The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Di Camillo is the story of a very small mouse in love and his adventures. This children's book is a very quick read for an adult, but likely to keep children (I'd say primarily 3rd-5th graders) busy for a few days (definitely less for avid readers). The Tale of Despereaux would also appeal to 1st and 2nd graders as a read-aloud book. This is not to say older children or adults would not enjoy the story (far from it!!) but that they may find it too quick for their tastes. Something like Brian Jacques' Redwall series might have more appeal to middle and high school students.

All that being said, Desperaux and his tale/tail are very cute and it's a very endearing story "for young and old alike." :)

Highly recommended for all children and families - as well as general readers.

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

I finally read it! The latest installment in the series by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince is an asset to the series. I found the book to be refreshing in that Harry continues to grow up (and mature) and while sometimes grumpy and melodramatic, has moved beyond being the sullen teen we saw in Order of the Phoenix.

As a reader of the series, I was not disappointed.

Highly recommended for Potter fans. For those unfamiliar with the series, it's best to start at the beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Voodoo Dreams : A Novel of Marie Laveau

This novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes is another excellent snapshot of life in New Orleans. This book takes place before the Civil War and paints a vivid picture of the city at that time. Voodoo Dreams is a coming-of-age story wrapped up in spicy Creole Louisiana, slavery, and - of course - voodoo. It's also a self-awakening story as Marie tries to find out who she is and what her purpose in life is - which is something all of us can relate to.

I cannot stress enough what a gifted storyteller Jewell Parker Rhodes is! There is something for everyone in this book, but the story belongs to Marie. Rhodes draws a part of the soul into this story. Very well-written! I suspect that Voodoo Dreams will appeal more to women than to men, but men with an interest in voodoo, New Orleans history, or who have read Interview With the Vampire will probably enjoy this book also. Readers interested in African American authors, but who are tired of the usual romance/Drama fare will also find this refreshing.

Very highly recommended for all readers! Not overly violent or sexual, but this is not a "gentle" read.

The Joy of Sex

Ok, ok, I know... Everybody's heard about it. I figured I'd read it to see if this book by Alex Comfort was in reality what I expected it to be. If all you expect upon opening this book is a racy book full of exotic photos, you'll be surprised. The Joy of Sex is actually very down-to-earth and not really at all titillating (pardon the pun). It's almost like a Chilton's guide to heterosexual sex. That being said, this book is most likely to be of help to relatively inexperienced couples, but even those of us who have been around the block a time or two will probably find out something previously unknown.

Comfort's direct writing style and factual information will likely irritate those readers who picked up the book thinking it'd be a quick thrill. However, for those readers interested in improving their lives in the bedroom, it's worth at least a skim-through.

Highly recommended for the relatively inexperienced couple. Recommended for all others.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

This classic by Oscar Wilde somewhat defies categorization. It's usually lumped with horror, but isn't quite - in the same way that The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux isn't really horror. That being said, though, the story moves along well and the characters are fairly lively for a book written in the latter part of the 19th Century. I kept imagining scenarios I'd seen in a movie adaptation of "An Ideal Husband" in relation to setting and speech patterns.

For a book that's considered a classic, The Portrait of Dorian Gray is very readable and would be a good book for any high school student to report on. :) I'd even say that if you already know something about the story, the book will still appeal to you!

Highly recommended for general readers. Very highly recommended for high school students who want to report on a "classic" to look good to their English teachers (hey, it's a win-win situation!).

The Witches of Eastwick

This book by John Updike (which was made into a movie in the late 1980's) was a worthwhile read. I found the book much darker and less wrapped-up morally than the movie - though this doesn't surprise me. :) The Witches of Eastwick is a well-written book and Updike embraces the power (not necessarily supernatural) that women have, but also shows the ugly side of women's relationships: jealousy, guilt, & sometimes betrayal.

None of the characters in The Witches of Eastwick are purely good or evil and it's up to the reader to decide how he/she feels about them at the end of the story. I won't spoil this write-up with more comparisons between the movie and the book, but suffice to say, it's worth reading and renting and one will not spoil the other.

