Finished May 12
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Mia is seventeen and has a wonderful life ahead of her. An accomplished cellist, she has recently auditioned for Juilliard and is waiting to hear back. Her boyfriend, Adam, is part of a band, which is really starting to take off. She has a best friend, Kim, who supports her and abets her in their escapades.
She has supportive parents, and an adoring younger brother as well as other caring family members.
She knows she has choices ahead of her regarding music and love that she dreads having to deal with, but suddenly she is thrust into a situation from which she has only one choice, stay or go, and what she decides will be life-changing either way.
This has a unique perspective, all happening within a very compressed time frame. Stephanie is a girl who is both lucky and talented and knows it. But now she is torn over the decision that only she can make.
Teens, particularly girls, will like this book. A strong character and strong emotions will draw them into this page-turner.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Audio Plays
Finished May 11
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard performed by L.A. Theatre Works
I picked up this dual package of plays at a recent conference.
I went to a live performance of The Importance of Being Earnest when I was 14 (quite some time ago), but had forgotten most of the plot. I had never seen, heard, or read The Real Thing before.
The performances were very well done and very amusing and I enjoyed them both thoroughly.
As the introduction states, Oscar Wilde's humourous plays are a precursor to a variety of humour entertainment today, from sitcoms to Monty Python. Stoppard's play is witty, with wry humour and shows raw emotion. A great way to enjoy theatre.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard performed by L.A. Theatre Works
I picked up this dual package of plays at a recent conference.
I went to a live performance of The Importance of Being Earnest when I was 14 (quite some time ago), but had forgotten most of the plot. I had never seen, heard, or read The Real Thing before.
The performances were very well done and very amusing and I enjoyed them both thoroughly.
As the introduction states, Oscar Wilde's humourous plays are a precursor to a variety of humour entertainment today, from sitcoms to Monty Python. Stoppard's play is witty, with wry humour and shows raw emotion. A great way to enjoy theatre.
Teen Read
Finished May 10
Taken by Norah McClintock
Stephanie lives in a small town, and two girls in the area near the town have disappeared lately. There is talk around a serial killer. Stephanie is having issues with her mother over her mother's new boyfriend. She has run away a couple of times lately. But one night, Stephanie is herself kidnapped. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself bound and alone. As she struggles to survive both physically and mentally, she falls back on the strengths she has been taught, and forces herself to keep going. But with little idea of where she is and no food or shelter she will have to push herself to keep going.
Taut and edgy, this novel will appeal to teens that like a realistic action story. Stephanie is a strong character, and she grows during the course of this book. A good read.
Taken by Norah McClintock
Stephanie lives in a small town, and two girls in the area near the town have disappeared lately. There is talk around a serial killer. Stephanie is having issues with her mother over her mother's new boyfriend. She has run away a couple of times lately. But one night, Stephanie is herself kidnapped. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself bound and alone. As she struggles to survive both physically and mentally, she falls back on the strengths she has been taught, and forces herself to keep going. But with little idea of where she is and no food or shelter she will have to push herself to keep going.
Taut and edgy, this novel will appeal to teens that like a realistic action story. Stephanie is a strong character, and she grows during the course of this book. A good read.
Fascinating Listen
Finished May 8
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies with Alison Leslie Gold, read by Barbara Rosenblat
This is the story of the woman who helped to hide Anne Frank and her family in Amsterdam. When the Franks were discovered, she found the diary and saved it, giving it to Otto Frank once she knew Anne wouldn't be coming back for it. Miep's story is an interesting one in its own right, with the Frank's story overlayed. This new edition updates the first and adds additional information that has surfaced since that time.
Offering another perspective on the story known around the world, this memoir is brought to life by the wonderful reader.
Oddly enough, I somehow missed ever reading The Diary of Anne Frank, but this story brought the experience to life. I will have to go back and read that one now too. This story is told in a very factual, yet human way, and the details really brought it to life. Miep is self-effacing and humble about her role in the famous story, but she obviously played a very important role.
Well worth listening to.
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies with Alison Leslie Gold, read by Barbara Rosenblat
This is the story of the woman who helped to hide Anne Frank and her family in Amsterdam. When the Franks were discovered, she found the diary and saved it, giving it to Otto Frank once she knew Anne wouldn't be coming back for it. Miep's story is an interesting one in its own right, with the Frank's story overlayed. This new edition updates the first and adds additional information that has surfaced since that time.
Offering another perspective on the story known around the world, this memoir is brought to life by the wonderful reader.
