Hard to know how to rate this book. It is amazing and powerful, but so sad it made me angry and made me not want to recommend it to anyone. If you're Hard to know how to rate this book. It is amazing and powerful, but so sad it made me angry and made me not want to recommend it to anyone. If you're up for a punch in the stomach. . . here's your book....more
Oh, this book is so wonderful. I kind of hate Peter S. Beagle for having written it when he was NINETEEN YEARS OLD! Is that true?? Is it possible?? I Oh, this book is so wonderful. I kind of hate Peter S. Beagle for having written it when he was NINETEEN YEARS OLD! Is that true?? Is it possible?? I was reading a library copy and it was almost more strength than I possessed not to dog-ear and underline the hell out of it, the writing is just so great. There are so many places I wanted to mark and remember. So. I will be buying my own copy, and maybe some for gifts.
It's a book about a man who has lived for 19 years in a mausoleum of a huge cemetery, and how his relationship with a pair of new ghosts--and with a living woman who visits her husband's grave--changes him. There's also a raven that I adore. Love this:
The raven looked down at the lost feather. "I'm a lousy lander," he said. "Never in my life have I made one decent landing."
"Hummingbirds land well," Michael said. "Like helicopters."
"Hummingbirds are great," the raven agreed. "You should have seen me when I found out I wasn't ever going to be a hummingbird. I cried like a baby. Hell of a thing to tell a kid."
ha ha! Love it. Read this book, but skip the library and go straight for your own copy so you can underline and dog-ear to your heart's content!...more
Wow. On *day 7* and loving this book so much. I want to slurp it up like a noodle.
Finished: terrific; amazing teen voice and utterly believable characWow. On *day 7* and loving this book so much. I want to slurp it up like a noodle.
Finished: terrific; amazing teen voice and utterly believable characters -- the "mean girls" made, somehow, relatable! The story is so bittersweet, though I wished ...
... for a different ending for the characters (of COURSE), as a reader, I found the ending very powerful. The cumulative grief of those left behind -- left entirely to the reader's imagination -- is haunting.
And how wonderful is Kent? Love him. My new book boyfriend :-)...more
Hee hee hee, I got to read this in manuscript form and it is WONDERFUL. I can't wait to see and hold the finished product in book form -- next fall! :Hee hee hee, I got to read this in manuscript form and it is WONDERFUL. I can't wait to see and hold the finished product in book form -- next fall! :-)...more
No spoilers, but . . . when I first finished this book, I scratched my head a little and thought I *had* it, but I wasnI think my head just exploded.
No spoilers, but . . . when I first finished this book, I scratched my head a little and thought I *had* it, but I wasn't totally satisfied, and then I thought about it some more, and then the explosion, and I wanted to reread it at once.
The closest comparison I can think of is Life of Pi, in which the reading of the book is enjoyable but a little unsettlingly *off*, and then at the end something is suggested that casts everything else in a new and totally devastating light. So hold on to your brains when you finish this book.
Incredibly smart and well-written, but not at all likeable. Not that a book has any obligation to be likeable, but I gravitate more toward books I canIncredibly smart and well-written, but not at all likeable. Not that a book has any obligation to be likeable, but I gravitate more toward books I can "like" or even better: LOVE. ...more
Flavia was one of my favorite narrators in a long time. I loved this book -- can't wait for the next one, coming soooon (and about traveling puppet shFlavia was one of my favorite narrators in a long time. I loved this book -- can't wait for the next one, coming soooon (and about traveling puppet shows. Oh my god! How perfect!!!)...more
This book has gotten so much buzz and award talk, I wondered if I would like it THAT much, but I did. I love it when a seemingly mainstream book slipsThis book has gotten so much buzz and award talk, I wondered if I would like it THAT much, but I did. I love it when a seemingly mainstream book slips into "genre" territory without warning. Should happen more often! ...more
5 stars for language -- Margo Lanagan can WRITE. I was constantly impressed by the beauty and uniqueness of the prose, while not being sucked out of t5 stars for language -- Margo Lanagan can WRITE. I was constantly impressed by the beauty and uniqueness of the prose, while not being sucked out of the story by it. But while I found the story intriguing, poignant, and imaginative, I never had that breathless "what happens next?" feeling or felt truly, deeply invested in the outcome or the characters. Still, it's a lovely book....more
Meh. What mostly kept me reading this book was hoping to discover what all the fuss was about. Waters has wonderful gifts, but the book overall was kiMeh. What mostly kept me reading this book was hoping to discover what all the fuss was about. Waters has wonderful gifts, but the book overall was kind of a lull with a hope that it might turn out to have been worthwhile. In the end, I was disappointed....more
Huh. I'm surprised by the bad reviews of this book. I thought it was charming and very well written, with a uniquely skewed real/fantasy world and greHuh. I'm surprised by the bad reviews of this book. I thought it was charming and very well written, with a uniquely skewed real/fantasy world and great characters. I liked Aria and Roye de Roye, but the secondary characters like the Bone Witch and the Killer of Children were especially memorable. I get what some people are saying about the sex -- to me it was just the use of the word "teenager" that was a little icky. Obviously in the context of the time/place, this kind of sexuality/brutality would not be considered uncommon. I guess it's just distasteful for some people to have to think about it. Anyway, I really enjoyed the read....more
This is the third or fourth Sfar book I've read and I loved every panel and every word of it -- LOVED it. He really uses his quirky sense of humor to This is the third or fourth Sfar book I've read and I loved every panel and every word of it -- LOVED it. He really uses his quirky sense of humor to very human effect here, whereas in Vampire in Love or The Professor's Daughter things were a bit more zany -- fun, but harder to love. The story of an Algerian rabbi, his lovely daughter, and their witty, loving, maniacal, scheming cat (as narrated by the cat) is so winning, I can't even explain it. You just have to read it. :-)...more
I love exotic travel & home renovation *adventures* and this is my new favorite. I've been kind of obsessed with Morocco lately, and I loved this accoI love exotic travel & home renovation *adventures* and this is my new favorite. I've been kind of obsessed with Morocco lately, and I loved this account of one family's first-year adjustments to the way of life there. I was particularly interested in the rich tapestry of superstition that governs every aspect daily life. From now on, I'm blaming every problem, large or small, on the Jinns :-)...more
A cool graphic novel that involves an Israeli soldier, an Egyptian smuggler, a couple of American students, a journalist, and a jinn in a unique advenA cool graphic novel that involves an Israeli soldier, an Egyptian smuggler, a couple of American students, a journalist, and a jinn in a unique adventure. I liked the lore and the characters, the sense of place. Well-written and with lovely art....more
A story about the Battle of Crecy, from the p.o.v. of an English "dog boy" (of a pack of hunting mastiffs brought to war) and a young French girl castA story about the Battle of Crecy, from the p.o.v. of an English "dog boy" (of a pack of hunting mastiffs brought to war) and a young French girl cast out of her city as a useless extra mouth to feed during time of siege. Though the brutality of medieval warfare is hinted at, and there is plenty of sadness in this book, it's still appropriate for m.g. readers. Full of action; depicts a fascinating time period. ...more