mainstream fiction
As The Crow Flies
Jeffrey Archer
Harper Paperbacks
©1991
ISBN 0-06-109934-1
789 pages
US $6.50/ CAN $7.99
"The Honest Trader – When Charlie Trumper inherits his grandfather’s fruit and vegetable barrow, he inherits as well his enterprising spirit, which gives Charlie the drive to lift himself out of the poverty of Whitechapel, in London’s East End. Success, however, does not come easily or quickly, particularly when World War I sends Charlie into combat and into an ongoing struggle with a vengeful enemy who will not rest until Charlie is destroyed.
"As the crow flies, it is only a few short miles from Whitechapel to Chelsea Terrace where Trumper’s, the world’s largest department store, will have its beginnings. But for Charlie Trumper, following threads of love, ambition, and revenge, it will be an epic journey that carries him across three continents and through the triumphs and disasters of the twentieth century, all leading toward the fulfilment of his greatest dream."
I know I picked up this book second-hand, but I don’t remember where. I only buy new authors after I’ve tried them at the library or their books are second-hand, just so I don’t waste money. Well, after reading this book, I’ve started to collect others by Jeffrey Archer.
As the Crow Flies is an amazing novel. It chronicles the life story of Charlie Trumper, the best rags-to-riches story I’ve ever read. He starts life one step above that of a street urchin (his father being a dockworker and a drunk) and hangs around his grandfather’s barrow – a cart that he sells fresh fruit and veggies from. Yet over the span of his entire life he will become a war veteran, be knighted, and even given a title from Buckingham Palace.
This saga involves a cast of dozens, with the part of the villain expertly portrayed by Mrs. Gerald Trentham, one of the old nobility who resents anyone of ‘common’ blood. She makes it her life’s mission to foil Charlie’s every attempt at building an empire. She also very nearly succeeds. It is Jeffrey Archer’s genius that this book flows as smoothly as it does, navigating through nearly a thousand pages of story to bring us the points of view of every major character. It also expertly narrates the events of the twentieth century – complete with two world wars.
This book is compelling, richly detailed, full of joys and hopes as well as sorrows (a major character commits suicide, right out of the blue), and fulfils every persons heartfelt wish to make something worthwhile of their lives, to turn out better than your birth would have you realise.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Bone Collector (Four Stars)
suspense/horror
The Bone Collector
Jeffery Deaver
Signet Books
©1997
ISBN 0-451-18845-4
427 pages
USA $6.99/CAN $8.99
"Lincoln Rhyme was once one of the nation’s most brilliant criminologists, a genius in the field of forensics. Now an accident has left him physically crippled and emotionally stunted. But he’s about to be dragged into the most explosive case of his already distinguished career. A diabolical killer known as the Bone Collector has been stalking unsuspecting prey on the streets of New York, and it will take all of Rhyme’s investigative skills to stop him.
"With beautiful police detective Amelia Sachs at his side, Rhyme must uncover a labyrinth of clues to prevent the next grisly crime. But a race against the clock becomes a terrifying battle of wits as Rhyme is drawn, step by chilling step, into the mind of a monstrous madman who won’t stop until he has stripped life down to raw bone…."
What a terrifying book. Deaver has created a protagonist that the reader sometimes loves and sometimes hates. It seems that there is nothing more important than the crime scene, and, since Rhyme can’t be there himself to process it, he commands novice Sachs to process scenes, even though she’s never been trained in forensics. She is horrified with Rhyme when he once asked her to cut a victim’s hands off so he could examine the handcuffs without opening them.
But throughout the course of these horrifying days (yes, the whole novel takes place in about a week of real time), Rhyme comes to rely on Sach’s growing sense of the criminal mind, as she realizes that he is the only one who can figure out the Bone Collector’s clues in time to save the next victim. I must admit that Deaver is sometimes too graphic, and some descriptions of the crimes being perpetrated were heinous, far more chilling in the almost matter-of-fact language Deaver uses. However, if a reader can get past the blood, the ending is phenomenal. For anyone who loves suspense, this is a good read. And a whole lot better than the movie.
The Bone Collector
Jeffery Deaver
Signet Books
©1997
ISBN 0-451-18845-4
427 pages
USA $6.99/CAN $8.99
"Lincoln Rhyme was once one of the nation’s most brilliant criminologists, a genius in the field of forensics. Now an accident has left him physically crippled and emotionally stunted. But he’s about to be dragged into the most explosive case of his already distinguished career. A diabolical killer known as the Bone Collector has been stalking unsuspecting prey on the streets of New York, and it will take all of Rhyme’s investigative skills to stop him.
"With beautiful police detective Amelia Sachs at his side, Rhyme must uncover a labyrinth of clues to prevent the next grisly crime. But a race against the clock becomes a terrifying battle of wits as Rhyme is drawn, step by chilling step, into the mind of a monstrous madman who won’t stop until he has stripped life down to raw bone…."
What a terrifying book. Deaver has created a protagonist that the reader sometimes loves and sometimes hates. It seems that there is nothing more important than the crime scene, and, since Rhyme can’t be there himself to process it, he commands novice Sachs to process scenes, even though she’s never been trained in forensics. She is horrified with Rhyme when he once asked her to cut a victim’s hands off so he could examine the handcuffs without opening them.
But throughout the course of these horrifying days (yes, the whole novel takes place in about a week of real time), Rhyme comes to rely on Sach’s growing sense of the criminal mind, as she realizes that he is the only one who can figure out the Bone Collector’s clues in time to save the next victim. I must admit that Deaver is sometimes too graphic, and some descriptions of the crimes being perpetrated were heinous, far more chilling in the almost matter-of-fact language Deaver uses. However, if a reader can get past the blood, the ending is phenomenal. For anyone who loves suspense, this is a good read. And a whole lot better than the movie.
The Deed of Paksenarrion (Five Stars)
fantasy
The Deed of Paksenarrion
Elizabeth Moon
Baen Publishing Enterprises
©1992
ISBN 0-671-72104-6
1024 pages
CAN $26.50 / US $18.00
"Complete at last in a single volume – the finest trilogy of the decade!
"Never in our experience has a new author burst upon the sf/fantasy field to such immediate enthusiastic recognition as Elizabeth Moon with her fantasy trilogy, Sheepfarmer’s Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold. Now at last we are able to offer all six hundred thousand words of The Deed of Paksenarrion in a single trade edition. Note that because of its size the complete Deed of Paksenarrion will probably never be offered in a mass market edition."
Well, that little blurb doesn’t say much about this truly extraordinary trilogy. This was loaned to me by a dear friend and I devoured all three books. Now, I have read fantasy all my life, some of it good and some of it rather poor, but this is exceptional. I even prefer reading this trilogy to (gasp!) The Lord of the Rings, which I have read faithfully every year for as long as I can remember.
Sheepfarmer’s Daughter introduces our heroine as a young girl who runs away from home (doesn’t want to marry the pig farmer) to become a mercenary soldier. The depictions of soldier training and battle are second to none, as I have learned that Elizabeth Moon has military experience. You will never find a more true account of mercenary companies, their travels on roads thick and muddy, their encounters with pillage and plunder, and the heroic pursuits that Paks finds herself on. Not wanting to be a hero, only wanting to serve her Duke, Paks finds within herself some extraordinary abilities that may even be Gods-gifted.
In Divided Allegiance Paks leaves the Duke’s service to follow the call of her Gods, to join the Fellowship of Gird. While in training at Fin Panir she is offered to become a paladin – a dream far beyond most peasant girls. However, in her travels she is captured by dark elves, tortured and mutilated before her eventual rescue. Evil has replaced the good in her mind and the high-ranking members of the Fellowship try to excise it, leaving her without the evil, but also without any courage and she cannot be a soldier any longer. The end of this book was the most tragic thing I’ve ever read, as this highly decorated and intriguing woman is left huddling in ditches and freezing and near death. The worst riches-to-rags scenario I’ve ever read and I was crying and crying the first time I read it.
Oath of Gold describes the lengths Paks goes to save herself, to put faith back in the common people. Beyond her wildest dreams and after many ills she is finally healed and called as a paladin once more. It becomes the deed of her life’s work to return to the service of her duke and rescue him from peril.
I wax on and on. This is a completely fabulous trilogy that anyone who enjoys fantasy should read. Parts of it are disturbing, only because they so closely echo our own hopes and pains. The reader feels like a part of Paksenarrion truly resides within them, and that we all have some of that incredible godlike potential.
The Deed of Paksenarrion
Elizabeth Moon
Baen Publishing Enterprises
©1992
ISBN 0-671-72104-6
1024 pages
CAN $26.50 / US $18.00
"Complete at last in a single volume – the finest trilogy of the decade!
