The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

304 pages
Published 2011
by Knopf Books for Young Readers 


The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is the third in a coming-of-age series about the Penderwick family (a widower dad and his five daughters) by  Jeanne Birdsall.

I first discovered the series in 2008 when I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. The next year I read the sequel, The Penderwicks of Gardam Street, which made me fall even more in love with the series. And so when I learned that the third book would be published in May 2011 I was quick to put in a request for a copy at my local library.

The Plot: 
The Penderwick family is going to be split up for summer vacation for the first time ever! Rosalind is off to the beach with friends, which leaves Skye in charge as OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick),  which terrifies Skye. Thankfully the girls' friend Jeffrey is joining them so it looks to be a fun summer after all... And it definitely is a fun summer filled with all sorts of adventures and a few discoveries that will change the lives of all involved. There are moments of laughter and of tears, but most of all it's the type of summer no one will soon forget (including the reader)! To learn more check out the full summary on Jeanne Birdsall's website.

My Thoughts:
The third installment in the Penderwick series does not disappoint. It is just as delightful, charming and fun as the two preceding books and at the same time it is a completely fresh story with new adventures for each member of the family.

As is the case with Mrs. Birdsall's previous two Penderwick books the writing remains simple, but clear and creative all the while keeping the story believable and enjoyable not just for her young readers, but for adults too.

If you are looking for an entertaining read that also gives you a feeling of nostalgia (for books of yesteryear) and yet still relevant to today's kids then look no further than The Penderwicks At Point Mouette... Although I will suggest you start at the beginning of the series if you've not yet read them.

According to her website, Mrs. Birdsall plans to write two more books for the Penderwick series. I look forward to the next edition and as she is one of my favorite modern authors I also plan to keep my eye out for any of her other future works.

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Related Links:
Jeanne Birdsall's Website 

The Penderwicks (reviewed)
The Penderwicks of Gardham Street (reviewed)

That Dodger Horse by Delos W. Lovelace

177 pages
Published in 1956
by New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company

Note: This is another book that I read in 2010, but I am only now getting around to reviewing. Please pardon the delay.

As regular readers of this blog will remember I am a big fan of Maud Hart Lovelace, so much so that I host an annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge every autumn. In the months leading up to the 2009 challenge (and during the challenge) I re-read Maud's popular and well-known Betsy-Tacy series as well as her recently republished Deep Valley series. Then in 2010 I expanded my reading to books outside the familiar and I read Gentlemen From England, a novel Maud co-wrote with her husband, Delos W. Lovelace. This in turn led me to pick up another novel by Delos, one written for young readers titled That Dodger Horse.

I am particularly intrigued with Delos, not only because he was an avid writer (journalist, biographer, and novelist), but also because he was the man that Maud loved. If she were Betsy then he was her Joe. In fact, she makes it no secret that she used many aspects of Delos when she created the character Joe Willard in her Betsy-Tacy books. And so, when I picked up That Dodger Horse and read that it was inspired by some of the adventures Delos had as a child while visiting his uncle's farm, I knew I was going to enjoy the read. It seemed exactly the type of book that Joe Willard would have written.

The Plot:

"A farm in Minnesota sounded like the end of the world to Glen. Any baseball teams there were certain to be small-town stuff, and even rumors of a tricky Morgan horse didn't intrigue him.

It was a big surprise to get out of the plan, meet Uncle Orlando, and find that Minnesota was a pretty nice place. It was a bigger surprise to find he liked the farm, and that it wasn't hard to make new friends. There was even a shortstop berth on the Grassy Point baseball team. it wasn't a bad team, either, though Otto Bolger, its star batter, seemed to dislike anyone he thought was a city slicker. It was Otto who dared glen to explore the dangers Indian Woods and got him into bad trouble.

The best part of the summer came with Dodger. Uncle Orlando bought the Dodger horse, a horse everybody knew you couldn't trust because he was so full of mischief. No doubt about it, Dodger was an extraordinary animal. He proved it that disastrous summer afternoon when the dark, whirling tornado hit.

From start to finish, it was an unusual vacation. By September Glen has changed a lot of his ideas. And those who read this lively, entertaining story will agree with Glen that a summer in the country with that Dodger horse is about the best thing that could happen to anyone." (Summary courtesy of the publisher.)

My Thoughts:
That Dodger Horse is a charming story filled with the innocent and fun loving adventures typical of children from my father's generation. As I read I could imagine my dad, as a young boy in the 50s and 60s, doing many of the same things -- playing baseball or dropping off a rope swing into a fishing hole or maybe exploring nearby woods with one of his friends.

The only drawback is that the book is a little dated, but that is to be expected of a book that is nearly 60 years old. The obvious difference is with the language (i.e. vocabulary, slang, a turn of phrase, etc.) are clearly from a different time, but rather than finding them hokey, I felt they made the story that much more interesting and fun for me to read. The only objectionable scene that I can remember is after Glen disobeys his uncle, which nearly results in some terrible consequences. To some this part of the story may be objectionable, but I believe taken in context of the time and place where the story is set it doesn't darken the story and perhaps a lesson can be learned by more then Glen.

Overall That Dodger Horse was a light and entertaining read and I am glad I tracked down a copy (even if it is a slightly marred library discard). I think, depending on the reader, That Dodger Horse could easily be enjoyed by young and old readers alike. Yes, the clothing styles and turn of phrases have changed, but the love for adventure that is born in every child's heart remains the same from generation to generation.

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Related Links:

If you like the sound of That Dodger Horse then be sure to check out a few other titles that you might likewise enjoy:

* Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield
* A Dog Called Scholar by Ann H. White (reviewed)
* Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (reviewed)
* Henry Huggens by Beverly Cleary
* Smoky, The Cow Horse by Will James (reviewed)
* My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craigshead George (reviewed)
* The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall (reviewed)
* Mr. Wilmer by Robert Lawson (reviewed)
* Freddy Goes to Florida by Walter R. Brooks (reviewed)

Gentlemen From England by Maud & Delos Lovelace

361 pages
Published in 1937
by The MacMillan Company
New York, NY

Although Maud Hart Lovelace is best known for her books for children and young-adults (e.g the Betsy-Tacy series) she also penned a few novels for adults, two of which she collaborated on with her husband, Delos. Gentlemen from England is the second of these two, the other being One Stayed At Welcome, which I read and reviewed for last year's MHLRC.

The Plot:
To Crockett County, Minnesota, in the decade following the Civil War, comes a colony of English gentry to establish great bean farms, at the instigation of a clever promoter who has persuaded them that they can obtain for a pittance vast estates, more beautiful and more profitable than any in England.

