is the last “difficult” and “scary” read from my Summer Reading Challenge and I’m ready to give up. I was ready to give up on page 7, again on page 16, also on page 34, then on page 43 and now on page 116.

I don’t want to give up on it, so now I’m in search of study guides, reading guides, something that will help me follow this, this, this… I don’t even know what to call it.

Anyone out there have any words of wisdom? Anyone out there who can tell me why I should keep reading? 600 pages is a long time to muddle through if I’m not going to get anything out of the muddling.

Help!

Updated – 8/6/6 – I’ve given up, for now. I may go back to it later but another 50 pages last night proved that I just wasn’t going to get anything out of it. Darn it.

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Kristin Lavransdatter – Redux

1 Comment / 2006, Books in Bed, Classics /

I’ve complained mightily about this book, not as much as Vanity Fair or The Moonstone but close. I shouldn’t have complained. I liked it and I’m glad, now that I’m finished, that I read it. 1000+ pages of difficult language and complex storylines well worth reading.

I understand now, why Kristin Lavransdatter won the Nobel Prize and why it is on the Teachers First Lifetime Reading List. Good solid Summer Reading Challenge book – long as heck though.

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