Recommended for general audiences who don't mind sexual content. Highly recommended for those with an interest in witches, witchcraft, or witchy stories. :)

The Story of Art

I have a lot of catching up to do - we'll see how far I get tonight. :)

The Story of Art by Ernst Hans Gombrich is a readable overview of the history of world art. As is the case with many introductory art history texts, this book also mostly focuses on art developments in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and United States. As an introductory text, however - especially for a layperson interested in the topic, this is a very self-explanatory book. Someone with more background in art history probably will be familiar with most of the concepts, but may enjoy it for its readability-factor. Gombrich moves from one artist, period, or technique to the next without jarring breaks or a lot of dry jargon.

I highly recommend The Story of Art especially for lifelong learners interested in rounding out their education and for high school or college students who want an idea of what all this art stuff is about!

The Horror Readers’ Advisory : The Librarian’s Guide to Vampires, Killer Tomatoes, and Haunted Houses

This slender volume by Becky S. Spratford and Tammy H. Clausen is a great overview for librarians on the horror genre. Often disdained by librarians as being "trashy," Spratford and Clausen do a good job of picking out the qualities of these novels that appeal to readers without any trash-talk. They've also put together a great starter list for each sub-genre of horror - including old stand-bys, and throwing in a few that might be new to most readers.

A terrific source for librarians, non-librarians can use it to get some good ideas of where to go next for the next big thrill (of course, you can always ask your local reference librarian too - they like to help with this kind of thing!!).

Very highly recommended to librarians!

A Clockwork Orange

After about 9 years after my (now) husband read this book, I decided to go for it. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess is a good book, but is not for those who can't stomach reading violent content - especially violence against women. The book is VERY different from the movie and gives the reader much more insight into the main character, Alex's, reasoning, moods, etc... that the movie doesn't do. Also, the version of the book I read has the original last chapter that was cut when the book was originally imported to the U.S. I think I enjoyed it much more with that chapter, though I could see why it was cut due to the time period in American pop culture.

As an aside, the book is written in dialect, so it will be difficult (and not very enjoyable) for some readers. I'd say that if you enjoy Irvine Welsh's books (Trainspotting - among others) and somehow this one has slipped past you - go for it! You'll probably really like it. If you dislike Welsh's books, it doesn't mean you won't like this one, though!

Highly recommended.

A Room of One's Own: Women Writers and the Politics of Creativity

After reading A Room of One's Own, I wanted to delve a little further into how the text came to be and how it's influenced both the women's movement as well as late-20th Century literary criticism. This book by Ellen B. Rosenman is well-written for the educated reader interested in exploring Woolf's essay. Though a literary study/critique, the book does not use a lot of jargon and is easy to follow. For more serious readers, Room of One's Own: Women Writers and the Politics of Creativity will only be a point of departure from which to dig deeper into other critical essays. While not a waste of time, it may not have the depth in each category to keep an academic reader satisfied.

Recommended only for those wishing to find out more about Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own (who have already read that book).

The Lover

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this play by Harold Pinter. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Even though it was written some time ago, but still feels very contemporary as far as the plot goes. I can't really describe the plot without giving away the interesting parts of the story. It's very short (around 50 pages), so go for it! There is no graphic sexual content, though intimate relationships are implied both by the title and the course of the play. It is a little weird, but in a way that is intellectually stimulating, rather than titillating.

Recommended. Highly recommended for film buffs or those into drama.

The Wind in the Willows

Another children's classic I didn't get to in my youth (too busy reading about spiders and the graphic novel-esque biographies of the Presidents of the United States - and Nancy Drew, of course.) The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is a great story about friendship, bravery, and when to seek out adventure (and when not to!). I found the book an enjoyable and relaxing read as an adult, but I suspect it would have been one of my favorites if I'd read it as a kid.

Highly recommended for children!! Also recommended for grown-ups who are kids at heart.

The Hot Zone

(Whew! Gonna take awhile to catch up - I've read a lot since I last posted, but didn't have time to add anything what with having to pull off my wedding and everything. At last I'm feeling more sane and am ready to work on catching up my blog here.)

