Author(s): Samuel Beckett
Title: Waiting for Godot
Publication: Paperback
Pages:
Genre: Drama, tragicomedy, theatre of the absurd
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: April 27, 2011
Rating:
Another work read, another re-read, and another top read.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
38.
Author(s): Audrey Couloumbis
Title: The Misadventures of Maude March
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 290
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Acquisition: Work Text - Yang Academy, 5th-grade
Date Completed: April 22, 2011
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
After the death of their parents, young sisters Sallie and Maude March are raised by their no-nonsense, tough-as-nails Aunt Ruthie, from whom they learn hard work and important life skills, like how to shoot a gun. However, when Sallie is 11 and Maude is 15 Aunt Ruthie is killed by a wild bullet walking away from the general store, and the girls are left alone in the world. Though they are determined to make the best of things, the March sisters soon find themselves in a disagreeable situation, as their temporary guardians attempt to force Maude to marry a much older man. Seeing no other solution, the girls set out in the middle of the night to find their one living relative - their mysterious Uncle Arlen.
A serious of mishaps and mistakes lead to a newspaper trail following the girls, naming Maude a horse thief, bank robber, and murderer, all before they reach their final destination.
Despite the bloodshed, The Misadventures of Maude March is a delightful and up-beat Western novel for young readers. Couloumbis has created two likable and realistic characters that will be easy for readers to relate to, and they provide wonderful examples of determination and strength of character as they work through a series of hardships. Sallie's narrative voice is consistent with her age and situation, without talking down to the intended readership. The Misadventures of Maude March is proving to be a fun way to introduce different genres to my fifth-grade student, and I would certainly recommend it to others.
Author(s): Audrey Couloumbis
Title: The Misadventures of Maude March
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 290
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Acquisition: Work Text - Yang Academy, 5th-grade
Date Completed: April 22, 2011
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
After the death of their parents, young sisters Sallie and Maude March are raised by their no-nonsense, tough-as-nails Aunt Ruthie, from whom they learn hard work and important life skills, like how to shoot a gun. However, when Sallie is 11 and Maude is 15 Aunt Ruthie is killed by a wild bullet walking away from the general store, and the girls are left alone in the world. Though they are determined to make the best of things, the March sisters soon find themselves in a disagreeable situation, as their temporary guardians attempt to force Maude to marry a much older man. Seeing no other solution, the girls set out in the middle of the night to find their one living relative - their mysterious Uncle Arlen.
A serious of mishaps and mistakes lead to a newspaper trail following the girls, naming Maude a horse thief, bank robber, and murderer, all before they reach their final destination.
Despite the bloodshed, The Misadventures of Maude March is a delightful and up-beat Western novel for young readers. Couloumbis has created two likable and realistic characters that will be easy for readers to relate to, and they provide wonderful examples of determination and strength of character as they work through a series of hardships. Sallie's narrative voice is consistent with her age and situation, without talking down to the intended readership. The Misadventures of Maude March is proving to be a fun way to introduce different genres to my fifth-grade student, and I would certainly recommend it to others.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
36. 
Author(s): Victoria Thompson
Title: Murder on Bank Street
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 14, 2011
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
The title of Victoria Thompson's Murder on Bank Street is misleading, as it does not present a murder in Sarah Brandt's neighborhood; nor does it present a new murder at all. This particular volume delivers on the subplots that have been building in recent books, and focuses entirely on the case of Dr. Brandt's murder, which occurs four years prior to the story itself.
Although Malloy is appointed head of the investigation, he quickly realizes that he is greatly limited by his resources and position, and begrudgingly accepts nearly any help that's offered - even when it comes in the unlikely form of Sarah Brandt's nursemaid, Maeve.
The primary plot of the novel is an investigation of the cold case, but what I enjoyed most about this particular narrative was Thompson's willingness to set aside her typical protagonists and develop secondary characters. In Murder on Bank Street Maeve becomes a round character, and her personality really carries the mystery through. The final twist is actually not one I expected, and I was thrilled with the conclusion.
Author(s): Victoria Thompson
Title: Murder on Bank Street
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 14, 2011
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
The title of Victoria Thompson's Murder on Bank Street is misleading, as it does not present a murder in Sarah Brandt's neighborhood; nor does it present a new murder at all. This particular volume delivers on the subplots that have been building in recent books, and focuses entirely on the case of Dr. Brandt's murder, which occurs four years prior to the story itself.
Although Malloy is appointed head of the investigation, he quickly realizes that he is greatly limited by his resources and position, and begrudgingly accepts nearly any help that's offered - even when it comes in the unlikely form of Sarah Brandt's nursemaid, Maeve.
The primary plot of the novel is an investigation of the cold case, but what I enjoyed most about this particular narrative was Thompson's willingness to set aside her typical protagonists and develop secondary characters. In Murder on Bank Street Maeve becomes a round character, and her personality really carries the mystery through. The final twist is actually not one I expected, and I was thrilled with the conclusion.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
34. 
Author(s): Alex Flinn
Title: [Beastly]
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 300
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 8, 2011
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Yesterday evening I picked up Beastly again, deciding to give it another go.
I bought it after reading a few reviews here, and seeing the movie trailer. However, I put the book down after finishing just part 1 (about 45 pages). There are a number of things that just don't sit well with me. First of all, I am disappointed in the antagonist, and Flinn's refusal to maintain his (or maybe her? not that it matters) main theme: once again the "witch" transforms from a rather physically unremarkable individual to someone the protagonist views as very attractive. Now, my only understanding of the "Beauty and the Beast" story comes from Disney, but Flinn's consistency with the Disneyfied version of the folktale is disappointing. After all, in a story that is supposed to stress internal worth over physical appearances, why does the witch transform into an attractive young woman? Her actions - placing the curse - are what speak to the protagonist, so why must the author make the witch guilty of the same crime (vanity).
