I’m an Aunt!
Joshua Paul Politi was born on Thanksgiving just after 6 pm, making me an Aunt. Here’s the Little Guy weighing in at 5 pounds 6 ounces in the arms of his daddy.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a land of seven kingdoms, some people are born with a Grace, an enhanced ability. This ability may manifest within days or years of birth, revealing itself suddenly and marked by differing eye colors. Some Graces are for swimming, cooking, archery, etc. And others are less obvious: mind reading, persuasion.
Katsa is just a child when she reveals her Grace by accidentally killing a man attempting to fondle her. After learning to control her Grace, she becomes the punishing hand of her King, King Randa of the Middlins. Unhappy but submissive in her brute role, Katsa performs her King’s commands.
When Katsa meets Po, a Graced fighter from the island kingdom of Lienid, the possiblity of a free life emerges. She breaks free of Randa’s grip, fighting for the weak. When She and Po embark on a mission to discover the truth behind a kidnapping, they learn horrors and face a danger that will test both their Graces.
Katsa is a herion as strong as Tamora Pierce’s Keladry (Protector of the Small series). Cashore weaves action with reflection and romance to acheive a well-balanced, exciting plot. She is a wonderful storyteller that reuses ideas (Xmen, Heroes, etc. echoed here) in a fresh exciting way. I couldn’t put this one down and look forward to more from the new author.
Movie Review: Twilight
After being thoroughly disappointed in the fourth Twilight series book, Breaking Dawn, I had to pump myself up to see the movie adaptation of Twilight. I dragged my boyfriend along. He was reluctant, thinking it would be a sappy romantic flick. I expected the same.
He walked away happy. I walked away conflicted. I was pleasantly surprised by some supporting cast performances: Jessica (Anna Kendrick), Carlisle (Peter Facinelli), Rosalie (Nikki Reed) and Charlie (Billy Burke). These four left the strongest impressions on me. The remaining Cullens… not so much. Jasper (while pretty mute in the book) was made comical with some success (they took it a little too far after his first introduction – I expected a more menacing look rather than deer in the headlights). Alice was cute but hardly pixie-like, as I had imagined her. Emmett was nonexistant while Esme had a few superficial lines. The deficiency in depth is understandable; it mirrors the first book. It is noticable only because the relationship between Edward and Bella pales compared to that described in the book.
Bella sighs so frequently! Edward speaks haltingly. Yes, there is tension but it just didn’t convince me that a deep relationship had been formed. Indeed, there courtship was rushed. While the movie stayed true to the book… and there were definitely small things that only those who had read the books would pick up on (Edwards smirking at Jessica, “She feels slighted” – his questioning glace during the cafeteria sceen, “Why can’t I read this girls thoughts?” – the apple in Edwards outstreatched hands, “Temptation”), I felt there should have been more time spent on the forging of this relationship. After all, so much of what happens down the road is because Bella and Edward love each other so unconditionally. I just didn’t feel the chemistry!
The 120 minute running time could have easily been expanded to ease the transitions between story lines. My boyfriend, while delighted it wasn’t all sappy, missed a lot of the plot because it wasn’t reinforced.
All in all, a decent adaptation for the target audience. I believe the next film will have a larger budget after such a strong opening so I’m looking forward to a more polished sequel. Jacob looks promising as well! Who knows, they may alter the fourth movie (if it gets done) and improve it (anything will be an improvement really).
——–
I have to revise. After reading In and Out of Place, I have to comment on the third person perspective. Maybe I was asking for too much between Stewart (Bella) and Patterson (Edward). It was difficult for Edward to “figure Bella out” and that came across. But what I didn’t see was how he went from frustrated to love. Sure, there were a few lines (“I tell you I can’t read your mind and you think something’s wrong with you.”) that showed he appreciated her unique thought process, but when does that become love? And Bella was more aggressive with Edward than I imagined.