The plot centers around Richard Chalmers, third son in an English family, who loves farming and comes to America full of ambition. In Rainbow, he is thrown without preparation into the maelstrom of a new and strange life. How he becomes involved with one woman and falls in love with another; how scandal makes him virtually an outcast in the town; how the land to which he has turned for refuge fails him; how he rescues an enemy from lynching, and how he organizes the Rainbow Riders and comes back into the town's favor make exciting reading." (Summary courtesy of the 1937 edition)

My Thoughts:
Gentlemen From England is a darker story than most that Maud Hart Lovelace fans have come to love and expect. Still, and in spite of this, Gentlemen From England ranks as a favorite read of mine for the year. Sure, some may call it a "pot boiler" for it has a LOT of drama, but I honestly don't agree with that label. Yes, there is plenty of drama, but it is a well researched and well written novel and it makes for an exciting and compelling read; a book that I just didn't want to put down.

The darker aspect of this novel comes in the form of some pretty tough topics, especially for 1937 when the novel was published. Issues like spousal abuse, extra-marital affairs, alcoholism, gambling, animal abuse, teenage pregnancy, suicide, and social ostracization are the most serious. But the story also deals with the loss and failure typical for frontiersmen and women of that era. It thankfully also includes a good share of achievement, redemption, second chances, and of course love. And what makes this such a enjoyable read is that the good and the bad are handled with a fair amount of delicacy. The reader knows what is going on without having to know every graphic detail. It is enough to know that one character kicks a dog without having to read the details of the time he kills a horse. Or that another character falls in love resulting in an unplanned pregnancy without the love scenes so vividly portrayed in modern novels.

The only other "dark" aspects of this book include the use of mild profanity by certain characters and the influence of astrology by one character. The profanity startled me at first, but I was able to overlook it as it felt in character with those who used it. In other words, typical for the time, place and person. As for the astrology, I admit it was a bit of a hang-up for me since its something I don't believe in. I found it distracted me from appreciating the character, but in the end her personality won me over and I was able to ignore the part I didn't agree with.

Within Gentlemen From England the Lovelaces tell a few love stories, some end tragically, others with hope of a future and still others with definite happiness, but what is interesting is that below the surface of these human relationships there is another love story, one more subtly woven, that of an Englishman and the land.

Overall I took the good with the bad and found in the end that I really really really enjoyed this story. It has everything that a general reader could enjoy -- adventure, drama, tragedy, romance, comedy, history. No, it's not a "pot boiler". I think it's an excellent book and worthy of being read by Maud Hart Lovelace fans.

The good news it isn't really out of print. I mean it is, but it isn't. In 1993 the Minnesota Historical Society reprinted Gentlemen From England and copies are still available through their website. This edition includes an introduction by Sarah P. Rubinstein that details the extent of research the Lovelaces conducted in order to write the novel. Although I've yet to read the introduction (my copy of the book is still on its way to me), I think it will only add to the enjoyment of this book.

The copy I read was a first edition borrowed through ILL. I checked online and copies like the one I borrowed are valued over $100 a piece. (Yikes!) Oh how I'd love to own one of these, but just cannot afford one at that price.

For those interested, but not quite committed you can read sections of the book on Google, but be warned this is not the novel in its entirety. Several pages and chapters are missing, including the whole last quarter. But if you ask me just go and get a copy to read. If your library doesn't own a copy, check Inter Library Loan. Even if you have to pay to borrow (as some ILL programs require) it is usually only a couple of dollars. If you are a committed MHL fan like I am you might consider springing and paying the $9-13 plus shipping for your own copy. If you choose the latter I think you'll be pleased.

Happy reading!

Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan - A reivew & children's pick of the week

94 pages
Published 2009
by Greenwillow Books
An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

As I have mentioned in the past, our library is currently under construction and as such has moved to a temporary location. This location is far too small, but it is better than no library at all. Story time is held in a corner of this new space tucked in between the non-fiction children's books and the juvenile literature. Occasionally while I am sitting with my daughter listening to the librarian read a story or introduce a song I will glance around and see a book I want to examine. Last week Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan caught my eye. I'm a sucker for bunny rabbit stories (but more on that later) so I added the book to our pile to borrow and read it over the weekend, immediately fell in love with the muted watercolor illustrations.

The illustrations are by no means Beatrix Potter-like. They are more dream-like in their depiction than they are real life-like. Still, the fit perfectly with the type of story that Emmaline and the Bunny is and I couldn't help, but have my heart melt at the sight of the little bunny with notch in his right ear and two very big and very dark eyes.

The Plot:
Emmaline and the Bunny is the story of Emmaline, a little girl who lives in a very tidy town called Neatasapin (neat-as-a-pin). Unfortunately Emmaline is NOT a tidy child. She likes to hop like a bunny, jump in water puddles until she's sopping wet, and cry out words like "Hoopalala!" and "Dinglederrydee!" But the trouble all begins when Emmaline decides she would like a bunny rabbit for a pet.

Orson Oliphant, the mayor of Neatasapin is a very tidy, very unhappy man who had banished all things untidy, dirty, or otherwise wild from the town limits including bunny rabbits.

Suddenly one day Emmaline sees a wild rabbit and follows him through a hole, much like Alice in Wonderland, and discovers a place called Untidy where all things dirty and wild live -- be they animals, weeds or dirt. Here she becomes friends with the rabbit whom she names "No More Only" and learns that in order to continue her friendship she must return home and create an "invitation" -- not a card, but a place that invites the bunny to live in comfort and peace. This means dirt, untidiness, and permitting things like weeds and bushes to grow. Is such a thing possible in a town like Neatasapin? What about Mayor Oliphant?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this little book and there were several things I loved in addition to the aforementioned water color illustrations.

For starters, I loved the simplicity of this story. It's the type of story that could easily be read aloud to a young child or enjoyed by a new reader (it was published for readers 9-12). There are chapters, but they are all short. For an adult this story could take less than an hour to read, but its brevity and simpleness doesn't detract from creative and almost magical setting.

At the same time the setting of Emmaline and the Bunny is a little bizarre. A town where everything is tidy and dirt is not permitted? A man like Orson Oliphant who yells and stamps his feet and orders everyone around? A place where people want to live, but must remain quiet, unemotional and clean as a whistle? No such place could ever exist in the real-world, but that's what is so magical about this story. It's not supposed to be real to life. Even the writing style doesn't exactly follow proper grammar. The entire story reads as a story one might hear told aloud. It is a story that one might hear a child telling. And it is a fun read.