"Never in our experience has a new author burst upon the sf/fantasy field to such immediate enthusiastic recognition as Elizabeth Moon with her fantasy trilogy, Sheepfarmer’s Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold. Now at last we are able to offer all six hundred thousand words of The Deed of Paksenarrion in a single trade edition. Note that because of its size the complete Deed of Paksenarrion will probably never be offered in a mass market edition."
Well, that little blurb doesn’t say much about this truly extraordinary trilogy. This was loaned to me by a dear friend and I devoured all three books. Now, I have read fantasy all my life, some of it good and some of it rather poor, but this is exceptional. I even prefer reading this trilogy to (gasp!) The Lord of the Rings, which I have read faithfully every year for as long as I can remember.
Sheepfarmer’s Daughter introduces our heroine as a young girl who runs away from home (doesn’t want to marry the pig farmer) to become a mercenary soldier. The depictions of soldier training and battle are second to none, as I have learned that Elizabeth Moon has military experience. You will never find a more true account of mercenary companies, their travels on roads thick and muddy, their encounters with pillage and plunder, and the heroic pursuits that Paks finds herself on. Not wanting to be a hero, only wanting to serve her Duke, Paks finds within herself some extraordinary abilities that may even be Gods-gifted.
In Divided Allegiance Paks leaves the Duke’s service to follow the call of her Gods, to join the Fellowship of Gird. While in training at Fin Panir she is offered to become a paladin – a dream far beyond most peasant girls. However, in her travels she is captured by dark elves, tortured and mutilated before her eventual rescue. Evil has replaced the good in her mind and the high-ranking members of the Fellowship try to excise it, leaving her without the evil, but also without any courage and she cannot be a soldier any longer. The end of this book was the most tragic thing I’ve ever read, as this highly decorated and intriguing woman is left huddling in ditches and freezing and near death. The worst riches-to-rags scenario I’ve ever read and I was crying and crying the first time I read it.
Oath of Gold describes the lengths Paks goes to save herself, to put faith back in the common people. Beyond her wildest dreams and after many ills she is finally healed and called as a paladin once more. It becomes the deed of her life’s work to return to the service of her duke and rescue him from peril.
I wax on and on. This is a completely fabulous trilogy that anyone who enjoys fantasy should read. Parts of it are disturbing, only because they so closely echo our own hopes and pains. The reader feels like a part of Paksenarrion truly resides within them, and that we all have some of that incredible godlike potential.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Life Expectancy (Five Stars)
suspence/horror
Life Expectancy
Dean Koontz
Bantam Books
©2004
ISBN 0-553-58824-9
476 pages
US $7.99/$11.99 CAN
"Before he died on a storm-wracked night, Jimmy Tock’s grandfather predicted there would be five dark days in his grandson’s life – five dates whose terrible events Jimmy must prepare himself to face. The first is to occur in his twentieth year, the last in his thirtieth. What terrifying events await Jimmy on these five critical days? What challenges must he survive? The path he follows will defy every expectation and will take all the love, humor, and courage he possesses. For who Jimmy Tock is and what he must accomplish on the five days his world turns is a mystery both dangerous and wondrous…. Life expectancy… enjoy it while you can."
Another one of Janna’s recommendations, this has turned into one of my favourite books. From the opening paragraph, Dean Koontz leads the reader through the life of a baker, an ordinary guy, forced to live through five horrendous days. Compelling, gripping, I flew through this book, unable to put it down. Despite being a ‘horror’ book, this is also truly humorous, moments of laugh-out-loud pleasure. I have never known a protagonist who is a baker, and I loved hearing stories about the baker’s life. Every character in this book is well-thought out and rounded.
In short, I love this book. I will likely read it again and again. It may be my favourite Dean Koontz book, though ‘Lightning’ is the other of his novels that is also fabulous. Koontz’s craft only excels as he ages, and I look forward to reading more of him.
Life Expectancy
Dean Koontz
Bantam Books
©2004
ISBN 0-553-58824-9
476 pages
US $7.99/$11.99 CAN
"Before he died on a storm-wracked night, Jimmy Tock’s grandfather predicted there would be five dark days in his grandson’s life – five dates whose terrible events Jimmy must prepare himself to face. The first is to occur in his twentieth year, the last in his thirtieth. What terrifying events await Jimmy on these five critical days? What challenges must he survive? The path he follows will defy every expectation and will take all the love, humor, and courage he possesses. For who Jimmy Tock is and what he must accomplish on the five days his world turns is a mystery both dangerous and wondrous…. Life expectancy… enjoy it while you can."
Another one of Janna’s recommendations, this has turned into one of my favourite books. From the opening paragraph, Dean Koontz leads the reader through the life of a baker, an ordinary guy, forced to live through five horrendous days. Compelling, gripping, I flew through this book, unable to put it down. Despite being a ‘horror’ book, this is also truly humorous, moments of laugh-out-loud pleasure. I have never known a protagonist who is a baker, and I loved hearing stories about the baker’s life. Every character in this book is well-thought out and rounded.
In short, I love this book. I will likely read it again and again. It may be my favourite Dean Koontz book, though ‘Lightning’ is the other of his novels that is also fabulous. Koontz’s craft only excels as he ages, and I look forward to reading more of him.
Full Tilt (One Star)
romance
Full Tilt
Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
©2003
ISBN 0-312-98328-X
342 pages
US $7.99/ CAN $10.99
"Jamie Swift has one priority in quiet Beaumont, South Carolina: running the local newspaper. Romance runs second. But with the arrival of her silent partner, the notoriously mysterious and sexy Maximillian Holt, Jamie’s life gets shaken up. Max claims he’s here to give his brother-in-law a vote of confidence. A former wrestler, Frankie Fontana’s now taking his shots in the political ring. Beaumont could use a mayor with scruples, but what it gets is a crime – and what Jamie gets is a story that’s taking her for a ride on the wild side, complete with two assassins, a washed-up stripper, and an insane poacher. Between a spray of bullets and a fast getaway, could it get any more romantic – or dangerous? Max and Jamie are betting their lives on a long shot."
Like I’ve previously stated, I don’t read much romance. But I’d heard of Janet Evanovich before, and thought I’d give her a try. I read my requisite fifty pages (I give every book fifty pages) and couldn’t go on. I found Max Holt to be the absolute cliché – rich (filthy rich), a ladies man, arrogant, and self-righteous. I almost couldn’t get past the first two pages (he has so much money he’s bought himself a state-of-the-art car with an onboard computer he calls ‘Muffin’, and the car talks back to him like a stripper.) Aside from my problems with the characters, I found the plot to be too blunt. Assassins, bullets, they seemed out of place in Beaumont, even with the characters, and I couldn’t help feeling that the authors created this book for a money grab without even trying to write a convincing plot line. It was far too cliched, and I couldn’t even finish it.
Full Tilt
Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
©2003
ISBN 0-312-98328-X
342 pages
US $7.99/ CAN $10.99
"Jamie Swift has one priority in quiet Beaumont, South Carolina: running the local newspaper. Romance runs second. But with the arrival of her silent partner, the notoriously mysterious and sexy Maximillian Holt, Jamie’s life gets shaken up. Max claims he’s here to give his brother-in-law a vote of confidence. A former wrestler, Frankie Fontana’s now taking his shots in the political ring. Beaumont could use a mayor with scruples, but what it gets is a crime – and what Jamie gets is a story that’s taking her for a ride on the wild side, complete with two assassins, a washed-up stripper, and an insane poacher. Between a spray of bullets and a fast getaway, could it get any more romantic – or dangerous? Max and Jamie are betting their lives on a long shot."
Like I’ve previously stated, I don’t read much romance. But I’d heard of Janet Evanovich before, and thought I’d give her a try. I read my requisite fifty pages (I give every book fifty pages) and couldn’t go on. I found Max Holt to be the absolute cliché – rich (filthy rich), a ladies man, arrogant, and self-righteous. I almost couldn’t get past the first two pages (he has so much money he’s bought himself a state-of-the-art car with an onboard computer he calls ‘Muffin’, and the car talks back to him like a stripper.) Aside from my problems with the characters, I found the plot to be too blunt. Assassins, bullets, they seemed out of place in Beaumont, even with the characters, and I couldn’t help feeling that the authors created this book for a money grab without even trying to write a convincing plot line. It was far too cliched, and I couldn’t even finish it.
Miranda and the Warrior (One Star)
teen fiction
Miranda and the Warrior
Elaine Barbieri
Avon Books
©2002
ISBN 0-06-001134-3
197 pages
US $4.99/$7.99 CAN
"Miranda – The only child of a U.S. Cavalry major, Miranda Thurston has grown up in a watchful, overprotective household. So even after the major’s repeated warnings of Cheyenne raiding parties on the Western frontier, Miranda never believes she is in danger – until a Cheyenne warrior captures her.
