I think that the things that must propagate have propagated, so I'm pleased to say that Read and Wonder is now Undusty. Both undusty.blogspot.com and www.undusty.com will lead you here, and everything from Read and Wonder now lives here--think of it like a URL and name change, just with the old blog being visible for a while!
I'm pleased to say that this was a painless move; Blogger's tools, pages, templates, and other features saved me a lot of time. That means that I will be able to go around following more blogs, offer more giveaways (look for a Gallagher Girls signed book soon!), and keep bringing new reviews from my archives to this blog with the time I've saved.
Today, though, I'm a little short on time! I should be wrapping up the 2004 reviews and interspersing more recent reads through the end of August and then starting on books from 2005. It's a blast from the not-so-distant past. Instead of a review today, however, here are two neat links:
Seussville, a new interactive site from Random House full of facts and fun about books by Dr. Seuss. One cool fact I learned: the Grinch wasn't green until he was animated. Note that this site has sounds, and not just in the video sections. Ah, nostalgia; when I was wee I had a cassette tape of Green Eggs and Ham, probably intended for a read-along, and it was so scary I cried. A lot.
Also, if you'd like to win a trip to Great Wolf Lodge, there's a Magic Tree House-related sweepstakes here. It looks like people over 14 will have to be the entrants, and all entries are due by November 1, 2010. There are 5 grand prizes of a 2-night stay for a family of four in a Family Suite, waterpark passes, 2 nights of dinner and 2 breakfasts for each registered guest for the duration of stay. Travel is on your own. I don't see the entry form, but it tells you where to go to look for it.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Book Giveaway Winner, and Another 2004 Review
First, congratulations to Debbie D, who wins Peter and the Starcatchers, and whose pirate name is Mad Prudence.
Watership Down by Richard Adams (Scribner)
I reread this in 2004, but I've re-read this many times over the years. In some ways, it's a comfort read, and in some ways, it's a puzzle. If you asked me if I liked books about animals or with animals as starring characters (particularly animals that have language), I'd say no, but something about this is different. On top of that, when I first read this book, I was definitely in a stage where I wasn't particularly interested in male protagonists, and the female bunnies in this book aren't portrayed very well. But time and time again, I overlook my annoyances.
Here's what makes this book worth reading. First, the epic journey: bunnies must leave their warren and escape danger, and find a new home. Second, and somewhat illogical: the reader knows more than the bunnies do, and the struggle for security is not quite the same as what would happen if this book starred people, so one is likely to engage with the things that do--and don't--happen along the way. Third, and maybe most important: the characters are really characters. Oh, I don't mean that they are all well-drawn and unique; some of the bunnies disappear into their supporting roles. But the ones that stand out, they really stand out. There's Hazel, accidental leader; Bigwig, loyal warrior; Fiver, tormented visionary; Kehaar, curmudgeon. They're all more than their archetypes, and considering their actions leads me to consider the actions of all sorts of people--their motivations, their fears.
Oddly, I might be most likely to recommend this for fans of The Lord of the Rings and similar, given the rabbit-lore woven throughout this book and the friends-on-a-perilous-journey aspect. And, if I were you, I'd skip the movie versions, but if you're curious, you can find excerpts on YouTube.
Watership Down by Richard Adams (Scribner)I reread this in 2004, but I've re-read this many times over the years. In some ways, it's a comfort read, and in some ways, it's a puzzle. If you asked me if I liked books about animals or with animals as starring characters (particularly animals that have language), I'd say no, but something about this is different. On top of that, when I first read this book, I was definitely in a stage where I wasn't particularly interested in male protagonists, and the female bunnies in this book aren't portrayed very well. But time and time again, I overlook my annoyances.
Here's what makes this book worth reading. First, the epic journey: bunnies must leave their warren and escape danger, and find a new home. Second, and somewhat illogical: the reader knows more than the bunnies do, and the struggle for security is not quite the same as what would happen if this book starred people, so one is likely to engage with the things that do--and don't--happen along the way. Third, and maybe most important: the characters are really characters. Oh, I don't mean that they are all well-drawn and unique; some of the bunnies disappear into their supporting roles. But the ones that stand out, they really stand out. There's Hazel, accidental leader; Bigwig, loyal warrior; Fiver, tormented visionary; Kehaar, curmudgeon. They're all more than their archetypes, and considering their actions leads me to consider the actions of all sorts of people--their motivations, their fears.
Oddly, I might be most likely to recommend this for fans of The Lord of the Rings and similar, given the rabbit-lore woven throughout this book and the friends-on-a-perilous-journey aspect. And, if I were you, I'd skip the movie versions, but if you're curious, you can find excerpts on YouTube.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Good News, Books!
First, the good news: you still have about 30 hours to enter the book giveaway here, and all you need is your pirate name.
And a book!
