The Graveyard Book

Just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - well, I have a known weakness for children's books. I heard a good review of this somewhere and I also know that Neil Gaiman is the author of the Sandman anime series. Surprisingly, the illustrations were not done by Gaiman. It's a very good story, with some nice spookiness, and some touching parts. And it was a Newbery Award winner! Strong recommendation for those who appreciate fantasy or spirits (not for you, Linda!)

Treasure Island- Will's review

Wow... I must say, this review seems a little outdated for many of those who have had the good sense to read Treasure Island in the golden years of their youth... Or at least, those who read it before I did. But, for those who have not read it yet, fear not! It is a book for those of any age, and (if I may say so myself) this is the reason that it has endured for so long.

The story focuses in on Jim, the son of the innkeepers of the "Admiral Benbow", a pleasant inn not unlike any other. The arrival of one particular sailor, who is rowdy and likes drink too much for his good, is the catalyst to the plot. The man, demanding to be called "Captain", has a past wrapped in secrecy, but deathly fears other seafaring men, and when one such a man comes to deliver a dire message, the captain dies from his weak heart. From there, it's all downhill as Jim finds in the man's trunk a most mysterious chart, which tells of the location of fabulous treasure, on a mysterious island far out to sea. He soon, with the respected Doctor Livesie and the bumbling Mr. Trelawney, sets out upon a voyage for this treasure, where he gets more than he bargained for.

The basic plot may seem trite to anyone familiar with Treasure Hunt stories, but, it should be remembered that this book is the one that spawned all the cheap imitations that have become so much more well known today, and may even claim to be inspiration for the popular series "Pirates of the Caribbean". The original is fantastic, and is a thousand times better than any knockoff you can find. It has my highest praise for its comedic scenes, its sorrowful scenes, and even all the confusing sailing terms in between.

In short, to any who have not read this wonderful book, READ IT! To those who have, I recommend that you re-read it, as it is the kind of book that cannot be fully enjoyed the first time through.

Treasure Island

Just finished reading Treasure Island aloud to the boys. I've read it a half dozen times, and always with fresh pleasure. Stevenson is probably my favorite author - the best storyteller I have ever read, who seems to take immense delight in people, both good and bad. Long John Silver has my vote for most fascinating character in all literature! And the fact that it's all about the sea and sailing is icing on the cake for me!

SCAT

In the days leading out of the Ohio JO Champs, I have read SCAT by Carl Hiaasen. I found this to be a very good book and had the urge to flatly refuse putting it down to do jobs. The narration (Third person) switches around between characters which helps drive the book forward and keeps you reading. SCAT is the third novel in a series of books set in Florida about preserving wildlife. This book deals with a mix of plots and goals including: Returning a baby panther to its mother, successfully and secretly drilling oil on state property, learning to live left handed, finding a missing teacher, and escaping from jail when framed. There is so much going on that this becomes a very interesting and worthwhile read. I highly recommend it.

Ironweed

Dad recommended Ironweed, by William Kennedy, to me a while ago, and I finally got around to reading it.

I really enjoyed reading it, although it was very grim. I especially loved the fact that the main character, a violent bum, is literally haunted by the ghosts of his past... spooky and intriguing. The voice of the novel is engaging, and the variety of narrative styles is unique. An interesting picture of poverty and alcoholism in 1938.

I would recommend it!

I got over it

Family members know that I really like Philip Pullman and loved The Golden Compass.....right up to the very end, when I was infuriated by the actions of Lord Asriel. It has taken me a couple years, but I finally "got over it" and read The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Pullman is a wonderful storyteller, with an astounding imagination. There were many vivid and wholly likable or admirable characters - let's vote! Here are my rankings of favorite (well, I included some that would be more accurately characterized as "most vivid") characters:

1. Iorek Bynison
2. Lee Scoresby
3. Serafina Pekkala
4. Will Parry
5. The Golden Monkey (elected "Most Hateful Character in All Literature" six years running!)

Also, apart from the irresistible story, near the end of The Amber Spyglass, I was powerfully affected emotionally by the caring shown by the older, wise advisors, toward the young Lyra and Will.

You are an ascetic!

The Brackenbury-Parysek Tribe is gearing up to read Dante's Inferno (in English, with some attention to the facing-page Italian original). But what are you waiting for? here's what Jorge Luis Borges says:

The Commedia is a book that everyone ought to read. Not to do so is to deprive oneself of the greatest gift that literature can give us; it is to submit to a strange asceticism. Why should we deny ourselves the joy of reading the Commedia?

Morewell

Finished Why Orwell Matters by Christopher Hitchens - some parts were lively and interesting: For example, Hitchens observes that Orwell was an early and influential commentator on popular culture! Hitchens devotes a large portion of the book to defending Orwell against attacks by prominent leftists, deliciously skewering some, but this part went on too long for me.

Better is reading Orwell himself. Orwell's essay Lear, Tolstoy, and the Fool is very interesting, and Reflections on Gandhi has this very thoughtful observation:

The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection, that one is sometimes willing to commit sins for the sake of loyalty, that one does not push asceticism to the point where it makes friendly intercourse impossible, and that one is prepared in the end to be defeated and broken up by life, which is the inevitable price of fastening one's love upon other human individuals. No doubt alcohol, tobacco, and so forth are things that a saint must avoid, but sainthood is also a thing that human beings must avoid.