I know I haven't posted anything new this week. I just started working, and I've been in over my head with stuff. I'm just getting used to the whole process, and once I get acclimated, I'll be back more regularly.
Anyway, though, here's today's video. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow.
Bibliobibula out.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Five Fans Friday - Audrey, Wait!
Today's (well, yesterday's) video. I uploaded it late last night, and it didn't finish uploading to YouTube until this morning. But here it is. Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway. I LOVED this one. If you haven't read it, read it.
Bibliobibula out.
Bibliobibula out.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
TBR Tuesday - June 16
I don’t actually have that many new books this week, but I’m looking forward to reading them all. Here goes.
A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnely. I ordered this from the library after high praise from Emma at Booking Through 365. I hadn’t heard of it before, but she compared it to I am the Messenger stylewise, and it sounded really good. And we just have really similar taste in books, from what I’ve gathered. Amazon’s description:
It's 1906 and 16-year-old Mattie Gokey is at a crossroads in her life. She's escaped the overwhelming responsibilities of helping to run her father's brokedown farm in exchange for a paid summer job as a serving girl at a fancy hotel in the Adirondacks. She's saving as much of her salary as she can, but she's having trouble deciding how she's going to use the money at the end of the summer. Mattie's gift is for writing and she's been accepted to Barnard College in New York City, but she's held back by her sense of responsibility to her family--and by her budding romance with handsome-but-dull Royal Loomis. Royal awakens feelings in Mattie that she doesn't want to ignore, but she can't deny her passion for words and her desire to write.
At the hotel, Mattie gets caught up in the disappearance of a young couple who had gone out together in a rowboat. Mattie spoke with the young woman, Grace Brown, just before the fateful boating trip, when Grace gave her a packet of love letters and asked her to burn them. When Grace is found drowned, Mattie reads the letters and finds that she holds the key to unraveling the girl's death and her beau's mysterious disappearance. Grace Brown's story is a true one (it's the same story told in Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy and in the film adaptation, A Place in the Sun), and author Jennifer Donnelly masterfully interweaves the real-life story with Mattie's, making her seem even more real.
Mattie's frank voice reveals much about poverty, racism, and feminism at the turn of the twentieth century. She witnesses illness and death at a range far closer than most teens do today, and she's there when her best friend Minnie gives birth to twins. Mattie describes Minnie's harrowing labor with gut-wrenching clarity, and a visit with Minnie and the twins a few weeks later dispels any romance from the reality of young motherhood (and marriage). Overall, readers will get a taste of how bitter--and how sweet--ordinary life in the early 1900s could be. Despite the wide variety of troubles Mattie describes, the book never feels melodramatic, just heartbreakingly real.
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow. This one wasn’t recommended to me – I kept seeing it and hearing about it and it sounded really good. Really fun. I won this copy in a contest at Fantastic Book Review – thanks!!! Anyway, I can’t wait to read it. Here’s the Barnes and Noble description.
Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called "the touch." (Comes in handy when you're traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)
Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?
These probably won’t last me the whole week, so I’ll scavenge and find something else to read. I’ve been meaning to reread the seventh Harry Potter book for a while. Maybe I’ll finally do that. I’ll be back to review these two books when I finish them.
Bibliobibula out.
A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnely. I ordered this from the library after high praise from Emma at Booking Through 365. I hadn’t heard of it before, but she compared it to I am the Messenger stylewise, and it sounded really good. And we just have really similar taste in books, from what I’ve gathered. Amazon’s description:
It's 1906 and 16-year-old Mattie Gokey is at a crossroads in her life. She's escaped the overwhelming responsibilities of helping to run her father's brokedown farm in exchange for a paid summer job as a serving girl at a fancy hotel in the Adirondacks. She's saving as much of her salary as she can, but she's having trouble deciding how she's going to use the money at the end of the summer. Mattie's gift is for writing and she's been accepted to Barnard College in New York City, but she's held back by her sense of responsibility to her family--and by her budding romance with handsome-but-dull Royal Loomis. Royal awakens feelings in Mattie that she doesn't want to ignore, but she can't deny her passion for words and her desire to write.
At the hotel, Mattie gets caught up in the disappearance of a young couple who had gone out together in a rowboat. Mattie spoke with the young woman, Grace Brown, just before the fateful boating trip, when Grace gave her a packet of love letters and asked her to burn them. When Grace is found drowned, Mattie reads the letters and finds that she holds the key to unraveling the girl's death and her beau's mysterious disappearance. Grace Brown's story is a true one (it's the same story told in Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy and in the film adaptation, A Place in the Sun), and author Jennifer Donnelly masterfully interweaves the real-life story with Mattie's, making her seem even more real.
Mattie's frank voice reveals much about poverty, racism, and feminism at the turn of the twentieth century. She witnesses illness and death at a range far closer than most teens do today, and she's there when her best friend Minnie gives birth to twins. Mattie describes Minnie's harrowing labor with gut-wrenching clarity, and a visit with Minnie and the twins a few weeks later dispels any romance from the reality of young motherhood (and marriage). Overall, readers will get a taste of how bitter--and how sweet--ordinary life in the early 1900s could be. Despite the wide variety of troubles Mattie describes, the book never feels melodramatic, just heartbreakingly real.