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston is very well written, though extremely graphic descriptions of the course Ebola Zaire takes through the human body. If you like medical thrillers and are interested in a series of true (and somewhat harrowing) anecdotes tied up neatly together, you will love this book. I will admit I enjoyed the feeling of squeamishness and slight paranoia that the book leaves you with.

Recommended. Highly recommended for anyone who likes medical thrillers or (perhaps) true crime - it is a medical thriller, but reads a little like true crime.

The Nine Tailors

This intriguing mystery by Dorothy L. Sayers is an excellent read! I don't believe this book is the first of her tales starring Lord Peter Wimsey, but it's a great introduction that leaves the reader wondering where he came from and where he's going. I think this makes a terrific foray into Sayers' work! I will admit that The Nine Tailors is the first of her books that I've read personally, but I am looking forward to reading more!

The book takes place in rural England (I can't be more specific, I don't think without making a fool of myself) and has terrific characters and glimpses into the small community life. Must read for all mystery lovers. Highly recommended for other fiction readers. I think there is enough description of change-ringing to be of interest to readers of light non-fiction as well, but probably not enough for those non-ficiton readers who prefer the hard-hitters (Durant's Story of Civilization, etc...).

Pere Goriot

This classic novel by Honore Balzac is an excellent example of the (mostly) honest man vs. high society. I enjoyed the hints of Shakespeare present in the undertones of the text (think King Lear and Iago from Othello). As tends to be the case in many early European novels, extensive description can lead the 21st century reader astray. If you enjoy Dickensian melodrama and coincidence, you will enjoy this work, however. I think this book is a great introduction to Balzac's work - much more so than his longer novel, Lost Illusions.

Recommended in general; highly recommended to lovers of Charles Dickens' work and to readers of classic fiction.

A Room of One's Own

I have wanted to read this non-fiction work by Virginia Woolf for about 10-15 years now, but finally just did it! I wish I'd read it earlier, as I think it would have really appealled to my emerging womanhood psyche. However, reading it as an early thirty-something, I find it still hits its mark, reminding me that I need to take time for things that are only important to me, things that are essential to my personal renewal and growth. Also, not to forget my friends and to do things without my husband-to-be. Having outside interests keeps us sane in relationships - and helps said relationships from getting stale.

Must read - especially for young women. I'm not sure it'd have the same effect for men, but I suspect it'd still be worthwhile and thought-provoking.

Inkspell

Back for another children's book! Inkspell is Cornelia Funke's sequel to her book Inkheart. Overall, I found Inkheart more enjoyable in its entirety, as Inkspell has kind of a cliff-hanger ending. I strongly suspect that Ms. Funke will add a third book to this series to wrap up the loose ends. The characters and world created in this "Ink" series are rich, varied, and imperfect in their own ways. I think when the hero characters have regrets or other flaws, the story they interact in is much more vivid.

Must read for those who liked Inkheart. Highly recommended for Harry Potter fans and fantasy fans (as long as you don't need elves in your fantasy books).

Nonfiction Readers' Advisory

I read this collection of essays to enrich my readers' advisory skills, which I use nigh daily in my role as a public librarian. I found these essays interesting, enjoyable, as well as helpful in carrying out one of my roles as a librarian. Very insightful.

Very highly recommended for all public librarians!!

Old Man and the Sea

This short work by Ernest Hemingway is an American classic. Read by several generations of high school students (I suspect in part due to its brevity), this book is an excellent example of a man vs. nature story line. I would say, though, that what the book was really about was not the sea or even the fish, but about the man himself: his strengths, weaknesses, and more than anything, his humanity.

It'll take an hour to an hour & a half to read. Just do it. :) It's really a great (and not depressing) book about the human condition.

The Dain Curse

This book is not Dashiell Hammett's best novel, but is greatly enjoyable nevertheless. My personal favorite is The Thin Man with its hard-boiled drama combined with a healthy dose of humor. The Dain Curse is very sparse with the humor and heavy with the hard-boiled terseness of the genre (which I happen to like!). Body count is high and there's lots of gunshots and grumbling mystery.