Perhaps a big reason that I enjoyed this little book has something to do with the fact I have always loved rabbits (as mentioned above). As a young girl, and over the course of ten years, I had my own pet rabbits, five to be exact (Whitey, Snowball, Flowers, Shiner, and Mocha). I loved my bunny rabbits. And even today, decades later I can still identify with Emmaline's love for these little creatures with their long ears, their cute little hop hop hopping, and their and fur so soft and warm it reminds one of "tickles and bedtime hugs" and "summer clouds."

One last thing I liked about this book has nothing to do with the story, but everything to do with the book. Emmaline and the Bunny was published in 2009 by Greenwillow Books whose purpose is to publish only books that are "green." Green meaning not that the book is the color green (although Emmaline and the Bunny does have a green book cover) but that their books are published on recycled paper and with recycled materials. Emmaline and the Bunny is a delightful size (measuring roughly 7"x6"), the paper feels like real paper and yet trees, water, and energy were conserved even in the making of this first edition. What a great idea! I am all for recycling. It is the perfect example of practicing conversation. From the start of time people have been commanded to take proper care of the earth and everything on it -- plants, minerals, animals, and fellow human-beings I love when this is carried out in practical ways.

Emmaline and the Bunny is the second book by author, Katherine Hannigan. Her first book, Ida B... and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster and (Possibly) Save the World is on my "look for" list during a future trip to the library. I enjoy Ms. Hannigan's imaginative story-telling and look forward to sharing her books with my daughter in a few years.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

200 pages
Published 2006, First Edition
Candlewick Press
Cambridge Massachusetts

I'm trying to remember when I first discovered The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I think it must have been shortly after the book was published in 2006 and I think I saw it on a shelf at B&N. At any rate I remember the cover art distinctly as it interested me and the plot summary printed inside was very intriguing... And yet, for some reason I tucked the book away as a "I'll check this out another time." And then I promptly forgot all about it.

I was reminded of it when I picked up The Tale of Despereaux last year, but once again I filed it away to read at a later date.

And then... As "chance" would have it one day during story time I looked up at the bookshelf above where my daughter and I were sitting cross-legged on the floor and there it was: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I remembered how much I had enjoyed The Tale of Despereaux, so I had high hopes for Edward Tulane when I got it home and began reading. I was not disappointed.

The Plot:
"Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
I just loved this book. Perhaps I'm a softy when it comes to anything rabbits. As a child I had several pet rabbits, a rabbit puppet and some stuffed animal rabbits. But I had nothing like Edward Tulane.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is such a touchingly beautiful tale of love, friendship, sacrifice, and humility. Kate DiCamillo has received numerous awards for her children's novels and from what I've read I believe they are well deserved. DiCamillo is a gifted storyteller. As with The Tale of Despereaux I found Edward Tulane a creative and unique story. It was fun to read and had beautifully corresponding illustrations. It taught morals without being preachy or passe. It was charming and cute and yet also addressed some darker aspects of life in a delicate manner that made the book an appropriate read-aloud even for young children. I find that there's something about DiCamillo's storytelling that make the stories seem to have come from the early part of the last century -- and yet, they don't feel old or out of date. There's something almost magical about this book. It's certainly not Watership Down, but then it's not exactly The Velveteen Rabbit either. It's a fantsy with charm and it's a delightful read.

One thing is for certain, this book is going on my "Wish List" and I am adding it to the ever growing list of books I want to read aloud to my daughter. If you have not given this or any of DiCamillo's books a chance I'd highly recommend you begin with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Of course it might also be fun to read The Tale of Despereaux, especially considering there's an animated adaptation available to watch after reading the story, but that... is for another review, which can be read here.

DiCamillo has three other children's novels I have yet to read, but having enjoyed these two so immensely I am adding the others to my TBR list and hope to get to read them within the next year.

Eclipse & Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse -----------------Breaking Dawn

629 pages -------------------- 754 pages

Published 2007 ---- Published 2008

Little, Brown and Company

New York, NY

I've fallen quite behind in the posting of my reviews, so in order to save some time and avoid repetition I am combining the reviews for the last two books in the Twilight Saga, which I read in late November and early December. Please note I have made every attempt to avoid any unnecessary spoilers.

The Plots:
Eclipse: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob -- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which? (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

Breaking Dawn: To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, she has endured a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife to reach the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fate of two tribes hangs. Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating and unfathomable consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life -- first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and tor in New Moon and Eclipse -- seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever? (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
As I mentioned in my review of Twilight, until this past summer I had no plans to read this series. I just am not into the whole vampire thing. But then around the end of June while I was looking for something fast and easy to read (and after months of persistent recommendations by my sister and a sister-in-law) I changed my mind and decided to give the first book a chance. As is evident by my review I ended up liking Twilight (for the most part) and decided to continue reading the series. Next was New Moon, but I didn't like it as much. It had a much darker story plot... which was the intention of the author (hence the title). And so, because I'd started and the books are very fast reads I decided to finish up the saga. Almost back-to-back I read Eclipse and Breaking Dawn and now I'm done!

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Eclipse a 2.5 There were aspects of Eclipse that I liked, but for the most part I felt as though the story was just more of the same. While the reader gets more time to get to know the characters the reader also gets more time to know the same things they've already learned, which gets old. Edward loves Bella, Bella loves Edward, but she also cares a great deal for Jacob, who in turn loves Bella. What to do! Garr...

What I didn't like about the Twilight saga is that Stephenie Meyer's is just not a good writer. She's got a great story concept, but her writing is rather poor (i.e. poor sentence structure, repetitive phrases and sentences) and full of melodrama. And then there's the fact that the story really drags in Eclipse. I really believe Meyer's could have cut out about half of New Moon and half of Eclipse without damaging the core of her unique story plot.

On the other hand I actually liked most of Breaking Dawn and would rate it a 3 on a scale of 1-5. The first third of Breaking Dawn was pretty much the same as the two previous novels, albeit one major scene. (Again, I think this part could have been condensed a little better.) The second third of the book was interesting as it returned to Jacob's point of view (which was present in some of Eclipse) and this gave the reader more background and details about Jacob and his werewolf friends that proved interesting, but in the end I felt the best part of the book was the last third when at LONG LAST Bella becomes a vampire and the story reaches the long awaited drama and adventure. I won't go into any specifics (and any spoilers). Suffice it for me to say, the story finally gets interesting when this point of the story is reached and it also gets really far fetched.

