Joan Kessler
Ferris is a delightful read. The story is at turns funny, real, and touching, balancing magical realism with emotional anchors. It reminded me of Capra's screwball film, You Can't Take It With You. Each member of the family is quirky in their own way, which can sometimes (and hilariously) test the limits. But, ultimately, they are held together by love.
Ferris is a delightful read. The story is at turns funny, real, and touching, balancing magical realism with emotional anchors. It reminded me of Capra's screwball film, You Can't Take It With You. Each member of the family is quirky in their own way, which can sometimes (and hilariously) test the limits. But, ultimately, they are held together by love.
NB: I read the 10th Anniversary Edition.
There's a hum that happens inside my head when I hit a certain writing rhythm, a certain speed. When laying track goes from feeling like climbing a mountain on my hands and knees to feeling like flying effortlessly through the air. Like breaking the sound barrier. Everything inside me just shifts. I break the writing barrier. And the feeling of laying track changes, transforms, shifts from exertion into exultation.
- Shonda Rhimes
NB: I read the 10th Anniversary Edition.
There's a hum that happens inside my head when I hit a certain writing rhythm, a certain speed. When laying track goes from feeling like climbing a mountain on my hands and knees to feeling like flying effortlessly through the air. Like breaking the sound barrier. Everything inside me just shifts. I break the writing barrier. And the feeling of laying track changes, transforms, shifts from exertion into exultation.
- Shonda Rhimes
If you're looking for action, suspense, and high-octane thrills, this author is not for you. But if you appreciate or need space to think, to wonder, to consider even the everyday goings-on of life, then McCall Smith will give you that. His worlds are populated with characters who think about what they're doing and make a regular practice of philosophical musings, alone or with others. The team handle the odd cases that other departments won't handle. A fun, restful read with humor and humanity.
If you're looking for action, suspense, and high-octane thrills, this author is not for you. But if you appreciate or need space to think, to wonder, to consider even the everyday goings-on of life, then McCall Smith will give you that. His worlds are populated with characters who think about what they're doing and make a regular practice of philosophical musings, alone or with others. The team handle the odd cases that other departments won't handle. A fun, restful read with humor and humanity.
A mostly delightful story (child-me would have been put off by the amount of violence; even adult-me was a bit surprised) that breezes along with wit and whimsy. I'm always curious when stories change medium. I love to see what writers used and what they discarded or changed from the book to create the screen version. (The first film version was the 1910 silent short film, followed by a few silent versions of other Oz stories before the famous the 1939 adaptation). The storytelling style and illustrations whisk the reader to another time (and, of course, place!)
N. B. The version I read was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Deluxe Hardcover Edition): Featuring a Debossed Cover with 3-Color Foil and Illustrated by W.W. Denslow, not found in this database.
A mostly delightful story (child-me would have been put off by the amount of violence; even adult-me was a bit surprised) that breezes along with wit and whimsy. I'm always curious when stories change medium. I love to see what writers used and what they discarded or changed from the book to create the screen version. (The first film version was the 1910 silent short film, followed by a few silent versions of other Oz stories before the famous the 1939 adaptation). The storytelling style and illustrations whisk the reader to another time (and, of course, place!)
N. B. The version I read was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Deluxe Hardcover Edition): Featuring a Debossed Cover with 3-Color Foil and Illustrated by W.W. Denslow, not found in this database.
This was a fun story. Book twelve in a series, but the first one I read. Speaks to being different, learning to fit in, and learning to accept differences. Harris and Roxy teach Zeke, their friend from another planet, about fun winter activities while dealing with neighborhood bullies. Zeke uses his alien powers to counteract the tricks the bullies play. Looks like a fun series.
This was a fun story. Book twelve in a series, but the first one I read. Speaks to being different, learning to fit in, and learning to accept differences. Harris and Roxy teach Zeke, their friend from another planet, about fun winter activities while dealing with neighborhood bullies. Zeke uses his alien powers to counteract the tricks the bullies play. Looks like a fun series.
From the Earth to the Moon / Around the Moon
I was looking forward to this read. Here's what I liked: chuckle-worthy sarcasm and well-defined characters. Verne doesn't shy away from caricatures of the Gun Club members or the Frenchman Ardan. The over-the-top characters are a perfect complement to the fantastical idea of traveling to the moon in 1865. Verne is certainly imaginative, and I like getting a past perspective of what would become future events, even, or especially, if they are wildly off the mark.
However, Verne leans far too heavily on science and math in an effort to make his fantasy believable. He describes feats of engineering in such detail, as well as mathematical calculations and lists of longitudes and latitudes, that story becomes secondary, and reading becomes tedious. In the words of Michel Ardan (in the accompanying story, 'Around the Moon'), "Ouf! …Speak plainly, you algebraic man!" I admit to much skimming. But high marks for imagination and enthusiasm.
I was looking forward to this read. Here's what I liked: chuckle-worthy sarcasm and well-defined characters. Verne doesn't shy away from caricatures of the Gun Club members or the Frenchman Ardan. The over-the-top characters are a perfect complement to the fantastical idea of traveling to the moon in 1865. Verne is certainly imaginative, and I like getting a past perspective of what would become future events, even, or especially, if they are wildly off the mark.
However, Verne leans far too heavily on science and math in an effort to make his fantasy believable. He describes feats of engineering in such detail, as well as mathematical calculations and lists of longitudes and latitudes, that story becomes secondary, and reading becomes tedious. In the words of Michel Ardan (in the accompanying story, 'Around the Moon'), "Ouf! …Speak plainly, you algebraic man!" I admit to much skimming. But high marks for imagination and enthusiasm.
This was a fun story. Book twelve in a series, but the first one I read. Speaks to being different, learning to fit in, and learning to accept differences. Harris and Roxy teach Zeke, their friend from another planet, about fun winter activities while dealing with neighborhood bullies. Zeke uses his alien powers to counteract the tricks the bullies play. Looks like a good series.
This was a fun story. Book twelve in a series, but the first one I read. Speaks to being different, learning to fit in, and learning to accept differences. Harris and Roxy teach Zeke, their friend from another planet, about fun winter activities while dealing with neighborhood bullies. Zeke uses his alien powers to counteract the tricks the bullies play. Looks like a good series.
