Excellent reading of the fifth installment of "The Secrets of Nicholas Flamel." I read the print edition of this series almost ten years ago, and I'm Excellent reading of the fifth installment of "The Secrets of Nicholas Flamel." I read the print edition of this series almost ten years ago, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the audiobooks. Now I'm ready to go on to the final book of the series, The Enchantress....more
What a delightful little book! It's short, but it contains a wealth of uplift and inspiration on how children's books rekindle the imagination and senWhat a delightful little book! It's short, but it contains a wealth of uplift and inspiration on how children's books rekindle the imagination and sense of wonder in adult readers. The author points out that reading children's books is not mindless escapism, not a hiding place, but a seeking place. And we should read them without shame, unlike those grownups who acquired the Harry Potter books concealed in dull, gray, "serious" covers especially issued for adults, so they could read them on the bus or train without embarrassment.
I have been reading children's books for a long time without embarrassment. Decades ago I realized that many of these wonderful books hadn't even been written when I was at the "right" age for them, so why should I miss out on them? If I hadn't realized this, I would have missed out on Harry Potter, Paddington Bear, Narnia, and "His Dark Materials." And books by so many of my favorite authors, such as Diana Wynne Jones, Lloyd Alexander, Susan Cooper, Roald Dahl, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, and Eva Ibbotson.
After reading this book, I find myself hoping that others will be encouraged to dip into children's books and discover what they've been missing.
This is a wonderful, thought-provoking book in which a voracious reader and high school senior fights back when the principal bans more than 50 books,This is a wonderful, thought-provoking book in which a voracious reader and high school senior fights back when the principal bans more than 50 books, among them such modern classics as Speak, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Flowers for Algernon. Bibliophile Clara Evans starts running an underground library, or "Unlib," out of her locker. It's an inspiring tale that's a celebration of the power of books and friendship. I loved the characters, the story, the humor, and the quotations from the various banned books. I'm adding this one to my Favorites shelf. ...more
This is the second book in what has become a favorite cozy series of mine. I liked the mystery story the well-portrayed characters, and most of all I This is the second book in what has become a favorite cozy series of mine. I liked the mystery story the well-portrayed characters, and most of all I loved all the references to book titles, many of which bookseller Nora Pennington chooses to help people in need of healing. I especially enjoyed frequent references to some of my favorites, Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Highly recommended, especially to readers who enjoy "books about books." ...more
Kylie Strange, after breaking up with her boyfriend, moves from California to the village of Moody Bog, Maine, to open up a tea and herb shop. After fKylie Strange, after breaking up with her boyfriend, moves from California to the village of Moody Bog, Maine, to open up a tea and herb shop. After finding a mysterious book with occult powers hidden in a wall in her shop, she soon becomes involved with a friendly Wiccan coven, a helpful demon named Erasmus Strange, the local sheriff, and a biker gang that has its own demon.
I thoroughly enjoyed this supernatural fantasy. It's very well written, with some laugh-out-loud moments, some scary encounters with a succubus and an incubus, a bit of romance, and a cast of colorful, well-portrayed characters that were fun to read about.
Highly recommended, and I'll be reading the next book in the series very soon.
Far Rockaway, a rousing, swashbuckling tale of adventure by Scottish fantasy author Charlie Fletcher, is possibly the best book I've read so far this Far Rockaway, a rousing, swashbuckling tale of adventure by Scottish fantasy author Charlie Fletcher, is possibly the best book I've read so far this year.
It starts off ominously, as our heroine, Cat Manno, and her beloved grandfather are hit by a speeding fire truck while crossing a street in New York City.
Cat is in a coma, fighting for her life in a hospital, during which she finds herself in a world made up of the classic adventure tales her grandfather has read to her: The Last of the Mohicans, Treasure Island, and Kidnapped.
This book has just about everything: adventures, lots of stories, American Indians with tomahawks, sword fights, pirates (including Long John Silver), an island of evil dead (zombies), Scottish moors, much wisdom on the role of story in human lives, and a heroine who knows that real girls rescue themselves.
Recommended for all readers, both kids and adults, who love wonder-filled stories of adventure.
It was fun to revisit this imaginative fantasy via audiobook several years after first reading the print edition. I knew before my first read the realIt was fun to revisit this imaginative fantasy via audiobook several years after first reading the print edition. I knew before my first read the real-world identities of the three main characters. I won't give them away here, but if you don't know, you'll find out at the end of the book.
Narrator James Langton does a fine job of reading the story and performing the various roles, making each character distinctive.
The advantage of reading the print edition is that you can see the intricate, beautifully drawn illustrations by the author, James A. Owen. If I had to choose between editions, I'd go for the print one, but the ideal solution, of course, is to get both....more
This third entry in Brandon Sanderson's hilarious Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series is my favorite so far. This book has satire, adventure, fantThis third entry in Brandon Sanderson's hilarious Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series is my favorite so far. This book has satire, adventure, fantasy, science fiction, and quirky characters (among my favorites are Alcatraz himself, Grandpa Smedry, Bastille, Folsom, and Himalaya). And it's often quite silly, in a good way.
Be sure to read the first and second books before you start this one, or you'll be lost. I'm looking forward to reading the fourth book, but I've been hearing things about the fifth one that make me rather dread it (though I'll probably read it anyway). This series was written for middle-graders, but it really is a lot of fun for readers of all ages....more
Loading...