Far fetched? Ok, so vampires and werewolves are fiction, so how can anything more be far fetched? I guess it's not really possible to be more so, but some how I felt as though Meyers did with the ending of the saga. By the time I reached the end of Breaking Dawn I had two opinions. First, I was glad that the characters I liked lived to "fight another day" (so to speak), but on the other hand I felt the big action scene was VERY anti-climactic and that Meyers made a mistake when she took extreme efforts to ensure everyone has a "happily ever after" ending. In my opinion, I think Meyers could have taken a few lessons from J. K. Rowling.

All in all I think of the four books I liked the first part of Twilight and the last part of Breaking Dawn the best. They are the beginning and ending of this unique story plot and the best because of that.

Yes, I admit I enjoyed the series, but I am no Twifhard or Twifan. If you haven't read the books but have seen the movies I will say, you should read the books. The movies just don't do the books or the story or even the characters justice. (Although the second movie was definitely better than the first.)

I chose to borrow the series from the library and would advise you borrow versus buy this series until you know if it's worth spending the money to add it to your collection.

In summary, I'm glad I read the Twilight saga because I've heard so much about them, but it is unlikely I will read anything else by Meyers. She is just not a great writer, which is a shame because she had a great idea in the whole Twilight concept.

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Related reviews:
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn

Betsy And the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace

321 pages
Harper Trophy
A Division of HarperCollins Publishers
First published 1952, reprinted 1996

Betsy And the Great World is the ninth book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Betsy And the Great World is a little special as it has a completely different setting than the books preceding it in the series. The story is not set in Minnesota, but instead in Europe. The only Deep Valley/Minneapolis character that make an appearance is Joe Willard, albeit very briefly. The rest of Betsy's friends and family members only appear in the story through the form of letters to/from Betsy and her conversations with the people she meets and her own internal thoughts.

The Plot:
"It's the trip of a lifetime. Betsy Ray, 21 years old, is heading off for a solo tour of Europe. From the moment she casts off, her journey is filled with adventure--whether she's waltzing at the captain's ball, bartering for beads in Madeira, or sipping coffee at a bohemian cafe in Munich. It's rich fodder for a budding young writer, and Betsy's determined to make the most of the experience. If only she could stop thinking about her ex-sweetheart, Joe Willard... Then a handsome, romantic Italian goes overboard for Betsy, and she has a big decision to make. Marco Regali is passionate, fascinating, and cultured. Could it be that Betsy's heart belongs in Europe instead of Minnesota?" (Summary courtesy of the publisher.)

My Thoughts:
Of course I enjoyed Betsy And the Great World, why wouldn't I? It's a Betsy-Tacy book and I love the series! But I can't say it's my favorite in the series. To me it's a little like what Anne of Windy Poplars is to the other books in the Anne series. A story that is entertaining and interesting, but lacking something of the snap that the previous or forthcoming books contain. In the case of Anne of Windy Poplars I really missed Anne's interaction with Gilbert. In the case of Betsy and the Great World I really missed the Deep Valley crowd and her interaction with the Joe! I really missed Joe.

Still, I think Betsy And the Great World plays a vital role in the Betsy-Tacy series. Betsy has left her high school life and faces the "what next" moment that so many people similarly face. This book provides a bridge from her childhood and high school years to her adult life.

Like Emily Webster in another of Maud Hart Lovelace's books: Emily of Deep Valley, Betsy feels she must attend college after high school, after all everyone else is. But after starting college Betsy encounters some unforeseen difficulties that set her back a year. With her friends a year ahead of her she starts to lose focus of what she really wants and makes some foolish choices, including one that costs her the loss of Joe Willard. Thankfully Betsy's very sensible and loving father encourages her to learn from her mistakes and move on to something else rather than continue spending time and money doing something she isn't meant to do. This results in Betsy taking a tour of Europe where she learns that she doesn't have to study books to become a better writer. She can better herself and her writing through the experiences of one-on-one contact with historical sites, foreign languages, and the unique people and cultures of foreign countries.

Betsy And the Great World is a story filled with entertainment, adventure, and history. When the novel opens it is 1914 and Betsy is seeing ancient historical sites as well as modern (i.e. early 20th century) sites. She is seeing Germany pre-World War I. For a reader from the 21st century I find this absolutely fascinating! I love the depth of detail that Mrs. Lovelace includes in the story. It gives me, the reader, not just an understanding of what it was like, but the feeling of actually having been to Europe with Betsy.

And how very different it was to travel in 1914 than it is today! Not to mention the amount of luggage that Betsy can travel with (albeit by boat not plane). Then there's whole bath/shower aspect. At one point in the story Betsy has to go several weeks (or maybe it's a couple months) without a bath (and showers didn't exist). Eww! And on a lighter note, I couldn't help but laugh when towards the end of the book when someone asks Betsy if she has her passport with her and Betsy replies in the negative as "very few people bothered with passports for a mere trip to Europe." (Chpt. 21, pg. 313) Yes, how very different from today when you not only must have a passport to go from the USA to Europe, but also from the USA to Canada! I also noticed the amount of freedom that Betsy has in her travels. Traveling through Europe in 1914 appears to have been both simplistic and quietly beautiful. The cities still had their hustle and bustle, but not the noise and high-paced life that travelers of this century meet. No bumper-to-bumper traffic, no tourist traps, no cell phones, Web-cafes, and jumbo jets with hundreds of people cramped in tiny seats after paying a large sum of money to check their one bag. Of course, there was a downside to the lack of technology. When she was homesick Betsy couldn't just pick up a phone and call her family and a return trip to the United States took six days instead of the current six hours. Still, I think the experiences Betsy had are harder to come by as a traveler today and, in a way, that's a shame.

Another subject addressed briefly in the book is World War I, at least the beginnings of it. In the closing chapters of Betsy And the Great World war breaks out between Germany, Russia, France, and Belgium. Betsy faces the choice of staying in England experiencing things first-hand that she could write about or heading for the safety of her home back in Minneapolis. While keeping the story historically accurate, Mrs. Lovelace still manages to tactfully keep the grit of the war to a distance. For Betsy and her friends back in the United States the idea of a world-wide war was just not something they considered reality, at least not in 1914 even though it was quickly becoming a reality for people in Europe.

In Summary:
Betsy and the Great World is a wonderful mix of fiction and history. I am so glad I took the time to re-read it. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate it a 4.5. I loved the book, it's a definite must read for the series, but the best (in my opinion) is yet to come. Stay tuned!

Want to read Betsy And the Great World? You can! If your library doesn't have a copy be sure to check out your local bookstore or shop online. HarperCollins Publishers has reprinted Betsy And the Great World along with Betsy's Wedding and they can be purchased in one paperback for $10-15.

