Quotable Quotes

Today's quote is by Neil Gaiman. He wrote "The Graveyard Book." In his Newberry Medal speech he said:

"Reading is important.

Books are important."

He continues....

"There. We who make the stories know that we tell lies for a living. But they are good lies that say true things, and we owe it to our readers to build them as best we can. Because somewhere out there is someone who needs that story. Someone who will be a different person. And who with that story may have hope, or wisdom, or kindness, or comfort. And that is why we write."

Love and the Goddess

Love and the Goddess by Mary Elizabeth Coen

Summary:

When cookery teacher Kate Canavan's perfect life falls apart she moves to Galway City. Kate's friend James urges her to love and nurture herself, but mischievous Ella persuades her to dust off her unused dating skills. So Kate explores the world of on-line dating using the name of a Greek Goddess. In the midst of a mad dating frenzy, Kate has a traumatic health scare which convinces her to drop everything and go in search of a guru. 

My Review:

Kate is a fun character. She's just your normal girl next-door. She's been married for 20-something years, and has a daughter in college. She works as a culinary teacher at a college and enjoys her life. Then everything changes. This book is about how she deals with that change and what she does to pick up the pieces and move on in her life. I like Kate. At first I thought I was kind of like her, but then when I got further into the book I realized that I'm not anything like her. But that's ok. Kate needs time to heal, and she finds herself traveling in order to do that. She finds a healer and a shaman to help her, and even though I don't really believe in those things as she does, it was interesting to read about. She also tries out online dating; some of her experiences were hilarious while others were scary. To me, this book is part Eat Pray Love (which I didn't love), and part online dating frenzy. It's different from Eat Pray Love because her reasons for finding the healer and shaman are very different, but some of her experiences are similar. I thought this book was well written. It has some fun characters in it, it has some light moments and some very serious ones as well, and it has some good messages in it. I felt bad for Kate because she hadn't envisioned going through any of it, but it was interesting to see how she coped. I didn't agree with all the decisions she made, or even where she ended up, but I, of course, wished her the best. There are some good messages about taking care of yourself and finding peace and solace in your life. It also talks about being brave and trying new things, which is good. I didn't like the messages of giving up too soon on important things, or of the unmarried "intimacy." She almost went from one extreme to the other, instead of finding a good in between balance. 

There are a lot of English (as in Great Britain) words and phrases in this book. Most of them I could figure out the meaning using the context, but there were a few that stumped me. There is some language in this book, and a lot of "intimacy." There are a few scenes and lots of discussions about it. There's even an almost-rape scene, which I did not like, and didn't think it fit well in the book. The man has an addiction to "intimacy." There are also a couple of people who are gay in the story. 

****GIVE AWAY!!!!!****

I do have a copy of this book to give away! If you are interested, you may either:

1. Comment below about which goddess you think best fits you or any funny online dating experiences you've had

2.  Comment below about why you should win. 

Pretty much, just comment and then I'll take all the comments and draw a name. You need to comment by tomorrow, November 5th. I'll do the drawing at the end of tomorrow. Good luck!!!

Rating: R (Language, a couple of gay characters, and lots of "intimacy.")

Recommendation: Adult

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bunny Cakes

Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells

Summary:

It's Grandma's birthday, and Max's sister Ruby says they are going to make Grandma an angel surprise cake with raspberry-fluff icing. But Max has a better idea: an earthworm birthday cake topped with Red-Hot Marshmallow Squirters. Now if only he can figure out a way to add Squirters to Ruby's shopping list...Brimming with color and fun, Bunny Cakes is a wonderfully satisfying story young readers will want to indulge in again and again.

My Review:

We love Max and Ruby at this house! I admit, Ruby can be a bit bossy sometimes, but, she kind of reminds me of me. I have hopefully grown out of my bossy stage, but I may have been a little like that when I was little. I know, hard to believe, right?? I was first introduced to this book by the Read For The Record 2014 day, October 21, 2014. I worked with our school's reading specialist to help our whole school read it. 

