Book 366

The Queen's Lover, by Francine Du Plessix Gray, Penguin, 2012.

I bought this book because I found a brand new copy for a dollar.  It was marked "bestseller", and it looked intriguing.


Did this book amuse me?  Um, yeah, sort of.  Until the TMI line was crossed.  Ew.  And most the time I wanted to slap Axel's dandified face.

Did I learn anything from this book?  Um, no.  To me, the French Revolution is one of the most confusing chapters in history.  I have read many books on the topic -- both fiction and non-fiction -- to try to understand what was going on at that time in history.  This book only muddied the issue.

Book 365

The Emperor's New Clothes, adapted by Rebecca Bondor, and illustrated by Richard Walz, Little Golden Books, 1993.

There were some dark years for The Little Golden Books when the text was too convoluted for the LGB format and the illustrations lacked the whimsical charm that usually is standard in a Little Golden Book. 

This book came out of that era. 

I bought this book because I've loved Andersen's fairy tales for as long as I've been reading, and I've loved reading Little Golden Books when I first started reading.  This book falls a bit short on both counts.

Book 364

The Hundred and One Dalmatians, written by Dodie Smith, Viking, 1957.

Before there was an animated movie, and Disney books based on the animated movie, and a live-action movie based on the animated movie, and sequel live-action movie that really had nothing to do with anything, there was the original The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith.

The original book doesn't read very much like the copy.  Or the copy of the copy.  Or the copy of the copy of the copy.  And that is a very good thing.  What feels silly and trite in the movie, feels fresh and original in the book -- Starlight barking.

Thomas' Second 1126th Story

1126.     Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was reading a book.  He was reading in a book.  Thomas climbed into the book.  Thomas wanted to be in the book so that everyone could read him.

The End.

Thomas' Second 1125th Story

1125.     Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Ogre.  He was an ogre named Thomas.  Ogres don’t like hugs.  Or kisses.

The End.

Thomas' Second 1124th Story

1124.     Once upon a time, there was a toilet.  It was for munching the poop.

The End.

Thomas' Second 1123rd Story

1123.     Once upon a time, there were two ballerinas.  They were dancing.  They turned into a pretzel.  And they rolled away.

The End.

Thomas' Second 1122nd Story

1122.     Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas, and a mommy named Mommy, and a daddy named Daddy.  Thomas was five years old.  Mommy was twenty years old.  And Daddy was sixteen years old. 

Thomas will turn six next month.  Mommy will turn twenty-one this week.  And  Daddy will turn sixty-one – maybe next month.

The End.