Sunday, January 29, 2017

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum


Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Pages: 150
Finished: January 29, 2017

First Sentence: Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife.

Summary: A cyclone whisks Dorothy away from her Kansas life and drops her in the magical land of Oz. Of course, the little girl wishes to go home right away, but to do so, she must travel to the Emerald City and speak to the Wizard. Along they way she makes many friends and overcomes many great obstacles.

Thoughts: I've reviewed this once before, and my thoughts are similar to what I thought then. I appreciate the book for what it is, but as my first experience was the wonderful movie/musical version, I have a hard time reconciling the two. 

Perhaps it is the fact that this book is so child oriented. Baum himself adds in the introduction that Fairy Tales have changed, and so this is a fairytale "in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." It shows. The nightmares, when encountered, are very watered down, last incredibly short amounts of time, and are overcome so very quickly. The Wicked Witch of the West is extremely disappointing to me. I suppose Baum didn't want to make her too scary, but it left her to be a dry husk of a villain.

I also find the people of Oz to be rather too trusting and a bit dim. It seems a lot can be carried by rumor and no one tries to prove that rumor right or wrong. But that might be a modern way of looking at the book.

I did like that the flying monkeys were slaves to the owner of the cap and had rules on how often they could be used. 

Some things to mention here as, if I recall correctly, the books suffer from some continuity issues:

The Scarecrow is set to rule Oz at the end of the book.
The Tin Man rules the Winkies at the end of the book.
The Lion becomes King of the Beasts in a Quadling forest.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain by Dana Suskind, MD



Title: Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain
Author: Dana Suskind, MD.
Pages: 320
Finished: January 26, 2017

First Sentence: Parent talk is probably the most valuable resource in our world

Summary: Dr. Dana Suskind started her career as an cochlear implant surgeon. As she preformed more and more surgeries, she noticed that people who got cochlear implants earlier learned how to talk better than those who didn't, however, that wasn't always the case. Eventually, Suskind discovered that children who recieved their cochlear implants as early as possible AND lived in language rich environments were the most likely to succeed. She studied early childhood brain development and early studies done by various people to come to the conclusion that any kid that lived in a language rich environment were given the tools to thrive while those who lived in language poor environments languished behind.

Thoughts: I'm going to start by saying that this book has been brought up at work many times. I didn't get the chance to read it when everyone else was, so this is me playing catch up. Her premise is good, and I'll admit I bought into it from the minute I read the flyleaf. So the first three chapters or so where she backs up her theory with various studies was very repetitive and dull. I found myself skimming and then going back for reference when I needed it.

The actual chapters on how to tune in, talk more, and take turns with a child were very helpful as were the bits about praise and how talking can help with math and science as well as language. I've already started changing the way I interact with childeren at work as well as my own child from reading this book.

Ultimately though, I wish she had been a better writer, or perhaps had a better editor. There were plenty of passages that really didn't serve a purpose other than to posit the idea of what would have happened had things gone differently. 

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Retellings Challenge 2017


This is the last challenge I'm signing up for (except for the Bluestem and Caudill challenge in February). The challenge is hosted by Once Upon a Bookcase. It's fairly simple. Read retellings of fairytales, myths, famous legends, etc. I'm reading at the medium level of 5 - 8 books. As of right now, I'm thinking six books. I have no list for this - I'm hoping to just find stuff as I go along. I'd like for this to be all adult books rather than YA or middle grade as the point of this blog is to read more adult books. But if I'm finding that difficult, I'll definitely start looking in the children's section again. Books read will be listed here.

1. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
2. Thomas the Rhymer by Elen Kushner
3. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
4. The Bear and the Nightengale by Katherine Arden
5. The Once and Future King by T. H. White
6. Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Dennis McKiernan

Possible Reads:




Fairy Tale Possiblities

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier


Title: Rebecca
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Pages: 410
Finished: January 18, 2017

First Sentence: Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again.

Summary: A young woman with no prospects marries the recently widowed Maxim de Winter. Upon their arrival to his estate, Manderly, the young bride soon realizes she is constantly shadowed by the memory of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca. Rooms stay decorated as though Rebecca will return; the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, clearly thinks the second Mrs. de Winters isn't worthy of the title or position; and Maxim doesn't like being reminded of his omnipresent first wife. As the narrator tries to fit in at Manderly, details emerge of the previous marriage that could very well ruin everything.

Thoughts: I devoured this novel! For the first time in a long while, I was eager to read again. I found myself going to ed at an earlier hour each night in order to see what wold happen next. From the very first I was intrigued by the narrator whose imagination marked her for a young woman right away. If you're not a fan of thorough introspection, this book might not be for you. It takes a while for her to get to Manderly, and even then, the real exciting stuff doesn't happen until somewhere around page 200. But if you are okay with introspection, be prepared for the ride of your life. 

I also have to write kudos to Dame du Maurier. While I typically don't condone the actions Mr. de Winter in most of this book, through the narrator's eyes, I felt very sympathetic to him. The narrator annoyed me at some points, but when I realized just how young she really was, I was able to forgive her a little bit. Some of this, I'll admit, is difficult to comprehend just because of how different times are now than they were in the 20s. 

Mostly though, I loved every mention of Manderly. What beautiful description. 

January Reads


These are the books I plan to read this month. Yes, this picture should have gone out at the beginning of the month, but I didn't have all the books together. The bottom book is also deceiving. It holds the first half of the Oz books, so you'll be seeing that particular book for quite a few months. I'm just about done with Rebecca. A review should be going up either tonight or tomorrow.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Wizard of Oz Challenge

Adding another challenge to my list, because I need another challenge like I need a hole in my head. Lonestar on a lark is hosting a Wizard of Oz challenge. The goal: to read the Oz series by L Frank Baum at the rate of one a month until done. It's been a while since I've read through these books, and I'm looking forward to trying this!*

Books:
14. Glinda of Oz

*I am aware that these are not adult books. 