"The Warrior – Respected by the Cheyenne, Shadow Walker has earned his reputation as a warrior. At first, he is dismayed to find that his captive is just a girl – a girl worth little in his vengeance against the military. But he comes to realize that she is not just a girl, but a headstrong woman. And even as she defies him at every turn, he wonders if she may be worth something to him in a way he never expected.
"As captive and captor, Miranda and Shadow Walker grow closer, and soon uncover feelings they had thought impossible. But would they risk everything they once held dear – for each other?"
I took a long time to finish this book because it interested me so little. I found the characters typecast, their foibles transparent, and their every move predictable. The plot was lacklustre and, again, predictable. For her part, the author researched the book well. I currently live among natives (Cree, not Cheyenne), but the familial spirit they possess is well represented in this book. As a teen love story, it does what it intends, but neither of the characters is someone that will live long in me, and I doubt I will ever read this book again.
Miranda and the Warrior
Elaine Barbieri
Avon Books
©2002
ISBN 0-06-001134-3
197 pages
US $4.99/$7.99 CAN
"Miranda – The only child of a U.S. Cavalry major, Miranda Thurston has grown up in a watchful, overprotective household. So even after the major’s repeated warnings of Cheyenne raiding parties on the Western frontier, Miranda never believes she is in danger – until a Cheyenne warrior captures her.
"The Warrior – Respected by the Cheyenne, Shadow Walker has earned his reputation as a warrior. At first, he is dismayed to find that his captive is just a girl – a girl worth little in his vengeance against the military. But he comes to realize that she is not just a girl, but a headstrong woman. And even as she defies him at every turn, he wonders if she may be worth something to him in a way he never expected.
"As captive and captor, Miranda and Shadow Walker grow closer, and soon uncover feelings they had thought impossible. But would they risk everything they once held dear – for each other?"
I took a long time to finish this book because it interested me so little. I found the characters typecast, their foibles transparent, and their every move predictable. The plot was lacklustre and, again, predictable. For her part, the author researched the book well. I currently live among natives (Cree, not Cheyenne), but the familial spirit they possess is well represented in this book. As a teen love story, it does what it intends, but neither of the characters is someone that will live long in me, and I doubt I will ever read this book again.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The Curse of Chalion (Five Stars)
fantasy
The Curse of Chalion
Lois McMaster Bujold
Harper Torch
©2001
ISBN 0-380-81860-4
502 pages
US $7.99 CAN $10.99
"A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment that Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions. But it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge – an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous…and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death."
This is my favourite book. I own more than a thousand titles, and this is the best of them all. This is the only book I had read from cover to cover then turned back to page one to read the whole thing entirely again.
Most fantasy novels are written of sword-toting and law-breaking heroes whose divine purpose leads them to break all the rules. This is the first fantasy novel I read where the hero is a scholar, and a sickly scholar at that. Cazaril grabs your heart like no other hero possibly could, because he is trapped in a diseased body and doomed to certain death. It makes his struggles all the more real, the price all too high, and you are never certain he will actually succeed. The romance in this book is subtle and fine, as Cazaril falls in love with Iselle’s attendant, the Lady Betriz, and knows he can offer her nothing except a funeral.
The theology of fantasy worlds always interests me, and the Quintarian theology of this book is astounding in its simplicity. The political structure of this world is easily described, never leaving the reader too dazed with endless political schemings.
This book is fantastic. You should read it.
The Curse of Chalion
Lois McMaster Bujold
Harper Torch
©2001
ISBN 0-380-81860-4
502 pages
US $7.99 CAN $10.99
"A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment that Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions. But it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge – an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous…and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death."
This is my favourite book. I own more than a thousand titles, and this is the best of them all. This is the only book I had read from cover to cover then turned back to page one to read the whole thing entirely again.
Most fantasy novels are written of sword-toting and law-breaking heroes whose divine purpose leads them to break all the rules. This is the first fantasy novel I read where the hero is a scholar, and a sickly scholar at that. Cazaril grabs your heart like no other hero possibly could, because he is trapped in a diseased body and doomed to certain death. It makes his struggles all the more real, the price all too high, and you are never certain he will actually succeed. The romance in this book is subtle and fine, as Cazaril falls in love with Iselle’s attendant, the Lady Betriz, and knows he can offer her nothing except a funeral.
The theology of fantasy worlds always interests me, and the Quintarian theology of this book is astounding in its simplicity. The political structure of this world is easily described, never leaving the reader too dazed with endless political schemings.
This book is fantastic. You should read it.
Deception Point (Four Stars)
mainstream fiction
Deception Point
Dan Brown
Pocket Books
©2001
ISBN 0-671-02738-7
558 pages
$7.99 US/$11.99 CAN
"When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory – a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery – a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before she can warn the President, Rachel and Michael are ambushed by a deadly team of assassins. Fleeing for their lives across a desolate and lethal landscape, their only hope for survival is to discover who is behind this masterful plot. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all."
It was my best friend, Dene Eva, who introduced me to Dan Brown. I had heard of him, through the making of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ but I wasn’t sure I wanted to read him. She went into transports of glee talking about his books and convinced me I needed to read him. She warned me to read ‘Angels and Demons’ before ‘The Da Vinci Code’, and I did so. And loved them.
I found ‘Deception Point’ at a flea market and bought it immediately. Anything by Dan Brown has to be good. And boy, it is. I rocketed through this book. He is a master storyteller – knowing just how much information to give the reader, and just how much to keep secret. Only at the very end does he reveal his hand, in conclusions that make perfect sense all along. I marvel at his research capabilities – he comes up with the most amazing stuff! It is no wonder to me that this man is a Bestselling Author. Bravo.
Deception Point
Dan Brown
Pocket Books
©2001
ISBN 0-671-02738-7
558 pages
$7.99 US/$11.99 CAN
"When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory – a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery – a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before she can warn the President, Rachel and Michael are ambushed by a deadly team of assassins. Fleeing for their lives across a desolate and lethal landscape, their only hope for survival is to discover who is behind this masterful plot. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all."
It was my best friend, Dene Eva, who introduced me to Dan Brown. I had heard of him, through the making of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ but I wasn’t sure I wanted to read him. She went into transports of glee talking about his books and convinced me I needed to read him. She warned me to read ‘Angels and Demons’ before ‘The Da Vinci Code’, and I did so. And loved them.
I found ‘Deception Point’ at a flea market and bought it immediately. Anything by Dan Brown has to be good. And boy, it is. I rocketed through this book. He is a master storyteller – knowing just how much information to give the reader, and just how much to keep secret. Only at the very end does he reveal his hand, in conclusions that make perfect sense all along. I marvel at his research capabilities – he comes up with the most amazing stuff! It is no wonder to me that this man is a Bestselling Author. Bravo.
Still Life With Crows (Four Stars)
horror
Still Life With Crows
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Warner Books
©2003
ISBN 0-446-53142-1
Pages ?
US $25.95 CAN $36.95
I was talking with Janna about 1408 and it’s author, Stephen King. King is the only author I have ever been so scared that I had to quit reading at night and finish in the morning. Two of his stories did that to me: The Boogeyman, and 1408. Janna revealed that this is the book that she had been scared enough to stop reading at night. I had read previous novels by Preston and Child (Relic), and knew I was in for a good read.
This novel was spectacular. After a bizarre murder in a cornfield, an FBI agent comes to investigate of his own volition, not at the agency’s behest. He befriends a girl, Corrie, who becomes his assistant, driving him around town, introducing him to the people and places of Medicine Creek. As the numbers of victims continue to grow, in ever-increasing deaths of savagery and gore, he discovers that the secret to this crime lies in the infamous Indian Massacre that also took place in that locale a century ago.
Tightly paced, riveting, and descriptions almost too vivid make this book a quick and exciting read. I admit that the descriptions of the dead bodies were almost too much for me to handle. You couldn’t really guess who the murderer was, given the clues, but it still made sense in the end. For mystery and horror buffs, this is a good choice.
Still Life With Crows
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Warner Books
©2003
ISBN 0-446-53142-1
Pages ?
US $25.95 CAN $36.95
I was talking with Janna about 1408 and it’s author, Stephen King. King is the only author I have ever been so scared that I had to quit reading at night and finish in the morning. Two of his stories did that to me: The Boogeyman, and 1408. Janna revealed that this is the book that she had been scared enough to stop reading at night. I had read previous novels by Preston and Child (Relic), and knew I was in for a good read.
