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I don't like all of Lillian Hellman's work, but I did enjoy reading this book. It is a collection of short stories and diary entries that give a glimpse into the live of creatives from the late 1930s to the late 1960s.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Book 662: An Unfinished Woman
An Unfinished Woman, by Lillian Hellman, 1969.
I don't like all of Lillian Hellman's work, but I did enjoy reading this book. It is a collection of short stories and diary entries that give a glimpse into the live of creatives from the late 1930s to the late 1960s.
I don't like all of Lillian Hellman's work, but I did enjoy reading this book. It is a collection of short stories and diary entries that give a glimpse into the live of creatives from the late 1930s to the late 1960s.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Book 661: George vs. George
George vs. George, by Rosalyn Schanzer, National Geographic, 2007.
I bought this book for my fourth-grade son, but the book looked so darn intriguing I had to read it first.
I spend five years, from age 10 to age 15, living in England. In History class in England, we covered the "Rebellion" in about a day. It meant the loss of some colonies with a mostly criminal element to the British. Of course, to the Americans, it was the forming of a new country -- our country.
This book doesn't romanticize the war or gloss over some of the barbaric performed by both sides. It does show Washington as a hero, but it also shows the humanity of George III.
I bought this book for my fourth-grade son, but the book looked so darn intriguing I had to read it first.
I spend five years, from age 10 to age 15, living in England. In History class in England, we covered the "Rebellion" in about a day. It meant the loss of some colonies with a mostly criminal element to the British. Of course, to the Americans, it was the forming of a new country -- our country.
This book doesn't romanticize the war or gloss over some of the barbaric performed by both sides. It does show Washington as a hero, but it also shows the humanity of George III.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Book 660: The Most of John Held, Jr
The Most of John Held, Jr, The Stephen Greene Press, 1972.
I have loved John Held, Jr's work since I first encountered it in my late teens. I loved his clean, spare lines and the overt humor in his drawings. I knew who he was; I knew his work; but I didn't know there was a book about him and his work.
Now I have an almost-ten-year-old son who loves to draw comic maps in a style not dissimilar to Held's. When I was researching Held's maps to show my son, I discovered this book. Of course I bought it, although I don't know if it for me or for my son.
I have loved John Held, Jr's work since I first encountered it in my late teens. I loved his clean, spare lines and the overt humor in his drawings. I knew who he was; I knew his work; but I didn't know there was a book about him and his work.
Now I have an almost-ten-year-old son who loves to draw comic maps in a style not dissimilar to Held's. When I was researching Held's maps to show my son, I discovered this book. Of course I bought it, although I don't know if it for me or for my son.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Book 659: Common Sense
Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, 1776.
I've owned a copy of this book for about twenty years, and I may have read it twenty years, but re-reading it now made it feel especially fresh and apropos. Maybe we are lacking common sense these days as a nation or maybe we no longer know what causes are worth the fight, but it does seem we've lost a lot since Thomas Paine wrote this book.
I've owned a copy of this book for about twenty years, and I may have read it twenty years, but re-reading it now made it feel especially fresh and apropos. Maybe we are lacking common sense these days as a nation or maybe we no longer know what causes are worth the fight, but it does seem we've lost a lot since Thomas Paine wrote this book.
Monday, October 29, 2018
Book 658: Strega Nona
Strega Nona, by Tomie dePaola, 1975.
This book is a classic, and deservedly so; Tomie dePaola is a national treasure. This book is beautifully illustrated, and the story, which is not dissimilar to The Sorcerer's Apprentice, is told with gentleness and humor. Tomie dePaola by no means rested after his early achievements: He has another book coming out this year.
This book is a classic, and deservedly so; Tomie dePaola is a national treasure. This book is beautifully illustrated, and the story, which is not dissimilar to The Sorcerer's Apprentice, is told with gentleness and humor. Tomie dePaola by no means rested after his early achievements: He has another book coming out this year.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Book 657: 100 Ghastly Little Ghostly Stories
100 Ghastly Little Ghostly Stories, 1993.
Some of these stories are perfect little gems (I'm looking at you, Oscar Wilde); some are diamonds in the rough; and some are pyrite. Overall, this book was well-worth the less-than-$10 I paid for it, and the three evenings I spent reading it.
Some of these stories are perfect little gems (I'm looking at you, Oscar Wilde); some are diamonds in the rough; and some are pyrite. Overall, this book was well-worth the less-than-$10 I paid for it, and the three evenings I spent reading it.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Book 656: Great Tales of Suspense
Great Tales of Suspense, Troll Books, 2002.
Some of the tales are great; some are not so great. Some of the tales are suspenseful; some are not so suspenseful. This book is pretty much representative of any collection of stories.
Some of the tales are great; some are not so great. Some of the tales are suspenseful; some are not so suspenseful. This book is pretty much representative of any collection of stories.
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