Breathe: a Ghost Story by Chris McNish
I started reading this day before yesterday - I am absolutely fascinated! This is a great book. Jack is a young man who can "see" the memories left behind by dead people... and now, when he and his mother move into a new house, he also discovers that he can see ghosts. The Mother Ghost begs him to be "her son", but the four younger ghosts are terrified of her... what will she do if Jack agrees?
Jack is an interesting person, and his abilities are believable, if fantastic. His curiosity, his fear and his courage are all very real. The story is just a bit scary, without being over-the-top horrific. If you like "real ghost" stories, this is an excellent one... just don't read it too late at night!
Showing posts with label new book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new book review. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, November 20, 2008
book review
Little Brother by Corey Doctorow - I just finished reading this yesterday. It was VERY very good! Marcus is a smart aleck 17-year old computer nut. He can hack any system, and has, including his school's "unhackable" laptops. He and his friends are deep into playing an online/real-world scavenger hunt game. One day they ditch school to follow the latest clues, and get themselves into a mess of trouble - terrorists bomb the bridge across San Francisco Bay, and they are caught up in a mass of arrests following the action.
Marcus' smart mouth gets him into deep trouble, and the rest of the novel follows as he struggles with the repercussions of both his actions and the response of the Federal Government to the terrorists. It's a terrifyingly real scenario, with implications for many things that have happened in the real world over the past few years.
You'll be thrilled by Marcus, his bravery, the dangers he confronts, and the ultimate conclusion. Be prepared for a wild ride!
Marcus' smart mouth gets him into deep trouble, and the rest of the novel follows as he struggles with the repercussions of both his actions and the response of the Federal Government to the terrorists. It's a terrifyingly real scenario, with implications for many things that have happened in the real world over the past few years.
You'll be thrilled by Marcus, his bravery, the dangers he confronts, and the ultimate conclusion. Be prepared for a wild ride!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
New Book Review
"Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow" by Jessica Day George is a fantasy novel that I truly loved. "The Lass", unnamed by her mother, is the seventh child of a poor woodcutter, living in near-poverty in a frozen northern land. Winter comes early and harshly, but Lass is not afraid. When a white stag, reputed to be able to grant a wish to whoever shall catch it, is seen in their village, she sets out to do so. This begins a series of adventures that will change her life, and the lives of all her family.
Follow Lass as she seeks for a name, finds adventure and danger, and attempts to rescue her beloved eldest brother from a mysterious curse, all the while she struggles to remain true to herself.
Lass is a strong, believable heroine, who does what she thinks is right, whether or not it is easy. She endures, struggles for, and achieves, more than she believes is possible. You'll enjoy the rich language, evocative scenery, and folkloric nature of this romantic fantasy.
Follow Lass as she seeks for a name, finds adventure and danger, and attempts to rescue her beloved eldest brother from a mysterious curse, all the while she struggles to remain true to herself.
Lass is a strong, believable heroine, who does what she thinks is right, whether or not it is easy. She endures, struggles for, and achieves, more than she believes is possible. You'll enjoy the rich language, evocative scenery, and folkloric nature of this romantic fantasy.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Book Review
"Night of the Howling Dogs" by Graham Salisbury
I'm almost halfway through this book right now, and wow! It's very exciting!
A group of 8 boyscouts and their troop leaders go out on a 3 day camping trip on a Hawaiian island. While they are camping, an earthquake, followed by a tsunami, strike. Based loosely on a real incident in 1975, this exciting tale follows the boys as they try to survive, find each other, and hike out of dangerous territory while contending with their injuries, the lack of water and shelter, and each other.
I'm almost halfway through this book right now, and wow! It's very exciting!
A group of 8 boyscouts and their troop leaders go out on a 3 day camping trip on a Hawaiian island. While they are camping, an earthquake, followed by a tsunami, strike. Based loosely on a real incident in 1975, this exciting tale follows the boys as they try to survive, find each other, and hike out of dangerous territory while contending with their injuries, the lack of water and shelter, and each other.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Book Reviews
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - I'm halfway through this book, and I just HAVE to talk about it. This is one of the saddest books I've ever read. It's told in two voices - Clay Jensen is an ordinary teen who is given a set of tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - who committed suicide two weeks ago. He listens to the tapes as he travels around town through one agonizingly long night.
Hannah explains in sad, intimate detail exactly how the thirteen people on these tapes affected her, how their actions led her slowly but surely to make the decision to kill herself, and how each person could have changed that decision, if only they had not behaved the way they did.
Clay hasn't yet heard his own role in Hannah's decision at the point where I am, but I'm sure when he does he'll be devastated - he's a nice kid who liked Hannah, and he's already confused and afraid of what he'll find out about himself.