This novel was spectacular. After a bizarre murder in a cornfield, an FBI agent comes to investigate of his own volition, not at the agency’s behest. He befriends a girl, Corrie, who becomes his assistant, driving him around town, introducing him to the people and places of Medicine Creek. As the numbers of victims continue to grow, in ever-increasing deaths of savagery and gore, he discovers that the secret to this crime lies in the infamous Indian Massacre that also took place in that locale a century ago.
Tightly paced, riveting, and descriptions almost too vivid make this book a quick and exciting read. I admit that the descriptions of the dead bodies were almost too much for me to handle. You couldn’t really guess who the murderer was, given the clues, but it still made sense in the end. For mystery and horror buffs, this is a good choice.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Counting Stars (Four Stars)
LDS fiction
Counting Stars
Michele Paige Holmes
Covenant Communications, Inc.
©2007
ISBN 987-1-59811-357-0
384 pages
$16.95
My sister, Janna, recommended this book to me. It is written by an author of my faith (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of it. I found it to be a beautiful tale of love and hope.
Jane is nearing 30 and nearing desperation being single in a church that celebrates family above all else. She finally turns to the personals page in a newspaper and finds a singularly interesting entry: someone seeking a mother for two young children. As it turns out, Paul has terminal cancer and his wife just died in a car accident, leaving two babies behind for him to care for.
Knowing that marriage would be impossible, Jane takes the job anyway, and becomes a legal mother to the two babies after Paul dies. Unknown to her, Paul had another surprise in mind for her as his twin brother, Peter, returns home from Afghanistan. At first they merely tolerate each other as they raise the children, but their minds softly turn to love.
This book was well-written, had an engaging plot line and an easy reading pace. I greatly enjoyed reading it and will probably add it to my library.
Counting Stars
Michele Paige Holmes
Covenant Communications, Inc.
©2007
ISBN 987-1-59811-357-0
384 pages
$16.95
My sister, Janna, recommended this book to me. It is written by an author of my faith (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of it. I found it to be a beautiful tale of love and hope.
Jane is nearing 30 and nearing desperation being single in a church that celebrates family above all else. She finally turns to the personals page in a newspaper and finds a singularly interesting entry: someone seeking a mother for two young children. As it turns out, Paul has terminal cancer and his wife just died in a car accident, leaving two babies behind for him to care for.
Knowing that marriage would be impossible, Jane takes the job anyway, and becomes a legal mother to the two babies after Paul dies. Unknown to her, Paul had another surprise in mind for her as his twin brother, Peter, returns home from Afghanistan. At first they merely tolerate each other as they raise the children, but their minds softly turn to love.
This book was well-written, had an engaging plot line and an easy reading pace. I greatly enjoyed reading it and will probably add it to my library.
The Devil Wears Prada (Four Stars)
Mainstream fiction
The Devil Wears Prada
Lauren Weisberger
Anchor Books
©2003
ISBN 0-307-27555-8
432 pages
US $7.99 CAN $10.99
I had quite enjoyed the movie made from this book, so when I saw it in Jocelyn’s room, I asked to borrow it. I am always wary reading adult fiction – I don’t always appreciate skin and swearing. This book had some swearing, but at least it was never gratuitous.
Andy Sachs somehow lands ‘the job a million girls would die for’ working at Runway Magazine. She sticks out like a sore thumb in her size 6 (gasp!) and ordinary wardrobe. Before she really realizes what is happening, Runway and Miranda Priestly take over her life.
Talk about the boss from Hades. Miranda Priestly is a character you love to hate and for the entire novel you wonder why Andy puts up with it all. We know that it’s because she wants to become a journalist and one year at Runway will put you in the fast lane of publishing in New York. But, by the end, Andy realizes that she has had enough of Miranda’s impossible demands and returns home to family and friends.
I cringed my way through the entire novel, spellbound by Miranda’s antics. I enjoyed the book very much, the character development was first-rate, and the story unwound in a marvellous manner. I do wonder now why they made so many changes for the movie, but I guess that’s what producers do.
The Devil Wears Prada
Lauren Weisberger
Anchor Books
©2003
ISBN 0-307-27555-8
432 pages
US $7.99 CAN $10.99
I had quite enjoyed the movie made from this book, so when I saw it in Jocelyn’s room, I asked to borrow it. I am always wary reading adult fiction – I don’t always appreciate skin and swearing. This book had some swearing, but at least it was never gratuitous.
Andy Sachs somehow lands ‘the job a million girls would die for’ working at Runway Magazine. She sticks out like a sore thumb in her size 6 (gasp!) and ordinary wardrobe. Before she really realizes what is happening, Runway and Miranda Priestly take over her life.
Talk about the boss from Hades. Miranda Priestly is a character you love to hate and for the entire novel you wonder why Andy puts up with it all. We know that it’s because she wants to become a journalist and one year at Runway will put you in the fast lane of publishing in New York. But, by the end, Andy realizes that she has had enough of Miranda’s impossible demands and returns home to family and friends.
I cringed my way through the entire novel, spellbound by Miranda’s antics. I enjoyed the book very much, the character development was first-rate, and the story unwound in a marvellous manner. I do wonder now why they made so many changes for the movie, but I guess that’s what producers do.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Five Stars)
children's fiction
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2007
ISBN 1-55192-976-7
607 pages
$45.00
"Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing – if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?"
There is no gentle saunter into the story in this final instalment of the Harry Potter series. It starts with a bang and keeps a relentless pace throughout its six hundred pages. It may be the finest book I’ve ever read. Every single thing ever uttered in the books preceding it is explained, even the origin of the blood on the Bloody Baron’s clothing. The death count is inconceivable; I think I cried all day while I read it.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione don’t return to Hogwarts for their final year. Instead they set out on a quest to find and destroy all the horcruxes of Lord Voldemort so he can finally be beaten. It is a journey filled with trepidation and horror, as they are captured, escape, and are captured again. But in the end, every question is answered and the theme of the whole series comes into focus: love. It is all about love. The love that Severus Snape had for Lily Potter saved the world. The love that Harry Potter had for his friends also saved the world. And the courage of Neville Longbottom proved greatest of all.
It is a fitting conclusion to the series that has rocked the foundations of our world. Thank you, J.K. Rowling, for bringing it into my life.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2007
ISBN 1-55192-976-7
607 pages
$45.00
"Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing – if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?"
There is no gentle saunter into the story in this final instalment of the Harry Potter series. It starts with a bang and keeps a relentless pace throughout its six hundred pages. It may be the finest book I’ve ever read. Every single thing ever uttered in the books preceding it is explained, even the origin of the blood on the Bloody Baron’s clothing. The death count is inconceivable; I think I cried all day while I read it.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione don’t return to Hogwarts for their final year. Instead they set out on a quest to find and destroy all the horcruxes of Lord Voldemort so he can finally be beaten. It is a journey filled with trepidation and horror, as they are captured, escape, and are captured again. But in the end, every question is answered and the theme of the whole series comes into focus: love. It is all about love. The love that Severus Snape had for Lily Potter saved the world. The love that Harry Potter had for his friends also saved the world. And the courage of Neville Longbottom proved greatest of all.
It is a fitting conclusion to the series that has rocked the foundations of our world. Thank you, J.K. Rowling, for bringing it into my life.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Four Stars)
Children's fiction
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2005
ISBN 1-55192-756-x
607 pages
$41.00
"It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the windowpanes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursleys’ house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-to-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can’t quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys’ of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks’ time? Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and magic start to intertwine…
"J.K. Rowling charts Harry Potter’s latest adventures in his sixth year at Hogwarts with consummate skill and in breathtaking fashion."
So the world knows of the existence of Lord Voldemort and Harry may expect his life to get a little easier. Especially as he is getting private lessons from Professor Dumbledore. Yet to his dismay, Professor Snape is finally handed the Defense Against the Dark Arts position he had been vying for every single year. A new Potions teacher, Professor Slughorn, is an intriguing character who holds the key to Voldemort’s downfall.
As Harry and Dumbledore search for hidden objects that contain bits of Voldemort’s soul, tensions between magic and muggle escalate, and battle lines are drawn even within Hogwarts itself. The greatest mystery of all? Who is the Half Blood Prince?
Rowling once again proves her mastery over the world she has created, and her narrative style brought me to both tears and laughter.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2005
ISBN 1-55192-756-x
607 pages
$41.00
"It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the windowpanes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursleys’ house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-to-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can’t quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys’ of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks’ time? Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and magic start to intertwine…
"J.K. Rowling charts Harry Potter’s latest adventures in his sixth year at Hogwarts with consummate skill and in breathtaking fashion."
So the world knows of the existence of Lord Voldemort and Harry may expect his life to get a little easier. Especially as he is getting private lessons from Professor Dumbledore. Yet to his dismay, Professor Snape is finally handed the Defense Against the Dark Arts position he had been vying for every single year. A new Potions teacher, Professor Slughorn, is an intriguing character who holds the key to Voldemort’s downfall.