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Personal Reading Challenge 2017

While joining other reading challenges is fun, I also drew up a bit of a personal reading challenge for myself to get me reading more adult books. Titles will be added as I either start reading one or find something I want to use.

1. Professional Development: Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain 
This could be anything about the importance of reading, child development, or other things about libraries. It may seem like cheating as you would think I would read professional development books for work, but in actuality, books like this fall by the wayside while I madly read children's literature.

Off the top of my head, I'm really interested in the book 30 Million Words for this category. It's one we've talked about a lot at work, but I've never taken the chance to read it.

2. Classic I've Never Read Before: Rebecca
This can be something either on my Back to Classics challenge or something brand new.

3. Fantasy Novel I've Never Read Before: Moonheart
There are a ton of fantasy writers I really admire, but never really get a chance to read. I have quite a list of books here to choose from!

So many to choose from here. I'm thinking something by Neil Gaiman or Charles DeLint. Or possibly Jane Yolen.

4. Fairy Tale Retelling: The Fairy Godmother
I read a lot of middle grade and YA fairy tale retellings. I'd love to move into something more adult!

I have lists upon lists to read off of from this category. I'm sure something will catch my eye.

5. Non Fiction:  How to Raise an Adult

I do not read enough non-fiction in my life. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to go about this one yet, or what my criteria is for this other than finding something in the non fiction section.

6. Non-Western Fiction: Haroun and the Sea of Stories
Most of the books I read are either American, Canadian, or Western European. For this category, I want to read a book from somewhere outside of this region.

7. Book from browsing: Slade House When I used to shelve, I would pick up books that I never heard of before, but that looked interesting. I've not used this method in reading for a LONG time, but I think it's time to start again. This book can be fiction or non-fiction.

8. Random book from my TBR list: The Golem and the Jinni
Another way to add a non categorized book to this challenge.

I've been eyeing The Golem and the Jinni lately, so this might be the opportune time to read it.

Back to the Classics Challenge 2017

I am very excited to announce the first challenge I am signing up for is the Back to the Classics Challenge from the blog Books and Chocolate. Click on the links to sign up if you are interested. The criteria and books I plan on reading are below. All titles are subject to change!




1.  A 19th century classic : The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. 

Many years ago, I started reading Dickens works in the order he wrote them. Over the course of a summer, I read Sketches by Boz, The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, and Nicholas Nickleby. Then the school year started and I had to get back to practicing instruments and writing papers. I left off at this one and find myself eager to have a chance to get back to reading it. - On shelf at work

2.  A 20th century classic: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

I don't know much about this book, but its title has been tossed about numerous times, so I am interested in trying it out! - On shelf at work

3.  A classic by a woman author: Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell


My mom showed me the Wives and Daughters adaptation on Masterpiece Theater when I was in middle school. At the time, I hadn't realized it was a book, so when I found out years later, I was very excited for the book to end up on my to read list! - Order from another library

4.  A classic in translation.  Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne


A good adventure classic seems just about right here. - On shelf at work

5.  A classic published before 1800: The Odyssey by Homer


The Odyssey was required reading my freshman year of high school. Of course, we only read bits and pieces of it, and I was not a fan of the translation. In college I decided to read The Illiad and The Odyssey, but after getting through The Illiad I decided to take a break before moving on. I never came back to it, so this will be an excellent time to pick it up again. - On shelf at work

6.  
A romance classic: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - On shelf at home


7.  A Gothic or horror classic: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

I wasn't quite sure what I was going to pick from this category at first, but upon looking at the provided GoodReads list, this title jumped out at me. Rebecca has been on my TBR list for a long while.
8.  A classic with a number in the title. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller


This is one of those books that I somehow skipped in high school and college. It seemed like whichever English class I wasn't in read this book. Here's my chance to catch up! - On shelf at work

Switched to Fahrenheit 451 because instead of reading Catch-22, I'm finding excuses to do anything other than read.

9.  A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title: Either Watership Down by Richard Adams OR The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling


Both books I've never read but that have been on my radar for a long while.

10. A classic set in a place you'd like to visit: The Once and Future King by T.H. White. 


This was the first Arthurian Legend I ever read, and it started a massive obsession with Arthurian legends in my high school years. I haven't read it since then, but I'm definitely looking forward to it!

11. An award-winning classic: Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell


Confession: This book sat on my shelf for years. And about a year ago, in a fit of decluttering, I decided I was never going to read it, so I took it to Half Priced Books and sold it. I don't regret getting rid of the book, but of course it seems like now is perhaps the time to read it. - On shelf at work


12. A Russian classic: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

I have always shied away from the Russians when it comes to classic literature. Perhaps it's the length of some of the books, or the fact that people always talk about how depressing they are. Whatever it is, my heart sank when I saw this category and thought to the few titles and authors that I am vaguely familiar with. So I did a quick google search and found this book. I will admit, a large part of me chose it due to how the title mirrors my women's author pick.  - On shelf at work

Introductions

Hello to the world. This is blog number three of various started and dropped blogs. The first two were about my life working in a library, and while they are interesting, I just never really kept up with the entries.

This blog is for book reviews. But really, it's a place for some of the book challenges I am joining this year.

I love reading, but since becoming a Children's Library Associate, I find I spend most of my time reading children's literature while my adult to be read list wastes away. There are so many awesome adult books out there I want to read, but I never make the time for it. I'm looking forward for these challenges to help me read for pleasure again!