50bookchallenge 2010: 13-17/50
And again with the 50bookchallenge list. I'm still behind in the reading breakdown for the year, but I'm enjoying what I'm reading, so that's good at least.
13. Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine
I want to qualify my three star rating with this: Were I in the age group this book is intended for, I'd probably have rated it a 4 or 5.
This is a good book for its audience, and elementary school kids should enjoy reading the short chapters that teach writing basics with a familiar, friendly tone. This book invites kids to play on the page, and encourages the magic of writing while striving to remove the pressure of first draft perfection. It also teaches readers to "Save what you wrote"--something I was especially happy to see. Levine wants to get kids writing, and I think she does a good job of inspiring that.
The reason I didn't give it 4 stars is because the language was for elementary school kids, and I'm no longer used to that. I felt talked down to in a way I didn't when reading books like The Witches (Roald Dahl) or Ella Enchanted (another book by Levine).
That said, I'd recommend the book to pre-teens and young teens who want to write but don't know where to start, or who need a bit of encouragement.
Also, I'd suggest Chapter 27, "Fiddling with Fairy Tales," to pretty much anyone; the ideas are good, and I adore fairy tales and their re-tellings.
~X-posted from my Goodreads
14. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
I'd been recommended Lang's retold fairy tales for years, but never read them until now. They're wonderful! I don't know why I waited--I like them enough that now I read at least one tale every night before bed. His tone and language are comfortably familiar, but still carry the authority needed for these kinds of fairy tales. The only story I disliked was "Gulliver's Travels"--even Lang's much abridged retelling couldn't save that story for me, good as it was--but I don't count that personal bias against The Blue Fairy Book itself. I heartily recommend Lang's work to anyone who likes fairy tales, and anyone looking to get their feet wet!
~X-posted from my Goodreads
15. I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly and J. M. Ken Niimura (graphic novel)
I read this for class, but would gladly have read it for myself. The art was dynamic and expressive--well matched with the story. There are some weighty issues in this graphic novel, but the story comes at them slant, through a compelling young teenage girl whose beliefs seem at odds with the world she lives in, and whose relationships are as complex as she is.
Although this was a really fast read, the story and themes are sticking with me. I Kill Giants combines the dynamic action scenes comic books are so brilliant at, with the substance of real life issues and unsolvable problems. Quite a good read.
~X-posted from my Goodreads
16. "Favor" by Alex Draven (ebook)
A cute Halloween short story. With a goth- and pseudo-goth college boy getting it on in a graveyard. ^_^
17. "Just Like Scrooge" by Clare London (ebook)
A short story about a man who won't risk his heart by dating a good friend of his, despite the long-standing mutual attraction between them. Then he has three dreams (in lieu of Scrooge's ghosts) that change his mind. This story was okay, for me. By that I mean the writing was fine, but the main character is the kind I want to shake really hard for being selfish enough in his self-loathing that hurting all of his friends was fine because no one would call him on his bullshit. Again, though, that's personal character preference.
Currently Reading:
* Legends of Blood by Bartlett and Idriceanu -- I need to just suck it up and read the last, what, 4 chapters?
* Vampires, Burial, and Death by Paul Barber -- interesting thus far. ^_^
* Reading Like A Writer by Francine Prose -- I've been meaning to snag this and read it...and now I finally am. And it's damn good so far.
* Savage Worlds: Explorer's Edition -- RPG system rulebook; have chapters 4, 5, and 7 left.
13. Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine
I want to qualify my three star rating with this: Were I in the age group this book is intended for, I'd probably have rated it a 4 or 5.
This is a good book for its audience, and elementary school kids should enjoy reading the short chapters that teach writing basics with a familiar, friendly tone. This book invites kids to play on the page, and encourages the magic of writing while striving to remove the pressure of first draft perfection. It also teaches readers to "Save what you wrote"--something I was especially happy to see. Levine wants to get kids writing, and I think she does a good job of inspiring that.
The reason I didn't give it 4 stars is because the language was for elementary school kids, and I'm no longer used to that. I felt talked down to in a way I didn't when reading books like The Witches (Roald Dahl) or Ella Enchanted (another book by Levine).
That said, I'd recommend the book to pre-teens and young teens who want to write but don't know where to start, or who need a bit of encouragement.
Also, I'd suggest Chapter 27, "Fiddling with Fairy Tales," to pretty much anyone; the ideas are good, and I adore fairy tales and their re-tellings.
~X-posted from my Goodreads
14. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
I'd been recommended Lang's retold fairy tales for years, but never read them until now. They're wonderful! I don't know why I waited--I like them enough that now I read at least one tale every night before bed. His tone and language are comfortably familiar, but still carry the authority needed for these kinds of fairy tales. The only story I disliked was "Gulliver's Travels"--even Lang's much abridged retelling couldn't save that story for me, good as it was--but I don't count that personal bias against The Blue Fairy Book itself. I heartily recommend Lang's work to anyone who likes fairy tales, and anyone looking to get their feet wet!
~X-posted from my Goodreads
15. I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly and J. M. Ken Niimura (graphic novel)
I read this for class, but would gladly have read it for myself. The art was dynamic and expressive--well matched with the story. There are some weighty issues in this graphic novel, but the story comes at them slant, through a compelling young teenage girl whose beliefs seem at odds with the world she lives in, and whose relationships are as complex as she is.
Although this was a really fast read, the story and themes are sticking with me. I Kill Giants combines the dynamic action scenes comic books are so brilliant at, with the substance of real life issues and unsolvable problems. Quite a good read.
~X-posted from my Goodreads
16. "Favor" by Alex Draven (ebook)
A cute Halloween short story. With a goth- and pseudo-goth college boy getting it on in a graveyard. ^_^
17. "Just Like Scrooge" by Clare London (ebook)
A short story about a man who won't risk his heart by dating a good friend of his, despite the long-standing mutual attraction between them. Then he has three dreams (in lieu of Scrooge's ghosts) that change his mind. This story was okay, for me. By that I mean the writing was fine, but the main character is the kind I want to shake really hard for being selfish enough in his self-loathing that hurting all of his friends was fine because no one would call him on his bullshit. Again, though, that's personal character preference.
Currently Reading:
* Legends of Blood by Bartlett and Idriceanu -- I need to just suck it up and read the last, what, 4 chapters?
* Vampires, Burial, and Death by Paul Barber -- interesting thus far. ^_^
* Reading Like A Writer by Francine Prose -- I've been meaning to snag this and read it...and now I finally am. And it's damn good so far.
* Savage Worlds: Explorer's Edition -- RPG system rulebook; have chapters 4, 5, and 7 left.