Highly recommended for fans of hard-boiled detective novels. Would recommend others to read The Thin Man or The Maltese Falcoln for examples of Hammett's writing with broader appeal. Mystery readers who don't like stories where the detective has knowledge not related through the text of the story probably won't like this one.

Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a terrific book. To detail it's plot or underlying themes in a brief review would likely detract from the enjoyment of those who might not have read it. This is a classic example of science fiction at its best!! Action, psychological drama, and more - this book's got it!

Very Highly Recommended for all readers. Especially recommended to read or re-read for people who "used to be" science fiction fans. It will renew your faith in the genre!

Girl Sleuth

This is a recent book by Melanie Rehak. See? I do read things other than the classics and children's books!! Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her is much more than a biography of the women involved in writing and updating the Nancy Drew mystery series. It also describes the business of ghostwriting many of the most popular children's series created in the United States as well as presenting a portrait of "appropriate" roles for women throughout the majority of the 2oth Century.

Especially recommended for those interested in publishing &/or the complexities of women's roles and opinions during the 20th Century (and Nancy Drew fans too!). An enjoyable read for most other non-fiction fans.

Journal of a Plague Year

I enjoyed this book largely because at the time I was getting sick with the cold/flu that all my friends and co-workers had. I kept thinking that I "had the distemper" and that "the pestilence was sweeping over us." Not so bad that anyone thought it was God's way of cleansing Southern California, but everyone was coughing and sneezing and generally sounding awful.

Journal of a Plague Year by Daniel Defoe (better known as the author of Robinson Crusoe) recounts the events that took place during the outbreak of plague in the mid-1660's - the year before the Great Fire wiped out a good portion of the city.

Highly recommended for all plague buffs. Also highly recommended for readers with an interest in medical history and/or municipal response to a biological disaster, this will prove very illuminating. Other readers may find the lack of chapters and most other breaks in the text distressing in addition to phrasing differences between contemporary English and Defoe's English.

Heavy Words

When I requested Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme by Chris Roberts, I confess that I was hoping for something a little more pithy. However, the book is very enjoyable and spends several pages discussing each rhyme, though some rhymes I think are more popular in the UK than here in the States. The glossary of UK slang words was very helpful (and entertaining). The most interesting thing about the book as a whole is the introduction of rhyming slang, in which the slang is the word in the phrase that doesn't rhyme with the object it refers to - e.g. calling a five pound note (a fiver) a "lady" because "Lady Godiva" rhymes with "fiver" in some British accents. Intriguing!

Recommended for the curious. Those expecting more studious, less glib analysis should look elsewhere.

Winnie the Pooh

Another children's classic I never read as a kid. Pretty good, but definitely a kid's book. Disney stays semi-faithful, but it's worth reading since Pooh is such a cultural icon. I did enjoy the use of capitalization - especially when Pooh and Piglet are trying to think of a Cunning Trap to catch a Woozle (or was it a Heffalump? I can't remember).

Highly recommended for all children (I think it'd be a great read-aloud book for grown-ups and kids to share). Recommended for adults who haven't read it before cause it's fast and it's a big part of children's culture in the US and Britain.

nonrequired reading

Wistawa Szymborska is best known as a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature for her collections of poetry. Apparently, though, she also writes a column in a Polish newspaper that reviews a broad and refreshing scope of books. From how-to guides on hanging wallpaper to history texts for the educated layperson, Szymborska seems to tackle them all in her column. This book is a collection of selected columns.

I found this collection very refreshing because I tend to think of those people who've won prestigious prizes for literature (and other fields) as being literary and profound all the time. It seems as though they must be able to appreciate all literature with their ultra-astuteness. The refreshing part comes in doses where Szymborska isn't able to finish a book because it bores her so much - or she hates a book for being too fluffy (or too serious about a fluffy topic). It unfolds through this series of columns that she's a regular person who loves reading and has very eclectic tastes. Awesome!

Recommended for bibliophiles looking for the next good book.