This WOULD have been a childhood favorite. If it had been written 30 years earlier. As it is, it's a wonderful, light-hearted, good spirited book thatThis WOULD have been a childhood favorite. If it had been written 30 years earlier. As it is, it's a wonderful, light-hearted, good spirited book that deserves to be read by children of all ages (including those in their 50's)
Yes, it's a kid's book, but it's a fast fun read and adults would be well advised to give it a read as well. While it has much the same allegorical feel as Holes, in some ways it avoids a few of the pitfalls of that book.
As with any good fiction, there's some truth hidden here in the story that we can all be reminded of from time to time. The presentation makes it a good choice for reluctant young male readers as well.
What I was hoping for in this book was a teen romance with a gay main character. A sort of Twilight for the same sex set. What I got was a major disapWhat I was hoping for in this book was a teen romance with a gay main character. A sort of Twilight for the same sex set. What I got was a major disappointment.
While Twilight has been roundly criticised for the inexpert quality of its writing, this book is much much worse. Where Twilight had characters that were three dimensional and likeable if at times annoying, the characters here are cardboard cutouts for the most part. Where Twilight's writing sometimes stumbled, here it was just plain confusing.
Twilight was told in first person from the point of view of a shy but self certain girl who explained how she was feeling. This book is none of that.
Here, it's told in third person omniscent with so much head hopping as to be incredibly confusing. Simple conventions (such as starting new paragraphs when changing speakers) are ignored to no great benefit and to much confusion. The author is reputed to be an award winning playwrite but he's not mastered the novel form at all. While it's readily apparent who's saying what on stage, in a book it must be made clear and here it was NOT.
I'm a veteren of seeking out gay content in a non-gay-friendly world. I once found and watched an early Greg Araki movie that was a VHS recording of a bootleg VHS recording and was ready, willing, and able to put aside the low technical qualities for a good story with a good message.
Here I wanted to see the love story play out so badly that I was willing to put up with some really bad writing, but all I got here was the low artistic quality with very little payoff.
And what's worse.... I think that the author thought he was being artistic. He deliberatly added obscurity. Just one example... There is a scene where the two protagonists have finally spent the night together and wake up together. Their diolugue about "wanna share a shower" is deliberatly intercut with narrative about a girl waking up outside and feeling the dew on her face.
All I really wanted was a chocolate chip cookie of a M/M teen vampire romance. What I got was under-developed, under-baked with far too few chocolate chip moments. No sweet gooey goodness just lumps of flour a bit of sugar, badly mixed and maybe a carob or two.
Another reviewer mentioned that we are briefly introduced to two characters in the protagonist's home town that suggest that his horrendous hometown life didn't have to be so lonely. Then his mom dies -- he reacts wierdly and we're off to England with the two sympathetic characters not mentioned again. One asks..."Why even bring them up all?"
I wish that the author would... develop his characters more. Pay attention to writing conventions so that his prose is more readable. Work on his storytelling and leave the artistic bits to more experienced writers.
I've read over 100 books this year and this was unfortunately one of the worst. Particularly in that the premise held so much promise. Lest this review be all negative let me say... the cover was nice ...more
After straying from the chronology of the first book in the first season, any subsequent Dexter books must be taken as an alternate reality timeline. After straying from the chronology of the first book in the first season, any subsequent Dexter books must be taken as an alternate reality timeline.
The printed Dexter is more mystical, darker and and more insane than the video Dexter and more addicted to alliteration and bad jokes. However, if the reader can get past that, these books do have a certain appeal. It's a look inside an irregular mind, and sometimes one can gain a fresh perception of things only by stepping outside the normal perspective.
In some ways the violence in the book was more graphic, or at least more terrible than that in the series and yet what bothered me the most was Dexter's recognizing the darkness in Rita's children, and his fantasy of nurturing it. I believe that most kids have the capacity to perform dark acts in unthinking moments but that with proper guidance a healthy sense of society's restrictions can be instilled. Where one draws the line between good and evil and right and wrong has always been problematic and somethimes a sense of shame can be healthy.