I love books that force both the characters, and the reader, to take a close look at themselves. This story isn't pretty - it's about insults, gossip, revenge and carelessness, as well as innuendo, lies and people's reactions to those lies. But it is a very honest book, and well worth reading. Just keep the hanky nearby...
And now for something Classic - "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford. This story has twice been made into a Disney movie, and it reads just like one. Two dogs and a cat are separated from their family and decide to make a 250 mile cross-country journey to get home. It's a heartwarming, sad-but-happy story about what happens to these loyal companions as they meet danger and trouble all the way... read it, smile, drip tears, and keep reading!
Hannah explains in sad, intimate detail exactly how the thirteen people on these tapes affected her, how their actions led her slowly but surely to make the decision to kill herself, and how each person could have changed that decision, if only they had not behaved the way they did.
Clay hasn't yet heard his own role in Hannah's decision at the point where I am, but I'm sure when he does he'll be devastated - he's a nice kid who liked Hannah, and he's already confused and afraid of what he'll find out about himself.
I love books that force both the characters, and the reader, to take a close look at themselves. This story isn't pretty - it's about insults, gossip, revenge and carelessness, as well as innuendo, lies and people's reactions to those lies. But it is a very honest book, and well worth reading. Just keep the hanky nearby...
And now for something Classic - "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford. This story has twice been made into a Disney movie, and it reads just like one. Two dogs and a cat are separated from their family and decide to make a 250 mile cross-country journey to get home. It's a heartwarming, sad-but-happy story about what happens to these loyal companions as they meet danger and trouble all the way... read it, smile, drip tears, and keep reading!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Book Reviews - one new, one classic
"The Time Thief" by Linda Buckley-Archer is the sequel to "Gideon the Cutpurse" (now retitled "The Time Travelers"). I have only read a bit of this book, but it is equally as exciting as the first. It opens with the Tar Man finding himself alone in London, and seeking to understand this new time and place. As wicked as he is, he has little trouble finding ways to make himself at home.
But Kate finds herself rather lost - she remembers her friend Peter, stranded back in time, and struggles to find anyone who will help her rescue him. Sadly, NASA and the governments are more interested in "protecting time" than rescuing a lost boy. So she sets out to rescue him alone...
I'm taking this one home for the Holiday Weekend - I'll comment on it next week.
The second book I'd like to talk about today is "Dangerous Wishes" by William Sleator. Mr. Sleator's books are some of the creepiest, most disturbing, weird and funny books I've ever read. "Dangerous Wishes" is the story of Dom, his sister Julie, and the Buddha figure she lost three years earlier. Dom's family has been cursed with three years of terrible bad luck, and he decides that if he can go to Thailand, find the lost statuette, and return it to its proper resting place, he can save his family from the vengeful spirits. This is the sequel to "The Spirit House"; it's just as good, but you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this one. Also try his other novels "Interstellar Pig", "Strange Attractors", "The Duplicate" and many others.
But Kate finds herself rather lost - she remembers her friend Peter, stranded back in time, and struggles to find anyone who will help her rescue him. Sadly, NASA and the governments are more interested in "protecting time" than rescuing a lost boy. So she sets out to rescue him alone...
I'm taking this one home for the Holiday Weekend - I'll comment on it next week.
The second book I'd like to talk about today is "Dangerous Wishes" by William Sleator. Mr. Sleator's books are some of the creepiest, most disturbing, weird and funny books I've ever read. "Dangerous Wishes" is the story of Dom, his sister Julie, and the Buddha figure she lost three years earlier. Dom's family has been cursed with three years of terrible bad luck, and he decides that if he can go to Thailand, find the lost statuette, and return it to its proper resting place, he can save his family from the vengeful spirits. This is the sequel to "The Spirit House"; it's just as good, but you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this one. Also try his other novels "Interstellar Pig", "Strange Attractors", "The Duplicate" and many others.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Couple of New Manga and a book review
Not much new here - but "Fairy Tale" volumes 1 and 2 should be out in the next day or two.
I also just finished reading a really good book - "Deadline" by Chris Crutcher. It is sort of a sports story - the main character Ben and his brother Cody are both on the football team in their Senior Year; but it's also about a giant secret Ben is keeping from everyone - and how he deals with it.
The book is action-packed, happy, sad, thoughtful and funny in equal proportions. I think its one that just about anyone would enjoy!
I also just finished reading a really good book - "Deadline" by Chris Crutcher. It is sort of a sports story - the main character Ben and his brother Cody are both on the football team in their Senior Year; but it's also about a giant secret Ben is keeping from everyone - and how he deals with it.
The book is action-packed, happy, sad, thoughtful and funny in equal proportions. I think its one that just about anyone would enjoy!
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