I Am Number Four by "Pittacus Lore" (HarperCollins)
I obtained an advance copy of this recently, and stayed up all night reading it--two nights in a row when I had class and homework due. This book starts with Four. He's changing his name, again, as he and his (effective) watcher hurry away from suspicion. In this Buffy-meets-Roswell-meets-Smallville adventure, a group of super-kids and their minders from another planet escape their home world just ahead of an alien invasion, and now they're growing into their powers here on Earth. The only problem is that alien monsters are out to get them--and no way can humans find out what's going on. Any of the group could be the next to die. If you were a fan of The Hunger Games, or if you have enjoyed recent books in the vein of The Maze Runner, or if you were, say, a fan of the TV shows I compared this to (adding, perhaps, Heroes), you'll probably enjoy this a lot. If you're a visual person, a movie is in the works already, and given the storyline, it promises to be an action film enthusiast's dream.
I do have to give some caveats about this book, because while I was on tenterhooks for the first hundred or so pages, I got pretty distracted by details in the next chunk of the book. I started having questions about how many periods the students had per day, the length of the classes, the size of the high school, and the number of teachers. Hey, I used to be a teacher; I think about these things! I was really scratching my head when the characters get in a truck that hasn't been in use in eight years, but it starts up just fine. The main character and friend roll into a small college town one Thanksgiving night and there are college students all over the place, toting bags into "bookstores, coffeehouses, and bars" (that's something I've never seen on a holiday evening before!). I found the female characters--except for one who comes in at the very end, and who is the reason I'll pick up the next in the series--to be thinly drawn. There was an offhand comment about glow-in-the-dark stars being something you'd find in a tween girl's room, and I've found that those aren't stickers that only one gender likes. The character came to Earth with a big bag of diamonds and sold them all at once to set up a bank account, which strikes me as something that would have caused some suspicion, as compared to selling a few at a time. There was a series of high-stakes scenes toward the end interrupted by a lot of exposition. And I have a handful of other objections that I could detail, but I think I've made my point.
Which leads me into my other point: Sometimes, if the bones of the story are good ones, I'll follow the author into another book in a series, or another standalone book. I actually really, really enjoy seeing that next book come along and I am thrilled when it's as satisfying as I predicted based on a rough-edged first book (especially when we're talking the second book, often categorized as the hardest one to write in an author's career). This book has some good bones in it, and I want to know what will come next.
The flip side is bad bones. There are some deal-breakers for me. I get very annoyed when books in a series don't have self-contained stories. Even if I need to read the whole series to get the idea, I require that individual books have story arcs of their own. I don't like it when characters move around in the plot just because particular things are supposed to happen; I want to think that the plot happened because the characters were making choices all along, that everyone/everything in the book had a hand in making the events and ending happen as it did. And probably most of all, I hate it when readers are underestimated. Give me a twisty plot! Speak in realistic ways, or use language that fits the story! Have reasonable problems and reactions, rather than making a choice that wedges yourself into the next scene! Teen, tween, or two-year-olds, readers know when they're being condescended to, and they're smarter than you think. And research; I can let some things slide because it's fiction, but out-of-place details almost flipped me from happy reader to sad reader here.
So, what are your deal-breakers? Has anyone else read I Am Number Four yet?
And a book!
I Am Number Four by "Pittacus Lore" (HarperCollins)I obtained an advance copy of this recently, and stayed up all night reading it--two nights in a row when I had class and homework due. This book starts with Four. He's changing his name, again, as he and his (effective) watcher hurry away from suspicion. In this Buffy-meets-Roswell-meets-Smallville adventure, a group of super-kids and their minders from another planet escape their home world just ahead of an alien invasion, and now they're growing into their powers here on Earth. The only problem is that alien monsters are out to get them--and no way can humans find out what's going on. Any of the group could be the next to die. If you were a fan of The Hunger Games, or if you have enjoyed recent books in the vein of The Maze Runner, or if you were, say, a fan of the TV shows I compared this to (adding, perhaps, Heroes), you'll probably enjoy this a lot. If you're a visual person, a movie is in the works already, and given the storyline, it promises to be an action film enthusiast's dream.
I do have to give some caveats about this book, because while I was on tenterhooks for the first hundred or so pages, I got pretty distracted by details in the next chunk of the book. I started having questions about how many periods the students had per day, the length of the classes, the size of the high school, and the number of teachers. Hey, I used to be a teacher; I think about these things! I was really scratching my head when the characters get in a truck that hasn't been in use in eight years, but it starts up just fine. The main character and friend roll into a small college town one Thanksgiving night and there are college students all over the place, toting bags into "bookstores, coffeehouses, and bars" (that's something I've never seen on a holiday evening before!). I found the female characters--except for one who comes in at the very end, and who is the reason I'll pick up the next in the series--to be thinly drawn. There was an offhand comment about glow-in-the-dark stars being something you'd find in a tween girl's room, and I've found that those aren't stickers that only one gender likes. The character came to Earth with a big bag of diamonds and sold them all at once to set up a bank account, which strikes me as something that would have caused some suspicion, as compared to selling a few at a time. There was a series of high-stakes scenes toward the end interrupted by a lot of exposition. And I have a handful of other objections that I could detail, but I think I've made my point.
