Now that was strange. I fully expected to hate this book. It's gimmicky and thrown together randomly, or so it seemed.
But I found myself strangely coNow that was strange. I fully expected to hate this book. It's gimmicky and thrown together randomly, or so it seemed.
But I found myself strangely compelled to keep reading. It grabbed my interest without warning. I wouldn't say I loved it, certainly, but it kept me engaged well enough to give it an even 3 stars. Maybe my expectations were low enough to make this possible. ...more
Now that was unexpected. When I was recommended a YA/kids issues book, I thought, "eh. Should be a quick read." Nothing morThat was simply brilliant.
Now that was unexpected. When I was recommended a YA/kids issues book, I thought, "eh. Should be a quick read." Nothing more, nothing less. I expected to like it alright, but be through it quickly and move on to some epic fantasy kick ass stories or something.
But damn. This is sticking with me. It's an issues book that doesn't feel like an issues book at all. Heavy subject (which I'm intentionally vague about) that doesn't have a heavy feel.
Boyne is a genius for how he presents and explores this topic (that I'm vague about). The YA/kids label is necessary only because the main character is a nine year old boy and it's told through his perspective. The story simply wouldn't work any other way. That young innocence is part of the story. No, it's essential to the story. It's how the damn thing is built and presented to the reader.
I was torn on this one. I wanted to like it going in and was actually captivated by the opening story, "One Perfect Morning, with Jackals". That was aI was torn on this one. I wanted to like it going in and was actually captivated by the opening story, "One Perfect Morning, with Jackals". That was a great introduction to the new world set up by the Eutopian Council (clever name, that) called Kirinyaga, an attempt to get back to the roots of the Kikuyu tribe of what we barbaric Europeans call "Kenya".
And here's where the being torn comes in. As I read story after story, I realized that I didn't like the narrator, Koriba. At first I'd sympathized with him, but after some of his rulings as mundumugu, I wanted someone to leave him out for the hyenas. Then I decided I didn't much care for the stories as a whole. Each one started with an animal parable told by Koriba to his sheep people, in order to teach them the evils of European influence and the godliness of Koriba himself their deity, Ngai. Then something would happen in the village, someone would attempt to think for themselves explore the forbidden technology or culture of Europe. Or of the Kenyans from Earth, which Koriba referred to as "Black Europeans". Koriba would declare them to be wrong and bully or blackmail tell them parables to show them the error of not doing as he says turning from the path of Ngai.
Anyway, the final chapter/story is "The Land of Nod", and it brings the entire book full circle, creating a satisfying and reasonable ending for the story as a whole. Satisfying beginning, satisfying ending. Hmmm....Lots of books can claim one or the other, but both?
So I thought about it. At first, I planned to give it a 2-star. It seemed to fit the "it's ok but I didn't really love it" definition of a 2-star. Or to be more blunt, "didn't really like it."
But I did. At times. I liked the story "For I Have Touched the Sky" quite a bit. Had I read this by itself, I would have been "wow!" It was heartbreaking and touching, and by the end of it I was (view spoiler)[outraged at what happened to the sweet little girl (hide spoiler)]. While the other stories weren't as effective as this one, they did hit me in a similar way.
I think that had I read the stories as they originally came out, I would have appreciated them more. But all at once, they became rather redundant and tiring. I'll give it a 3-star because when I did like it, I found it to be very effective and touching. It wasn't consistently touching all the way through, though. So 3 is where I'll settle......more
This is a pretty cool little adventure/mystery in the life of Sherlock Holmes's little sister Enola. She's a cool kid with lots of smarts and a quick This is a pretty cool little adventure/mystery in the life of Sherlock Holmes's little sister Enola. She's a cool kid with lots of smarts and a quick wit.
It was fun for the most part, though I did get tangled quite a bit in all the talk of petticoats, bustles, and corsets. Yeah.......more
This book is actually for a group challenge in April, but since I've sworn off re-reads for 2012, I decided to knock it out early.
I first read this baThis book is actually for a group challenge in April, but since I've sworn off re-reads for 2012, I decided to knock it out early.
