Once
upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas, and there was a painting on the
wall. And the painting came to life.
The End.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Book 565
Here Comes the Easter Cat, written by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Claudia Rueda, Dial Books, 2014.
This book is an excellent example of the ideal relationship between the text and the illustrations. The text on its own would not make sense, and the illustrations on their own would not make sense, but put them together and you have one adorably hilarious Easter book.
Book 564
Hallowe'en Party, by Agatha Christie, Berkley Books, 1969.
I love Hercule Poirot -- of course -- and Ariadne Oliver, and the mystery itself was quite good, but there were still some rather large flaws in this book.
All the charm was sucked out of Agatha Christie's writing by her rants (through several characters) about the 'youth of today', the mental health system, and the criminal justice system. I might have been fine if only one or two characters spouted negativity of their choice, but they all did, repeatedly, and that grew tiresome.
I love Hercule Poirot -- of course -- and Ariadne Oliver, and the mystery itself was quite good, but there were still some rather large flaws in this book.
All the charm was sucked out of Agatha Christie's writing by her rants (through several characters) about the 'youth of today', the mental health system, and the criminal justice system. I might have been fine if only one or two characters spouted negativity of their choice, but they all did, repeatedly, and that grew tiresome.
Book 563
Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective, by Agatha Christie, Berkley Books, 1934.
Mr. Parker Pyne seems like a cross between Poirot, Lord Peter Wimsey, and a plain ordinary accountant. He is quite charming. The stories, however, do not quite measure up to Christie at her best.
Mr. Parker Pyne seems like a cross between Poirot, Lord Peter Wimsey, and a plain ordinary accountant. He is quite charming. The stories, however, do not quite measure up to Christie at her best.
Book 562
Dumb Witness, by Agatha Christie, Berkley Books, 1937.
I found this Agatha Christie mystery especially engaging. Possibly because I am partial to small dogs named Bob. And partially because I did not guess the ending. But mostly because it was a well-crafted, engaging story.
I found this Agatha Christie mystery especially engaging. Possibly because I am partial to small dogs named Bob. And partially because I did not guess the ending. But mostly because it was a well-crafted, engaging story.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Book 561
How To Read a Story, written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Mark Siegel, 2015.
This delightfully illustrated book is absolutely charming. My eight-year-old son's favorite chapter was the chapter about using different voices for different characters. He took that advice straight to heart.
Book 560
The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck, M.D., Touchstone Books, 1978.
I found this book in a thrift store, so I paid my 65 cents and took it home.
This book starts out well enough. In fact, if the author had stopped after the first half of this book, I would recommend it to just about anyone. The first half does not really contain any profound truths, but summing up listening as love is not a bad place to start.
But the second half is problematic to the point of being dangerous. It is contradictory and murky, and unsettlingly theocratic.
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