Which leads me into my other point: Sometimes, if the bones of the story are good ones, I'll follow the author into another book in a series, or another standalone book. I actually really, really enjoy seeing that next book come along and I am thrilled when it's as satisfying as I predicted based on a rough-edged first book (especially when we're talking the second book, often categorized as the hardest one to write in an author's career). This book has some good bones in it, and I want to know what will come next.
The flip side is bad bones. There are some deal-breakers for me. I get very annoyed when books in a series don't have self-contained stories. Even if I need to read the whole series to get the idea, I require that individual books have story arcs of their own. I don't like it when characters move around in the plot just because particular things are supposed to happen; I want to think that the plot happened because the characters were making choices all along, that everyone/everything in the book had a hand in making the events and ending happen as it did. And probably most of all, I hate it when readers are underestimated. Give me a twisty plot! Speak in realistic ways, or use language that fits the story! Have reasonable problems and reactions, rather than making a choice that wedges yourself into the next scene! Teen, tween, or two-year-olds, readers know when they're being condescended to, and they're smarter than you think. And research; I can let some things slide because it's fiction, but out-of-place details almost flipped me from happy reader to sad reader here.
So, what are your deal-breakers? Has anyone else read I Am Number Four yet?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Book Giveaway!
First, I am pleased to say that I completed the Denver Publishing Institute! I have lots of things to catch up on, including a lot of e-mail and blogs, as well as revisiting and re-reviewing books I've read. I have a handful of books remaining from my 2004 reads, and then it's on to a mix of the greatest hits from yesterday and today, to borrow a line from radio!
In the meantime, a contest open to people with a U.S. mailing address! I have a hardback copy of Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson to give away. If you didn't read this when it was first out, it's a fun take on Peter Pan. I've read it, but I'm not quite ready to post my review yet!
For a chance to win, leave me a comment with your pirate name--one you make up or find on the internet somewhere. You'll also have to leave me a way to contact you; you can leave an e-mail address, but I recommend that you insert some extra spaces to prevent getting spam. If you'd like two chances to win, post a link to this contest on your blog--saying "Win a copy of Peter and the Starcatchers here!" with a link is plenty!"--and leave me a link in your comment. I'll count that as an additional comment for you when I do a random number draw on Friday, August 13, at midnight Mountain time. If you win, I'll e-mail you for your U.S. mailing address. I apologize for not being able to send books internationally!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Got Books Winner!
The random number generator at random.org tells me that Rebecca Wells is the lucky winner of the two books by Frewin Jones! I'll be e-mailing shortly for a mailing address. Congratulations!
If you didn't win, never fear--I have more books to give away. If you're a Gallagher Girls fan, I might have something you're interested in!
In the meantime, I have a few more weeks of school, and then I'll move from pre-scheduled posts about books I read in the past to a mix with things I'm reading now. Hint: If you haven't picked up Incarceron, do it now, before everybody on your block has one. And are you excited for Mockingjay? I just watched the book trailer, and I'm thrilled to see where the series is going!
If you didn't win, never fear--I have more books to give away. If you're a Gallagher Girls fan, I might have something you're interested in!
In the meantime, I have a few more weeks of school, and then I'll move from pre-scheduled posts about books I read in the past to a mix with things I'm reading now. Hint: If you haven't picked up Incarceron, do it now, before everybody on your block has one. And are you excited for Mockingjay? I just watched the book trailer, and I'm thrilled to see where the series is going!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Got Books? Giveaway!
I'm participating in the Got Books? Event this weekend, and that means it's your chance to get some free books! Through Got Books? I've found a bunch of fun new blogs to follow, so in appreciation, yes, books. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, I'll happily send you the following two paperbacks if you're the randomly-drawn winner from my blog comments.
If you like romance and magic, these books are for you. And, bonus, I haven't read these, so I'll gladly read your reviews.
To enter, leave a comment with your e-mail address (to prevent spam, you can space it out like this: myname @ somewhere com) telling me who your favorite princess is. Link me to your blog, if you have one! I'll make a random draw at midnight Mountain time the 24th, and mail you the books the following weekend.
And I should note that I'm very, very busy right now with a summer publishing course, so I've pre-scheduled my post and might not be able to visit all of the awesome blogs participating in the Got Books Event--but if you visit, leave me a comment and a link so I can visit you as soon as I can (school's out in two weeks)!
Edited to add: I have hundreds of books to give away, so please check back in the future!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Dr. Franklin's Island - 2004
Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam (aka Gwyneth Jones) (Random House - Laurel Leaf)Miranda and Semirah are stranded on a remote island following a plane crash. Unfortunately, that's just where a mad scientist has a lab--and is trying to turn people into animals and the other way around. The friendship between Miranda and Semirah as they struggle to escape and to stay themselves in an intricate one, allowing for readings on several levels. The mass market paperback includes an interesting discussion with the author on the various themes, from ethics to friendship, found within.
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