As Harry and Dumbledore search for hidden objects that contain bits of Voldemort’s soul, tensions between magic and muggle escalate, and battle lines are drawn even within Hogwarts itself. The greatest mystery of all? Who is the Half Blood Prince?
Rowling once again proves her mastery over the world she has created, and her narrative style brought me to both tears and laughter.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Four Stars)
Children's fiction
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2003
ISBN1-55192-570-2
766 pages
$43.00
"Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. ‘It is time,’ he said, ‘for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.’
"Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is desperate to get back to school and find out why his friends Ron and Hermione have been so secretive all summer. However, what Harry is about to discover in his new year at Hogwarts will turn his world upside down…
"This is a gripping and electrifying new novel full of suspense, secrets, and – of course – magic, from the incomparable J.K. Rowling."
Author J.K. Rowling steers her incredible craft into seething waters in this novel. Considerably darker than the novels that have preceded it, The Order of the Phoenix chronicles Harry’s obsession with dreams that lead him down a mysterious hallway to a prophecy that tells the final truth about he and his enemy, Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic proves that it is under the thrall of power-seeking wizards who try to tell the wizarding world that Harry is lying about the return of Lord Voldemort to power. They even send an evil witch, Umbridge, to be a High Inquisitor at Hogwarts, who eventually takes over the running of the school.
Whatever boundaries Rowling may have created in previous books are shattered in this tale, as Umbridge devises cruel detentions, Snape’s past is revealed and Harry’s own fond memories of his father and Sirius are blown apart. At the close of the book there is an explosive battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore, and the whole wizarding world is finally forced to believe the awful truth: Voldemort is back.
The longest book in the series and, personally, the most painful to read, this book stays true to modern teenagers in their angst, their inadequacies, and their first loves. This book is phenomenal.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2003
ISBN1-55192-570-2
766 pages
$43.00
"Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. ‘It is time,’ he said, ‘for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.’
"Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is desperate to get back to school and find out why his friends Ron and Hermione have been so secretive all summer. However, what Harry is about to discover in his new year at Hogwarts will turn his world upside down…
"This is a gripping and electrifying new novel full of suspense, secrets, and – of course – magic, from the incomparable J.K. Rowling."
Author J.K. Rowling steers her incredible craft into seething waters in this novel. Considerably darker than the novels that have preceded it, The Order of the Phoenix chronicles Harry’s obsession with dreams that lead him down a mysterious hallway to a prophecy that tells the final truth about he and his enemy, Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic proves that it is under the thrall of power-seeking wizards who try to tell the wizarding world that Harry is lying about the return of Lord Voldemort to power. They even send an evil witch, Umbridge, to be a High Inquisitor at Hogwarts, who eventually takes over the running of the school.
Whatever boundaries Rowling may have created in previous books are shattered in this tale, as Umbridge devises cruel detentions, Snape’s past is revealed and Harry’s own fond memories of his father and Sirius are blown apart. At the close of the book there is an explosive battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore, and the whole wizarding world is finally forced to believe the awful truth: Voldemort is back.
The longest book in the series and, personally, the most painful to read, this book stays true to modern teenagers in their angst, their inadequacies, and their first loves. This book is phenomenal.
Twilight (Four Stars)
Juvenile Fiction
Twilight
Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown, and Company
©2005
ISBN 0-316-16017-2
498 pages
I have been going through a ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ craze lately, maybe that’s why my sister, Janna, recommended this book to me. Meyer’s debut novel is a wondrous tale of love and vampires. The vampire craze that may have begun with Anne Rice’s "Interview with a Vampire" has continued to swell, decades after the fact. There are many different views of a vampire, and this book is no different.
Edward and his family live in a sheltered and sunless spot on the Washington coast. For the sake of appearances, he and his ‘siblings’ attend the local high school, where he meets Isabella. Their first encounter didn’t go too well; he doesn’t drink human blood, but she smelled positively delicious to him. It was after he saves her life that they begin to slowly fall in love, kept in check by the obvious: she was a woman, he was a vampire. She is embraced by his family, but on an outing one day they come into contact with other vampires, one who immediately decides that killing her is all he wants to do.
I blazed through this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The love scenes are tenderly written, and my heart melted again and again throughout their impossible path through life. I love reading about vampires, maybe it’s the Romania in me. She does have three in the series and I look forward to reading them as well.
Twilight
Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown, and Company
©2005
ISBN 0-316-16017-2
498 pages
I have been going through a ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ craze lately, maybe that’s why my sister, Janna, recommended this book to me. Meyer’s debut novel is a wondrous tale of love and vampires. The vampire craze that may have begun with Anne Rice’s "Interview with a Vampire" has continued to swell, decades after the fact. There are many different views of a vampire, and this book is no different.
Edward and his family live in a sheltered and sunless spot on the Washington coast. For the sake of appearances, he and his ‘siblings’ attend the local high school, where he meets Isabella. Their first encounter didn’t go too well; he doesn’t drink human blood, but she smelled positively delicious to him. It was after he saves her life that they begin to slowly fall in love, kept in check by the obvious: she was a woman, he was a vampire. She is embraced by his family, but on an outing one day they come into contact with other vampires, one who immediately decides that killing her is all he wants to do.
I blazed through this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The love scenes are tenderly written, and my heart melted again and again throughout their impossible path through life. I love reading about vampires, maybe it’s the Romania in me. She does have three in the series and I look forward to reading them as well.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A Knight in Shining Armor (Five Stars)
Romance
A Knight in Shining Armor
Jude Deveraux
Pocket Books
©1989
ISBN: 0-7434-5726-9
469 pages
$7.99 US/$11.99 CAN
"Once upon a time… as a fair maiden lay weeping upon a cold tombstone, her heartfelt desire was suddenly made real before her: tall, broad of shoulder, attired in gleaming silver and gold, her knight in shining armor had come to rescue his damsel in distress….
"Jude Deveraux’s dazzling bestseller greets a new generation – with this special edition featuring new material. The thrillingly romantic tale of thoroughly modern Dougless Montgomery, left alone and brokenhearted in an English church, and the sixteenth-century hero who carries her heart away, A Knight in Shining Armor is a story for all time, and for anyone who believes in the power of love…."
I don’t read much romance. Many romance novels (not all) are thinly veiled smut. This book, however, is divine. Deveraux captivated me with her descriptions of England, and her research is impeccable as she catapults the story into sixteenth-century Britain. She perfectly conveys the life of the commoner versus the noble, and weaves through it all a compelling love story, of two people fated to love each other though four hundred years separate them.
Far from being a ‘typical’ historical romance, this book has mystery in it as well, as Dougless and Nicholas investigate the future to find out how to redeem his family in the past. Neither of them are ‘perfect’ people; Dougless has no clue about love, and Nicholas is a womanizer. In the end, they are both healed in the soul.
Even for those who do not read romance, this is a captivating story.
A Knight in Shining Armor
Jude Deveraux
Pocket Books
©1989
ISBN: 0-7434-5726-9
469 pages
$7.99 US/$11.99 CAN
"Once upon a time… as a fair maiden lay weeping upon a cold tombstone, her heartfelt desire was suddenly made real before her: tall, broad of shoulder, attired in gleaming silver and gold, her knight in shining armor had come to rescue his damsel in distress….
"Jude Deveraux’s dazzling bestseller greets a new generation – with this special edition featuring new material. The thrillingly romantic tale of thoroughly modern Dougless Montgomery, left alone and brokenhearted in an English church, and the sixteenth-century hero who carries her heart away, A Knight in Shining Armor is a story for all time, and for anyone who believes in the power of love…."
I don’t read much romance. Many romance novels (not all) are thinly veiled smut. This book, however, is divine. Deveraux captivated me with her descriptions of England, and her research is impeccable as she catapults the story into sixteenth-century Britain. She perfectly conveys the life of the commoner versus the noble, and weaves through it all a compelling love story, of two people fated to love each other though four hundred years separate them.
Far from being a ‘typical’ historical romance, this book has mystery in it as well, as Dougless and Nicholas investigate the future to find out how to redeem his family in the past. Neither of them are ‘perfect’ people; Dougless has no clue about love, and Nicholas is a womanizer. In the end, they are both healed in the soul.
