Mole discovers the moon and thinks it's so beautiful that he has to pull it down and keep it. The reactions of the other animals are perfect.Mole discovers the moon and thinks it's so beautiful that he has to pull it down and keep it. The reactions of the other animals are perfect....more
Kipper and his friend Tiger have fun playing in the snow -- a gentle and fun story with the moral that wooly clothing isn't much good in the snow, unlKipper and his friend Tiger have fun playing in the snow -- a gentle and fun story with the moral that wooly clothing isn't much good in the snow, unless you're a dog....more
This is a cute story about a dog whose owner reads him a book about wolves, and he decides to try it out. Being a wolf doesn't work out quite as he plThis is a cute story about a dog whose owner reads him a book about wolves, and he decides to try it out. Being a wolf doesn't work out quite as he planned....more
A book about the language of food. Contains some interesting anecdotes and a few amusing apocryphal legends about the origin of food-related foods andA book about the language of food. Contains some interesting anecdotes and a few amusing apocryphal legends about the origin of food-related foods and phrases.
One of the best sections is about food laws. For example, in Lexington, Kentucky it was once illegal to carry an ice cream come in your pocket....more
It's okay. Has some interesting stories about how to put together displays and create an environment where shoppers will want to shop.It's okay. Has some interesting stories about how to put together displays and create an environment where shoppers will want to shop....more
About as fun as the first one. Lee and Taro's relationship deepens and becomes -- apparently -- more confusing, at least to the principals involved, aAbout as fun as the first one. Lee and Taro's relationship deepens and becomes -- apparently -- more confusing, at least to the principals involved, against the backdrop of some equally confused weather, with snow one day and brutally hot temperatures the next. Meanwhile, the disasters have stopped, and the town has become completely dead. Also coincidentally, lesser aristocrats are disappearing......more
Barely three stars. The language is overblown, the characters are flat and rather badly stereotyped, and the author seemed to feel that repetition makBarely three stars. The language is overblown, the characters are flat and rather badly stereotyped, and the author seemed to feel that repetition makes a point more believable or poignant. For example, she rightly decries the slaughter of innocent French aristocracy, but does it in effectively the same words every time -- and does out by telling rather than by showing. It's not a patch on A Tale of Two Cities....more
This is a great coming-of-age story. I read the first three books in this series when I was a kid, but had trouble keeping interest in the last two. TThis is a great coming-of-age story. I read the first three books in this series when I was a kid, but had trouble keeping interest in the last two. This one reads much better as an adult, although I think early teens would probably like it.
Taran, an orphan assistant pig-keeper in the household of the enchanter Dallben, goes questing in search of his parents and discovers himself along the way.
The story is well-written, if a little thin in descriptive detail....more
A rather formulaic almost mystery where the main character is a down-on-his luck private eye. Set in New York in 1938. The history was fun, but the stA rather formulaic almost mystery where the main character is a down-on-his luck private eye. Set in New York in 1938. The history was fun, but the story was kind of flat....more
This is the story of a young Chinese woman (doctor) who marries a young man (doctor) shortly after the Communist takeover in China. He is soon sent inThis is the story of a young Chinese woman (doctor) who marries a young man (doctor) shortly after the Communist takeover in China. He is soon sent into Tibet to treat troops injured in the fighting there. Not too long afterward, she receives a letter saying that he's dead, with no other information. She decides that he's not dead and joins the army to go into Tibet to find her husband. She gets stuck there, living with Tibetans, eking out a living, until they decide to help her find her husband.
The story is sweet, but spare on conversation. It also covers a pretty long time period for such a short book, so it feels a little thin. But the history and insight into Chinese and Tibetan culture is fascinating.
I probably wouldn't have picked this up if not for my annual challenge to read books by authors whose first or last names start with all the letters of the alphabet, but I'm glad I did....more
Reads a bit like a travel brochure written by someone who had never been to the places and had only read or talked to people from the areas who panderReads a bit like a travel brochure written by someone who had never been to the places and had only read or talked to people from the areas who pander in stereotypes. In places it's about as exciting as the travel brochure, too. But other portions are pretty good....more
Would be young adult if it weren't so gory. The subject matter is not for the faint of heart. There's quite a bit of ugly in it wTwo and a half stars.