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Related Reads:
Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy series, 1897-1898)
Betsy, Tacy and Tib (BT, 1900-1901)
Winnona's Pony Cart (Deep Valley series, around 1900)
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (BT, 1902)
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown (BT, 1904-1905)
Heavens to Betsy (BT, 1906-1907)
Betsy in Spite of Herself (BT, 1907-1908)
Betsy Was a Junior (BT, 1908-1909)
Betsy and Joe (BT, 1909-1910)
Carney's House Party (DV, 1911)
Emily of Deep Valley (DV, 1912-1913)
Betsy and the Great World (BT, 1914)
Betsy's Wedding (BT, 1914-1917) -- Review coming soon!

The Tale of Despereaux: The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo

269 pages
Published 2003
Scholastic
New York, NY

I admit I am a little behind the times with this review. I'd heard of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo at some time prior to the 2008 movie adaptation, but never gave it more than a passing glance. And then after seeing some positive reviews by other bloggers I added it to my TBR list. A few weeks ago while browsing the shelves of my local library I came upon it and decided it was time to read the story.

For those of you still unfamiliar with this children's novel, The Tale of Despereaux is an animal adventure and fairytale that is told through four sub-books within the main book.

In Book 1 the reader meets the unlikely hero of the story, Despereaux, a small mouse who was born with his eyes open and with overly large ears. Despereaux lives in a castle along with his family and a rather large mice clan. Throughout the chapters of Book 1 the reader comes to learn that Despereaux is not your average mouse. Instead of doing as the other mice do, (i.e. chew pages of books and chase after crumbs) Despereaux loves to read books and listen to music. It is because of his love for books and music that he meets the beautiful (human) Princess named Pea. And it is because of this meeting that Despereaux must set off on a great adventure and face many a danger to save himself and the Princess Pea.

Book 2: The story switches to the dungeons of the castle where the reader meets a young rat named Chiaroscuro (a.k.a. Roscuro). Through the chapters of Book 2 the reader learns what role Roscuro plays in Despereaux's great adventure and his sad connection to the royal family.

Book 3: Once again the story switches to another character, this time a young peasant girl named Miggery Sow, who dreams of one day becoming a princess. Throughout Book 3 the reader learns about poor Miggery's existence and what brings her to the castle and eventually leads her to play an unfortunate part in Despereaux's great adventure.

Book 4: The last book within the novel brings Despereaux, Roscuro and Miggery together (as well as some supporting characters) to reach the climax of the story and in time the fairytale ending.

Overall I found Ms. DiCamillo too be a good story teller. She weaves important lessons within The Tale of Despereaux and gives a nice twist on what could have been a run-of-the-mill fairytale by having a mouse play the part of the knight in shining armor.

The Tale of Despereaux is a children's story (intended for ages 9-12), but it can make for a charmingly short read for adults too, or even as a great read aloud to younger children (5-8). Because it is a book intended for young readers there are some things I should mention.

First, Ms. DiCamillo, as the narrator, does interrupt the story at intervals to define difficult words, or in some cases encourages the young reader to go look up a word when they don't know its meaning. For the adult reader this method of narrating can distract from the story, but personally I'm willing to overlook it as the novel is after all a children's story.

And second, there is one word of warning I would give with regards to The Tale of Despereaux. Throughout the book the story touches upon some scary and difficult subject matter (i.e. the death of a loved one, the physical and emotional abuse that Miggery Sow endures, the deplorable conditions of the dungeon, etc.). I would suggest parents take the time to preview the book before reading aloud or giving it to a young child to read, so they can be prepared to answer questions or concerns or hold off on sharing the story with too young a reader.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Tale of Despereaux a 4. I really enjoyed the story and found it to be a cute, charming, fresh, and entertaining read. That said, I didn't run out and buy a copy. I was contented to borrow one from my local library. Although I enjoyed the story it is unlikely that I will re-read the book, at least not until my daughter is older.

As a side note, I still haven't seen the movie adaptation of The Tale of Despereaux, but I plan to borrow it from my library as well, as I'm curious to see if it's as good as the book. And because I enjoyed The Tale of Despereaux so much I am open to reading more of Ms. DiCamillo's works, particularly The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Watch for my review to appear sometime in the coming months.

Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge

502 pages

Published 1944

Coward-McCann, Inc.

New York, NY

I first learned of Green Dolphin Street (a.k.a. Green Dolphin Country) by Elizabeth Goudge as a teenager from an older married woman in my church. She claimed it was her all-time favorite novel. On this recommendation I read it, but didn't like the book. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why she thought it was so wonderful.

Now fast forward some 13 or 14 years and one of the women in my book club suggested we read and discuss Green Dolphin Street. She said she'd recently read it and found it to be one of the best novels she'd ever read on the subject of marriage and true love. Hmm... I thought, I might re-read this book and see if my opinion has changed. So I re-read it and now you get to hear my revised thoughts.

The Plot:
Green Dolphin Street is divided into four books and each book is divided into parts, with a different character of the story taking the central role of each part. The story itself spans the course of 45 plus years (from the early to mid 1800s to the late 1880s), two continents, and follows the adventures of three very different people and a supporting cast of unusual characters. The plot is very thick and thus a little difficult to summarize. I will do my best to outline it without giving away the best of the story.

As the story opens the reader finds themselves on the small channel island of St. Pierre, off the coast of England and France, during the early-mid 1800s. It is here that the reader is introduced to two very different sisters -- Marianne and Marguerite Le Patourel. Marianne is 16 and is described as an "elfin creature...totally without the beauty that distinguished her parents...with a passionate temper and brain that was too quick and hard and brilliant for her years and sex." Marguerite, on the other hand, at the age of 11 is already a "dimpled" and "fair beauty" with a bubbly personality, tinkling laugh, and a vivacious love love for life and desire for the happiness of those around her.

It is at this time that the two sisters meet the third and last central character of the book, one William Ozanne, age 13. Immediately Marianne sets her mind to win William as her own. But at the same time the reader realizes that it is not Marianne, but Marguerite with whom William has a special bond and is destined to fall in love. (The plot thickens...)

As the story progresses the children grow into young adults and their personalities become more defined. Marianne becomes a chic young woman with a quick mind and a quick tongue. She is very driven and adventurous and determined to get her own way, particularly when it involves the future of William. Marguerite has grown in beauty and is still a lover of life and laughter. William is likewise a lover of life, but too lazy in Marianne's opinion. Nevertheless, it becomes clear to everyone that William and Marguerite love each other... but unforeseen circumstances (and a little manipulation on Marianne's part) prevents William from professing his love to Marguerite before sailing off with the Royal Navy. (The plot grows thicker...)