Even for those who do not read romance, this is a captivating story.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Five Stars)
Children's fiction
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2000
ISBN: 1-55192-337-8
636 pages
$35.00
"The summer holidays are dragging on and Harry Potter can’t wait for the start of the school year. It’s his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and there are spells to be learnt, potions to be brewed and Divination lessons (sigh) to be attended. Harry is expecting these: however, other quite unexpected events are already on the march…"
It has taken J.K. Rowling an impressive 17 years, but she’s accomplished what no author ever has before. Other than making billions of dollars, she has reintroduced the love of reading to a generation of children (and adults), who now read more than ever before. She has created a phenomenon, and part of her secret is this: her characters, though magical, go through many of the life-changing events as normal children do; the story takes place in a familiar, present-day world; and her characters have magic, literal magic, talents and abilities that all of us wish we had. She has also created a super villain, Lord Voldemort, who threatens to take away all that is good in the world.
This is the fourth book in her seven book series. It is also drastically longer than the three previous novels. Harry Potter is fourteen, and begins to experience true adolescence; terrified of talking to girls, daydreaming of Cho Chang, wishing he were a hero… The story is intricate yet it never loses you. This is storytelling at its finest.
There has been a sharp increase in sales of juvenile fiction in the past few years. This is partly due to J.K. Rowling and a bespectacled boy named Harry Potter.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
©2000
ISBN: 1-55192-337-8
636 pages
$35.00
"The summer holidays are dragging on and Harry Potter can’t wait for the start of the school year. It’s his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and there are spells to be learnt, potions to be brewed and Divination lessons (sigh) to be attended. Harry is expecting these: however, other quite unexpected events are already on the march…"
It has taken J.K. Rowling an impressive 17 years, but she’s accomplished what no author ever has before. Other than making billions of dollars, she has reintroduced the love of reading to a generation of children (and adults), who now read more than ever before. She has created a phenomenon, and part of her secret is this: her characters, though magical, go through many of the life-changing events as normal children do; the story takes place in a familiar, present-day world; and her characters have magic, literal magic, talents and abilities that all of us wish we had. She has also created a super villain, Lord Voldemort, who threatens to take away all that is good in the world.
This is the fourth book in her seven book series. It is also drastically longer than the three previous novels. Harry Potter is fourteen, and begins to experience true adolescence; terrified of talking to girls, daydreaming of Cho Chang, wishing he were a hero… The story is intricate yet it never loses you. This is storytelling at its finest.
There has been a sharp increase in sales of juvenile fiction in the past few years. This is partly due to J.K. Rowling and a bespectacled boy named Harry Potter.
The Da Vinci Code (Four Stars)
Adult fiction
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown
Anchor Books (Random House)
©2003
ISBN: 1-4000-7917-9
489 pages
US $7.99/CAN $10.99
"An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe. An astonishing truth concealed for centuries… unveiled at last."
I devoured this book in a single day. I had previously read ‘Angels and Demons’ by the same author and found this novel just as arresting. From the very first page I was hurled into the story, intrigued by the many layers of symbology revealed through this book. The origin of Friday the 13th, why kids make a ‘v’ of their fingers when taking pictures, the significance of the Star of David. Amazing.
The plot is so intricately detailed yet easy to follow along. Each step proceeds logically to the next and I never felt left behind (which is vastly important in books of this magnitude). The premise of the book itself, that it would reveal a secret so important it would devastate the foundations of Christianity, holds up to its promise.
For thousands of years, the Catholic Church has tried to put down the sacred feminine, to make women less than what they truly are. They have squashed the greatest secret of all time – that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, and established a royal bloodline that extends to the present day. This heir is supposed to be the one to reveal the secret to the world, but the heir doesn’t even know who he is, what his genealogy is.
I don’t want to reveal all the details of the fantastic search for the truth, but I will say that this book not only has an intriguing plot, it has fascinating characters that you truly care about. As a Christian myself, I do not believe in the underlying premise of this book, that Jesus Christ was a mortal and no more. I firmly believe in the divinity of Christ. But it takes a brave man to write a book that would say otherwise.
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown
Anchor Books (Random House)
©2003
ISBN: 1-4000-7917-9
489 pages
US $7.99/CAN $10.99
"An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe. An astonishing truth concealed for centuries… unveiled at last."
I devoured this book in a single day. I had previously read ‘Angels and Demons’ by the same author and found this novel just as arresting. From the very first page I was hurled into the story, intrigued by the many layers of symbology revealed through this book. The origin of Friday the 13th, why kids make a ‘v’ of their fingers when taking pictures, the significance of the Star of David. Amazing.
The plot is so intricately detailed yet easy to follow along. Each step proceeds logically to the next and I never felt left behind (which is vastly important in books of this magnitude). The premise of the book itself, that it would reveal a secret so important it would devastate the foundations of Christianity, holds up to its promise.
For thousands of years, the Catholic Church has tried to put down the sacred feminine, to make women less than what they truly are. They have squashed the greatest secret of all time – that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, and established a royal bloodline that extends to the present day. This heir is supposed to be the one to reveal the secret to the world, but the heir doesn’t even know who he is, what his genealogy is.
I don’t want to reveal all the details of the fantastic search for the truth, but I will say that this book not only has an intriguing plot, it has fascinating characters that you truly care about. As a Christian myself, I do not believe in the underlying premise of this book, that Jesus Christ was a mortal and no more. I firmly believe in the divinity of Christ. But it takes a brave man to write a book that would say otherwise.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth (Five Stars)
Children's fiction
Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth
Barbara Park
A First Stepping Stone Book (Random House)
©1993
ISBN: 0-679-84407-4
66 pages
$3.99 US/$5.50 CAN
"Sometimes life is P.U. Junie B.’s having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten. And now she’s in big trouble again! ‘Cause Monday is Job Day, and Junie B. told her class that she’s got the bestest job of all. Only, what the heck is it?"
Barbara Park has accomplished the near impossible. Her ‘Junie B. Jones’ books are written in first person, all the hopes and fears of her protagonist come through a five-year olds vocabulary. This is extraordinarily difficult; but Park manages to weave a story through it all.
Park also manages to capture the true spirit of being a kindergartner; excitement, fighting, yelling, hugging. The reader feels close to Junie B. because she’s a typical kid. Park is a very funny writer as well, and the book made me laugh out loud! A definite buy for anyone raising children.
Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth
Barbara Park
A First Stepping Stone Book (Random House)
©1993
ISBN: 0-679-84407-4
66 pages
$3.99 US/$5.50 CAN
"Sometimes life is P.U. Junie B.’s having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten. And now she’s in big trouble again! ‘Cause Monday is Job Day, and Junie B. told her class that she’s got the bestest job of all. Only, what the heck is it?"
Barbara Park has accomplished the near impossible. Her ‘Junie B. Jones’ books are written in first person, all the hopes and fears of her protagonist come through a five-year olds vocabulary. This is extraordinarily difficult; but Park manages to weave a story through it all.
Park also manages to capture the true spirit of being a kindergartner; excitement, fighting, yelling, hugging. The reader feels close to Junie B. because she’s a typical kid. Park is a very funny writer as well, and the book made me laugh out loud! A definite buy for anyone raising children.
Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots (Two Stars)
Children's fiction
Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots
The Bailey School Kids #1
Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones
Scholastic
©1990
0-590-43411-X
78 pages
$3.50 US/$4.50 CAN
"There are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could the new third grade teacher from the Transylvanian Alps really be a vampire? The Bailey School kids are going to find out!
"The third grade at Bailey Elementary was very hard to handle. Most teachers quit – and moved far away – after trying to teach them.
"But Mrs. Jeepers was different. No one ever dared make her mad – because whenever they did, the strangest things would happen…."
I picked this one to read because Transylvania was mentioned. It actually irks me a little that all story-book vampires have to be from Romania. Well, I’ll try not to go off on a diatribe about that.
I wasn’t actually all too impressed with this book. The character development was fine but the story development was a little pedantic and predictable. What bothered me most was the lack of story resolution at the end. I felt as if the writers had written themselves into a corner and didn’t know how to get out, so they just ended the book.
I’m going to try another in the Bailey School Kids series, just to see if the same thing happens.
Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots
The Bailey School Kids #1
Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones
Scholastic
©1990
0-590-43411-X
78 pages
$3.50 US/$4.50 CAN
"There are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could the new third grade teacher from the Transylvanian Alps really be a vampire? The Bailey School kids are going to find out!
"The third grade at Bailey Elementary was very hard to handle. Most teachers quit – and moved far away – after trying to teach them.
"But Mrs. Jeepers was different. No one ever dared make her mad – because whenever they did, the strangest things would happen…."
I picked this one to read because Transylvania was mentioned. It actually irks me a little that all story-book vampires have to be from Romania. Well, I’ll try not to go off on a diatribe about that.
I wasn’t actually all too impressed with this book. The character development was fine but the story development was a little pedantic and predictable. What bothered me most was the lack of story resolution at the end. I felt as if the writers had written themselves into a corner and didn’t know how to get out, so they just ended the book.
I’m going to try another in the Bailey School Kids series, just to see if the same thing happens.
Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger (Five Stars)
Children's fiction
Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger
Louis Sachar
Avon Camelot
©1995
ISBN: 0-380-72381-6
168 pages
US $4.50/CAN $6.50
"Hooray! Wayside School is open again!
"All the kids from Wayside School had to spend 243 days in horrible schools while Wayside was closed to get rid of the cows (Don’t ask!). Now the kids are back and the fun begins on every floor. Miss Mush has prepared a special lunch of baked liver in purple sauce, and it’s Pet Day on the 30th floor – with dogs and cats and frogs and skunks and pigs, and an orange named Fido causing a terrible commotion. In Mrs. Drazil’s class, they’re throwing a coffeepot, a sack of potatoes, a pencil sharpener, and a light bulb out the window to see which hits the ground first. But the big surprise is Mrs. Jewls is expecting a baby – but one named Cootie Face or Bucket Head – and a substitute teacher is coming – and everyone knows what that means…"
Louis Sachar is one of the funniest writers I have ever known. I own the first ‘Wayside School’ book, and I love reading it. I like the character development; each child has a little quirk that makes them special, and the book is totally about revealing it. This ‘Wayside School’ book comes in chapters that are like short stories, but the entire book does move smoothly down a story line and to the conclusion. He never drops characters or forgets an important reference. As far as writing humour for children goes, Sachar reigns supreme!
Soon I’ll read and review another Sachar favourite, ‘Holes’.
Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger
Louis Sachar
Avon Camelot
©1995
ISBN: 0-380-72381-6
168 pages
US $4.50/CAN $6.50
"Hooray! Wayside School is open again!
"All the kids from Wayside School had to spend 243 days in horrible schools while Wayside was closed to get rid of the cows (Don’t ask!). Now the kids are back and the fun begins on every floor. Miss Mush has prepared a special lunch of baked liver in purple sauce, and it’s Pet Day on the 30th floor – with dogs and cats and frogs and skunks and pigs, and an orange named Fido causing a terrible commotion. In Mrs. Drazil’s class, they’re throwing a coffeepot, a sack of potatoes, a pencil sharpener, and a light bulb out the window to see which hits the ground first. But the big surprise is Mrs. Jewls is expecting a baby – but one named Cootie Face or Bucket Head – and a substitute teacher is coming – and everyone knows what that means…"
Louis Sachar is one of the funniest writers I have ever known. I own the first ‘Wayside School’ book, and I love reading it. I like the character development; each child has a little quirk that makes them special, and the book is totally about revealing it. This ‘Wayside School’ book comes in chapters that are like short stories, but the entire book does move smoothly down a story line and to the conclusion. He never drops characters or forgets an important reference. As far as writing humour for children goes, Sachar reigns supreme!
Soon I’ll read and review another Sachar favourite, ‘Holes’.
Dracula Doesn't Drink Lemonade (Two Stars)
Children's fiction
Dracula Doesn’t Drink Lemonade
The Bailey School Kids #16
Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones
Scholastic
©1995
ISBN: 0-590-22638-X
71 pages
$3.50 US/$4.50 CAN
"There are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could the new guidance counselor really be Count Dracula, the famous vampire? The Bailey School Kids are going to find out!
"’You won’t be laughing when Count Dracula nibbles your neck while you sleep,’ Howie warned. ‘At least I plan to be safe.’
"’For all you know, he’s a sickly cousin of Mrs. Jeepers,’ Melody argued. ‘After all, who ever heard of a vampire breaking up fights?’
"’And I’m sure Count Dracula doesn’t drink pink lemonade,’ Eddie added."
Well, once again I’m a little unimpressed with the book. Maybe I should try a non-vampire one and see if I like it. This book furthers the vampire myths of no sunlight, hates garlic, has no reflection, and, of course, sucking blood from kids.
I got a little confused with the story line; hoping to hear how a kid named Huey survived his encounter with Counselor Drake, and not hearing at all about it, as the other characters rushed towards an ending that didn’t really make sense.
As far as children’s books go, there are far more educational ones written that still have memorable characters and resolved story lines, such as the Magic Tree House series.
Dracula Doesn’t Drink Lemonade
The Bailey School Kids #16
Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones
Scholastic
©1995
ISBN: 0-590-22638-X
71 pages
$3.50 US/$4.50 CAN
"There are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could the new guidance counselor really be Count Dracula, the famous vampire? The Bailey School Kids are going to find out!
"’You won’t be laughing when Count Dracula nibbles your neck while you sleep,’ Howie warned. ‘At least I plan to be safe.’
"’For all you know, he’s a sickly cousin of Mrs. Jeepers,’ Melody argued. ‘After all, who ever heard of a vampire breaking up fights?’
"’And I’m sure Count Dracula doesn’t drink pink lemonade,’ Eddie added."
Well, once again I’m a little unimpressed with the book. Maybe I should try a non-vampire one and see if I like it. This book furthers the vampire myths of no sunlight, hates garlic, has no reflection, and, of course, sucking blood from kids.
I got a little confused with the story line; hoping to hear how a kid named Huey survived his encounter with Counselor Drake, and not hearing at all about it, as the other characters rushed towards an ending that didn’t really make sense.
As far as children’s books go, there are far more educational ones written that still have memorable characters and resolved story lines, such as the Magic Tree House series.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Magic Tree House #33 - Carnival at Candlelight (Four Stars)
Children's fiction
Carnival at Candlelight
Magic Tree House #33
Mary Pope Osborne
A Stepping Stone Book (Random House)
©2005
ISBN: 0-375-83034-0
106 pages
"History, mystery, and magic! Merlin has a new mission for Jack and Annie: save the Grand Lady of the Lagoon from a terrible disaster! To find her, they must travel back in time to Venice, Italy, on the night of Carnival. But before long, they find themselves thrown into a rat-infested dungeon! How will Jack and Annie save themselves and the Grand Lady, too? Does their new book of magic rhymes hold the key? Find out in Magic Tree House #33 Carnival at Candlelight."
This Magic Tree House story follows a new story line called the Merlin Missions. Merlin has sent two young sorcerers, Teddy and Kathleen, to Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, to give a mission to Jack and Annie. They are told they must save the Grand Lady of the Lagoon, and they are given a spell book of ten rhymes in order to help them. Jack and Annie are transported back in time to Venice, Italy. But their instructions are hard to follow, and a few wrong turns finds them in a dungeon! They escape and find a painter who will help them. They discover that the Grand Lady of the Lagoon is another name for Venice itself, which is about to be destroyed by a massive flood. They appeal to Neptune, the god of the sea, to help them save Venice.
Once again the research is impeccable. I learned a lot of things about Venice I never knew before. The children are wearing authentic costumes, and they visit places that are so richly described I could practically see them. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep a child wholly enthralled (adults, too, for that matter!). Magic, mystery, adventure, this book has it all! For anyone who wants to write for children, they should study these books carefully, for Mary Pope Osborne has perfected the formula.
Carnival at Candlelight
Magic Tree House #33
Mary Pope Osborne
A Stepping Stone Book (Random House)
©2005
ISBN: 0-375-83034-0
106 pages
"History, mystery, and magic! Merlin has a new mission for Jack and Annie: save the Grand Lady of the Lagoon from a terrible disaster! To find her, they must travel back in time to Venice, Italy, on the night of Carnival. But before long, they find themselves thrown into a rat-infested dungeon! How will Jack and Annie save themselves and the Grand Lady, too? Does their new book of magic rhymes hold the key? Find out in Magic Tree House #33 Carnival at Candlelight."
This Magic Tree House story follows a new story line called the Merlin Missions. Merlin has sent two young sorcerers, Teddy and Kathleen, to Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, to give a mission to Jack and Annie. They are told they must save the Grand Lady of the Lagoon, and they are given a spell book of ten rhymes in order to help them. Jack and Annie are transported back in time to Venice, Italy. But their instructions are hard to follow, and a few wrong turns finds them in a dungeon! They escape and find a painter who will help them. They discover that the Grand Lady of the Lagoon is another name for Venice itself, which is about to be destroyed by a massive flood. They appeal to Neptune, the god of the sea, to help them save Venice.
Once again the research is impeccable. I learned a lot of things about Venice I never knew before. The children are wearing authentic costumes, and they visit places that are so richly described I could practically see them. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep a child wholly enthralled (adults, too, for that matter!). Magic, mystery, adventure, this book has it all! For anyone who wants to write for children, they should study these books carefully, for Mary Pope Osborne has perfected the formula.
