by Steve Martin Illustrated by C.F. Payne 32 p.
Steve Martin's picture book is very cute and comes with a CD of a cute bluegrass-ish song version of it. The illustrations are good too.
Kel
Showing posts with label scoutnell7. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scoutnell7. Show all posts
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody mystery #1)
by Elizabeth Peters 262 p.
I do not really read genre books much, but I rather enjoyed this mystery. The mystery itself was not my favorite part. What I really liked were the characters, especially Amelia Peabody. She's a headstrong spinster who is smart, pragmatic, and intellectually curious. I also like the setting of Victorian period England, Italy, and Egypt, right when archaeology was taking off with the pyramids. I definitely am going to read the second book.
Kel
I do not really read genre books much, but I rather enjoyed this mystery. The mystery itself was not my favorite part. What I really liked were the characters, especially Amelia Peabody. She's a headstrong spinster who is smart, pragmatic, and intellectually curious. I also like the setting of Victorian period England, Italy, and Egypt, right when archaeology was taking off with the pyramids. I definitely am going to read the second book.
Kel
Penelope
by Rebecca Harrington 274 p.
This is a novel of a socially awkward and disconnected young woman starting her freshman year at Harvard. Her inability to read in to people's motives, her passivity, and her wanting to follow her mother's instruction to make friends can make some funny happenings. Her mother and her mother's suggestions to Penny on how to make friends, get a boyfriend, and other odd ideas are very funny. The first half of this book was one of the funniest things I've read ever. Then the second half was not particularly funny, but was a good description of a first year in college, especially the confusion and new social situations.
Kel
This is a novel of a socially awkward and disconnected young woman starting her freshman year at Harvard. Her inability to read in to people's motives, her passivity, and her wanting to follow her mother's instruction to make friends can make some funny happenings. Her mother and her mother's suggestions to Penny on how to make friends, get a boyfriend, and other odd ideas are very funny. The first half of this book was one of the funniest things I've read ever. Then the second half was not particularly funny, but was a good description of a first year in college, especially the confusion and new social situations.
Kel
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Cat Who Played Post Office
by Lilian Jackson Braun 262 p.
This is the sixth Cat Who book in the series. It takes place right after the main character, journalist and amateur detective, Jim Qwilleran, has inherited ridiculous amounts of money. There were more deaths than I expected. Also when I read a couple of these as a kid I did not remember them being so silly with names of things. It was alright.
This is the sixth Cat Who book in the series. It takes place right after the main character, journalist and amateur detective, Jim Qwilleran, has inherited ridiculous amounts of money. There were more deaths than I expected. Also when I read a couple of these as a kid I did not remember them being so silly with names of things. It was alright.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
All Creatures Great and Small
by James Herriot 442 p.
I loved this book. It reads like fiction, but is nonfiction. It is the first couple years James Herriot, a Scottish veterinarian, spends in his first job which is in Yorkshire England in the late 30s.
It had chapters that made me cry, the next made me laugh, and grossed me out. It confirmed I made the right decision in not becoming a vet, but he does have some great moments with animals. Read this book! I look forward to watching the series that was on PBS in the 70s.
I loved this book. It reads like fiction, but is nonfiction. It is the first couple years James Herriot, a Scottish veterinarian, spends in his first job which is in Yorkshire England in the late 30s.
It had chapters that made me cry, the next made me laugh, and grossed me out. It confirmed I made the right decision in not becoming a vet, but he does have some great moments with animals. Read this book! I look forward to watching the series that was on PBS in the 70s.
The Lilies of the Field
by William E. Barrett 127 p.
This is the story that the Sidney Poitier movie by the same title is based on, but I haven't seen the movie. I plan on doing so. This is a novella about a man who is traveling around in the 1950s I think after he serves in the military. His name is Homer (so fitting he's a bit of a nomadic soldier-type) and he is driving in the western US to check out it out. He is originally from the South. He sees some women working at a small farm in the desert and offers his services as a paid worker. They turn out to be nuns from Germany. The mother superior believes Homer is sent from God to build their chapel. She is bossy and that often irks Homer. Homer thinks she's a bit nuts, because he has never built a church. Something draws him to building the church even though it is not his denomination.
This book had some touching and inspiring moments, but I felt the descriptions of Homer by the author are questionable at times.
