Robert Cormier
Alfred A. Knopf
1977
I first read this young adult novel as an eighth grader, back in 1984. At that time I was impressed by the surreal feel of the storytelling and unnerved by the sinister and unresolved ending. After reading it again, I still carry some of those feelings for this story, but to a lesser degree. This could be for various reasons, for example: having read it previously, I knew what to expect; I have read many more books since then; and I have read more sophisticated later works by the same author. Either way, I an the Cheese is still a wonderful book that should continue to be read by young people.
Overview: A teenage boy takes a journey, by bicycle, and through remembrances, to figure out who he is and why he is here.
4 stars.
Ted Giles
The Easton Publishing Company
1965
This historical volume is poorly written, disjointed, dated, and extremely awkward to navigate. The author pools information and passages from various references and attempts to put them together in a way that makes sense to the reader. He failed.
Overview: Patty Cannon, with her husband and Son in-law, ran a criminal gang that kidnapped free blacks and sold them into slavery. Mrs. Cannon was eventually arrested after a chain of events that began with a horse getting stuck in a hole. Inside the hole was the body of a man killed by Mrs. Cannon.
2 stars.
Louise A Gikow
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
2009
Sesame Street is only two years older than me and I grew up with Sesame Street. I learned my letters and numbers (in English and Spanish) from watching Sesame Street. I learned about the importance of cooperation from Sesame Street. I had one of my first crushes on the Character, David. I cried when I heard that Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, died. I was 11 when the episode about his death aired, and our whole family watched it. So it is no surprise, at least to those that know me, that when I saw this huge book on the discount shelf I bought it.
This is a gorgeous coffee table book. Chock full of so many, stories, facts, images, and remembrances that it took me 6 months to make my way through it, reading a few pages a day, for a total of 304 pages.
This is a fantastic and informative read and a must have for any die hard fan of Sesame Street.
4 stars.
Isaac Asimov
Fawcett Crest
1950 (25th printing)
While dated in it's treatment of women and in style, this light novel about a time misplaced man can still be read and enjoyed. Substitute the words Earther, Earthman, etc.. with Black, Colored, Negro, Indian, or any other Earth "minority", and you have a not subtle commentary on race relations in the 1950s.
The plot was solved too easily, and for all Asimov's race commentary, he fell into stereotyping the one female character as little more than a hand-wringing, passive, love interest of the potential hero.
Not a perfect book, but a quick and intense read.
3 stars.
Terry Pratchett
Illustrated by Paul Kidby
HarperCollins
2001
This is an oversize illustrated Discworld novel.
Cohen and his Silver Horde, tired of their heroic lives, decide to go out with a bang. Their plan? To return to the gods what the first hero stole, with interest. Unfortunately, doing this will destroy Discworld, so Rincewind, Captian Carrot, and Leonard of Quirm are drafted to save the world.
This is a fast paced read, somewhat melancholy, and epic in scope, just the thing for saying goodbye to Cohen the Barbarian.
4 stars.
Terry Pratchett
HarperTempest
2003
Pratchett introduces a new main character, Tiffany Aching, a 9 year old, butter-churning, witch. When Tiffany's brother disappears, she joins forces with the Nac Mac Feegle to rescue him from the Fairy Queen.
This book is filled with tons of humor, adventure, and just plain fun.
4 stars.
Terry Pratchett
HarperCollins
2002
The 6th book of the Watch Novels (in the Discworld series).
Sam Vimes, of the Night Watch, is an expectant father (pretty much any minute now). He is also a veteran of the Lilac Revolution (which today happens to be the anniversary of). A criminal chase goes wrong, and Vimes finds himself back in time, just in time to witness the Revolution all over again.
5 stars.
Del Rey
2009
Things get more disturbing in this second volume of Faust Magazine. The stories are dark, the columnists are preoccupied with sex, and the authors are insecure about their reception in the Western World.
This was an interesting look into the teen/young adult mind of Japanese males.
My favorite section was the interview of two translators - very insightful.
2 stars.
Elizabeth Strout
Random House Trade Paperbacks
2008
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
I was given this book by my mother, after she read it. even though this is not a book I would pick up regularly, I did enjoy reading it. This novel uses snippets about different characters and how their lives intersect with the title character. At times, it could be very depressing, but it was a satisfying read.
4 stars.
Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice?
Paula Danziger
The Putnam & Grosset Group
1979
Paula Danziger was one of my favorite authors in middle school, so when I saw this novel recently I knew I had to read it. It turns out, that I had read it previously, each chapter spurring remembrances in my brain. This is a light story about a teenage girl dealing with family drama, boys, and peer pressure, typical teenage fare.
4 stars.
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