It seems like most of my recent posts have been reading-related. I promise to write more often about other things next year. For now, I beg your patience as I dig deeper into my library and try to sort out more of the unworthy books.<\/p>\n
Here are my opinions on four books from the children’s section of my library.<\/p>\n
The Monsters of Morley Manor<\/em> by Bruce Coville Rare Beasts<\/em> by Charles Ogden The Thief of Always<\/em> by Clive Barker The Diamond in the Window<\/em> by Jane Langton It seems like most of my recent posts have been reading-related. I promise to write more often about other things next year. For now, I beg your patience as I dig deeper into my library and try to sort out … Continue reading
\nGrade: B+
\nThis book is action-packed and fun. It has monsters, aliens, body snatching, magic, ghosts, and even a love triangle. My only complaint is that it’s not great<\/em>. I don’t think the author was aiming for great. He was going for pure entertainment value and in that he succeeded. The Monsters of Morley Manor<\/em> is enjoyable but it’s not a keeper.<\/p>\n
\nGrade: D
\nI bought Rare Beasts <\/em>because of its cover. The cover art is grotesquely appealing and topped with an embedded hologram. The whole book has the look and feel of quality. I also love the characters of Edgar and Ellen, evil little twins whose minds are bent on mayhem. They have so much promise, but the story does not. I couldn’t finish it. People just don’t act the way the author makes them act. To sum it up: great look, great characters, great writing, bad story.<\/p>\n
\nGrade: A
\nThe Thief of Always<\/em> is a quick read and that’s fitting for a parable about the importance of time. As you can infer from the title, it’s about a thief who steals time. When he’s caught, he says something so simple but so powerful that I will remember it forever. This book is worth the time I spent on it and worth keeping to read again someday.<\/p>\n
\nGrade: None
\nI didn’t give this book a grade because I didn’t read more than half of it. Set in Concord, MA and written with reverence for Concord’s famous former residents—Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott—The Diamond in the Window<\/em> ought to be the kind of book I would love. The author attempted to impart some of Concord’s history, but I didn’t like the way she chose to do it, nor did I find the mystery compelling. After trying unsuccessfully to read this book twice, I think I’d better give it away and hope that it finds a new owner who will love it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"