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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.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Book 655: The Tiger Rising
The Tiger Rising, Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick Press, 2015
Kate DiCamillo writes such heartbreaking fiction. That doesn't mean it is bad. That doesn't mean it isn't worth reading. In fact, quite the opposite of those two ideas would be true. But, although this book is rather a fast read, it is not a very easy read. And it does end with both a sacrifice and a redemption.
Kate DiCamillo writes such heartbreaking fiction. That doesn't mean it is bad. That doesn't mean it isn't worth reading. In fact, quite the opposite of those two ideas would be true. But, although this book is rather a fast read, it is not a very easy read. And it does end with both a sacrifice and a redemption.
Monday, October 8, 2018
Book 654: The Arabian Nights
The Arabian Nights, illustrated by Maxfield Parrish.
This book is gorgeous, thanks to Maxfield Parrish. But the stories themselves are interestingly-told, with a quaint old-world wiseness that seems to be missing from modern writing. Some I liked better than others, but that is true about any collection of stories.
This book is gorgeous, thanks to Maxfield Parrish. But the stories themselves are interestingly-told, with a quaint old-world wiseness that seems to be missing from modern writing. Some I liked better than others, but that is true about any collection of stories.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Book 653: Fear
Fear, by Bob Woodward, Simon & Schuster, 2018.
I finished reading this book on Thursday, while checking in with the Kavanaugh hearing. Thursday was a rough and scary day.
Because I read this book, I understand Senator Graham's outburst at the hearing. I knew exactly what he was doing. I also knew exactly why, on Friday, Graham had the job of telling Trump about the wanted investigation.
I hardly need say Bob Woodward is a brilliant writer -- he is. He wrote what happened in the White House, without judgment, and with various degrees of sympathy. Even so, this book is perfectly named.
I finished reading this book on Thursday, while checking in with the Kavanaugh hearing. Thursday was a rough and scary day.
Because I read this book, I understand Senator Graham's outburst at the hearing. I knew exactly what he was doing. I also knew exactly why, on Friday, Graham had the job of telling Trump about the wanted investigation.
I hardly need say Bob Woodward is a brilliant writer -- he is. He wrote what happened in the White House, without judgment, and with various degrees of sympathy. Even so, this book is perfectly named.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Book 652: The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy (Time Warp Trio)
The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy (Time Warp Trio), by John Scieszka, 1992.
This book was indeed goofy, and rather fun, and very quick to read. There is a lot of action and dialogue and silly situations. So, pretty much perfect for a nine-year-old boy.
This book was indeed goofy, and rather fun, and very quick to read. There is a lot of action and dialogue and silly situations. So, pretty much perfect for a nine-year-old boy.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Book 651: Barn Storm
Barn Storm, written by Charles Ghihna, illustrated by Diane Greenseid, Random House, 2010.
This is a fun easy-to-read book for emergency readers. Both the text and the illustrations are delightful.
This is a fun easy-to-read book for emergency readers. Both the text and the illustrations are delightful.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Book 650: A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens, 1869.
Of course this book is a classic.
It deserves to be a classic just based on its opening paragraph. But the story doesn't stop there. Through a series of twists and tangles, the reader is transported to the very confusing time of the French Revolution. And through a series of twists and tangles, both the darkest and the best natures of man (and woman) are revealed.
Of course this book is a classic.
It deserves to be a classic just based on its opening paragraph. But the story doesn't stop there. Through a series of twists and tangles, the reader is transported to the very confusing time of the French Revolution. And through a series of twists and tangles, both the darkest and the best natures of man (and woman) are revealed.
Monday, September 3, 2018
Book 649: Tombs
Tombs, edited by Peter Crowther, 1994.
This book is an anthology of stories about 'tombs', some literal, some figurative. Like all stories collections, this book is good, bad, and indifferent. I skimmed through about one-third of the stories because they didn't interest me at all. Of those I read thoroughly to the end, some were OK, but nothing memorable. A few, however, were so intriguing that I was led to research other books by those authors. So, all in all, this book is a pretty successful anthology.
This book is an anthology of stories about 'tombs', some literal, some figurative. Like all stories collections, this book is good, bad, and indifferent. I skimmed through about one-third of the stories because they didn't interest me at all. Of those I read thoroughly to the end, some were OK, but nothing memorable. A few, however, were so intriguing that I was led to research other books by those authors. So, all in all, this book is a pretty successful anthology.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Book 648: Of Enemies and Endings
Of Enemies and Endings, by Shelby Bach, Simon & Schuster, 2015.
This book, the final book, is the best book of the entire excellent series. This book has everything a middle-grader/YA could possibly want. It even has a not-entirely-settled ending, so the characters can live on and have adventures in the readers' minds.
This book, the final book, is the best book of the entire excellent series. This book has everything a middle-grader/YA could possibly want. It even has a not-entirely-settled ending, so the characters can live on and have adventures in the readers' minds.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Book 647: The Runaway Jury
The Runaway Jury, by John Grisham, Doubleday, 1996.
This book reads like a screenplay... probably for very obvious reasons. The story itself is not nearly as intriguing nor as plausible as you might expect from Grisham.
This book reads like a screenplay... probably for very obvious reasons. The story itself is not nearly as intriguing nor as plausible as you might expect from Grisham.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Book 646: The Bravest Dog Ever, the True Story of Balto
The Bravest Dog Ever, the True Story of Balto, by Natalie Standford.
This book is excellent for young readers who may not be entirely confident in their reading ability yet. The story is quick-paced and exciting (and true.)
This book is excellent for young readers who may not be entirely confident in their reading ability yet. The story is quick-paced and exciting (and true.)
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Book 645: Dewey's Nine Lives
Dewey's Nine Lives, by Vicki Myron, Penguin Group, 2010.
The original Dewey, and Dewey story, was charming and memorable. I read the book years ago, and it has stayed with me. These short stories are sweet -- as almost all cats can be -- but they match up to the original.
The original Dewey, and Dewey story, was charming and memorable. I read the book years ago, and it has stayed with me. These short stories are sweet -- as almost all cats can be -- but they match up to the original.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Book 644: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamha, HarperCollins, 2009.
This is a pretty remarkable book. It is a story about starvation and deprivation. But it also a story about curiosity and imagination, and their power to end starvation and deprivation.
This is a pretty remarkable book. It is a story about starvation and deprivation. But it also a story about curiosity and imagination, and their power to end starvation and deprivation.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Book 643: The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins
The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins, by Mark Twain
The first story, The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson, is quite good, if rather dated in ideals and speech. The second story, Those Extraordinary Twins, was written with the throwaway bits from the first story, and it feels like it. My recommendation: Stop after the first story. The second story does tackle the nature/nurture debate, but so do many other books that are worth reading.
The first story, The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson, is quite good, if rather dated in ideals and speech. The second story, Those Extraordinary Twins, was written with the throwaway bits from the first story, and it feels like it. My recommendation: Stop after the first story. The second story does tackle the nature/nurture debate, but so do many other books that are worth reading.
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