Monkey Beach (Three Stars)
Adult fiction
Monkey Beach
Eden Robinson
2000 Finalist for the Giller Prize
Alfred A. Knopf Canada
© 2000
ISBN: 0-676-97075-3
374 pages
"Tragedy strikes a Native community when the Hill family’s handsome seventeen-year-old son, Jimmy, mysteriously vanishes at sea. Left behind to cope during the search-and-rescue effort is his sister, Lisamarie, a wayward teenager with a dark secret. She sets off alone in search of Jimmy through the Douglas Channel and heads for Monkey Beach (a shore famed for its sasquatch sightings). Infused by turns with darkness and humour, Monkey Beach is a spellbinding voyage into the long, cool shadows of B.C.’s Coast Mountains, blending teen culture, Haisla lore, nature spirits and human tenderness into a multilayered story of loss and redemption."
Since I currently live on a First Nations reserve, I love to read books about their culture. This book isn’t just for other First Nation’s to read, but contains enough background information so anyone can read and enjoy. The writing style is witty and rich, with a depth in description and character building that I really enjoyed. I liked the short memories of her life and descriptions of her culture. There was quite a bit of humour, and a few moments where you had to suspend belief – to believe in sasquatches (or b’gwus, as they are called), to believe in the spirit world.
What I didn’t like – the timeline began getting too fragmented for me toward the end. Especially at the conclusion at the book, for I don’t even know for certain whether Jimmy is dead or alive, or if Lisamarie is dead or alive. At the conclusion, the spirit world descriptions weren’t quite enough, and I couldn’t picture exactly what was happening.
This book deals with some pretty hard issues. Smoking, swearing, promiscuity, this book doesn’t glamorise these vices, but neither does it ignore them. I think it actually made the book a bit more real, especially in dealing with teenagers.
Character development was incredible. Here are my thoughts about various characters: Lisamarie – I understood her until she left for Vancouver. At that point the timeline became fuzzy for me and I had to just keep slogging. I believe her dark secret is her ability to see the dead, to speak to the spirit world. I loved her descriptions of Haisla culture, the matter-of-fact way she shared oolichan and cockles and the greengage tree with the reader.
Jimmy – you can tell throughout the entire book what a special guy he is. He seems to have dreams that are larger than life, but can somehow make them happen. He is an accomplished swimmer and even nearly made the Olympics. He made friends with crows, which point came up time and again through the book. When he disappeared, we discover it was because the girl he was going to marry, Karaoke, was molested by her uncle and had an abortion. He went on that uncle’s boat and killed him.
Mick – their uncle. I liked him from the start. Down to earth, he is a result of a residential school and there is a little animosity in the family because of it. He is often more solid to Lisamarie than her own parents. He was the one who taught her a lot of her heritage and culture. It was sad when he died.
Ma-ma-oo – their grandmother. The last character I would call an integral one, even more than their parents. She sent two of her children to residential schools and kept two at home. She could also see the spirit world and knew that Lisamarie could. Like Mick, she was an integral link in the Haisla chain.
All in all, I enjoyed it. I borrowed it from Marnie and I’m not sure if I’ll add it to my collection. Maybe one day I’ll feel a compulsion to really decipher the ending.
Monkey Beach
Eden Robinson
2000 Finalist for the Giller Prize
Alfred A. Knopf Canada
© 2000
ISBN: 0-676-97075-3
374 pages
"Tragedy strikes a Native community when the Hill family’s handsome seventeen-year-old son, Jimmy, mysteriously vanishes at sea. Left behind to cope during the search-and-rescue effort is his sister, Lisamarie, a wayward teenager with a dark secret. She sets off alone in search of Jimmy through the Douglas Channel and heads for Monkey Beach (a shore famed for its sasquatch sightings). Infused by turns with darkness and humour, Monkey Beach is a spellbinding voyage into the long, cool shadows of B.C.’s Coast Mountains, blending teen culture, Haisla lore, nature spirits and human tenderness into a multilayered story of loss and redemption."
Since I currently live on a First Nations reserve, I love to read books about their culture. This book isn’t just for other First Nation’s to read, but contains enough background information so anyone can read and enjoy. The writing style is witty and rich, with a depth in description and character building that I really enjoyed. I liked the short memories of her life and descriptions of her culture. There was quite a bit of humour, and a few moments where you had to suspend belief – to believe in sasquatches (or b’gwus, as they are called), to believe in the spirit world.
What I didn’t like – the timeline began getting too fragmented for me toward the end. Especially at the conclusion at the book, for I don’t even know for certain whether Jimmy is dead or alive, or if Lisamarie is dead or alive. At the conclusion, the spirit world descriptions weren’t quite enough, and I couldn’t picture exactly what was happening.
This book deals with some pretty hard issues. Smoking, swearing, promiscuity, this book doesn’t glamorise these vices, but neither does it ignore them. I think it actually made the book a bit more real, especially in dealing with teenagers.
Character development was incredible. Here are my thoughts about various characters: Lisamarie – I understood her until she left for Vancouver. At that point the timeline became fuzzy for me and I had to just keep slogging. I believe her dark secret is her ability to see the dead, to speak to the spirit world. I loved her descriptions of Haisla culture, the matter-of-fact way she shared oolichan and cockles and the greengage tree with the reader.
Jimmy – you can tell throughout the entire book what a special guy he is. He seems to have dreams that are larger than life, but can somehow make them happen. He is an accomplished swimmer and even nearly made the Olympics. He made friends with crows, which point came up time and again through the book. When he disappeared, we discover it was because the girl he was going to marry, Karaoke, was molested by her uncle and had an abortion. He went on that uncle’s boat and killed him.
Mick – their uncle. I liked him from the start. Down to earth, he is a result of a residential school and there is a little animosity in the family because of it. He is often more solid to Lisamarie than her own parents. He was the one who taught her a lot of her heritage and culture. It was sad when he died.
Ma-ma-oo – their grandmother. The last character I would call an integral one, even more than their parents. She sent two of her children to residential schools and kept two at home. She could also see the spirit world and knew that Lisamarie could. Like Mick, she was an integral link in the Haisla chain.
All in all, I enjoyed it. I borrowed it from Marnie and I’m not sure if I’ll add it to my collection. Maybe one day I’ll feel a compulsion to really decipher the ending.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Magic Tree House #1 - Dinosaurs Before Dark (Four Stars)
Children's fiction
Dinosaurs Before Dark
Magic Tree House #1
Mary Pope Osborne
Random House
©1992
ISBN: 0-679-89233-8
68 pages
"Where did the tree house come from? Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them back to the prehistoric past. Now they have to figure out how to get home. Can they do it before dark… or will they become a dinosaur’s dinner?"
This first book of the Magic Tree House series has spawned a phenomenon. Jack and Annie (a brother and sister) discover a tree house filled with volumes of books of every subject imaginable. In leafing through the books, Jack finds one about dinosaurs and wishes he could see them in real life. With a spin, the tree house takes them far into the past, into the Cretaceous period. While there they evade a Tyrannosaurus Rex, ride a pterodactyl, and discover a mysterious medallion that obviously doesn’t belong there. Jack and Annie discover that they have to find a book about Frog Creek, Pennsylvania (where they are from) and wish themselves back.
This book has all the makings of a classic. It has two winning protagonists, a brother and sister (thereby teaching children that your siblings can also be your friends). It has magic, a way for the children to access any part of history. It has adventure, in their harrowing escape from the Cretaceous period. The research is impeccable; this book provides a doorway for children to read non-fiction books about the topic at hand. Most importantly, adults should enjoy reading this book nearly as much as children.
Check out this link for more information on the Magic Tree House Series
http://www.magictreehouse.com/
Dinosaurs Before Dark
Magic Tree House #1
Mary Pope Osborne
Random House
©1992
ISBN: 0-679-89233-8
68 pages
"Where did the tree house come from? Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them back to the prehistoric past. Now they have to figure out how to get home. Can they do it before dark… or will they become a dinosaur’s dinner?"
This first book of the Magic Tree House series has spawned a phenomenon. Jack and Annie (a brother and sister) discover a tree house filled with volumes of books of every subject imaginable. In leafing through the books, Jack finds one about dinosaurs and wishes he could see them in real life. With a spin, the tree house takes them far into the past, into the Cretaceous period. While there they evade a Tyrannosaurus Rex, ride a pterodactyl, and discover a mysterious medallion that obviously doesn’t belong there. Jack and Annie discover that they have to find a book about Frog Creek, Pennsylvania (where they are from) and wish themselves back.
This book has all the makings of a classic. It has two winning protagonists, a brother and sister (thereby teaching children that your siblings can also be your friends). It has magic, a way for the children to access any part of history. It has adventure, in their harrowing escape from the Cretaceous period. The research is impeccable; this book provides a doorway for children to read non-fiction books about the topic at hand. Most importantly, adults should enjoy reading this book nearly as much as children.
Check out this link for more information on the Magic Tree House Series
http://www.magictreehouse.com/
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