How has another month passed so quickly? I did not nearly complete everything I had hoped to this month. But without further ado, here is the list as it stands.
|
|
$ |
$$ |
$$$ |
$$$$ |
$$$$$ |
|
Recommend-ability |
I highly recommend not
reading this book. |
Don't bother. |
You might enjoy it. |
Would definitely
recommend |
Absolutely loved it. I
will likely recommend to every person I talk to for the next month. |
|
Writing Style |
Extremely poor |
Well, they know how to
spell and what a |
Average. |
Good job. I might be a
little envious of their way with words. |
I stand amazed. |
|
Likelihood of Reading
Again |
Are you kidding? I lost
enough brain cells the first time. |
Nope. |
Maybe, but doubtful. |
Probably will read
again. |
I will definitely
re-read. Way too many things I found fascinating. |
|
Thought-Provoking |
What thoughts? |
I think there was a
thought somewhere. |
Sort of basic thoughts,
but accurate. |
Some lingering thoughts.
That's a good sign. |
So much to think about.
My brain is on fire! |
|
Subject Matter of
General Interest |
There should not have
been ink and paper wasted on this book. I now understand tree-huggers. |
Not my style,
personally, but might be interesting to someone of a different temperament. |
Interesting, but may be
specific to my personal tastes. |
Fun things to think
about. May be quotable. Likely to appeal to a variety of personalities. |
Positively fascinating.
I will be quoting this for years. Absolutely everyone should read this book. |
Practical Pantomimes
By Louis J. Huber
Acting, Skits, Humor, Fiction; 95 pages, Not available on Audible
Physical Copy
Have I read it before?
I have not. I’ve read very few plays and skits.
How did I find it?
Thrift store discovery! My copy has definitely seen some hard times. First printed in 1937, this book is readily available in the public domain. For some reason which I did not spend time researching it is considered a culturally significant work.
What is it about?
This is a book of short pantomimes in which there is a reader who narrates a story while other participants act it out. These are meant to be simple skits, easily done with things you would have around your house. The acts are meant to be fun and funny and nonprofessional. Some were written more as narration while others are in rhyming form. There weren’t really any of the skits that I would want to be part of producing, but they did inspire me with ideas. I can definitely imagine myself, not re-reading the book in its entirety, but browsing for a specific purpose. I think something could be made out of them. Maybe the problem was that they just didn’t quite fit my sense of humor. Each pantomime seemed to follow a very similar pattern of figurative speech being taken literally, and while this is funny for a while, it doesn’t stay funny for the endurance.
Any warnings?
None whatsoever. However, I found Practical Pantomimes very difficult to rate, as you will notice below.
What’s a quote?
Oh, I do have a few favorite lines.
“Mary clapped her hands and Jojo entered the room very quietly. That is, he didn’t make any more noise than a locomotive.” (from “A Spy Story”)
“Most dice have only two sixes, or twelve, as their highest number, but this pair was loaded. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we give you an idea of what kind of war it was—even the dice were loaded.” (from “War Is Not Well”)
“He rang the bell, but Adolph thought it was a passing streetcar and paid no heed. Adolph never paid taxes either, so why should he pay heed?” (from “The Gentleman’s Gentleman”)
Recommendability: $$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$
Lafayette in the
Somewhat United States
By Sarah Vowell
Historical, Nonfiction; 288 pages, 8 hrs. 7 min.
Audible
Have I read it before?
No.
How did I find it?
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States popped up as an Audible recommendation. Several years ago, I believe I proofread a book about Lafayette for the school library. I fell in love with the romantic heroism of a wealthy young orphan so taken with the idea of freedom that he would leave his own country to fight for such on behalf of another.
What is it about?
I found the book well written, a good mix of explanation on the research, different viewpoints, excerpts, and fun information I didn’t know previously, with a little sarcasm thrown in to boot. There were plenty of references made to other moments in the Revolution that makes me fear I have started irrevocably down a Revolutionary rabbit hole. Oh well, there could be worse things than that. Lafayette, if you’ve forgotten, was only 19 when he slipped away from France to help the Americans fight for their freedom. This was without the blessing of his king or his father-in-law. He left behind a young, pregnant wife as well. The book describes how Lafayette longed to earn honor and glory. Not the most Christian sentiment, certainly, but very intriguing to me. Among accounts lifted out you will find the story of the battle in which he was wounded and the winter at Valley Forge.
