I read this title for Banned Books Week and also because I needed a ‘Z’ author. It’s an older book, written in 1968, so the content may have been a little more shocking back then, but really, I’m as conservative as they come, and I don’t have a problem with it at all. Yes, there is defiance of authority and alcohol reference, but with what our kids have to deal with in today’s world, this book is very mild in comparison. It’s actually a very poignant book.
I always like stories that show how strong bonds can be made with those you don’t expect — especially if you don’t have those strong bonds in your own family life. After John and Lorraine meet 50-ish Mr. Pignati, the three of them start spending more and more time together. At first the teenagers are a little embarassed by Mr. Pignati, who has a childlikeness to him, but soon the threesome are fast friends. Sadly, it’s the teenagers’ own immaturity that ends up threatening the friendship. Recommended.
After his wife Kath’s death, Glyn is going through all her paperwork and finds a folder with ‘DO NOT OPEN: DESTROY’ on it. Of course he opens it, only to find a picture of his wife holding hands with another man. Glyn then sets out to find out about the details of his wife’s life that he never knew about, and he finds out that he really didn’t know his wife all that well. As he finds out more and more, he needs to enlist Kath’s friends and her sister Elaine to fill in the gaps to the mystery, ‘Who was Kath, really?’
This book is about marriage, friendships, and family relationships. Who takes precedence over whom and why. Who really knows the true soul of a person and why. How does one even go about trying to find out the true self of a loved one? This book really engaged me because of the intertwined, complex relationships of all the characters and how they related to the ‘mystery’ of who Kath really was. Recommended.
I love mythology in general, and The Odyssey in particular, so I was hoping to love this book. I did. Margaret Atwood’s retelling of the famous myth from Penelope’s point of view is brilliant and quite humorous. As she tells the story from Hades, we get Penelope’s take on her father, Odysseus, Telemachus, and Helen among others. You probably have to know the story of The Odyssey fairly well to really get the full impact, though. If you’re familiar with the original myth, you must read this re-telling.
This was my fourth Atwood, and I’m looking forward to reading even more of her work during the second Canadian Book Challenge.
I first read Pippi over 30 years ago, and it has always had a special place in my childhood reading memories. Unfortunately, it really doesn’t hold up when read as an adult, at least for me anyway. I still enjoyed it (rated it a 4), and if I had a daughter, I would love for her to read it. I love how it shows Pippi’s independence and the way she’s mature but childish at the same time. I love her interaction with Tommy, Annika, and Mr. Nilsson. But, it just didn’t live up to my childhood memory of it. I adored this book as a youngster and wanted to adore it again. I liked it very much but didn’t love it. Perhaps some books are best left in our childhood.
This was one of C.S. Lewis’ favorite books, and it is obvious that Lewis borrowed quite a bit from MacDonald’s ideas. I found several passages that were very similar to passages in Lewis’ books. There is also a lengthy introduction to the book by Lewis that is well worth reading.
This 1850′s fantasy novel involves a man whose grandmothers were descended from the fairies. Because of this, he is granted access to a fairy land where he encounters several strange and wonderful creatures–some benevolent and some malevolent. Both he and the reader learn lessons in his journey through this land and back again to his home world.
“Yet I know that good is coming to me–that good is always coming; though few have at all times the simplicity and the courage to believe it. What we call evil, is the only and best shape, which, for the person and his condition at the time, could be assumed by the best good.”
Although I prefer Lewis’ books to MacDonald’s, I did enjoy this older fantasy tale. Earlier this year I read The Princess and the Goblin by MacDonald and enjoyed it very much. I plan to read the sequel The Princess and Curdie and also another adult tale, Lilith, in 2008.
This is a delightful story about eight year old Princess Irene, her great-great-great-great grandmother, and a miner boy named Curdie. Together they fight to foil the goblins’ sinister schemes. Little Irene is a true princess and acts like a little lady, while Curdy is a very brave and heroic boy.
Highly recommended for all ages. I will try to read the sequel, The Princess and Curdie, sometime this year as well. I am also set to read Phantastes by MacDonald for the Fantasy Challenge. I can’t wait to get to this more “adult” fantasy tale. I really enjoyed MacDonald’s writing, and I am not at all surprised that he was an inspiration to both Lewis and Tolkien.
sage – April 21, 2007
I’ve read a few of McDonald’s fantasies, but not this one. Thanks for the review
heidijane – April 22, 2007
Thanks for the review. Sounds like a book I may need to add to my (ever-growing) wishlist…
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (1 Peter 3:12-13, ESV)
I read this title for Banned Books Week and also because I needed a ‘Z’ author. It’s an older book, written in 1968, so the content may have been a little more shocking back then, but really, I’m as conservative as they come, and I don’t have a problem with it at all. Yes, there is defiance of authority and alcohol reference, but with what our kids have to deal with in today’s world, this book is very mild in comparison. It’s actually a very poignant book.
After his wife Kath’s death, Glyn is going through all her paperwork and finds a folder with ‘DO NOT OPEN: DESTROY’ on it. Of course he opens it, only to find a picture of his wife holding hands with another man. Glyn then sets out to find out about the details of his wife’s life that he never knew about, and he finds out that he really didn’t know his wife all that well. As he finds out more and more, he needs to enlist Kath’s friends and her sister Elaine to fill in the gaps to the mystery, ‘Who was Kath, really?’
I love mythology in general, and The Odyssey in particular, so I was hoping to love this book. I did. Margaret Atwood’s retelling of the famous myth from Penelope’s point of view is brilliant and quite humorous. As she tells the story from Hades, we get Penelope’s take on her father, Odysseus, Telemachus, and Helen among others. You probably have to know the story of The Odyssey fairly well to really get the full impact, though. If you’re familiar with the original myth, you must read this re-telling.
I first read Pippi over 30 years ago, and it has always had a special place in my childhood reading memories. Unfortunately, it really doesn’t hold up when read as an adult, at least for me anyway. I still enjoyed it (rated it a 4), and if I had a daughter, I would love for her to read it. I love how it shows Pippi’s independence and the way she’s mature but childish at the same time. I love her interaction with Tommy, Annika, and Mr. Nilsson. But, it just didn’t live up to my childhood memory of it. I adored this book as a youngster and wanted to adore it again. I liked it very much but didn’t love it. Perhaps some books are best left in our childhood.
