Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones- sequels to Howl's Moving Castle. These were fun and entertaining overall. I was disappointed Howl and Sophie weren't the main characters and only featured in these tales, but you do still find out more about their lives together, and the books were good. Thumbs UP.
Crown Duel and Court Duel by Sherwood Smith- About a brother and sister who promise their dying father they will do all they can to overthrow the king, protect their lands from being taken or destroyed by the king, and one of them then ruling the country. These are told from the perspective of the sister. Okay stories. These don't fall into the predictable story mold of either of them becoming king or queen, but I can't decide if it was intentional or the story ran away from the author. But I did enjoy them. Thumbs UP.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (greek gods not athletes) 5 book series by Rick Riordan-- Because I'm #230 something for the last book I'll go ahead and review this series without knowing how everything turns out. Percy thinks he's a normal boy until he discovers his father is really Poseidon. Then he has to go to demi-god camp to learn about the new world that he must now join to protect himself. In each book he either goes on a quest or helps a friend with a quest to save the world from Kronos, the father of Zeus and the other gods, who was banished by Zeus long ago, but is now trying to take over again. Not being very familiar with greek gods didn't stop my enjoyment of these books, but I suspect more knowledge would help a reader pick up foreshadowing, etc. And there is an overall prohpecy involving Percy and other kids who are illegitimate children of the 3 big gods, Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon, that ties all the books together. The whole "illegitimate children" thing isn't "in your face," though Percy does deal with emotional issues about being abandoned by his dad, and not seeing or getting to talk with his dad much. Thmubs UP
Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde- love these and will probably blog more about them in future, but must now rescue Jolie from "crib of death" or so she probably thinks it is.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
My Guilty Pleasures
. . . in the book world, that is.
I have been enjoying a NPR series this summer called My Guilty Pleasure- authors confess their literary (or not so literary) book loves. So I was thinking about myself, and what books would be my guilty pleasure, and I realized I'm addicted to Young Adult and Juvenile literature. Sometimes these books are Newberry books or they have won some other book award, but a lot of the time its just something I pick up that looks interesting. They are books I can read in a couple hours, enjoy for that time, and then move on. I don't plan on using these books for our home school, or even recommending them to other people, but I like them while I read them and then I'm done with them. A lot of the time these are like adult books, but with a PG or PG-13 raiting- romance novels without the sex scenes, adventure/war novels without the graphic violence, controversial themes without being personal, very little swearing, and so on. However, all this also makes these hard to review for this blog. I don't have a lot to say about them.
Recent reads:
Crown Duel and Court Duel by Sherwood Smith
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman- Newberry Honor book, other books by Cushman that I have liked- The Midwife's Apprentice (Newberry Medal in 1996) and Matilda Bone. Rodzina also looks interesting.
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan- this book is about a homeschool family and I've read it over and over. Its also a Newberry Honor book.
And some other favorites that I read over and over because I love them so much, not because some stranger out there has declared they are of great literary value--
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books by JRR Tolkien
Chronicles of Narnia books by CS Lewis
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
Jane Austen's novels- Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Lady Susan.
Modern remakes of Jane Austen's novels- Pride, Prejudice & Jasmine Fields byMelissa Nathan is one I have and reread all the time. I just noticed Nathan has also written one call Persuading Annie which I'd like to read, as well as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies recommended by Jesse. Be careful with these modern remakes because some are R-rated or soft porn. Its a scary book world out there sometimes, and I don't mean the zombies.
So, what are your guilty pleasures?
I have been enjoying a NPR series this summer called My Guilty Pleasure- authors confess their literary (or not so literary) book loves. So I was thinking about myself, and what books would be my guilty pleasure, and I realized I'm addicted to Young Adult and Juvenile literature. Sometimes these books are Newberry books or they have won some other book award, but a lot of the time its just something I pick up that looks interesting. They are books I can read in a couple hours, enjoy for that time, and then move on. I don't plan on using these books for our home school, or even recommending them to other people, but I like them while I read them and then I'm done with them. A lot of the time these are like adult books, but with a PG or PG-13 raiting- romance novels without the sex scenes, adventure/war novels without the graphic violence, controversial themes without being personal, very little swearing, and so on. However, all this also makes these hard to review for this blog. I don't have a lot to say about them.
Recent reads:
Crown Duel and Court Duel by Sherwood Smith
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman- Newberry Honor book, other books by Cushman that I have liked- The Midwife's Apprentice (Newberry Medal in 1996) and Matilda Bone. Rodzina also looks interesting.
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan- this book is about a homeschool family and I've read it over and over. Its also a Newberry Honor book.
And some other favorites that I read over and over because I love them so much, not because some stranger out there has declared they are of great literary value--
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books by JRR Tolkien
Chronicles of Narnia books by CS Lewis
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
Jane Austen's novels- Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Lady Susan.
Modern remakes of Jane Austen's novels- Pride, Prejudice & Jasmine Fields byMelissa Nathan is one I have and reread all the time. I just noticed Nathan has also written one call Persuading Annie which I'd like to read, as well as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies recommended by Jesse. Be careful with these modern remakes because some are R-rated or soft porn. Its a scary book world out there sometimes, and I don't mean the zombies.
