A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

An enduring classic, A Wrinkle in Time is a great book to get kids excited about math and physics. With unusual and endearing characters this novel also encourages strong family bonds, especially between siblings. It is science fiction that will appeal to several age groups since there is something for everyone in this tale. There is the classic good against evil plot that tries Meg, the heroin, her brother Charles and friend Calvin. This book was all over the place in terms of subjects – time travel, space travel, aliens, absent parent, strange witches who may be good or may be bad, school challenges – but they are woven together seamlessly. I was surprised (in a good way) by the Christian undertone and am sure many religious adults will appreciate the allegory as much as kids will appreciate the action and adventure. There were several references to Shakespeare (The Tempest) and other philosophers as well as Biblical quotes. So, in addition to mathematics, this text also encourages kids to explore the liberal arts. This book still gets young readers excited and has quite a following – impressive for such an “old” book. The themes of family and friendship will always be important to people and I think these elements make this book time-less. This was a really different read for me and made me stretch my imagination. But it was an enjoyable story in the end.
Publisher: Laurel-Leaf of Dell, 1962     Recommended Age: 10 and up
Rating: 3 Stars                                            Pages: 190

Reading Spot

Today I filled my husband's Camelbak with ice water and books then took off for destinations unknown on my bike. After a 22 minute ride I stretched and sat under these lovely magnolia trees and finished a great book - When You Reach Me (review coming soon). I had the park all to myself. It was great. Ahhh. Don't you just love spring?

Things I Saw: A "squinny" or ground squirrel, robins, people with dogs/strollers/children/lawnmowers, an awesome orange VW "Super Beetle," fluffy cat eating grass, two soldiers walking and lots of sunshine.

Graceling by Kristen Cashore

Fantasy or science fiction? In many ways, Graceling is classic fantasy. Cashore creates a new world, The Seven Kingdoms, and provides a map to help you keep your bearings. I never felt lost and the imaginary world isn’t very different from North America, but I enjoyed The Seven Kingdoms anyways. It’s a time before electricity with lots of dark tunnels and sword fighting. There are no wizards or elves but gracelings, individuals born with enhanced abilities, easily identified by their eyes. The ability aspect reminds me of X-men which is considered science fiction. But there’s nothing else particularly scientific about this story. I think it’s safe to say Graceling is fantasy that will appeal to fans of science fiction.

Cashore’s writing style was easy, fluid and fun to read. I would call this “light” reading but it wasn’t exactly childish either. It’s a nice medium between adult and children’s prose. The story is pretty captivating, starting in medias res, with a lot of action, secret councils and life-saving missions. I liked Katsa, the sixteen-year-old girl who struggles with the nature of her grace (aka ability) to kill. The violence she commits weighs her down and she wrestles with controlling her grace and not letting her grace control her. She’s a strong individual with an independent spirit which leads her to be rather stubborn at times. I liked that she wasn’t perfect and that she makes some mistakes. This book made me think about how I use my abilities. Some people are smart, good at making friends, financially successful, etc. but do we use our abilities to serve ourselves or those around us? In her youth, Katsa is manipulated but as she matures she learns that only she decides what her grace will be used for. There are some twists, dark secrets and, of course, a quest to set things right!

Causes for concern: These are reasons why my age rec. is so high. There are some mentions about menstruation. Katsa and her boyfriend have sex on several occasions (there isn’t much detail but there is an oh-so-convenient birth-control herb). Katsa is adamant that she will not marry and is willing for her bf to be unhappy so that she can be fulfilled. There is a lot of violence and descriptions of Katsa killing people. Just some things for parents to know and to talk about with young readers.

I enjoyed the story overall and am interested in reading the sequel, Fire. Check out the author’s blog: http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/
Publisher: Graphia, Houghton Mifflin, 2008     Recommended Age: 16 and up
Rating: 3 Stars                                                         Source: IC Public Library            Pages: 471

Readathon Stats

Totals are in for my participation in the Dewey Readathon.
Books Read: finished one, started and finished the second, began a third
Hours Read: 8.5
Pages Read: 499
Average Pages/Minute: 0.98
Favorite Book: When You Reach Me
Would I do this again: Yes!

Not my best reading times ever but I did have fun! I think reading A Wrinkle In Time slowed me down. I wasn't into it that much but wanted to read it since When You Reach Me references it alot. Next time, I won't choose books based on others since I got bored but felt like I couldn't pick up another book. Tips for the future!

Readathon Update

Confession time. I fell asleep for almost an hour between two and three. But since then I've been going strong. I finished A Wrinkle in Time (very different but I liked it) and plan to get some dinner and read for another hour or two. Then I'm off to see How to Train Your Dragon on the big screen. I didn't get as much read as I would have liked but overall I think I did pretty well. P.S. While I've been louging on the couch reading my husband bought and assembled a new grill. =)

Dewey Readathon in Full Swing

I've nearly finished my first book, Graceling. I have 30 pages left but am hungry for the pizza my husband put in the oven. I've been reading for over 4 hours and am not even close to being tired. Next up is A Wrinkle in Time. It's so nice outside I think I'll read on the deck and take in some rays. My kitty,  Max, is a great reading buddy. She burrowed into my blanket this morning and napped next to me while I read. I hope everyone else is having fun getting their read on!