Dexter often professes that he doesn't feel "human" emotions but that's not entirely true. He does lack some moral constraints that most of us have and there are other "human" qualities that he seems baffled by, but what makes Dexter the kind of monster that we enjoy reading about is that he is human no matter how much he protests that fact.
If you like the series and can tolerate an alternative reality then you'll probably enjoy this book. ...more
Just as Robert Graves did in I, Claudius this story purports to be an autobigraphy as told by a roman emporer. While that worked well for Robert GraveJust as Robert Graves did in I, Claudius this story purports to be an autobigraphy as told by a roman emporer. While that worked well for Robert Graves, this effort is of a feebler nature. It felt episodic but without the dramatic highlights that the earlier series had.
While this does a workman-like job of presenting the historic facts there isn't a lot that makes us care very deeply for any of these characters. The novel does give one a sense of some of the events and issues of the day but it fails to be compelling.
I think that there's still room in the story for a better book with more character development and perhaps some dramatic invention to entertain us and leave us with a better image of Hadrian and Antinuous, just as Shakespeare's Julius Caesar left room for Showtimes ROME. I'm not suggesting that Shakespeare's tale was anything less than great, but a new fresh perspective can often add dramtaic details that the original didn't feature....more
This one finally made it to the top of my "to be read" stack, and while it was very dated, I''m glad that I finally read it.
The book centers on KevinThis one finally made it to the top of my "to be read" stack, and while it was very dated, I''m glad that I finally read it.
The book centers on Kevin, a young bohemian soul living on the other side of San Francisco Bay. He makes his "bread" by selling handcrafted belts on the boardwalk to tourists. His friends include Monica, a porno actress, Selina a self styled evangalist-girl and Mrs. Callin his astrology spouting landlady. When we first meet him he's daydreaming of inviting Monica and Selina over to hear his new "tape" of "bongo music" and then he meets Ace, an amoral, young man with a beautiful body and smile who acts but never thinks and who soon brings chaos and tragedy into this idyllic setting.
Though published in 1986 this book reeks of the late 60's and early 70's. In addition to references to bongos and the Bee Gees, and $10 rents, Kevin sleeps at his pad, chick's aren't his trip, and his dad is a drag since his older brother was killed in 'Nam.
In painting, there's a school of art called "american primitive" that deals with simple subjects painted in bold colors and a simple style that charms even the viewer accustomed to more sophisticated fare. This book is the literary equivelent of that.
It has moments that reminded me forcefully of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City but told in a more earnest if somewhat less sophisticated style. And while it's not really up to today's literary standards, it has it's charming moments (particularly of that era of easy casual sex before the advent of the AIDS crisis) and is a worthwhile read.
That is, if one can find it. The author appears to have created this one book and then vanished. Who knows? He may well have been a victim of that plague. ...more
Recently re-read this and liked it for what it is. However what it is is fantasy fulfillment. The 61 year old author writes of a 16 year old young manRecently re-read this and liked it for what it is. However what it is is fantasy fulfillment. The 61 year old author writes of a 16 year old young man who's fascinated with history and falls for a gay 35 year old scion of a city who reads much older than 35.
Kevin, the young man who has been restored to his mother along with his younger brother when she gets out of the hospital following a long stay for an alcohol related illness. Also on the scene is a new step father.
Kevin's younger brother is more streetwise than Kevin but Kevin catches up quickly as the two kids are pretty much unsupervised; the parents diving back into the bottles that have caused their problems.
Kevin explores his interests in the seedier side of life but quickly realizes that what he really wants is a parental influence.
There's NOT a lot of in-depth character development here and this will never be a great novel but it is an interesting artifact of the period in which such things were written. ...more
I'd never read this classic and ordered the unabridged audio book in hopes that this would make it less painful to fill one of the holes in my classicI'd never read this classic and ordered the unabridged audio book in hopes that this would make it less painful to fill one of the holes in my classical education.
It Didn't.