This is the story that the Sidney Poitier movie by the same title is based on, but I haven't seen the movie. I plan on doing so. This is a novella about a man who is traveling around in the 1950s I think after he serves in the military. His name is Homer (so fitting he's a bit of a nomadic soldier-type) and he is driving in the western US to check out it out. He is originally from the South. He sees some women working at a small farm in the desert and offers his services as a paid worker. They turn out to be nuns from Germany. The mother superior believes Homer is sent from God to build their chapel. She is bossy and that often irks Homer. Homer thinks she's a bit nuts, because he has never built a church. Something draws him to building the church even though it is not his denomination.
This book had some touching and inspiring moments, but I felt the descriptions of Homer by the author are questionable at times.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
by Aron Ralston 354 p.
This is the biography of Aron Ralston, the man who cut his hand off when trapped by a boulder in a slot canyon in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. This is the same story the movie 127 Hours is based. It was an intense description of what he went through and interspersed with other nature experiences he had had before, most of which were other near death experiences. It was an interesting story and I learned some things I didn't know about the story from the news and interviews. One of the most interesting parts was not his first person account of his ordeal, but his third person account of the rescue effort by his parents, police, friends, and the states' and National Parks Service. I even recently spoke with a former park ranger who had a hand in the search for him, though that park ranger wasn't mentioned in this. Before the end of this book I knew I would not want to be friends with Ralston.
The cover was mostly blue.
This is the biography of Aron Ralston, the man who cut his hand off when trapped by a boulder in a slot canyon in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. This is the same story the movie 127 Hours is based. It was an intense description of what he went through and interspersed with other nature experiences he had had before, most of which were other near death experiences. It was an interesting story and I learned some things I didn't know about the story from the news and interviews. One of the most interesting parts was not his first person account of his ordeal, but his third person account of the rescue effort by his parents, police, friends, and the states' and National Parks Service. I even recently spoke with a former park ranger who had a hand in the search for him, though that park ranger wasn't mentioned in this. Before the end of this book I knew I would not want to be friends with Ralston.
The cover was mostly blue.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Batgirl: Year One
by Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon, and Marcos Martin Illustrated by Alvaro Lopez 224 p.
I never read comic books, but when I learned there was a librarian superhero I was intrigued and happened to find it on our branch's shelves. It was Batgirl's origin story I think. There was not much mention of anything library related. I had hoped she might use her reference skills to help solve crime more. It was alright and the illustrations were good.
I never read comic books, but when I learned there was a librarian superhero I was intrigued and happened to find it on our branch's shelves. It was Batgirl's origin story I think. There was not much mention of anything library related. I had hoped she might use her reference skills to help solve crime more. It was alright and the illustrations were good.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Pride and Prejudice: graphic novel
by Nancy Butler and Jane Austen Illustrated by Hugo Petrus 120 p.
When I found we had comic book versions of Jane Austen's works I had to check them out. It was okay, but as Austen is such a psychological-social writer it loses a lot in mostly pictures. However it could be a nice introduction to Jane Austen for younger readers. I also thought despite being in Georgian style clothes the Bennet sisters look very modern with their haircuts and lots of makeup.
When I found we had comic book versions of Jane Austen's works I had to check them out. It was okay, but as Austen is such a psychological-social writer it loses a lot in mostly pictures. However it could be a nice introduction to Jane Austen for younger readers. I also thought despite being in Georgian style clothes the Bennet sisters look very modern with their haircuts and lots of makeup.
Thank You Notes 2
by Jimmy Fallon and the Late Night writers 164 p.
This is the second volume of Jimmy Fallon's Thank You Notes from the segment he does on Friday nights. Not every one of them is a laugh riot, but many are very humorous. I loved the touch that it played the music from the show on it.
This is the second volume of Jimmy Fallon's Thank You Notes from the segment he does on Friday nights. Not every one of them is a laugh riot, but many are very humorous. I loved the touch that it played the music from the show on it.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Treasure Island!!!
by Sara Levine 172 p.
The summaries I had read of this book being about a directionless 25 year old woman who decides to live by the principles she finds in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, Treasure Island, made me think this book would be like a fun adventure tale. It was more like a psychological and social journey that with many downturns. The second half has some surprises, but not fun adventure. Also, though the woman becomes obsessed with living like a classic children's novel, this is not one and some very disturbing events occur in the latter half.
I picked it up because it sounded like a fun adventure and on that count it disappointed, but it is well written so I can see why I saw it on many suggested read lists on NPR.
The summaries I had read of this book being about a directionless 25 year old woman who decides to live by the principles she finds in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, Treasure Island, made me think this book would be like a fun adventure tale. It was more like a psychological and social journey that with many downturns. The second half has some surprises, but not fun adventure. Also, though the woman becomes obsessed with living like a classic children's novel, this is not one and some very disturbing events occur in the latter half.
