book review

Book Review: The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye

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The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye
The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye by Nancy Springer

My rating: 0 of 5 stars

A perfect conclusion to this wonderful series! Enola is once again on the case, this time tracking down the missing Duquessa, while avoiding her brothers Sherlock and Mycroft. All those mysteries that have been niggling at me for the entire series are finally resolved. Why did Enola’s mother run away with gypsies? How will Enola repair her relationship with her brothers without losing her freedom?

I was very glad to see more of Sherlock in this book, especially since the dialogue between him and Enola is priceless!
Enola is spunky and serious-minded and brave. She’s so resourceful and imaginative! I just love her character. She has a no-nonsense attitude, a kind compassionate heart, and an extra helping of independent spirit. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Dragon’s Child

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The Dragon's Child
The Dragon’s Child by Jenny Nimmo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a sweet little story about a dragon child who can’t learn to fly and gets left behind when all the other dragons migrate to other lands. Poor little dragon child has a hard time because his wings are too small, and everyone is exasperated with him and losing their patience waiting for him to fly.
He befriends a bird, who tries to teach him flying lessons, and an orphan girl, who brings him a lot of comfort in friendship. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home

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The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home
The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home by Catherynne M. Valente

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite by accident, September has been crowned as Queen of Fairyland – but she inherits a Kingdom in chaos. The magic of a Dodo’s egg has brought every King, Queen, or Marquess of Fairyland back to life, each with a fair and good claim on the throne, each with their own schemes and plots and horrible, hilarious, hungry histories. In order to make sense of it all, and to save their friend from a job she doesn’t want, A-Through-L and Saturday devise a Royal Race, a Monarckical Marathon, in which every outlandish would-be ruler of Fairyland will chase the Stoat of Arms across the whole of the nation – and the first to seize the poor beast will seize the crown.

A perfect ending to this magical series! I am, as always, enchanted with Valente’s writing style, and surprised by the plot twists, and utterly in love with every character!

I don’t understand why the GoodReads description says “A-Through-L and Saturday devise a Royal Race… in which every outlandish would-be ruler of Fairyland will chase the Stoat of Arms across the whole of the nation…”
That’s completely opposite to what actually happens in the book! No one chases the Stoat of Arms, and it is NOT A-L or Saturday who think up the race. That makes no sense. Who wrote this description?

One of the best things, of course, is all the little bits of wisdom and philosophy peppered through the story. There’s a sweet pathos and melancholy through all the series. Continue reading →

Play Review: Coriolanus

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Coriolanus
Coriolanus by William Shakespeare

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this play so much! This is the story of Marcius, a noble general in the armies of Rome who wins renown in battle, is renamed Coriolanus, and is promoted to consul. But the political machinations of Rome bring him down because he won’t pander to the people or speak sweetly to the rabble. It IS a tragedy, so of course we already expect him to die in the end.

I was intrigued by Coriolanus/Marcius’ tempestuous nature and rage that is tempered by his love of honor and justice. He has a high regard for noble deeds, and refuses to compromise to lesser men, and naturally his honesty is what gets him killed. Continue reading →

Book Review: Little House on the Prairie

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Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my umpteenth time reading this book, and I enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was a girl! There’s a simple charm to these stories of pioneer life that invites you in.
As always, Laura is my favorite character because she is spunky and brave and hilarious, while her sister Mary is prim and boring. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Dark Portal

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The Dark Portal
The Dark Portal by Robin Jarvis

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had to DNF this one. It’s boring, and the plot is trite, and the pacing is weird. I didn’t care about any of the characters, so after I stuck with it through 100 pages, I called it quits.

The writing is really condescending, and points out the obvious over and over. Continue reading →

Book Review: Black Water

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Black Water
Black Water by D.J. MacHale

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this exciting, fast-paced book, Bobby Pendragon is once again fighting against the evil Saint Dane, this time in the jungle territory of Eelong. Bobby is half-killed, nearly eaten by wild animals, thrown into jail, starved, beaten up, and nearly poisoned, so you know…. just a normal day for him.

This book, like all the others in this series, had me on the edge of my seat, clutching the book with white knuckles. The action just keeps coming, and the mystery unravels little by little. Just when you think you have it figured out, something smashes through the plot and turns everything upside down. Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: Anya’s Ghost

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Anya's Ghost
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anya is a Russian American with difficulty fitting in at school. When she falls down an old well, she meets a ghost who follows her around. Anya and the ghost become friends, but the ghost has secrets, and Anya has to find her true self in order to solve the mystery of her ghostly companion.

This story really surprised me! Just when I thought I had it figured out, the plot twists came at me. I love the artwork and the beautiful characters. The story almost seems superficial at first; fitting in at school and being accepted by the cool kids, but then the deep themes come in, like the nature of friendship and accepting yourself, the love of a family and how that can be a fortress against the world. There are so many good ideas behind the story that give it a powerful and meaningful message. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

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The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This little book was everything I wanted it to be! After seeing the movie many times, I had to read the book, and I was pleased to see that they are almost exactly alike, even down to some of the dialogue. Of course, I was imagining the actors through the entire thing, and I loved it!

Sweet little Mrs. Muir is widowed with two little children, and to escape her husband’s interfering relations, she moves into a cottage by the sea. But this cottage is haunted by an old sea captain’s ghost! Mrs. Muir befriends the ghost and the two learn to tolerate each other, and even support and rely on one another through the ups and downs of the years. Continue reading →