Catching Up On Reading

Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 8/10
First Published: 1979
The earth is destroyed to build a freeway and that is where the adventure begins. I enjoyed the fact that the author did not assume the reader is a moron. The humor is intelligent and I appreciated that.

My favorite character in this novel is Ford Perfect. This intergalactic hitchhiker is a survivor. Like the car company he is name after, he manages to keep his head just above water (even when the odds are against him).



Genre: Fiction/Fantasy
Rating 7/10
First Published: 2004

My middle school students will appreciate this prequel to the Peter Pan story. In this story we get more background information about the Lost Boys, Captain Hook (before the hook), and Tinker Bell. It is a delightful, well told story.

My favorite characters in this story were actually minor characters. The mermaids in this story were not your typically gently, sexy mermaid variety. These girls could really defend themselves and were not afraid to make an offensive maneuver.



Genre: Fiction/Fantasy
Rating: 10/10
First Published: 1990

This story, about a botched Apocalypse and a missing Antichrist, was the best of the lot and one of the best books I have read in a while. There are those that have difficulty with this type of book because they feel we should not joke about such things. I take this type of literature for what it is - fiction.

I literally could not put it down, and kept a close eye on anyone who grabbed my book to see what I was reading. My behavior may have given my orthopedic specialist the impression that I think he may be a book thief. My next appointment is in a year, which gives him time to forgive and me time to find another great book with which to tempt him!

My favorite character was (I hate to say it.) the demon, Crowley. If you have a horrible job about which you have some issues, who says you can't do it with style. And if anyone is wondering, Crowely is the same crawling demon that was there in the garden with Eve.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were presented in an interesting way. I had not really considered the variety of ways famine presents itself today, or the similar outcomes resulting from pestilence and pollution.

The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, is the story of one young woman's mental breakdown. I consider it a combination of Catcher in the Rye and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Plath's descriptions of the main character's breakdown, shock therapy treatment, and the asylum she is placed in are very well done.

I have to admit it took me a while to get into this one. Once it became clear that Esther Greenwood was not merely depressed, the pace picked up and I could not stop reading.

Rating: 8/10

The Messenger

This book, a companion to Gathering Blue and The Giver, is the story of Matty, the village messenger. As he waits to receive his true name, life in the village changes for the worst, and he discovers that he has a strange gift. In the end, Matty's true name reveals his true role in the lives of the villagers and the village itself.

I really enjoyed this book. It was not as detailed as its companion novels, but it did an excellent job of bringing together the three societies created by Lois Lowry. I started reading it last night and finished early this afternoon. It definitely kept my attention.

Rating: 10/10

Twilight Part II

My recent post regarding Twilight, by Stephenie Meyers, crossed my mind today. Specifically, I was thinking about the ways in which Edward Cullen has all the qualities the perfect boyfriend would posses. It then occured to me that he has some pretty serious, in fact dangerous, flaws. I fully understand that it is easy to overlook the flaws of a fictional character, but I'm suprised that I am not as troubled as I should be that Bella is keeping Edward's vampire secret and placing herself in harms way.(This is not a good model for the young ladies who think having a man is more important that having a good one.) I get it...she's in love.

Thinking back on some of the men I have dated in the past, I can see that seemingly minor flaws can be a big deal if there is not chemistry between two people. I guess it's true..."Love covers a multitude of sins."

Twilight

It’s official, I am like every other female who has read Twilight; I'm in love with Edward Cullen! This, first in a series, novel by Stephenie Meyers strongly appealed to my need for escapism. I was captivated on the first page and finished the novel in about four days. Darn those intrusive social and familial obligations! Twilight is a very well told modern day vampire story. It took me back to the first time I read Interview with a Vampire, by Ann Rice. Rice's themes and plot were far more mature, but it was the first time I had heard or seen a vampire story that did not come across as campy. This novel can truthfully make the same claim.

Bella is your run of the mill teenager (with the exception of the vampire boyfriend), who doesn't fit in. Then she meets Edward. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that everyone fits in somewhere. You just have to find the place where the person you are happens to be (no pun intended) the flavor of the month or enough of a novelty to garner attention. In Forks, Bella has found a home. There, even her clumsiness is endearing and unfortunately, more life threatening. All the boys love her, but Edward, with his hypnotic voice and looks to literally "die for", captures her heart.

The suspense sequence is just okay. Am I wrong to look for a Dan Brown level of suspense in a book for young adults?

The sensual scenes, on the other hand, are very well written. They titillate without sending the reader or the characters over the edge. Bravo! They remind me of the novels I secretly read in junior high. Unlike the literature of today, foreshadowing and imagery were the primary sensual story telling devices. Today, they tell entirely too much and take things way too far. I have noticed that this series has an HS logo (for high school or mature content) in the Scholastic flyers. The warning is appropriate, but by comparison this is a tame one.

Rating: 4.4/5

Day of Tears

I recently finished reading Day of Tears, by Julius Lester, as part of the Young Adult Book Challenge. It is a historical fiction novel set during the largest slave auction in U.S. history, "The Weeping Time". The story is told in dialogue format which allows you to hear several perspectives. In addition, you get the characters take on the events as they unfold and as they reflect on them many years later. Lester uses the main character, Emma, and the events of the auction to tie the dialogues together in the least confusing way. Emma demonstrates the emotional and psychological pain which slaves endured and triumphed over. Through this character and others this novel did an excellent job of laying bare the fact that many felt slaves were not human beings and giving voice to the actual depth of their humanity.

True to the historical setting, the "N-Word" appears when many of the white characters refer to or address the characters of African descent. While discussing the use of this term with students, I appreciated the balance of characters represented in the novel. Those sympathetic to the plight of the slaves tempered the cruelty of slave owners and other pro-slavery characters.

Initially, it was easy to put this book aside and not come back to it for days on end. When I finally made a conscious decision to give myself over to the characters, I was able to get through it but still did not feel fully engaged. My use of reading as an escape from the harsher aspects of life is probably to blame there.

I read it with a group of sixth students at my school site and during our biweekly discussion meetings it was clear that this book captured and kept their attention from the beginning. Before passing out novels, I sent home permission slips which gave parents a warning that the text would evoke more emotions than past reads. During SSR in her math class, one young lady began to cry and a classmate, who was also reading the novel, helped her explain to the teacher what brought on her tears. The math teacher was impressed that young people were that engaged in reading, and I was thankful I had been proactive in warning the parents and students.

Rating: 3.5/5

Young Adult Challenge 2008

Okay, it is true, I didn't get very far in the Armchair Traveler Challenge. I like the idea of book challenges, (They will definitely help with one item on my '08 To Do List.) so I'm giving it another try. Here is my booklist for the Young Adult Challenge 2008:

1. *2/08 Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue by Julius Lester
2. *7/08 The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe by Douglas Adams
3. Cut by Patricia McCormick
4. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
5. *2/08 Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
6. Bounce by Natasha Friend
7. *7/08 Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
8. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
9. Something from the Artemis Fowl Series
10. *7/08 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path
11. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
12. *7/08 Messenger by Lois Lowery

Alternate:
*4/08 Deadline by Chris Crutcher
*6/08 Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

* indicates the book has been finished.