Oddly enough, I somehow missed ever reading The Diary of Anne Frank, but this story brought the experience to life. I will have to go back and read that one now too. This story is told in a very factual, yet human way, and the details really brought it to life. Miep is self-effacing and humble about her role in the famous story, but she obviously played a very important role.
Well worth listening to.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Short Collection
Finished May 8
On the Art of Making Up One's Mind by Jerome K. Jerome
This short collection is part of a new series of books "on ..." These essays were originally published in 1898 as The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. The author had already made a name for himself as a literary figure of the time. The meditations here are both subtly humourous and insightful.
Joseph Connolly has written a very good foreword giving us the background of the author, and the environment in which this was written.
The collection includes 5 writings: On the Art of Making Up One's Mind; On the Disadvantage of Not Getting What One Wants; On the Exceptional Merit Attaching to the Things We Meant to Do; On the Time Wasted in Looking Before One Leaps; and One the Inadvisability of Following Advice.
I kept this in my purse, reading it while waiting for various things. It always put a smile on my face.
On the Art of Making Up One's Mind by Jerome K. Jerome
This short collection is part of a new series of books "on ..." These essays were originally published in 1898 as The Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. The author had already made a name for himself as a literary figure of the time. The meditations here are both subtly humourous and insightful.
Joseph Connolly has written a very good foreword giving us the background of the author, and the environment in which this was written.
The collection includes 5 writings: On the Art of Making Up One's Mind; On the Disadvantage of Not Getting What One Wants; On the Exceptional Merit Attaching to the Things We Meant to Do; On the Time Wasted in Looking Before One Leaps; and One the Inadvisability of Following Advice.
I kept this in my purse, reading it while waiting for various things. It always put a smile on my face.
Engaging Read
Finished May 7
Crow Road by Iain Banks
I've had this book by my bedside reading it slowly for a while. It's a long one, but very engaging. The main character here is Prentice, a young man at university in Scotland. We follow his relationship with his father and the stubbornness of both. We see his fascination for his uncle Rory who disappeared years before. We see his trials and tribulations in his love life. As the book progresses, so does Prentice. He learns about himself, his feelings, and his family. Centered around the small community in Scotland that he grew up in, there is a core of characters, family and friends who all play roles.
While there is a bit of a mystery here around the uncle, this book is really more of a coming of age story, as Prentice grows from a boy to a man. A great read, with a good plot and lots of character development.
Crow Road by Iain Banks
I've had this book by my bedside reading it slowly for a while. It's a long one, but very engaging. The main character here is Prentice, a young man at university in Scotland. We follow his relationship with his father and the stubbornness of both. We see his fascination for his uncle Rory who disappeared years before. We see his trials and tribulations in his love life. As the book progresses, so does Prentice. He learns about himself, his feelings, and his family. Centered around the small community in Scotland that he grew up in, there is a core of characters, family and friends who all play roles.
While there is a bit of a mystery here around the uncle, this book is really more of a coming of age story, as Prentice grows from a boy to a man. A great read, with a good plot and lots of character development.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Canadian Fiction
Finished May 6
Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor
This book reads like a traditional storyteller, with a wonderful flow to it. We see things from a variety of points of view, which only enhances the storyteller effect.
The tale takes place (mostly) in Otter Lake an Anishnawbe reservation community. The chief is in the final stages of negotiation to buy additional land for the reservation. Her constituents all have ideas about what to do with the property. Add to this that she is a single mother of a young teen boy. Add to this that her mother, matriarch in the community, is on her deathbed. Add to this the arrival of a mysterious stranger. And boy do you have a story.
I loved the quirkiness of some things, like the raccoons. The chief's brother Wayne is another example. There is just so much here to love. I think this will be one of my favourites for the year.
Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor
This book reads like a traditional storyteller, with a wonderful flow to it. We see things from a variety of points of view, which only enhances the storyteller effect.
The tale takes place (mostly) in Otter Lake an Anishnawbe reservation community. The chief is in the final stages of negotiation to buy additional land for the reservation. Her constituents all have ideas about what to do with the property. Add to this that she is a single mother of a young teen boy. Add to this that her mother, matriarch in the community, is on her deathbed. Add to this the arrival of a mysterious stranger. And boy do you have a story.
I loved the quirkiness of some things, like the raccoons. The chief's brother Wayne is another example. There is just so much here to love. I think this will be one of my favourites for the year.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Rediscovered Classic
Finished May 2
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey
Discovered this thanks to another blogger (thanks Nymeth). Persephone publishes rediscovered classics with a leaning toward female authors and experiences. Besides this book, I've bought a few others from them for my TBR pile. This is a short one, originally published in 1932 and rereleased by Persephone in 2007, and has a lovely preface by Frances Partridge, Julia's lifelong friend.