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow. This one wasn’t recommended to me – I kept seeing it and hearing about it and it sounded really good. Really fun. I won this copy in a contest at Fantastic Book Review – thanks!!! Anyway, I can’t wait to read it. Here’s the Barnes and Noble description.
Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called "the touch." (Comes in handy when you're traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)
Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?
These probably won’t last me the whole week, so I’ll scavenge and find something else to read. I’ve been meaning to reread the seventh Harry Potter book for a while. Maybe I’ll finally do that. I’ll be back to review these two books when I finish them.
Bibliobibula out.
Friday, June 12, 2009
It's Kind of a Funny Story
First of all, I have some acknowledgements to make. Okay, one acknowledgement. I’d like to thank Korianne at Korianne Speaks for the header, which she made for me without me even having to ask for it. And also for telling me where I can find the background. The blog looks so much nicer now. So, THANKS Kori!!!!!
Okay. On with the review. It’s Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini. Again, here’s what Barnes and Noble has to say about it.
Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life-which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job-Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy.
At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping-until, one night, he nearly kills himself.
Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.
Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness. For a novel about depression, it's definitely a funny story.
One thing that stuck out to me as perfect about this book – specifically, the writing – was the tone. The change in tone throughout the book. The progression of his depression was written to a tee, and exactly how I’d think a character like Craig would be feeling. At the beginning of the book, reading Craig’s thoughts made me feel just how he was describing himself – depressed, no initiative. As the book progressed and Craig became happier, so did I. It’s an amazing thing when a book is able to do that.
This is the kind of book I appreciate more than I enjoy. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it – I did. But I feel like the point of it was for more than just entertainment. It goes deeper than that. It had more of a message, one that’s hard to articulate. It was sort of an example, I guess, of someone learning to appreciate life. And it made me appreciate life more, too. Not in a life-altering-epiphany, I’m-going-to-dye-my-hair-blue-and-march-in-the-streets kind of way. More of a subtle-optimistic-day-to-day sort of way. If that makes any sense.
The story itself? An idea isn’t really all that hard to come by. I mean, look at Harry Potter. A boy learns he’s a wizard and goes to wizard school. When you look at it that way, the idea isn’t all that original. It’s the execution of the idea that really makes it or breaks it. The characters, the descriptions, the details. Those are the things that make a story come alive. I mean, having a genius idea always helps, but it doesn’t necessarily mean anything if the writing is flat and boring. This book? A depressed boy almost commits suicide and then becomes un-depressed. Not very original. But Craig’s voice is so authentic. The characters are so precise and interesting. Every word makes the story come alive.
It’s really a great book, and it’s a great book to be well done. A great story to be well done. Real-world applicable. Make sure to read it when you have a chance. I’m glad I did.
Bibliobibula out.
Okay. On with the review. It’s Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini. Again, here’s what Barnes and Noble has to say about it.
Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life-which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job-Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy.
At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping-until, one night, he nearly kills himself.
Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.
Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness. For a novel about depression, it's definitely a funny story.
One thing that stuck out to me as perfect about this book – specifically, the writing – was the tone. The change in tone throughout the book. The progression of his depression was written to a tee, and exactly how I’d think a character like Craig would be feeling. At the beginning of the book, reading Craig’s thoughts made me feel just how he was describing himself – depressed, no initiative. As the book progressed and Craig became happier, so did I. It’s an amazing thing when a book is able to do that.
This is the kind of book I appreciate more than I enjoy. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it – I did. But I feel like the point of it was for more than just entertainment. It goes deeper than that. It had more of a message, one that’s hard to articulate. It was sort of an example, I guess, of someone learning to appreciate life. And it made me appreciate life more, too. Not in a life-altering-epiphany, I’m-going-to-dye-my-hair-blue-and-march-in-the-streets kind of way. More of a subtle-optimistic-day-to-day sort of way. If that makes any sense.
The story itself? An idea isn’t really all that hard to come by. I mean, look at Harry Potter. A boy learns he’s a wizard and goes to wizard school. When you look at it that way, the idea isn’t all that original. It’s the execution of the idea that really makes it or breaks it. The characters, the descriptions, the details. Those are the things that make a story come alive. I mean, having a genius idea always helps, but it doesn’t necessarily mean anything if the writing is flat and boring. This book? A depressed boy almost commits suicide and then becomes un-depressed. Not very original. But Craig’s voice is so authentic. The characters are so precise and interesting. Every word makes the story come alive.
It’s really a great book, and it’s a great book to be well done. A great story to be well done. Real-world applicable. Make sure to read it when you have a chance. I’m glad I did.
Bibliobibula out.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Five Fans Friday on Monday - I am the Messenger
I thought it deserved two reviews. It was just that good.
Bibliobibula out.