This author's prose is so complex and convoluted that having to listen to it means REALLY having to listen. I'm now convinced that the print version would have been more appropriate. Not only is it easier in print to mark one's place and set the work aside but it would be satisfying to throw this tome against the wall a time or two.
The story has some redeeming aspects (it's probably one of America's earliest psychological thrillers) but the language is so dated (Thitherto?) that it's a chore to get through this and the poor reader of this audio version does an OK job but does ocassionally lose the meaning of the sub sub sub clauses.
Any high school or middle school English teacher that still assigns this as required should be brought up on charges of crimes against humanity. It would drive any reluctant reader to not only swear off reading altogether but might drive some to the Oedipal lengths of gouging one's eyes out with broaches.
As I listened to this and gazed at one of the Harry Potter novels on my shelf it occured to me... Why give Harry Potter a blood letting quill... just have him transcribe this swill!"
And a further trial in the audio version... all the world knows the heroine herein as Hester Prynne (rhymes with SIN.) However, the reader of this audiobook version insists on calling her Hester Prynne (rhymes with FINE.)
Though the setting is antique this was released only one year before Moby Dick and yet it reads as awkwardly as if it were written a century before.
I've heard it said that one of the main reasons that Franklin Pierce got elected President was that he was good buddies with Hawthorne and Hawthorne actually wrote his biography. If was anything like the prose here, one wonders "how could that have helped?"
Finally Hawthorne provides the best words to critique his work when he describes the book that sent poor Dimsdale to dreamland in one of the books crucial scenes... "A Work of vast ability in the somniferous school of literature."
I grew up in a farm community and while I didn't live on a farm, most of those that I grew up with raised livestock that was then slaughtered for foodI grew up in a farm community and while I didn't live on a farm, most of those that I grew up with raised livestock that was then slaughtered for food. I've always wondered how they stood it.
In this book Jody loves hunting, loves the various foods that his family gleens from the Florida backwoods but hates the actual killing. When he adopts a fawn it's clear and inevitable what's coming but Jody, with the innocence of a child lives in the now and can't forsee the outcome. This story won a Pulitzer, not because its the story of one boy losing one deer, it's the story of us all losing that innocence. As Edna St. Vincent Millay said "Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies." and we all must lose that childhood.
That said, this story is not for everyone. the thick cracker dialogue sometimes requires some work to understand. The pace is placid and it takes over 400 pages to conclude this story though there are some funny and charming spots along the way for those than can relax and enjoy the journey. This book is definately not for the "Are we there yet?" crowd.
I've said of some of my favorite books that I re-read them, not because I like the story but because I enjoy spending time with the characters in their setting. I did enjoy these characters and this setting, but I don't think that I'll be feeling the need to visit them again real soon. ...more
I recently encountered the television series and was curious about the book series that spawned it. The TV series in some ways improves on the books. I recently encountered the television series and was curious about the book series that spawned it. The TV series in some ways improves on the books. Both are wholesome and good family fare.
For decades I've accepted the stereotype that adolescent girls are attracted to horses because they're big and powerful and somewhat threatening but with care and training they can be loving beasts... unlike the other beasts that fascinate girls of that age, teenaged boys. I feel that this book doesn't cater to the stereotype but does fulfill it.
This is not a series that I imagine has much appeal to teen boys, but I found this one interesting. I probably would read another in the series in a pinch but probably won't go looking for them. I think that they somehow lack something that makes them truly entrhralling. The characters lacked a level of development that made them feel as real as they might have. As someone who's read a lot of fiction that's been redeveloped on the screen, this one felt more like a tie-in book than as a source book that spawned a series....more
Three stars isn't enough so I'm giving this four but under protest.
What's with this woman? While the story itself is good and the premise is great, tThree stars isn't enough so I'm giving this four but under protest.
What's with this woman? While the story itself is good and the premise is great, the beginning and the ending will give you whiplash.
The first chapter is confusing. It's unclear what's happened and it takes the reader a while to catch up and to forgive the author for this somewhat "Graceless" way of starting a story about a girl named Grace.
