I have tired of his books, but I do admit to having read most of them. For a young reader though who liked King's The Mist, but may be intimidated by the length of King's usual books, I would recommend Koontz. The Mist reminded me of Koontz themes. They are a bit scary, or at least try to be, though I found them more amusing. Every book has a love story mingled in, and they always have a happy ending. The good guys always win, and there is somewhat of a logical explanation at the end for whatever bizarre things may have occurred in the story, rather unlike King.
Anyway, I think students who liked The Mist, or Twilight might like Koontz. They are all a quick read, and there are tons of them. Intensity was his best. I would even read that one again. Other than that, I was thinking of the kids. They could get a kid to keep reading.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Winter's Bone -- #3
Are we supposed to know at the end who dunnit? Uncle Teardrop knew, and the blue bag full of money seemed to be the clue that sent him off to his fate.
I searched "blue bag" and the only blue bag that came up was several references to the one that Gail carried diapers and such around in. Did Gail somehow come up with all that money and spring Jessup so he would meet his fate and Ree could keep the house? Or did somebody borrow the diaper bag for that purpose?
Am I missing something here? Anybody?
I searched "blue bag" and the only blue bag that came up was several references to the one that Gail carried diapers and such around in. Did Gail somehow come up with all that money and spring Jessup so he would meet his fate and Ree could keep the house? Or did somebody borrow the diaper bag for that purpose?
Am I missing something here? Anybody?
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Lorna on Winter's Bone
Now that I've actually read it, I would say this was a desperately depressing and probably starkly realistic book. I wonder if we're related to any of those Ozark folk? Some cousin on Dad's side once bought a resort in the Ozarks. Do you remember going out there with Uncle Sheldon and Aunt Barbaline? They made me ride with them because I was car sick and they thought the air conditioning, which they had and we didn't, would help. It didn't. I did not, however, puke in their lovely car.
I don't remember the "resort" at all. It was, I believe, owned by our cousin David, one of the grown-up cousins, Carolyn's brother. I think they were Uncle Dale's kids with his first wife, but I couldn't swear to it.
Anbody else remember this trip?
Anyway, I couldn't say I liked Winter's Bone, but it was moving and believable. Even if we don't want that kind of reality in the good ole' US of A, it's here. In that sense it reminded me of the hometown "underbelly," the seedier side of life there. But, thank God, there is a brighter side as well, and I didn't see any brighter side in the book. Except Ree herself, who had pretty much admitted defeat by the end. She'd be "ok," but she wasn't getting out.
I don't remember the "resort" at all. It was, I believe, owned by our cousin David, one of the grown-up cousins, Carolyn's brother. I think they were Uncle Dale's kids with his first wife, but I couldn't swear to it.
Anbody else remember this trip?
Anyway, I couldn't say I liked Winter's Bone, but it was moving and believable. Even if we don't want that kind of reality in the good ole' US of A, it's here. In that sense it reminded me of the hometown "underbelly," the seedier side of life there. But, thank God, there is a brighter side as well, and I didn't see any brighter side in the book. Except Ree herself, who had pretty much admitted defeat by the end. She'd be "ok," but she wasn't getting out.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Lorna on Winter's Bone
I'm only five or six chapters in, still unsure where this is taking me, but found it interesting that you, brother, said it reminded you of our home town. The drugs, yes. But are "our" people really so backward? My FB page should make The New York Times or something. Not because it's so brilliant; it's quite mundane for the most part, but because of the span of political views that are aired there. I have bleeding heart liberal friends, and I have ultraconservative friends; I have elder friends and I have teenage friends, and their thoughts all show up on my FB page. I know of one case where two women have become cyber friends because of one commenting on the other's post. Technology is a wonderful thing in many cases.
But most of that wasn't about Winter's Bone. And neither is the next comment.
I finished a sort of fantasy short story that I first wrote in high school, and I sent it to Pat asking for comments. She started with "I'm not going to lie to you," a phrase we'd been discussing on Sunday afternoon, and then wrote, "I liked it." She recommended I consider making it a novel instead of a short story, but I think it's destined for a SciFi/Fantasy magazine, and my hope is, for publication there. It's funny that horror horrifies me; most Stephen King movies scare me to death, as do many of his books. I'm talking cold-sweat, scared to go to bed, nightmares when I do kind of horrified. But I think I could write horror. Maybe because I experience it the way I do. I have at least one story that's been rattling around in my head for years that screams for a horrifying ending. I wonder if I'll have nightmares if I write it down, or if I'll exorcize some demon in the process. Well, no time for it today, so the question will hang in the air until I have time and energy to answer it.
LM
But most of that wasn't about Winter's Bone. And neither is the next comment.
I finished a sort of fantasy short story that I first wrote in high school, and I sent it to Pat asking for comments. She started with "I'm not going to lie to you," a phrase we'd been discussing on Sunday afternoon, and then wrote, "I liked it." She recommended I consider making it a novel instead of a short story, but I think it's destined for a SciFi/Fantasy magazine, and my hope is, for publication there. It's funny that horror horrifies me; most Stephen King movies scare me to death, as do many of his books. I'm talking cold-sweat, scared to go to bed, nightmares when I do kind of horrified. But I think I could write horror. Maybe because I experience it the way I do. I have at least one story that's been rattling around in my head for years that screams for a horrifying ending. I wonder if I'll have nightmares if I write it down, or if I'll exorcize some demon in the process. Well, no time for it today, so the question will hang in the air until I have time and energy to answer it.
