a graphic novel
by Joann Sfar and Emmanuel Guibert
Translated by Alexis Siegel
64 pages, Carver County Library
This was bizarre. The plot is similar to the movie "The Mummy.' A beautiful Victorian gal "wakes up" Imhotep IV while helping her father, a professor of Egyptology. Basically, it's a romance / murder mystery / ??? I don't know what. Very odd book. She marries and has children with a 3,000-year old mummy whose father (Imhotep III) has killed her own father. Weird.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Point Blank: the graphic novel
by Anthony Horowitz
reformatted and written by Antony Johnston
art by Kanako Damerum and Yuzuru Takasaki
Carver County Library, unpaged
The essential story remains true to the book, but it feels very encapsulated. I'm not sure how I feel about such a popular novel being made into a graphic novel (though I'm a fan of graphic novels). It is very well-done, but I don't know that I'll buy it for school. I'd rather get kids into the novels!
reformatted and written by Antony Johnston
art by Kanako Damerum and Yuzuru Takasaki
Carver County Library, unpaged
The essential story remains true to the book, but it feels very encapsulated. I'm not sure how I feel about such a popular novel being made into a graphic novel (though I'm a fan of graphic novels). It is very well-done, but I don't know that I'll buy it for school. I'd rather get kids into the novels!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Quilt
by T. Davis Bunn
audioCD, Carver County Library, 2 hours
read by Christina Moore
More of a character sketch than a novel, this tells the story of Mary and her last quilt. She is old and arthritic, but determined to make one last quilt. Many women come together to help her and follow her insistence that it be stitched with prayer.
I liked the example of a faithful woman being true to God and impacting others with her life. I didn't like the lack of a plot.
audioCD, Carver County Library, 2 hours
read by Christina Moore
More of a character sketch than a novel, this tells the story of Mary and her last quilt. She is old and arthritic, but determined to make one last quilt. Many women come together to help her and follow her insistence that it be stitched with prayer.
I liked the example of a faithful woman being true to God and impacting others with her life. I didn't like the lack of a plot.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
America the Beautiful
by Laura Hayden
Hennepin County, paperback, 389 pages
When my church book club was discussing this, I was in the thick of all-night grad party stuff. I had also just picked up my copy from the library. They lamented that I missed the discussion. Knowing how passionate some of my friends are about politics, that doesn't surprise me. I was actually kind of dreading this book. Politics. Yuk.
It surprised me how much I liked the story. I just finished it this morning. Kate is a wonderful character, but it seemed hard to see her sticking with someone like Emily. By the end of the book, I was disliking Emily more and more. It's believable stuff, though. It really serves to further my dislike of politics.
My favorite part of the story? Naturally, the entrancing Nick Beaudry and his change of heart, as well as the potential for future romance between him and Kate. I'm just a romantic at heart!
Not sure if I'll want to read the sequel when it comes out, though. Red, White, and Blue will be about the first female president . . . sorry for the spoiler!
Hennepin County, paperback, 389 pages
When my church book club was discussing this, I was in the thick of all-night grad party stuff. I had also just picked up my copy from the library. They lamented that I missed the discussion. Knowing how passionate some of my friends are about politics, that doesn't surprise me. I was actually kind of dreading this book. Politics. Yuk.
It surprised me how much I liked the story. I just finished it this morning. Kate is a wonderful character, but it seemed hard to see her sticking with someone like Emily. By the end of the book, I was disliking Emily more and more. It's believable stuff, though. It really serves to further my dislike of politics.
My favorite part of the story? Naturally, the entrancing Nick Beaudry and his change of heart, as well as the potential for future romance between him and Kate. I'm just a romantic at heart!
Not sure if I'll want to read the sequel when it comes out, though. Red, White, and Blue will be about the first female president . . . sorry for the spoiler!
Shepherd's Abiding
with "Esther's Gift" and "The Mitford Snowmen"
by Jan Karon
Hennepin County audiobook, 6.25 hours
read by John McDonough
Although I enjoy the Mitford stories, they're not in my top ten list, if you know what I mean. I had actually listened to this one many years ago. It's jumpy as the narrative hops between many different characters (and Father Tim's childhood). It made me wonder how she noted the changes in the book? Extra white space? Different font? There are some things that don't translate well to audio format.
I guess this is like curling up in a comfy blanket on the sofa. Nice, but not stimulating. Mitford stories are like that.
by Jan Karon
Hennepin County audiobook, 6.25 hours
read by John McDonough
Although I enjoy the Mitford stories, they're not in my top ten list, if you know what I mean. I had actually listened to this one many years ago. It's jumpy as the narrative hops between many different characters (and Father Tim's childhood). It made me wonder how she noted the changes in the book? Extra white space? Different font? There are some things that don't translate well to audio format.
I guess this is like curling up in a comfy blanket on the sofa. Nice, but not stimulating. Mitford stories are like that.
Destination Unexpected
Edited by Donald R. Gallo
CMSW, hardcover, 221 pages
This short story collection is one that the LA department is considering for their new curriculum. I really enjoyed the variety! The protagonists are teenagers and some of the stories had a little bit of "strong language," but nothing that made me cringe (like some of Chris Crutcher's work does - powerful, but painful too). My favorites were the first story, "Something Old, Something New," by Joyce Sweeney, and "Bread on the Water" by David Lubar.