But the characters are likeable, the storyline draws you in and finally you reach the denouement and its plotus interruptis! This was a paranormal teen romance so we reached the last chapter pretty much expecting a sappy happy romantic ending (which we get sort of) but the author couldn't be bothered to fully write it. The happy ending has to go on for a BIT longer. This was like watching someone build a wonderful banana split, garnish it lovingly with whipped cream and position the cherry just so, only to turn and drop it on the floor just before serving it. Has this woman never heard of afterglow? No it's just Wham Bam Good night Sam!
All the same, the story was engaging and I'll read the second one but this writer should learn to be kinder to her characters AND to her readers.
BTW... Jack deserved better than he got as well....more
The bones in this title refer to the framework, the structure and strength that is family life and while a meditation on death, this book is more an aThe bones in this title refer to the framework, the structure and strength that is family life and while a meditation on death, this book is more an affirmation of life and the strength that ordinary people have to heal, even from extraordinary tragedies.
While this book is an amazing work, it's NOT for everyone. People handle death and loss in different ways and some people will find that this book trivializes death and the afterlife. Others will find it a powerful allegory with a healing message.
I think that it's a bit like those scary but magical creatures that we see in the later Harry Potter movies that can only be seen by people who have seen death. There are truths in this world that few people will be able to see and/or understand without having experienced a tragedy first hand.
While I generally shy away from relentlessly sad books, I'd seen the movie that was made from this and found that there was a life affirming message that I wanted to read more of. As is almost always the case, the book has a slower pace and can examine in greater depth some things that a movie can only touch on.
While the movie that was made from this was very faithful to the spirit of the book, fans of the movie can still gleen some gold from the book that never made it into the film.
I think that subjects like this are healthy when absorbed in moderation. I sometimes wonder if there's an emotional equivelent of endorphines. They say that when you exercise and break down muscle, Endorphines are released and that the breakdown is necessary to gain greater strength. I'm wondering if some grief or trauma isn't necessary to gain wisdom and a book like this is the soul's equivelent of a work out.
Read it. Pondering the issues it raises will be good for you. ...more
Another great installment in a stellar series. As always its a pleasure to spend some time in medieval England during the Civil War between King StephAnother great installment in a stellar series. As always its a pleasure to spend some time in medieval England during the Civil War between King Stephen and his Cousin Maude.
This time Shrewsbury's resident priest has died and Abbot Radolfus brings a new appointee direct from the retinue of Bishop Henry. When the man quickly alienates most of his parishioners and is then found dead on Christmas morning. Cadfael and Berringer must discover if it was murder and if so who the perpetrator was.
This was adapted for TV as part of the Cadfael programs but it diverged so widely from the book that it was pretty much a fresh new mystery. Again, the written characters are more well developed and eminently more likeable than their screen counterparts and there were characters in the TV episode that make no appearance in the book.
This ones worth a read whether you've seen the TV episode or not. And since they are so different they can both be enjoyed....more
I've loved the movie for years but never read the book until now. The movie was a loving, faithful adaptation that really brought life to the characteI've loved the movie for years but never read the book until now. The movie was a loving, faithful adaptation that really brought life to the characters and the situations, but of course, the book had the chance to delve a little deeper, present more complex characters and even included a few characters and words and situations that were completely missing from the movie.
I'm glad to have finally met some of Atticus's siblings but I can well see why they were left out of the cinematic version. The film makers were already juggling a lot of characters for the typical length of a movie.
One thing about the book that puzzled me was the fire at Miss Maudie's, while it gave Boo another chance to make an appearance it seemed somehow under-utilized, even in print. Fire is such a powerful symbol in most events and here it was almost incidental. I'm not surprised that it was left out of the movie.
Mr. Dolphus Raymond was a great character but I can see why he was left out. He made the story longer, and would have been VERY controversial even among the enlightened.
The movie also made it seem that the events took place over more compressed time-frame.
If you loved the movie, read the book!. If you loved the book, see the movie. If you've tried both and liked neither... Why am I talking to you? ...more
This novel is the tenth installment in the Cadfael series and like many of the others was adapted for television.