LM
Friday, March 25, 2011
Barbara Kingsolver
I discovered Barbara Kingsolver because she was, briefly, in a rock-and-roll band with Stephen King. Long live rock-and-roll.
The Poisonwood Bible
According to the blurb at BarbaraKingsolver.com, "The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959." When I finish a book, I rate it using a simple system: it gets a smiley face emoticon :-) if I want to read something else by the same author. Not only did The Poisonwood Bible get a smiley face -- I started another Kingsolver title the same day. I love this book.
Prodigal Summer
This book made me fall in love with Barbara Kingsolver. I think The Poisonwood Bible is a better story, but I enjoyed reading this one more. I could not wait to start another Kingsolver book.
The Lacuna
I was disappointed. If it had not been written by Barbara Kingsolver, who I had fallen in love with, I would have given it a frowny face :-( or worse, I might not have finished it. I kept reading, hoping it would turn into a real Kingsolver book, and telling myself that it took a while for The Poisonwood Bible to grow on me. But this one never did. I have to wonder if she enjoyed writing it. Sigh.
Other Titles by Barbara Kingsolver
I've read The Bean Trees, and I remember liking it, but I read it in one sitting, and when I do that, I enjoy the book, but tend not to remember it well. I may read this one again, because one of my colleagues is teaching it in her 10th grade English class. Pigs In Heaven is a sequel, which I intend to read -- someday.
Ana Maria liked Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It's non-fiction, and it's in my reading queue.Kingsolver has written several other books, including novels, non-fiction, and collections of short stories and poems. I would like to eventually read all of it, and I could see myself reading The Poisonwood Bible (and maybe Prodigal Summer) again. I'm still in love with Barbara Kingsolver, in spite of The Lacuna.
The Poisonwood Bible
According to the blurb at BarbaraKingsolver.com, "The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959." When I finish a book, I rate it using a simple system: it gets a smiley face emoticon :-) if I want to read something else by the same author. Not only did The Poisonwood Bible get a smiley face -- I started another Kingsolver title the same day. I love this book.
Prodigal Summer
This book made me fall in love with Barbara Kingsolver. I think The Poisonwood Bible is a better story, but I enjoyed reading this one more. I could not wait to start another Kingsolver book.
The Lacuna
I was disappointed. If it had not been written by Barbara Kingsolver, who I had fallen in love with, I would have given it a frowny face :-( or worse, I might not have finished it. I kept reading, hoping it would turn into a real Kingsolver book, and telling myself that it took a while for The Poisonwood Bible to grow on me. But this one never did. I have to wonder if she enjoyed writing it. Sigh.
Other Titles by Barbara Kingsolver
I've read The Bean Trees, and I remember liking it, but I read it in one sitting, and when I do that, I enjoy the book, but tend not to remember it well. I may read this one again, because one of my colleagues is teaching it in her 10th grade English class. Pigs In Heaven is a sequel, which I intend to read -- someday.
Ana Maria liked Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It's non-fiction, and it's in my reading queue.Kingsolver has written several other books, including novels, non-fiction, and collections of short stories and poems. I would like to eventually read all of it, and I could see myself reading The Poisonwood Bible (and maybe Prodigal Summer) again. I'm still in love with Barbara Kingsolver, in spite of The Lacuna.
Stephen King
If you are a fan of Stephen King, here are some suggestions:
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
The synopsis at StephenKing.com says, "On Writing is both a textbook for writers and a memoir of Stephen's life and will, thus, appeal even to those who are not aspiring writers." The book is a lot more about the author than the craft, which is good, because the parts about the author are better than the parts about the craft. I did enjoy the craft section, but I wonder if people who don't teach writing would like it. For a fan of the author, it's a must-read. And it's short (especially for Stephen King).
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Speaking of short, this book is only 5 hours, 36 minutes as an unabridged audio book. In addition to its length, it's a departure for King because it seems to be written for a younger audience. The protagonist is a nine-year-old girl. According to StephenKing.com, the book flap calls it "a classic story that engages our emotions at the most primal level ... a fairy tale grimmer than Grimm, but aglow with a girl's indomitable spirit." I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Mist
Yet another short Stephen King book. I believe this was originally published in a collection of stories, then adapted to the screen, then published as a stand-alone novella to cash in on the movie. I saw the movie before I read the book, then watched the movie again after I read the book. Enjoyed the book and the movie (both times).
Duma Key
Duma Key is typical Stephen King. It is long (over 21 hours as an unabridged audio book), with a main character you care about, with writing that makes you want to keep reading, and an ending that makes you think, "Really? Is that it?" I've always suspected that King's endings result from deadlines rather than design. But as always with King novels, the pleasure is in the moment, in the page-by-page experience of reading. He is the King of raconteurs.
Mid-Life Confidential
This book is not available for Kindle; in fact, it's not even in print. In the First Foreword of On Writing, King mentions his experience with "a rock-and-roll band composed mostly of writers" which actually toured as recently as 2010 (see http://rockbottomremainders.com/) You can learn more about the book at StephenKing.com (be sure to read the "Community Thoughts"). Stumbling across this book led me to one of my most rewarding reading experiences.
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