Now I think of it, my frustration lies in the delivery of the lines rather than the lines themself and in the pacing of the film. I wasn’t completely disappointed… I just wasn’t completely sold either. Edward and Bella – as the couple -never clicked for me.
The Falconer’s Knot by Mary Hoffman
A story of friars, flirtation, and foul play. Set in medieval Italy, The Falconer’s Knot effortlessly weaves together the story of two youths: Silvano- sent to a Franciscan Friary in Giardinetto on suspicion of murdering the sheep farmer, Tommaso who is married to the much younger Angelica, admired by Silvano and his best friend, Gervasio… and Chiara - an orphan dumped at a convent adjacent to the Friary by her elder brother.
This is a book about characters. Hoffman creates a world at once different but familiar. It moves quickly from one character’s story to the next but I was never confused. I particularly enjoyed the arcs about the painter, Simone, the book illuminator, Frair Fazio, and the scenes discussing the preparation of colors. This information provided a lovely backdrop that set the reader firmly in the time period, while educating. The many murders throughout kept me hooked as well.
I could easily booktalk this title.
A Mad Tea Party
Clean cup! Clean cup! Move Down. ~The Mad Hatter
I hosted a Mad Tea Party for the kids (ages 5-8) this past Saturday. The evening before, I baked some Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Chip Cookies (nutless of course) and they turned out wonderfully! The day of, I picked up some doughnut holes from Dunkins and some raspberry tarts from La Scala (my favorite Italian bakery EVER).
Then I decorated the room: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, of course.
I picked up the Princess Tea set at Toys R Us the evening before (note: leave time to wash the sets before using them!). Prior to eating, I read three books: Which Hat is That?, Do You Have a Hat?, and The Magic Hat. Then we watched the clip of the tea party from Alice in Wonderland before sitting down to eat.
Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
I have been looking for this book for years! It was a favorite when I was a child, but I had only a vague recollection of the images and story. Imagine my delight when I came across it in our Easy Reader section.
Children’s Book Illustrator – Tricia Tusa
Thanks to Ms. Priscilla of Stafford, I am now aware of the fabulous Tricia Tusa, children’s book illustrator. Pictured above left to right: In a Blue Room (2008), Fred Stays with Me (2007), How to Make a Night (2004) and A Long Way (2003). I simply adore A Blue Room and A Long Way, about a little girl desirous to see her grandmother. Just fun and lovely. These are great for pre-school story telling or pajama tales.
Almost Home by Jessica Blank
As a Garden State Teen Book Award reviewer, expect to see a lot of YA book reviews in the coming three months. The first is Almost Home, a book that, like its title and characters, gets very close but never quite reaches its destination.
It is the story of Eeyore, Rusty, Squid, Scabious, Critter, Laura, and Tracy (who ties the characters together). They are homeless teens living on the streets of Los Angeles. Each has a reason for leaving home (abuse, boredom, abuse) and each has a chapter to tell his/her story. The plot is solid. The stories are loosely connected by Tracy.
What doesn’t work is the language. The chapters are told from a first-person perspective but the voices are not unique. Each character thought like the former; their language similar. Their word choice and phrasing when speaking about sex and drugs was too circuitous when I expected these gritty teens to be direct. There was a lot of introspection, which didn’t work for me. I would have liked to see more of their behavior instead of being force fed monologues about how each character feels. For example, the tidbits we see about Squid and Rusty through the narratives of Tracy and Critter are more than revealing enough about how each feels about the group. Their own rantings were too much.
Not as well written as, say, Story of a Girl by Zarr, which I think nailed the lower-middle class perspective and had a great story to boot (not that I am comparing the two plots), but it was an engaging read all the same.
Grade: B.
Have You Voted Yet?
Just returned from voting. No line. Helpful volunteers. Very smooth.
So Happy, I Could Cry
November 6, 2008 at 1:37 am (Commentary) (barak obama, child, fist, hand shake)
A President that actually reads the newspaper. I am filled with such hope… you just can’t fake this. Obama is the real thing.
Permalink Leave a Comment