Sweeney's story related the tale of a young, poor, talented black writer who wins an essay contest after his English teacher inspires him to enter. On his almost three-hour trip across town on mass transit (with lots of transfers), he sees the world and himself with new eyes. This is a very cool and inspirational story.
Lubar's work surprised me by not being funny. I'm so used to his fantastic "weenie" stories that this tale of religious hypocrisy really made me think. When the narrator and his friend get kicked out of church, they live out a kindness that the Bible talks about. Yet the adults don't get the message. Good stuff.
I didn't pay attention to the stories' use of figurative language or other "English teacher" type lesson material. I just read the stories for themselves, and definitely enjoyed them! Lots of good discussion material here.
CMSW, hardcover, 221 pages
This short story collection is one that the LA department is considering for their new curriculum. I really enjoyed the variety! The protagonists are teenagers and some of the stories had a little bit of "strong language," but nothing that made me cringe (like some of Chris Crutcher's work does - powerful, but painful too). My favorites were the first story, "Something Old, Something New," by Joyce Sweeney, and "Bread on the Water" by David Lubar.
Sweeney's story related the tale of a young, poor, talented black writer who wins an essay contest after his English teacher inspires him to enter. On his almost three-hour trip across town on mass transit (with lots of transfers), he sees the world and himself with new eyes. This is a very cool and inspirational story.
Lubar's work surprised me by not being funny. I'm so used to his fantastic "weenie" stories that this tale of religious hypocrisy really made me think. When the narrator and his friend get kicked out of church, they live out a kindness that the Bible talks about. Yet the adults don't get the message. Good stuff.
I didn't pay attention to the stories' use of figurative language or other "English teacher" type lesson material. I just read the stories for themselves, and definitely enjoyed them! Lots of good discussion material here.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Wrapped in Rain
subtitled "A Novel of Coming Home"
by Charles Martin
Hennepin County, paperback, 317 pages
Tucker and Matthew have different mothers, but the same abusive father. Their only saving grace growing up was Miss Ella Rain, a God-fearing, Bible-quoting, tiny black woman with a heart filled with love. This novel was quite different from the first one of Martin's that I read, but it was just as enjoyable. Tucker and "Mutt" reacted to their father's cruelty in different ways, but both were traumatized dramatically. I especially loved Mutt's ability to fix things and Tucker's gentle way with Katie's son Jase. I also loved Ella's powerful faith! The Judge was a wonderful character, too.
by Charles Martin
Hennepin County, paperback, 317 pages
Tucker and Matthew have different mothers, but the same abusive father. Their only saving grace growing up was Miss Ella Rain, a God-fearing, Bible-quoting, tiny black woman with a heart filled with love. This novel was quite different from the first one of Martin's that I read, but it was just as enjoyable. Tucker and "Mutt" reacted to their father's cruelty in different ways, but both were traumatized dramatically. I especially loved Mutt's ability to fix things and Tucker's gentle way with Katie's son Jase. I also loved Ella's powerful faith! The Judge was a wonderful character, too.
Monday, June 02, 2008
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern
by Lilian Jackson Braun
CD, Hennepin County Library, 5 hours
read by George Guidall
I read this book a few years ago and didn't really remember "who dunnit" so I listened to it in the car. As much as I enjoy this author's mysteries (along with Agatha Christie and others of that style), I have to admit that Qwilleran's "luxuriant mustache" gets irritating after a while. How many times to I have to hear that he felt "vibrations in his mustache," "his mustache was tingling," etc. Koko is a cool cat, but I think I'm done with the "cat who" series. I own some, but donating them might help free up a little shelf space. I need to find a new mystery author that I like.
CD, Hennepin County Library, 5 hours
read by George Guidall
I read this book a few years ago and didn't really remember "who dunnit" so I listened to it in the car. As much as I enjoy this author's mysteries (along with Agatha Christie and others of that style), I have to admit that Qwilleran's "luxuriant mustache" gets irritating after a while. How many times to I have to hear that he felt "vibrations in his mustache," "his mustache was tingling," etc. Koko is a cool cat, but I think I'm done with the "cat who" series. I own some, but donating them might help free up a little shelf space. I need to find a new mystery author that I like.
The Crossing
by Gary Paulsen
CMSW, paperback, 114 pages
Manny Bustos is an orphan on the streets of Juarez. He hopes to get to America where he has heard there is food, shelter, and opportunity. Robert is an American soldier who has seen too much death and goes to Juarez to drink himself into oblivion. The two meet on three different occasions, and their lives are dramatically altered. Although we never find out if Manny makes it across the border for sure, the implication is obvious. This book is serious in tone and more contemplative than action-oriented (until the final scene).
CMSW, paperback, 114 pages
Manny Bustos is an orphan on the streets of Juarez. He hopes to get to America where he has heard there is food, shelter, and opportunity. Robert is an American soldier who has seen too much death and goes to Juarez to drink himself into oblivion. The two meet on three different occasions, and their lives are dramatically altered. Although we never find out if Manny makes it across the border for sure, the implication is obvious. This book is serious in tone and more contemplative than action-oriented (until the final scene).
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