Book Review: Cart and Cwidder

First in the Dalemark Quartet, this book by Diana Wynne Jones (author of Howl's Moving Castle) introduces us to Moril, an eleven-year-old boy who has grown up in a family of traveling singers and cwidder players. After his father is murdered, everything begins to go wrong, and Moril is forced to flee. Along the way, he must uncover the secrets behind his father's death and learn to use the power of the cwidder.

rainbow bright...

Evidently, anyone can do this, though my version's not as good as the picture a few posts ago. You just have to pay attention to the book's spine! I got a little bored the other day, and so I rearranged one of our bookshelves (containing mostly children's books) to create this effect. If you're tired of the same old thing, try it... it's fun!

something bright and cheery

Just a cool pic to brighten up these long winter months and give everyone a break from endless book reviews. (I purchased this in poster form today; it's far more stunning in a larger size.) Like it? It's called "Sunset Pansies." :)

Book Review: Howl's Moving Castle

This book was one of my favorites long before the movie of the same name was released (rather than vice-versa). I first read it in early college, and I've loved it ever since. I can't really explain why I love it so much, but I think it's a combination of things: the descriptions are vibrant and colorful, and the storyline is unusual and set in a magical kingdom that I can't help but want to visit. I re-read it at least yearly, usually in the springtime. If you're looking for something exciting, happy, and uplifting, this is the book to read!

when will spring come?

It's been really cold outside lately, and I'm sick of snow. On days like this, there's nothing like curling up in a comfortable armchair with a hot cup of tea and a good book. To see what I've been reading lately, be sure and check out the Marian's List blog (I've been getting into the hang of keeping it updated)!

Last night, some friends and I went to Olive Garden and hung out. It was great to get a break from work and just have some fun. During the part where we got salad (and I love Olive Garden's salad), the boys decided to make bets on who could eat a pepperoncini pepper-- they thought it was hot, till they actually tried it-- and asked for one from my end of the table. However, that's my favorite part of the salad, so there weren't any left. :) Since I was paying my own tab, I let myself order my favorite-- Seafood Portofino, yum! We all ended up eating too much. Afterwards, we went to somebody's house and watched Ice Age. We had a blast!

Book Review: MAUS

When I first learned of the Holocaust, I was in eighth grade, and I would not have been able to handle this book at that time in my life. (In other words, if you are a middle school teacher, I do not recommend this book for your students.) This may be a graphic novel, but it's not light reading, and it's not for children. However, it can be important reading for adults. This was my second time through it. Maus, written by Art Spiegelman, is an account of the Holocaust as told by his father Vladek. The Jews are represented by mice, the Germans are cats, and the Americans are dogs. Because the people in it are in animal form (so you can identify their nationality more easily), the graphic horror of the actual events are a bit easier to take, yet they don't lose their poignancy. (The majority of the really nasty stuff happens off-panel, or "offscreen.") The way that the subject matter is handled hits the reader hard, because it's presented in an unexpected way. It breaks through any desensitization you may have built up and shows you just how gruesome the Holocaust really was-- a good lesson for humanity to keep in mind so that we can make sure it never happens again. In this day and age, I think that breaking down our desensitization to real events like this and 9/11 is a good thing... so I recommend this book "to adults only."

Book Review: Rigged

Brought to you by the same person who wrote Bringing Down the House (which was the inspiration behind the movie 21), Ben Mezrich's book Rigged is just what the cover says it is: "the true story of an Ivy League kid who changed the world of oil, from Wall Street to Dubai..." except a lot more interesting. That is, if you can get past the copious number of f-words and other crude language (my limited experience with Mezrich's works have made me wonder why he can't seem to expand his vocabulary). Overall, the book was informative, transporting me to a world I never knew existed-- but in the end, not worth slogging through. I probably won't waste time on another of this author's books. Not recommended.