Any warnings?
Nope.
What’s a quote?
“While the melodrama of hucking crates of tea into Boston Harbor continues to inspire civic-minded hotheads to this day, it’s worth remembering the hordes of stoic colonial women who simply swore off tea and steeped basil leaves in boiling water to make the same point. What’s more valiant: littering from a wharf or years of doing chores and looking after children from dawn to dark without caffeine?”
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
The
Unexpected Adventure
By Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg
Religious, Nonfiction; 292 pages, 7 hrs. 20 min.
Audible
Have I read it
before?
No, although I was familiar with Lee Strobel’s name.
How did I find
it?
I saw this book recommended on someone’s status. As I love Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christ, in which the author shares his search for evidence pertaining to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, eventually becoming convinced of truth and turning from atheism to Christianity, I was interested to find out more about this title.
What is it
about?
The premise of this book is to inspire Christians to evangelism. This is done by a series of stories from the authors, recounting the adventures they have had in telling others the Good News. The most touching story, to me, was one of the authors who felt compelled to speak to his father-in-law about becoming a Christian. Little did he know that would be the last conversation they ever had. Another story tells of motorcycle daredevil, Evil Knievel, and how he turned to Christ toward the end of his life. There are dramatic moments of misunderstandings and debates, but also simple conversations at restaurants or on airplanes.
Any warnings?
I don’t feel certain that this book lines up 100% with my own theology, but I still found it worth the time to read. It’s made me reconsider some of my own choices. Why can’t I say “God’s given us a beautiful day!” when engaging in small talk with a stranger instead of “It’s a nice day out?”
What’s a quote?
“After all, he is the great evangelist; we’re merely the tools that he uses to fulfill his mission of redeeming the world, one individual at a time.”
Recommendability:
$$$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$$
Hypergifted
By Gordon Korman
Fiction, Junior ; 272 pages, 5 hrs. 18 min.
Audible
Have I read it before?
No, although I have read the sequels, Ungifted and Supergifted.
How did I find it?
I saw it pop up on Audible. I loved Gordon Korman when I was young, and I’m always curious to see what he is writing now. It’s interesting to me to observe how authors change through the years.
What is it about?
If you are familiar with Gordon Korman, this book contains many elements that are classic: Junior summer camp counselors, a super smart kid, a kid who disappears and is great at avoiding questions about where he goes, and a kidnapped pig. OK, maybe the last one isn’t quite so classic, but animals do end up in odd places in many books, it seems. I did think this book tied together a number of elements found in older books like I Wanna Go Home and No Coins Please with things found in some of the newer books, like The Superteacher Project what with some of the references to AI. As this is the third book in the series, the characters were already familiar. I did have trouble believing that someone who correctly predicted a pregnancy in book one did not recognize the same signs in book three. I also thought the climax was somewhat lackluster.
Any warnings?
I didn’t feel there was as much disrespect in this book as there are in some of Korman’s works, actually, although there were the same elements of hiding things from adults. Also, this story does take place on a college campus, so some references to partying, but if you let your children read other Korman books, this one will be fine, too.
What’s a quote?
I guess I don’t have one.
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$
Here’s hoping that April will give me time to get in a
little more reading! I currently have four books in progress, so that seems
hopeful. As always, I’m open to your thoughts and recommendations!
By Louis J. Huber
Acting, Skits, Humor, Fiction; 95 pages, Not available on Audible
Physical Copy
I have not. I’ve read very few plays and skits.
Thrift store discovery! My copy has definitely seen some hard times. First printed in 1937, this book is readily available in the public domain. For some reason which I did not spend time researching it is considered a culturally significant work.
This is a book of short pantomimes in which there is a reader who narrates a story while other participants act it out. These are meant to be simple skits, easily done with things you would have around your house. The acts are meant to be fun and funny and nonprofessional. Some were written more as narration while others are in rhyming form. There weren’t really any of the skits that I would want to be part of producing, but they did inspire me with ideas. I can definitely imagine myself, not re-reading the book in its entirety, but browsing for a specific purpose. I think something could be made out of them. Maybe the problem was that they just didn’t quite fit my sense of humor. Each pantomime seemed to follow a very similar pattern of figurative speech being taken literally, and while this is funny for a while, it doesn’t stay funny for the endurance.
None whatsoever. However, I found Practical Pantomimes very difficult to rate, as you will notice below.
Oh, I do have a few favorite lines.
