Lieder Madchen, Spring Ambuzzador for Strands of Bronze and Gold
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Jane Nickerson is on Random Buzzers!
Lieder Madchen, Spring Ambuzzador for Strands of Bronze and Gold
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Book Review: The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver
The Spindlersby Lauren Oliver
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Ages: Suitable for all ages.
Description:
One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.
When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.
She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.
To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.
From New York Times best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.
My Thoughts:
This is, at its heart, a fairytale. It is simple and sweet and rich with beautiful descriptions. It is not groundbreaking or even particularly original, but it is a lovely story.
I'm honestly not sure what else to say about this book. It's a bedtime story that you can tell to your children. It doesn't have any great depth. It's good, but not thought provoking. Fun, but it doesn't make you laugh or cry. It's probably the most average thing Lauren Oliver has ever written.
The world is great, I will give it that. It has quirkiness and beauty and an edge of darkness and shadows. I
really liked the nocturni, a winged race of dream carriers.
I would recommend this as a read-aloud for kids of all ages. Just be careful not to expect too much from it; it's lovely, but there are no fireworks.
Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).
Profanity:
There is no profanity in this book.
Sexuality:
There is no sexuality in this book.
Violence:
I give it a 4.10 for kidnapping and attempted murder.
Lieder Madchen
Book Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
by Lauren Oliver
Genre: YA Contemporary / Fantasy
Ages: 15 and up
Note: Lauren Oliver's other works include Delirium, Pandemonium, Requiem, The Spindlers and Liesl & Po.
Description:
What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
My Thoughts:
It took me a little while to warm up to this book. I love Lauren Oliver, so I was a little surprised when this started out as the story of a typical shallow party girl. I didn't like Samantha at all for the first few chapters, but then I slowly began to warm to her. By the end, I was almost crying.
The characters in this book are so flawed it was kind of painful to read at moments. As she relives the last day of her life over and over, she learns of secrets and sorrows that are hidden behind seemingly happy smiles. She also learns that her past actions have done more damage than she ever imagined.
It was fascinating to watch Samantha try to make everyone's lives just a little bit better before she dies.
The descriptions were such that it almost felt like I was watching a movie, I could picture the scenes so clearly. Every moment just played through my head, and the emotions hit me right in the gut. This isn't my favorite of Lauren Oliver's books, and it is not for anyone looking for a light, happy read, but it is a beautiful piece of writing.
Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).
Profanity:
I give it a 4.10 for swearing, mid-level name-calling and underage drinking.
Sexuality:
I rate it a 5.10 for lots of innuendo and a scene with lots of touching that is a little disturbing.
Violence:
I give it a 4.10 for suicide, attempted suicide, injuries and death.
Lieder Madchen
Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
My Thoughts:
It took me a little while to warm up to this book. I love Lauren Oliver, so I was a little surprised when this started out as the story of a typical shallow party girl. I didn't like Samantha at all for the first few chapters, but then I slowly began to warm to her. By the end, I was almost crying.
The characters in this book are so flawed it was kind of painful to read at moments. As she relives the last day of her life over and over, she learns of secrets and sorrows that are hidden behind seemingly happy smiles. She also learns that her past actions have done more damage than she ever imagined.
It was fascinating to watch Samantha try to make everyone's lives just a little bit better before she dies.
The descriptions were such that it almost felt like I was watching a movie, I could picture the scenes so clearly. Every moment just played through my head, and the emotions hit me right in the gut. This isn't my favorite of Lauren Oliver's books, and it is not for anyone looking for a light, happy read, but it is a beautiful piece of writing.
Rating System: Profanity, Sexuality and Violence
1 (mild) through 10 (extreme).
Profanity:
I give it a 4.10 for swearing, mid-level name-calling and underage drinking.
Sexuality:
I rate it a 5.10 for lots of innuendo and a scene with lots of touching that is a little disturbing.
Violence:
I give it a 4.10 for suicide, attempted suicide, injuries and death.
Lieder Madchen
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