While in the Far East William is tricked and robbed and ends up missing his boat, which leads him to accidentally go AWOL from the Navy, and in turn makes him a fugitive from his own country. With nowhere else to go William sails to a small colony in New Zealand to start his life anew.

A few years pass and with something of a job and home established, William finally writes the letter to request the hand in marriage of his one true love. But there's just one problem... In a drunken state of love, loneliness, and liquor William mixes up the sisters' names and accidentally asks for Marianne instead of Marguerite! (The plot thickens even more!)

But what of Marguerite? What will happen to William and Marianne? The rest of the story plot I leave to the reader to discover for themselves as that is the best way.

My Thoughts:
I have so many thoughts... For starters, the reason I hated this book as a teenager has to do with the fact I considered the story "broken" -- William and Marguerite were supposed to end up together... not William and Marianne! But as an adult (and perhaps being a married woman myself?) my perspective of this novel has changed. I realize that this story is not a predictably perfect romance, instead it is something more. On its face it is a beautifully unique tale of adventure and love in a time and place where the world was undergoing great change. But at a closer look it is also a somewhat upside down love story; it is a tale of true love, self-sacrifice and the journey to true happiness by letting go of what we want most and finding strength to do what we must. It is no fairytale, but it is very life-like.

One thing that has not changed is how I feel about Marianne. I didn't like her when I was a teenager and I still don't like her. But then, she is a very difficult character to like. She's got the tom-boy adventurous spirit that the modern girl appreciates, but she's also a very manipulative and selfish person. (Much like Scarlet O'Hara of Gone With the Wind or Becky Sharp of Vanity Fair, though I don't think Marianne is wicked like Becky Sharp was.) Marianne's spirit definitely drives the story, but there are so many other characters that the reader meets along the way whose impact upon each other and upon Marianne (just like in real life) makes the story come alive.

To add to this, Green Dolphin Street is jam-packed with Biblical symbolism and subtle lessons. Lessons about loyalty and friendship, true love in marriage, finding God in both the darkest moments as well as the most beautiful, and how selfishness brings hopelessness and loving sacrifice brings freedom. Throughout the story the reader can really see the ebb and flow of the main characters' spiritual and emotional lives.

Ms. Goudge is a beautiful writer. Some of the members of my book club complained that her writing was flowery and tended to make the story drag. But I didn't find this to be the case. Perhaps it helped that I'd read the book before and new how it would end, but either way, I just drank up her descriptive prose. Such imagery! Such depth! (Watch for such a quote next Tuesday as part of my Tuesday Teasers.)

There is so much more I could say about this book, but I will close with this. Green Dolphin Street is a worthy read. The ending is bitter sweet, but beautiful. There is much I took from this book and I highly recommend that you add it to your reading list. This is definitely a book that should be in print and be read! On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Green Dolphin Street a 5. A book to read and perhaps even own (which I do!).

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Note: In 1947 Hollywood adapted this book to the screen starring Lana Turner and Donna Reed. I've not seen the movie, but have heard that it is little like the book. It did win an Oscar for "Best Special Effects" I'm curious why that is. Maybe some day I'll get a chance to see the movie.

The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton

242 pages
Copyright 1962
Harper & Row, Publishers
New York, NY

The Diamond in the Window is the first book in the Hall Family Chronicles by Jane Langton. The Chronicles consists of eight books that were published between 1962 and 2008.

The Plot:
Set in Concord, Massachusetts in the present day (present when published in 1962), The Diamond in the Window is a story that involves mystery, romance, adventure, and fantasy. While most of the story is written in prose a few quotes and some poetry is scattered within.

"Eddy and Eleanor Hall have always known that their family was a bit out of the ordinary. After all, they live in one of the most remarkable houses in all of Concord. But they never guessed just how extraordinary their house really is, or what tremendous secrets about their family's past it holds. That is, until they discover the magical attic room with its beautiful stained-glass window, abandoned toys, and two perfectly made-up, empty beds that seem to be waiting perhaps for two children just like themselves...." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
I was intrigued from the first page of The Diamond in the Window. As I quoted earlier this week in my Tuesday Teaser post, the opening paragraphs made for a compelling read. Ms. Langton writes well as a children's storyteller and I found the book both clever and amusing. The characters were fun as well, with some being easily likable and others appropriately despicable. That said, there was a point, about two thirds into the story, where my interest lagged a little. It wasn't really that the story dragged, because it didn't. It had more to do with the fact I wasn't excited to find so much of the story revolved around the 19th century belief of transcendentalism. I kept wondering where Ms. Langton was going with the story and why she focusing on this out-of-date philosophy.

As I read on the answer to these questions became clear. First, it is evident in her writing that Ms. Langton is both fascinated and passionate about Concord, Massachusetts history and its connection with the late 19th century transcendentalist movement. Second, in writing a story that involves beliefs and philosophies from generations past it only makes sense to include some of the local celebrities who played a part in the movement (Enter Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau). In turn these celebrities play a historic part in the story, which ties everything neatly together and makes for a very different type of story.

I was pleased to find when I reached the end of the book that even though Ms. Langton makes the transcendentalist movement a part of her story it isn't the point of her story. There is no "preachiness" in the story, it's just a means to an end. The real point of the story is a tale of mystery and adventure and good overcoming evil. The Diamond in the Window is definitely a fantasy with impossible adventures, some of which are a little weird like a dream... but for the most part the book is just plain fun. It reminds me a great deal of another children's book I read and reviewed, The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit and also a little of a book I started, but never finished, The King in the Window by Adam Gopnik.

My Summary
Overall I can say I enjoyed The Diamond in the Window. It was a fun read, but with a somewhat predictable ending (but probably less so for young readers). On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Diamond in the Window a 3.5. It was a good read, but I will admit the transcendentalism stuff kind of turned me off from giving the book a higher rating; still I might take a look at the rest of the Hall Family Chronicles at some point in the future. In the meantime, fans of The Enchanted Castle may find a winner in this book.

For more information about the series or about Ms. Langton check out this Wiki article.

The African Queen by C. S. Forester

246 pages

Back Bay Books, November 200

Originally published Little, Brown and Company, 1935

New York, NY

Until two weeks ago I was ignorant to the fact that The African Queen was a novel first and then a film. But my ignorance was put to an end when I stumbled upon the novel by C. S. Forester (famous for his Horatio Hornblower series) while browsing the F-G aisle of a nearby city library branch. It only took a glance before I knew I had to read the book.