While the story here revolves aroundThis novel is the tenth installment in the Cadfael series and like many of the others was adapted for television.
While the story here revolves around a Holy Day in Shrewsbury in honor of their Saint Winifred, the book pulls together threads from several of it's precursors. Hugh Berringer is finally let in on the secret of St Winifred as we learned it in A Morbid Taste for Bones and he meets, Olivier de Bretaigne, the mysterious dark woodsman who wore a sword in The Virgin in the Ice
While I found these the hilights of the book, they were left out of the TV adaptation which concentrated more on a theme of vengeance and vain self imposed suffering.
While the TV episode was watchable it was a bit muddled in spots and I looked forward to the book clearing up those aspects. However it didn't because the aspects in question had been inserted (and apparently not completely thought out) for television consumption.
I also object to the meaner, more worldly, more dishonest aspect that the TV characters were given, particularly the role of Ruhl a young lame boy who comes to the Holy Day to be cured of his lameness.
Whether or not you saw and enjoyed the television series, I recommend the book. It's a pleasure to spend a bit of time in Merry Old England even at the time of civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Maude. Cadfael and Berringer make amiable companions and Abbot Adolfous is as always a pleasure. Even Brother Jerome and Prior Robert are somewhat muted in this one. ...more
Trying to add a bit of fiber to my reading diet, too much teen romance may rot my teeth. I found this one sweet enough to be suspect though.
It has thTrying to add a bit of fiber to my reading diet, too much teen romance may rot my teeth. I found this one sweet enough to be suspect though.
It has that sad whimsy that says John Steinbeck to me and it's a fast read that's probably good for you. In some ways the pearl that Kino finds reminded me of Frodo's ring. Even down to the fugitives hiding from a dark rider!
Mexico has had a sad history and not all of that sorrow has yet been exorcised. This story gives a flavor of that. It's by turns fanciful and touching, sad and heartwarming. Yet, it's not a happy tale and the morose quality that permeates these poverty-stricken lives must make this an unappealing read for many that are forced to read it.
I see that this book is on the listopia list "Read These In School - Would Have Preferred A Root Canal" personally, I disagree. This book is not painful as much as mildly depressing, and at only 82 pages, reading it was probably quicker than my last root canal.
If nothing else, this book reminded me that I need to read The Milagro Beanfield War. The movie was good and it has some of the same feel as this book. ...more
I read this based on the reviews of other goodreads reviewers that I trusted. I enjoyed it. It's a light frothy rom-com of a novel and its fun to spenI read this based on the reviews of other goodreads reviewers that I trusted. I enjoyed it. It's a light frothy rom-com of a novel and its fun to spend time in these character's company.
This is not great literature, but as a beach read it's great. This is definately a chick flick of a book and many guys that I know will not really enjoy it but still, it can be fun if you're in the right frame of mind.
Personally, There are times, I'd like an Eli of my own. ...more
I was in the mood for a light rom/com style book and this one fit the bill nicely. The plotline initially caught my attention because it reminded me oI was in the mood for a light rom/com style book and this one fit the bill nicely. The plotline initially caught my attention because it reminded me of those 70's movies about large catholic families (Your, Mine and Ours, With Six you get Eggroll, etc)
In this case only child, Megan Meade is an army brat who's lived around the globe with her military parents but Korea is just "One Bridge Too Far." She rebels and her parents agree to let her stay in the States if she'll stay with friends of her folks who have seven sons.
For a girl who has previously been too shy to kindle a relationship with the boys she crushes, on, learning to live in a household with that much testosterone, and that much male pulchritude is a challenge.
The novel is fast paced, with just the right amount of teen snarkiness. The brothers are all pretty well distinguished, Megan is likeable and her ordeal is one that both guys and girls will find interesting.
I would recomend this as a good, light, fun read. ...more
I was in the mood for a romance and this one was the perfect choice.
