The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

7 Stars

Nobody Owens (Bod, for short) finds himself suddenly orphaned as a toddler. He then has the great fortune to wander into a graveyard, where he is immediately adopted by the resident ghosts. This book follows his up-bringing by this bizarre community, through both the tender and the terrifying. The Graveyard Book was the 2009 Newberry-Medal Winner. (Deservedly, in my opinion.)

A very interesting concept, this book lives up to that pique. Gaiman is a great story-teller. He weaves in noticeable and plot-driving details without making them annoyingly obvious, and his imagination in throwing in folk lore about the dead--and other grisly graveyard inhabitants--is limitless. He also has a good sense of humor, and plays it well here. This book definitely made me want to read more of his work; unfortunately, I've heard that Coraline is terrifying and Stardust just plain crude. But, if he writes another book for children anytime soon, I will be seeking it out! (I've been wavering between giving it 7 and 8 stars and decided to err on the side of caution. But it really is very good, and I would definitely recommend it to people with a taste for the eerie!)

A few children's reads...

So, for a slight change of pace, I decided I wanted to add a brief list of a few favorite picture books. I like some more than others, but I'd say they all fall within the 8-10 Stars range. They are all different styles and genres and are only really related insofar as they are some favorites of mine, sorry.


The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds:

I have loved Peter H. Reynolds' loose-style illustrations ever since I've known of him, but this book especially holds a place in my heart. It's a book every artist really ought to own. Sarah, this means you. If you don't have it already, you need to. ;D (And, I have to add that the first time I read this book, it was a Spanish translation called, "El Punto", which actually I may have liked even more, since that title added some interesting double meaning to the whole...)


Ms. Rubinstein's Beauty by Pep Montserrat:

This has been a favorite ever since discovering it a couple of years ago. It is the only work so far by this author illustrator, but it's a great one. For a far more poetic (albeit a bit of a plot spoiling--read it AFTER you read the book, I'm telling you!!!) review than I can give, please visit:
http://fusenumber8.blogspot.com/2007/02/review-of-day-ms-rubinsteins-beauty.html


City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems:

The gorgeous pictures by Jon J Muth are what attracted me to this book to begin with, but it is as beautifully written as illustrated. Poignant, silly, sweet, sad, and wonderful all rolled into one. And, did I mention the gorgeous pictures?







Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss:

So, perhaps it is a tad cliché to include Dr. Seuss, but really, the guy was a genius. This is one that I don't remember reading as a child, but just might rank as my favorite of his books. It doesn't have the same depth of meaning as some of his others, but the alliterations and rhyming patterns are FAN. TAS. TIC. Not than anyone expected anything else.







Snow White illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman:

I mention the illustrator, not the author, because, truthfully I have never loved the tale of Snow White. It's really, very dark. This retelling is no exception as it sticks pretty close to the Grimm version. BUT. If you have never loved Snow White, either, this book might just change your mind. And all because of a person known as Trina Schart Hyman. Who I adore. I have never been disappointed in a book she's illustrated, because even if the book were completely terrible, her illustrations would make it all worth while. No, seriously. Check it out, and you will see exactly what I mean.


The Sleeping Beauty by Mercer Mayer:

I know, I know, another fairy tale with beautiful pictures. But, this one, I choose not just for the amazing illustrations, but because this is my very favorite re-telling of the tale of the Sleeping Beauty. Ever. And I've read a LOT of re-tellings. Mercer Mayer manages to add all sorts of interesting twists to the timeless tale while managing to be true to the story. It is a real classic. And, just so that you know, if you have a hard time finding it, that's because it's now out of print. And people like to steal the library's copies and take the hit in fines just to have a copy. Unfortunately for the rest of us, it really is that good.


The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein:

This book makes me cry. It has some of Silverstein's typically funny poetry, but it is much deeper than many of his other, sillier reads. Plus, it's about a tree, and we all know what a tree-hugger I am. But, then, since my dad had this book around for as long as I can remember, maybe this book is WHY I'm a tree-hugger.