The action all takes place on the wedding day of 22-year-old Dolly Thatcham, and all occurs in her home before marriage. We see her younger sister Kitty, her mother, a variety of other relations of diverse ages, and a couple of her friends, Evelyn and Joseph. The point of view changes several times, but lets us into the thoughts of feelings of the characters. So much is going on here in such a subtle way that it shows the wonderful talents of the author. An amazing little book, and hugely enjoyable.
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey
Discovered this thanks to another blogger (thanks Nymeth). Persephone publishes rediscovered classics with a leaning toward female authors and experiences. Besides this book, I've bought a few others from them for my TBR pile. This is a short one, originally published in 1932 and rereleased by Persephone in 2007, and has a lovely preface by Frances Partridge, Julia's lifelong friend.
The action all takes place on the wedding day of 22-year-old Dolly Thatcham, and all occurs in her home before marriage. We see her younger sister Kitty, her mother, a variety of other relations of diverse ages, and a couple of her friends, Evelyn and Joseph. The point of view changes several times, but lets us into the thoughts of feelings of the characters. So much is going on here in such a subtle way that it shows the wonderful talents of the author. An amazing little book, and hugely enjoyable.
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Children's book
Finished April 30
The Shadow Dragons by James A Owen, read by James Langton
This book is part of the series The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica.
The current caretakers have gathered in the woods near Oxford to discuss the current challenge of the young girl Rose, the Grail Child, who was brought through to their time on a previous adventure. They are met by a man who introduces them to even more dangers and in escaping from one situation, find themselves involved in another.
As the Shadow of the Winter King tries to take control of both the Archipelago and the Summer Lands, they must find a way to fulfill the prophecy that prevents this as well as dealing with the disintegration of the Keep of Time and the threats of the Imperial Cartological Society. With a variety of characters from the past, both literary and scientific, and they mythical knight Don Quixote, they look for the way to save the two worlds from a terrible fate.
For children 10 and up this is a deep fantasy novel with elements of this world, other worlds, and time travel. A very enjoyable read.
The Shadow Dragons by James A Owen, read by James Langton
This book is part of the series The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica.
The current caretakers have gathered in the woods near Oxford to discuss the current challenge of the young girl Rose, the Grail Child, who was brought through to their time on a previous adventure. They are met by a man who introduces them to even more dangers and in escaping from one situation, find themselves involved in another.
As the Shadow of the Winter King tries to take control of both the Archipelago and the Summer Lands, they must find a way to fulfill the prophecy that prevents this as well as dealing with the disintegration of the Keep of Time and the threats of the Imperial Cartological Society. With a variety of characters from the past, both literary and scientific, and they mythical knight Don Quixote, they look for the way to save the two worlds from a terrible fate.
For children 10 and up this is a deep fantasy novel with elements of this world, other worlds, and time travel. A very enjoyable read.
First Novel
Finished April 29
The Cradle by Patrick Somerville
This novel was shortlisted for the Centre for Fiction First Novel Prize. It has two storylines. The first is around young Matthew Bishop and his wife Marissa. Marissa is eight months pregnant with their first child and expresses a sudden need for the cradle used for her own infancy. The cradle was taken by her mother years ago when she left Marissa and her father. Matthew takes on the quest to find the cradle, following lead after lead on its trail, and discovering something completely unexpected at the end.
The second storyline, set decades later is around children's author Renee Owen, who finds difficulty dealing with her son's deployment to Iraq. She is drawn back to memories of an lost love, and past secrets.
I was entirely caught up in the novel, and found Matthew a sympathetic character. I had some inklings of some of the books developments before they happened, but was still surprised. A very enjoyable read.
The Cradle by Patrick Somerville
This novel was shortlisted for the Centre for Fiction First Novel Prize. It has two storylines. The first is around young Matthew Bishop and his wife Marissa. Marissa is eight months pregnant with their first child and expresses a sudden need for the cradle used for her own infancy. The cradle was taken by her mother years ago when she left Marissa and her father. Matthew takes on the quest to find the cradle, following lead after lead on its trail, and discovering something completely unexpected at the end.
The second storyline, set decades later is around children's author Renee Owen, who finds difficulty dealing with her son's deployment to Iraq. She is drawn back to memories of an lost love, and past secrets.
I was entirely caught up in the novel, and found Matthew a sympathetic character. I had some inklings of some of the books developments before they happened, but was still surprised. A very enjoyable read.
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