Book: The Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
Age-range: 16 and up
Recommended: No
I have no idea why I even bothered to finish this book. I just kept waiting for the plot. There was none that I could discern. The character ended being the exact same person he had been at the beginning.
Although, it did reinforce a lot of writing information I've received. Always have a likable protagonist; have a "problem" the story has to solve; take your character on a journey so they are transformed into a different person by the end of the book. This book did none of these things.
Also, the title was completely misleading and had absolutely nothing to do with the story!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
July Book Review #6
Book: The Unhandsome Prince by John Moore
Age-range: 13 and up
Recommended: Yes
This was a charming fairy tale (and written by a man, not many of those). It combined so many different stories, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, and maybe others that I can't think of right now. It's the story of Prince Hal, an unhandsome prince who is rescued from being a frog by a beautiful girl named Caroline. Caroline, however, is not super-excited about marrying a prince who isn't handsome and won't actually inherit the throne. Emily, who's mother cast the frog spell, is now responsible for making her mother's promises come true.
That's just the very beginning premise. As time moves on and events happen, more characters are introduced and a larger story comes in. It's fairly predictable, but funny and fast-paced. I will definitely look for his other books the next time I go to the library.
Age-range: 13 and up
Recommended: Yes
This was a charming fairy tale (and written by a man, not many of those). It combined so many different stories, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, and maybe others that I can't think of right now. It's the story of Prince Hal, an unhandsome prince who is rescued from being a frog by a beautiful girl named Caroline. Caroline, however, is not super-excited about marrying a prince who isn't handsome and won't actually inherit the throne. Emily, who's mother cast the frog spell, is now responsible for making her mother's promises come true.
That's just the very beginning premise. As time moves on and events happen, more characters are introduced and a larger story comes in. It's fairly predictable, but funny and fast-paced. I will definitely look for his other books the next time I go to the library.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
July Book Review #5
Book: Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks
Age-range: 16 and up
Recommended: No
I think this would have done better as a series of articles instead of a full-blown book. Each book was padded with repetition and got a bit tedious at times.
There were some very good gems of information, but nothing you couldn't find in a more interesting way in other books on YA writing.
Age-range: 16 and up
Recommended: No
I think this would have done better as a series of articles instead of a full-blown book. Each book was padded with repetition and got a bit tedious at times.
There were some very good gems of information, but nothing you couldn't find in a more interesting way in other books on YA writing.
July Book Review #4
Book: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Age-range: 16 and up
Recommended: Yes
You know the movie "Practical Magic" and how it was really good? Well, did you ever try to read the book? I did, but I never finished it. That should tell you something.
Garden Spells is everything I hoped the book Practical Magic would be. It's about two sisters who have certain talents (the author never uses the words magic or witchcraft). One is wild and the other is stuck in her ways at home and afraid of love.
This book is beautifully written and incredibly intriguing. I loved the fact that every family in the small town had certain things they were known for. It was an exaggerated example of real-life small towns.
In short, I loved this book and if you have an interest in fantastic-realistic fiction then this is a book for you. (I really think you'd like it, Hayden.)
Age-range: 16 and up
Recommended: Yes
You know the movie "Practical Magic" and how it was really good? Well, did you ever try to read the book? I did, but I never finished it. That should tell you something.
Garden Spells is everything I hoped the book Practical Magic would be. It's about two sisters who have certain talents (the author never uses the words magic or witchcraft). One is wild and the other is stuck in her ways at home and afraid of love.
This book is beautifully written and incredibly intriguing. I loved the fact that every family in the small town had certain things they were known for. It was an exaggerated example of real-life small towns.
In short, I loved this book and if you have an interest in fantastic-realistic fiction then this is a book for you. (I really think you'd like it, Hayden.)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
July Book Review #3
Book: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Age-range: 16 and up
As good as the first time?: Yes
Recommended: Yes
If you were to ask a group of writers what the best book ever written on writing is I can guarantee this book would make the top five. It's excellent and amazing. I decided to read it again because almost all of the books on writing I've read recently mentioned Bird by Bird as a necessary book for writers to read.
