After Alice by Gregory Maguire
As is the norm with Mr. Maguire's books, he takes a famous story and tells it from another point of view. It's quite a racket for him. In this case, he took Lewis Carroll's book Alice in Wonderland and told it from the point of views of Alice's sister, Lydia, and Ada, a neighbor girl.
When told from Lydia's perspective, the reader sees what is going on in the real world. In this case, two little girls are missing, but it is chalked up to Alice being on one of her adventures and has taken Ada with her.
From Ada's perspective, we see a Wonderland very similar to the one we see in movies and such, except from a girl who is trying to find her friend. A girl who has no real friends, and is overlooked at home.
I was really looking forward to this book, but for the most part, I found it to be a bore. Nothing really original like his other books. This was just a girl encountering the same things Alice did, after Alice had already been there.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Saturday, December 26, 2015
The Book Behind a Holiday Classic
A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd
When I was growing up, A Christmas Story was one of my favorite movies. We had a bootleg copy of it that we watched nearly every time we went to my grandparents' house. To this day, my family watches it at least twice on Christmas day. So, when this book came up as a book I could get on my Kindle, I jumped on it.
While it was nice to see the background on some of the episodes that make up this classic movie, the book didn't have the same feeling for me that the movie does. Maybe because I have seen the movie hundreds of times, I don't know.
There were some differences, of course. One is that the bully in the book is Grover Dill and not Scut Farkas. Not a big deal, but picturing the character in the movie as the one Ralphie beats the tar out of instead of how it is portrayed in the movie just didn't work for me. Another difference is the Bumpuss hounds. They eat an Easter ham, not a Christmas turkey. Again, not a big deal.
Something I wish was included in the book was Flick getting his tongue stuck to the flagpole. I would have liked to have seen that in print. In fact, Flick and Schwartz didn't figure into the book too much. I mean, they don't figure into the movie a whole lot, but they are definitely more of a presence in the movie.
Am I glad I read this? Yes. It made a movie I love that much more special.
When I was growing up, A Christmas Story was one of my favorite movies. We had a bootleg copy of it that we watched nearly every time we went to my grandparents' house. To this day, my family watches it at least twice on Christmas day. So, when this book came up as a book I could get on my Kindle, I jumped on it.
While it was nice to see the background on some of the episodes that make up this classic movie, the book didn't have the same feeling for me that the movie does. Maybe because I have seen the movie hundreds of times, I don't know.
There were some differences, of course. One is that the bully in the book is Grover Dill and not Scut Farkas. Not a big deal, but picturing the character in the movie as the one Ralphie beats the tar out of instead of how it is portrayed in the movie just didn't work for me. Another difference is the Bumpuss hounds. They eat an Easter ham, not a Christmas turkey. Again, not a big deal.
Something I wish was included in the book was Flick getting his tongue stuck to the flagpole. I would have liked to have seen that in print. In fact, Flick and Schwartz didn't figure into the book too much. I mean, they don't figure into the movie a whole lot, but they are definitely more of a presence in the movie.
Am I glad I read this? Yes. It made a movie I love that much more special.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Gone Girl meets 13 Reasons Why
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten
The title I chose for this post is not one of my own original thoughts, but it is an apt description of this book.
June had a best friend named Delia, but in the last year, they grew apart for reasons it takes half the book to know. On the first day back at school after winter break, there is an announcement that Delia has died. Some digging/listening to gossip leads June to learn that Delia killed herself by burning herself in a shed. The problem is, June knows Delia was afraid of fire, and if she killed herself, that is the last way she would choose to go.
A day or so after her death, June goes to a memorial for Delia, where she meets Delia's boyfriend, Jeremiah. He believes someone killed Delia, and the two of them start poking around to see what they can find out. June finds out that her own boyfriend, Ryan, may have something to do with her death, or it could be the local drug dealer. All this happens in the first half of the book. Once you hit the halfway point, everything gets turned on its ear.
Some chapters are told in flashback so that the reader can get an idea of the relationship June and Delia had, and to provide some clues for June to reflect on as she searches for the truth of Delia's death. What she finds out though, she is wholly unprepared for.
The title I chose for this post is not one of my own original thoughts, but it is an apt description of this book.
June had a best friend named Delia, but in the last year, they grew apart for reasons it takes half the book to know. On the first day back at school after winter break, there is an announcement that Delia has died. Some digging/listening to gossip leads June to learn that Delia killed herself by burning herself in a shed. The problem is, June knows Delia was afraid of fire, and if she killed herself, that is the last way she would choose to go.