My second problem with the book came from the introduction of the chatroom transcripts. Really, Flinn could have done no worse in destroying the suspension of disbelief. Introducing elements from "The Little Mermaid" and "The Frog Prince" does nothing to further the narrative, other than confirm that the protagonist of Beastly is in fact a teenager living in the digital age. The transcripts themselves are obnoxious, and provide no character development that isn't better related through the body of the story.
And with that I put down the novel for several months.
Last night, a small detail has brought my previous judgments back to my memory. In truth, most readers would likely gloss over the information, but because it's so near and dear to my heart I'm rather offended by the lack of attention to detail.
The detail? "Wilde dies in prison" (Flinn 126).
Really, Alex Flinn. Oscar Wilde dies in prison, hhmm? Perhaps if you're being metaphoric, but somehow I doubt it.
...
After my previous griping I decided to simply let things go and finish the book, more out of the hope that Flinn would redeem herself than anything else. What I found in the second half of the novel was a lackluster presentation of the tale superimposed on modern New York City, with absolutely no twists or attempts at originality.
Beastly is exactly what readers would expect it to be. In the second half of the book Adrian becomes a more sympathetic character than Kyle, which makes the reading a bit more enjoyable, but overall I personally found the story to be unsuccessful.
I have a theory that Beastly, like so many Stephen King and Anne Rice stories, will make a far more enjoyable film than a novel.
Author(s): Alex Flinn
Title: [Beastly]
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 300
Genre: YA Fantasy
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 8, 2011
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Yesterday evening I picked up Beastly again, deciding to give it another go.
I bought it after reading a few reviews here, and seeing the movie trailer. However, I put the book down after finishing just part 1 (about 45 pages). There are a number of things that just don't sit well with me. First of all, I am disappointed in the antagonist, and Flinn's refusal to maintain his (or maybe her? not that it matters) main theme: once again the "witch" transforms from a rather physically unremarkable individual to someone the protagonist views as very attractive. Now, my only understanding of the "Beauty and the Beast" story comes from Disney, but Flinn's consistency with the Disneyfied version of the folktale is disappointing. After all, in a story that is supposed to stress internal worth over physical appearances, why does the witch transform into an attractive young woman? Her actions - placing the curse - are what speak to the protagonist, so why must the author make the witch guilty of the same crime (vanity).
My second problem with the book came from the introduction of the chatroom transcripts. Really, Flinn could have done no worse in destroying the suspension of disbelief. Introducing elements from "The Little Mermaid" and "The Frog Prince" does nothing to further the narrative, other than confirm that the protagonist of Beastly is in fact a teenager living in the digital age. The transcripts themselves are obnoxious, and provide no character development that isn't better related through the body of the story.
And with that I put down the novel for several months.
Last night, a small detail has brought my previous judgments back to my memory. In truth, most readers would likely gloss over the information, but because it's so near and dear to my heart I'm rather offended by the lack of attention to detail.
The detail? "Wilde dies in prison" (Flinn 126).
Really, Alex Flinn. Oscar Wilde dies in prison, hhmm? Perhaps if you're being metaphoric, but somehow I doubt it.
...
After my previous griping I decided to simply let things go and finish the book, more out of the hope that Flinn would redeem herself than anything else. What I found in the second half of the novel was a lackluster presentation of the tale superimposed on modern New York City, with absolutely no twists or attempts at originality.
Beastly is exactly what readers would expect it to be. In the second half of the book Adrian becomes a more sympathetic character than Kyle, which makes the reading a bit more enjoyable, but overall I personally found the story to be unsuccessful.
I have a theory that Beastly, like so many Stephen King and Anne Rice stories, will make a far more enjoyable film than a novel.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
I'm once again thankful that my Kindle allows me to read these books without having to constantly see the covers.
33.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title: Dark Desires After Dusk
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 7, 2011
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
32.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title: Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 2, 2011
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
33.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title: Dark Desires After Dusk
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 7, 2011
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
32.
Author(s): Kresley Cole
Title: Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 2, 2011
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Jane Eyre 2011
It is always with some trepidation that I go to see films based on Victorian novels; I have a deep sentimental attachment to the subject, and I recognize that it is largely impossible for a filmmaker to portray everything that such a novel includes. However, I often find myself heeding the siren call of seeing some of my favorite characters brought to life, and this weekend I attended a showing of "Jane Eyre."
The film itself is artfully arranged, employing a variety of flashback techniques in an attempt to manage a very lengthy time line. Those unfamiliar with the novel may find themselves a bit lost at times, but anyone who knows Charlotte Bronte's classic story can easily follow the series of events as they are presented.
Visually, the film is stunning, while preserving historical accuracy; unlike so many directors who seek to "spice up" historical films by introducing visual and audio elements that are not period authentic (think the new "Dorian Gray" or "Vanity Fair"), Cary Fukunaga uses the natural elements of the film to create drama while presenting for the audience the world in which Jane Eyre (and Charlotte Bronte) would have moved.
Ultimately, though, a film of this kind often comes down to casting, and "Jane Eyre" delivers far more than I had hoped. Too often it seems that bombshells are favored for plain roles, but Mia Wasikowska proves to be a perfect Jane, alongside a fantastic Mr. Rochester (Michael Fassbender) and a delightful Mrs. Fairfax (Judi Dench). Visually, each of these actors fits the roles assigned, and they work to truly bring these characters to life. The viewer can well and truly see Bronte's characters come to life, and move through the superbly gothic tale with dignity and grace.
Is the film perfect? Certainly not - but I maintain that the task would be impossible for the genre and primary source, and would heartily encourage fans of Jane Eyre to see the films for themselves.
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