Bibliobibula out.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
I am the Messenger
I am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak. Here’s the Barnes and Noble synopsis.
Meet Ed Kennedy—underage cabdriver, pathetic cardplayer, and useless at romance. He lives in a shack with his coffee-addicted dog, the Doorman, and he’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence, until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That’s when the first Ace arrives. That’s when Ed becomes the messenger. . . .
Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary), until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission?
Winner of the 2003 Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Award in Australia, I Am the Messenger is a cryptic journey filled with laughter, fists, and love.
This book was AMAZING. It’s definitely not a light read, if that’s what you’re looking for. You really have to be in the right mood for it, but if you are in the right mood, it’s PERFECT.
One thing that really stood out to me about this book was the style it was written in. Normally, what matters most for me in a book is the characters. The actual writing of the book isn’t nearly as much of a focus for me. In this book, though, the phrasing was really elegant, and you could tell that Markus Zusak was intending for it to sound a particular way. Every word is important. It’s like literature for teens. It really makes you think.
As for the story, it was really well laid out and paced. The plot rotates between Ed’s his life at home and Ed following the instructions on the cards. It’s a perfect and realistic mix.
It’s also a really nice idea. Ed is helping himself by helping others. It’s really sweet, but not in an overdone way. If anything, it’s underdone, but it fits. When I began reading it, I was put off by its depressing, apathetic tone. As I read on, though, the narration becomes more animated and spirited, as Ed does.
The characters were also well-written. They had depth. At the beginning, again, there were some characters who I immediately labeled as flat and extraneous. As I progressed through the book, though, I realized I was wrong. Every character has their own problems and their own way of dealing with problems. Even though I couldn’t relate to Ed, it didn’t matter. In many books, if I can’t connect, the book is ruined. Not here. That’s not the point.
Most books I read are written solely for entertainment. This, I feel, was different. I mean, it was entertaining, but it served more of a purpose than that. It gave a different outlook on life, but in a really understated way. Really made me think.
As I said before, if you’re looking for a beach read, this is not it. This is more mentally stimulating and attention-demanding. I’m not saying one is better than the other, because it isn’t. They’re just different. You have to be in a more subdued, thoughtful mood to really enjoy and appreciate I am the Messenger. And I really recommend waiting to be in that mood to read it. It’s worth it.
Bibliobibula out.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
TBR Tuesday
I got the idea for To Be Read Tuesday from Kori at Korianne Speaks (check out the site if you haven’t already. It’s awesome.) So thanks, Kori, for this.
I just got these from the library, and I look forward to reading them.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. This was recommended to me first by Devyn of Five Awesome YA Fans. He gave it a glowing review and called it one of the “three books I will tell everyone they have to read.” Here’s the synopsis from Barnes and Noble.
Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life-which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job-Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy.
At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping-until, one night, he nearly kills himself.
Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.
Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness. For a novel about depression, it's definitely a funny story.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This one has been recommended to me by pretty much everyone. I’ve heard only positive things about it. I’ve kind of always meant to read it, and never gotten the chance. When I saw it at the library I broke down and got it instead of some other more impulsive stuff. Here’s Barnes and Noble’s description.
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I’d actually never heard of this before my friend recommended it to me. She gave it such a great review, though, that it made me curious. She and I have very similar taste in books, so if she loved it, I figure I’ll probably enjoy it as well. Here’s what Barnes and Noble has to say about it.
The Earth is under attack and the survival of the human species depends on a military genius who can defeat the alien “buggers.” Recruited for military training, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin’s childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battle School. A reader’s guide is available for this Starscape edition—perfect for readers ten and up—of the beloved science fiction classic by best-selling author Orson Scott Card.
I look forward to reading these, and I’ll post as soon as I finish them to tell you what I thought.
Bibliobibula out.
I just got these from the library, and I look forward to reading them.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. This was recommended to me first by Devyn of Five Awesome YA Fans. He gave it a glowing review and called it one of the “three books I will tell everyone they have to read.” Here’s the synopsis from Barnes and Noble.Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life-which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job-Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy.
At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping-until, one night, he nearly kills himself.
Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.
Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness. For a novel about depression, it's definitely a funny story.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This one has been recommended to me by pretty much everyone. I’ve heard only positive things about it. I’ve kind of always meant to read it, and never gotten the chance. When I saw it at the library I broke down and got it instead of some other more impulsive stuff. Here’s Barnes and Noble’s description.It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I’d actually never heard of this before my friend recommended it to me. She gave it such a great review, though, that it made me curious. She and I have very similar taste in books, so if she loved it, I figure I’ll probably enjoy it as well. Here’s what Barnes and Noble has to say about it.The Earth is under attack and the survival of the human species depends on a military genius who can defeat the alien “buggers.” Recruited for military training, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin’s childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battle School. A reader’s guide is available for this Starscape edition—perfect for readers ten and up—of the beloved science fiction classic by best-selling author Orson Scott Card.
I look forward to reading these, and I’ll post as soon as I finish them to tell you what I thought.
Bibliobibula out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)