The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base:

Those of you who have never read any of Graeme Base's books need to move it to the top of your to-do list. Especially if you love bright colors. Or puzzles. Or clever rhymes. Or intricate illustrations. Or well-thought out children's books. ... Yeah. Enough said.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

4 Stars -3 for content (Yes, meaning it actually gets only 1 Star...)

"The novel, set in post–Spanish Civil War Barcelona, concerns a young boy, Daniel. Just after the war, Daniel's father takes him to the secret Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a huge library of old, forgotten titles lovingly preserved by a select few initiates. According to tradition, everyone initiated to this secret place is allowed to take one book from it, and must protect it for life. Daniel selects a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax. That night he takes the book home and reads it, completely engrossed. Daniel then attempts to look for other books by this unknown author, but can find none. All he comes across are stories of a strange man – calling himself Laín Coubert, after a character in the book who happens to be the Devil – who has been seeking out Carax's books for decades, buying them all and burning them." (Taken from wikipedia.)

I'm only posting this, because based on the synopsis you might actually be tempted to read this book (the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a mysterious book character burning a certain author's life's work, unusual setting, etc.). It starts out with so much promise! Ruiz' writing style is very lyrical and beautiful, and in the beginning there are lots of interesting and poignant interactions between Daniel and his widowed father. It carries on in this lovely way for about 60 or 70 pages and then, WHAM! Random sex scene. And then lots of garbage-y suggestive language for pretty much the rest of the book. :( This book is about 1/5 "Great Expectations", 1/5 "The Historian" (by Elizabeth Kostova), and, unfortunately about 3/5 parts smutty and salacious talk, gritty encounters, and people being absolutely horrible to one another. Boo. I hate when a very gifted author gives in to the temptation to make his book more "exciting" by adding a lot of unrealistically grimy atmosphere and language. I find it very difficult to believe that the vast majority of Spaniards in the 50s had such horrible marriages, and I scoff at the apparent take-home message that sexual intimacy is very rarely a good thing and that only when it's between young, unmarried, and inexperienced individuals. Again, boo. I have to admit that I did not read the whole book, but because of Ruiz' compelling storytelling, I skimmed about the last half of the book to find out the answers to the mysteries presented. An interesting plot-line, unique European setting, occasional flashes of hope and genuine human emotion, and an intriguing search for answers are, unfortunately, not enough to save this dark tale from the smelly pit into which the author has chosen to cast it.

Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

7 Stars

"When her father loses his job and leaves India to look for work in America, Asha, her older sister, Reet, and their mother must wait with Baba's brother and his family...in Calcutta. Uncle is welcoming, but in a country steeped in tradition, the three women must abide by his decisions. ... Asha's only solace is her rooftop hide-away, where she pours her heart out in her diary, and where she begins a clandestine friendship with Jay Sen, the boy next door. ... Setting her novel in the mid-1970s, a time of political turmoil, Mitali Perkins probes the relationships between sisters, mothers and daughters, women and men. Secret Keeper tells of one girl's struggle, within the constraints of tradition, to establish her identity and claim her future." (Taken from the inside cover.)

I have to say that the biggest downside to this book was that it was only fairly written. I found Perkins' switching between the author's viewpoint, and Asha's first-person voice confusing. However, I found that I liked the book more than I normally do when I don't connect with the writing style. The characters were engaging, interesting, and believable, even though they are not deeply expounded upon. The setting, like Jane Austen's books, is mentioned only in direct relation to how it affects the characters (which, truthfully, isn't much), but I found that this added to the realism of Asha as a young woman. (I mean, what 16-year-old is really THAT affected by politics in their everyday life?) The book was also surprisingly poignant. It manages to explore some levels of social acceptance and age-old parent/child drama without making any one thing or person "to blame." You come away a little saddened by the plight of people within a culture that is so rigid in its socially acceptable norms, but still hopeful because the characters have managed to show respect and real love for each other without flouting generations of tradition. It was a surprisingly deep read, despite Perkins somewhat inexpert style.