I really enjoyed this rather raw biographical novel about Abbess Marie de France, illegitimate half-sister of my old favorite, Eleanor of Aquitaine. EI really enjoyed this rather raw biographical novel about Abbess Marie de France, illegitimate half-sister of my old favorite, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor did not show to advantage in this tale, which is set from 1158 to 1212 in Angevin "Angleterre."...more
Dillard is the most amazing wordsmith I've encountered since I first read Joseph Conrad. Her fecund creativity bombards the reader's mind with images Dillard is the most amazing wordsmith I've encountered since I first read Joseph Conrad. Her fecund creativity bombards the reader's mind with images of things, some of which never before had images. Her natural history observations vary from transcendent to gruesome, but all are fascinating....more
This is a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Both Aslan and the witch appear, but with different children, Polly Plummer and her new neiThis is a prequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Both Aslan and the witch appear, but with different children, Polly Plummer and her new neighbor, Digory Kirke. The wardrobe does not exist yet in this story, but on his return from Narnia, Digory plants an apple tree, the wood of which is later used to make the wardrobe....more
Interesting, occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, and definitely on the weird side, these essays or memoir vignettes were unexpected in so many ways, atInteresting, occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, and definitely on the weird side, these essays or memoir vignettes were unexpected in so many ways, at least to me as a new reader of Sedaris. The pieces about Trump and Comey served as bitter reminders of the mess in which we currently find ourselves. My favorite pieces were "Untamed," about a fox, and "Sorry," about the board game....more
Nate Romanowski and Geronimo Jones joined forces to go after Axel Soledad, who had orchestrated the murder of Nate's wife and the burning of the JonesNate Romanowski and Geronimo Jones joined forces to go after Axel Soledad, who had orchestrated the murder of Nate's wife and the burning of the Jones home when it appeared (incorrectly) that the family was inside. Joe Pickett was searching for Gov. Rulon's missing son-in-law. They all come together to stop Soledad's terrorists at Battle Mountain....more
The creaky, heavy-handed plotting had me starting at a baseline of 2 stars, but I was charmed by the characters of bookbinding Time Stepper Erasmus anThe creaky, heavy-handed plotting had me starting at a baseline of 2 stars, but I was charmed by the characters of bookbinding Time Stepper Erasmus and little orphan tunnel boy Nipper. Also, I found the ending satisfying enough to give the book 2.6 stars, rounding up to 3....more
This incredibly interesting novel about consciousness and interspecies communication is set one or more centuries in the future. In it, scientists, inThis incredibly interesting novel about consciousness and interspecies communication is set one or more centuries in the future. In it, scientists, including the android Evrim, are studying an octopus culture on a remote Pacific atoll, while targeted by greedy corporations. The interspecies communication reminded me of Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn.
Caution: Early on, I felt the emotional baseline of the book was clinical depression, but that did not last as long as it felt like.
For those who have already read this, know that my alternate title for the early chapters is "If You Give an Android a Macaroon." ...more
When both his parents are killed in an auto accident, 12-year-old Satoru also lost his beloved cat Hachi, who had to go to distant relative. As a growWhen both his parents are killed in an auto accident, 12-year-old Satoru also lost his beloved cat Hachi, who had to go to distant relative. As a grown man, Satoru takes a road trip with Nana, his second beloved cat, trying to find a home for him with friends for when Satoru will no longer be able to care for him. Very touching....more
Utterly charming! This seems like a fairy tale, with Princess Sylvie being rescued by a blind snowy owl and a transparent fish, but it is basically seUtterly charming! This seems like a fairy tale, with Princess Sylvie being rescued by a blind snowy owl and a transparent fish, but it is basically set in the interface between a book's characters and its readers, in this case several generations of girls in the same family....more
This would probably have made an inspiring magazine article, but there's just too much padding and not enough substance for an entire book.This would probably have made an inspiring magazine article, but there's just too much padding and not enough substance for an entire book....more
Cute cover, but the book itself is not particularly charming, funny, or suspenseful. It did fill a Winter Reading Challenge for me, being set at a winCute cover, but the book itself is not particularly charming, funny, or suspenseful. It did fill a Winter Reading Challenge for me, being set at a winter holiday. Unfortunately, none of the characters were pleasant. Also, the book relied on a bad-old-days plot element of a female amateur sleuth stupidly putting herself in danger and having to be rescued by male characters. Ugh!...more
This is a charming story about a worn-out science classroom skeleton "retired" to an Estonian farm where an elderly couple and their animals live, oftThis is a charming story about a worn-out science classroom skeleton "retired" to an Estonian farm where an elderly couple and their animals live, often visited by the couple two grandchildren. It introduces Estonian customs and culture and deals gently with aging and mortality. It is also funny....more
This was recommended to me years ago in a book on homeschooling (I think one by John Holt), and after finding it in a Little Free Library, I finally rThis was recommended to me years ago in a book on homeschooling (I think one by John Holt), and after finding it in a Little Free Library, I finally read it and found it even better than I expected. A young Cherokee boy's parents die, leaving him in the care of his grandparents in the mountains of Tennessee during the Depression. I read the 25th Anniversary Edition.
Surprisingly, Carter was a speechwriter for George Wallace and a segregationist, a stance that seems diametrically opposed to what would one expect from the tone of this book, which purports to be an account of his own childhood background and experiences, but actually turns out to have been fiction....more
Lovely illustrations of a family of red foxes and their neighbors, a woodchuck, a golden eagle, and a skunk. The book also tells about other kinds of Lovely illustrations of a family of red foxes and their neighbors, a woodchuck, a golden eagle, and a skunk. The book also tells about other kinds of foxes....more
Brother Bear and Sister Bear take the bus to day camp, have lots of adventures over the summer, and finishes with a campfire powwow and overnight sleeBrother Bear and Sister Bear take the bus to day camp, have lots of adventures over the summer, and finishes with a campfire powwow and overnight sleepout culminating in Field Day, where Brother wins a trophy and Sister gets two medals....more
This was an unusual and immensely intriguing mystery. I would have awarded it 5* were it not for the ending, a rather lame epilogue in which Jury seemThis was an unusual and immensely intriguing mystery. I would have awarded it 5* were it not for the ending, a rather lame epilogue in which Jury seems to have gotten a piece of evidence (DNA?) that may close the case. The discussions of string theory and other physics concepts were interesting. The passages from the point of view of the dog Mungo were funny....more
Police Chief Kate Burkholder is sidelined in the investigation of a horrific murder because her brother is a suspect. She keeps on working the case bePolice Chief Kate Burkholder is sidelined in the investigation of a horrific murder because her brother is a suspect. She keeps on working the case behind the backs of the mayor, sheriff, and joint task force and it is her special knowledge of the Anabaptist milieu that allows her to solve it, although her life is almost forfeit several times. Riveting!...more
The contrast of tragedy and a touch of horror only intensifies the joyousness and charm exuded by this story of a hereditary psychic in a small easterThe contrast of tragedy and a touch of horror only intensifies the joyousness and charm exuded by this story of a hereditary psychic in a small eastern Kentucky town. Thea is able to live in this remote location because she is a designer of computer games. Her Bernese mountain dog Bunk (from "rambunctious") and her hunky new neighbor's preschooler Bray both gladden the reader's heart....more
This is a wonderful book, but a synopsis cannot do it justice. Ishmael is a gorilla who communicates mentally to the "students" he takes on. His methoThis is a wonderful book, but a synopsis cannot do it justice. Ishmael is a gorilla who communicates mentally to the "students" he takes on. His method is Socratic. His subject is how to save the earth....more
Loading...
