Longleaf by Roger Reid
Documentary producer Roger Reid makes his debut as a novelist with Longleaf, a young adult adventure thriller with a strong message about environmental preservation. Read the rest of my review on Blogcritics.org!
Monthly Archives: May 2007
Essential Books For Children
I want to start a conversation about what readers think are the books that no child should be without. I’m building a library for Superfast Baby, and here are my 10 must haves for boys and 10 must haves for girls: Boys: 1. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling 2. A House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs 3. Don’t Care High by Gordon Korman
Summer Reading Challenge
Regular commenters might have picked up on a little bit of news from Superfast Family, which is that I am expecting our first child in November. I’ve actually been reading a ton of books on pregnancy & childbirth but haven’t blogged about them because I’m reading them continuously throughout my pregnancy. Anyway, I thought I’d use the Summer Reading Challenge as a way to motivate myself to reach one of my pre-baby goals: I’m gonna read War and Peace. By August 31st. Hopefully sooner. I’ll…
Movie Version of Special Topics in Calamity Physics
I loved Half Nelson, so this news makes me very happy: Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, the duo who wrote last year’s Half Nelson, are teaming once again to adapt the Marisha Pessl novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics. According to Variety, Miramax will be funding the project. The book revolved around a teen who had been bounced around from one high school to the next due to her father’s eccentric lifestyle. During her senior year, she finally gets the opportunity to stay in the…
Now You Really Can Read What I’m Reading
Thanks to commenter Ian, who pointed out that the “recommended” feed wasn’t working. I’ve changed it & moved to the far left, so please check out the articles I’m linking to. Also, if any of you HTML savvy commenters can tell me what code I need to put in to keep the left column from butting up right underneath my banner, I’d greatly appreciate it. Should I put something after td valign=”top”? I just finished reading a new book by one of the great writers…
The Trouble with the Magical Talisman
Why is it that so many kids’ fantasy adventure books can be boiled down to: “Children find a magical talisman that transports them to a wondrous world where they must fulfill their destiny or be trapped for ever.” I swear I’ve read this book about a zillion times for work, and today was no exception. Some, like today, are better written than others but it makes me wonder if we’ve run out of stories with which to delight and dazzle children. Is it just me,…
Fifth Business by Robertson Davies
Synopsis: Schoolteacher Dunstan Ramsay looks back over his life, intertwined with that of a childhood friend and inextricably linked with a madwoman he desperately wants to believe is a saint. Review: I had no idea what I was in for when I began Fifth Business, the first book in Canadian novelist Robertson Davies’s Deptford trilogy. I have an older paperback and the copy on the back just says, “the story of a rational man who discovers that the marvelous is only another aspect of the…
Reading the Blogosphere
I like to discover new bookish bloggers because they have the best book recommendations. So I was happy to try the Blogroll Game where I found 3 new blogs of note: Between the Covers Book Nut So Many Books, So Little Time Check them out–and play the blogroll game!
A Bookish Brunch
I had brunch yesterday with fellow fast reader Alissa and Carey, who shared such astute insights into Brothers K. The time flew by, as it does when readers get together and get on the subject of books. It was such a pleasure to spend time with people who are as passionate about reading as I am. I got some book recommendations (I think I will be checking out Michael Chabon’s newest) and got to rave about mutual love for authors like Tolstoy and George RR…
Beyond the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Synopsis: Trinity High and the Vigils struggle to pick up the pieces after the fallout from the chocolate sale stunt, but when Vigils secretary Obie discovers that new student and loner Ray has a working guillotine, he sets in motion a plan for revenge.