Alexie Wins PEN/Faulkner Award

One of my favorite authors, Sherman Alexie, won the 2010 PEN/Faulkner award for War Dances (click for my review). The award honors American writers and encourages excellence in American literature.

Dewey Readathon Starts Tomorrow!

Ok, I've decided to do this. The readathon begins at 7 am central time and I'm going to wake at this obscene hour to read for as long as I can. I'm actually excited. I have so many library books hanging around...so I need to do this as much as I want to do this. Are you doing the readathon? Maybe we can support each other.

The Game Plan: Wake at 7, eat cereal and read blogs. Comence reading in earnest by 7:30. I'm going to try and read without a break until noon. Then I'll eat and post about what I'm reading. I'll look forward to reading everyone's posts about how their readathon is going! Resume reading in the afternoon (2ish) and stick with it until 6. I'll post again and let you know how it's going. After dinner, if my eyes are still able to focus, I may continue this crazy endeavor. That's the plan, anyways, and always subject to change with mood and weather. =)

The Supplies: Stack of Books, Tea (Tender Leaf and Lipton green), leftover pot roast and...a SNACK, I need a snack! What should I make for tomorrow? Rice krispies? Hmmm. Any ideas?

The Books: Graceling, A Wrinkle in Time, When You Reach Me, Stargirl, American on Purpose, Shiver and O Pioneers. That's 5 YA, one bio and one classic. Ok, wish me luck!

Book Blogger Hop

It's Friday and time to hop around the blogosphere in search of great book bloggers! Hosted by Crazy for Books, you can post your URL and check out the sites of others reviewing and talking about books. Get hopping! One of the sites I've found through the hop is Brimfull Bookshelves and I'm enjoying the variety she reads. Check her out, too!

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

All the Pretty Horses is a beautifully written story set at the beginning of the end of two ages – the decline of the cowboy and the end of youth. It is 1949 and John Grady Cole is sixteen, ready to become a man and to put his love of horses to work. To do so, he and his seventeen-year-old friend, Lacey Rawlins, saddle-up and leave their Texas homes behind them in search of ranch work in Mexico. Of course, things aren’t always as simple as we think they should be. It isn’t for these boys either.

Reading the description, I thought this novel was as a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, in which the protagonist goes through a tough time to learn valuable lessons which enable him to become an adult. Such stories often include a romantic relationship which helps to achieve this end. But while reading, I felt John Grady was already an adult. This kid knows his mind and how to handle himself. He is already equipped with a trade (braking horses) and is darn good at it. I’m thinking of Dickens’ Great Expectations, often considered a bildungsroman. Pip goes through much to grow up and I don’t think the pattern is the same for John Grady. John is perhaps reckless but not immature. He falls in love but is not a hopeless romantic like Pip. Having finished reading, I will concede this as a coming-of-age story because John undergoes a shift in the way he understands the world. He acquires a more “grown up” perspective. He always tries to do what he thinks is right but still struggles with his conscience. Finally, John recognizes that not everything in life can be explained and rationalized, that all events in life can’t be nicely wrapped up as we would like. More than the physical events that John experiences, it is this mental growth that signals adulthood. For me, watching how John processed his actions was as motivating to turn pages as reading for the plot.

I am a huge fan of McCarthy’s unconventional writing style. I’m amazed at his command of language and find his writing beautiful and inspiring. This is a text to take your time with, to enjoy the language and visualize what is being described. The descriptions are out of this world if you will allow yourself to sink into the text and not worry about finishing and finding out what happens. This is an “enjoy the journey” book and is not about getting to the end but appreciating the steps that lead to it. I realized on page one that I would have to slow down. I’m glad I did. Here’s an example of a description:

Shrouded in the black thunderheads the distant lightning glowed mutely like welding seen through foundry smoke. As if repairs were under way at some flawed place in the iron dark of the world. (McCarthy 67)

Wow, I just love that. I had to read it four times, once out loud to my husband, and we gushed about it (much like I’m doing now). It just so happens to be storming outside right now, too, and that’s just how the lightning is. On another note, I enjoyed the Spanish mingled throughout the text and was surprised at how much I remembered from class. But if you don’t know Spanish don’t worry as the text is 98% English.

Every time I opened this novel, I felt completely transported to the West. It was like I was hanging in the clouds watching John Grady ride his horse. I think that’s why I enjoyed this book so much. This is book one of the “Border Trilogy” but All the Pretty Horses stands well on its own. If I didn’t know there were more books I would have thought it was a standalone novel. Book two will be in my reading list for the future.
Publisher: Vintage, 1993     Source: IC Public Library
Rating: 4 Stars                       Pages: 301