I picked it up because it sounded like a fun adventure and on that count it disappointed, but it is well written so I can see why I saw it on many suggested read lists on NPR.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Metro Girl
by Janet Evanovich 296 p.
I have never read Evanovich before and this book did not make me want to read another book of hers. The story seemed really ludicrous. None of the characters were endearing enough to makeup for the faults. She gives unnecessary descriptions that just distract. I can't think much what I liked about it. I didn't hate it. It was just "meh." It is the first of the Alex Barnaby series. Alex is a former mechanic and race car driver who denies that part of herself to be more girly. She has a brother in Florida who has gotten himself into trouble again. She goes there to find him. Even though his place has been broken into a few times, she does not call the cops and comes up against many criminal types. She meets a playboy race car driver who had his boat stolen by her Alex's brother, Bill. It is one of those books that things get crazier and crazier as they go along.
I have never read Evanovich before and this book did not make me want to read another book of hers. The story seemed really ludicrous. None of the characters were endearing enough to makeup for the faults. She gives unnecessary descriptions that just distract. I can't think much what I liked about it. I didn't hate it. It was just "meh." It is the first of the Alex Barnaby series. Alex is a former mechanic and race car driver who denies that part of herself to be more girly. She has a brother in Florida who has gotten himself into trouble again. She goes there to find him. Even though his place has been broken into a few times, she does not call the cops and comes up against many criminal types. She meets a playboy race car driver who had his boat stolen by her Alex's brother, Bill. It is one of those books that things get crazier and crazier as they go along.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Simon's Cat
by Simon Tofield
240p.
This book has no words I think, but the pictures are a delight. So funny, so charming, and if you have a cat or even known one fairly well it will ring true. I've been a fan of Simon's animations on his YouTube channel for quite some time and was very happy to find we had one of the books. Read Simon's Cat and watch the videos! You will laugh so much. Somehow he captures the terrible cat in simple black line drawing so accurately and with lots of humor.
240p.
This book has no words I think, but the pictures are a delight. So funny, so charming, and if you have a cat or even known one fairly well it will ring true. I've been a fan of Simon's animations on his YouTube channel for quite some time and was very happy to find we had one of the books. Read Simon's Cat and watch the videos! You will laugh so much. Somehow he captures the terrible cat in simple black line drawing so accurately and with lots of humor.
Killer Weekend
by Ridley Pearson
336 p.
This is the first of Pearson's Walter Fleming novels. Walter Fleming is a sad and recently divorced sheriff in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is a playground of the rich and famous and in one crazy weekend he has to stop an assassin of a future presidential nominee he has saved before when she is about announce running at a big business conference.
It is not my usual kind of book, but it was alright. There were some exciting moments in it and a disturbing assassin.
336 p.
This is the first of Pearson's Walter Fleming novels. Walter Fleming is a sad and recently divorced sheriff in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is a playground of the rich and famous and in one crazy weekend he has to stop an assassin of a future presidential nominee he has saved before when she is about announce running at a big business conference.
It is not my usual kind of book, but it was alright. There were some exciting moments in it and a disturbing assassin.
Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins 374p.
Well I finally read it. I also liked it. I resisted at first because it sounded unpleasantly morbid. Yet I was drawn in by the characters and wanting to know what happened to them, Katniss, Prim, Gale, Peeta, Cinna. I'm glad I read it too. I found it entertaining and thoughtful. Funny thing, the day I finished it only about an hour later a friend suggested going to see it. That was definitely the fastest book to movie version conversion for me. The movie I thought was a good representation. I also definitely wanted to read further and read Catching Fire.
Well I finally read it. I also liked it. I resisted at first because it sounded unpleasantly morbid. Yet I was drawn in by the characters and wanting to know what happened to them, Katniss, Prim, Gale, Peeta, Cinna. I'm glad I read it too. I found it entertaining and thoughtful. Funny thing, the day I finished it only about an hour later a friend suggested going to see it. That was definitely the fastest book to movie version conversion for me. The movie I thought was a good representation. I also definitely wanted to read further and read Catching Fire.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Maltese Falcon
by Dashiell Hammett 217p.
This was the first noir I had read, but it seemed like a definitive noir detective story. There were interesting characters and descriptions. It had a very straightforward style that made it easy to read with only a few dated kind of words. It did not end how I thought it would end.