Alex is the perfect bad boy love interest. He's smart, he's sexy, he's troubled aI was in the mood for a romance and this one was the perfect choice.
Alex is the perfect bad boy love interest. He's smart, he's sexy, he's troubled and yet he loves his little brothers and he wants to be reformed.
Brittany is the too perfect queen of the school with troubles of her own that she tries to keep secret. Her love for her disabled older sister gives her a depth that most teen heroines lack. And yet, the reader feels that a world wise partner could help her solve many of her worst problems.
The two immediately hate each other. What couple that is destined to be together hasn't started out that way? Talk about Perfect Chemistry!
The writing is good, clear, and evocative. The workman-like prose gets the story across and yet manages to stay out of its own way. (Unlike a certain SM that created the last "perfect couple" that grabbed me like this)
While this couple is as star-crossed as that R&J couple, there is the promise of a potential happy ending if only the very real troubles (and their egos) can be overcome. One really likes and quickly cares about these teens. Unlike the R&J couple, there are no timeless speeches or turns of phrase that will live forever but there are some very real emotions and let's face it Alex is sexy in a way that Romeo can only dream of being.
I'm certain that this book is not everyone's cup of tea but for someone whose inner child is sometimes a 13 year old fat girl. This story was a perfect diversion. ...more
Paul Turner is a Chicago Police homicide detective. He's also a widower, a father of two teen-aged boys, and gay man who never seems to have enough tiPaul Turner is a Chicago Police homicide detective. He's also a widower, a father of two teen-aged boys, and gay man who never seems to have enough time to spend with the man he loves... Now if only this city of broad shoulders would return to just being hog-butcher of the world, Paul could spend some time sorting out his life instead of the murders that keep him busy.
This time when two teenaged athletes go missing and turn up dead, Paul and his partner are handed the case. Now he's faced with wealthy, powerful parents, one of whom is a famous and beloved Chicago area coach, a pack of press chomping at the bit for a goos story, and precious little to go on.
This is an interesting spin on the traditional detective story and the additional facets of being a father to two teenaged boys, about the same age as the victims in the case makes for an interesting tale. While this is the third in a series of books, this is the first that I've encountered and I enjoyed it though it was heavier on police procedure and felt a bit more like an episode of Law & Order than something from the casebooks. Marple or Poirot. Still a good fast paced yarn and well written enough that I'll be checking out the other books in the series....more
Having seen the movie and hearing about the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson playing the title role, I had still never read the book. I saw this copHaving seen the movie and hearing about the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson playing the title role, I had still never read the book. I saw this copy on a clearance table at Haslam's Bookstore and the 75 cent price appealed to me. It was also somehow fitting that this copy had a scarred front cover.
The story deals with a teen-aged guy in an otherwise all female household who's looking to escape to a boarding school but he's tanked the entrance exams and when the family goes to a coastal town in New England for the summer he ends up enlisting the aid of a mysterious local nicknamed "The Grouch" to aid him in preparing for a retest. The Grouch has horrible facial burns from some nebulous accident in the past and is a bit of a hermit and a misanthrope who prefers the isolation of his cliffside house, his horse and his ferocious dog.
The boy is a loner himself and a bit of a misogynist but he and his reluctant tutor begin to form a band and a friendship. The novel is set firmly in the 70's with the parents suffering from the pop psychology of the time and the kid thinking in terms such as "ratfink" but otherwise the story is pretty timeless.
Though a loner, the kid is charming and we grow to like and understand him through the course of the tale. As we learn more about Justin, the man without a face, we also understand him. Given the era in which it was written the climactic scenes of the story are necessarily a little vague and much of what Gibson was criticized for was really the same in the book.
As it is, this is an interesting and compelling coming of age story, and perhaps a coming-out story though that's far from clear. Either way, it is a worthwhile read.
BTW... I'm not sure if it's coincidence or serendipity but as I started reading this I was listening to a TV rebroadcast of the Joseph Campbell/Bill Moyers talks. The Hero With a Thousand Faces meets The Man Without a Face it made for some interesting conjecture....more
Loading...