“Mary clapped her hands and Jojo entered the room very quietly. That is, he didn’t make any more noise than a locomotive.” (from “A Spy Story”)
“Most dice have only two sixes, or twelve, as their highest number, but this pair was loaded. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we give you an idea of what kind of war it was—even the dice were loaded.” (from “War Is Not Well”)
“He rang the bell, but Adolph thought it was a passing streetcar and paid no heed. Adolph never paid taxes either, so why should he pay heed?” (from “The Gentleman’s Gentleman”)
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$
By Sarah Vowell
Historical, Nonfiction; 288 pages, 8 hrs. 7 min.
Audible
No.
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States popped up as an Audible recommendation. Several years ago, I believe I proofread a book about Lafayette for the school library. I fell in love with the romantic heroism of a wealthy young orphan so taken with the idea of freedom that he would leave his own country to fight for such on behalf of another.
I found the book well written, a good mix of explanation on the research, different viewpoints, excerpts, and fun information I didn’t know previously, with a little sarcasm thrown in to boot. There were plenty of references made to other moments in the Revolution that makes me fear I have started irrevocably down a Revolutionary rabbit hole. Oh well, there could be worse things than that. Lafayette, if you’ve forgotten, was only 19 when he slipped away from France to help the Americans fight for their freedom. This was without the blessing of his king or his father-in-law. He left behind a young, pregnant wife as well. The book describes how Lafayette longed to earn honor and glory. Not the most Christian sentiment, certainly, but very intriguing to me. Among accounts lifted out you will find the story of the battle in which he was wounded and the winter at Valley Forge.
Nope.
“While the melodrama of hucking crates of tea into Boston Harbor continues to inspire civic-minded hotheads to this day, it’s worth remembering the hordes of stoic colonial women who simply swore off tea and steeped basil leaves in boiling water to make the same point. What’s more valiant: littering from a wharf or years of doing chores and looking after children from dawn to dark without caffeine?”
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
By Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg
Religious, Nonfiction; 292 pages, 7 hrs. 20 min.
Audible
No, although I was familiar with Lee Strobel’s name.
I saw this book recommended on someone’s status. As I love Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christ, in which the author shares his search for evidence pertaining to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, eventually becoming convinced of truth and turning from atheism to Christianity, I was interested to find out more about this title.
The premise of this book is to inspire Christians to evangelism. This is done by a series of stories from the authors, recounting the adventures they have had in telling others the Good News. The most touching story, to me, was one of the authors who felt compelled to speak to his father-in-law about becoming a Christian. Little did he know that would be the last conversation they ever had. Another story tells of motorcycle daredevil, Evil Knievel, and how he turned to Christ toward the end of his life. There are dramatic moments of misunderstandings and debates, but also simple conversations at restaurants or on airplanes.
I don’t feel certain that this book lines up 100% with my own theology, but I still found it worth the time to read. It’s made me reconsider some of my own choices. Why can’t I say “God’s given us a beautiful day!” when engaging in small talk with a stranger instead of “It’s a nice day out?”
“After all, he is the great evangelist; we’re merely the tools that he uses to fulfill his mission of redeeming the world, one individual at a time.”
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$$
By Gordon Korman
Fiction, Junior ; 272 pages, 5 hrs. 18 min.
Audible
No, although I have read the sequels, Ungifted and Supergifted.
I saw it pop up on Audible. I loved Gordon Korman when I was young, and I’m always curious to see what he is writing now. It’s interesting to me to observe how authors change through the years.
If you are familiar with Gordon Korman, this book contains many elements that are classic: Junior summer camp counselors, a super smart kid, a kid who disappears and is great at avoiding questions about where he goes, and a kidnapped pig. OK, maybe the last one isn’t quite so classic, but animals do end up in odd places in many books, it seems. I did think this book tied together a number of elements found in older books like I Wanna Go Home and No Coins Please with things found in some of the newer books, like The Superteacher Project what with some of the references to AI. As this is the third book in the series, the characters were already familiar. I did have trouble believing that someone who correctly predicted a pregnancy in book one did not recognize the same signs in book three. I also thought the climax was somewhat lackluster.
I didn’t feel there was as much disrespect in this book as there are in some of Korman’s works, actually, although there were the same elements of hiding things from adults. Also, this story does take place on a college campus, so some references to partying, but if you let your children read other Korman books, this one will be fine, too.
I guess I don’t have one.
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$