The Plot:

As World War I reaches the heart of the African jungle, Charlie Allnutt and Rose Sayer, a disheveled trader and an English spinster missionary, find themselves thrown together by circumstances. Fighting time, heat, malaria, and bullets, they make their escape on the rickety steamboat The African Queen... and hatch their own outrageous military plan. (Summary courtesy of the Publisher)

My Thoughts:

I admit I began reading this book with a few preconceived notions about the story. These notions were based on the 1951 movie (starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn), which I saw several years ago while visiting my grandparents. Even though I don't remember much about the movie I do recall that it was one of the few Humphrey Bogart movies I liked and I thought it was a romantic story. Readers be warned, one should never have preconceived notions about a novel based solely on the film adaptation. Even I knew this, but ignored it.

As a story-teller, Forester is definitely a master. The plot is fast-paced and tight, without bogging down over side plots or character back story. The prose is beautiful and includes vivid descriptions that make it easy for the reader to visualize Rose, Allnutt, the steamboat African Queen, and the African jungle and river with all its wild beauty and dangers.

As an action-packed adventure-love story, The African Queen does not fail the reader entirely. From the first chapter I was pulled into the story. It is exciting, interesting, suspenseful, and in the end unpredictable. But, for me, it was not entirely satisfactory.

Why wasn't it satisfactory? For starters, I never fully connected with the romance factor of this story. In the film version I watched as Allnutt's and Rose's feelings for each other first bud into camaraderie and friendship and then later blossom into love as they work together to overcome the many obstacles en route to their ultimate mission. But in the book I found their relationship more of a thrown-together solution for their loneliness and fear. I just didn't get the impression that their relationship was made from true love and respect for the other. It just didn't seem that it would really last the test of time.

The other disappointing aspect of the book was the ending, which I found to be very anti-climatic. Without giving anything away I will say this much -- the plot of The African Queen revolves around the hero and heroine achieving a goal, but in the end nothing goes according to plan and the reader, along with Rose and Allnutt, is left with an uncertainty of the future, which the author fails to relieve in his closing sentence, "Whether or not they lived happily ever after is not easily decided..."

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Note Content Warning: Due to movie censorship common in the 1950s the movie is clean of any language or love scenes. But readers should know novels (even those published in the 1930s) were not under the same restrictions. The African Queen novel contains some language (mostly using the Lord's name in vain) and a couple references to premarital sex, but no detail.

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My Summary:

Overall I would say I liked The African Queen "Ok." For the first part of the novel I liked the story, it was an interesting read, but in the end I was left unsatisfied. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The African Queen a 2.5. I really liked the writing, if only the novel had ended differently it might have earned a higher rating.

Other readers may feel differently, but personally I still prefer the film adaptation (alterations from the novel and all). For those curious I've included a clip of the 1951 Theatre Trailer for the movie.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

563 pages
Little, Brown
Copyright 2006

Introduction:
If you thought the hubbub over Stephenie Meyers Twilight saga was coming to an end now that the saga, consisting of four novels, is complete, well you would be wrong. From the little research I've done online the number of Twilight fans and their excitement just seems to increase as time goes by. Of course it probably helps that the movie adaptation of the second novel, New Moon, is set to arrive in theatres this November.

And yet the fad doesn't stop there. I've noticed more and more authors and screenwriters are turning their attention to the living-dead, the immortal. In the last week I've seen two new vampire novels (i.e. Mr. Darcy, Vampire... Argh!!!! Don't even get me started!) and at least three new television shows about vampires that are set to air this fall.

If this annoys you, as it does me, there's only one thing to do. Find something else to read or watch and just wait. Like most fads, this too will pass.

That said... I make no apologies or excuses when I tell you I went ahead and read New Moon.

The Plot:
"For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning..." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts
Like its predecessor, New Moon is a dark romance. Of course because it is a story of vampires it follows that it is also a fantasy and a thriller. And yet as I read I was surprised to find it was also something more than that...

In the midst of the romance/fantasy/thriller Meyers weaves other threads that bring the characters and the story to life. Yes, Bella is a teenager who faces some unusual situations (i.e. vampire boyfriend), but she also faces some situations that are typical of any teenager. In New Moon she struggles with the loss of her first love, with figuring out who she is and what she wants in life, and with where her loyalties lie (family or friends). At the same time she makes new friends and loses some old ones. These are all things that modern teenagers struggle with on a daily basis. The unfortunate thing is Bella doesn't really know where to turn to find hope when all hope seems lost.

While I realize Meyer's doesn't hit a home run on many of these issues (there are things in the book I have problems with), I do realize that was never the point of the books. The Twilight saga is fiction. It's goal is to attract readers by creating a world they can identify with (for the most part) and at the same time entertain, be that through the romance or the thriller.

I found New Moon to be a little darker than Twilight, but I suppose that fits as the title itself not only refers to the darkest time in the moon's cycle, but also to this part of the story being the darkest part of Bella's life. Another subtle reference in New Moon has to do with the love story/tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

In Summary:
While I did end up liking New Moon, I didn't like it as much as Twilight. The story was definitely darker and there was one particular scene that gave me the shivers. At the same time, there were many unanswered questions from the first novel that finally got answered and as a reader I found that satisfying.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate New Moon a 3. I liked the story. I think Meyer is a creative author. She writes a book that is easy and entertaining to read, but they aren't classics. Her books are pure fluff and entertainment. Still, that's just what some readers look for in books. I enjoy it from time to time... I've especially enjoyed it this summer because my work has been so demanding. When I've read it has been mostly an escape to something that is creative, or mindless, or just fun.

What's Next?
I'm choosing to ignore the latest vampire novels, movies, and television shows that are riding the wave of popularity created by Twilight. So don't expect me to start reading Mr. Darcy, Vampire or watching Vampire Diaries on CW. I still plan to read Bram Stoker's Dracula at some point and I might finish reading the Twilight saga, but that's as far as I'll go.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

498 pages

Published 2005, reprinted 2008

Little, Brown Young Readers

Let me preface this review by saying I have never had any interest in reading vampire stories or any scary monster story for that matter. As a teenager I read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but I never took the time to read Bram Stoker's Dracula and I never bothered to watch a vampire movie or TV show. They just didn't interest me. And so it shouldn't come as a surprise that until this summer I have not had any interest in reading or seeing Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

What changed my mind was the fact that both a sister-in-law and my own sister, having read the books and seen the movie, kept telling me I should read the series that it wasn't just a vampire story. After months of hearing this I finally decided to add Twilight to my TBR list with the goal of reading it before the end of the summer. And so, I put a request in for Twilight at my local library. Surprisingly it came in a lot faster than I expected and thus spent over two weeks sitting on my nightstand before I even gave it a second glance. And then last weekend after a marathon reading of Dickens I decided I needed a break and picked up Twilight... The result was a 24 hour period where I didn't read anything but Twilight.