This is a fun book. I like the colorful illustrations, Max's persistence is, as usual, annoying to Ruby, and I love that he was able to find a way to make his cake at the end. My girls (6 and 9) enjoyed it. I like that Max shows determination in writing and getting his point across. It's just a fun picture book, and there may be some cooking instruction as well!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Summary:

"'I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion.' A summer evening's ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine room, and a runaway imagination--fired by philosophical discussions with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism, and the origins of life--conspired to produce for Mary Shelley this haunting night specter. By morning, it had become the gem of her Romantic masterpiece, FRANKENSTEIN. Written in 1816 when she was only nineteen, Mary Shelley's novel of 'The Modern Prometheus' chillingly dramatized the dangerous potential of life begotten upon a laboratory table. A frightening creation myth for our own time, FRANKENSTEIN remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written and is an undisputed classic of its kind."

My Review:

I have read this book a few times, and I reread it today because I realized that I haven't ever reviewed it, and I thought it would be perfect for Halloween. This is definitely a classic. I love the language and the rich vocabulary in this book. It does take awhile to get back into it, after reading many current novels, but I love it. Mary Shelley did a great job with this book. Although it is well known, the current trend is to call the monster Frankenstein, when in reality, it is the scientist that is named Frankenstein. The creature is never given a name, except for Fiend, Monster, and Creature. This book is morbid, if you think about it. And, even though technology may eventually be to where we could possibly create life, I hope we never do. The creature that Frankenstein creates is a very interesting character. He begins his life with hope and joy and innocence. The more humans that revile him, the more angry and fiendish he becomes. At times you feel sorry for him and at other times you are repulsed by him and his behavior. There are many human traits discussed in this book, and many of them are still with us today. This book is well written. The characters are very well developed and come to life on the page.

There are a few swear words, but they actually aren't really used as swear words in the book. There is no "intimacy," but there are several murders. There is also the ethics of giving life to a monster. I actually really do like this book, even though it is morbid.

Rating: PG 13+ (Several characters are murdered)

Recommendation: 14 and up

It's Halloween

It's Halloween by Jack Prelutsky

There are lots of children's picture books for Halloween, but this one is fun because it's a little longer and even has chapters! It's great for the second/third graders who want to read something a little more than a picture book. It's written in lyrical form, which is so fun, and it's all about the kids on Halloween. There are ghosts and goblins, jack-o-lanterns and witches. There are some tricksters, some goblins, and even a scare or two. The illustrations are cute and fun, and it's a story all the kids will love.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone (Silent Read: End of first grade, second grade, third grade)

The Dark

The Dark by Lemony Snickey

I didn't know Lemony Snicket wrote picture books until I picked this one up at the library. It's a cute story about Laszlo, who is afraid of the dark. He knows that sometimes the dark hides in the closet or behind the shower curtain, but it is always hiding in the basement. Then, when night comes, the dark comes out of hiding and spreads out around the house. One night the dark visits Laszlo in his bedroom. What happens after that helps Laszlo to not be so afraid. It's a well written story, it's clever, and the illustrations are simple yet well done. This story would be great for a child who really is afraid of the dark, and it's fun for Halloween as well. It has a good twist that teaches some valuable lessons.

I enjoyed this story, and my kids love it. I'm sure it is one of those books that we will check out and recheck out often.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

The Halloween Play

The Halloween Play by Felicia Bond

This is a cute little story. Roger's school class is putting on a Halloween play. They practiced, sent out invites, and were ready to perform. Roger had an important part in this play and he was a little nervous. He had to wait a long time, and then it was finally his turn! This is a short book but it is cute and fun. The kids like it. Kids who have been involved with school performances will definitely relate. The illustrations are well done and tie the story together nicely. This is a fun book to add to your Halloween stack.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

[Book Review] The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book 

by 

Neil Gaiman

Summary:

"It takes a graveyard to raise a child. Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy--an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack--who has already killed Bod's family."