I gleaned so much great information from reading this a second time. The first time I read it I was just beginning as a writer. I was finally beginning to take my writing seriously. This time I've been writing for a few years now and feel that I have a pretty good sense of what kind of writer I am.
Anne Lamott uses humor, anecdotes, some profanity, and a lot of personal experience to to share everything she knows about writing (or did when she wrote the book). It's not your typical book on writing, but sometimes that's exactly what you need.
Age-range: 16 and up
As good as the first time?: Yes
Recommended: Yes
If you were to ask a group of writers what the best book ever written on writing is I can guarantee this book would make the top five. It's excellent and amazing. I decided to read it again because almost all of the books on writing I've read recently mentioned Bird by Bird as a necessary book for writers to read.
I gleaned so much great information from reading this a second time. The first time I read it I was just beginning as a writer. I was finally beginning to take my writing seriously. This time I've been writing for a few years now and feel that I have a pretty good sense of what kind of writer I am.
Anne Lamott uses humor, anecdotes, some profanity, and a lot of personal experience to to share everything she knows about writing (or did when she wrote the book). It's not your typical book on writing, but sometimes that's exactly what you need.
July Book Review #2
Book: Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl
Age-range: 13 and up
Recommended: No
This was a book that I enjoyed... once I got into it. It took me quite a while to really grasp the story, and the character felt so distant through the entire book. It was Ms. Kindl's first book, so it's understandable that some things would not be as perfect as they were in Goose Chase (see the previous post).
This is a book about a girl named Owl who is half-human, half-owl. She can change at will between the two species. The creepy part about this book is that she's in love with her science teacher and the way she talked about him gave me the heebie jeebies. Luckily, before the book is over, she's over him and in love with someone more suitable.
Like I said, this wasn't a bad book, it's just not one that you'd miss anything if you didn't read it.
Age-range: 13 and up
Recommended: No
This was a book that I enjoyed... once I got into it. It took me quite a while to really grasp the story, and the character felt so distant through the entire book. It was Ms. Kindl's first book, so it's understandable that some things would not be as perfect as they were in Goose Chase (see the previous post).
This is a book about a girl named Owl who is half-human, half-owl. She can change at will between the two species. The creepy part about this book is that she's in love with her science teacher and the way she talked about him gave me the heebie jeebies. Luckily, before the book is over, she's over him and in love with someone more suitable.
Like I said, this wasn't a bad book, it's just not one that you'd miss anything if you didn't read it.
July Book Review #1
Book: Goose Chase by Patrice Kindl
Age-range: 5 and up
Recommended: Yes
SO CUTE! That is the way I would describe this book, no doubt. It's sort of a fractured fairy tale in the sense that it has a lot of fairy tale elements without blatantly being about any particular tale. I definitely think all my nieces would love this story.
Firstly, the writing style is so cute. It's very fairy-tale-ish without being obnoxious or overbearing. The voice is very distinct, however, and you absolutely hear her personality in every line.
Secondly, the storyline is original and not super predictable. There were a lot of times when I was surprised by what happened, which is always nice. This book was so well-written it actually helped me overcome my writer's block!
Lastly, it's the perfect story for any boy or girl who likes fairy tales. You can even make it a game where you identify different things from different stories (being trapped in a tower, a goose girl, magical hair, etc.).
In short, it's a super-cute, super-quick read and you should run out to your local library and get it. Right now.
Age-range: 5 and up
Recommended: Yes
SO CUTE! That is the way I would describe this book, no doubt. It's sort of a fractured fairy tale in the sense that it has a lot of fairy tale elements without blatantly being about any particular tale. I definitely think all my nieces would love this story.
Firstly, the writing style is so cute. It's very fairy-tale-ish without being obnoxious or overbearing. The voice is very distinct, however, and you absolutely hear her personality in every line.
Secondly, the storyline is original and not super predictable. There were a lot of times when I was surprised by what happened, which is always nice. This book was so well-written it actually helped me overcome my writer's block!
Lastly, it's the perfect story for any boy or girl who likes fairy tales. You can even make it a game where you identify different things from different stories (being trapped in a tower, a goose girl, magical hair, etc.).
In short, it's a super-cute, super-quick read and you should run out to your local library and get it. Right now.
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