The Plot
As most of you know, Twilight is the story of 17-year old Bella Swann, who moves from Phoenix, AZ to Forks, WA to spend some time with her father after her mother's remarriage. At first Bella hates her new home. Not only is Forks the rainiest part of the United States, but it is a small town with a small school and she's the new girl. But then she meets Edward Cullen, a very beautiful and very mysterious boy in her school. Initially he seems to hate her and goes to great lengths to be as far from her as possible, but over the course of the school year they strike up an unlikely friendship and after he has saved her life twice she learns his secret... he's a vampire. What ensues is a fantasy story of star-crossed lovers -- the human and the immortal -- living in a modern world full of temptation. (*Note: The picture of the fruit on the cover is to symbolize the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden. Bella and Edward, and others in the book, face various forms of temptations.)

My Thoughts
Overall I was surprised to find I really enjoyed Twilight. While I don't class Meyer's writing as "fine literature," I did find her writing style quick and easy to read, as well as very detailed and descriptive. The story is told in the first-person through Bella's eyes, and this combined with Meyer's creative prose helped to bring the story alive, as if I was watching it played out in my mind's eye while I read.

My overall opinion of the book could probably be dissected into three parts. For the first third of the book I was utterly and completely intrigued. I couldn't put the book down! From the start of the story I was curious to find out what would happen next and I was fascinated by Edward's character. He isn't your average vampire.

By the second third of the book Bella and Edward's relationship is established (i.e. she knows he's a vampire and he's determined not to hurt her) and the story settles down. I almost found the second third of the book a little dull. I know lots of things were happening at that point in the story, but for a while I felt as if it was just Edward and Bella mooning over their their forbidden and almost impossible romance.

Then comes the last third of the story. At this point the mooning takes a back seat to the drama. Bella is in danger and Edward must save her. From the start of this section until the end of the book the story resumes its roles as a fast-paced read and comes to a halt in a temporarily satisfactory ending. (I say temporarily because it is obvious there is a sequel.)

Further Thoughts: objectionable content
I was pleased to find that the vampire theme isn't really the point of the story. Twilight is really a story of love overcoming unreal obstacles. It is a story of people facing and dealing with temptations. It is a story of self-discovery and finding that you can overcome things you don't like if you are determined enough to do so. Overall Twilight was a fairly clean story. It has very little violence: there is one scene where Bella is attacked by a carnivorous vampire, but Meyer's handles it tactfully. There are no love scenes (though there is plenty of chemistry between Edward and Bella). And there is only a couple uses of mild profanity (I think I only remember seeing one or two words, if that). As far as objections to a story about vampires: the immortal living-dead. I know that some might object to the content, but I mark it up there as fantasy right along side books like Dracula, Harry Potter, Frankenstein and the like. Not all are classics, but they are all stories written (and successfully so) for the entertainment of the reader.

My Summary
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Twilight a 3.5. I really enjoyed the story. I found it entertaining, comical at times, suspenseful, and the love-story heart-warming. I liked the unique star-crossed lover angle that Meyer's uses in the book and look forward to some more light reading when I pick up New Moon from my library later this summer.

Bonus Review: Twilight, the Movie
Having read the Twilight I went ahead and borrowed the movie from the library. The film, released to DVD in 2008, is fairly close to the book. But that being said, there are some definite plot changes.

While I enjoyed the movie (it was fun to see the characters come to life on the screen), I do have some complaints and they fall mainly with the script/screenwriters.

First, because of the nature of film vs. novel the story does lose some of it's natural intimacy. In the book you're reading the story through the form of first-person (Bella's thoughts, etc.), but in the movie you are only able to view Bella's story as a third-person. A lot of the dialog and thought process is lost in the translation from book to screen and you don't get to know Bella and Edward as well as you do in the book.

Second, due to the condensing factor that happens when a long novel is moved to the big screen a lot of the scenes and dialogue ended up feeling choppy and at times almost corny. Some of my favorite scenes in the book were lost when translated to the screen, which is a shame. And again, this resulted in the viewer not getting to know the main characters and their back story as well.

Third, due to the plot changes there are some scenes of violence not included in the book, which annoyed me. But they are almost all implied and off-screen, so that was good.

Overall the story, the costumes and make-up, the film sets and scenes, and the special effects could each be scaled from good to great. The actors are well chosen and the music fitting. I can see why teenagers are crazy about this movie.

As I said, it was fun to see the story come alive on the screen, but if asked I would recommend viewers read the book before watching the movie. Too much of the story is lost if you only watch the movie.

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

306 pages
Copyright 2009, First Edition
Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books
New York, NY

The Amaranth Enchantment is Julie Berry's debut novel. It was released in March of this year and has already attracted quite a bit of attention amongst readers and bloggers. I first learned of the book through Noel's blog Never Jam Today. The title intrigued me and after a little research (reading the story's description) I quickly added it to my TBR list.

The Plot:
The Amaranth Enchantment is a sort of coming-of-age story that follows the adventures of Lucinda, a 15-year-old orphan, who in her short life has gone from riches to rags and from being an adored daughter to being a servant in her uncle's goldsmith/jewelry repair shop. Life is very lonely and bleak for Lucinda, especially under the oppression of her aunt, a mean-spirited woman who seems to hate everyone, especially Lucinda.

And then one evening everything begins to change... It all starts when a handsome stranger appears in her uncle's shop, followed by a mysterious woman with a likewise mysterious and very beautiful gem, and then later in the evening a fleeing individual begs refuge in Lucinda's bedroom. What follows is a tale of romance and adventure woven together in a fantasy and fairytale setting.

My Thoughts:
The Amaranth Enchantment is a clever, entertaining, and fast-paced read with a somewhat surprising ending. Intended for young readers (ages 9-12) there is no inappropriate language or love scenes, making it a clean and fun read for readers of all ages.

I really enjoyed the The Amaranth Enchantment and I think Berry's unique twist to this Cinderella-story is part of why I liked it so well. It wasn't just another rags to riches story. That said, I must admit there were certain elements or aspects that reminded me of a few pre-existing fantasies such as Enchanted and Stardust. So if you have enjoyed either of those movies it is likely you'll enjoy this story. Likewise, if you are a fan of The White Horse, The Goose Girl, or Ella Enchanted, you are likely to also enjoy The Amaranth Enchantment.

In Summary:
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Amaranth Enchantment a 4. This is one novel that readers of fantasy and fairytales should check out of their local public library and for certain readers may even warrant the price to add it to their personal library.