This was the first noir I had read, but it seemed like a definitive noir detective story. There were interesting characters and descriptions. It had a very straightforward style that made it easy to read with only a few dated kind of words. It did not end how I thought it would end.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Ten, Make That Nine, Habits of Very Organized People. Make That Ten.: The Tweets of Steve Martin
by Steve Martin 105 p.
This is a fun breezy read. Of course given it is a book of Tweets you could probably just read them on Twitter, but I preferred them in book form. This saves you all the scrolling and searching trying to find Steve's little nuggets of comedy gold from all the @'s and #'s and all those replies from fans and detractors. Instead you have a delightful little book to access Steve's gems andit also has funny little pictures. Let me say that this book has made me question my position on Twitter. Before I found it annoying and mostly a waste of time (outside of the way it has helped young people in foreign countries find a way outside of oppression of their free speech). Yet I see it has good comedic applications. After all a joke could be fit in 140 characters. Steve surely shows this is very possible. Now not every Tweet in the book is gold, but many made me laugh. However if you don't enjoy Steve Martin's absurd and unusual way at looking at the world with his humor, you probably won't enjoy this book. I love much of Steve's humor and this book of Tweets is a good medium for it.
Kel
This is a fun breezy read. Of course given it is a book of Tweets you could probably just read them on Twitter, but I preferred them in book form. This saves you all the scrolling and searching trying to find Steve's little nuggets of comedy gold from all the @'s and #'s and all those replies from fans and detractors. Instead you have a delightful little book to access Steve's gems andit also has funny little pictures. Let me say that this book has made me question my position on Twitter. Before I found it annoying and mostly a waste of time (outside of the way it has helped young people in foreign countries find a way outside of oppression of their free speech). Yet I see it has good comedic applications. After all a joke could be fit in 140 characters. Steve surely shows this is very possible. Now not every Tweet in the book is gold, but many made me laugh. However if you don't enjoy Steve Martin's absurd and unusual way at looking at the world with his humor, you probably won't enjoy this book. I love much of Steve's humor and this book of Tweets is a good medium for it.
Kel
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The Pink Party
by Maryann MacDonald Illustrated by Judy Stead 29 p.
This a book that would be good for girls who love Fancy Nancy books and looking for something else. Two best friends Rose and Valentina love the color pink! The more pink clothes and accessories the better. Well it starts getting competitive. When Valentina throws a pink colored birthday party Rose can't take it anymore. She refuses to go. It is a short story, but one with a fun picture and a lesson about friendship and jealousy.
Kel
This a book that would be good for girls who love Fancy Nancy books and looking for something else. Two best friends Rose and Valentina love the color pink! The more pink clothes and accessories the better. Well it starts getting competitive. When Valentina throws a pink colored birthday party Rose can't take it anymore. She refuses to go. It is a short story, but one with a fun picture and a lesson about friendship and jealousy.
Kel
Raj, the Bookstore Tiger
by Kathleen T. Pelley Illustrated by Paige Keiser 30 p.
I really liked this picture book and it is another one with a friendly tiger or at least a cat who thinks of himself as a tiger. Raj is owned by the manager of a bookstore. He thinks of himself as a brave tiger patrolling the bookstore and beloved by customers and the kids during story time. Then another bookstore worker brings his white fluffy cat Snowball. Snowball mocks Raj and tells him he's just a little cat not a real tiger. I also thought the illustrations were very cute.
Kel
I really liked this picture book and it is another one with a friendly tiger or at least a cat who thinks of himself as a tiger. Raj is owned by the manager of a bookstore. He thinks of himself as a brave tiger patrolling the bookstore and beloved by customers and the kids during story time. Then another bookstore worker brings his white fluffy cat Snowball. Snowball mocks Raj and tells him he's just a little cat not a real tiger. I also thought the illustrations were very cute.
Kel
Sea of Dreams
by Dennis Nolan 38 p.
This is an enchanting story without words of a girl who builds a sand castle and what happens when she leaves it for the day. It takes on quite a wordless adventure in a similar way to the Borrowers.
This picture book would be great for adventure lovers and those who like books in the style of Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner. Also it would be good for reluctant readers since there is no stress of actually reading, but is still a book.
Kel
This is an enchanting story without words of a girl who builds a sand castle and what happens when she leaves it for the day. It takes on quite a wordless adventure in a similar way to the Borrowers.
This picture book would be great for adventure lovers and those who like books in the style of Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner. Also it would be good for reluctant readers since there is no stress of actually reading, but is still a book.
Kel
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