A day or so after her death, June goes to a memorial for Delia, where she meets Delia's boyfriend, Jeremiah. He believes someone killed Delia, and the two of them start poking around to see what they can find out. June finds out that her own boyfriend, Ryan, may have something to do with her death, or it could be the local drug dealer. All this happens in the first half of the book. Once you hit the halfway point, everything gets turned on its ear.
Some chapters are told in flashback so that the reader can get an idea of the relationship June and Delia had, and to provide some clues for June to reflect on as she searches for the truth of Delia's death. What she finds out though, she is wholly unprepared for.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Magic 8 Ball Helps
Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall
I bought this for two reasons. One-the cover is pleasant. Two-I enjoyed this author's first book.
This is a story about Jane, but it is also a story about Teo. Jane has a mother who doesn't understand that Jane has no desire to go to college, and sets Jane up to be an intern at the college where she works in an effort to force Jane to change her mind. Instead, Jane finds a job herself watching three little girls for the summer.
Teo is the older brother of the girls Jane is watching for the summer. He is a lifeguard with an insufferable best friend. He also is searching for his biological father. Over the course of the summer, Jane and Teo develop a crush on each other, and Jane decides to help Teo find his real father.
Things don't turn out quite the way Jane and Teo planned, but reading about their budding relationship was sweet.
I bought this for two reasons. One-the cover is pleasant. Two-I enjoyed this author's first book.
This is a story about Jane, but it is also a story about Teo. Jane has a mother who doesn't understand that Jane has no desire to go to college, and sets Jane up to be an intern at the college where she works in an effort to force Jane to change her mind. Instead, Jane finds a job herself watching three little girls for the summer.
Teo is the older brother of the girls Jane is watching for the summer. He is a lifeguard with an insufferable best friend. He also is searching for his biological father. Over the course of the summer, Jane and Teo develop a crush on each other, and Jane decides to help Teo find his real father.
Things don't turn out quite the way Jane and Teo planned, but reading about their budding relationship was sweet.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
TAYSHAS 4
We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist
Josh is a grown man looking back on the fact that he has never had a girlfriend. He wondered why, so he revisits a handful of "meaningful" relationships with girls in his life from age 13-his mid twenties. He came close several times, but just never had a girlfriend.
Josh was a pretty interesting character. He had cancer when he was young, and as a result, his left leg was amputated at the hip. He wore a prosthesis for most of his life, and got around just fine. One thing that was common about all the girls that he almost went out with was that none of them seemed bothered by his lack of an appendage. In fact, many seemed to like him more for it because it showed a determination that may have been lacking in other boys.
He was also homeschooled until high school, but didn't seem like the weird homeschool kids that always come to mind. He obeys his parents almost to a fault, which is admirable. On the whole, he was a neat character to read about, and it was kinda sad that he never had a girlfriend.
He does, by the way, figure out why things never worked out with the girls from his past, and that was an interesting take on things because it was so real.
Josh is a grown man looking back on the fact that he has never had a girlfriend. He wondered why, so he revisits a handful of "meaningful" relationships with girls in his life from age 13-his mid twenties. He came close several times, but just never had a girlfriend.
Josh was a pretty interesting character. He had cancer when he was young, and as a result, his left leg was amputated at the hip. He wore a prosthesis for most of his life, and got around just fine. One thing that was common about all the girls that he almost went out with was that none of them seemed bothered by his lack of an appendage. In fact, many seemed to like him more for it because it showed a determination that may have been lacking in other boys.
He was also homeschooled until high school, but didn't seem like the weird homeschool kids that always come to mind. He obeys his parents almost to a fault, which is admirable. On the whole, he was a neat character to read about, and it was kinda sad that he never had a girlfriend.
He does, by the way, figure out why things never worked out with the girls from his past, and that was an interesting take on things because it was so real.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
TAYSHAS 3
Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
Dumplin's real name is Willowdean. Her mother is a former beauty queen who can't seem to accept her daughter's size. Willowdean has a best friend who is practically perfect, and Will feels like she is being left behind.
One day, Will decides to sign up for the local beauty pageant. Her mother is against it, but Will wants to show that anyone can be a beauty queen. So, she enlists some drag queens to help her.
Along the way, she attracts the attention of two boys, loses and regains her best friend, and learns to value herself for who she is. Loved this.
Dumplin's real name is Willowdean. Her mother is a former beauty queen who can't seem to accept her daughter's size. Willowdean has a best friend who is practically perfect, and Will feels like she is being left behind.
One day, Will decides to sign up for the local beauty pageant. Her mother is against it, but Will wants to show that anyone can be a beauty queen. So, she enlists some drag queens to help her.