Would be young adult if it weren't so gory. The subject matter is not for the faint of heart. There's quite a bit of ugly in it without much hope. The main characters (protagonists included) are all amoral or immoral, which really bothered me....more
Pretty good. The world he builds is fascinating, but the characters are rather flat and one-dimensional. The last couple of chapters are quite good, bPretty good. The world he builds is fascinating, but the characters are rather flat and one-dimensional. The last couple of chapters are quite good, but it's obvious that this is a series where the books don't stand alone and leave the reader with a satisfied feeling when the book runs out of text. I may have to see if I can find the rest of the series, but that's always dicey with older books and series at our library. *sigh*...more
A rather short picture book with the story of Tam Lin. The illustrations are colorful and interesting, and the story is well -- if briefly -- told. TaA rather short picture book with the story of Tam Lin. The illustrations are colorful and interesting, and the story is well -- if briefly -- told. Tam Lin is a young man who was stolen by the faeries several generations back. At the same time, the great house near where he was captured was abandoned and children were cautioned never to go there.
Jennet, whose family owned the land on which the house stood, returns to the house on her sixteenth birthday to reclaim her inheritance, despite warnings not to. She summons Tam Lin by accident and learns that he is to die within the week on All Hallows' Eve. She determines to save him....more
Light, sort of brain-dead mystery. Funny in a quirky kind of way. Nothing deep here, but it's a fun read.
The Spellman family has a private investigatiLight, sort of brain-dead mystery. Funny in a quirky kind of way. Nothing deep here, but it's a fun read.
The Spellman family has a private investigation business. This has made them into a family of snoops who inflict themselves on others. Izzy, the main character, manages to get absolutely everything wrong on the main (unpaid) mystery -- uncovering the identity and privacy of a new neighbor -- while solving three other minor mysteries along the way.
Izzy's stupidity is sort of charming, but her little sister and her imposed-upon friend the police inspector steal the show....more
A fresh take on Faust (which I have to admit that I've never read). The "gifts" given to the kids who sold their souls are clever. The envisioning of A fresh take on Faust (which I have to admit that I've never read). The "gifts" given to the kids who sold their souls are clever. The envisioning of demons as governesses is interesting.
The characterization is a little shallow, and the plot elements surrounding use of the gifts are very high school prankish. The story's kind of dark, befitting the topic....more
Pretty good. Some of the one-liners are funny. There's nothing particularly deep here, but the story is well-written and the characterization is good.Pretty good. Some of the one-liners are funny. There's nothing particularly deep here, but the story is well-written and the characterization is good.
Clary (curiously self-referential name from the author) goes to a club with her friend Simon and sees some kids dispatch a demon in the back room. She discovers that her mother has been keeping secrets about their past, and that she is pure-blooded Nephilim (or presumably Nephil, since Nephilim should be the plural, yes? but they never use the term that way), or Shadowhunter: someone who with training can fight interdimensional demons who want to consume all life....more
The plot is riveting, characterization is pretty good. Brandon does a good job of building the tension all the way through the second book (the typicaThe plot is riveting, characterization is pretty good. Brandon does a good job of building the tension all the way through the second book (the typically dark act of any three act play). Just when you think the tension can't get any worse with three armies camped outside the gate, an even greater challenge rises... and... book three.
Now I have to read the third one. This one was as unfortunately violent as the first book, though. You've been warned....more
A fun mystery with a twelve-year-old female protagonist who is crazy about chemistry -- poisons in particular. The plot was a bit predictable, but theA fun mystery with a twelve-year-old female protagonist who is crazy about chemistry -- poisons in particular. The plot was a bit predictable, but the author did a great job capturing the hate-love-hate relationship of sisters, especially when one of them is an obnoxious twelve-year-old....more
Loading...