So, what are your guilty pleasures?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
More on Howl's Moving Castle
I stumbled upon the Wikipedia page for this book, and thought it was very interesting. I liked the section on hints given to Sophie about Calcifer and Howl's curse, as well as the section on the characters and timeline.
Wikipedia- Howl's Moving Castle (book)
I was hoping to find that there were more Howl books out there, but I guess House of Many Ways came out just last year. I guess I'll give some of Diana Wynne Jones' other books a try.
Wikipedia- Howl's Moving Castle (book)
I was hoping to find that there were more Howl books out there, but I guess House of Many Ways came out just last year. I guess I'll give some of Diana Wynne Jones' other books a try.
More Peter Pan
Another favorite part of Peter Pan:
The wretched prisoners were dragged from the hold, all except Wendy, and ranged in a line in front of him (Hook). For a time he seemed unconscious of their presence. He lolled at his ease, humming, not unmelodiously, snatches of a rude song, and fingering a pack of cards. Ever and anon the light from his cigar gave a touch of colour to his face.
"Now them, bullies," he said briskly, "six of you walk the plank to-night, but I have room for two cabin boys. Which of you is it to be?"
"Don't irritate him unnecessarily," had been Wendy's instructions in the hold; so Tootles stepped forward politely. Tootles hated the idea of signing under such a man, but an instinct told him that it would be prudent to lay the responsibility on an absent person; and though a somewhat silly boy, he knew that mothers alone are always willing to be the buffer. All children know this about mothers, and despise them for it, but make constant use of it.
So Tootles explained prudently, "You see, sir, I don't think my mother would like me to be a pirate. Would your mother like you to be a pirate, Slightly?"
He winked at Slightly, who said mournfully, "I don't think so," as if he wished things had been otherwise. "Would your mother like you to be a pirate, Twin?"
"I don't think so," said the first twin, as clever as the others. "Nibs, would--"
"Stow this gab," roared Hook, and the spokesman were dragged back. . . .
The wretched prisoners were dragged from the hold, all except Wendy, and ranged in a line in front of him (Hook). For a time he seemed unconscious of their presence. He lolled at his ease, humming, not unmelodiously, snatches of a rude song, and fingering a pack of cards. Ever and anon the light from his cigar gave a touch of colour to his face.
"Now them, bullies," he said briskly, "six of you walk the plank to-night, but I have room for two cabin boys. Which of you is it to be?"
"Don't irritate him unnecessarily," had been Wendy's instructions in the hold; so Tootles stepped forward politely. Tootles hated the idea of signing under such a man, but an instinct told him that it would be prudent to lay the responsibility on an absent person; and though a somewhat silly boy, he knew that mothers alone are always willing to be the buffer. All children know this about mothers, and despise them for it, but make constant use of it.
So Tootles explained prudently, "You see, sir, I don't think my mother would like me to be a pirate. Would your mother like you to be a pirate, Slightly?"
He winked at Slightly, who said mournfully, "I don't think so," as if he wished things had been otherwise. "Would your mother like you to be a pirate, Twin?"
"I don't think so," said the first twin, as clever as the others. "Nibs, would--"
"Stow this gab," roared Hook, and the spokesman were dragged back. . . .
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Peter Pan is Correct!!
See? it wasn't even a little bit hard. I could say Keshia had an unfair advantage as she listened to it with us in our car this past weekend, but as Jesse points out "captain" and "codfish" can only mean one guy! Here is the scene:
"Spirit that haunts this dark lagoon to-night," he cried, "dost hear me?"
Of course Peter should have kept quiet, but of course he did not. He immediately answered in Hook's voice:
"Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, I hear you."
In that supreme moment Hook did not blanch, even at the gills, but Smee and Starkey clung to each other in terror.
"Who are you, stranger, speak?" Hook demanded.
"I am James Hook," replied the voice, "captain of the Jolly Roger."
"You are not; you are not," Hook cried hoarsely.
"Brimstone and gall," the voice returned, "say that again, and I'll cast anchor in you."
Hook tried a more ingratiating manner. "If you are Hook," he said almost humbly, "come tell me, who am I?"
"A codfish," replied the voice, "only a codfish."
"A codfish!" Hook echoed blankly, and it was then, but not till then, that his proud spirit broke. He saw his men draw back from him.
"Have we been captained all this time by a codfish!" they muttered. "It is lowering to our pride."
They were his dogs snapping at him, but, tragic figure though he had become, he scarcely heeded them. Against such fearful evidence it was not their belief in him that he needed, it was his own. He felt his ego slipping from him. "Don't desert me, bully," he whispered hoarsely to it. . . .
I love Peter Pan. It is such fun listening to it again.
"Spirit that haunts this dark lagoon to-night," he cried, "dost hear me?"
Of course Peter should have kept quiet, but of course he did not. He immediately answered in Hook's voice:
"Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, I hear you."