Along the way, she attracts the attention of two boys, loses and regains her best friend, and learns to value herself for who she is. Loved this.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
TAYSHAS 2
Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King
It's that time of year where I start reading the books on the TAYSHAS list so I can earn ducks, a shirt, and pizza.
Glory is graduating high school, but has no plans for her future. She worries that she doesn't have a future, that she is just like her mother, who killed herself when Glory was four. She has a self centered best friend, and on the day before graduation, she and Glory drink a dried up dead bat. After drinking the bat, they can see things when they look at other people. Glory mostly sees the future, which includes another civil war and world war IV. Ellie sees a bunch of naked people.
Over the course of the week that Glory is affected by the bat, she becomes closer to her father, finds herself, and discovers she is not like her mother. I enjoyed this book so much.
It's that time of year where I start reading the books on the TAYSHAS list so I can earn ducks, a shirt, and pizza.
Glory is graduating high school, but has no plans for her future. She worries that she doesn't have a future, that she is just like her mother, who killed herself when Glory was four. She has a self centered best friend, and on the day before graduation, she and Glory drink a dried up dead bat. After drinking the bat, they can see things when they look at other people. Glory mostly sees the future, which includes another civil war and world war IV. Ellie sees a bunch of naked people.
Over the course of the week that Glory is affected by the bat, she becomes closer to her father, finds herself, and discovers she is not like her mother. I enjoyed this book so much.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Fairy Tale Poetry
Poisoned Apples by Christine Heppermann
I ordered twelve copies of this for my classroom. One day, a student was reading it, and laughed aloud in class. She showed the poem she was reading to her tablemates, and it became a topic of conversation for several minutes. The poem that caused this sensation? "If Tampons Were For Guys." After seeing this, I knew I had to read these poems.
While that one particular was somewhat funny, most are not. They focus on the dark side of being a girl. Worrying about weight, what people think of us, being pretty, blemishes, etc. I liked these poems because they were more real than most of what we are forced to read in school, and I think that is why my students, the girls anyway, like these poems too.
I ordered twelve copies of this for my classroom. One day, a student was reading it, and laughed aloud in class. She showed the poem she was reading to her tablemates, and it became a topic of conversation for several minutes. The poem that caused this sensation? "If Tampons Were For Guys." After seeing this, I knew I had to read these poems.
While that one particular was somewhat funny, most are not. They focus on the dark side of being a girl. Worrying about weight, what people think of us, being pretty, blemishes, etc. I liked these poems because they were more real than most of what we are forced to read in school, and I think that is why my students, the girls anyway, like these poems too.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
A Delightful Ghost Story
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
We never actually know the name of the narrator, but she is a woman who gives hand jobs for a living, but has recently been moved up to aura reader/spiritualist. She enjoys reading ghost stories.
One day, a woman named Susan comes into the shop. She thinks something is wrong with her house, and tgat her stepson is crazy and dangerous. She asks the narrator to cleanse her house, but then weird things happen.
I enjoyed this novella. Ms. Flynn is the type of writer that you just can't get enough of her work. This will only take an hour or so of your time, but it is worth every second.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Not a Cult Classic
Awake by Natasha Preston
Much like another book of hers I read, this could greatly benefit from an editor. Too many misspellings for my taste.
Scarlett can't remember anything before the age of four. This bothered her, but not too terribly until she met her boyfriend, Noah. Then one day after being involved in a car accident, she starts remembering things. What she learns is that her parents aren't her biological parents. No, they used to be in a cult, but when they saw that Scarlett's parents were going to sacrifice her for their salvation, they kidnapped her.
And then there's Noah. He's not supposed to fall in love with Scarlett. He is supposed to get her to trust him so he can take her back to the cult that she narrowly escaped as a small child. He falls in love with her anyway, yet still takes her back to the cult.
Will Scarlett be sacrificed? You'll only know if you take the time to read the book.
Much like another book of hers I read, this could greatly benefit from an editor. Too many misspellings for my taste.
Scarlett can't remember anything before the age of four. This bothered her, but not too terribly until she met her boyfriend, Noah. Then one day after being involved in a car accident, she starts remembering things. What she learns is that her parents aren't her biological parents. No, they used to be in a cult, but when they saw that Scarlett's parents were going to sacrifice her for their salvation, they kidnapped her.
And then there's Noah. He's not supposed to fall in love with Scarlett. He is supposed to get her to trust him so he can take her back to the cult that she narrowly escaped as a small child. He falls in love with her anyway, yet still takes her back to the cult.
Will Scarlett be sacrificed? You'll only know if you take the time to read the book.
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