My Review:

I had never heard of this book until my book group decided to read it this month. I really didn't know what to expect, and you know me, I do NOT read the backs of the books or summaries about the books I read, before I read them. I like to be surprised and I like to be taken on a journey. Well, this book did both. It definitely surprised me, and I was definitely taken an an incredible journey. I was a little hesitant about reading it when a family is murdered on the first page. The descriptions of the murders and the murderer have enough detail that you know it's awful and you know you never want to meet the man Jack, but thank goodness it doesn't go into too many gory and gruesome details. It's bad, don't get me wrong, but this is a middle-grader book, so it could be worse. From a mother's point of view, this part was horrible to read. Thinking about that baby made me sick to my stomach. And then even when he was out of immediate danger, really thinking about the logistics of what was happening still made me sick to my stomach. Luckily, the characters in this book save the day. As the reader you know that the baby is safe and that he will somehow be taken care of, and that is enough to immerse you in this world that Mr. Gaiman has created. The characters are so well developed. There is a hint of mystery to all of them, especially Silas, and it is just enough to make you wonder......Mr. and Mrs. Owens, Josiah Worthington, Caius Pompeius, Mother Slaughter, Scarlett, Mr. Pennyworth, Liza Hempstock, and Miss Lupescu each have their own places in this story, and they fit perfectly. This book is written and crafted very well. It does kind of jump from one random situation to another sometimes, but it doesn't take away too much from the story and it's not difficult to figure out what is going on. I really enjoyed this book. It's so different and unique, and so well crafted, that it's hard to put down. The graveyard becomes a well known and familiar place, and I will definitely think about graveyards differently when I pass by them now. The cemeteries around me are a little different because they aren't too old or creepy, but I went to Boston years ago and went to a graveyard that had a couple of the Founding Fathers' gravestones in it, and it was a little more spooky.

There isn't any language or "intimacy" in this book, but there is a family that is murdered, and there is a murderer on the loose that wants to murder again. It is a graveyard, so there are ghouls and ancient scary guys. There are a few situations that may be scary to some readers. I love how Mr. Gaiman puts all the different elements and characters together; his use of language is very creative.

Rating: PG+ (A family is murdered and the murderer is on the loose, graveyard characters and situations that could be scary to some readers.)

Recommendation: 6th grade and up (I would not go younger than 11 years-old)

[Book Review] T. Rex Trick-or-Treats by Lois G. Grambling

T. Rex Trick-or-Treats 

by

Lois G. Grambling

My boys were crazy about dinosaurs when they were little. We have tubs of dinosaurs. They don't get played with very often any more, and it's crazy, but I miss it. This book is cute, but I think I love it more because of the sentimental value. It reminds me of those crazy-fun dinosaur days. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and so much fun. The characters' expressions are great! The fonts are fun and different, and there are even different colors! I love the idea of the book that T. Rex wants to be something scary for Halloween. Hahaha.......is there anything scarier than a T-Rex dinosaur? T. Rex's friends try and help, but they end up taking all his ideas. So what does T. Rex end up being for Halloween? You'll need to read it to find out! The kids love this book! I love that there are repetitive phrases and words that even little kids can say, and I love that it reminds me of my cute little boys who loved dinosaurs. Even though they are big now (13 and 11), they will still sit with me and listen when I read this story. My girls (9 and 6) enjoy this book too! This Halloween book is definitely a keeper!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

Skeleton Hiccups

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler

"What's the best way to help a skeleton get over his bone-rattling teeth-chattering belly-laughing hiccups?"

This book is so fun. We have had it for a few years, and every Halloween this is the one the kids want me to read the most. We read it over and over. The poor skeleton and his friend ghost try everything to rid of his hiccups, and nothing works. When you're reading it you have to say, "Hic, hic, hic" many times, but I usually make the kids say it, and they think that's fun. The illustrations are great and well done. My kids love this story. It's different and fun for Halloween. 

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone