Dreams
I saw the movie Dreamgirls and loved it. The first 15 minutes had me captivated, and the costumes, the performances and the music are all done perfectly. I didn't know Eddie Murphy could sing, but, man, can he. Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce were fabulous. The person I saw the movie with turned to me after about 30 minutes and said, "Wait, is this a musical?" :D He wanted to see Norbit.
I read Gossamer by Lois Lowry in about an hour, and Lord knows I'm not a fast reader. It was recommended to me by a teacher friend, and was discussed when award time came around last month. I liked it and think it would make a great novel to "teach" to middle readers, and a great fantasy novel for young readers who don't like fantasy. Of course, I compare all her books to The Giver, which I consider one of the best books written for children/young adults. Ms. Lowry needed to redeem herself with me, as I still haven't forgiven her for the ending to Messenger. Redemption was found in Gossamer. What Lowry does very, very well is create a believable new world in just a few pages. There is never an extra word in her books, and she creates the real vs. dream worlds of Gossamer just as well. The novel is a slight 140 pages, but we ache with love and hurt for the characters in the brief time we are with them. There is an old lady, a small boy, a tiny dream-giver with a gossamer touch, and her elderly teacher. Oh, and a sweet, sweet dog, for which I am always a sucker.
I'm loving me some Jane Eyre, btw.
I read Gossamer by Lois Lowry in about an hour, and Lord knows I'm not a fast reader. It was recommended to me by a teacher friend, and was discussed when award time came around last month. I liked it and think it would make a great novel to "teach" to middle readers, and a great fantasy novel for young readers who don't like fantasy. Of course, I compare all her books to The Giver, which I consider one of the best books written for children/young adults. Ms. Lowry needed to redeem herself with me, as I still haven't forgiven her for the ending to Messenger. Redemption was found in Gossamer. What Lowry does very, very well is create a believable new world in just a few pages. There is never an extra word in her books, and she creates the real vs. dream worlds of Gossamer just as well. The novel is a slight 140 pages, but we ache with love and hurt for the characters in the brief time we are with them. There is an old lady, a small boy, a tiny dream-giver with a gossamer touch, and her elderly teacher. Oh, and a sweet, sweet dog, for which I am always a sucker.
I'm loving me some Jane Eyre, btw.