I first read this back when the movie came out. The first movie. So I was pretty young, maybe 11 or 12. I remember liking it pretty well.
Unfortunately, on this re-read I suspected the author might also have been 11 or 12 when he wrote it. The story is excellent and very creepy. Whether a true story or a hoax, it's very compelling. The flaw in the story telling almost cost me an otherwise enjoyable read.
The narrative is choppy and schizophrenic. Not for effect, but from what seems to be a lack of skill. The tense changes constantly and without warning, as does the point of view. I can see why the author shifted tenses and POV's as he did, but it could have been done more smoothly. It's rather jarring as it is. The dialogue is even worse - people don't talk like they do in this book. Maybe in an episode of Scooby Doo, but not in real life.
Those points aside, I still rate this at 3-stars. The story itself is awesome and had to be told. I can only imagine what this story would have been like if written by a true master of the genre, say a Stephen King.
ETA: I had to rethink this. I felt wrong giving something this poorly written a rating of 3-stars when I've been so harsh on several other books. I've given 1 and 2 star ratings to books that were much better written than this thing. So I'm dropping it to 2. The writing should be at a 1-star, but I'll stand by liking the story well enough to say "it's ok" on the final rating....more
I read this book over the weekend and it took some time to settle in before I could write about it. And still, most of what I have to say is spoilerifI read this book over the weekend and it took some time to settle in before I could write about it. And still, most of what I have to say is spoilerific. But it needs to be said.
(view spoiler)[All through the book I kept thinking, "these people are dead". Or at least some of them. But then stuff would happen that would discount that theory entirely. (hide spoiler)]
Theories: (view spoiler)[I mean, the townspeople saw her. So that didn't fit. She bought groceries and checked out library books. Would a ghost be able to do that?
But here's what screamed out at me that something was wrong: Did you notice that Uncle Julien never acknowledged MK's presence? Not once. He didn't speak to her, didn't see her there. The one time he mentioned her at all, he said she'd been dead for several years. So, was he loopy, or was she a ghost?
I thought she might have been a ghost when she was fucking with Charles, trying to drive him mad. All the crazy shit she did to his room was stuff a poltergeist might do.
But the damn townspeople saw her. If it weren't for her trips to town, I'd say she was definitely a haunting.
Especially near the end when they're boarded up in the house and scary stories and rumors start popping up in the town about whether or not there is anyone even there. That was ghost like. It's as if Constance then joined her. Unless she was already a ghost too.
I thought that maybe Julien was the only living one and when he died it all went to the spirit world. Except for MK's long trip to town - that's what keeps putting holes in any ideas I have. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, I'd say I liked this book. At times I struggled to stay focused, but not for long. It was just weird and creepy enough to hold my interest, and make me think after I was finished. That's always a sign of a good book.
So not orgasmic, but still a nice read to fill an afternoon....more
Why have I not read this until now? It's delightful. I love the humor most of the time, and the story is clever enough to carry it. Well done. I'll beWhy have I not read this until now? It's delightful. I love the humor most of the time, and the story is clever enough to carry it. Well done. I'll be visiting the Restaurant at the End of the Universe in due time as well....more
I'll give it a good 3-star. There was some bleakness to it, given the subject matter and the rotten things that the Logan family had to put up with. BI'll give it a good 3-star. There was some bleakness to it, given the subject matter and the rotten things that the Logan family had to put up with. But I think that the author showed rather than told how the injustices were unfair. Certainly makes one think, and is a necessary lesson in history. We need to know our mistakes in the past so that we can understand just how wrong they were, and so that we won't repeat those mistakes in the future....more
I've been debating between 1 and 2 stars, so I guess I should pick the half-star rating system this time around and go with a solid 1 1/2 star.
To be hI've been debating between 1 and 2 stars, so I guess I should pick the half-star rating system this time around and go with a solid 1 1/2 star.
To be honest, I think that switching to the audio about a third of the way in is what saved it at all. George Guidall gives anything he reads a calm presence. I can do other mundane things and just listen and let it sink in.
So kudos to Mr. Guidall for reading this without falling asleep. I don't think I can boast the same....more
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