by Libby Koponen
Grade: All right
Reason: I liked how it showed the differences between English and Americans, but I found it a bit boring. I did manage to read it all the way through, but it got harder as I went. I shouldn't judge it too harshly, though. It is a kids book.
Favourite part: When she sang "God Save the Queen" and when she told Henry that she didn't feel totally American anymore.
Least favourite part: The parts with Henry, who annoyed me, even though he was hardly in it. Actually, it was more her attitude towards him that annoyed me. Why did she have to keep on repeating that she "really, really" liked him?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Lady Fortescue Steps Out
by Marion Chesney
Grade: To Re-read
Reason: It was fun. Not good enough all round to own, I don't think. But fun.
I thought parts of it were far too "Romancey". However, Sir Philip was very amusing, and I like Lady Fortescue. I'm looking forward to the sequels, to see how the rest of the Poor Relations turn out.
Favourite part: All the parts where the Poor Relations are together and arguing.
Least favourite part: Almost all the parts with Harriet and the Duke of Rowcester. I skipped some of these.
Grade: To Re-read
Reason: It was fun. Not good enough all round to own, I don't think. But fun.
I thought parts of it were far too "Romancey". However, Sir Philip was very amusing, and I like Lady Fortescue. I'm looking forward to the sequels, to see how the rest of the Poor Relations turn out.
Favourite part: All the parts where the Poor Relations are together and arguing.
Least favourite part: Almost all the parts with Harriet and the Duke of Rowcester. I skipped some of these.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro
Grade: All right
Reason: I found it kind of creepy, frankly. I read to the very end because there was a sense of mystery about the whole thing, and I wanted to find out what it all meant. However, I didn't like the characters and I think maybe it was too "grown up" for my personal tastes.
Favourite part: It grabbed me right away, and I read it straight through to the end, practically without stopping. The atmosphere was, I think the best and worst part. Gripping, but tragic and not endusive of the lovely glow you sometimes get when reading a book straight through.
Least favourite part: What I talked about above. Too philosophically tragic, maybe. I'll probably read it again when I'm older, and think about the moral questions raised.
EDIT: Ok, I found a perfect description. Someone somewhere said (about a totally different book) "Not a great book, but in an addictive way chillingly odd..if that makes sense." That's pretty accurate for my view of this book. And it makes perfect sense.
Grade: All right
Reason: I found it kind of creepy, frankly. I read to the very end because there was a sense of mystery about the whole thing, and I wanted to find out what it all meant. However, I didn't like the characters and I think maybe it was too "grown up" for my personal tastes.
Favourite part: It grabbed me right away, and I read it straight through to the end, practically without stopping. The atmosphere was, I think the best and worst part. Gripping, but tragic and not endusive of the lovely glow you sometimes get when reading a book straight through.
Least favourite part: What I talked about above. Too philosophically tragic, maybe. I'll probably read it again when I'm older, and think about the moral questions raised.
EDIT: Ok, I found a perfect description. Someone somewhere said (about a totally different book) "Not a great book, but in an addictive way chillingly odd..if that makes sense." That's pretty accurate for my view of this book. And it makes perfect sense.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?
by Eleanor Updale
Grade: To Own
Reason: Because of the general atmosphere. I'd love to have a thief book on my shelf. And not "To Re-read" because I didn't love Montmorency, I only liked him.
This book has three sequals, and I'm very glad. Firstly, there's a young, gentlemanly, seemingly fairly nice, ambitious young doctor, plus the main character is a thief turned gentleman. I'd love to be able to write a book like this. And what a cool title!
And thankfully, it was not too "modern". The style was simple, there were no feminist, tomboy love interests, and the gentleman part of things wasn't too...what's the word? Gushy?
Favourite part: When he first becomes a gentleman (I wish there were still gentlemen like that around) and the last part with Lord George Fox-Selwyn and Dr. Farcett.
Least favourite part: I didn't take to Scarper. I think it's the name. Seems "cute" somehow, even though it isn't even remotely.
Grade: To Own
Reason: Because of the general atmosphere. I'd love to have a thief book on my shelf. And not "To Re-read" because I didn't love Montmorency, I only liked him.
This book has three sequals, and I'm very glad. Firstly, there's a young, gentlemanly, seemingly fairly nice, ambitious young doctor, plus the main character is a thief turned gentleman. I'd love to be able to write a book like this. And what a cool title!
And thankfully, it was not too "modern". The style was simple, there were no feminist, tomboy love interests, and the gentleman part of things wasn't too...what's the word? Gushy?
Favourite part: When he first becomes a gentleman (I wish there were still gentlemen like that around) and the last part with Lord George Fox-Selwyn and Dr. Farcett.
Least favourite part: I didn't take to Scarper. I think it's the name. Seems "cute" somehow, even though it isn't even remotely.
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