In that supreme moment Hook did not blanch, even at the gills, but Smee and Starkey clung to each other in terror.
"Who are you, stranger, speak?" Hook demanded.
"I am James Hook," replied the voice, "captain of the Jolly Roger."
"You are not; you are not," Hook cried hoarsely.
"Brimstone and gall," the voice returned, "say that again, and I'll cast anchor in you."
Hook tried a more ingratiating manner. "If you are Hook," he said almost humbly, "come tell me, who am I?"
"A codfish," replied the voice, "only a codfish."
"A codfish!" Hook echoed blankly, and it was then, but not till then, that his proud spirit broke. He saw his men draw back from him.
"Have we been captained all this time by a codfish!" they muttered. "It is lowering to our pride."
They were his dogs snapping at him, but, tragic figure though he had become, he scarcely heeded them. Against such fearful evidence it was not their belief in him that he needed, it was his own. He felt his ego slipping from him. "Don't desert me, bully," he whispered hoarsely to it. . . .
I love Peter Pan. It is such fun listening to it again.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Can you guess?
I'm going to try something new-- As I was reading today I read a line in my book that made me laugh, and I decided I would like to share it with my readers, BUT there is a catch!! I want you to guess what book this comes from!! You are probably thinking this will be hard, but I think you can guess this even if you haven't read the book-- its should seem pretty familiar. In fact, I would guess everyone has seen some version of the movie or play, even though this line isn't in any that I remember.
Here it is:
"Have we been captained all this time by a codfish!" they muttered. "It is lowering to our pride."
Sooooooo, in a week or so, or if someone guesses correctly, I will come back with the answer, and probably type out a good part of the scene. I'll see if this becomes a new series of blogs for me or not, but it will be interesting to see what happens anyways.
Here it is:
"Have we been captained all this time by a codfish!" they muttered. "It is lowering to our pride."
Sooooooo, in a week or so, or if someone guesses correctly, I will come back with the answer, and probably type out a good part of the scene. I'll see if this becomes a new series of blogs for me or not, but it will be interesting to see what happens anyways.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
First, our family loves Hayao Miyazaki's movies- I was first introduced to Hayao Miyazaki in my high school Japanese class with My Friend Totoro. It was a little hard to get what was going on because it was in japanese for class, obviously. Then a while ago (10 years or so?) Pixar and Disney started translating the movies into English and its so awesome!
Our Family Favorites: Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Porco Rosso, The Cat Returns, Castle in the Sky, My Friend Totoro (the dakota and elle fanning version is the best, but we've had a hard time getting it--netflix employees don't realize there are two different versions so you might get the older version, which is still good), and Kiki's Delivery Service.
And there are a couple we haven't let the kids watch, but Kurt and I love: Lupin the 3rd: Castle of Cagliostro (there are tons of Lupin the 3rd movies, but this is the only one Hayao Miyazaki was a part of) and Princess Mononoke.
And Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea was released in Japan in 2008 but hasn't been released in the US yet.
Get them, watch them, love them-- enough said. (Note to reader- yes they are all a little weird, quirky, whatever, they are still fabulous)
Anyways, this brings me to the Second part of my post-- The totally great, awesome, fabulous, delightful, enchanting, non-stop action book Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I have been in a reading slump the last few months, but I have been snapped out of it by this wonderful book (and a couple other new series I'm in the middle of reading and will post about when I'm done). The movie is an excellent adaptation as far as those go, but the book has so much more to the story, characters, and my own enjoyment. PLUS, there are more Howl books by Jones, which means my hold list at the library is now full. My only warning is that you can't go into this book thinking about it seriously- its not going to have complete character development or describe everything down to the last detailed speck in the corner. Don't analyze it-- ENJOY IT!!
Our Family Favorites: Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Porco Rosso, The Cat Returns, Castle in the Sky, My Friend Totoro (the dakota and elle fanning version is the best, but we've had a hard time getting it--netflix employees don't realize there are two different versions so you might get the older version, which is still good), and Kiki's Delivery Service.
And there are a couple we haven't let the kids watch, but Kurt and I love: Lupin the 3rd: Castle of Cagliostro (there are tons of Lupin the 3rd movies, but this is the only one Hayao Miyazaki was a part of) and Princess Mononoke.
And Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea was released in Japan in 2008 but hasn't been released in the US yet.
Get them, watch them, love them-- enough said. (Note to reader- yes they are all a little weird, quirky, whatever, they are still fabulous)
Anyways, this brings me to the Second part of my post-- The totally great, awesome, fabulous, delightful, enchanting, non-stop action book Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I have been in a reading slump the last few months, but I have been snapped out of it by this wonderful book (and a couple other new series I'm in the middle of reading and will post about when I'm done). The movie is an excellent adaptation as far as those go, but the book has so much more to the story, characters, and my own enjoyment. PLUS, there are more Howl books by Jones, which means my hold list at the library is now full. My only warning is that you can't go into this book thinking about it seriously- its not going to have complete character development or describe everything down to the last detailed speck in the corner. Don't analyze it-- ENJOY IT!!
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